Whitney!

It's the eve of my 28th birthday and I can't help but think of the American Cancer Society's more birthdays commercials. I tear up each time I watch one especially when they say they are the official sponsor of birthdays. Like every big event or holiday I am always in appreciation that I get to still be here to experience these wonderful life milestones. Birthdays are huge to me so big that I get to celebrate two every year! The day of my birth in 1983 and my re-birth thanks to my blessed brother and donor, in 2007. I have heard it said in regards to a cancer survivor that happy birthday is a victory song and this truly sums up my feelings getting to celebrate another birthday, victorious. Here is one of my favorite commercials.



Also I want to post about me. I neglect to write down things about myself. I am good at documenting Jason and Jack's life and not so good about doing it about me.I feel that I will regret that because I never wrote anything down while I was pregnant, I hardly have any pictures because I felt it wasn't about me but about the baby and I was waiting to write it all down about Jack. Now knowing that was the only time I was able to be pregnant it makes me sad I didn't get over myself and just do it. 

 So........... this is me

I hate mornings..I always have the least energy this time of the day. It usually takes me until about one to finally get into a grove. I hate it because it makes me feel so lazy. I am a true night owl I have my highest energy at night and feel the best just when I have to go to sleep. Sleep is another thing, it doesn't come easy I have a lot of aches and pains that hamper me at night and I usually spend half of the night walking around. Which is probably why mornings are so crappy. If I could find a way to switch these energy levels my life would be saved.

I like to cook and I love to eat. However the things I snack on and are my pleasures are rather weird. I am not a big fan of sweets and desserts. I have fun making desserts but hardly eat them, usually only taking one or two bites to make sure it is tasty for others. I prefer fruits and veggies almost always over anything else. Well not everything I do love cake donuts and could eat those all the time! My guilty pleasure is soda but even now I am prone to only diet because regular soda tastes too sweet. My drinks get me through the day. Especially fountain sodas, agh I love to hit the convenience store for a nice big drink with lots of ice!

My favorite time of the day starts with dinner, then onto a clean Jack right out of the tub and story time, to family prayer and then when Jack is down spending time with Jason watching our shows or movies. I love the banter that we have during the viewing and have fun the next day fitting in different quotes from our shows into our conversation.

I love taking snap shots of moments in our lives and usually take at least one picture a day. Usually they are just random but I love them and love to look back through all the pictures. Videos, I love taking videos of Jack. His little voice is the sweetest thing to me. I love being able to watch them, to see his little mannerisms and facial expressions. I want to remember it all I fought too dang hard to be here to take it for granted.

I am still very socially awkward and will analyze a conversation that I had had that day over and over grimacing on what a dork I must have sounded like. I have a lot of issues that I sometimes am too proud to admit so in not explaining my behavior in certain situations makes me look like a fool. I am getting better, being in seclusion for those two years really did a number on me.

I love family outings. I don't care what it is. Even if it is going to the store all together I enjoy it. I love beach days, bike rides, meals and movies together, playing games, road trips, porch time, plane rides, airport trips (picking up family, not dropping off), Moes Mondays, trips to the bookstore and library, Sunday drives and exploring new places.

Whew that is harder than I thought.  I definitely like talking about the boys more than me.
However I got over myself and did it (you're welcome future self and posterity).

A Jackson Funny

Jack loves watching this trailer from Kung Fu Panda 2 that came out last month. He is now into staring contests because of this.
Here is the Kung Fu Panda trailer


Here is Jack's version.

 If you can't understand he is saying "Wow you guys look amazing."  I love this video it makes me laugh hard every time he is our little ham. Got to love the close up of those big brown eyes too!

Jack and his cars-tastic day!

If there is anything known about Jack it is that he is a Cars lover. He has hundreds of cars and plays with every one of them I swear. Last year when we were at Epcot we found out the joyful news that there was going to be a Cars 2 movie to come out in the Summer of 2011. Then as 2011 began we found out the actual date for it's release June 24th! Jack has not let us forget the date. In fact he has not been shy to tell everyone else the date either,family members,people checking us out at the store, waitresses, friends at church and especially in primary. If Jack was asked a question, any question he would turn it into something about Cars 2. So after months of hearing about it the day finally arrived and what a day it has been.

It all started with Jack running into my room and yelling "It's June 24th! Cars 2 comes out today." I was still in bed and was told promptly to get out and make it so that he could race his cars. We already have four of the main characters from the new movie that Jack has earned and learned about through the dozens of movie trailers he has watched. He promptly got to racing them around the bed.

I had to coax him away from the racing to eat something for breakfast. He came but only because I promised a Lightening McQueen juice box.

Then it was back to more racing. I had to coax him away from racing again to eat lunch. As promised we had a cars lunch to celebrate with more cars 2 juice boxes and cars shaped macaroni and cheese. Jack has a hard time eating lunch he NEVER wants to stop playing so it was a rare treat to see him sit down and eat.

Surprisingly Jason got off earlier than expected and we were able to head to the theater after a short cars break and nap. Jack was bouncing as we turned into the parking lot. I do have to say we were all excited we have been waiting for this for a while. Jack's joy was contagious.

Jack with his ticket!

This particular theater Jack had never been to and loved the cars theme that it has. It was not planned but totally fit and added to his excitement.

Once we got inside Jack starts running to our theater so excited that we were finally there. He was so cute sitting in his seat with his little kids popcorn and drink. When it started for the first 15 min he had his hands up to his mouth in awe. It was a sight I will never forget. I kept looking over at him throughout and each time there was a look of amazement.

