Girls Camp.....or not!

Wednesday of last week I received an email from our the executive sec. in our ward. "Ali, could you and Scott meet with a member of the Bishopric on Sunday morning?" I remembered Scott had said that he had noticed our temple rec. were up for renewal and has asked if we could come in on Sunday to renew them. So I started to reply "Yes, we can come in" and then it hit me- maybe this isn't for our temple rec, so I asked "Is this for our rec. or something else" His reply "Both". Hmmm, interesting. I just was put in as Camp director and I have only been in primary for about 8 months. That being said, I had a feeling right away what this could be about. Sunday we met with a member of the Bishopric. He asked how we were doing, chatted for a minute with Scott and then asked me about work and how things were going. Then I said "What do you have for me! :)" He said "Well, it is for you. And I want you to know that there have been a lot of prayers surrounding this calling. The calling would replace your other two callings (insert me breathing a HUGE sigh of relief....no camp)." I then said "I think I know what's coming" He asked if I wanted to take a guess and I said "YW's?" and he confirmed "Yes, 1st counselor in the YW Presidency" I was not surprised. It was the only thing I could think this was since Wed. Our 1st counselor just moved out and I knew they wouldn't leave the calling vacant for very long. He then told me that me being called had been a wonderful experience for him. He said that when the YW's president was praying about a counselor she kept coming back to me. She just kept thinking about how I had just been called to Camp director. She took my name to the temple....twice....and felt it was right. She took my name to the Bishop. Brother Howell said that the Bishop and the other counselor were ok with it, but he just wasnt sure it was where I was supposed to be. He then said that on his way home Wed from work and he had an overwhelming feeling that this was right for me, that the Lord wants me in this calling at this time. He got tears in his eyes and I too, at that moment, felt a strong confirmation that this was right for me. I am excited about it. I was in YW's for probably the first 6 years Scott and I were married. When I was released I was ready to be done and have not wanted to be back in (huge time commitment) but we have been in this ward for 3 years and I have served in Nursery, Relief Society and Primary and I really feel ready to be back in YW's. Honestly, it is probably a good thing that I was first called to Camp Director because I was just sooo happy that I didn't have to do it anymore that any calling would have been ok! :) I don't mean to make light of Girls Camp. I would have done it and it would have been fine, but I have had a dreaded feeling and just not felt much inspiration around it. I said during my meeting that the Lord probably just knew I didn't need to worry about it! It was a great meeting and I left with a good feeling, an excited to be back in YW's feeling. I know that it is a lot of work, but I know that I will enjoy it. I attended the New Beginnings activity a few weeks ago and felt so strongly about the girls and how wonderful they are. That night was a night where I actually felt like it was where I belonged....at the time I took that to mean as Camp director. I am excited to work with the girls and the leaders, who are all fantastic. I know that I will be gone more, but I also know I will learn a lot and strengthen my testimony while I serve in YW's. Wish me luck! :)

Jax

I have to post about my cute little Jax. I hesitate to say (type) it out loud, in fear of jinxing myself, but I have to say- he has come a LONG way lately. The last few months he has gotten a lot better. We communicate better, he is able to better express his frustration, he listens better and is just so much more pleasant to be around!

Some things I am loving:

- He says thank you a lot! If I do something for him, give him something, ect- he is quick to say "Thank you mama!"

- He is so sweet to me! He loves to come up to me for "Hugsh" (hugs). He also loves for me to sit down and he curls himself up in my lap and wants me to wrap my arms all around him so he is covered up. I Love it! But....he does not leave kisses on. If you kiss him he is VERY insistent that he must wipe it off!

- Whenever we say "Jaxon? Who do you love?" He will respond with "I Love EVERYONE"

- He loves to build with his trios and I love hearing him yell "MAMA!!!1 Look what I made!" He builds things like animals, our family, airplanes, ships. I also love hearing him yell from his room "Daddy! Come build me......"

-He loves when he can wear the same pajamas as scott or me. Scott and I both have batman shirts, Scott has a spider man shirt, and I have a Jack Skelington shirt. Jax has pajamas in all of those and gets so excited to wear them at the same time and say "See, Same as you!" If he sees scott or myself in our shirts and he doesn't have his on, he has to change.

- He keeps us laughing everyday. He says the funniest things!

I love him more and more everyday! It has been so fun (and relieving) to see him growing up and things calming down a little.

He is still a boy-rough and wild-but I love that part! I will admit I do have to watch him though-he is also a little sneak.

Examples:

-The other day he woke me up early and asked if he could have cheese and crackers. I told him no, and that he could have a granola bar. He said ok and went downstairs. A little while later he came upstairs and handed me a granola bar to open, but I could smell the cheese on him. "Jaxon.....did you eat cheese and crackers?" "No....." "Jaxon, did you eat them?" A sly little smile "Yes!"

