Book-O-Ween!

At school today they had a Book-O-Ween parade. On Monday everyone brought to class one of their favorite books. They read them all week long and today they came to school dressed as a character from their books. Jack's choice was Pumpkin Jack so he was a Pumpkin.

 

 Before we left for school, I just wanted to get one before he got all dirty and his costume destroyed.

 During the parade, with their books.

 Jack's class.

The parents were able to join in on the fun with a party!

There was even a (sugar high induced) dance party!

Look who we met in the hall. Why it's Mary Poppins!

School Play

Today Jack was in his first school play. His Pre-K class performed There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly.  Jack played the part of the spider. As I was sewing his costume last night I remarked to Jason that I could not believe I was making a costume for our childs school play, whoa that came fast.

Jack with his teachers Ms. Rachel and Ms. Brittany

For our our loved ones far away and Daddy who could not be here to see it.

Feel the beat

It's been one of those weeks. It seems like I am always speaking in that "mom" tone. I get frustrated that it takes so long to get anything done. Eating, putting on shoes, getting in the car or picking up toys Jack doesn't do any of it asked once. I feel like I am invisible or Jack has developed a new super hero power that blocks out my voice. It makes me grumpy and I am sure Jack is not a fan. The all business mom was taking over! Something had to be done so I turned on some music. I turned it up and we danced to the beat. It was fun to be silly and to just move and dance with Jack. Jack laughed and I laughed which was welcomed.Then the music stopped, I asked Jack to do something and life returned to normal. I guess I was lucky to get Whitney back for a moment, I'm glad I took a picture.

*Our music of choice today was the album Torches by Foster the People. My favorite song to dance to is Houdini, such a good beat.

Flying Planes

The night before Jason's birthday I took Jack out for a special mission to choose and purchase a birthday present. Jack really got into the part telling me that we were spy's and would only speak in a whisper. Jack wanted to get Dad many things that sounded a lot like the things he begs for each time we go to the store such as, a remote control car, a cars puzzle and a Spiderman game. Jack did end up getting two planes that he and Jason could fly together. When we got home Jason kept pressuring Jack to tell him where we went but Jack being the good spy never broke. He was so excited for Jason to open them and insisted it take place even before cake.

Jason and Jack went out and flew them the next afternoon.

The Weekend

It's Sunday evening which means the end of the weekend.  

It is back to school and now we can throw in work because Jason starts tomorrow!

It was a fun weekend spent being with Mom and Dad.

We went to a botanical gardens fall festival where mom and dad brought home some fun goodies for their yard. We ate at steak n' shake for lunch, took a trip to the library, watched a full of action movie in the Rialto, had adventures in the pouring rain, video chatted with cousins and had a wii playing tournament.  Now we can gear up for a new week and plan for our next weekend adventure.

Jack and Mom at the botanical gardens, Dad and Jack with one of the biggest grapefruits I've ever seen, Mom and Jack playing a mean game of Toy Story Mania, Jack being a bee at the festival.

 Here's to a good, safe, productive week for all of us!

29

Look who's fine and 29!

Happy Birthday to Jason today!

Jason chose to have his Birthday dinner at Texas Roadhouse. This morning while Jack was eating breakfast he asked Jason if he was going to sit on the seat (referring to the saddle) which you sit on if it's your birthday at Texas Roadhouse. Jason quickly remarked that he would not. Well guess what...Jason rode the saddle! I am so glad I had my phone with me to capture the moment. It was pure awesomeness.

"Real life" update

With all the updating accomplished of the graduation trip, the Utah trip and Birthday celebrations I want to document our "real life" as of late as we are in the midst of making big decisions. Jason's job with Moffitt fell through the day before his last day of rotations and just before graduation. Devastated does not begin to describe what we felt with that news. Suddenly the secure life and easy transitions were no more and had us scrambling. After a couple of interviews Jason was offered a job that met all the requirements that we were seeking after. He will continue on in Oncology and will round at hospitals which will give him the experience he will need to be a good candidate if a position opens up in the BMT department in the future. We were blessed that he received this position but with it comes big changes. He will rotate between three different hospitals over in the Orlando area, which means a move. A new ward. school, housing all  has to be considered. It is bittersweet, we are happy to have the job but we love it some much here. In our style it has been a year in our apartment and that seems to be how long we stay in one. There are still many things we do not know for sure. When Jason will start, he is currently working on and submitting all the paperwork verifying his credentials and other important information. We don't know when we are going to move or where. Jason will commute for a while so we can take our time finding the right place for us. So as for now we are just taking it day by day. This also seems to be our style and for as long as life has been this way we should be better at it. Living day by day  is the pits when planning for the future. During this time we have both felt very restless. We were so grateful for the Utah trip, it really could not have come at a better time. It was in fact the day after we got home that Jason got the welcomed call offering him the position. Then this weekend with conference brought another rush of reassurance to calm our restless souls.
There were so many wonderful talks but one that I loved and have since listened to many times was the talk given by Elder Cook about mortal challenges. I especially loved how he communicated how life can be changed and become more meaningful when viewed through the wide and clear lens of the Gospel. I felt that way while I was sick. When I was focused on the mortal things I was depressed and life seemed unfair. But as soon as I learned to focus on the Eternal perspective of things I was able to feel that peace I had been so desperate to find. How sweet a reminder it was to me of those feelings which sadly had faded, and I realized how much I was viewing life too much through my "mortal lens".
We still have those moments of restlessness but there is that comfort that comes from the Gospel that  reassures us that we can deal with, and accept all change in front of us. It is after all good changes coming our way which is always a welcome thing.

