Happy 9th Birthday Jessica!

Monday the 29th Jessi turned 9 years old...I hope I can get through this without crying!

Each year that marks her birth is extra special to me because of what she's been through and the possibility of not having her here at all. Being a first time mom is hard enough, but when you have the threat of your first born's life being hung over your head, that makes it unbearable at times. Because of that, I've cherished Jessica and every passing year that I've been graced by her presence. She has grown so much over the past 9 years, not only physically, but spiritually and mentally. At times I catch myself asking "why her?! Why does this little precious daughter of God have to go through something as devastating as this that most adults will never have to experience?!". And then I watch her for a second and get my answer... because this trial makes her who she is and will become. She is so stubborn, strong-willed, yet extra sensitive, funny and full of life. She knows and understands things that most kids her age don't know and probably will never know. To her right now, it's not fair. But I hope in time she will realize how strong this has made her. I am so proud and impressed by her courage and strength. She knows she is different than others and has different needs, but that doesn't stop her at anything! She will find a way to do anything she wants to do! Like when the doctors told her not to jump on the trampoline after a surgery... where did I find her shortly after? ...On the trampoline, jumping! And she said, "see mom?! I jumped and I'm just fine!" Yet there are other times when she milks situations because she knows I'll give in. :)

Anyway, Jessi had a fun Hannah Montana birthday party with friends and cousin Bailie. I asked her why she likes Hannah Montana better than High School Musical, and she replied, "Because Hannah is a rock star and I am going to be a rock star!" And yes, in the pictures I am posting, she does have big knockers...she stuffed her shirt with socks. :) And I'm wondering the same thing...what is she wearing?! I find her at least once a day dancing to my MP3 player with her bust stuffed. I told her to stop rushing, she's already growing up too fast! I want Jessica to know (if she'll ever read this) how much I love and adore her...everything about her! She is so precious to me and I am so thankful the Lord let me be her earth mother...what a privilege! And she has taught me so much, already in her 9 years. I don't know what I would do with out her!!! I LOVE YOU JESSICA!!!

Christmas 2008

We had a really enjoyable Christmas this year! It finally snowed in our little secluded part of the town, right before Christmas! All I heard was people complaining about it, but I really enjoyed it...even while shoveling the walks (twice!). And not just for the kicks of seeing people fall on it, but because it brings in the feeling of Christmas.

We spent Christmas eve evening at my parent's house with my sisters and their families. The kids sang a few songs and acted out the nativity scene as my dad read it from the scriptures. Grammy gave them all matching pj's and the adults exchanged their gifts. We got Batman The Dark Knight! And finally, the kids bashed the pinata. On the way home, we stopped at Thanksgiving Point's little drive through light show. Except for the car in front of us stopping at EVERY display and taking pictures, it was really cute.

The kids all slept in the same room and anticipated hearing Santa on the roof. I had to reassure Sawyer several times that Santa would not come in his room. And Logen reminded me to put cookies and "let me think... probably milk. I think he will really like milk tonight". Amazingly, with all the sugar in them, they were asleep by 9:30. Logen came in around 7am to wake us up. They were so excited to see that Santa did really come!

Santa gave us all a Wii and a bunch of stocking stuffers, Bob and I gave Jessi & Logen Heelys

(yes, Logen has fallen at least 20 times already), Sawyer an Indiana Jones sound whip, & Gavin a music/water mobile that hangs in his crib. I can't remember who gave what to who, but Jessi got walkie talkies, Logen got a Speed Racer remote control car, Sawyer got an Air

Hog remote control car, and Gavin got a light up musical toy. The kids gave Bob a Dallas Cowboy's hat (Tony Romo edition), and I gave him a stereo receiver and the series of The Band of Brother's. The kids gave me Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility DVDs, and Bob gave me a gift card to Aeoropostle & Maroon 5 CD. Grammy & Pops spoiled them (as usually) with a bunch of other toys.

Harley even got a HUGE bone that kept him busy all day! Logen and Jessica spent most of the day in the kitchen on the wood floor skating on their Heely's, and if Sawyer wasn't in the candy, he was driving his remote control car up the walls or whipping everyone with his sound whip. It was a very good Christmas! And as usual, I'm sad it's over!

The most wonderful time of the year!

I LOVE this time of year!!! Although it's sad to see people want to take away the merriment by either taking Christ out or by just being plain rude and grouchy. But I love the decorations, the excitement my kids carry throughout the month, the snow (where is it?!), not to mention the goodies!

