...cOoKiEs...

Jaxson hosted his first party last week!

A Halloween Cookie Party...and we had a blast.

Picture Below: Jaxson before his guests arrived. Just waking up from a beatifully LONG nap....eating mac'n cheese...and watching mom do all the work:)

Is he not getting insanely chubby???

I think this picture is just hysterical! He is dazed...still half asleep...being force-fed a horribly unhealthy lunch...and (in desparate need of a haircut)...yet he still managed to give me a smile. Awwwwww...how sweet.

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I Love to make sugar cookies for the various holidays...Halloween, Christmas, Valentines Day....I always do it and love the tradition. After blog hopping the other day I realized that I would be a wonderful mother if I let Jaxson in on the fun! Why don't I think of these things??? I still picture him as my baby...so these ideas never cross my mind:).

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I decided that we'd make a day of it and invite his little friends over for some fun.

I need to do these things more often. It was so simple...and FUN...and Jaxson just loved it. He was soooo into helping me prepare the goodie bags. I was laughing so hard. He loves to be helpful lately...and stuffing those baggies full of candy was the highlight of his day. I wonder what his daddy would think of all this?!? Party planning and preparations:)

Honey...if you're reading this...jax is a wonderful dancer too :0

We dance around the bedroom EVERY SINGLE MORNING...and he's gettin pretty darn good!

We love all these kiddos...and there mom's! They are all so adorable...and it was fun having them over. As you can see...they took it VERY seriously and were all "hard at work" for almost an hour! They each decorated a bat, a pumpkin, a ghost, and a cat. It was a succes.

The masterpieces!!!

They looked absolutely delicious. If you're in the age group of 1-6.

The whole crew!

This is where I branch out on a tangent for a moment....and discuss things completely unrelated to the above post:) Here goes:

Jaxson John you are are getting so big...and I can't stand it! Did you know that I am buying you 3T shirts...and you're only 19 months old. Where has my little baby gone? Or even my toddler? Slow down...your growing up way too fast and it's completely unfair.

You are simply hysterical right now. I find myself getting out the video camera several times a day to document your craziness:) Me and your dad just love it. Lately you think anything gross is so super funny. For example, TOOTING. yep...you toot regularly and just laugh and laugh til you can't breath. You think you are the funniest person ever when you toot. Me and dad have been making toot noises with our mouth for weeks now...just to hear that contagious little giggle of yours! We can't get enough. Yesterday you decided that stinky breath was the funniest thing ever. You went to kiss daddy and he told you that you're breath was stinky. You about died laughing. For the next hour you would squeeze his cheeks between those chubby little hands of yours....open your mouth wide...and exhale right into daddy's nose. Where do you learn this stuff???? You are such a goof.

And a total boy:)

Tonight you couldn't sleep. I rocked you and talked to you and kissed your forehead. You gave me a kiss back and it shocked me. I started laughing and shouted "ouch!". The look on your face was priceless. We now know you love to inflict pain as well:) Yep...all BOY. You continued to kiss me...and I continued to scream "ouch ouch ouch" every... single... time...and you giggled for an hour straight. We stayed up late cuddling and giggling...and I will never forget it.

You are becoming attached to me again...hallelujah and it's about time! You loved me to death and would cling to me and slobber me with kisseds when you were 9 months old and NURSING:) Since you've stopped you've taken more to your daddy. How Rude! GOOD NEWS THOUGH.....Daddy called me last night after he took you from me....just to let me hear you cry "mama mama" into the phone. I didn't think it would ever happen....it broke my heart and made me Jump for joy all at the same time!!! You are SO in love with your daddy...I was beginning to think you didn't love me one single bit!

I was wrong....thank goodness :) :)

You are just the highlight of our lives. I feel blessed to be your mommy and consider myself lucky to nurture your special little spirit.

XOXOXOXOX

Mom

any ideas? cause the "usual" won't work on this one

I have recently become enthralled with the Nie Nie Diaries. Oh, how I love Stephanie. Those Nie Nie readers out there know exactly what I mean....and undoubtedly feel the same. She is so inspiring, sweet and completely romantic. I read daily...just waiting for her to awaken and start posting again. I read about her love for her husband and her children...and as I sit and cry....I think "I feel the same!"

I love my husband...I cherish the simple things...I love motherhood.

Nothing else matters.

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Reading Nie's blog helps me realize how quickly things can change. Instantly things could be different. I take so many "instants" or moments for granted. I hugged Jarom 20 times today and Smothered Jax with kisses. I am indebted to Nie...and I am certain that through people's unbearable challenges....others are touched and completely changed for good. Their eyes are open...and they have the opportunity to learn and change because of it. Nie gave me this opportunity.