I had to post the activity Jack and I did during conference. I got these off of the sugardoodle website. It's a paper chain of the Prophet and all the Apostles. We had a fun time coloring the ties to match the ones we saw them each wearing. I wrote the session they spoke in and a little about each talk. It's hanging in Jack's room and I smile and chuckle every time I look at it, it turned out so cute.

Celebration on the 25th

Jack turned five on Sunday the 25th! He was excited to get to go on a plane ride home for his birthday. The day started at the airport with a presentation of a Captain American action figure. From there it just got better. He got to watch cartoons on both flights and drink all the ginger ale he could drink. He was such a good boy. It was a good thing to because Jason and I were passed out most of the time. It is so much easier traveling with a 5 year old! Nana and Pepi met us at the airport and took us to their house for a birthday dinner. 

They had the cutest cake waiting

balloons and of course

presents!

The table was set and we had a meal full of Jack's favorites.

Then he had to open the presents.

Jack came away with that night a cars lego set he really wanted, A Tron monorail, the car Nigel we had been looking for and a game!

What a day it was we all went home and crashed. 

The next morning Jack brought cookies and juice to school. It was so cute all the kids and his teacher gave him a big welcome back to which he responded "I'm five now"! 

Fun celebrations with everyone!

Bowling Birthday Party

Saturday we had a combined bowling themed Birthday party for Jack and Tyler.

Cami is a decorating fool. She had all this put up in fifteen minutes when it comes to parties she is the party master. It was awesome and we got it all done before Jack and Tyler arrived from their sleepover. Their faces were priceless.

 Even our menu was bowling themed.

Balls on a roll (meatball sliders)

Beans down the lane (bean salad) with 

Spare chips (corn chips)

Bowling balls and pins (vegetable tray)

Corn pin (corn cobs)

I love planning menus for parties and this one was especially fun. I loved those bowling shirt plates!

We had lunch and then presents!

The cute ones at the kiddie table

Jack's dream came true and he got two superhero masks. Spiderman and Captain America. At least now when he goes into super hero mode we know which one to call him.

Maybe we should have gotten one for Uncle TJ.

Then it was time to go to the bowling alley to do some cosmic bowling.

 I even played, gimpy arms and all. Everyone beat me including Jack but it was an accomplishment just to have been able to bowl.

We were on four different lanes so I was not able to see and get everyone's pictures. Kate and Griffin were in one lane. I was with Jason, Jack and Seth in one lane. Grace, Cami and TJ in another. With Darren, Amy, Ella and Tyler in a lane together. We had Pat and Cooper as cheerleaders.

After our fun time we went back to the house for cake.

Amy made this rad bowling cake. It was so perfect and yummy.

 Cami has this fun cupcake book that shows different cupcake decorating ideas. I had planned to do bowling cupcakes but I am not so skilled in the decorating department so after a failed attempt I went and bought some stuff and added them to already made cupcakes.

It was so great to have a birthday party with a lot of family and cousins. This is a big reason we miss living away from everyone.

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The rest of the night was kind of mellow. TJ and Jason were up in Logan for the homecoming USU football game and the rest of us were wasted. It was our last night so we soaked up the cousin time. 

 Jack loves his masks, so much so we went out that night to eat and he wore it into taco time, pretend shield and all.

Oh Taco Time you and your crisp bean burritos will be missed...until we meet again.

We said our goodbyes to Kate and Griffin and headed home to put the kids down. After a tearful goodnight to Gracie I got to spend one last alone time with Mr. Cooper. I know he will grow so much by the next time I will see him so I took plenty of pictures to sustain me and even a video to watch. I have already played it several times.

This trip did wonders for me for now I can picture what all the kids are doing and how they act and I know their voices. Especially the newest ones Everett and Cooper.

Whew that was just some of the pictures I took this trip to Utah. It has been wonderful to look back as I have posted our week. All three of us had an excellent time doing the things that we all wanted to do.We talk of how perfect that week was and how much fun we had. 

 Thank you family for feeding us, driving us around, letting us sleep in your beds taking us to all our favorite places to eat and arranging your schedules to spend time with us. You all made our trip wonderful!