I Scream, You Scream...

Seriously, though.

Jackson and I went to a team holiday dinner with some of the girls that I love.

We went to the Cheesecake Factory.

What did I get for dessert?
DUH! 

Seriously, duh People.

I got freaking ice cream!!!

This was no small portion, I tell you.

Do you love Jackson's reaction?
Nothing.

He doesn't even blink an eye anymore.

He knows full well his mama is going to eat all of it and enjoy it until my tummy hurts for the rest of the weekend.

Which it did.

I would, in fact, like to give you a run-down of my eating since Friday.

Friday: a 24 ounce steak. I hate the whole dang thing, too.

That night with D - Mongolian Grill.

Mmmmm hmmmmm.

Saturday: Cheesecake Factory - Avocado eggrolls, salmon, and 5 pounds of ice cream.

Sunday: Chicken, pasta salad, cookies. (Plural on the cookies)

Monday: More ice cream because I had a bad day when I forgot to send my kids to school, which is merely an excuse. I just wanted ice cream.

Tuesday: Back on track, People. Back on the dang track.

A Harvest Dance

Kaydon went to his first high school dance.

It was the Harvest Dance at Layton High School. 

It was girls choice.

McKenna asked him to the dance.

He got to know McKenna on Trek.

She is the daughter of one of the members of the Stake Presidency.

It was an 80's rock music theme.

How cute is this boy????

I can't imagine our lives or our family without him...

Another tender mercy!

Temple Night

This picture is from a year ago.

Asher loves this guy.

This was last Thanksgiving.

Asher was hungry (hangry).

He was happy to have Rand hold him though.

And feed him.

And change him.

And make him laugh.

Last night, Rand and I went and did initiatories at Ogden's Temple.

It was his third time at the temple.

The first was last month when he took his own endowment out.

The second time was last month when Jackson went to the temple.

Then last night was the third time and we just did initiatories.

It was a slower pace.

No stress.

And dinner.

He always feeds me.

Garcia's has the best bean dip with tortilla chips.

Yummo!

Jacks and Pops

Jackson spent some time with Pops yesterday.

They were going to work on a mask.

But they went on a seven mile hike instead.

My kids are so blessed to have a papa and a pops.

They love them both.

My boys always request to spend one-on-one time with their pops.

He usually has Mondays off, which makes it a little easier for them to have that one-on-one time with him.

When Pops married Mom, he didn't have any kids... or grandkids (obviously).

Suddenly, he had a daughter, two sons, a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law.

He also now has six grandkids.

All boys.

Of course!

He is the greatest pops!

He has gotten to know the kids individually and makes sure to spend time with them talking and laughing and just engaging with them.

Jackson will be leaving in just a few weeks.

I think everyone is trying to squeeze in time with him before he's gone.

Mama included.

A Dance & A Trial

Kaydon went to his first school dance on Saturday.

Friday night, they had their "day date." 

I swear, dances are a crazy big even now a days!

These pictures are from Friday night.

As soon as I have dance pictures, I will post about them.

I can't wait!

He is so dang social all of a sudden.

This kid hated people a wee months ago!

Tonight, he will be answering a different girl to a different dance at a different school.

So fun!

 Thursday morning, Jackson took me to a our family doctor.

He's great.

I told him I had a crazy bad headache since Tuesday.

Also, my left eye was not functioning right.

He did some tests and found that my left side was very weak.

Jackson explained that this wasn't as scary as it seemed.

My left side is now constantly weaker than my right.

But the doctor was worried.

He sent us to McKay Dee for a CT scan.

I wanted to just jump off a ledge instead.

When I had my first conversion stroke, I was out of it.

I didn't know what was happening.

 I was more aware on Thursday and I was done and done.

The CT was smooth.

We were sent back to the doctor's office, where the nurse was waiting with a handful of shots.

I didn't even care.

She told me to bend over and drop my pants.

I didn't even flinch.

No brain bleeds.

Another small conversion, though.

I slept Thursday and Friday.

D "babysat" me on Saturday and Sunday.

I am back to work this morning - half days this week.

It's a new normal.

I am still not a patient patient.

You know?
I still believe I can do everything without a problem!

I can't.

Randy called last night and made sure I was aware of that. :)

I get it. I get it.

And, I'm on my feet and trying again today.

20 Months & 17 Months

These two super heroes have my heart.

Asher is 20 months old.

Anson is 17 months old.

They are completely different!

Asher is a wild man. He likes time to himself. He loves his blankies. I love watching him with his blankies. It reminds me so much of Braxton. He climbs and is daring. He has no fear of anything!

Anson is the smiliest little monkey. He just smiles and giggles. He loves to snuggle. The other night when we were with them, he would bend over and put his hands behind him before he would take off running. We were laughing so hard! 

These two have the best parents on Planet Earth.

They are SO good.

I love so much that they explore the babies' world with them.
They play with them.

They let them explore and discover.

They have such a great schedule for them.

They work so well together and I love them so much!

They both have the best facial expressions, the best sound effects, the biggest interest in water of all time... they love to swing. They love to watch their favorite movies. They love to empty out the kitchen cupboards. They love to follow each other around.

We are so blessed!

Strokes 'R Us

The stroke that I had in December had an effect on all of us.

The recovery and the new norm has an effect on all of us.

