If your looking for Someone who's a big deal...

Here's his business card.

 Today I got a message on my phone with a picture of this business card with the caption "I'm kind of a big deal." I was a little taken aback seeing Jason's title all written out like that. Another one of those I can't believe we are here moments.

Jason and I have often remarked how this stage of life kinda just snuck up on us. I mean we really didn't think of life at this point. We were just so focused on the stages of life we were in at the moment. When I was sick it was the focus to get better one day at a time. Then when Jason was in school it was getting through each test and then through each rotation and to graduation. I don't think we really thought what life would really be like once graduation came and went. We knew there would be a job but all of a sudden Jason was starting a job, then got and started a new job, we were moving, renting a house and buying furniture to fill rooms we've never had before. I get hit most at the end of the day when I am making dinner and Jason walks in from his day at work and he is home, home to be with us for the rest of the night, home.  On the weekends spending time together with no big rush to get things done so Jason can have his study time. At the new ward when they asked why the move and giving the simple answer that we moved for a job. When Jack tells us he loves the new house and  yard and that he wants to live here forever.

It is all a big deal and I am happy that it is, I hope we never forget it or take any of it for granted.

Jack's Valentine

Whew where did January go? 

Seriously this month went by so fast with all the visitors, starting a new school, finding our way around our new town and adjusting to a new schedule. After Pat and Seth left Wednesday afternoon. Kate came to stay with us for a couple of nights.
Jack was happy to have his old roommate back for a while. They picked up right where they left off. 

The year Kate lived with us she was Jack's valentine and he never forgot it.  He always refers to her when the holiday is brought up. Kate got Jack a bus and decorated it with hearts for him as an early valentines present.

We love you Kate, thanks for coming to visit!

Memory Making Moments with Papa and Grandma

Grandma and Papa have come and gone.We had an eventful week making sure they got their fill of  Florida experiences. The weather has been so nice, Florida was truly showing off. 

We took them to the Orange grove and picked our own oranges right off the tree.

We took home two bags filled with oranges and tangerines.

We took a trip to Sea World.

Seth bought some fish to feed the Sea Lions and Seals and got attacked by a bird and has the battle wound to prove it.

I got a picture of the perpetrator. Those poor seals, the birds steal most of their fish.

While Pat and Seth were getting their Florida experince we had a little Utah experience.

We touched an ice wall! 

We always laugh when we are in the Arctic exhibit and everyone freaks out touching the ice wall. Always acting surprised that it is cold.

We took a trip to the sponge docks.

A place where they harvest the sea sponges. It is a fun little town on the gulf side full of sea shell shops and Greek food.

We hit beaches on both coasts.

The gulf

The Atlantic

We even picked up a pirate.

Jack got sand in his eye. Daddy flushed it out and applied the patch. Luckily after a couple of hours it was better and the patch came off.

Along with all those fun things we spent time watching Jack play.

Sweet Pat brought the curtains and we hung them up.

I absolutely love them. They make a huge difference.

We all played around with our new gadgets. This is scripture study one night!

It was sad when they left. Jack cried all the way home from the airport. 

We are just lucky that we got to spend the time and make such great memories with them.

Playtime

Early Thursday morning Cami flew home.
It was hard to say goodbye for all of us.
While Cami was here she played a lot with Jack and he was in heaven. It was kinda a let down for him when she left because it was back to just playing with mom again.

I mean how could I compete with this?

 Cami as Spiderman playing with Jack as Captain America.

We miss you Cami.
Jack misses his playmate and really I miss mine as well.

Jason did fill the void over the weekend playing Wolverine with Jack non-stop.
Then he went back to work and Jack was left looking again for another playmate.
The good news is Grandma and Papa come in to town tomorrow!
Hope you two are ready to play!

