Monday, February 22, 2016

December catch up

In all of the hoopla and exhaustion of the past few months I really got behind on this blog!
But this really is our family journal and we love looking back at it so here we go with a week of catching up.  Better do it now before this baby comes!

I got part of our December posted in December, but here's the rest.  

Brett learned how to ride his bike without training wheels.  Keith had taken the training wheels off a week or two before this and Brett wasn't really getting it, but then one day he was outside with Keith and said, "Hey Dad, look at me!"  And there he was cruising around all by himself!  Good job Brett!
One of Camille's funny faces.  She's not short on personality!
Neither is he for that matter!
We took the boys to the East Valley Millennial Choir and Orchestra Christmas concert.
They sat still through most of the first half of the show and were super wiggly the rest of the time.  We were glad to be on the end of the very back row!
When the choir would sing really loud and powerful the boys would sit on the edge of their seats and their faces would light up.  I hope that's the feeling they remember from the concert and not the end when Brett announced to everyone around us that he was so glad it was over and he wanted to leave! Ha!
We took them to dinner at Texas Roadhouse after that.  It really was a fun date with our boys.  

Keith's sister's stake hosted a nativity tour at a local stake center.  The whole building was beautifully decorated for Christmas and there were rooms full of all sorts of nativities.  It was amazing!  There was also a live music performance each night.  I'll have to remember to check to see if they do this next Christmas.  Keith's mom had over 20 of her nativities displayed here.
A calm moment watching the train go around the tree.
A couple of Keith's sisters were in town and his parents took us all to Krazy Air.  Everyone had so much fun!  I think it would be fun to go back on a date night with Keith after this baby comes.

Making paintbrush Christmas cookies with my mom.
They turned out so cute and were super delicious!
We also made gingerbread houses one night at Keith's parent's house.


Here's the cute cast of our Jackson family Christmas Eve Nativity.
 We have to get a close up of Brett with that beard!  Ha!  Isn't he adorable?

 Getting ready to open their Christmas Eve slippers from Keith and me.
 Santa's milk and cookies, and a carrot for the reindeer, were left with care by the fire.
 Our elf, Tebow, looked on one last time before he went back to the North Pole.
Santa came!


Keith surprised me with a new bike!
Brett put his tractor to use by hauling our breakfast into the dining room.

 Camille must have been really hungry on Christmas morning because her first servings were cleared off her plate before we all sat down!
 This year we had scrambled eggs, chicken apple sausage, strawberries, cinnamon muffins, and fresh squeezed orange juice.  There must always be fresh squeezed orange juice!
 Walkie talkies were a hit with the boys!
 On Christmas night we had a yummy dinner at my parents house, along with my brother's family.  Camille looked so cute in her little black coat and her owl backpack that we'd given her for Christmas.
 I spied little Brett looking at one of our Jesus ornaments and quickly grabbed my camera.
 To finish off the month, and the year, we huddled in blankets in the back of our van on the driveway and watched Keith and our next door neighbor light fireworks.  
Happy New Year!

Friday, February 19, 2016

Valentine's Day 2016

Brett and Grant had fun Valentine parties at school and came home excited about their treats and cards from friends.
We mailed Valentine cards and stickers to our cousins and other out-of-town family.
The day before Valentine's Day I made up some Valentine fruit kabobs, just like I did last year, and we delivered them to our parents, great grandpa, a favorite babysitter, and an elderly neighbor lady.  I love giving something that's healthy since there are plenty of sweets to go around already.  Plus they're so cute and fun to make!
 Keith's grandpa was excited for our Valentine delivery.  We stayed for a while to visit and help with a few things.  The kids love checking out the fun toys he has for them to play with, and of course they got a little treat out of the candy dish.  I love how he always says to our kids, "I like you!  You're a keeper!"
 The kids woke up to find a hand made card from Keith and me and a super cute book.  It's called In My Heart, a book of feelings.   We found it on our date to LGO the weekend before.  The cover of the book called to me from the shelf, but the words were so perfect we knew it was coming home with us!  
Keith and I exchanged homemade cards and he gave me the most beautiful bright pink flowering indoor tree thing.  I'm not sure exactly what kind it is, but I love it and it brightens up our bathroom really nice.
It's always fun to have a reason to spread some extra love!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Monday, January 25, 2016

Camille turns 2!

