Jake turns 15

Jake is 15!!!

I really can't believe it! I look at pictures of him from just a couple of years ago and can't believe the change. He has grown up so fast. He is truly a young man now. We even had someone at Deseret Book ask if he was going on a mission. What? He's only 15 and he's starting to look that old. I know he will be at that age in the blink of an eye.

As you can see, Maddy and I snuck (is that a word?) into his bedroom while he was snowboarding and decorated his room. I thought that would be a fun tradition to start with the kids' birthdays this year and I think they enjoy it. It's always fun to have something that makes you feel a little extra special for that day. I love the smiley face that Maddy thought of putting on his wall.
It doesn't look like he got much for his birthday but with a season snowboarding pass, he was happy! He also got a helmet, PS3 game, shoes, and lots of hugs. :) His birthday was on a Sunday so he went snowboarding with his friends the day before. Other than his favorite dinner and playing PlayStation after church with Josh, it was a pretty quiet day.


Man, I love this kid!!

15 things I love about Jake:

I love his smile!! It's kind of that shy-type that sneaks in and it makes me smile.

I love his eyes - they can make me laugh out loud when he makes funny expressions with them. And they can melt my heart.

I love Jake's sense of humor. Somehow he always knows how to bring a smile to my face. (Even when I dont' want him to. HaHa. He is definitely a tease like his father and brother)

I love, love, LOVE to watch Jake play football. There is simply nothing like it! There is something so satisfying about watching your children do something they absolutely love... even if it scares you to death.

Jake is so much fun to be with. No matter what we are doing, if he's there, it is better. With his sense of humor, he makes everyone laugh.

I love that Jake puts his heart and soul into everything he does. Literally...everything! If he believes in it, he gives 110%.

I love that Jake loves Seminary. It just shows what a great kid he is and how he is spiritually-grounded. That makes a mother proud!

Jake is an awesome big brother! I can hardly think of Maddy without thinking of Jake. He is always so good to spend time with her playing games, making up dances, listening to music, etc. Maddy always loves to be by her big brother. Jake is also a good "little" brother. It has been fun to see Jake's friendship with Josh grow this year. I think they are now more than brothers, they are friends. They have alot of the same interests and it is so fun to watch them share those together.

I love that Jake gets straight A's and the sense of accomplishment that it gives him. I sometimes worry that he thinks he has to get straight A's for me to be proud of him. I always tell him that as long as he tries his hardest, that's all I care about. But once again, Jake goes above and beyond. I'm proud of him no matter what his grades are because he works hard!

Jake is such a caring person. He feels things very deeply and is sensitvie to other's feelings. I love that he tries to make people feel better about themselves and lifts them up. I think that is hard to find in a friend.

I love that Jake finished the Book of Mormon this year - what an accomplishment!! And every bit of it came from his own desire. Jake is so self-driven that way. I never have to push or prod. If he sets out to do something, it's as good as done.

I love that Jake is so sensitive and caring. Like with everything else in his life, he gives his whole heart and soul in his relationships. I think that is one of his most important traits that will always serve him well in his life.

Jake is a loyal. Once you become his friend, he will stick by you through anything and everything.

I love that Jake always wants to be better. No matter how high of grades he gets, he aims higher. Many times he has been close to a hundred percent in a class but he does extra credit to make sure he's over the top. How awesome is that! No matter how well he does in football, he always wants to be better. While I sometimes worry that Jake expects too much of himself, I know that this is a wonderful characteristic that will serve him well as he moves into adulthood. His sense of responsibility and drive to achieve perfection will always serve him well in all endeavors.

I love Jake for the strength he gives me. He has truly been a stabilizing force in my life over the past couple of years. He has been strong on days that I've really needed strength. He has brought me happiness and security in a time in my life that I didn't feel secure. The funny thing is, I dont' think Jake even realizes what he has done for me and meant to me. I am so thankful he is my son and can't imagine having to face life without him!


I love you so much, Jake! Thanks for all the goodness that you bring to my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I thought this little turkey was so cute! The little girl our whole family is in love with, Kailey Parkin, brought these to us the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Her mom is so creative!

