Walk for Lupus

Can I advertise for just a moment?

Great.

On May 1, 2010 - we will be participating in the Walk for Lupus in Salt Lake City. We will be walking in memory of my husband.

Registration is just $35. You get goodies.

I would LOVE to have as many people that are able, join us for the walk on May 1. I think it would be awesome to have a huge group.

Now, if you don't live in Utah, you can still be part of our team as a "virtual walker". You still get goodies.

Then ... if you don't want the goodies - you can just donate.

Here's the info ...

You can donate AND join the team all from THIS LINK
(please let me know if you have any questions)

Thank you in advance. I really appreciate all the love & support!

Cougs vs. Utes

I got an email about the BYU vs. Utah basketball game and I really wanted to go! So, I texted my cousin Kirsti (who goes to BYU) and asked her if she wanted to go with me. Of course she said yes and I bought tickets for her to go with me and Kason.

It was a really fun night. I was a little nervous about wearing my Cougar blue on Utah Campus but we survived without any harm caused. The best part is that BYU beat Utah by 20 points in that game! It was awesome ... I love rivalries!

Kason, Me & Kirsti

Me and Kason

Kason with Kirsti:

Kason enjoying the game. He was so funny ... he would cheer so loud for the Cougars. He loved it.

Great final score ...

Hiking ...

There was one Saturday where the weather was pretty decent and I was wanting to just get out of the house. As soon as Kason woke up from him nap we headed out to find a place to hike. I decided to start at the base of a mountain pretty close to our house. Kason was in a horrible mood and he didn't want anything to do with hiking so I ended up carrying him most of the way but, it was still fun. It was such a beautiful view up there. And it was nice to get out of the house and do something active. 

This was his attitude uh ... pretty much the whole time:

So proud ...

I love little conversations I have with Kason. They just make me so happy and proud of him! Today as we were walking out of church I asked Kason, "Did you have fun in nursery?"

"Yep!"

"What did you guys talk about today?"

"We talked about Jesus." (this is usually the answer I get every week)

"Oh really? What else did you learn about?"

"That the lady was sad."

"And why was the lady sad?"

"Because Jesus died."

"And then what happened after he died?"

"He came alive again Mom!" And he was SO excited about that!

Ohhh, I love that boy so much. I am amazed at how quickly he learns, and remembers, the things that are taught to him. He is an amazing kid and I am blessed to have him and call him my own. I hope I do a good enough job raising him, that our Heavenly Father will be proud of my work and service as a mother. 

***

On another Spiritual note, just a little something I've been wanting to share ... a few weeks back Kason and I went to Salt Lake and went to temple square with a group of friends. We had walked around the grounds for a little while and then we ended up in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. We were all kind of standing around visiting, letting people who had never been there before explore. I had a moment where I didn't have Kason following me around and I walked over to the statue of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  

(For those non-members of the Latter-Day Saint faith, Joseph Smith is the first prophet of these times. He is the prophet who restored the gospel on the earth and translated the Book of Mormon. He is a very influential person in our church and there is much to be learned from him and from the type of person he was.)

 I walk up to this statue and I am hit with this knowledge and this truth that Joseph Smith truly was, and continues to be, a prophet of the Lord. I knew at that moment without a doubt in my mind that Joseph Smith was an amazing man and he was put on this earth on the Lord's errand. Joseph Smith fulfilled that and we are able to learn from him. I stood there and I looked at this statue thinking ... What a perfect symbol of Joseph Smith. This is a tall, strong statue and it puts off a sense of pride and power and knowledge. Those are all things I think of when I think of Joseph Smith. He is such an important piece of our church's history and I think that they did so right in building such a strong statue - built of solid stone. I was so amazed that I could have such a strong witness of a man while standing in front of a statue representing him. Since that night I have had a stronger love for Joseph Smith and a stronger understanding of what he did for our church and the sacrifices he made, day in and day out.

I am a member of the most amazing church and I am grateful for the blessings because of it.

Idaho ...

In February I went to Idaho to visit my good friend April. She was supposed to be moving into her house the weekend I was there but, her move in date got pushed back a week. So, I missed that. But, I still got to hang out with her and spend time with her. It was a good little getaway. I had never been to Idaho before so, it was fun to go up there.

One night we went into Boise and went to the mall and we saw this super sweet car. We just had to get a picture by it!!