I carry such good memories of Christmas time from my childhood which make this time of year my favorite. As a kid, we'd go up to my Grandma and Grandpa Fairbanks' house. Along with my cousins, my sister's and I would put on a little program of songs and skits for the adults...I don't think there was a year I didn't pee my pants for laughing so hard! Ahhh...good times. And we also would get matching pj's that we would wear home while looking for Rudolph's nose in the sky. As my kids get older, I hope the traditions that I've tried to start with them and their cousins and grandparents, stick with them and bring such wonderful memories as mine do. All these good memories are what brings the excitement to Christmas time.

Last year we started leaving crackers in closets for the elves...the kids had such a good time checking every morning to see if they ate or took a bite of one. We also baked cookies one night and drove around the neighborhood and voted on the best decorated house, and awarded them with the cookies. They talked about that all year long! It was one of the first things Logen asked if we were going to do this year.

And of course, we get together on Christmas Eve with family and have dinner and a pinata for the kids. But this year, I'm going to attempt to help them (with cousins) put on a program like I used to do. I'll probably still pee my pants laughing at them! Pops reads the nativity scene out of the scriptures (as he's done since I can even remember), and we usually act it out as he reads. And as always, Grammy will give the kids matching pj's that they get to open and wear home.

On Christmas morning when the kids wake up, they know not to go downstairs, but to wait for us to wake up. Which didn't happen quite that way last year...they kept taking turns coming into our room asking "is it time YET?!" Bob finally gave up at 5:30am...I think he was more excited than them because he was all too eager to get up. We have a prayer and remind them that we are celebrating the Saviors birth and then we follow Bob down stairs. Since it is the Savior's birth we are celebrating, the kids only get 3 gifts...to symbolize the 3 gifts the Savior received from the wise men. One gift, usually the biggest, is from Santa, one is from mom and dad, and the other is from whomever name they picked out of a bowl in the beginning of the month. They're supposed to keep it a secret and do nice things for the one they picked, but being kids, they forget. Anyway, this year Logen started asking me why they only get 3 presents and others get TONS of presents. I told him that it's the Savior's birthday we're celebrating and he's lucky he gets anything at all! Then I remind him that on his birthday, he gets TONS of presents. I don't want them growing up thinking Christmas is all about gifts and presents. I want them to remember why we celebrate it and do as the Savior does...GIVE. After the damage is done, we have breakfast...if they're not full on candy. My siblings and I used to go up to my parent's house for breakfast...my dad cooked. But now that we live so far away, I've made Bob carry on that tradition in our house (thanks honey!). And then we relax......or try to anyway. Did I mention that I LOVE this time of year?! :)

He did WHAT?!!!

I'm still trying to decide if I should label today's experience with Logen humorous, upsetting, or sad. I think I'll have to go with all three...if that's possible. Let me explain... I guess it was humorous because it's true, "boys will be boys", but it's upsetting because it proves how wicked this world is. And sad because my little boy is growing up and losing his innocence...thanks to some foreigner whose parents don't give a crap about teaching their kids a little respect! Anyway, on with the story. I was on the computer today, listening to the kids play outside. I heard some yelling and seconds later Jessi comes running in all upset and asked me what "flipping the bird" is. Uhhh... why in the world would she want to know that?! I told her that it's a swear word in sign language and she doesn't need to know what it looks like. Then she held her finger up and asked, "is it this?"! I said, "yeah, who did that?!!" "Logen just did it to the neighbor girl (name withheld)", she said. I honestly could not hold back my smile, and not just because I'm not very fond of this neighbor girl. But picturing little Logen flipping the bird was actually quite funny. I told her to send Logen in...and he came in with that little dimpled grin that says "I know I'm in trouble, maybe this grin will get me out of it". I asked him if he flipped the neighbor girl off, and why. He said he did because she was bugging him. Come to find out, he learned it from the 10 year old neighbor boy. I asked him if he knew what it meant...and he didn't, so I told him that he just said a really bad word in sign language and if I ever see or hear of him doing it again, he will NEVER get another Christmas in his life! His little grin quickly disappeared and was replaced with complete and udder shock. It's moments like this that I get a high on my "mother power"! Anyway, he told me he will never ever do it again; (yeah right) I'm hoping at least not until he's a teenager. Bob is no help either. When I told him what Logen did, he broke down laughing like he was pretty impressed and said, "Logen, you flipped the neighbor girl off?!" It wasn't until I said, "yeah, and he'll never do it again...right Logen?" that Bob sobered up and agreed with me, telling him that if he does it again, he'll break his finger. The sad part about this, is that I can't even go over and talk to this boy's mom because she doesn't speak English...this boy has to interpret things to her and you know that he won't interpret the story correct! So, for now, my kids are not allowed to play with this little trouble maker neighbor...at least until his mom can learn to discipline and teach her son better, which is probably never! Hopefully some of what I teach and tell my kids will eventually stick and situations like this will not rub off on them anymore. Aren't kids priceless?!!

