Christmas Letter

Life is crazy busy right now. Something has got to give. Right now, that something is Christmas cards. I am choosing not to send them. Instead, I wrote my Christmas letter and decided to post it on the blog. Mostly, for my own sake. I get my blog printed in a bound book and it becomes sort of a journal/scrapbook. So, for those who take the time to look at my blog, here is our year in a very small nutshell.

Dear Friends and Family,

It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. Life seems to go so much more quickly as I get older. Our kids are growing up a bit faster than I would like them to, but they are such a joy to have around.

I guess I’ll start with the youngest and go up. Jackson is almost 4 months old now. He is such a happy baby! He laughs and chatters all the time. He loves his siblings and chatters at them with the most vigor. They return his adoration with lots of kisses and pats. Jackson is even thoughtful enough to let mom sleep very well at night. He only wakes up once or twice to eat and then goes right back to sleep (well-almost always).

Charlee is growing up fast. She misses her brothers when they are away at school. But mommy appreciates this time with her because she knows all too soon Charlee will be going to school as well. She is looking forward to preschool next year. She is also looking forward to dance lessons starting in January. And let’s face it….mommy is looking forward to that more than anyone. Since I only have one girl, I pretty much insist on Charlee taking dance just so I can dress her up!

Jayden is in first grade this year. He is doing very well. His teacher tells me all the time how much she loves Jayden’s personality. He is such a sweetheart to everyone he meets. He gets so enthusiastic about life and everything around him. It is very contagious. Very often, when I ask him about school, he will say, “Best. Day. Ever!” And then tell me some sweet story about why it was the best day ever. I just hope that someday I can adopt that positive attitude and have that many “best day evers.”

James is in third grade this year. I cannot believe how advanced third grade is! He is doing some challenging math! Sometimes when he asks for help on his homework, I am secretly figuring it out on my calculator under the table. I know, right? But he is keeping up with it very well. James is at the age now that sometimes after the other kids go to bed, he and I sit and talk. We have had some very stimulating conversations about life and the gospel. Honestly, it scares the crap out of me to have him growing up right before my eyes. I think to myself, “How am I going to teach him everything he needs to know?” I guess that is when I just get on my knees and beg for help and guidance. Parenting is a big job, you know?

Jason had a wonderful year this year. He really loves working with GPS. And apparently, he is super good at it. He won the CGO (company grade officer) of the quarter award at the squadron, wing, and 14^th air force levels. I am so proud of him. He is actually away right now in California for some training he was hand-picked for. Then in January and February, he will go to Alabama for another training. He is moving onward and upward. What a good husband I have, huh?

I am still working on my Masters in midwifery. I can’t wait for the day I can write in my Christmas letter that I graduated from MCU and am a certified professional midwife. But alas, it is still a couple of years away. I am on “maternity leave” right now from attending births. I am going to start going to births again after the first of the year. It will be tough to leave my baby, but I am going to start slow. I only have 1 birth a month scheduled right now. Sometimes it seems impossible to keep up with everything I need to be doing. School, callings (yes, plural), housework, exercise, scripture study, homework with the kids…and the list goes on. But everyday I strive for balance. I tell my birthing moms to be gentle with themselves, and I need to remind myself of that same thing on a daily basis.

We miss our families that live far away. We wish we could see you more. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Pictures of the Big Man

I love the Christmas season! The lights, the music, the parties...everything. A friend emailed me a copy of a 25 day advent activity that I'm very excited to start with the fam. It is a scripture, song, and story for every day in December. What a great way to bring more of the spirit of Christ into Christmas!!

I have tried and tried to get a picture of Jackson smiling. He smiles all the time...he's such a happy boy. But of course, as soon as the camera comes out, he stops smiling to check out the camera. Oh, well. Here's what I've got. Enjoy.

Big, puffy cloth diaper bum. :)

Caught him mid-yawn

Love those big beautiful eyes

Love those kids!!

Don't tell....but Jason is getting a camera for Christmas. So, hopefully in the near future, we will have some higher quality and quantity pictures comin' this way.

Fall Break

The kids are on fall break right now. It's nice to have the boys home with me during the day for a while. Charlee loves it when her brothers are home. Jason took a couple days off and we spent time together as a family. Friday, we went to Wishing Star farms. It was really fun. The kids rode ponies, had a hay ride, went on a 50 foot slide down a dirt hill, pet the animals, and all sorts of other fun stuff. Then we picked out pumpkins at the end. James and Jayden had to carry their pumpkins to the car. They, of course, picked out the biggest pumpkins they could find, so it was no small task for them to get them to the car. But, they did it!

Blessing Day

Today was Jackson's blessing day. Because of our distance from family, only Daniel and his son Joseph could attend with us. But it was a beautiful day, although we missed our families. Jackson looked so cute in his blessing outfit.

Jackson finally got of O2 last week. It was a marvelous day! Life is so much easier with a baby that isn't connected to a tank or a machine. I can actually walk freely around the house now while holding him! And travel is so much easier. I am so grateful for a healthy baby.

We are finding our new normal as a family since his birth. I was telling Jason the other day that I can't believe it is October already. Jackson was born in August and it still seems like August in my mind. Jason said that outside my little nest (my house), the world has kept going. It has been wonderful to take some time off work and just enjoy my baby.

