July In A Nutshell...

July has been such a BUSY and fun month for our family! I lost my camera for awhile so I don't have pictures of everything, but I will share with you what I have!

We have taken Jaden out on the boat a few times this month and he has been so funny! He gets so excited to go, and everytime he see s the late...which is daily he says "a ganpa boat lake" and talks about how he wants to go with "ganpa" on the boat, but everytime we tell him he can actually go he changes his mind and doesn't want to go. Luckily when we finally get on the boat he seems to enjoy himself! He's such a funny kid.

I gave in and let Shawn take Jaden on the tube...even though he didn't want to go. He was a trooper though and Shawn said he actually enjoyed himself while they were out there even though he was crying when I put him on. When he came back he was SO proud of himself but DID NOT want to go out again! Maybe next year.

The 4th of July this year was SO fun! We started out by heading up to Shawn's family's cabin on the 2nd, we were only there for a few hours though and then headed up to the Oakley Rodeo. We did have enough time for a few 3 wheeler rides with dad, Jaden LOVES them!

Jaden and dad do not cooperate with pictures, when Jaden smiles this is what dad does...

And when dad smiles this is the face Jaden likes to make....
Oh well you can't win them all :)

The Oakely Rodeo is a family tradition Shawn really enjoyed as a kid that we have opted to continue with our family! Jaden LOVES the rodeo! He especially loves the "neighs" and gets a little frustrated when they do events when he can't see them too well!

Here is Jaden and Grandpa at the Rodeo

On the 3rd of July we went to Huntsville to participate in the festivities! I love the 4th and 24th of July and this year did not disappoint! I love living in a small town, it brings a little something to these kinds of things. Jaden enjoyed his first 4th of July parade, it was the perfect length for him and although he didn't exactly understand why people threw candy at him, he enjoyed eating it!

It has been so fun to see the kids I used to nanny interact with Jaden, McKenna and Ruby take such good care of him! McKenna is always plaing with him and taking him out to play and Ruby is always good for a "teet" (treat)

After the parade Jaden and daddy enjoyed the bounce house!

We spent the rest of the day hanging out, we went back later that night to eat at Texas Pride, one of our favorite places up here and to listen to live music, then we headed back and put J down while mom and dad enjoyed the fireworks from the back porch. One of our neighbors used to serve in the armed forces so we even enjoyed the accompanied patriotic music from our back porch!

We have been trying to get out more and enjoy the beauty we live in so we headed out as a family the other day and went for a hike and a picnic dinner....
Jaden doesn't exactly enjoy going up hill...but he'll get used to it, we found a creek though and he loved throwing rocks in while we ate dinner and was much more pleasant on the hike down!

Mom trying to negotiate a giid picture with J (didn't happen)

My smiley little man

For the 24th we had a family reunion for the Buck/Smith side up in Logan.
I love going to Logan and visiting, it is so just laid back and fun! We had SO many people that I hadn't seen in years and it was so great to catch up! Unfortunately I was lacking on the picture side and only snapped a few shots.

Most the grandkids with their favorite aunt (which she has brainwashed them all to say)

This last weekend Shawn also took his Series 7 test and not only passed but got a great score! We are so proud of him and how hard he works to provide for our family! He is an amazing husband and father and we couldn't ask for more! Great job babe!

We have had such a fun busy month and I'm sure August will being even more! Jaden is growing up so fast, talking in sentences and become more strong willed every day! I don't know how we got so lucky to have such a great little man but I'm sure glad we did! I can't wait until our little girl gets here and we get to add another to our family!

Cute Story!

I love my little man he is so funny and adorable: for example...

The other day Jaden was sitting on the couch snuggling with mommy, talking to the baby inside mommy's tummy (oh did I mention we're pregnant?) more on that in a second. Well Jaden is talking to the "BabY" in mommy's tummy when he lifts up my shirt and gives the baby kisses! Super cute but not the story! He then proceeds to stick his fingers inside my belly button and pulls as hard as his little arm muscles will let him saying, "BabY....Are you?" Ouch! I nearly screamed! He is a tough little guy and didn't hold back at all! It was VERY adorable and VERY painful! That's my little man though and boy oh boy do I love him!