Our little Camille turned two last Sunday!  How the time has flown since she was born!
We decorated and set up her  presents the night before.
 Her brothers led her down the hall and into the family room the next morning.  She ran to her new little table and was so excited to sit there.  We also gave her a couple new outfits and a necklace.  What girl doesn't love some new clothes for her birthday?!
 I got her cake put together.  Lucikly I had the cake waiting in the freezer already and the frosting and filling all ready in the refrigerator.  It was a white cake with lemon filling and lemon buttercream frosting, then covered in cut up gummy candies.

 My parents came over to share homemade pizza and soda.
 My mom made Camille a little apron and my parents also gave her a little baking set for her kitchen.
 Cake time!  She just kept staring at those candles like that the whole time we sang.  It was so funny!
 She definitely looks older, don't you think?  We sure love this little girl!  She is strong physically and personality wise.  She loves to sing and dance and dress up fancy for church.  Yet she also loves playing with the boys and she can really fend for herself.  She's going to do fine being in a houseful of boys!  Happy Birthday Camille!

Friday, December 18, 2015

Kids in December and 10 years

We've had a fun cousin over a few times to play with Brett during the day.  They stay busy building houses and stuff like that.  :)
 Camille woke up from her nap one day with a fever.  You know this busy girl isn't feeling well when she just wants to lay down and snuggle.  Luckily the fever went away that night and she was herself again the next day.
 Eating popcorn from the big bowl.
 Keith was in charge of our ward's breakfast with Santa.  I helped decorate.  Our friends have this awesome Santa chair.  We were so excited to be able to use it.  Keith's dad got to be Santa since the real Santa was busy getting ready for Christmas.  Our boys totally figured it out, but were good at not sharing the secret.


 We scored a rubber ducky nativity set as a white elephant gift.  Camille thinks it's pretty awesome!
 Brett and I made gingerbread men and trees.  We ate a few and then put the rest in the freezer for next week.
 Christmas dancing in the family room!
Keith and I will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary this weekend.
We took our family pictures at the Mesa Temple this year to mark the occasion.
A little over 10 years ago this handsome man of mine proposed to me at this spot.
This is the day I went to the temple for the first time.
Afterwards Keith promptly took me to buy my first set of golf clubs!  :)
 We went to San Diego for our honeymoon.  My, we sure look young here!
 10 years later we've added these three cuties to our family, plus their baby brother who's busy growing in my tummy.  :)

Happy 10 years Keith!  And many more to come!

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

An update

Thanksgiving....  After Keith and a bunch of other guys played football at the park (and practically killed themselves doing it.  Really, they think they are so young and then they can't walk the next day!), we went on a walk as a family before heading home so I could make rolls.  I had my pies made the night before so it was great to just have one thing to do.  We headed to my brothers house in the late afternoon and enjoyed the best turkey I've ever had.  My brother was in charge of the turkey and he brined it and cooked it to perfection.  I'm still dreaming about that stuff!  All the other food was amazing too!!!
The kids all had tons of fun running around with each other.

The next day we spent at home, with Christmas music playing non-stop, setting up Christmas decor.
Camille loved our Little People nativity this year.  She's played with it a ton!

The boys set up the Christmas train.

We got the tree up.  As much as I LOVE a real tree, it sure is nice to pop it up and have the lights on it already.  Especially when there are eager little people waiting for Mom to get done with the matching ornaments so they can put on all the rest.
Camille playing with the nativity again that night.
She also can't get enough of these Santa hats.  She wears one every day.
Handsome coat boy before heading out to school.  It was so cold here after Thanksgiving!
 Coat girl!
 As I was doing some baking the other day, Camille was busy at the sink "washing" dishes.
I think she's really going to love what I've heard Santa is going to bring her this year!
 Our Relief Society hosted another Backyard Bethlehem complete with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, live animals, shepherds, and music.  It was lovely.  They opened it up for bringing families, friends, and neighbors this past Sunday and there were about 300 people that came!



Keith took our packages and cards to the post office this morning and most of our Christmas treats have been delivered.  I'm excited to make a few more treats just for us and start relaxing a bit more.  Just a week and a half left of school before the kids will all be home.  I'm so excited!