Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!

Tonight we took the boys trick or treating around the neighborhood and they had SO much fun! Jackson was definitely the more outgoing one, being the first to yell TRICK OR TREAT and always the first to yell THANK YOU! We almost left without Jack because he was throwing one of his famous Jackson fits and Josh said, "Mommy I don't want to go trick or treating without Jackson!" He sure does love the companionship. Tyce really got the hang of it fast and loved knocking on doors, ringing doorbells, and putting the candy in his pumpkin. He was the cutest little giraffe I've ever seen walking the streets of Northern Virginia!!! Here are some pics from the night...

Cutie pie with his pumpkin... Best buds...
Jack loved feeling his pumpkin get heavier and heavier, haha...Sure mom, we'll all pose in front of these pumpkins for you to take a picture! Ya right...Tyce ringing a doorbell...Jack was so patient at every door...They came trick or treating at our door and this is what I opened up to...We got SOOO much candy, oh my gosh!!!

It was a fun night. We barely got any trick or treaters so we have so much candy leftover, plus all the candy each of the boys got! I've already snagged a few peanut butter cups and I found one of my all time fav candies in Tyce's pumpkin...VANILLA TOOTSIE ROLLS! They are the best, but very hard to find. I hate the chocolate ones but the vanilla ones are so yummy! Anyways, tomorrow Tyce has his 15 month check up so I will post soon on how that goes. Also, Thursday Jackson is having minor surgery to remove that lesion on his cheek. It's a simple procedure but they do have to put him all the way out for it so it's still a little scary! Keep him in your prayers!

Friday, October 29, 2010

All Is Well...

In an attempt to increase my responsiveness and sensitivity to the spirit I have decided for the next two weeks to only listen to church music in the car. I absolutely LOVE the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, who wouldn't?! The bad news is, it puts Tyce to sleep in the car. Haha. The good news is, it indeed has brought me closer to my Savior. Music has always touched me, there are a few songs that I don't think I'll ever be able to hear without crying (If the Savior Stood Beside Me and I Know That My Redeemer Lives). Today on my way to pick the boys up from preschool I was stressed and grumpy. I had just spent almost half an hour complaining to my sister about my life and I was just feeling sorry for myself. The song that came on was Come Come Ye Saints, one of my favs. Here are the lyrics for those of you who have not heard it...

Come, come, ye Saints, no toil or labor fear; But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day.
'Tis better far for us to strive, Our useless cares from us to drive;
Do this and joy your hearts will swell —All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? 'Tis not so; all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward, If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins; fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake;
And soon we'll have this tale to tell —All is well! All is well!

We'll find the place which God for us prepared, Far away in the West.
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;There the Saints will be blessed.
We'll make the air with music ring, Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we'll tell —All is well! All is well!

And should we die before our journey's through,Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again, To see the Saints their rest obtain;
Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell —All is well! All is well!

I'm sure there's a link online to listen to it, it's such a moving song. This song was written in 1846 when the Mormon saints were migrating from the Midwest to what is now Utah. It of course brought tears to my eyes and I thought...who are you Jenn? Who are you to complain about your life when these pioneers are suffering inflictions I cannot even begin to comprehend, yet they have this attitude of love, gratitude, and optimism.

Yes, money is tight. Yes, I'm chubbier than I'd like to be. Yes, my kids have spilled their milk 7 times in two days. Yes, I rarely get to spend time with my husband. Yes, I miss my family like crazy. Yes, I am lonely. Yes, I am stressed. But you know what? All is well. Because I have my needs met, I am healthy, I have three adorable healthy children, I have an amazing loving adoring husband, I have a wonderful family who does so much for me, I have friends, and I have my Savior. I have his constant love and support. I have my faith and testimony in his gospel. I am so blessed. Truly, all is well.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Preschool Halloween Party...

Tomorrow the boys have their "Bible Heros Party" at preschool. They have to either be a bible hero or an animal from the bible. Well, I am neither creative nor do I want to spend money on costumes so luckily my friend Denise had these costumes we could borrow. She made them both! The boys were really excited about them. For the church trunk and treat and to go trick or treating on Halloween Jackson might be his Batman from last year, but we'll see what he decides. Anyways, I knew tomorrow morning I wouldn't have time to take pictures so I took some tonight...

Cute Joshy the dragon... Tyce had to get in on the fun, this was Josh's costume two years ago and Tyce loved it!
Have you ever seen a cuter giraffe? My dragon and my dog!

They're really concerned about how they're going to buckle up in the car tomorrow in their costumes, especially with Josh's big tail. I told them we'd find a way. Jackson said, "good so because I don't want to have to go to JAIL in my COSTUME!" Haha, yes I tell my kids they'll go to jail if they don't buckle up. :)

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Happy Early Birthday to Parker!

