Jackson's Blessing Day

I always love the day my children are blessed and Jackson's special day was wonderful.  After days of rain and gloomy weather I woke to beautiful sunshine. I made sure we had a peaceful morning by doing all lunch prep and bathing children the day before. It was so nice to not be rushed and have plenty of time to focus on the spirit of the day. I loved getting Jackson dressed in his adorable outfit and thinking of all the other special days he will wear white (baptism and wedding). I have so many desires for my son. I desire him to follow Christ's example and to always choose the right. I desire him to make wonderful friends and be a righteous example. Above all I desire him to gain a solid testimony of the gospel and endure to the end. Last night as I fed him and held his little body I realized that he is so much more than just a baby. He is has a wonderful spirit and soul that will only grow and grow. This sweet baby boy will become a husband, father, and servant of the lord. His potential is infinite and I always want him to know that he is beloved of the Lord! I cherish these precious days and years I have to call him mine.

Blessing Highlights

- He is blessed to be born in the gospel 

-blessed to go on a mission and marry a "sweet lady" for time and all eternity

- blessed to listen to the spirit and to choose the right

-blessed to stand in holy places as to avoid temptation

-blessed to cherish and love the scripture

- to use scriptures as source of truth

- He is blessed with a supportive family to lean upon

-blessed with many talents to grow and develop

- blessed to understand the promptings of the spirit and be guided in making life decisions   

Men in the circle

Nick

Grandpa Jon

Grandpa Ron

Great grandpa Les

Great Uncle Scott

Uncle Jordan

Uncle c-jay

Unlce Tim

Will Headlee

After the blessing we went to my moms house for a delicious lunch and pie. Everyone chatted and kids ran wild. I loved watching Jackson be passed around and adored. He has so many wonderful examples in his life and I feel so blessed that they are here to help raise my son. 

"Nick do a pose"

My dad always buys fresh flowers for special occasions. I love him for it.

My mom gave Jack his baby quilt on his blessing day

Children Grow Up.

                

I recently put this poem on my fridge...

The cleaning and scrubbing

Can wait til tomorrow

,But children grow up

As I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs;

Dust go to sleep

I'm rocking my baby

And babies don't keep.

I read it every time I go in the kitchen and it is a constant reminder of what is important...my children. As much as I love my children I have a tendency to get caught up in my to-do list and house hold cleaning. I love a clean house and could spend all day washing floors and organizing. It's hard for me to stop my constant run around and relax with my kids. I hate to admit it but I rarely get on the ground and laugh and play with them. I realized about a month ago that I went a whole day without holding a meaningful conversation with Scarlett or Alice. I went to bed that night feeling an awful pit in my stomach knowing that I had become a "task master".  I was reminded again today that my joy comes from spending time with my children and husband not from a tidy home. My happiest moments are in letting them make messes and memories and in enjoying their sweet childhood with them. I adore my children and adore even more that they are little and sweet. Having all of my children home with me during the day is precious and I love it.

I threw away and deleted all resolutions that I had written this year and decided on only one

To stop, to sit, and to play

I am hoping by the beginning of next year that putting play before cleaning with a seamless thought and action. 

Jack 2 Months

This little boy is the sweetest baby. I am amazed at how content and peaceful he is. I keep on pinching myself because he hardly ever cries or puts up a fuss. How did I get so lucky?! Little Jack has had a lot of big things happen to him this past month. 

1. He started to really smile and is by far my most smily baby. He smiles ALL the time

2. He started to coo and "talk" to you. My very favorite sound is sweet baby babble. He is very talkative and smily in the morning

3. He started to sleep in his own room. He loves to sleep in his boppy pillow and he with the pillow was getting too big for the bassinet. It's always so bitter sweet when my babies leave my room. I love sleeping a little better but then it means they are growing up. 

4. He started to wake up 1 time a night. He was waking up at 2am and 5 am and would go right back to sleep. He would start to fuss around 6 and Nick would always pick him up and bring him into bed with us. I don't know if this 1 time a night feeding will stick or if he will go back to 2 but for now it is nice. 

5. I have figured out his little routine. He wakes up around 730ish and takes 2 cat naps in the morning, takes a 3 hour long afternoon nap, another snooze around 530ish and then bed by 8pm. 

Jack is a very happy baby and despite being pestered by his sisters constantly is still very content. I love his chubby tummy and fat rolls (my first baby to be chunky). I also love when he stretches and his baby arms don't quite make it over his big head. Somehow he never fusses when I kiss him a thousands times on his cheeks and under his chin. I squish and squeeze this sweet boy all day and night!!

Sucking his thumb...melt my heart

All ready for church

New Year

Top 5 of 2014

1. Jackson born on November 13, 2014

2. Starting Ashton Strobelt

3. Getting a Honda Odyssey minivan

4. Scarlett starting pre-k and learning to read

5. Camp family trip to Lake Powell

It was a great year filled with a lot of growth for our little family. We thought for sure we would be moving at the beginning but here we are still at our first little house. It will be very sad to leave this house one day. The Lord keeps on blessing our little family with health and strength. 

End of 2013

Somewhere in between

 End of 2014

Winter Cabin

We surprised the girls and went up to the cabin this past week. They screamed with delight when we told them half way through the drive. These girls just love the cabin and playing in the snow. Despite it being 15 degrees we took them sledding both days we were up there and of course they loved it. The best part of sledding is hot chocolate and sitting by the fire after all the fun. We were up there with Caity, Clarah, Mom, Dad, Nate, and his girl friend Brynna (who I really, really like). We played some fun games at night and of course rang in the New Year by watching the torch parade down the moutain. Alice loved the fire works so much that she insisted on having the window rolled down and sticking out her head. It was freezing. We all were so sad to leave and go back to normal life. We are excited for 2015!