We sure can't believe that the leaves are already changing on Y Mountain...and the air is cool enough that Matt doesn't need the swamp cooler running ALL night long (ha ha ha)! So much has happened in the past little while, and we sure have been terrible about updating! So here is a collaborative update of the past couple months:
1. Jackson turned 1!!!!!!!! We have wonderful pictures (thanks to Matt & Smash) that we need to post of his "Fish" Party. Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate! Jackson got so many fun gifts and clothes. Plus, we all enjoyed a huge fish shaped cake, fish cupcakes, goldfish, and Swedish Fish. I even ventured out and made the fish cupcakes out of fondant. (Not sure I will ever do that again...lol!)
2. Little Jackson had an allergic reaction to milk and cheese. :( So, he is now off milk & cheese for a while. Unfortunately, this reaction required us to have him tested for allergies. Poor guy had to get a tube of blood taken from his arm--which was not a pleasant experience for him or mom to say the least. He has had quite the bruise in his left arm as a battle wound. Anyway, results concluded that he has a peanut allergy. Darn it! So since we don't know how severe it is...we had to get an epi pen. Can't wait to start reading the labels on EVERYTHING!!!! I am so so so so hoping that he grows out of this. :(
3. More Jackson updates. He is standing! No walking yet, but stands up everywhere! He is also saying all kinds of things like: dada, mama (finally!), light, hot, ball, Jackson (only the vowels mostly), imitates some things we say such as don't, thank you, & all done. He also LOVES to shake his head no at us. He knows exactly what it means, too! The little stinker... He loves to imitate a fish whenever he sees a picture of one, a stuffed animal, or a real one. He is also obsessed with Elmo. He is getting so big, there is nothing better than having him in our home.
4. Matt got a new job in South Jordan! He is Assistant Manager, but the branch does not have a current manager--so, he is actually "acting Manager". It is wonderful, and he is enjoying it! He even has a very nice HUGE office. Ha ha ha! Jackson and I have been able to go visit a couple times, it is sure a much slower location than Walmart. :)
5. BYU started up again...so Matt is super busy with new classes and homework. We are sure lucky to have a Daddy who works so hard for us! I honestly don't know how he does it...work + school. He is doing half of his classes in Provo, and the other half at the Salt Lake Center. Some nights he doesn't even get home until 11 PM. Poor guy! Thanks for all your hard work babe!
6. I QUIT MY JOB!!!!!!!!! Because of Matt's new work and school schedule, I am no longer able to work. Other than missing the people & friendships, I haven't missed being at the office ONCE! It is the best to finally be a "stay at home" mommy & wife. Nothing better!
7. Along with quitting my job, I also got released from my calling at church. What am I going to do with all this extra time--ha ha!? I wish they would have let me serve a little longer...I still feel like there are things I left hangin. Serving the sisters in my ward was an absolute blessing, and wonderful experience! I will miss it, and having such a close relationship with my fabulous counselors.
8. I guess one of the things that will be filling up my time will be the Jenny Phillips Choir. I auditioned in August and actually got in!!! I can't wait to start performing at her firesides throughout the year. It will be a marvelous experience, and the music is gorgeous!
9. We finished our kitchen project (I can't really take credit, it was all Matt!). Along with the gorgeous cabinets, we also painted the walls a beautiful red and put in new dark flooring. I love it! It looks like a whole new room!
10. We did our annual river run in Wyoming--it was so much fun! The water was so low, it was a little scary. Everyone was safe, and only my dad had an "out of boat" experience. We had a surprise visit to the ER one night when Jackson came down with the croup. Oh the adventures of camping with a baby!
11. We have had a lot of family fun lately with Labor Day, picnics, and even Parker's baptism! We can't wait for the arrival of a new nephew here shortly!
12. Special tribute to my mom who finished day 15 of radiation this week!!!!! 1/3 of the way done!!!!! :) What an amazingly strong example she is, she hasn't slowed down a bit! Still teaching and doing everything like normal.
Ok...one day I will get some pics posted...lol! Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!
My parents decided to start a tradition of making gingerbread houses...here are our creations. It was a really fun evening with the whole fam--minus Jason & Hillary who had to work dang it :(
Finally enjoying his 1 year old birthday cake--months later. Poor guy and his allergic reaction to cow's milk made it so we couldn't give him any birthday cake on his actual birthday.
Confession: we may have celebrated Christmas a bit early at our house. Jackson found his present. He could NOT wait...ha ha ha!
WEDDING!!!!! Yay! Here's a funny sibling pic, and then just one of the sisters. Steph was GORGEOUS!
At the reception...can I take this off yet, Mom!?!? He looked so dang cute! What a handsome guy.
A day with Aunt Kirie, Uncle Brian, baby D, Aunt Amy, and the grandparents at the Living Planet Aquarium--we love that place!
Sometimes I think Jackson is going to be a chef. He LOVES cooking with me--but only if he can sit on our puny counter! (I swear one of these times we are going to end up having an ER visit.)
Told ya, he LOVES milk!
Another one of his favorites: sitting on top of the piano with his teddy bear watching for birds. He flaps his hands and says "tweet" when they finally show up at the bird feeder. 