And we got to meet up with a girl I'd only been friends with online. We used to be in a Mormon Moms group online and had become really good friends from that. So, when I knew I was going to be like 15 minutes from her - I HAD to jump at the chance to meet her!! She is so cute and amazing and has since had that cute lil baby in her tummy!

Kason and her little girl having a blast. They played so good together!!

Football in the mall ...

Kason was so mad when I told him they were leaving ...

The kiddos (probably the  best shot of them all...)

Us with the Ponds:

Kason's Boys

We have some good friends here, the Ostler's, that we do a lot of stuff with. Kason gets along great with the boys (and he calls them, "my boys") and me and Kristin have tons of fun together. I'm grateful to have found such great friends here.

Back in February we went to the circus with them and we also went to a Valentine's thing at the college where the kids got to decorate cookies and make Valentine's cards. I love living here where there are ALWAYS things going on!

At the Circus:

Valentine's Day:

Cookies!

Yum ...

Craft time ...

Playing with Camden ... 

Kason's Birthday!!

Kason turned 3 on February 11. For his birthday we went to Pirate Island for a YUMMY dinner with friends and cousin Kirsti. It was a lot of fun. Pirate Island is a restaurant kind of like Chuck-e-Cheese but it's way cooler. We love it. The food is delicious and the kids stay entertained the whole time! And Kason got a dish of ice cream and a pirate happy birthday. We got a box of some of the most delicious cupcakes EVER ... it was an awesome night. 

The birthday boy ... I still can't believe he is 3!

The boys playing ...

He shoots ... he SCORES

Kason's boys ...

Me and the birthday boy:

This is the whole group ... with our pirate waiter:

AZ in UT!

Back in January the Phoenix Suns were playing the Utah Jazz. I HAD to go! Me and my friend April bought tickets and I ended up taking a date while she brought her cousin. We had a BLAST. It was so fun to be a Suns fan in the Jazz arena. The Suns ended up losing but, it was still worth it.

Warm-ups:

This is when they were still winning:

The Girls, (Me, April, Joy):

April & Joy:

With my date ... a HUGE Jazz fan ...

And ... since the Suns lost - I had to wear a Jazz jersey. I felt like a traitor. But it was fun. Jazz fans walking by were loving it. Suns fans walking past were booing & the walk of shame through the halls of the arena was embarrassing. 

I couldn't do it for long ... I had to show my love for the Suns:

It was a blast. We had a really fun night and woke up with no voices the next morning.

Ramblings ...

Life is good.

It really is. I am incredibly happy and have found so much joy in my new life.

Kason has been awesome lately. Just a really amazing kid. There was one day earlier this week where I was dead to the world sick. I honestly laid on the couch all day and slept. Kason totally took care of himself. He found food to eat, got juice/milk for himself, got dressed for the day, entertained himself, and picked up his toys when he was done, all the while checking on me and seeing if I needed anything. It was awesome. He's little Mr. Independent and so sweet. I am getting excited for him to start preschool - he is going to love it. He is so good at making friends that it will be fun to see him in that setting.

I am doing good. Trying to prioritize my life and realize what really is important.

I am thinking about changing my major. I was doing Elementary Education but the more and more I got into that major - I realized how demanding of a course it really is and how demanding and stressful of a career it is. Working 90 hours a week and only getting paid for 30 (ok ... maybe that's exaggerating) but still! I just honestly don't know if I'm cut out for that. SO ... I have really been enjoying my Health Education class and I've been looking at the Community Health Education major and I am really intrigued by it. I need to meet with the adviser and figure things out for that major. I got excited today when I checked online and realized I'm a Junior in college because of how many credits I have ... that's cool.

I've also been looking in to working for a company called CIEE. They place foreign exchange students with host families. The pay is good and the perks are exciting (free trips!) - the work is all done on my time. There are things that can make it stressful at times but, I am thinking it would be a good way to really build my savings and have that added cushion that I want. School is getting expensive since I'm still considered out-of-state. Anyways ... I met with the Regional Director tonight and got to talk about it. It's a good opportunity - just not something I know if I can handle with everything else going on. I don't want to overfill my plate and not be able to give 100% to everything.

I was given another calling at church. So, now I'm on the Activities Committee AND the Relief Society Activity Committee. It's fun but, BUSY. Especially when an activity for both things falls in the same month. Things always get done but, it can get stressful for a bit!

