Thanksgiving back home

Jackson and I went back home to Walla Walla Wednesday the 26th after I got off work at 4. We hit the road after me picking him up at Bethany's and were on our way. I didn't stop the whole way! It's hard to stop with Jackson by myself. I just don't feel safe... especially in the dark. We got to Walla Walla at 8:15. That night Jes' parents and sister Alyse came over to visit us. Then we all went to bed. Thursday morning we woke up and got all the food ready for our noon Thanksgiving and went to the church where we had dinner since there was like 40 people. I must say, the basketball court was a nice distraction for the kids. They all just ran around and had a great time!

Vincent sitting on the court playing with his toys

Lydia being as cute as ever!

Olivia posing for a picture

Jackson standing still for 2 seconds!

Elizabeth posing for the picture

Colby wanted me to take a picture of him while he did this.

Uncle Joe helping Jackson try to make a basket.

After the meal there, Jackson and I went to the Goodson's for our 2nd Thanksgiving and ate again.
Jackson with olives on his fingers. He loved them!

I was very full and so was he... (see picture below)

Jackson ate too much and was too sleepy!!! This was his first nap of the whole day and it was 4!!

After dinner there, I went and visited my friend Justyn. Her and husband lived in his parents basement when we did and they live right across from Jes' parents house. They just had a little boy named Oliver, so I went to meet him at her mom's. Before I left Goodson's we just wheeled his high chair into Jes' parents room so he could get a little nap.
Oliver


I got back and he had just woken up, then after a little bit we went and visited Andrew, Alyce and Audrey. I forgot my camera in the car, but I wish I wouldn't have!!! Audrey is getting big now and crawling. Jackson likes to chase their cats around too. After their house, we went over to visit Amanda and Parker. He has been missing his buddy and they played well together. After that we went back to my parents for a little bit, then went back over to Goodson's to say goodbye. Jackson had a snack there and played with everyone and showed everyone his new trick... getting down the stairs safely. It's a relief to have him know how to do it now. I don't have to worry so much about it anymore!! Friday morning Jackson and I headed towards Tri-Cities and stopped and saw Lindsey and Taylor. He played on Taylor's rocking horse and slide and then we went to Belva and Darrell's and had a nice visit. After that we stopped at Michelle's parents house to see her and her little girl Kelsie. She was asleep, but we still got to see her. Then we met Joe, Kori, Colby, Brant, Tina and Christopher at Joe and Kori's to head out to Grandma and Grandpa Crowther's house. Jackson and I rode with Joe and Kori. We had a nice visit with Grandma and Grandpa and we all forgot to take pictures!! Shame on us!! :) We got back into Pasco and I went and visited Cassie at work, then went out to Shelby's for pizza and to hang out. It was getting late and as you have read above, it'd been a pretty busy day, so Jackson and I headed over to Dominic and Cassie's where we stayed the night. Jackson fell asleep on the way, so I took him straight downstairs to the playpen to go to sleep. Cassie had to work until 10:30, but I hung out with Dominic and Giovanni. Cassie got home and we stayed up way too late watching tv and eating ice cream. It sure was fun though!!! Saturday morning Jackson and Giovanni both woke up at 7, so Cassie and I got up with them and made pancakes. We headed towards home about 10 since Jackson was already ready for his nap. He was asleep by 10:30 and we stopped in Troutdale at the outlet mall there and walked around. I had never been there... I think I'll be going back though!!! It's a nice little mall! We stopped at Lloyd Center after that so that we could see Jes during his lunch break, then we headed HOME!!! Jackson fell asleep on the way, so we got home and I laid him down and was able to get all unpacked and had laundry going already. It was a nice trip!!! We are glad we were able to go and visit who we were able to. I'm happy to be home to Jes though. We'll see you all at Christmas time!! :)

Family Pictures!!

We just got back from my work (Picture People) getting our pictures done!! I'm so impressed by how well they all turned out!!! Of course! Gotta make it hard for parents to pick which ones!!! Good thing I get 50% off!!! I don't have the link for you all to view the pictures yet, but I have a cute "before" picture of Jackson and I. He loved Santa!! I can't wait to share them!!

Skate Board Baby!!!