After it was over Jack was anxious to get home even rushing us through our trip to get ice cream. He wanted to get home and truly act out the movie now that he had seen all of it and knew what happened. As soon as we got to Nana and Pepi's to take care of Sheldon, Jack whipped out the cars he brought and has been recreating the movie ever since.

It has been quite the day and I have a feeling that this is not the end to hearing about Cars 2 it is only the beginning. In fact on the way home Jack was reporting to Nana and Pepi over the phone about the movie and stated that he was going to need all the new characters so he can play the whole movie. Oh dear Disney knows how to do it. We were only two cars short from the original cars show now we have to start all over again.  However it does bring him such joy and I guess there could be worse (more expensive) things.

Today was one of those days I don't think any of us will forget.

Celebration of the Man

This weekend we had a little taste of the graduation celebration that is to come. Saturday night we attended a graduate dinner honoring all those graduating from NOVA's Orlando campus. There were people getting their bachelors and their masters in business, counseling and education as well as all the students in Jason class in the PA program. It was a nice excuse to get dressed up, go out on the town and eat a free meal! Our anniversary is on Tuesday so we took the time to do something for that on Saturday and headed to the temple before the dinner.

Since we knew we were going to get home late Saturday night Jack go to spend all afternoon and then have a sleepover with Pepi. Mom is in Utah visiting the sisters so it was just Jack and Pepi. Jack was so excited to go he packed his suitcase with all the essentials. Swimsuit, Pj's, blankies, stuffed animals and the rest of the space was filled with cars. He pulled that heavy suitcase all the way down our stairs and to the cars not wanting to wait for us to help he was that excited to get going.

The Orlando Temple is so beautiful I always forget how white and breathtaking it is. On the drive there you turn a corner and then all of a sudden it is there on the hill, practically glowing. Surrounded by all the green the white really stands out.

When I took this picture Jason had made the comment how he knew he was squinting before looking at it. I was tempted to take another picture but I loved this picture because it is so us. We don't do the lovey dovey thing very good and since moving to Florida Jason seem seems to ALWAYS be squinting  so we have to take several takes on pictures and it really was just too hot to do so.

It was fun to be out with Jason and be with his class mates at the end of the two year process. The last school function I saw everyone was at the white coat ceremony at the very beginning. It was great to be on the other end looking back at all the students had been through then looking/dreading to all they had to do. All of the other graduates besides the PA students were done so there were a lot of speeches on yes you are done you did it...a little teaser for those in Jason's class. Speaking of which Jason is done with his rotation at the BMT clinic he passed his big comprehensive test on Thursday and only has one written test left. He starts surgery tomorrow for his last six week rotation then he is back in the BMT for the last four weeks then graduation!!!!

This next picture is not the best picture but I am posting for a couple of reasons.
A. My dear sister Cami let me borrow this adorable dress. She even included the jewelry to match she is that awesome. I told her I would get a picture and every one I took with Jason did not show the whole dress so I needed one just me....
B. This is why I don't have a lot of "just me" pictures because when Jason takes the pictures they always turn out blurry. He has the shakes (that is his excuse anyways)
C. Jason got this awesome champagne glass as a graduating present and sadly it is the only type of fancy glass we have or have been given that is cause for documentation. Also the first of Jason's graduating presents to boot.

 We took the opportunity to hit our favorite frozen yogurt place before leaving Orlando. We rode all the way home reveling in uninterrupted conversation by child or radio,it was glorious. It really is all about the small things.

 Sunday the celebration of the man continued with the day spent with some of the important men in my life. A great day in church and then later we got together for a dinner with two kinds of pie one for each father. Lemon for Dad and chocolate creme for Jason.

My baby's daddy, future daddy and my dad! Some great men!

A perfect weekend to celebrate all wonderful things, graduation, anniversary and fathers.

A Great Saturday!

The Summer is upon us in full force and I am loving the lazy days at home. I love that Mom is out of school and we get to play with her. I love that pool and beach days are always in the forecast. I am sad that we are not able to travel to Utah to see family this Summer but that we get to spend time with the family that we do have here in Florida. Last Saturday I got to spend the day with Mom, Aunt Lynn and Granddad. We went out to lunch with fried catfish all around and then some outlet shopping. It is sad to see Granddad without Grandma but during the lunch there were a lot of stories and memories shared. A lot of them I hadn't heard or had forgotten about Grandma.

 Granddad has got to be one of the cutest men out there! I love him so much!

It was so great to be able to spend time after shopping with Mom and Aunt Lynn. It was a good break from the "mother" me for a couple of hours. Plus it was a good bonding time for the boys.

The boys. Jack loves his time with his dad always enveloping him as soon as he gets home everyday.

When I got home they were involved in a game of Mario cart. I asked them what they had been doing all day and they reported that it was a day full of lego playing, mac n' cheese and cookie eating for lunch, naps and Nintendo playing. Basically a day full of boy stuff.

The Saturday got even better and Jason took me on a date to the movies. One of my favorite things to do in the Summer with Jason. There are so many good ones that come out and it is nice and cool and dark. Jason is good to me and always springs for popcorn.

Waiting for X-Men to start! We had been waiting for this movie to come out. for a while. It was worth the wait so good.

It was a great Saturday that really felt to me of an official kick off to Summer. We are looking forward to a Summer just kicking it around Florida and enduring our last months as students! Yes the end is in sight. We are also really lucky because Jason will spend the last months finishing his rotations close to home at the Moffitt Cancer Center only 15 min away. Which means more family time with him and that seems like a vacation in itself!