We are so excited to be adding to our little family! I am 21 weeks tomorrow and we found out last week that we are having a GIRL!!!! She is Due November 24th and at my ultrasound measured perfect! (Jaden measured small my entire pregnancy so this was a relief, maybe we can avoid some respiratory problems) I havent felt much of her but the dr at my ultra sound assured me it was because of how she is placed so I'm excited to start feeling her kick more regularly! This is such a fun exciting time for us and we are so excited! I have decided on a name but Shawn won't agree on anything until she is born! So we will see. He is so excited to have a little girl though,I think I can talk him intoal most anything at this point :)

Well that is my cute little story, Jaden is a very attached little man and I think this sweet little girl will definately be an adjustment.. but a good one! We can't wait for November!

2 Yrs

Two years ago tonight i was spending my first night with my sweet little man! He was SO tiny and I just fell in love!

A year later he was already this big (with no teeth but lots of smiles)
He wasnt walking, and saying just a handful of words

And tonight I put this sweet little boy...yes boy not baby to bed...as a 2 yr old and I want to cry!
He has become a spirited, silly, loving, stubborn, helpful little boy and I couldn't love him more! He talks and talks! He is growing and changing every day! He loves cars and trucks, trains and soccer. He is a little stud who hates babysitters and is working on nursrey, loves his mommy and cries whenever daddy has to get off the phone at work! I can only imagine what he will be like next year! My amazing cousin took pictures of him yesterday for his birthday and they turned out FANTASTIC but for some reason this is the only one I can get to load... but seriously how cute is this! There are some more on her blog lifethroughbrislens.blogspot.com

Now of course I my camcorder wasn't working and the battery wouldn't stay in my camera today so I have no pictures of Jaden on his actual Birthday...lame I know, but we have been celebrating him for the last week so I hope these will suffice!

We had a family BBQ with my family last weekend to celebrate dads and Jaden and my mom got Jaden an adorable cars cake and he thinkgs it is just the coolest thing to have everyone sing to him... Here are a few pics

That's my son, as soon as the candles were out...he went for the frosting! In the process though he did manage to singe his eyebrows and eyelashes!

We also had a family birthday dinner at Shawns parent's house where we celebrated both jaden and Nathan's birthdays! We did much better with the candles this time!

My sisters Annie, Sarah, Rachel, and the kiddos came up to visit and we had such a great time! The kids played all day long in the sunshine and played so great with eachother! I love how close in age all our kids are, as of this fall we will have 8 under the age of 4...oh the memories they will make with eachother and the trouble they will cause! I'm so excited!

Libby and Jaden

Jaden got this killer water table from us and Nana for his birthday and all the kids LOVE it!
Here he is with Meagan

Eathing a yummy treat

okay I know this child is not mine but I LOVE this picture of cute Hayla in her sunglasses!


Here is just a fun picture of how Jaden and I spend our lazy days! This child could easily spend HOURS throwing rocks into the creek! Love it!
On Tuesday I decided to head down to see my sisters and instead of going to the pool (because they are lame and don't open until noon) we decided to have a pool party at Nana's. Again...SO much fun with the cousins! We set up the pool, put the slide in and the kids went to town.


My sister Amy bough a slip and slide and I would be lying if I said the kids actually understood how to use it, they still had fun. We ended up just throwing them down...which was a good work out for us and lots of fun for them!


All in all it was just a fun afternoon that I really NEEDED and enjoyed! I love my sisters!

Here is J just playing
That night I ended up taking Jaden to his first movie ever! He did SO good and actually seemed to enjoy it! It was a fun filled day, but one that at the end you some how feel rejuvinated, a perfect day!

Well that ended up being a VERY long post, but that is us the last week or so! We have had a great week and celebrated Jaden often! Life is good and I couldn't love my family more!

Sunshine=Smiles

I am so glad the sun finally came out to play...for a little while!
I love being a mom more than anything in the world and its afternoons like this that I love most!
No where to go...nothing to do....
Just play!

