Soccer!

In the fall we finally decided it was time for Jaxon to play some organized sports and he chose soccer.  We were SO SO blessed to get on a great team with a great coach and some really really nice kids!  The coach has continued to coach through winter season, and spring season which is about to start, and almost all the kids have continued to play together, so it has been a wonderful social, and athletic experience for Jaxon.  When he first started we didn't have much hope that he would ever be a soccer star, and really just wanted to work on coordination and teamwork.  He was content in the games to run near the ball but never touch it, so we decided to up the anti a little!  We told Jaxon we would give him $20 if he scored a goal- next game, guess what he did???  

SCORE!!!

After that we told him scoring was just for fun and has team, and he has scored 4 goals in the two seasons so far.  He has come SO SO SO SO FAR in his skill, understanding, and coordination, and we will be sad to see spring season end, because they he and a few others will be too old to play on this coach's team.

Jaxon thoroughly enjoys practice with his teammates as much as games!

What he doesn't enjoy is having his picture taken!

Blurry, but a good action shot

happy player

tic-toc drill

At the games Jaxon gets so excited that if he is not running with/near/after the ball, he can usually be found jumping for joy!!!

This is Jaxon at Goalie. He doesn't actually enjoy goalie that much, becuase he  doesn't get to RUN!!

Running with the pack!

Remember Fall break 2011?

For fall break, Jaxon and I have a tradition of going to visit my bro and SIL in Minnesota!  Traditionally the weather is SUPER CRAPPY the weeks before we get there, and then it warms up to a lovely 70 with fall colors and a cool breeze. This past year did not disappoint.  We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful weather, scenery, and company, by spending as much time as possible OUTSIDE, especially consider we left 100+ temps back home.  Jaxon and Katie are really REALLY similar...which means 80% of the time they were best friends, and 20% of the time, well...they fought like siblings!  They really did have a great time together, and I'm so glad that Jaxon has such amazing cousins in his life!

This is how Jaxon and I read many a book in the backyard

 We went to the greatest apple orchard where we picked our own apples and raspberries, ate apple donuts and drank apple cider, and had a great time just playing in the sunshine.

Enjoying an apple donut

Just looking cute

 The last couple days we were there it rained a heck of a lot.  Jaxon thought that was pretty awesome too!  He and Katie loved "making mud" and doing other dirty, messy things in the backyard.  It was still in the 50's and AnnaMarie and I didn't care as long as they were getting along!

The dynamic duo Making mud

On our last day there we went to a great outside nature walk. All I could think the whole time is "this place is free, and I could do the most awesome photoshoots here!!!"

  It was rainy but not cold and we had a great time! We found a tiny frog which Jaxon named Hoppy, and was devastated to be told we could not bring him home to Arizona. I think he would have still been okay with it had Katie not accidentally stepped on Hoppy when we released him back to the wild... oops.

Mom and Jaxon holding HOPPY

We absolutely LOVE and treasure this tradition, and if it continues, it will be a whole lot crazier!! AnnaMarie is due with twin boys any day now, and by next Spring Break I will have a 6 month old! That will make 6 kids under 7...YOWSA!!!!

Lehi Days 2012

What? You've never heard of LEHI DAYS?

PREPOSTEROUS!

Ha, just kidding!
 I had never heard of it either until late Thursday night when my sister called and informed me she had just made the MOST FUN PLANS EVER for Saturday, and that as soon as she told them to me, I was going to be TOTALLY IN! She was RIGHT!

  Lehi days is a "rodeo" put on by the Lehi Stake here in Mesa, which must be one of the oldest stakes here, because the announcer knew the extensive history of just about everyone in the Rodeo...ie... "Up Next is Jeb Whitehead. His great-great-grandfather was the second eagle scout EVER in the Lehi stake!" and "There's Rhett Smithson riding his grandpa's farorite horse 'Ol' Blue'. As soon as good old Rhett is done with Lehi Days, he's heading out on his mission, Way to Go Rhett! Oh, and By the way, Rhett and his dad were both  members of state champion wresting teams at Westwood!"
Anyway,  There was a little bit or "real rodeo-ing" and other than that, it was SUPER FUN events for kids of different ages.  let me just add, there must have been hundreds of volunteers at this thing, and everyone was SO NICE!  They made it such an easy-going, super fun, and HAPPY event for everyone there!

