Family Pictures . . .

We got these taken a couple months ago. Our friend started a photography business a couple years ago and took these for us. He did awesome! We just love them and love even more that he did them! :)

I can't believe I haven't posted some of my favorites but here they are . . .

love love love these two!

will always love this picture!

This picture totally captures my Hayden . . . stinker!

Grateful . . .

Couple nights ago I got frustrated! I mean really frustrated. Life has been crazy! And I feel a little out of control. Not a feeling I like to experience. Nothing bad is happening. Just crazy! I feel like I have WAY to much to accomplish in a single day. I know many people feel this way, but I feel like I have two normal people's lives jammed into 1 . . . mine. I mean I work full time, meaning I am away from home about 10 hours a day. This doesn't excuse me from all the obligations I have being a mother and wife. Which include all the normal things like laundry, keeping my house in order and clean, cooking a meal for my family each night and all the other things. What I feel frustrated about (especially last night) is not in doing all those things (I actually enjoy them), but in finding the time to do them. I mean I work all day and then when Hayden goes to bed around 7, my second job starts and I have less time to do it in than most. I may be way off, I don't mean to offend any one out there reading this. It's just really hard being a working mom and finding the time to do the things that are important to me. And on top of it, I have this side business that keeps me busy, trying to make extra money for my family. It's just all too much some days!

Well, going back to the other night. I totally lost it! All these feelings of frustration boiled up and exploded! And I said something I regret. I said to Shane, "I hate my life right now!". I instantly felt horrible. I knew it wasn't true. I don't hate my life. I'm just frustrated. I realized right than how ungrateful I sounded.

So, to turn this sad, pity party around :) . . . since that night I've been thinking about all the things I have to be grateful. Here are just a few of the major ones (in no particular order) . . .

1. Shane . . . My life would not be complete without him. He puts up with my craziness without thinking twice. Seriously he is a saint. I couldn't get through my day without him. He is my best friend and the love of my life.

2. Hayden . . . He is the light of my life and the reason I get up every morning and do what I do. He has given my life a new purpose. He adds excitement, challenge, and growth to my life.

3. My job . . . now saying that I am grateful for my job, really shows growth :). People that know me well, know how hard it is for me to go to work every day and leave Hayden. But over the last couple of months I've realized that I need to be grateful for my job. I still wish and pray that I will be home some day. But I am grateful for a job that allows me to do something that I am good at and take care of my family without depending on the government or anyone else.

4. The gospel . . . I am grateful for the truth and light it brings to my life. Everything good in my life started with the gospel. I am grateful for the opportunity of an eternal family it provides me and how it pushes me daily to be a better person.

5. My home . . . it's not much but it keeps me warm :)

6. My family . . . I am so grateful to have so much family so close to us. Both Shane and my family live only an hour away (except my mom and dad). And they are such great supports. I have to give a shout out to my mom and dad who are so selfless and will come all the way from St. Louis at the drop of a hat if we need them. We would not have survived when Hayden was so sick for those weeks without my mom coming to help. Love you!

7. My health and the health of my family . . . a few years ago (coming up on 5 to be exact) I found out I had melanoma skin cancer. I was terrified! Everything is fine now, but ever since then I HATE going to the doctor. I've had a few scares since then, but all in all things have been good and I am grateful! Hayden was sick a couple weeks ago, throwing up every 24 hours and we didn't know why. When you hear MRI and brain tumor associated with your baby you start to freak out. Again, we've figured out the problem and everything is fine and I am ESPECIALLY grateful for that!

These are just a few of the things I am grateful for. I love my life and have many things to be grateful for. I hope this next year I can keep focus on those things and not let the day to day stresses affect me so much.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

First Hair Cut . . .

I no longer have a baby :( Hayden got his first hair cut today. He's been needing one for awhile, but I did not want to do it. I've always heard that as soon as a baby gets their first hair cut, they really look like toddlers. I'm not ready to have a toddler. It's true, he doesn't look like my baby anymore. I probably should have had more cut off, but I REFUSE to cut his curls. I told Shane before we had Hayden that if our little boy had curly hair I was NOT cutting it. And I'm not :). Our friend Angie cuts all of our hair and she did a little trim on Hayden's bangs. He did great. It helped that he trusts Angie and he had just woken up from a nap :) I'm sad my little boy is growing up, but it's sure fun to see him grow and change :)

Before . . .

 During . . .

 After . . .

Halloween 2012

I figure I should put up pictures of Halloween before Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around. Because they will be here before I know it!

We had a GREAT Halloween! Our celebrating started at our ward's trunk or treat. My mom was here for that, so that was really fun and special. Hayden did great! He wasn't quite sure about all of it at first, but after watching the kids for a few minutes, he was all about it!

Then on Halloween, we decided to stay home and walk around our neighborhood and trick or treat with our friends Angie, Tyson and Kayda. It was a lot of fun!

In my opinion . . .

I know, I know, I have lots of them. And usually I'm not afraid to voice them. But when it comes to politics, I only share my opinions with a select few. Not because I am ashamed of my views, I just feel like everyone has the right to make their own decisions when it comes to politics and people feel really strongly about them. And it's not very often that people can have a civil discussion about politics. It always turns into one person trying to convince the other person that they are wrong. No thanks. My solution, avoid the conversation.

You may be saying to yourself, "You aren't doing a good job of avoiding the conversation right now JJ!". I know. Last night was obviously an important and historic night in our countries political history. And I feel like I need to mark the occasion with a post :)

I am not saying who I voted for. It doesn't matter. And I feel strongly that who you voted for should not be shared with others. That's why we do it in secret in the first place. I respect everyone's opinion and why they voted for whomever they did. I have no problem whether you voted for Romney or Obama. What I struggle with and what I do have a problem with is reading Facebook and the news and everywhere else where everyone is spewing their hatred towards Obama and how "the WORLD is ending". Really?! REALLY?! Again, I'm not saying I'm a fan of Obama, or Romney really. I struggled on coming to a decision. They both are flawed in my opinion. But the decision has been made. And now, we need to come together as a COUNTRY and support our leaders. In my faith, we are asked to support our church AND civic leaders. It makes me sad when I see people that are so quick to be critical and not support their civic leaders. NOBODY has all the answers, but talking badly about our president and not showing support just makes us as a country look like idiots in my opinion. How do we expect other countries to respect our president and our country if we don't. Not to say I am perfect at this, don't get me wrong, but again my opinions on most matters dealing with politics are not shared with others. I don't spew them all over social media!

Anyway. That's my opinion. Agree with me or not. Just don't hate me or talk badly about me because I have an opinion. Just respect the fact that I have one. Because I respect the fact that you do. I think the world would be a better place if people would stop worrying about being right and worry more about respecting each other and working together.