Jackson stands on the couch looking out the window at the kids in the park skateboarding. Whenever we're there when they are, Jackson always pushes it around and they all love him and let him. Jes and I were at K-Mart today and saw these little skateboards on sale and got him one!!! We couldn't wait until Christmas and now it's the only thing he wants to play with!!!

Christmas Tag

Christmas Gift Tag

1. Wrapp​ing paper​ or gift bags?​
I enjoy wrapping presents. I wish I was as good as my mom at it though! I never even bother with ribbons and bows just because I don't understand why I can't get it to look as good as other people can!!

2. Real tree or artif​icial​?​
We had an artificial tree all the time growing up since my dad was allergic to real ones, so when Jes and I got married we've had a real one ever since and love them!!! This year we're hoping to go and cut it down ourselves. We'll see.

3. When do you put up the tree?​

I do it as soon as Jes will let me... since it is a real tree though we usually do it the first weekend in December... sometimes into the second week.

4. When do you take the tree down?​
Probably right after Christmas... we're usually moving the week after Christmas... we have ever since we've been married! Crazy, I know!!! With Jackson this year, we'll probably want it down before Christmas is over because he probably will have a hard time resisting to go and play in it! It will make for some cute pictures though!!!

5. Do you like egg nog?
I'm not sure I've tried it... but just like NaDell said, it looks gross!!! Jes loves it though and I'm sure Jackson will... maybe I'll give it a try. (probably not though!)

6. Favor​ite gift recei​ved as a child​?​
I always enjoyed getting the "big girl" stuff!!! Since NaDell was a couple years older I always got jealous that she'd get hairspray and I didn't. It makes for a great stocking stuffer!!! I remember though one year my mom crocheted me a green Christmas dress and a matching one for my doll and I got pictures in it! I wonder where that's at mom? It will probably fit Elizabeth soon!

7. Do you have a nativ​ity scene​?​
Thanks to my mom finding me a good deal on one while she was here, yes!! My previous one got donated to the garbage can last year. It was breaking and old!

8. Harde​st perso​n to buy for?

Probably for each of our parents... just because we want to get something meaningful that they will like and use. We'll see how we do this year... I've got a great idea!!!

9. Easie​st perso​n to buy for?
Jackson of course!!! He's so easy to buy for!! Jes is easy as well.

10. Worst​ Chris​tmas gift ever recei​ved?​
Hmm... I can't really remember a time of getting a horrible gift. Well, I guess in beauty school we did an exchange and this one girl gave me this huge yellow duck that stunk of cigarette smoke! It was disgusting!!! On top of that, she gave me these little jewelry box things that had obviously had a lot of dust on them previously since there was still a bunch on there after her attempt of cleaning them up. It's the thought that counts!

11. Mail or email​ Chris​tmas card?​
I mail them and am preparing my list this year... would you like one? Give me your address!!!

12. Favor​ite Chris​tmas Movie​?​
I love While you were Sleeping... it's based at Christmastime and I love it!

13. When do you start​ shopp​ing for Chris​tmas?​
I usually start as soon as I start finding good deals on things I think people will like!

14. Have you ever recyc​led a Chris​tmas prese​nt?​
Yes, I'm guilty... some gifts just aren't for me but they make for great on the spur of the moment gifts!!!

15. Favor​ite thing​ to eat at Chris​tmas?​

First of all... NaDell, those cordial cherries are so gross!!! Sorry, had to add that! I really like my mom's truffles and candy cane bread!!! I'll be at her house Christmas morning this year too!!! YAY!!!!

16. Clear​ light​s or color​ed on the tree?​
Well if you have clear lights, then I think it needs colorful ornaments and vice versa.

17. Favor​ite Chris​tmas song?​
I have too many favorites! I just love music.

18. Trave​l at Chris​tmas or stay home?​
I would love to stay at home, but since we live so far away now, we'll celebrate Christmas morning at our house on Christmas Eve this year, then drive to my parents house and stay the night.

19. Can you name Santa'​s reindeer?​
Dashe​r,​ Dance​r,​ Pranc​er,​ Vixen​,​ Comet​,​ Cupid​,​ Donne​r,​ Blitz​en,​ Rudolph, Bruce, Marvin, LeRoy.