They started out with the Junior Mutton Busting (sheep riding) for which both Oakley and Jaxon were signed up for.  The boys were pretty darn excited, and we would distract them when any of the boys ahead of them got stepped on by their sheep and left the arena crying!  Jaxon was so darn cute in his helmet and vest, and I just love LOVE LOVE this picture of him with the "real cowboy" in the shoot giving him his "Cowboy Up" pep talk and last minute instructions.

It's official- he's a COWBOY

Ready to Rock

Cowboy Up kid!

Then you can see WHAT Jaxon was instructed...lean down, and HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE!!!

Hold On Buddy!!!

Jaxon's sheep was a bit of a dud, but as a result, Jaxon held on the whole time! He made it just past the 8 second qualifying whistle and then fell off!  He was so proud of himself, and I was sure beaming as well! 

My little Mutton Buster!

This is us after the boys rode.  I just included it so you could see my pregnant belly! That's Right ! I'm so happy to be pregnant, and I want the world to see!!!

 After that we sat in the stands (Well, Me, Amber, Brandt, and a not-so-happy-to-be-spending-his-day-at-the-rodeo-Dave )

(Not-so-happy-to-be-at-the-rodea-dave)

sat in the stands, the kids crouched right by the fence around the arena for good views, and ran like wild chasing candy from the rodeo clowns)

Aside from not being dressed warmly enough, the day was just so nice. People were so family friendly and no one minded that our kids climbed up and down the bleachers 100 times to show is the candy they had got!
  After about an hour we walked over to the horse rides, and the petting zoo...check out the following pictures and see for yourself if you think the kids had a FANTASTIC TIME...

If you think he looks annoyed...you should have heard that poor goat!

Introducing, the WORLD'S MOST PATIENT BUNNY RABBIT!!!

This poor chick....

  Amber's family came completely prepared with a giant cooler of food and kindly shared pizza, fruit, veggies, and "Aunt Amber's BEST RANCH DRESSING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!" (per Jaxon's own words...) with us until we were all stuffed! After which the kids all got either a big popsicle, or cotton candy! (maybe some of the pregnant moms got a popsicle too...)
 
After lunch Dave was about ready to bolt, so he and Brandt walked a mile to the nearest convienent store for a soda while Amber and I and the kids watched some more events. We saw the big boys Calf-riding, which looked nothing but DANGEROUS and Jaxon WILL NOT be signed up for.  Then we saw the Ribbon Race, then the Grocery Race, And then the Money Goat Race, which ALL the kids (you didn't have to be pre-signed up and paid) could participate in.  About 200 kids ages 5-8 lined up on one side of the arena and two goats with different denominations of bills duct-taped to them. Needless to say those poor goats didn't stand a chance.  Jaxon didn't get any money, but he sure had fun.


Next up was the greased pig chase.  As soon as I told Jaxon about this on Thursday night, he took it VERY SERIOUSLY. He made sure he understood exactly what you have to do to be considered having "caught" the pig, and in his mind, he really REALLY thought he had it in the bag.  He was in the age group 5-8, and when they were all lined up, he was READY TO ROCK!  He had Oakley even shared a "Go-get-em Cousin" hug before they blew the whistle!

"the hug"

please note Jaxon in his best runners stance...

And They're off!!!

 

Well,the whistle blew...and he was sort of trampled. He did get really close to the big a couple of times. But when all was said and done, and he was not the winner, he was HEART. BROKEN.  The poor kid really REALLY thought he was going to win this, and he sobbed in the backseat for 15 minutes after left about how, "The big kids don't even care about the little kids! They tripped me and they DIDN'T EVEN CARE!!"  Poor kid was just plain pooped.
  After he got home and had a hot bath and some perspective he decided that it was one of the best days in his life, and that next year he would be big enough to not get trampled, and WIN FOR SURE!  I too thought seeing him have so much fun with his cousins and being so self assured, really was one of the best days ever.... if only we could get Dave on the Rodeo band wagon....   :o)

No Pictures? NO PROBLEM!