We celebrated Parker's 31st birthday today because on his actual birthday (Tuesday the 26th) he has to work all day and I have Young Women in Excellence that night so we thought today would be a good day. He spent about five hours shopping with his birthday money (thanks to everyone who thought of him!) while I stayed home with the kids. He came back with some nice stuff and even had some money left over! I think we'll have to go out to a nice dinner sometime when we can find a sitter. :) Then we went to...CHUCK E CHEESE! Haha, yes that was his request for his special day. I guess that showed me two things. First off, he's still a kid at heart. Second off, he's a very unselfish daddy who knew that taking the boys to Chuck E Cheese is one of their all time favorite things to do, especially with daddy. They are so lucky to have a dad like him! We ate gross pizza, got infested with lots of germs, and battled all the kids but everyone seemed to have a good time. Then we came home and did cake and now we're going to put the kids down so we can enjoy some football cuddled together on the couch! I hope he had a good day and knows how much we all LOVE AND ADORE HIM!!! Happy Birthday sweetie!!!

Jackson was extremely proud of the card he made for daddy, look how good he wrote Happy Birthday on the front all by himself!My favorite boys in the world (ok, except Tyce and my dad)...
Joshy's card for daddy...Jackson's card, notice his cute outfit? He's wearing SKINNY pants! Haha, too cute...Parker spent some of his bday money on this awesome remote control car that flips and does lots of cool stuff, he also got a remote control airplane. Here they are playing with the car...Cute Tyce at Chuck E Cheese, notice his adorable OREGON shirt from Auntie Nicole? LOVE it on him...Could Josh's smile and dimples be any cuter?Mommy's boys playing my favorite game..Best pic I got of Parker and the cake...

What a fun day, Parker told me he feels like such a lucky guy but I say...he deserves all he has and more. He is such an amazing man and I still can't believe he's mine, forever. I am the luckiest girl alive!!! I LOVE YOU PARK!!!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Week with Grandma Morrill...

Well it is a sad day, Michelle leaves! We had a wonderful week with her and hope she enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having her here. Tyce has been pretty sick the past couple days so it was nice to have Grandma here to cuddle him when he needed a lap! I don't think she minded much though! Here are some pics from the week...

They each got some new Halloween jammies... And pumpkin flashlights..
Of course Jackson's was broken...We picked out pumpkins and carved them...Tyce showing off his belly...Pulling the seeds out...Grandma and Jack did one pumpkin...And daddy and Josh did the other...Tyce got new jammies too...The finished product...Cute guys in their new shirts...They made monster puppets...Then they painted little pumpkins...

Thanks for a fun week mom! Thanks for entertaining my kids, taking us out to lunch, shopping with me, doing my dishes, sweeping my floors, cuddling Tycee, babysitting, just keeping me company, etc etc etc! I have the best mother in law! Tyce, Jack, and Josh love Grandma SO much and are so lucky to have her! We all love you!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Fun with Grandma, Grandpa, and Tegan!

Well it's been a fast and fun two days and Tegan and Bart are already gone! They could only stay a couple days but the good news is that Michelle is still here! Yay! I'm glad she realized she needed more than 3 days here this time. :) I decided to do one post now, then another after Michelle leaves.

Here's grandpa and Tycee on a bike ride... We don't have enough seats in our car so this was the comfortable arrangements for Tegan...
Tyce loves to show off his belly button...Cute guys at the Air and Space Museum...We had fun bowling, even though mom killed us all!Picnic at the park...Auntie Tegan and Tyce...Cute Tyce on our walk....Grandma and her boys...

We had a fun time with them and miss them already. The boys just ADORE Auntie Tegan, especially Jackson. I was surprised at how fast Tyce warmed up to everyone, he was giving Grandpa hugs all night! Thanks for coming Bart and Tegan!!! Love you so much!!! More to post after Michelle leaves!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Field Trip...

Today the boys had their first school field trip, suddenly they seem so grown up! We went to Cox Farms and they had SO much fun. It was nice to get to know the other parents, their teacher, and also to watch them interact with their classmates. They all got along so well and they would run around holding hands. They walked through the corn maze holding hands with their friend Emily, it was too funny. Anyways, another great thing was that I was able to leave Tyce behind with my wonderful friend Tracy. It was nice to not have to worry about him and be able to focus on Jackson and Josh. Thanks girl for watching him for me! Here are some pics of the day...

It started out cold and windy but it warmed up to a nice cool fall day... I love how Jackson is smiling at Josh...
Mommy and her Jack...Big boys going down the big slides..This is their teacher, Mrs. Morton...Jack wanted to ride all the tractors "just like Grandpa Morrill!"...Cute posers...Our attempt at a class picture...Josh milking the cow..Josh LOVED the goats...Josh on the rope swing, tongue out as always...These are the pumpkins they picked out, they also picked a little one out for Tyce that "had no pokies"...I love my boys!!!

It was a great day and now they are super tired watching a movie on the couch, can't wait till bedtime!