20. Do you have an Angel​ on top or a star?​
I have a star that I bought at Wal-Mart for Jes and I's first Christmas. Maybe it's time for a new one this year!?

21. Open the presents Chris​tmas Eve or morning?​
I get really excited and usually beg Jes to open one on Christmas Eve, but this year we'll open all of ours at home on Christmas Eve morning... then with our families on Christmas... Jackson will probably wake up the day after looking for more!!!

22. Most annoy​ing thing​ about​ this time of year?​
The crowds at EVERY store!!! I hate that!!!

Merry Christmas!!!​​​​

STUNT MAN!!!

Jackson has learned that it is funny to jump off the couch and listen to scared mom. He's been doing this for some time now, but he'll go days without and then all of a sudden start doing it again. So here he is... doing the boy stuff!!!


He also now knows what a dog says... cracks me up!!!! I'm not sure who taught him what a dog says, but he knows! We did "dog sit" for 14 days in September, so that could be why.



Right now he is playing hide-n-seek with Jes. They are so silly!!! He does this pretty much every night. Sometimes I join in... he gets pretty excited during this though, so usually it takes some relaxing before he'll go to bed.

Right after I recorded this video of them playing hide-n-seek he somehow fell on the kitchen floor and has a little bump on his head and bit his lip pretty good. Poor guy!! We have pictures next Tuesday... he must know!!!
I've started my job at The Picture People here and I like it a lot... I know I said that about the telemarketing job too, but I sincerely like this job! I get to look at mostly adorable children all day!!! Today I got a couple to give some good smiles!!! I'm doing everything but taking the pictures. So I guess you could say I have the easy job. Jes has been busily working for Sears and then of course going to school on Tuesday's and Friday's. He never gets an actual day off from everything, so I'm sure we'll thoroughly enjoy coming home for Thanksgiving!!! Maybe we'll even get out by ourselves... we'll see!

P.S. He does have jammies... we put them on him right before he goes to bed because he loves to run around in his diaper at night. :) No worries!!

Jackson wanted to tell you something...

If I end up a few steps behind him, he's walks straight over to the park.

Jackson wants to tell you about his day at the park....

hgfhgrh tutuuuuuuuuuuuuuhttththhttttttttthttttt 5j j5 jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjntttttttttttttttttt t grtt 54 ttttttttttttttttttttt

This was probably also his face while typing the previous message.

He giggled the whole time he just did that! But as I said above, we enjoyed the nice weather today and after his 3 1/2 hour long nap went across the street to play at the park... here's some cute pictures!

Standing at the bottom of the slide... he usually walks down, not quite sure who taught him that.

Grandpa/Grandma weekend! :)

Jackson's helping Grandma... actually he's trying to steal her light!

On Thursday afternoon Jackson and I went and met my mom in Portland at Fabric Depot to bring her to our house. We had a lot of fun shopping at quilt stores and toys stores. That night my mom helped me make a stew out of our leftovers from the night before. On Friday we had chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast and of course we shopped some more...

Jackson's loving the Chocolate Chip Pancakes!!


I even bought some Christmas presents!! Then we came home and made Chicken Pot Pie!!! (My FAVORITE!!!) I hadn't had it for about a year!! Now I know how to make it myself. On Saturday my dad called and just couldn't stand not getting to be here too, so he took the Sunday off from Walla Walla 3rd Ward and came over last night. We made Chicken Enchiladas. (Jes' FAVORITE!!! but I know how to make those for him.) Dad bragged of paying 2.17 for gas in Troutdale. What a great price!!! Jes got off work a little after 9 and we all played Rummikub and ate root beer floats. This morning we got up bright and early, well not that early... but we were up pretty late playing games... speaking of which, Jes won twice and so did I. Can't let the guests beat us!!! :) We went to my ward here in Vancouver.

Jackson's ready to go to church.


It was nice to have Dad and Mom there to help me wrestle Jackson, we didn't even have to take him out!! woo hoo!!! We came home from church and kind of watched Emma. Dad and I fell asleep though and Jackson was already asleep. Dad took Jackson over to the park across the street and even took some pictures!!!

Jackson playing at the park with Grandpa.


Yay for that because I'm always forgetting to do so. Jes works until 9, so we'll probably be up playing games again!!


Jackson and mommy!