That is my new blog mantra. I actually do have pictures, but I'm laying downstairs on the couch with my laptop (My new position in this house since I've been pregnant and sick...) and I can't upload pictures here. So I will write this post and upload later, I just need to stay on a role.
 Today was Jaxon's zoo field trip, and it was a smashing success!! We went to school in the morning and I found out my group. I will not name names because I'm not sure who reads this blog, but it was Jaxon, and THREE GIRLS!!! Ask me if Jaxon even batted an eyelash at this...BECAUSE HE DIDN'T!! He is a ladies man, as in, the girls love him, and his best friends are girls. Two of the girls in his group are DARLING, and the other one gave me a run for my money. In fact, every single other mother there that was in the classroom and riding the bus is also a room helper, and came up and said something to the effect of, "Better you than me! When I help in the classroom she is a real stinker to me! In fact, one time, she even ________________"  (Fill in the blank with any number of things a 5 year old kindergartener could say or do to get the goat of a parent helper.  )
  So we boarded the bus, I sat in the front row with Jaxon and one of is male buddies, and across the aisle from the 3 girls in our group.  This is the part of the trip that really worried me. Jaxon really wanted me to ride the bus, but I get so carsick as it is, I didn't know how well it was going to work. I had taken my Dramamine but also brought a bag of Pirates Booty to eat on the bus, because it sounded good and salty! Jaxon and his friend, no problem.  Two sweet girls in my group, no problem.  Other girl, demanded Pirates Booty the whole time, and when I told her that kids weren't allowed food on the bus and I was eating it because the baby in my belly makes me sick, she threatened to tell the Bus Driver on me if I didn't share. The Bus driver was sitting right in front of us and heard the whole encounter and gave me a look in the rear view that said the same thing as the other mother helpers, "Better you than me!"  Speaking of the bus driver, she talked my ear off the whole time and apparently we became fast friends. I'm happy to announce that she has a second grade daughter that weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces at birth but was born naturally. She has been clean and sober or 9 months and as a result has lost 73 pounds. Sometimes people just need to talk, and I am just fine to be the listener!
  We got to the zoo and three of the four kids in our group happily hopped along here and there.  One member demanded Pirates Booty and drinks, and snacks, and asked 97 times when lunch was because she was "STARVING!!!!!!!"  After the 97th time we gave in and had lunch a half hour early.  Three of the kids in our group happily munched on their lunches while chatting away. One was only happy when someone else was sharing the snacks out of their lunch with her.  If not, WATCH OUT!
  After lunch the kids were kind-of over the animals, and we (me and the other two moms in my group that just met us at the zoo, the mothers of two of the three girls) were COMPLETELY over the complaining. We headed to the play area at the far end of the zoo, and for the next hour the kids played  SO HAPPILY! Not one tattle, complaint, or demand! It was Bliss.
   I puked up my whole lunch, but was actually really okay with it because it was in the bathroom, and it meant I wouldn't have anything to lose on the bus!
  When it was time, we herded the kids back to the bus and Jaxon sat in the back with some buddies. I sat with one of the girls in my group, who I happen to think is one of the cutest things on this entire earth, and who chatted with me the whole way back to school with such things as, "You're so pretty Jaxon's mom. I hope you have a pretty baby girl just like you. I will totally help you with her!" and "You sing so beautiful. Does Jaxon sing ? Do you think I sing Beautiful?" and "When you have your girl baby you can come over and make hair bows with my mom and I will watch your baby!" (I mean really, I LOVE THIS GIRL!!!)  I ate Wheat thins on the ride back to calm my stomach.  Two of the girls in my group were fine with it, one demanded wheat thins the whole time, complained loudly when I said no, and kept hitting her seatmate with the flowers she had picked for her mom!
  We got back to school without incident, and that was that.  Dave had texted us while at the zoo and asked if Jaxon was having a good time.  I asked Jaxon, and his exact answer was, "GREAT! It's even better than pineapples in a bowl!"  (Jaxon is the king of similes and metaphors lately...most don't make sense, but baby steps, right?!...when we were at the Renaissance Festival he said, "Man this frozen lemonade is delicious! It's better than Meatballs in a pie!"...)
  I am now completely exhausted but so glad to have this fun day with my boy! I have laid on the couch for two hours while Jaxon jumps on the upstairs couch and plays Wii Wipeout and watched PBS.
All in All, A GREAT DAY!!!

Out of order, let the chaos begin

If I'm going to start blogging again...  I have 6 months worth of picture to upload....

In September we spent the weekend at the beach house with Scott and Erin.  Jaxon L-O-V-E-S both of them like crazy.  Erin is just a nephew magnet and Jaxon is no exception, and Scott has a very sweet relationship with Jaxon where he knows how to tease Jaxon just enough, and then let Jaxon turn it around on him and emerge victorious!