After Jackson, Braxton and I had our flu shots yesterday, we had some lunch.

They took me back to work.

Within 45 minutes, I had a headache that caused me to not be able to hold my head up.

My  left eye has tapped out.

I was not in a good place.

Braxton came back and got me, gave me medicine and put me to bed.

The boys alternated checking on me every 20 minutes.

Their lives have been changed drastically.

Later in the afternoon, once I was up and downstairs, Braxton took Colton to the store and got him two pumpkins.

One for him and one for Je'Mari.

They carved away and had a great time.

That was a job for a mama to do. 

But there are many things that Mama doesn't do anymore.

My boys, without being asked, always step right in. 

They know what needs to be done and they do it.

I am so, so thankful.

Move Night

Pops does a movie night every so often.

Scary movies.

Movies that I would never, ever want to see.

So, the boys (minus Braxton who was working) drove down to Nana and Pops' to watch the scary movie that I would never, ever want to see.

They loved it.

I wouldn't have loved it.

The end.

My Weekend

Friday was a rough day for this mama.

Bad headache.

Not much movement.

Tired.

Slept until afternoon.

Fever.

Some days I am reminded of my new normal. Of my mortal state. Of my weak body, but strong spirit. Some days I am reminded that I no longer have much choice when it comes to pressing on through fatigue of my sort. I have to stop and rest. And so I do.

I did go pick Jackson up from work that night.

I am going to miss this boy.

He is one of my favorite people on the Planet Earth.

He is so good in every way.

Gosh, I love him.

I also snapped this sunset.

We live in the most beautiful place.

From Highway 89 or from Fort Lane or Fairfield, near Highway 193, the views are surreal.

Lovely.

This guy was sick all last week.

I cooked and cleaned and cared for him as I could.

The tables turned on the weekend.

He cooked while I slept.

Apparently, I slept a lot.

He watched football and baseball and would gently wake me to tell me scores that he knew I would want to hear.

Then I would wake up for a while to watch them with him.

We did go on a real date.

To a fancy restaurant.

After an hour of being there, it was back home we went to watch baseball.

T says we are like two old people!

And what?!?!

Dancin' Fool

Kaydon is a dancing fool, it appears.

He was asked by three different girls to the Harvest Dance (I think that's what it's called).

He said "Yes" to the one who "officially" asked him.

Last night, there was another doorbell ditch.

I heard it in my groggy sleep.

One of the girls that asked him to the Harvest Dance already asked him to the Christmas dance at Davis High School.

Get it, Girl!

She's on it like a bonnet!

This kid really is enjoying high school so far and it's so fun to see his brothers razzing him!

Lunch Dates

These two handsome boys came and had lunch with me yesterday.

Colton was sick when I left yesterday morning.

He stayed home and rested.

Jackson drove them to get me, then to have lunch at Warren's. 

Less than two months and this boy is off to Chile.

Jackson's Temple Trip

Friday, Jackson went through the Bountiful Temple.

Rest assured, I have zero pictures of him.

When we got there (while the sun was in the middle of the sky and lighting was perfect for pictures), he exclaimed that he didn't want pictures until after.

I should have fought that!

When we left the Temple, it was dark.

Very, very dark.

The only pictures taken: T and I. 

Seems fitting!

The Temple was beautiful.

It was my first time doing a session there.

But, fun fact: this is the Temple where Jackson was sealed to his father and I.

Papa, Pops, Nana, Uncle Brandon, Aunt Carrie, Randy, T, Bishop Krum, Sister Krum and BJ Redford were all in attendance.

It was more beautiful than I could have imagined.

My boy is a stud.

Afterwards - Randy, Jackson and I went to R&R for dinner.

I didn't get any pictures there either.

I was too busy eating!!

He's Going There Today

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has a Primary song that I LOVE.

I often sing it to myself when I'm struggling emotionally.

"I love to see the Temple. I'm going there someday. To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and obey. For the Temple is a House of God, a place of love and beauty. I'll prepare myself while I am young. This is my sacred duty."

Well today, Jackson is going there.

He is going there to make promises with God. And himself.

He is going there to clothe himself in the holy garments.

I have been taught that the garments protect us.

I testify that they do.

Physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Our dearest friends, Kelly and Corissa, took Jackson to get his garments and Temple clothing on Tuesday night.

Last night, he and I packed his Temple bag.

Today, he and I will drive to the Temple.

We will meet loved ones there:

Papa, Nana, Pops, Uncle Brandon, Aunt Carrie, T, Randy, and other loved ones who choose to come.

I will be wearing extra setting powder to keep the makeup on my face as I will surely be crying.

These will be tears of joy and peace and pride.

A good kind of pride.

I look forward to being in the sacred halls of the Temple with my oldest boy, who I love so much.

Night Time With the Babes

Doesn't Anson look SO grown up?

This baby is a little love bug! 

He runs and runs and runs.

He giggles.

He is ticklish.

He snuggles.

He puts his head between your knees when he wants to be held.

And, when he's tired... he looks a weeee bit milk drunk!!

Asher is SO on the dang go.

He is climbing on furniture.

He is running very fast laps around the kitchen table.

He is emptying out kitchen cupboards and kitchen drawers with lightening-fast speed.

He is VERY busy.

All the time.

He LOVES his blankie.

It reminds me of Braxton and his blankie!

These boys are THE greatest blessings!