The "Point and Shoot SUPER CATCH UP!"

I just uploaded all the picture from my point-and-shoot, and here is the super catch up, otherwise, I will never get to it!

1. Jaxon's SURPRISE PRESCHOOL GRADUATION PARTY! Yup, you read correctly, we DID have a preschool graduation party. Set with balloons, signs, and all of Jaxon's favorite foods! (Pizza, strawberries, carrots with aunt Amber's Ranch sauce, and Brownies for dessert!) I made signs all with words that Jaxon could read, and he loved it. I had my mom and dad keep him for an hour while I set up so it would be a surprise, and when he walked in, he was just like Dave- EMBARRASSED! Ok...he's a little like me, becuase secretly he liked it, but it was great! Grandma and Grandpa came over, Jaxon read all his signs, and we ate his favorite foods. We all went around the table and talked about things we love and admire about Jaxon, and it was wonderful!Some might think that a "preschool graduation party" is a little over the top or excessive, and they are probably right, BUT I DON'T MIND! With just one, we take every opportunity to celebrate, and make a big deal out of little things!

I'm so proud of my little preschool graduate.... but I'm not quite ready for him to start kindergarten yet...let's not talk about it...seriously... I'm changing the subject now!
The secret set up...

Jaxon and his best buddy...

Here are the few pictures that I took in Wyoming that were NOT taken on my big camera. This first one is Jaxon and his two cousins Peyton and Hailey. They would come to our room every afternoon to play while their little sis took a nap in their room. Here they were playing "Vampires" and they are sleeping in their coffins. Morbid, yes. But cute none the less!


Here is when we walked down Main Street to go to the local ice cream shop! Everyone thought it was delicious, except Jaxon, who just thought it was fun. He has the BEST Relationship with food, and no matter what it is, or how good it tastes, if he's not hungry, HE'S NOT INTERESTED! Wouldn't that be nice???

HURRAY!! On to my quick trip to Utah! I went up for a dear friends wedding, and in the process got to get together with several other dear friends, and do some tie business to boot!

The first day there Jaxon and I got together with sweet sweet Lindsay and her awesome band of boys! We took the boys to McDonalds where they organized a large and detailed game of "Star wars fight guy teams" with all the kids there. Lindsay and I happily chatted for AN HOUR AND A HALF while the guys played! LOVE IT!

Then they treated us to Krispy Kreme's where the boys showed their commraderie while watching the donut conveyer belt!

I LOVE AND MISS YOU LINDSAY!!!


Next up, One of the most beautiful and love-filled weddings in history! My dear friend Laurie who goes all the way back to Freshman year in Taylor Hall got married to a wonderful man named Nate! Everything about it was beautiful, and special, and personal, and it just filled me with love the whole day! I didn't whip out my camera for a picture with the bride (Though there were some taken so I will get them as soon as I can) but I DID get it out for a picture with My dear friend Amy, also from Freshman year! I swear these girls get more beautiful with every passing year (and I hate to admit HOW MANY have passed since Freshman year at BYU...)


It was fun to stick to Amy like glue the whole day, since I didn't know anyone else, and she endured it like a champ!!!


Saturday before we left for home, I got to get together with dear friends MICHELLE and BETH, who if you can believe it, go all the way back to 4th GRADE!!! They were my first friends when I moved to California. After I moved to AZ, we lost contact for a while, but thanks to Facebook we are back in touch, and also thanks to FB, we had breakfast together! We had to get a picture together in front of this hilarious (But OH. SO. DELICIOUS.!!!) crepe restuarant in Orem. It has a giant owl out front, and a tree growing right in the middle of the restuarant. Can you say "Crepes with Nutella, strawberries, and bananas????)


Finally before we left we walked around campus one more time...

Here are grandpa and Jaxon in the underground library, which I believe is the second biggest library in the United States, after the library of Congress!

Not always scholars though.... they are best friends!

On the way out of town, we had to get the compulsory pictures with the cougar!

"Look Mom! He's eating my arm!"





This summer has been so fun, and such a whirlwind, and this last Utah trip was the perfect way to wrap it up before school starts, but we AREN'T talking about THAT....remember????

"The Talk"

Yup- the talk. You know that one... THAT one... about "YOU-KNOW-WHAT."

In all of my child development classes at BYU, I was taught to be open and honest about
ess-ee-ex with kids. Tell them the truth when asked questions. You don't have to tell them EVERYTHING when they are just asking about something small, but never lie, and most of all, NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER act embarrassed or uncomfortable. Also, they said that you should have talked to your kids about sex before they ever hear it from anyone else. Make sure that they know the truth, and hold it sacred, before they hear jokes and lewd comments and don't know what to believe, and are too embarrassed to ask about it.
So, Along the way Jaxon has asked questions about this or that, and the jist of what he has asked about and knows is that our bodies are sacred, expecially our private parts, and that babies are made when the dad's seed and the mom's egg come together in the mom's tummy. He has never asked how it gets there, so we have not shared that information yet.
So....where is all this leading? Dave and I wanted him to hear the actual word.

THE WORD.

THE "S" WORD.