Cute little Gavin

It's hard to believe that Gavin is already 4 months old. I wish I could get rid of the baby weight as fast as I put it on! Anyway, back to Gavin. I think his eyes will probably turn out to be hazel...although Logen's were hazel until he was about 1 or 2...then they went brown. Not as brown as Jessi's, and definitely not blue like Sawyer's! Everyone has their opinion on who Gavin looks like... but as his mother, who is always right, I think he's looking a lot like Jessica. :) They have a lot of similarities...neither of them have dimples (except on the chin), both have a round face, and they even have the same vein showing between their eyebrows. Despite his cute looks and contagious grin at whoever looks at him, he is an absolute joy! He was sleeping about 6 hours at night, but then all of a sudden went back to waking up every 3 hours...growth spurt? I don't know, but he is probably the chunkiest of my kids! None of them had rolls of fat, but he sure does...and it's adorable! He's starting to grab at things and pull them into his mouth. It's funny to see him concentrate on something in front of him and go cross eyed! I'm not quite sure if he'll be a thumb sucker, too. He loves sucking his fists and actually gets his thumb in there, but gnaws on it more than sucks it. It doesn't matter...my kids are all going to need braces regardless if they are thumb suckers or not! Gavin loves to talk, too. If you just look at him, he'll break into a huge grin and then start talking to you. I always answer him with a "really?!" or "you're kidding me!" and Logen asks me if I know what he's saying...I tell him "yes" and then he drills me after every "goo" and "gaw" from Gavin on what he just said. I thought Logen was kidding, but nope...he really thought I knew what Gavin was saying! I could use this towards my advantage...haha! Anyway, Gavin never lacks love in this household...the kids ALWAYS fight over who gets to hold him. And he is always being smothered...literally...with kisses. We all love Gavin and are thoroughly enjoying him and his cute little personality that is coming out.

Halloween 2008

Well, Halloween has come and gone again...whew! I do have to admit that it was more enjoyable than last year...probably because I wasn't nauseous from pregnancy! It was fun to see Jessi (Hannah Montana) and Logen (Indiana Jones) in their school parade,(pictured above) and watch Sawyer keep excitement all day about "trick or treating". You wouldn't believe how well they behaved all day when "trick or treating" was at stake! Bob took them out just as it was getting dark...Sawyer was done by the end of our street, but that's okay because he helped me hand out the candy. Jessi and Logen lasted an hour and a half and only came home because they couldn't lift their bags anymore! We have 2 HUGE bowls completely full of candy...but at the rate I'm going...I mean the rate the kids are going, it'll be gone by next week! All in all, It was a happy and fun Halloween...now on to Christmas!!

Logen's Soccer Season

I'm so proud of Logen this year, in soccer...he did such an awsome job! He averaged about 4 goals a game and seems to be falling into the "forward" soccer position. His coach and team have come to rely on him to get the ball away from the other team and take it down to score. Although he has missed a few balls coming his way while flashing us his dimpled little smile, his confidence level is gradually improving...with the help of soccer and school. We are so lucky to have Logen in our family and hope he knows how much we love and adore him! WE LOVE YOU LOGEN! (Below is his very first goal...he's in yellow)

Pumpkin Carving

Halloween isn't my most favorite holiday of the year, but it seems to be a hit with my kids. I'll take a shot and guess the candy has a lot to do with it! I do have some good memories of Halloween though. Like the costume parades at school where my mom came to help, and the kick I got out of finding my dad in the crowd. And eating chili and bread sticks every Halloween before going trick or treating with my dad...too bad my kids don't like chili! Although Bob thinks I make way too much of holidays (which I don't), I hope that my kids get as good of memories that I have. I hope Bob knows how grateful I am to him for being willing to please me and go along with my holiday festivities which (hopefully) give our kids such great memories. And although he doesn't hide in trees to catch the punks who take and smash our pumpkins against our mailbox, like my dad did :), I know that he is making just as good of memories for our kids by humoring me and taking part of these fun holiday traditions. I'm grateful for my dad and mom and all the good memories they've created for me. As my kids get older, I'm beginning to find out how much work they really did around the holidays to make them so fun! So, when I'm up late picking up pumpkin seeds and guts off the floor and baking salted seeds (that they wanted, but will never eat), I will continue to tell myself that it's all worth it...I know it is, by the pictures and memories.

2008 slide show