I have still continued my "bookwork" studies. I try to just keep trucking along with that. It seems to take forever for me to finish classes. Thank goodness for a school that has flexible due dates. People ask me all the time when I will finish school. For right now, I am scheduled to finish in 2014. I know that seems like forever. But basically I am getting another Bachelors degree with a Masters degree on top of it. It's a lot to learn! I am really loving school and I am so grateful for every new thing I learn. Sometimes I wonder if my brain has room for it all. :)

Jason has had such success at work these last few months. He received the CGO of the quarter award for the squadron, group, wing, and 14th Air Force. Next he will compete for the award for the entire Space Command. I am so proud of him. He is really good at his job. More than once, he has been instrumental in preserving the GPS signal you and I use everyday. Love him.

Still on supplemental oxygen. He doesn't look too happy about it.

Worldwide day of play. We celebrated at Peterson AFB. They had tons of fun kids activities.

Charlee and James trying to stay on their feet.

Jayden is dodging the wrecking ball.

Somebody loves his daddy.

Now that is adoration.

Yes, Jackson is freaking out. Out of about 10 pictures we took, this one is the best. Sad.

Love that face.

Baby Jackson

OK, so I'm sure everybody who looks at this blog already knows we had our baby. He was born August 15 at 10:45 pm. It was a fast and furious labor that ended with a beautiful baby boy being born at home (yes-on purpose!). He was born in water, which was a new experience for me. He was a little stinker and didn't breathe right away, but it only took him a little over a minute. It has been an adventure already, as we spent a day in the hospital due to bradycardia (medispeak for slow heart rate). His heart checked out fine, though. He has been on supplemental oxygen ever since because his pulse ox kept dropping. That basically means that his oxygen saturation levels are lower than we want them to be. The doc assured me that it is very normal here in Colorado due to our elevation. Combine that with his fast birth (more fluid left in his lungs) and his intermittent breathing pattern (normal for babies, they just have to outgrow it) and it means that he just needed a little help for a while. I think it scares people when they first see it, so I just assure them that he is fine and they get over it.

About an hour after birth. Isn't it amazing and wonderful that we are in our own bed?

Cute little squishy newborn face.

Poor Jackson. He is hooked up to oxygen, heart monitors, IV fluids, and a pulse oximeter. There were so many tubes and wires coming off him. Makes me want to cry. They strapped his IV arm to a board so he couldn't bend it. It looked so uncomfortable. He was less than 48 hours old.

Arrgh! I be a pirate! The first few days, Jackson wasn't big on opening his eyes. He would open just the one, and usually decide it wasn't worth the effort and close it again.

Wow, two eye open! Good job, buddy.

One week old!

Every military baby has to have some camo!

Jayden is 6!

Jayden asked for a party so he could have goody bags. Apparently, that is what birthdays are all about. :) But I finally had to tell him I was too pregnant to handle a party at home. So, he chose ITZ instead. It is a place with crappy food, but lots of games and some rides. A kid's wonderland, in other words. He also chose to pick out his own presents this year. So, the morning started out with a trip to Walmart where Jayden picked out some toys. (Seriously, at this point in our lives, I keep thinking on every birthday, "Do we really need any more toys??")

Anyway, I took the kids to ITZ this evening and I think it was a big hit. Jayden invited a friend (a girl whom he has said repeatedly he wants to marry...so cute!). Seriously, there are no boys his age, at all.

I am so grateful that Jayden is a part of our family. He is a very smart boy with a huge imagination. He is so tenderhearted and loving. He has a zest for life that helps me take a step back and really enjoy things more. I love him so much!!

Oh, What Do You Do In the Summertime?

I look forward to summer all school year long. I love getting out of bed in the summer and not having to rush around getting people dressed, teeth and hair brushed, lunches packed, etc. It's so nice to just take it easy...for about a week. Then comes the, "I'm booooooored," from the kids. Most days I do have something planned to keep us busy, but only for an hour or two usually. Jason has been working a lot of odd hours, so most of the time it is just me and the kids...all day every day. I lament the fact that we live on a street where there are very few kids to play with. So my kids are left to their own devices to entertain themselves for hours a day. It's been...interesting. Here is a sample of what we've been up to.

Swimming lessons - all three kids are loving it.

Checking out the lifeflight helicopter. We got to see it take off, too. The kids thought that was super cool. Almost every week we have been to the free concert in the park. They have lots of booths that give the kids free stuff-which they think is absolutely awesome. It is sponsored by a hospital, so they have been able to check out the helicopter, ambulance, baby-mama ambulance, and firetruck.

Face painting at the free concert at the park.

Independence Day at the Air Force Academy. It was a really great show. They had the Academy band and CS orchestra there playing music. They did the 1812 Overture with real cannon blasts! That was followed with a spectacular fireworks show. The only down side was that it took 2 hours to get home (about 8 miles away) due to the huge crowd.

Dinosaur museum in Woodland Park

Charlee is scantily clad most days at our house lately. We are trying our darndest to potty train this girl. Let's just say she is putting up her best fight. Lately, her thing is to act like a puppy and pee and poop on the carpet...just feet away from the toilet. What am I going to do with this girl?

The kids had a great time at a birthday party in May. It was at a gym, which is perfect for my energetic kids!

Always the life of the party. That is frosting all over their faces.

I have 5 weeks left until D day! This baby is very active. While I was hoping for a calm one, I am already thinking I am not going to get it. I was telling my dad the other day on the phone that I think Heavenly Father must have a lot of trust in me because he has sent me 4 very active, headstrong children. I mean, they are downright crazy with energy sometimes. I love them so much, don't get me wrong. I wouldn't trade them for anything! But this big, pregnant mama gets exhausted easily these days. I sure hope my energy level returns to normal fast after birth. I need it!