THIRTY-THREE!!!

Purple ice cream for our Purple Princess

(People said, as Mykee rode on Jason's shoulders, "Hey look, there is a real LSU Cheerleader!!!")
Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream for our Strawberry Princess
(Kirby was so excited to attend the game, as we went through the turn-style, she said, "This is incredible!!!)

Obviously, the only way we can celebrate the birthday of LSU's #1 fan is to attend an LSU game!

Happy Birthday, Jason! We love you!

January 6, 2009, LSU vs. Utah @ Utah. We tucked our two littlest beans into bed and with the help of our awesome neighbor, (Thanks, Jae!!!) we ventured off into the night with our biggest LSU cheerleaders. It was so fun. We brought all of our gear, and had a blast. As we were leaving, people said, "Well you guys sure look cute, even though your team lost!" It was a memory, that's for sure :)!

Final Score:

LSU 61 - Utah 91

Geaux Tigers!!!

(We are not bandwagoners!!!)

A Special Day to Remember

Although it may be a lot of pictures of one event, it is not enough pictures for me. It is not often that I get to spend one-on-one time with my kids out and about. This was a special day that we had just for the two of us. We went to The Little Gym as a birthday surprise for Mykee. After class, it was lunchtime so we picked up a Happy Meal, played at the playland and enjoyed an ice cream cone. I love you, Myklin. I loved spending special time with just you!

Love,

Mom

Halloween Happenings

Tys Eating Caramel Apples at Gardner Village
Off to hunt for the Perfect Pumpkin

Autumn Hills Ward Halloween Dinner

"Mmmm, Nummy Treeeeat, Mom!!!"

Beau, Kendal and Brand New Baby Luke McKai Petty!!! (Not Pictured, Cade)

Jamie, Tys, and Mykee at Gardner Village

SPOOOOOOKY!!!!!!!!!

Dad and Darlin's

FHE Pumpkin Carving Time!!!


Spooky Rice Cereal Treats

FHE at the Pumpkin Patch

Costume Parade at Gardner Village

Ride-With-A-Witch at Gardner Village

Kirby's Snowman Costume Made With Love by Grandma

Making train tracks with Paw Paw

Sweet Little Reesey Piece

Jamie and Erin at Gardner Village

Kirby and Mykee off to Brooklyn's Birthday Bash

Thoughts

Yes, yes, I know. I haven't been blogging lately. Well, that's okay. My MIL was in town early on in the month, and we were busy with that. And then, well, I just didn't want to blog. At all. I'm sorry, I haven't been reading all of yours as well as I normally do. And my family in various places in the country is missing out on the goings-on of my life. ARGHHHHHHH!!! I'M SORRY!!!!



There is just so much to do in life. A few Sundays ago, our AWESOME ward Emergency Preparedness Specialist gave a little 15 min lesson and while she was speaking I thought to myself, "There is just so much work to be done." Not only is there a lot of work physically throughout a day, but emotionally, spiritually, etc., etc.



I don't know about the rest of you, but there is always laundry, dishes, toilets to be scrubbed, picking up after kids, teaching the kids to pick up after themselves, breakfast, lunch, dinner, exercising that needs to be done, floors that need mopping/vacuuming, kids that need bathing AND IT IS A LOT OF WORK!!!



In addition there are church callings, I currently have FOUR, three of which are heavy at the moment. And all kinds of things going on for all of us. I literally do not have enough hours in the day. So for now, I am backing off of blogging, it is just not high on my priority list, which is why I took so long to start one in the first place, and here I am back at the same thoughtful perspective. I will continue, mainly for the benefit of family and friends that really never see us, but I am sorry to say, I will be backing off of reading friends' blogs that I see regularly. It will not hurt my feelings if you do the same for me, because let's be real this blog thing is competitive...
(at least for me it was...truth be told.)

BUT, most importantly I often reflect on Dallin H. Oak, member Quorum of Twelve Apostle's talk and insightful thoughts:

"We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families."