For Thanksgiving this year, it was our year to go to the Oylers. This year we had everyone there except Jordan, Jodie, and Jaxson. Even Morgan and Josh were both home from their missions. As always, the meal was delicious. It was a great day and we all ate too much. After resting, we played games, including a mean game of Twister. My kids loved that!

I'm so thankful for all of the blessings I have in my life! They are too numerous to count. I want so badly for my children to understand the blessing of gratitude. As I age, I continue to learn how gratitude can change my life as it changes my perspective. If we focus on what we already have instead of what we don't or what we want, miracles can happen. We start to realize how blessed we are and it makes us want to be more. It makes us focus on the Savior who gave us everything and it makes us want to give back. That is the miracle of giving thanks~

Nutcracker 2010

"But a child is only a moment, only a snowflake of sweet remember when. Yes, a child is only a moment, a wonderful moment that never comes again. Yes, a child is only a moment, hold on to that moment, for it never comes again." -Earl Brown

Clytie introduced the Nutcracker with this quote. Although it makes me feel like crying, I think it is so beautiful...and so true. I know to enjoy these memories with Maddy because I have watched Josh grow up so quickly that it felt like he was gone in the blink of an eye. I know it will be the same with Maddy. So we are enjoying every minute of this wonderful experience (no matter how tiring it can be:)

I was so happy for Maddy that she made the Nutcracker! I don't know who gets more nervous, me or her? I was especially proud of her this year for the way she has handled herself. You see, Maddy made the Nutcracker which is obviously a huge honor, but unfortunately, she got a part she didn't want - Gingerbread. It's not that it is not a cute part, because it is. It's just that usually the younger kids are in this part and Maddy has been in this same scene for the past 2 years. In spite of this, Maddy decided to accept the part and even though a few people commented about her being with the younger girls, she handled it all with such grace. I really am so proud of her for this! She knows that the parts are determined by size, due to the costumes that are available and has decided to just enjoy the experience and have fun. I think she has learned alot from the experience and certainly had fun along the way. In addition to that little trial, one of her best friends got the part that she (and every other little girl) wanted - Party Girl. Instead of being jealous, Maddy showed nothing but excitement for Brea. She was gracious and kind throughout the whole experience. And when performance time came, she reveled in the experienced and smiled just as big as she did the other years. That smile makes all the parent volunteer hours, the carpools, and time away from home worth it.

Performances go for basically a week, with Dress Rehearsals on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 4 performances Thursday through Saturday. It's a whirlwind week! This year, I was on the Sweats committee so I helped sell sweats one Saturday, chaperoned 2 nights, and sold sweats at the boutique one night. We always go with our whole family and grandmas and grandpas one night and take her out to dinner before. This year, Grandpa M and Shay weren't able to come because they were out of town but Uncle Jeremy was there, along with her brothers. Even her friends, Lindsee and Olivia came to see her this year. That meant alot. We met Grandma and Grandpa O at Tony's Pizza before. Daddy brought her flowers, which always makes her night.

Then Jeff and I always go and see her at the Saturday matinee. We've been lucky so far because we've been able to sneak her out after Act 1 and take her to lunch. This year we went to Texas Roadhouse. I think she really enjoys having this one on one time with just Mom and Dad. I really think kids need that and I think it makes her feel special and to realize what a big deal this is. It really is such an honor!

This year, we gave out little Nutcracker notebooks and Nutcracker cookies as Maddy's gifts to the other Gingerbreads. She received lots of great gifts including ornaments, soap, shower gel, flowers, a Nutcracker, socks, cookies, and candy. This is always a favorite part of the experience. Other than performing, Maddy's favorite part is the time she gets to spend with her friends in between. As you can see, they keep themselves entertained and build wonderful memories that I hope she will remember forever.

I love Fall!

I love Fall! The colors, the smells, the harvest, the crispness of the air - I love it all! I love the thought of hunkering down with my family and enjoying time indoors together as the weather cools down. It used to discourage me to think of Fall coming because I knew it meant that long winters are coming too. But now, I take time to enjoy the beauty of this season, instead of worrying about the next. And I love the time of year that Fall ushers in.

And this is what's left...

Mini-Bowl Week