Happy Birthday, Jordan

Jordan woke up to find his room decorated in the morning. Kyler is always great about making sure his brothers have something special first thing in the morning.

Here's a picture of the boys ready for school. Jordan was in school swim lessons the past 2 weeks so he gets to go to school decked out in his swim gear.

Caleb and I joined Jordan in the school cafeteria for lunch that afternoon.

Jordan helped to decorate his cake and was anxious to open all his gifts before Kevin left for work while the rest of us went to Kyler's choir concert.

No way that blow is going to get the job done...I think 1 candle might have flickered on try #1!!

Jordan loves any kind of game. Board games, computer games, wii games and DS games. He was thrilled with this game from grandma and grandpa!

I can't believe it, but Jordan is now 8 years old! Boy, those 8 years sure went fast. There are many, many days when I wish I could put him in a time capsule and seal up some of that childhood innocence and joy before he gets any older, but no such luck. No one's given me the master plans to their time capsule or gifted me a non-aging potion so I guess I'll have to suck it up and continue aging right along with him! I sure do love this kid!!

Here are some of Jordan's favorites this year.

Favorite subject in school: Math...story problems and equations are his favorite. (can this really be my son??)
Favorite color: Yellow, but some days it is green or blue or pink. He loves the rainbow and all the colors you can find within it.
Favorite food: Macaroni
Favorite song: One Time
Favorite game: Anything to do with the wii.
Favorite person: Me! Hmmm....it seems all my kids love me (or know I'm the one typing and they don't want to get into trouble ha! ha!)
Favorite sport: Soccer and swimming
Favorite hobby: Writing
Favorite book: The Ready Freddy series
Favorite month: April...he's getting baptized that month and he can't wait!!

That sums up some of Jordan's favorites. I'll be anxious to see if any changes are made to this list next year when he tums 9. Here's hoping this year he continues to have amazing twinkle eyes (they can make anyone have a better day when they shine) and that he doesn't loose any of that childlike joy that he so easily finds right now. He's a pretty amazing boy and I am one lucky mom to have him as my son.

Caleb's 5!

Kyler decorated Caleb's room while he was asleep the night before his birthday. Caleb was so excited to wake up to this homemade banner (hung up by rubberbands and paper clips...Kyler gets pretty creative) and dozens of dinosaur decorations all over his room.

Caleb loved feeling like king for a day.

Caleb wanted an animal cake, so Henry helped us out by making this cake and spray painting the colors on for us. Then Caleb came home and we decorated it with some of his animals.

Jordan gave Caleb a Zhu Zhu pet.

Kyler gave Caleb a webkinz dinosaur.

Grandma and Grandpa gave him this super cool rocket ship!

Caleb loves cooking and always wants new "food" for his kitchen. He was in heaven when he opened this gift up.

My baby is 5, and while I love watching Caleb grow up, I'm also sad to know my youngest is growing so fast. Caleb is KING of the "good news/ bad news stories" and the night before his birthday was no different. I was told throughout the day, "Mom the good news is I'll be 5 tomorrow and I get to be in charge all day long, but the bad news is this is the last day I'll ever be 4!" So true. I already miss his 4th year (and his 3rd, and his 2nd, and his 1st!!) , but I really do look forward to see what he'll accomplish during his 5th year of life.
I absolutely adore Caleb. He is such a bright light in our family. Technically, at least according to medical science, Kevin and I are not suppose to be able to have kids. We were told we would have a better chance at being struck by lightening than to have more children, which makes me even more grateful to my Father in Heaven for sending us 3 wonderful sons without medical assistance. First Kyler (an angel for us) , then Jordan (my twinkle eyed, happy boy) and to help complete my heart and our family Caleb was sent (also knows as Flapper because he jumps up and down every time he's happy , which is a good portion of his waking hours). I consider them all miracles and cherish them more than words can express.

Here are a few of Caleb's favorite things as he enters his 5th year of life:

Favorite Person: "Why me of course, Mom!"
What do you want to be when you grow up? "A Zookeeper. I love, love, love my animals!"
Favorite Color: "Green"
Favorite animal: "Hmmm, a porcupine, no wait....a tiger. I like tigers!"
Favorite Movie: "Madagascar 2"
Favorite TV show: "Dinosaur Train"
Favorite thing to do outside: "Play with my friends"
Favorite thing to do inside: "Play zookeeper with my brothers or by myself"
Favorite food: "Pizza with pineapple and ham, but no ham, nope...no ham!"
Favorite Song: "Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam"
Favorite Sport: "Mini golf"
Favorite place to go on vacation: Disney World, I mean Utah. I like Utah!"

The Mexican Riviera

Kevin and I

Our ship, the Sapphire Princess

Hannah, David, Caleb, Jordan & Kyler

A fun shop in Puerto Vallarta

Caleb found time to play with the pigeons

Kelcee and Marlos right after her wipe-out.

The VERY FIRST thing we saw out the window when we docked in Puerto Vallarta was a Super Walmart. A little too funny and ironic that we left the country for Kevin to escape work for a week, and work continued to follow him. LOVE IT!!