S

E

X

...from us, before he heard it from anyone else. So tonight at family night, we decided it was the time. We have been leading up to this by talking a lot about the word "sacred" and what it means. So tonight, we talked about being a good friend in order to make good friends when he goes to school, and then we geared up, we took a deep breath, and we did it.
I reminded Jaxon about the seed and the egg, told, reminded, re-reminded and then RE-REMINDED him about how sacred this word was, and then we said it- SEX.
He was completely unimpressed, and UNINTERESTED! So anticlimatic!
We talked about how he might hear other kids talk about it, who don't know how sacred and special it is, and they might laugh or make fun, but it's becuase they don't understand. And we told him that if that ever happens, he just doesn't need to be involoved because he actually knows what it is and how special it is.
Then we finished with the fact that this....this WORD....is not something we talk about with other people. Just our family.

And then, the kicker- the statement that really outlines how the whole conversation went...

Jaxon says...

"How could I talk about it with anyone??? I FORGOT WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT!"

So glad we could have this serious talk buddy. thanks.

The Money Shot

Our trip to Wyoming was FAB-U-LOUS! Yes, you read that right.

We went to Wyoming,
and it was fabulous.

Quite possibly one of the best vacations of my life. I guess when you become a parent, it's the little things, and the little ones, that make a big difference. Jaxon had the time of his life, of course, because of his plethera of cousins! And I mostly loved it for the same reason! The people I love more than anything in the world were there. Even when they are cranky, or stubborn (or...gasp....I am cranky or stubborn...) There is no one I would rather be with than my sweet boys, my parents, my brothers and sisters, and my brother and sisters in law!

Darn it- it's just the truth!


There were so many fun things for Jaxon (and us) to do, and to be honest, to be in a slow livin', down home town...where we could mozey down main street to see EVERYTHING in town, and where my cell phone rarely worked...it totally took me away from the stress and hustle and bustle of crazy town USA that is my life in Mesa!

I have a ton of pictures, and lots to tell, but let me just leave you with this little story-

As soon as we decided to go to Wyoming, "where Cowboys and horses live" Jaxon wanted a cowboy hat in the worst way. So, being the over indulgent parent of a single child, I quickly conceded. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life when he wears that hat.
THE.
CUTEST.
THING.
PERIOD.

Then, he started saying, "Howdy Pardner" several times a day...and the little part of my heart that was not already mush...melted on the spot! I kept my "big" camera with me almost everywhere we went in Wyoming(and broke my favorite purses' strap because of it) I took several pictures that I love, but these my friends...these that I am about to show you, were what I was waiting for.

THE MONEY SHOT.

And I am going to print one of them for a 12x12 in my house. But which one?

Get ready for it...

no really....

are you sitting down....??

Once you catch your breath and wipe that last tear from your eye, tell me....which one do I print?

(Also tell me, where did he get that innocent little half smile from? seriously.)

More China...

I was just re-reading some emails I sent back home whilst in China, and I had forgotten about some funny things that happened! I am just going to copy and paste the emails here---

Email #1-

"My AC in the room wasn't working, and I called the front desk. They said it is against the law to turn on the air before May, and to just OPEN A WINDOW! I told them I didn't believe it because my dad's AC was working great. I demanded that they send someone up to fix it immediately. They sent someone up who didn't speak any English, who smiled at me, opened my window, and then left. I just slept in the heat because my dad was already asleep and I couldn't get him to fight my battle. This morning I called and asked someone 3 different times to come fix it. Each time they said someone was on their way, and each time, no one ever came!
I also decided to get a facial here in the hotel today, just to pamper myself. There is a huge sign in the lobby about the Facials and massages that are offered. I asked 3 different people about it, who all thought I was nuts (and it's very difficult to convey "Facial" to someone who speaks no English) Until finally someone told me that service had been discontinued for months. I guess when they can' t read the signs that are in English, they don't know that they should take down the facial and massage sign!"

Email #2-

"You might be wondering why I am emailing you at 11:41 am your time. Well, you would actually only be wondering that if you knew that with the time conversion it is now 2:41am China time! But there is a good reason, and I blame my dad!!
We got back from my foot massage (I will tell you about it in a second) and my dad and I were both fairly delirious with tiredness. It was 5pm, so we decided we would go to our rooms, take a two hour nap, then go out to find some dinner and walk for a while before going back to bed. Well, I don't have a watch, or anytime time telling devise in my room (housekeeping really loves me calling them at all times of the day and night asking what time it is...) so it was up to my dad to wake up and call me. Well he did call...at 9:30, and we groggily both said forget it, let's just keep sleeping. So, now it is 2:43am, and I got a wonderful 9 hours of sleep, and I am perfectly wide awake!
I guess it really doesn't matter because in 7 hours I leave for the airport and start my 24 hours of traveling, which will mess me all up anyways!
So my foot massage was very similar to a reflexology massage in the states. Except, remember how I told you the Chinese have no problem with being touchy feely? Well about ten minutes into my massage (which was making me more delirious with exhaustion by the second...) I felt something very strange...she was picking through my eyelashes. I opened my eyes, to which she then conveyed for me to close them by whacking me on the shoulder and making rapid movements with her hands and eyes, and then she kept going. She was keeping up a running dialog (all in Chinese) and clearly had never seen anything like it, and was trying to decide if they were real or not) Then later when my feet were done soaking and she was done with my shoulders and arms, she pulled my pant legs up even higher and started carressing my leg to assess the length of my leg hair. ( I had shaved the morning before, so they were only slightly prickly!) I just thought the whole thing was pretty hilarious."