September Rain.  How many times are you 5 and comfortable and ecstatic to play in the rain in your underwear? Right...not too often...so I let him enjoy it and took pictures to document the whole thing! (plus, is there anything cuter than a 5 year old in boxer briefs?  I think not...)

Field Trip

Seriously, I find myself sitting here and thinking to myself, "Am I really doing this? Am I really blogging? And better yet, am I really blogging about what Jaxon said to be about a field trip, when I HAVEN'T blogged about being pregnant, finding out we were pregnant, telling Jaxon about being pregnant, or our family two week trip to China???  The answer is- yes- take what you can get!
  Jaxon's class is going on a field trip to the zoo this Friday, and last Friday I got a paper home asking me to be a chaperone.  (I had volunteered...) I told Jaxon I was going, and I really thought he was going to be so stoked! He LOVES when I am parent helper, and although I only help from 8:30-9:30 on Thursdays, he BEGS me to "Stay and watch him" until he gets out at 11:10.

HOW WRONG I WAS!!!

"WHAAAAAAAT??? NOOOOOOOO!!! MOOOOOOOOM! You'll RUIN EVERYTHING!!!"

"What? Ruin Everything? What the heck are you talking about? I thought you would be excited?!"

"FINE! You can come, BUT YOU. CAN'T. TALK!!!!"

"Jaxon, I have to talk, I'll be in charge of your group!"

"IN CHARGE OF MY GROUP????" (Hangs his head and covers his face)

well.... I'm going to be honest...I did not expect that.

THEN....

Yesterday, I brought it up again, and apparently he had just been in a bad mood, because he was VERY EXCITED that I was going, and asked could I "PRETTY PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE WITH A BIG CHERRY ON TOP Sit by him on the bus?"

Well... I'm going to be honest... I didn't expect that either.

When he brought up the bus, it actually worried me. Me? The Bus? With Kindergartners?  They are going to get a first rate education on pregnancy nausea.... nice.
I talked to his teacher today, and she is going to ask the other parent who is "helping" in my group if she will be the one to ride the bus. I asked Jaxon about it, but he had just heard me talking to his teacher and expressing my concern so he said, "Mom, I would really like to sit by you on the bus, but I can just sit by a friend, like Macey, or Joshua, or Jack, or Izzy...see I have lots of friends, so don't worry. I don't want you to be sick, and I DON'T want to you throw up in front of all my friends!"

On that note, I have to keep a barf cup in the car with me at all times. Today (as happens at least one a week)  I had to use it. Jaxon slapped his forehead and said, "I can't wait for this baby to come! Then I will never have to listen to you throw up again!" (poor kid, it is pretty gross, and pretty sad that he has to listen to his mom do that...)
I said, "What about me? It's even worse for me! I'm the one throwing up!"
to which he elequently said, "Yeah right now, you know it's worse for me! GROSS!"

Can it be?

Am I really posting something on THE BLOG?  This thing has haunted me for a 6 months now.  I keep wanting to write but there is just so much to catch up on! ARG!
   Well, here I am... Jaxon did something that really touched my heart tonight and so here I am, blogging.  Tonight as we put Jaxon to bed, he got a huge smile on his face and pulled back his covers.  There were 3 baby toys that had been his years ago.  When he was 4 we cleaned all of the baby things our of his closet and were going to give most of them to DI.  He begged to let him choose a few toys to give to a baby, should we ever have another one.  We let him pick, and he picked 3 of his favorite soft plushy toys.  Those toys have been up on a shelf in his closet for the last two years, and there they were in his bed.  He grinned a Jaxon grin and said, "These were mine, but I picked them out for the baby." (Oh, by the way, I'm 13 weeks pregnant...one of those things I really should have blogged about and felt guilty over...)   "I'm going to keep them safe until he gets here." (He is currently convinced the baby is a boy...) "I'm going to give them names for him and everything!" He proceeded to name all three, and then snuggled them into his arms and went straight to sleep. I went in there a few minutes ago, and though he was fast asleep and had changed positions, he still had all 3 in his arms.  He is so excited for this baby, and it makes me happier than words can say.  The story of how we told him will be dear to my heart forever, but let's not get ahead of ourselves... what will I have left to blog if I tell it now???  :o)