- Just tonight as I was writing he asked me for chocolate milk. I told him that I would make some for him in just a minute and to put it on the table. After about 10 min I heard a thump. "Jaxon? What was that?" "Nothing" "Jaxon, what are you doing?" "Nothing! I just jumped down" I got up from the computer to see him running to the towel to wipe his face. "Jaxon did you eat the chocolate?" "Only 4 times! Only 4 spoons!"

Ahhh....so he is sneaky. Good thing for now is he isn't sneaky enough to get around me.....I'm sure my days are definitely numbered!

Love ya Jax!

Sledding!

Jadyn got a sled for her birthday and we had not used it all weekend. When it snowed on President's day I decided better late than never! Scott and the kids were home for the holiday and I was able to take a break from work and we headed to the park. Jade was a little bummed that due to not having a ton of snow the hill wasn't very fast but after she saw Scott go down standing, she tried that out and thought it was great fun! Jaxon really surprised us! The last time we went sledding he wasn't a huge fan and was cold and wanted to sit in the car after a short time. This time was completely different. He loved being out in the snow. He went down the hill a few times, played on the playground, made some snow angels with Jade and just was happy to be playing outside in the snow! We had fun spending time together. Have to get in as much as we can because baseball started in just a week!

Making Snow Angels

Jax would pick up loose snow and throw it at you and well "SNOWBALL!!!" He thought it was hilarious!

Just laying in the snow!

Temple

Last weekend Scott and I went to the Jordan River temple. We haven't been there for awhile since the Oquirrh Mountain temple opened, but because it was closed for cleaning we went to Jordan River. We decided to go around 3:30 because we knew if we went later in the evening it would be super busy. When I walked in I saw the line for initatories was REALLY long. I immediately thought about just leaving and even asked if the Men's were as busy. I then decided that I would just go ahead and stay. Usually when it is crowded I get really anxious about time, worried I will be later than I said for whoever was watching the kids, ect. This time was different. Once I decided to stay, I was able to say a prayer that I could enjoy the spirit while I was there and I can honestly say it was one of my favorite times at the temple. I was able to sit and read and just think for 45 min! It was wonderful! The initatories were more meaningful and I wasn't worried about the time it was taking!
I am so grateful I had that experience and in the future will stop focusing on getting in and getting out and will try to truly enjoying the peace that the temple brings.

Scott's Birthday

Scott is getting older! 33 this year! I am not sure where the time goes. He was only 17 when we got together!

He is nice enough to always pick places the kids will enjoy when we decide what to do for his birthday. This year he decided on Miniature Golf so we headed over to Incredible Pizza. Scott's family was all able to join us. Although the food was ANYTHING close to incredible, we had a fun time with Miniature Golf, games, and race cars! Uncle Mike hit the jackpot and won 1000 tickets on one game so the kids were also able to get a bunch of prizes before we left. We all had lots of fun! Scott and I also went out and celebrated alone a few days later and were able to go to dinner!

Scott playing a game!

JAx decided to lay on the floor and watch tv while we were eating. Good thing no one else was in the room with us!

The fam while golfing!

Everyone golfing

Jaxon pouting (Jade was doing this a few minutes earlier but got really mad when I took her picture so I deleted it)

Cute kids

The race cars! Jade loved it. Jax....well he just kept telling me I needed to slow down! ;)

Parties!

Jade had a fantastic day this past Saturday (after she cried for 10 min about how I made her hair UGLY only to later apologize to me after she got several compliments on how cute it was)! She was able to go to 2 birthday parties! The first was for Cole (my cousin's,daughter's, son!). It was a pirate party and she had tons of fun! She came home looking just like a pirate with a bandanna and pirate patch, a plate full of cookies and a bag full of candy! As soon as she got home we left to go to Jacie's party. This party was all about princess fairies. They got tutus, wings, nails done and jade's favorite part....body glitter! She had such a fun time at both parties and was a very happy girl!

Valentine's day dinner

About a month before Valentine's day Jade decided that she wanted to plan a nice big dinner for Scott and me. She knew she needed Aunt Brandee to help her pull it off so she called her on her own and asked her if they could do it. Brandee-who can't say no to Jade, agreed. Due to the fact that Jade started planning so far in advance, it gave her time to plan big! She was so giddy telling us that she was going over to Brand's just to "play". She wanted to make Scott's favorite dinner and my favorite treats so she told me Brandee just wanted the recipes to make for herself! So the Friday before Valentine's day Brandee got off work early and came and picked up Jade to "play". We called her a few hours later and told her we were going to come pick her up and go to dinner. She was sooooo excited for us to get there!

When we got to Brands we walked in to a candle lit room with a beautiful center piece and lots of great food. We were VERY surprised ;) and Jade was so proud of herself! It was so cute and sweet of Jade (and Brand and Lewis to oblige her). We had a great dinner and Jade even prepared some games after the dinner! We had such a fun night and are so grateful to have such a thoughtful daughter!

The dinner set up: including the centerpiece and cake Jade made for us!

The games Jade created. Pin the little heart on the big heart!
Jade and Jax playing the game!


Same type of game, this time we just tried to make a person?!?! Creative- Right?