Progression

Over the last month we have been busy putting together the house. Jason has been awesome and painted all the bedrooms, the living room and dining room. This was no small feet especially because I requested a striped dining room. I was at mom and dad's and that guy stayed up early into the morning finishing the dining room. I love it so much! He is really becoming quite the painter. Jason and I worked hard on finding the perfect essentials such as lamps,side tables,rugs, pillows and curtains. Mom and dad came on one of their days off and dad and Jason worked on the under the counter lights in the kitchen and hung my lanterns on the patio.
Things got even better when Cami came. We dedicated the three hours both Tuesday and Wednesday while Jack was in school shopping for accessories. I have never shopped that much in my life for home goods but we found so many wonderful deals. I loved being with Cami and we discovered the ultimate shopping center that has so many wonderful stores all together. We went crazy. I got so overstimulated I had to take an anxiety pill when we got home. Cami is so talented she used what I had with the new accessories to make our house shine. Needless the house is coming together and it makes me giddy,

Working on the plate wall in the dining room.

It was also great to have someone to help plan with and to bounce ideas off. I have a list of fun projects that I will have fun doing. For that room I am re purposing the bookcase and coffee table. Pat my sweet mother in law is custom making the curtains for the living and family rooms.

We were up late in the night talking, searching the internet for the perfect shower curtain (which was harder than I thought)  and did I mention talking? We never got to bed before one while she was here. We couldn't calm down there was a lot of excitement going on.

By Wednesday afternoon I was so exhausted and passed out on the couch.

 I have appreciated all this help with the house it sure makes me feel a whole lot less overwhelmed. Sometimes I can't believe we are at this stage in our lives.

I love being able to have different touches from my loved ones around the house. That means so much.

A new school,a sister in a powerwheels and a trip to the orange grove.

The boys and I headed home and left Cami and Jake to have some alone time with the parents. Jake flew out Monday morning and Cami and Nana Came over that afternoon. Sweet Jack started his new school on Monday.and it was a rough start being the new kid and all. For the most part he said it went wel but some kids hurt his feelings by not wanting to play with him and he wasn't so excited about eating school lunch. He told me it tasted like cat food. He was a little down but perked up when Cami and Nana showed up.
We had lunch on the patio and watched Jack play and drive his new car. Cami couldn't help herself and hopped in and started to drive. It all made us laugh really hard,

Jack loved it! They play restaurant and took turns placing and filling orders at the "drive through window" a.k.a the patio door. Then after our fill of play we headed to the orange grove that is FIVE minutes from our house!

This orange grove has it all

 Roaming Chickens

 One of the World's Largest Monster Trucks (so the sign claims)

a huge shark

A tractor

A dock you can steer?

Fun places to take pictures

and oranges, lots and lots of oranges.!

 

Jack and his second Mama!

They also had these amazing orange slushes. It was fun to see Cami enjoying her time  on vacation.

The First of the Snowbirds

We are so lucky that in the course of the next month we will get to see so much family! Florida is a nice place to escape the cold for a while and we are more than happy that we have room for family to stay.
On Wednesday Jake came for a visit. He needed a rest from the intensity that comes with being an executive chef. Unfortunately Meredith could not come this trip due to work but being the loving and amazing wife sent the mister out alone with strict orders to relax.
I drove Jack over on Thursday to be with cool Uncle Jake. Once we got there he never left his side.

Jake and Meredith gave Jack the coolest helicopter for Christmas.

We had so much fun going out to eat, shopping and just hanging out. It was great to spend some quality time with Jake.

Mom and Jake in their Chucks. Jake was a little taken back Mom had the same shoes.

Then to make things even better Cami flew in on Friday night! Her sweet and awesome husband sent her out here alone to rest and relax also. I have some pretty amazing siblings-in law!

Jason and Cami arrived home from the airport around 12:30 that night, our reunion probably woke up some neighbors. We were so excited to be together again.

We met up with everyone the next day at the beach to have lunch with Granddad and spend some time playing in the sand.

It doesn't matter how old you get it is still fun to play in the sand.

Jake took off to his little corner and created the ultimate sand village with landscaping and all.

So where were Jason and Pepi during all of this you may ask? 

Sleeping in the sun.

This is Jason...Pepi would never shield the sun like this. I wish I got a picture with both of them asleep, it was hilarious.

 

 It was a fun day being reunited with my brother and sister.

There was a definite absence with Kate not being there but we are looking forward to her visit in a couple of weeks. (We promised Kate we will do all the same things!)