School Closed!?

So this is ALL it takes to close down schools out here! Yes I know you can still see the grass through the snow. This is the second time this year we have had snow. The first time it melted so fast that I didn't even have time to take a picture of it. This is another reason why I love where I live. Every so often you get a few moments to play in the snow but never have to shovel it . My first experience here with snow what sooo funny to me. It was our first Sunday and we went outside to get in the car and noticed that it had snowed about an inch or 2 over night and by this time it had turned to slush on the roads. We turned onto a busier street and noticed that we were pretty much the only people on the road except for a car that had run off the road and a police officer that looked like his head was going to pop off as he was throwing his arms in the air telling us we need to slow down. Well we couldn't find the ward building so Brandon called his uncle who lived 5 min from us to ask for directions. This was his response " What are you doing outside? We are snowed in over here at our place. You need to get home and off these roads, church has been canceled." All we could do was laugh. Coming from Utah when it took what 5 feet of snow to cancel anything was very funny to us. I guess what they are scared of most is when it freezes it because they are not set up with trucks to salt the roads. You just have to wait for the sun to melt it.

Movies

So I am starting to become a fan of going to the movies. When I was in Junior high and High school the only time we went to the movies was to cruz around to find hot guys. (you girls remember how fun that was?) Movies 8 was a happen place back then. Anyways Brandon isn't a fan of going to the movies because he says there isn't enough room for his legs. I didn't like going to the movies cause my knees would start to hurt after my legs would dangle for 2 hours. Maybe the change has come since I have kids now and that is the only time I don't hear "mom can you get me this, mom I am hungry, mom Jae hit me, mom Carter said ha ha, mom can you check my bum, mom I need that." Sorry I got carried away. I am sure you all know what I mean. I haven't seen many. Just 2 in the last few months, Australia which is awesome and Bride wars which was cute. I know that doesn't seem like a lot but it has probably been 4 years since I have gone to the movies. Anyways let me know if you have any good recommendations on movies that are out now.

Guns?

Tonight Brandon went to a gun safety class so that he would be able to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Not sure why since the only gun he is allowed to carry is a plastic one. I have been going back and forth on this topic and I am not sure how I feel about having a gun in my house. If we didn't have kids the answer would be YES. After living near Memphis for 5 years I think most people do and I don't blame them. Last October I got him a gun safe for his birthday. You know the ones that have a place for your hand and you type in a code for it to open so no keys that you would have to find or for the kids to find to get the gun out. That was my way of saying you have the go ahead to get a gun. Well he returned it. I should have known, he has returned every gift I have given him except the home made ones. Which I am sure he has tried to do at Wal-mart or something. Anyways, in the end I was glad cause I don't know if I want a gun. Basically it all comes down to this, if one of our kids were to get it some how and ended up hurting or killing themselves or someone else I don't think that I could live with that. Last week I read a story about a 4 year old that shot his babysitter because he stepped on the little boys foot. Luckily the babysitter was okay but it scares me. So my question is to the peeps that have guns, how do you handle that with kids that are too young to understand how serious they are? This class started at 6 and doesn't end until midnight so I am prepared for him to come home and be bouncing off the walls carrying a picture of the gun he wants to get. Oh well at least it has given me time to start on finishing off the kids room. I am a little disappointed with the turn out so far. It reminds me of wonder bread. I will post a picture when I get it close and you can vote if I need to redo it.

MONSTER JAM!!!

Carter LOVES trucks! So when the monster truck show came into town Brandon knew that he had to take him. He could not stop talking about it. I was worried about the noise because Carter has always had sensitive ears but some friends of ours came prepared and were nice enough to share with him.

I am not sure if he liked the head phones or trucks better. Brandon said that afterwords they walked down Beale street and he wouldn't take them off. Even after getting in the car to go home Carter wouldn't take them off. He would just yell to Brandon and when he would try to respond he just kept saying "What, What". Brandon said half way home Carter fell asleep and the head phones fell off. That was the only way those babies were coming off.

Carter got to go with his friend Stirling. He was very excited because Stirling use to live across the street from us in Oakland and would see each other almost everyday.

This kid can pack it in. He ate all of his nachos, a hot dog, and was asking for a pretzel when Brandon decided that he needed to take it easy otherwise they would have spent the rest of the show in the bathroom. He was in Heaven!

He wouldn't take his eyes off of those trucks.

He came home with a shirt that he brought to me the next morning with a huge smile on his face. He was so excited to show me his favorite truck and wanted to know were his head phones had gone. I love this kid. He is so easy to please.

Excited to see what this year brings

I am having a hard time deciding where to start. I got so far behind so I will just touch on a few things and hope that I can keep it up to date from now on.

Brandon took the kids to Town Square for the tree lighting ceremony and visit from Santa. Of course that night was freezing but the kids had a blast.

Jaelynn had no interest in talking with Santa so Carter helped her out. Again, this year Carter still had a problem with Santa in that he didn't bring his reindeer. He saw Santa three times and not once did he have a good enough excuse for him.

Carter had his Christmas program and did great! Atleast this year he sang the songs. Last year he just sat in a chair swinging his legs. He has a great teacher that he loves. She is wonderful!

I had to add this. This is Carters Pilgrim that he made at school. As I was hanging him up Carter pointed at the Pilgrim's crotch and asked me if I knew what that white spot was. I assumed that he had missed a spot when he was painting but I didn't want to point out a mistake so I said that I wasn't sure. He informed that, that was his Pilgrim's penis. He said that since he was a boy Pilgrim he should have one. All I could say is "Did you tell your teacher that?" Thank goodness the answer was no.

Our little man isn't so little anymore. I can't believe that he is a little over 2 months. He is an angel. He smiles all the time and laughs right along with you. We will lay him down around 8 at night and will sleep until 6 or 7 in the morning. I can't complain about that! He isn't the best at taking naps during the day but I would much rather have a full night sleep. We are very blessed to have him in our lives. The past few weeks have been great. I am pleased to say that I am kidney stone free!!! Instead of doing another Litho we decided to have him take them out one by one. Yes, I was in hell for a week but I am done, that is until one of the ones forming in the wall of the kidneys decides to make an appearance. But again I had wonderful people helping me out that week and now I owe everyone BIG time.

I just wanted to express my gratitude for my Savior. This past year was pretty difficult for me and our family and I always knew that He would take care of us. I have learned that he knows what we are going through and the hurt that we are feeling and will throw His arms around you until all you feel is His love. He provided me and my family with true and wonderful friends that I couldn't even dream of. I am very grateful to have the gospel in my life and the knowledge that I can return to Him one day.