I won't let it die!

Almost a year has gone by since I lasted posted on this lovely little blog.  While my writing skills have not improved any since I last posted I do miss having fun things recorded here on the blog.  So, I'm going to try and start again.  We'll see how it goes.  I certainly can't re-capture the last year, but I can start from last month and try to keep on top of things.  Let's start with some super fun photos of conference weekend at Matt and Jessie's house.  This year Brig and Lisa were here and it was so great! 

Such great weather and good times!  The walk to the park and then playing there was one of the highlights of the day, but of course the conference messages were stellar too.


My favorite part of the day was definitely the round of "RUPP" we played (instead of "horse" or "pig) between my brothers and sister.  I think it's fair to say that none of us spend too much time on a basketball court.  It was shameful, but this picture isn't.  I think it looks like an album cover.  We had fun.  Who cares if we can't play basketball.

If you hate making dinner... Read me!

It's a new year!  I've chosen ONE new years resolution.  It's pretty broad, but still it is just one.  I've chosen to try and become more positive.  I'm a pessimist by nature.  I can point out the negative with the best of them!  I'm determined to change that. 


Elder Holland has told us that it's easy to live the gospel when things are going smoothly, it's when things get a little bumpy that the true test comes.  The same applies to being positive.  There are quite a few things I can be positive about relatively easy, but some things are more difficult.  One of the most difficult currently is Noelle's Celiacs diagnosis.  Sheesh!  It's a tough one.  I just don't like it. 

Cooking use to be so easy (now that it's gotten so hard).  The other night I made macaroni and cheese for Noelle.  This picture is what that effort did to my kitchen.  No more mac and cheese from the box.  It's all from scratch and it's all cooked in a different way than what I am use to.  It's a big effort.  

Mille liked the macaroni!

Libby hated the macaroni.

Noelle was happy with the results.

 I ate the macaroni and cheese.  It didn't even matter whether I liked it or not.  I ate it because that is what I  made for dinner. So, why am I sharing this relatively negative experience when I'm trying to be positive?  Well, it got me thinking about how I use to be so negative about cooking dinner.  I thought it was a little rough.  It was so hard (I thought) to think of what to make or to plan ahead, etc.  Now I would really enjoy going back to those "problems".  So, if there is someone out there that is reading this that has a similar new years resolution to mine then maybe this post will help.  Maybe you can make dinner with an abundance of positivity because your choices of what to cook are limitless!  Or maybe you can feel positive about that pizza you picked up from Little Ceasers because that is a possibility for your family too.  I tell you, there are so many things to be positive about when it comes to dinner if you don't have to do it without wheat! 

Really, there is a positive side to Celiacs too.  I'm learning.  It is teaching me empathy for others.  It is teaching me to be thankful for every little thing I have because some day I may not have it anymore.  Here are a few things I am feeling positive about:

• Laundry- I love my washing machine and dryer.
• Exercising- I am so thankful my body works well enough to get out of bed early in the morning and go to the gym.
• Heater in my car-  Its cold outside, but it feels so good when the car warms up and the heater is pumping warm air on me.  Plus I have a seat warmer!! 

I could go on, but for now just know that we all have so much to be positive about!  Going to the grocery store is a completely positive experience because you have so much to choose from.  You don't know what you have until it's gone.  By the way, I can also be positive about the large gluten free section at Lee's.  Still working on a way to be positive about the prices ;).

Annual Jackson Birthday/Christmas Celebration!

This year we all stayed at the Staybridge Suites in West Valley.  It was fantastic.  A water park was attached to the building and the kids were in heaven.  My camera fogged up whenever we went into the water park area, so I don't have any photos.  No photo proof, but lots of eye witnesses to attest to the fact that Grandpa Jack went down the water slide!  That man is good!  Here we are all gathered in Grandma and  Grandpa's room to celebrate everyone's birthday.

Libby is enjoying a piece of Grandma's famous cake roll.

Bryn in her jammies and cute as ever.

Noelle was spoiled by Grandma with all sorts of gluten free goodies.  She is happy!

Grandma is always good to play a game with the kids.  Here, they are playing one of our favorites, "Spot It".

Each family had their own suite to stay in.  They were deluxe!  The girls favorite part was Millie's crib because it was on wheels. They moved it from one room to the next and as you can see, even got in with her for a ride.

We went to the Festival of Trees and did a scavenger hunt there.  It was great fun and there were so many fun things to see.  This was Ellie's favorite exhibit.  You can see an "Elf on the Shelf" in the background taking a bath in marshmallows!  Ellie loves our Elf on the Shelf, Guster.