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Reading her blog also brings to my attention just how UNROMANTIC I am after 5 years of marriage! Wow....have I lost it?

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I am stumped. My 5th anniversary is coming up...and I am lost at what I can do and/or purchase that will reflect how I feel! I am begging for help from those creative romantics out there!

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What do you get your husband for your 5th wedding anniversary???

This anniversary seems like such a big one. One in which the usual card and date night won't suffice. Do you agree? It has me thinking... "what did we do with all that time?"..."It feels like we just met!" and...."Is that all...only 5 years? Feels like it's been F.O.R.E.V.E.R." all at the same time. HA HA.

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I have been racking my brain the past few weeks...as it is quickly approaching and I am left with not one single idea! The time is ticking and I am feeling the pressure. Jarom and I have never been much into Gifts. We actually have come up with quite the system. It works well for us anyway. It plays out as follows:

1-I go shopping.

2-I buy things that I like and or want.

3-I wrap them and tie a beatiful bow around each one!

4-I adorn it with a tag that reads To: My wife, From: Jarom.

5-I open it....turn and kiss him and thank him.

6-He stares at me blankly and giggles.

We are both VERY practical and I hate to use the word Boring...but that's most likely the perfect word to describe it. Darn. I hate boring people. He deserves SO much...and yet I can't think of ONE thing that will do the job.

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My main question is: how do you tell somebody (that's not just a somebody)...who happens to be your bestest friend and companion for life "Thank you".

*Thank you for still loving me even though I slapped you that one time.... when I was 8 months pregnant and seriously unfairly overwhelmed with hormones:)

*Thank you for putting up with my crazy ideas...AND thinking there intelligent and sweet.

*Thank you for driving me everywhere...simply because I LOVE your company (and I'm stubborn and refuse to learn directions).

*Thank you for staying up late with me...listening to me cry about tragic things that I've read or seen on TV....(always talking me through it and helping calm me) then begging me not to read and/or watch sad things. :)

*Thank you for reminding me regularly of our true purpose and goal here on earth. I love it...and believe me...I know I'm lucky.

*Thank you for helping me see through those who try and hurt instead of uplift. Most of us get so easily lost in the unimportant details of life...but not you. I love that.

*Thank you for always making me feel beautiful, safe, smart and like a wonderful attentive mother.

*Thank you for supporting my constantly changing desires to work....or go back to school...or stay home with our baby! Always encouraging me to do what makes me happy.

*Thank you for embracing my sassiness!

*Thank you for listening. To my goals, fears, annoyances and pet peaves, to-do lists, dreams, and strongest desires.

*Thank you for always being able to EASILY put my problems and troubles into perspective. Immediately. You are perfect at this....and I envy it in every way.

*Thank you for being so selfless. You never whine...never complain....never have poor-me days. It's amazing...and I've never met anyone else like it. I want to adopt this habit in the worst way!

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The list could go on...and I'm sure most woman out there could compose a similar list about their hubby. I'm more convinced than ever...now, after 5 perfect yet challenging years...that opposites attract. Every void I have...he fills perfectly. (I hope that doesn't mean that everything I have previously listed....is an area in which I fall short:) That's for another post I guess:)

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So, I am desparately curious for some ideas!?!?

(I've been hearing rumors that he has something in the works....

so I gotta hurry and get creative.)

Costume Party and Deer Hunt 2008 :)

COSTUME PARTY :)

Jaxson was invited to the cutest little Halloween Costume Party. He had a blast and is such a good sport about wearing his costume! He get's pretty excited to put it on these days...and luckily we've had SEVERAL opportunities to wear it!

Jenny is such a fabulaous mom! She was brave and invited SEVERAL children over to her home for trick-or-treating, pizza, decorating cupcakes, painting rocks (pumpkins) and more.

Jaxson John and miss Bella the bumblebee :)

They are little buds and love playing together. It has been wonderful living so close to the Erickson Family...we just love them. Bella is such a sweet little mother to Jax...she is always super concerned with where Jaxson is or what he's doing. We love her to death and adore her spunky personality!

Jaxson the Dragon...and Katie the Pirate!

A little Lovin....

My favorite thing ever is her nails. They are painted black and orange. So darling:)

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That same weekend was the Forsyth Family Annual

DEER HUNT..wahoo:)

Friday evening we made the 5 hour journey to what my dad considers the "best place on earth"...FISH LAKE MOUNTAIN. I have to admit...it is beatiful and my baby just LOVED every minute of it. Something about dirt, fire, four wheelers, bugs and more dirt. I don't get it...but man is he ALL BOY...(even more than his dad I'd say). He couldn't get enough.

