February.

February.

It came and went and this is what we did throughout the month.

We had good weather, mom and I did a little outlet shopping, Jack lost his first tooth! Jackson was the recipient of the terrific kid award.

Uncle Jake got us into to Disney World on a school break day!

Jack got good grades and made it on the honor roll. He got to pick out some fun things at the dollar store, of course he chose weapons. The Lego Movie finally came out! I took a field trip to the beach with a friend. Jason got tickets from work and we went on a nice date to the magic game!

We got to attend a special sealing. My cousin Lindsay and her husband and little girl were sealed in the Orlando temple. It was beautiful.

In the last weeks of February we were doing both basketball and baseball. Jack sure was busy. More fun home renovations. The Super Bowl gave us an awesome reason to eat this awesome cake! Jack was super as always.

Cheers to 2014

We rang in the new year with bubbly, fireworks and noise blowers! 

Pat and Seth were here to join in the celebration.

2013 was a big year for all of us!
The biggest thing being buying our new house!
Here is a break down on the family and what 2013 was to us.

Jason is the man and works so hard for our family day in and day out.

He has been bitten by the project bug and often suggests a weekend project all by himself. He was even painting on New Years Eve, that two years in a row he has rung in the new year painting.

Home ownership looks good on him.

He is a big boy now and got a brand new car this year!

 A 2013 Honda Accord (we joke just like Jesus)

With work Jason goes out to many nice dinners and has become somewhat of a steak snob because of it! Also through work we have gotten to stay at some pretty nice resorts for work conferences. 

He has become a changed man and luxury looks good on him!

It has also been a great year for Jack and Jason bonding through sports. I love watching Jason practicing baseball with Jack or giving little pep talks during games. He gets excited and it shows all over his face. He also gets nervous too during games which is also fun to watch.

Whitney. I have had quite the year. It was the year of the dentist, doctor and hospital visits! I got my wisdom teeth out and had a bridge, a root canal, a crown and several cavities filled. Costing us way too much and over 15 dentist appointments. I am proud I finally did it and once we have it all payed off I will be really happy I did it!

 I was in and out of the hospital due to extreme chest pain. I went to the heart doctor had a heart cath and stress test and everything else that goes with chest pain. Then I had endoscopy to see if the chest pain was GI related. Nothing there so I was then sent the pulmonary doctor to check my lungs. All with no answers. We are down to taking new medication as it appears to be GVHD (my lovely friend) related.

 

On the day of my scope wouldn't you know it I had pink eye as well! 

Despite all of that I have had a wonderful year working and finding things for the house. 

It has been great therapy for me and on the days that I don't feel good I like to just sit in one of the rooms of the house and look at it and dream of what else I can do to it!
I really love being involved in Jack's childhood and doing the simple things each day. Picking him up from school and turning up our jams is my most favorite thing we do!

Jackson. Jack has grown up before our eyes, he has more and more personality every day.

It has been a big year of sports.

Jack started basketball and completed his first season of baseball.

Currently he is now onto the spring season of baseball which is pretty serious business. We love to go to his games.

 

First grade has been a great year for Jack.

He has made a lot of friends and has become quite the reader. Finally he has the desire and the drive to read.

 I love sharing books with him and our trips to the library with him.

 He can read with us during scripture study and not just sit and listen.

It seems like Jack grows a little taller in his sleep each night. He has had quite the growth spurt. He is also into video games which makes him seem older in my eyes. He will spend hours if we let him. He still loves Lego's and spends most of his free time either playing with them, talking about them or drawing down his designs. When he is in Lego mode, watch out!

Jack has a best friend and they are always together. Joey and Jack are into the same things and when they are together it is all about lego's, star wars and a lot of weapons and fighting...basically all things boy. I am just here to facilitate snacks and rides to his house.

2013 brought a lot of new things and we are happy to move on to another fun filled and normal year! Hopefully full of a more memories and good health for all!

*I am posting this at the end of March but I had it written for a couple of months I have just been behind in everything due to my health. We are three months in and it has already been a great year!

St Augustine

Since we have moved to Florida we have wanted to go to historic town of St. Augustine. 

