Happy Halloween!

A lot has happened since my last post.  I am about half way through the semester and I cannot wait for it to be over.  I love learning but that year off was so nice.  I didn't have to worry about deadlines or tests or homework.  What happens at work, stays at work.  School seems to follow you everywhere you go.

So lets go back to general conference.  For conference weekend Ashley, Jake (her boyfriend) and some of his friends, and I drove down to Richfield. Which is about 2 hours south of Provo.  That is where Jake is from.  So we stayed at Jake's house and had a great time! Between sessions we played football outside, rode bikes with all of Jakes nephews and nieces, and explored Richfield.  It's a small town, I think Sonora might even be bigger.  It was a fun weekend and nice to just get away.

This here is Luke, the cheerleader.  That is how we always refer to him. He is cute but about 5 foot nothing.  So that's not going to happen.

The next weekend was my mission reunion.  Which was super fun! It was a complete success and I am so happy becuase I was on the planning committee.  I am so sad that noone of you have ever met President and Sister Wilkey.  They are the closest thing I know to perfection (besides Christ of course). I am waiting for them to get translated.  As you can tell I am slightly obsessed with them.  On my mission I would dream about them! Just an example of how sweet and tender they are: on my mission Elle was struggling a bit so I shared this with my mission president.  Ever since then he has invested in Elle and been interested in her life.  So it has been almost 2 years since I've seen them and after we caught up he asked how Elle was.  They make you feel like you are the most important person ever and you are the only thing that matters in thier life.  It's a special feeling to be loved and cared by them.  I also got to see some of my companions.

Kate Peterson (my baby!), me, Anna Bullard (my trainer), Angela Walter (my baby!)

That weekend I also went hiking with a mission friend.  I haven't seen him in 3 years.  We went on a hike to see the colors in the canyon.

The next big event in my life was my Nike Women's San Francisco Half Marathon! That was such a fun experience. I would defintily do it again.  That weekend I was able to fly home.  Mom picked me up from the airport so we spent about 2 hours in the car together, 3-4 hours during Tait's football game, and then a few hours the next day together.  It was a much needed weekend for me.  I needed to see my mama! I also got to watch Tait play football! Which was so much fun! I am so proud of Tait and the young man he is becoming.

I rode to San Francisco with Jenna (a physical therapist from Bones).  We chekced in and got our bags and checked out NikeTown and the expo for the runners. It was sponsored by Nike, Neutrogena, Luna, Tiffany & Co., so basically we got so much stuff! We stayed in a hostel that night in San Francisco.  We had two korean room mates. I woke up a couple times in the middle of the night to hard core rap music. So when my alarm went off I was so happy it was time! There were 30,000 women and some men that ran the race! I was doing great till mile 6, it started getting extremely hilly.  Then by mile 10 I was ready to be done! My legs were numb, I couldn't feel them, so I don't know how I was getting anywhere.  The end was the best surprise.  There were Firemen in tuxedos  handing out our Tiffany & Co. necklaces.  I am so proud of myself for doing this! My goal was to run the whole thing and I did so I am a winner! I wasn't able to walk for a few days but it was well worth it!

This was Nike Town.  They had the names of everyone that ran the race on the glass. Can you find mine?

I got to see Pat and Debbie at the home BYU game!

Here are some of my new friends! This is the worst picture of everyone except me and Ashley  Jake looks super fat.  Nate isn't looking.  Raymond is trying to act cool. Jack looks evil. After the game we went to Krispy Kreme and ate our weight in donuts.

This would be the family ward Halloween party.  We dressed as cops and robbers.  Jack has the best costume! We even bought him a donut.

After the party, Ashley tried doing homework.  But I was ready to dance and get my groove on! So this is what happened....consider yourselves lucky to be able to see the full unedited version.

What We've Been Up To Lately

About a month has gone by since the last blog so we will fill you in with some updates that have occurred recently...

Candace and Weston went to a consignment sale in a giant warehouse in Castaic, and it was amazing!  They have items that are slightly used from 0-18 years old but there is such a surplus for babies.  It was crazy, there were like hundreds of strollers, pack n plays, exersaucers, floor mats, toys, everything you could ever need if you were having a baby. Guess people really like to make money selling their used things.  Some things I probably wouldn't buy used but some I think "what a great deal!"  We ended up buying quite a few books to add to Wes' library, and we found a great door jumper which Weston loves!

Weston and Candace went to a birthday party for her friend Jade's two young sons and he was having fun in the beginning.... After about an hour of being there he started frrreeeaaaking out, like screaming at the top of his lungs inconsolable for over an hour.  It's hard when you feel like there is nothing you can do but be there, and especially when you are by yourself, but we made it through.  I didn't want to drive him home because we were about 45 minutes away so I just stayed in a back room with him and tried to settle him down.  Thankfully one of my friends from our old ward (which we still miss dearly) stayed with us the whole time.  Weston has done this two other times - at the family reunion, and at another birthday party for his cousins Zach and Lily.  After seeing the pattern we realized he just gets overstimulated by too many new faces and things going on and can't handle all of it, so we need to be more careful about what he can and can't handle.  Here is a picture of us at the party during happier times:

Weston has started eating solid foods! Although he is only 5 months, his pediatrician recommended that we try it since he is so big and not sleeping very well at night.  I didn't think it would make much of a difference if we fed him, and it hasn't so far, but Wes sure does enjoy his rice cereal.  We have also tried oatmeal and bananas, he wasn't a fan of either...but I think it may just be the texture.  We will try again in a while.  Here is a picture of his first food tasting:

Weston is growing so fast and getting so curious about everything.  He is rolling around all the time now and making lots of new sounds and faces.  We finally bought a high chair and a crib!  We can post pictures in the future when we get him in both, the crib isn't here just yet, we pick it up sometime next week.