Girls Weekend

WAHOOO!!!! A couple weekends ago I got to go on a much needed girls weekend with some dear friends. Lindsay, Jackie, Jenni and I started out Friday morning with breakfast at TC Eggingtons. (SO DELICIOUS)!!

We then stopped at the first nail salon we saw (which in hindsite was a bad idea) and got some sub par, but very funny pedicures that we were able to laugh over the rest of the weekend!

We went to our resort and chatted by the pool, then chatted in our room, then chatted over a delicious dinner, then chatted as we walked around Scottsdale, then chatted over frozen yogurt, and then chatted in our room until we all fell asleep exhausted!

Saturday morning we went to bagels, ate them by the pool and relaxed until we had to get ready for Jackie's graduation from ASU! It was so fun to be there for her and cheer her on! Also, the ceremony was crazy long, so we had a hysterical photoshoot in the very top row of Wells Fargo Arena, and were actually escorted out at the end of the ceremony...oops!

After that we hit up In N Out, had a great graduation party for Jackie, and then went to Native New Yorker at a ridiculously late hour for half price appetizers! Sunday we all got together one more time for a little hangout time before we drove Lindsay back to the airport.

It was seriously so fun and so needed! Thanks Gals! LOVE YA!

Hurray for Easter!!

Easter weekend was wonderful! We went to a ward breakfast where Jaxon got to do the easter egg hunt, then swim lessons (not awesome...more later...) and then home to find that the Easter Bunny had visited and left Jaxon a lovely basket! I am loving our tradition of doing Candy/Easter Basket/ Easter Bunny on Saturday, and keeping the Sabbath for the real purpose of Easter- the resurrection!

Dave and I decided that we pretty much LOVE getting Jax candy for anything!
Why?
Because we are awful parents and love to rot his teeth?
NO!
Because Jaxon THINKS he loves candy!
He loves being the proud owner of candy.
He loves looking at his candy.
Occassionally he loves sharing his candy (especially if it's with dad!)
BUT HE DOES NOT LOVE EATING CANDY!!!
If you ask Jaxon, he says, "I love Candy! Uhhh.... I'm just full. Plus, I'm saving it to share with dad later!"
You can ask anyone who has been over lately, Jaxon's Easter basket is on a corner of the counter for him to pick from whenever he wants...and it still looks exactly like it did on Easter! (Minus the 2 Andy's mints!)

Here is Jaxon modeling his lovely Easter glasses made a preschool-

The Haul the E.B. left.

Jaxon's basket-o-candy

Happy little man...


And lastly, the cruddiest egg hunt pictures there could possibly be- in fact... don't even look at them...they are only for posterities sake!! :o)



The proudest Mommy Moment came on Sunday though. I picked Jax up from his primary class and asked him what he had learned. He told me they learned about the resurrection. His very chill, male, never has much to say, teacher then told me, "Uh, Jaxon taught the whole lesson. Everytime I started telling about something, he finished it. That kid knows his stuff!"

Yes, I was beaming...I'm that mom! I can't take all of the credit though. We did take him to the Easter pageant (see previous post) and we talked about what was going on during the whole thing, but also they learned about it all week in preschool- love love LOVE his preschool!

Love Easter. Love my boys. Really...just loving life!

CHAAAAAARGE!

Last night Dave was out of town, and I try not to think about it too much so I don't freak myself out too much, but right before I go to bed, I always try to find some sort of "weapon" to sleep with, just in case. I couldn't find the maglight, so I unscrewed one of the heavy but wield-able bedposts and layed it on Dave's pillow.
In the morning (incident free night by the way) Jaxon came in and said, "What's that for?"
I told him it was in case I had to fight anybody who tried to break in. (I believe in being as honest as possible...)
And Jax did the most hysterical thing I've ever seen...
As if he already had this scenario planned out, he said, "MOM! Don't use THAT! Use this- watch...."
He then picked up a metal, 4 legged stool that I sit on to do my make-up, held the seat to his belly with the 4 legs sticking out and yelled, "CHAAAARRRRRGGGE!!!!" At the top of his lungs, and ran for the door like nobodies business. He ran out the door, then back in and said, "See mom? Instead of just whacking them once, you can 'ching' them 4 times with this thing! Awesome, right?"

Yes Jaxon.
THAT.
WAS.
AWESOME!!!!

When Dave got home, Jaxon told Dave I slept with the bedpost incase I needed to "knock the heads" off any "bad families" that try to break in.

....close enough.

Also, today on the way to preschool Jaxon told his buddy Brailyn,
"If you ever go to China, you HAVE to eat either duck tongue, tiger heads, or bird eyeballs. I'M SERIOUS!"