Above is the whole crew. Nate, Kayla, Me, Jarom, Jax, Mom, Dad, Ryan and Stephen.

All of my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents on the Forsyth side come along too. It makes for a big group...but is always a great time. There is lots of game playing, four wheeling, campfires and some to-die-for food.

We spent LOTS of time on the four wheelers...decked out in our flourescent orange (to prevent from getting shot) for all you non-hunters out there.

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I give my dad a hard time about the hunting and "Manly" activities he's obsessed with. He thinks I hate them...and he usually has to do A LOT of begging to get me there...but to be honest, I really enjoy it.

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He's totally devastated that I've grown up...and now that I'm a parent I can't blame him one bit! I get teary even thinking about Jaxson growing up and becoming independent. I just hope that I can create some lasting memories and traditions for him to hang on to. Those memories are what make me who I am...and I cherish them more than anything.

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He (my dad) is totally convinced that I try and "endure" camping (at best)...but I really love that Jaxson get's to experience so many different things! I love being with my family...and I love how excited he get's still ....at the ripe old age of 45... when he thinks about cruising around the mountain telling us stories of when he shot his First Buck. I love that he INSISTS on driving 5 hours away to a very specific location...because that's where HE went when he was my age. (even though...there is a perfectly good mountain steps from my home).

....That is the main thing I cherish about my childhood. We tried it all...and always together as a family! Hunting, fishing, camping...hotels, cruises and amusement parks. I loved having such a wide range of experiences...and hope I can provide the same for my little man.

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My dad has a hard time thinking I've "outgrown" my love for the outdoors. You couldn't find a little girl who loved to fish with her dad more than ME. I even thoroughly enjoyed Ripping the worms in half and wrapping them countless times around the hook:) Sick. My dad LOVED that I loved it...and we were fishing partners at "upper bounds reservoir" EVERY SINGLE YEAR until I was about 14. We would talk for hours and hours about boys and what I wanted to be when I grew up. I remember it so well...and love those memories. He would teach me the perfect technique to catching TONS of fish...and I have to say...I am pretty good on a four wheeler in some rough terrain. I can sure teach Jarom a thing or two about the outdoors...and I owe it all to my dad.

Although my disgust for brutally killing animals....and my love for a nice warm shower and flush toilet has INCREASED over the years...nothing is more refreshing than a weekend next to the campfire and the great outdoors. I DO LOVE IT DAD....and always will:)

Campfire...roasting marshmallows. Yum.

Jaxson was in HEAVEN and his fascination with machines only tripled while were there. He spent the ENTIRE time on a motor bike. When we couldn't find him...we knew where to look. He can scale them...and knows how to turn them on.... AT ONLY 19 months....scary.

Enjoying Smores with his daddy...

SEE...I told ya. If you couldn't find Jaxson...he was scaling the biggest bike there.

He would cry and cry..."vroom vroom...peese...vroom vroom". It's a good thing aunt Kayla loves him and has more patience than I do...because she did circles for hours!

The beatiful scenery. Fish Lake Mountain in the background! Here we are at the Lookout. It was such a pretty day. Perfect for hours of four wheeling!

....More smores....

Jarom get's his fair share of the "teasing and/or guilt" for not being a total outdoorsman. I think my dad always pictured me with a rifle-loving....Cabela's-obsessed man, but he was totally wrong! I married a total city boy. He loves a nice hotel...a great restuarant....can't live without a shower...and his life revolves around ESPN or the cubs highlights. I am super lucky though...because he comes along, enjoys it...and is a super good sport about it. He carries a gun, hikes mountains and has a dead-aim as well. I got the total package.

Here is my city boy...looking rugged...dressed in his orange...at the top of Fish Lake Mountain. ...and.....He's all mine:)

...pUmPkIn pAtCh...and...CoStuMe fuN :)

I LOVE HOLIDAYS. Mainly because they make life SO SO SO much more fun. They also---give you something to look forward to, reasons to bake treats, buy gifts, decorate...or spend time off participating in crazy traditions:) Whatever holiday...I'll gladly take it!

This weekend was wonderful. We spent the ENTIRE thing celebrating Halloween...and Jarom even had the day off of work for Columbus Day. I spent the morning asking him annoying questions like:

Me: "...what year did Columbus find America? Was it 1942. I know the song rhymes...so when was it?? Oh ya, 1492. Whatever. What were the names of his ships again???

Jarom: Your psycho....and I'm embarrassed for you.