We thought it was a great time with everyone here to finally take that trip. 

We started our trip at the beautiful St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum.

 Ranell, Seth, Jason and Jack made the climb to the very top, that's eight flight of stairs.

I wish I could have gone but my ongoing chest pain kept me grounded. Pat and I kept each other company. It was fun to see cute little Jack on top waving at us down below.

 Oh Jason.

 This was posssibly the best moment!

Grandpa Seth asking Jack if he could come aboard.

 We spent the night in the hotel and one of the highlight for the boys was cable and the ability to watch sports! I took this picture because to me Jack looked so grown up taking in a game of basketball. I could just see his teenage years flash before me.

 

I loved St. Augustine and all the history.

We took a tour of a jail.

 We went into the Castillo de San Marcos.

Jack was so excited he got to go into a real fort!

 

 I bought Jack an old fashioned pistol that made sounds. He ran all around the fort shooting. It was so fun to see his little mind going and his imagination taking off.

We went on this train that took you to different spots within the city. During the tour they gave us history facts. This street is the oldest street in America. The tour guide even told us that part of the  running scene with Forrest Gump happened on this street. Jason and I being HUGE Forrest Gump fans, made a special trip back to this street so Jason could run down the street that Forrest ran down.

When we got home we researched and watched the movie excited to see the street. We couldn't see it...so we looked it up! There was not one website that cited any filming happening in St. Augustine Florida. Jason took such offense he started to write a letter to the city of St. Augustine telling them of his disappointment. He never did end up sending it but it sure was a fun moment for me. There are so many who are always telling me how quiet Jason is and how they cannot imagine him ever getting upset. Well he does, and when he does he WILL talk to someone about it. This is why I love him.

It was however a fun moment and it was a pretty street.

Christmas 2

The day after Christmas Pat and Seth came we got to have a second Christmas. 

We ate, we opened presents, played games and had a lot of laughs.

Some other fun happenings around Christmas

Jason dressed up for one of his home teaching family. It was a family tradition for Santa to hand out pj's on Christmas eve. They owned a suit and had asked me one Sunday (when Jason wasn't there because he was on call) if Jason would be willing.  I told them he would! Christmas eve Jason went over to their house. I was busily getting the dinner and house ready for our guests when I received this picture on my phone from Jason! It made my night. I know he appreciates when I volunteer him for things!

Jack had a pajama and hat day the day before Christmas break. He was so cute I didn't want to let him go. I just wanted to keep him home and snuggle and kiss on him. 

Christmas Season

 Our first Christmas in our new house was a month full of memories I will not forget.

We got to put lights on our house and even wrapped around our palm trees. We had several gatherings in our home. I had fun decorating our new space and it made me happy. We spent many nights around the glow of the Christmas trees!

We got to have Ranell for Christmas this year. 

I had so much fun spending Christmas eve day in the kitchen with her making our Christmas feast.

For our feast we had the Sister Missionaries over and a great family friend. Meredith also joined us but poor Jake was working. We started the night with a nice dinner and then after we had a bit of a talent show and sing a long.

 

Aunt Nelly taught a song to Jack that he played for all of us!

Jack putting out cookies for Santa. His note was so cute. "Dear Santa you don't have to eat all the cookies" they were big cookies.

 Christmas Day!

Every year Jason and I don't usually get each other big gifts. Our big thing is stuffing each other stockings. We buy things throughout the year for both of us. This year Jason was a bad boy and Christmas morning there was a big bag with my name on it from Jason.

 I got a big girl showing machine! What a great surprise.

Jason had to work so he headed off to the hospital for a couple of hours.

We watched the Disney Christmas parade, a tradition and relaxed.

Nelly sporting all her sweet new winter garb! I love her so!

Jack spent his afternoon building his Lego Castle he got from Santa!

Jake and Meredith hosted us for Christmas dinner. It was wonderful and so fun to be together for Christmas and neither of them had to work! It was a Christmas miracle!

What a day it was! I was exhausted by the time we got home but it was that good kind of exhaustion that I feel that often. It was a very great Christmas and probably a personal favorite of mine.