I can't believe it's almost April - it seems like I was just dreading February and now we're getting ready to start April. Weird. Time goes so fast lately. I am slowly inching towards my 25th birthday and I am dreading it. I don't want to get older. Maybe part of it is really the fact that I don't want to spend it alone. Once May hits it's going to be a hard few months; my birthday (may), our anniversary (june), Kam's birthday (july), and the one year mark (august). WOW ... can you believe I'm on THAT end of the year? weird.

Anyways ... we really are doing well. People ask how I really am doing and I can honestly say I am incredibly happy and filled with joy. It's a true joy that I have learned is not always an easy thing to have. I still have my days where things are difficult and anything can trigger the rough times but, for the most part ... 

Life is good.

Farewell Kar!

So this post is kind of ironic ... my cousin, Kar, went to Austria to be a nanny back in January. We had a farewell dinner for her at Pizza Factory with the whole family. Well ... she gets home tomorrow. Awesome. 

Better late than never, right?

Amy looks THRILLED to be there ... doesn't she?

Austin ...

Cameron, Kason, Kar:

Kar with Kyle:

Kason trying to escape! haha

Us with Kar ... Kason was mad that we were leaving. Poor kid. 

We are excited to have Kar back in the states but glad she got to have a good experience in Europe!

Snow!!!

Back in December (yes ... 3 months ago) we got SNOW! (shocker with us living in Utah and all) We were still thinking snow was a novelty so, we met up with a family in our ward and went sledding. Kason had a blast for about 30 minutes and then he was too cold so we went and drank some hot cocoa. That was fine with me ... I'm not a huge lover of the snow. 

I am glad that NOW ... the snow season is mostly in the past. I'm ready for some heat.

Thanks Meline's for playing in the snow! We had a blast!

Awesome.

Today I am sitting in the Relief Society room waiting for class to start and Kason's nursery leader comes in, taps me on the shoulder & says, "We need you in nursery." She didn't have Kason with her so I knew it wasn't just a diaper change. I started freaking out wondering what was going on.

So, I get in there and Kason is playing nicely with a group of kids and a teacher. Hmmm...ok. Kason is fine.

Well, I go to talk to his teacher and she tells me.

"Kason bit Golden and it drew blood."

"What?!"

I got a huge knot in my stomach. I couldn't believe Kason did that. Kason hasn't ever really been a biter - he usually hits when he's frustrated. I just stood their shocked. I didn't really know what to say.

So I told them I was really sorry. I said we would talk about not biting. And they were totally understanding ... I was just humiliated that my kid had done this. I felt HORRIBLE for Golden.

I pulled Kason aside and asked him about what happened and told him that he didn't choose the right and that he should have used his words.

I get back into Relief Society and apologize over and over to Golden's mom. Thankfully - Kason chose the right kid to bite because Golden's parents are the most soft spoken, kindest people ever. She reassured me everything was fine and not to worry. I even went up to her after class and apologize again.

I just can't believe I have the class bully. Let's hope we can correct this behavior or it's going to be a LONG school career for both of us!

Sweet Boy

I just had to share this: Tonight we were saying prayers and as Kason started I asked him what he was thankful for ... he went on to give the sweetest prayer! He said: "Thank you for our house, Thank you for Camden & Ethan (his buddies), Thank you for Jesus, Thank you for Buzzlightyear, Thank you for the Prophet, Thank you for Lightning McQueen, Thank you for Dad, Thank you for Mom." ... I seriously love that kid. He is adorable and makes me smile everyday.

The other night we were at Temple Square in Salt Lake and one of the older Sister Missionaries that was there came up and said hi to all the kids. Kason looks at her and says, "Hi, this is my mom, Jami." ... He makes me laugh.

What would we do without our kids?!

Mi Casa today...

I moved here in November and people have been asking to see pictures ever since we moved in. So, today is your lucky day!!

This is my house how it is today ...

When you first walk down the stairs: 

To the left, to the left (to the right, to the right, now kick, now kick! ... ok, dance song, sorry)

Left again!

Now turn around ... and ... the kitchen!

 

down the hall, first door on your right ...

 

and second door on your right ...

 

Then, you keep going down the hall and you have my room and Kason's room.
Those are going to have to wait. Kason's room is TRASHED and I'm in the process of actually unpacking my room.

In time my dears. In time.

I love my house. It makes me happy. The only thing I DON'T like is being a basement dweller with a really noisy family above us. But, we live.