HA HA HA

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Anyhow...enjoy my "WAY TOO MANY" pictures. I couldn't narrow them...because I love them all. They hold such special memories for me and I wanted every last one of them to be a part of my Blog Book when I publish it....Sorry:) I decided to adopt a motto that I saw on the cutest girl Allegra's blog.

Don't Likey...Don't lookey :) she says. Ha ha....thanks Allegra. I totally agree.

Jarom hates me. And loves me..... for being completley excited about each and every opportunity I have to force him to do things like this. We had a wonderful time taking our baby (toddler) to the pumkin patch and corn maze this weekend. We couldn't help but talk about how much difference one little year makes! Last year we were in good ole' Omaha taking Jaxson to Vala's pumkin patch (that place rocked by the way)....and he was sooo tiny. We had him bundled in a thousand layers and a huge puff suit like a little marshmellow.

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This year the kid ran wild! He walked (ran) the entire corn maze with the hugest grin on earth. He climbed through tunnels, picked his own pumpkin, went for a wagon ride...did it all. It is the best feeling in the world as a mother: To watch him LOVE something...be totally excited about it...Learn...Explore...and Laugh.

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Next I want to introduce:

My little Ferocious Dragon

Halloween Costume 2008

I am totally in love with this picture.

The little boy...the costume...the cheesy grin...the works!

I can't help but think countless times a day: This is the Best Time of my Life:) I am scared with each day that passes that it's going to fast...or that before I know it Jaxson will be grown and I'll have 4 others running around. YIKES. Until then...I am going to TRY and have many more weekends like this one. Me... Jarom...Jaxson.

We stayed the weekend at my sister Kayla's house..and they joined along for the fun. We love living close enough to go visit...and in the months we've been in Utah....we have several times:) Jaxson adores her...and so do I. Although we've always been best friends....we are getting a lot more time together now-a-days and becoming even closer! What do people do without sisters? Makes me start thinking that Jaxson may need a little brother ASAP.!

(jarom...don't have a heart attack)

Jarom is a lot better at using the camera than I am. As you can see by the amount of pictures I am in...and the lack of pictures he is in. I think it's his wonderful quality of patience. I have none...he has enough for a crowd! I often watch him with Jaxson...and am amazed at how loving, kind and PATIENT he is.... AND I truly mean AMAZED...because it's usually long after I want to beat him:)

He laughed and laughed and laughed.

and ran and ran and ran....

and almost knew that being generous with his loves and kisses would mean we would get to stay longer! Kids are so much smarter than we think...even at 19 months.

This is random.... but to prove my point: Three baseballs were somehow trapped underneath the treadmill at my parents. Jaxson would lay by the treadmill and cry out "ball...ball..ball". Jarom decided to rescue his ball the other night. He reached under and retrieved it. Jaxson kept laying on the ground saying "ball daddy ball". Jarom reached under there and sure enough...another baseball! This continued again...and sure enough ANOTHER ONE. He totally knew there were three...and waswaiting for his favorite. They all look the same of course...but are different sizes. One happened to be a "real" baseball. He preferred that one. Of course.

SEE..... S.M.A.R.T I tell ya.

The mums and flowers were beautiful!

My Family

October 2008

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I also took some pictures of Jax in his Halloween Costume that I had to share. I forgot my lens...it was freezing...and there was snow on the ground....but I think we got some darling ones!

Crowds of people kept stopping on the street and just laughing. He can be such a show off. People would stop and tell whoever they were talking too on their cell phones ALL about this littly boy dressed as a Dragon who was smiling and saying "HI...HELLO...HI" to EVERYBODY who passed by. That explains why there are few of his face. He wasn't interested in me.

He was performing for his audience.

He even learned the word "Boo" the last few weeks...and says it repeatedly.

He is at such a fun age.

Another one I just love love love.

I think mother's instinctively LOVE pictures of their own (well I know it)...but this was him begging me to pick him up and my heart melts when I see it. You can see his huge molars...which is so cute to me. He is getting so big.

I didn't pick him up. SO......Daddy did. Maybe that's why he likes his dad better than me these days? He gives him WHATEVER he wants....and I don't.

I loved this picture though...because he was just begging us to make it stop.

Man, it is hard to be loved.

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Hope everyone is having a wonderful Fall/Halloween Season!

I have to admit...I have seen/stolen some wonderful ideas for the season from some great moms and their blogs. Jessica gave me the idea of finger painting with Jax (thanks...such a cute idea with canvas).....Jamie gave me the idea to make halloween sugar cookies for him to decorate (I just know he'll love it)....both of which we will be doing this week!

So many great moms out there. Thanks for the ideas!

It's sure to be a long winter with my little guy. He is obsessed with outdoors. So keep them coming!