While I love my extended family and friends, I must think first of my little ones and my good husband. The computer at this stage in life is not the best place for me to be at any given time of the day. Signing off for now with love,

Jamie

THREE OF MY...

joys

1. Performing. I LOVE an earned audience. Particularly acting. I'm a great actor. I really am. I always knew I had it in me, but didn't believe it enough until I didn't have anything to lose. So, after Mykee was born, I let it all hang out and was cast as Maureen the Hen in HONK! Shortly after that, Alice in Bye Bye Birdie, shortly after that the Ugly Step Sister in Cinderella. In college, I minored in theater. I was also great at improv. I am quite funny in a pinch. We also did some dramatic improv that leaned more towards the serious side, I was REALLY good at that. Ahhh....one day....

2. My children. I would have a dozen of them if I thought for a second that that would make sense. Kirby, Mykee, Tys and Fallon are my everything. Without them, I don't know who I am today. It's funny, before them, I really thought I knew myself, now it amazes me that I didn't really live until they were here with me.

3. Music. The Spirit of God truly speaks to me through music. I have felt love and compassion and faith and freedom and joy and triumph all through music. "If it sounds good, it is good." -Duke Ellington

fears

1. My children leaving this world before me. I've read one too many Drama in Real Life articles out of the Reader's Digest.

2. Driving. My sweet Myklin prays for me [out loud] every time I get behind the wheel.

3. Germs. I alone could sustain the Purell company for decades to come.

goals

1. To travel to New York and see a real Broadway show. Would you believe, I haven't been to New York City and we lived just hours from there my entire childhood. But, here's the clincher, everyone else in my family has been. I'm sickened.

2. To learn to dance hip-hop like a hip-hop dancer and not like Elaine from Seinfeld. There is a young man named Shane Sparks. Basically the hottest choreographer around right now. I took a hip-hop master class for three days from him. I am forever ashamed of how ridiculously hilarious I look(ed.)

3. To reach my ever-present goal of weighing 110lbs. YES YES YES, I just had a baby, we all know. Well, so what. I have a neighbor who just had a baby two weeks ago and weighs less now than I did BEFORE puberty hit.

obsessions

1. Finding things that are lost. I'm getting better. I really think all of that therapy has helped. Wait, I'll BRB, we just lost a Polly Pocket Shoe..............................................

OK, I'm back.

2. CingTR. I try. In fact, I try harder than anyone I know to constantly reevaluate myself. I'm always searching for answers. Trying to do what is best in every situation. And undoing what I've done that I think has been wrong. Ahhh, the never-ending search for perfection.

3. My body. I want to be my best, but not bad enough to stop eating that cake. Darn it!!!!!

random facts

1. I was the Goalie for the Women's Lacrosse team in high school. Go Hornets!!!

2. I've bungee jumped before, while singing Amazing Grace.

3. I've lived in fourteen different houses. Home Is Where The Heart Is, right?

I now tag Alicia, Tiffany, and Emily

Goggly Girls

Once upon a time, I was on swim team. I wore the proper attire, goggles, cap, fancy racing suits provided by either Speedo or TYR. Fast forward about 10 years and my kids found my old goggles. They like to wear them in the tub...

MUMZEY

I just got the coolest diaper bag ever!!! (Thanks Mom and Grandpa!!!) A friend of ours just started this amazing company with her mom, MUMZEY. They make diaper bags and hand bags for "mom's on the go!" SO GREAT!!! I got to choose the style of my bag, my fabrics and many extras. They did a great job and I would highly recommend this company to anyone looking for a fun new bag. I was seriously toting this bag around the house all night. A MUST for a MOM!

http://www.mumzey.com/

Little People, Big World

I LOVE Little People. I seriously could go head to head with Fisher Price on what we have "in stock." Stacey and I used to play for hours and hours on Sunday afternoons with our camping set and our airport when we were growing up. All was fine until some wacky mom decided to let her kid eat a little person, thus forcing Fisher Price to make giant chubby ones.

I remember being bummed for years about it, until I had kids and then, the chubby Little People didn't bother me as much. We decided to spend a couple of days creating a village with all of our Little People sets, minus a few stray ones that were upstairs in Tys' room that I didn't feel like digging for and of course the Christmas sets which are put away. My absolute favorite picture is of Mykee's school bus, which I'm sure violates fire codes, and seat belt laws, but it was a riot watching her shove about 15 kids into a three-seat bus. Tys loved destroying our village, and Kirby and Mykee loved setting it up "properly." We had a great time.