I bought Jaden this cheap little pool awhile ago, and we finally pulled it out today! After searching for about 30 minutes for the attachment to the shop vac to blow if up I gave in and blew it up myself!..almost passed out!

It was worth it though because Jaden had a blast and it wore him out so much he took a 2 hr nap! So did mom! Here are some fun pics!

We also went to a World Cup party this last weekend! It was great! I fully support soccer and the World cup but it was nice to have all the guys in the theater room, all the kids playing in every other room, and a few of us moms chatting it up and when the cheering came loud through the house, we knew to check out the tv for the replay, those are my kind of sporting events!

Jaden and dad sporting their pride!

All smiles after a fun afternoon


and as always the BYU hat!

Okay so this I just had to throw this in here! This is Jaden's new favorite place to watch tv, and yes in case you are wondering that is a candle that he has chosen as his stadium seat!
Love this kid!

I'm trying really hard to be a better blogger! Especially since we are farther away from family and friends! Wish me luck! Maybe if I can keep it up I will get more comments :)

Home Sweet Home!!!

So it has taken a lot longer than we planner but we are FINALLY in Eden and couldn't be happier!
Its amazing to me that in the short amount of time we have been here it already feels like home!
Its so nice to have space for Jaden to run around and room for people to come visit! I love that everything has a place and it actually feel SO much easier to keep a house clean than an apartment because I actually have a place to put things so there is less clutter! The ward here is wonderful and the scenery is amazing! This is the view from our patio!

We feel so blessed to be here! Shawn had his last day at Zions today and will start working for G2 on Thursday! Our lives will be changing quite a bit as this is a much more demanding job than we are used to, but it will be well worth it, especially for him! He is very excited to get started, as he told me this morning before he left for work, this is the day he has been waiting for for the last 10 months! It was worth the wait!
There isn't a whole lot in Eden, but that's one of our favorite things about it! Its very laid back and i find myself feeling so grateful each day for the beautiful scenery around us...Shawn is also excited that the Pineview boat dock is less tan 10 minutes from our front door!

Jaden has been doing especially well with the move! I think one of his favorite things is.....

His big boy bed!!! he has been so excited about it! Whenever anyone has come over he is always so excited to show them his big boy bed! I am so glad we moved him to the bed our first night here it was the perfect time for the transition and he has done great! He hasn't tried to get out of it, he will sit up in the morning and wait for me to come get him while he screams "Let me out, let me out, mommy let me out!" it's quite funny actually! He has fallen out twice in the last week but we have kept a matress under the bed that we pull up next to it when he goes to sleep so he has landed on that and not been too upset, he will cry and I will just go get him and put him back in. its actually been quite a smooth transition. (knock on wood)

Since I havent been working other than swimming lessons a few days a week Jaden and I have had a lot more time just the two of us. Cometime I fins us kind of looking at eachother and thinking...okay what now... :) We always manage to find something fun and do have a lot of fun though and i feel like it has made me a better mom! We go on walks, play at the pool, dig in the dirt (with Jaden its not exactly called gardening) and we seem to spend a few afternoons at the park (I say THE park because there is only ONE in Eden) and occasionally I will drive to hunsville and we will play at the park there (its much bigger). The upside is that he seems to stay longer and enjoy them more seeing as we don't go as much and he doesnt see them everywhere!

It also has been great to have a playroom for Jaden, its down stairs so he doesnt see all of his toys all day long and plays much longer and happier with them when we go down.

Jaden has been VERY into trains the last few months...
(thanks for the outfit nana)

So for an early birthday present we took him to Thomas the Train a few weekends ago and he has a blast!!!! Here are some pictures!

I made the mistake of telling jaden to show me his cheese face when I brush his teeth.... so now when I tell him to say cheese for a picture....this is what i get, the "oh no not again" face.

a real smile

This is my FAVORITE picture and I think it sums up his feelings on the experience.

So that pretty much sums us up!
We love Eden and are so glad for the opportunity to live here and hope we dont have to
leave for a VERY long time!