Jake's schedule switched and now he is off in the middle of the week.  He is almost at his one year anniversary from graduating the academy.  It is so crazy how time flies, and we are just so proud of how hard he has been working.  We are really excited for all of the upcoming things going on; we can't wait for Halloween. Candace is going to be Dorothy, Jake is going to be the scarecrow, and Wes is going to be the lion.  We are also planning on going to Sonora soon to see Tait play football.  So many adventures, we will have to let you know how they all go!  Until next time!

Jeddie's 4th Birthday

Lil Jed is beyond excited to be 4 years old! We are so blessed to be his parents and can't wait to see what this year has in store for Jeddie.

His favorite food changes everyday... but we pretty much can narrow it down to pizza and icecream- and don't forget about the pink. (Pink is a strawberry smoothie)

He is so empathetic. He surprises me everyday on how sensitive he is to other people's feelings. When I am overwhelmed but am trying to hold it together- he could be all the way across the room but he'll stop what he is doing and ask me "Mom, what's wrong? Are you okay?" or he'll say "Why are you sad?" There are times when I'm reading the scriptures and I feel the Spirit so sweetly, and then he'll immediately put his toys down, stand up and say "Jesus makes me feel happy!" It's incredible.
He translates Robbie and even Harper's baby language for me when I just don't understand what they are saying. He really doesn't like it when Robbie and Harper cry- it makes him very sad.
Jeddie loves Primary and his playdates with all his church and neighborhood friends. He can never get enough of friends and loves each and every single person he meets. No one is a stranger to him!

Preschool was so much fun. He loved every minute of it and would tell us everyday what was taught. He would even try to teach me a lesson or two, just like his teacher would teach him.
But for this year, we decided that we would continue preschool at home and rethink for preschool next year. He already knows everything in the 3yr class curriculum, was much older than many of his classmates, and overall we feel he could experience better things by going with us to the zoo, on hikes, and to the farm, instead of sitting in the preschool classroom. Instead of getting a step up by going to preschool, he was being left out. We'll continue playdates for him, because we know how important that is for children- especially for him.
-Madeline

Hey lil Jed! We love you so much. We are so proud to be your parents and are trying our best to raise you how Heavenly Father wants us to. You are an amazing little boy and we can't wait to see how you grow up into a man of God.
The other day you were eating dinner at Nana's counter, then you quickly turned around and interrupted Mom and Dad's conversation to say " Dad, when I grow I want to be just like you. Okay?" And Dad choked on his food, and managed to get out an "Okay, Jed." You were pleased with the answer and turned back around and continued to eat your food like nothing spectacular had just happened. But something did! You reminded Dad of his biggest role... being a good example and father to you! I'm sure you gave him more determination to be a good example to you. We love you! Love, Mom and Dad.

Bringing home the dough!

Guess what?! This homegirl just got a job! Holla for a dolla! Today was my first day and it was really good.  I will be working at Human Performance Physical Therapy as a physical therapy aide.  So, pretty much the same job at Bones.  It is a much smaller clinic than Bones and they do things a little different.  I still miss Bones and everyone there! But this will be good.  It's just nice having an income, I am starting feel a little better about life now!  Basically, I am going to be so busy I wont' be able to see straight.  I am gone all day tuesday and thursday for school; monday and friday I will work all day and wednesday is school in the morning, and work in the afternoon.  I don't know how I am going to get everything done, but I know it will happen.  I seriously am just so amazed at Heavenly Father's love and how aware he is of my needs.  This job was literally a miracle, just like every other job I have had. About two weeks ago a girl in the YSA ward was asking about my work background and when I mentioned I had worked at a PT clinic she told me about her friend's dad that owned a clinic in American Fork.  She told me her friend had just texted her and said they were hiring for front office work.  I haven't really been looking for a job but in desperate need for a job! When i went to drop off a resume they told me they weren't hiring for front office work.  Discouraged, I asked if they hire per diem aides.  They said they would maybe do some hiring in the future but they would call me when the owner came back from vacation.  Well, on Monday they called and wanted to set up an interview.  So monday I interviewed and then later they called and said they wanted to a "trial" run and see how things work out.  Basically the job is mine! So today, Friday, and Monday I am training.  The aide that I am replacing has been at the clinic for 7 years and decided a couple weeks ago she needs a change.  This is exactly what happened one year ago when TJ offered me the job at Bones.  I am just so grateful for Heavenly Father and His plan and his love, and care, and awareness.