Curler Cuties

Kirby has to have "full curls" for her dance competitions, pictures, and recitals. I decided picture day at school was the perfect opportunity to practice. I got started on her head and Mykee came bounding in and proclaimed that she wanted some "bouncy hair" as well. We had a fun time together, us big girls!

Pregnancy Thoughts

As we prepare to go into the hospital tomorrow for the induction of our 4th little one, many thoughts are swirling in my head. I am excited, of course, but it is always bittersweet to see one of life's chapters come to an end. This is the end of me being a mother of three, and the beginning of me being a mother of four. The funny thing is, that I always feel this way, and as soon as I walk through my door with my new little one, I can't imagine life without them. But for today, I can't imagine life with my unknown new friend.

I LOVE being pregnant. I really enjoy everything about it. I don't mind the little hiccups, they secede. I am so thankful that I've had this opportunity to carry this little one. I hope to have a few more!!!;)

There is so much to be grateful for. I am grateful that my kids are excited about their new sibling. I am grateful to have had four healthy pregnancies. I am grateful that I have the opportunity in this life to be a mother and to be a wife. I am grateful for a husband that pitches in and helps. (Especially his delicious cooking!!!) I am grateful for the health of my children. I am grateful for my health and for Jason's health. I am grateful for friends that uplift me. I am grateful for friends and neighbors that have helped so much with babysitting. I am grateful for a roof over my head. I am grateful for food to eat. I am grateful for TWO VEHICLES! I am grateful for furniture, because I have lived without it. I am grateful for health care. I am grateful for Jason's job. (SUCH A BLESSING!!!) I am grateful for my good doctor. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for my children. I am grateful for my mother and father. I am grateful for my grandparents and their legacy. I am grateful for my sister's and their examples. I am grateful for LSU. (Just seeing if you were paying attention, but really I am grateful for LSU.) I am grateful for my education. I am grateful for my talents. I am grateful for the opportunities I have to serve my fellowmen and my Savior.

"Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."

I could go on forever, I am very grateful for the countless things that I have been given in my life and for the many blessings that are to follow. Thank you to all of you for your support and love during this wonderful pregnancy. I love you all. Wish me luck tomorrow!!!

Sustaining the Prophet of God

On Saturday, April 5th, 2008, the entire world had the opportunity to sustain President Thomas Spencer Monson as the Prophet of God. I do not remember doing so for President Hinckley or President Hunter, and would not for President Benson, but I was touched as this sacred act was performed. The Spirit was so strong in our home as I stood and added my sustaining vote to the millions of others for President Monson.
I am ever so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that provides us with the opportunity to have a Prophet. This world is becoming the place that the Scriptures say it will become. Life is getting difficult. What a blessing to have a mouth-piece for the Lord!
I wanted to bear my testimony to all of you, that I truly know that President Monson is our Prophet in these Latter-days. I know that the Gospel was restored to the Earth, through the Prophet Joseph Smith and I am ever-so grateful for all that the Lord has seen fit to provide us with during this dispensation. I know that the scriptures truly contain the Word of God. The Book of Mormon is a true book. I am impressed every time I read it, with how a loving Heavenly Father is so able to tailor the Book of Mormon's messages to us as individuals at different times in our lives. Most importantly, I know our Savior, Jesus Christ lives! He loves us! He knows us! He wants us to succeed. He is our FRIEND! I have come to know this personally, and am so very thankful for the opportunities my Lord has provided me with in my life thus far to come unto Him. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true! It is exciting to have such a fullness of knowledge and to teach my children. I am grateful for my eternal role in my family, for the opportunities I have to stretch and grow and for all my Heavenly Father hath seen fit to bless me with. I say these things, in the solemn name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Girls Night In!!!

Saturday night, during the Priesthood Session of Conference, the girls and I got Tys in bed early, sent daddy off to the stake center with his friend, and had a fabulous night of pampering ourselves. I was the lucky recipient of a new hairdo and the girls were taught how to properly take photographs with Mommy and Daddy's camera. It was just so relaxing and enjoyable!