Millie was such a good girl.  She loves being on her daddy's shoulders.

Aunts & Nieces.  Michelle is so much fun at all these outings and Shalise is wonder woman.  Shalise had just had Trayson days before this gathering.  She is a go getter!

 On our "free night" we went to South Towne mall with Michelle, Reggie, & Quinn.  They got to ride the train through the mall!  Better yet, was the sushi we had before the mall.  Even Reggie was happy because there were hamburgers on the menu too!

Lots of cute stars for the nativity.

Millie loves anything soft.  Here she is cuddling with a scarf Porter was holding.

What a great looking bunch.  Love them all!

Included this picture just to prove I was there.  I was on keyboard duty for the Hymns.  When you are behind the camera, you take what you can get (uncle Scott took this picture).

Speical day #2

The night before the sealing the girls and I went over to the church to decorate.  They were so helpful!  I wanted to make everything look beautiful!  A Beautiful day deserves beautiful center pieces.

I started working on these babies a month before the sealing.  It involved, spray paint, DI dishes, epoxy, digging pine nuts out of pine cones, dollar store trips, and borrowing some awesome pine cones from my parents. 

 The day was beautiful!  Inside and out!  We were sealed on the day after Thanksgiving.  It was significant for many reasons, one of them being that Daren and I were married the day after Thanksgiving 15 years earlier. It was a little cold, but our friend Jeni Labrum did a great job taking photos that make us appear comfortable.  We were so glad to go inside when photos were finished!  They treated us all like royalty once we entered and I was so thankful that Jess was there to help with the girls.  She was our special aunt that day.  There were also many other family members and friends that filled the sealing room with love. 

 The little angel herself.  The reason for it all!

 We spent the two weeks prior to the sealing learning all we could about temples each night during scripture study.  We answered as many questions as we could and we hope that the girls will always remember, above all, the special spirit they felt inside the temple.

Millie's nose is looking a little pink!

The girls will warm her up!

As an extra bonus, we were able to have Millie's birth mom and grandmother at the temple.  Her birth grandmother was present inside the temple for the sealing.  It was how it is suppose to be.  So much love!

I wish I had pictures of everyone that attended.  We snagged Aaron & Steph, but missed Steve & Vickie, Nana & Papa Holley, the Gibbons, Madelyn & Marvin, Aunt Colleen, Daren's parents and siblings, Dave, my parents, etc.

Brooke (Dave's girlfriend) filled a special role in sitting with Courtnie in the waiting room.  I am thankful for her!

My Grandpa Wally!  All the grandparents were special on this day.  I have no doubt that there are some special Grandmas in heaven that had a hand in this arrangement (Grandma Gloria, Granny Holley, & Grandma Great all were in my mind and heart).

Special Day #1

 Sunday November 18, 2012 was my mom's birthday.  We had a great party for her at Jessie's house.  Matt made some super yummy salmon, Jess made some great horseradish carrots (delish!), and I even managed to pull off a gluten-free carrot cake.  The food was memorable and orange.  We didn't plan that part.  Since we were already all the way to Farmington, and we knew we had to be in court by 8 am the next morning, we decided to get a hotel room and stay in SLC.  Little America happened to be the closest to the court house.  So we partied there for a night.

 The girls number one request was swimming.  Daren stepped up and did the swimming for the night and I got to be the photographer.  It isn't very hard to tell that this sweet little Millie of ours is loved, is it?  She was so fun in the pool and had a grand time splashing her heart out.

 But then.... She wouldn't go to sleep.  We tried hiding her behind the couch, but she just knew something was going on that she was missing out on.  It was pretty darn cute.  Maybe she could feel what was about to take place the next day.  I know I could feel it.  It was exciting and scary all at the same time.  We were going to court on Nov 19th.  6 months to the day that Amelia came to our home.  We never thought we would be blessed enough to do it within that time frame! Now everything just needed to go through!

 The weather was nice enough for us to walk over to the courthouse.  Courtnie (Millie's birthmom) met us there.

Lots of legal talk, yes or no questions, serious faces, a couple questions from the judge, Noelle approaching me during a critical moment to tell me she was hungry--- uh, hello go sit down!, and some signatures and the deed was done.  Legally Amelia Courtnie Jackson was ours for the rest of time and now we tackle eternity....to be continued.

Halloween

No explanations really needed here!  Cute kids, fun costumes, lots of candy, and pretty nice weather.  More importantly, why is there always a laundry basket in the background of my photos?  I will tell you why... because I'm always doing laundry!!  So thankful for a washing machine and a dryer :).