Kyler add Hannah were Chefs-in-Training when they took a cooking class on the ship and made us these desserts in the ships galley. Delicious!

The boys....Marlos, Brooks, Travis, my dad, and Kevin

My ever goofy and fun-loving brothers, Travis and Brooks!

The sweetest and the greatest parents in the world!!

Kevin and Jordan starting the week off right by relaxing.

The Sail-Away Party on Jan. 16th

There's not a lot you can do to break up a dreary and arctic feeling month of January that would be better than taking off for Mexico right in the middle of it, and that is exactly what our family was able to do last month. However, to make the the nostalgia and excitement of taking your first ever Mexican Riviera cruise even better I highly recommend meeting up with a good portion of your family on the ship. Not to say that the Mexican cities, the grand scale boat, taking in the beauty of dozens upon dozens of grey and blue whales as they were in the midst of their breeding and migration season, and seeing crystal clear seas as far as the eye can see are not enough to heighten most of your senses, but being with family was definitely the highlight for me. A few of those magical moments still fresh in my mind include watching my sister get wiped out by a wave while walking along the beaches of Puerto Vallarta and her fiance Marlos helping her clean off the buckets of sand that covered her (that was classic Kelcee at her best!). Or sitting in deck chairs alongside the pool and watching Hannah, Dave, Kyler, Jordan and Caleb catch up as only cousins can do in a magical setting. I loved riding with Travis and Brooks and our whole crew throughout the streets of Mazatlan, and then capping off the day with multi-course dinners where my mom and dad were around the table with their kids and grandkids again . And standing hand in hand with my husband as we watched families of whales alongside our boat was both fascinating and amazing for both of us. January was an excellent month for me, even Thursday, which is still known as "Sea-Sick Thursday at my house. At least I was able to catch up on my sleep that day....lots and lots and lots of sleep, while the rest of the family continued to party it up on the boat! Hmmm, I think It's time to cruise again soon so I can officially change "Sea Sick Thursday" to something more fun.

Tidings or Tithing's...hmmm...Jordan will take the money!

Jordan wanted to write a little something in his Uncle Allyn's Christmas card so after I signed it I handed the card over to him. A few minutes later he announced he was finished and I took a second to read it before sealing it inside the envelope. Here is what I read:

We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas , and a Happy New Year. Good tithing's you brings to us and your friends, good tithing's for Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sorry Allyn, it looks like Jordan is hoping to collect 10% from you this Christmas season. I love how the words of songs are perceived in the mind of a 7 year old. It was a great laugh out loud moment for me, but as an FYI Allyn, Jordan accepts Monopoply cash. Merry Christmas!!

"He is the reason for the season"

A dear friend of mine spoke in church today and for part of her talk she quoted this poem. I loved it so much that I decided to post it. It helped remind me of the true reason we celebrate this time of year. It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season, and often times we miss the quiet, peaceful, and even reverent times meant to happen during the Christmas season. I am truly humbled and grateful for the sacrifice our Lord and Savior paid for each of us in order to one day be with Him again. I pray you all have a magical Christmas and make it a priority to create the time to sit back and gaze at the lights adorning your Christmas tree or share in the laughter of children as they tear open gifts they have been dreaming about getting, or as you listen to beautiful hymns and songs of the season being sung by choirs, friends or neighbors, that you also remember we do all of this to honor the birth of our Savior, our Redeemer, and our eldest brother, Jesus Christ. He truly is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas everyone!!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas (Christmas Spirit Version)
By Debra Coe (c) 1998 all rights reserved

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
With thoughts of St. Nicholas and what he'd bring there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds
Without a moment of bowing their heads.
The scriptures were thrown on the shelves without care.
Little hope of remembering the precious words there.

And I with the tinsel and Ma with the lights
Had prepared for Christmas with no thoughts of Christ.
We had snowmen and elves and of course Santa Claus.
We thought we had decorated without any flaws.

For weeks we'd prepared with lots of traditions,
Cards of course and so much work in the kitchen.
We'd been to parties galore all dressed up in frills
And spent hours at stores to get the best deals.

The lights on the house were all flashing with fun
Lots of presents under the tree; we thought we were done.
We thought not of the needy, nor help to a stranger,
We thought not of the poor, and not of a manger.

No angels were singing in our house that night
We hadn't invited them so none were in sight.
The real spirit of Christmas was absent as well.
For only Christ's spirit will make our hearts swell.

And I wondered that Christmas how it could be
That the Christmas spirit wasn't stronger in me
Why Christmas didn't seem as it was in the past
Why Christmas just came and went by very fast.

When out of my wondering mind did appear.
Some scriptures I'd learned as a child so dear.
Of a loving kind Father who gave His own Son
God saw all our needs and chose Christ as the one.

Christ has the power to serve us so well
Healing the things that can lead to spiritual jail
I could change if I wanted with eyes that could see
"Come Follow Me," was His only plea.

I decided to change and begged forgiveness please
And asked how to serve Him while down on my knees
Serve others and do it as if unto Him
Was the answer I heard in the sound of a hymn

I rushed from my bed and I got scriptures for all.
So we could start Christmas just right after all.
So Christmas day we planed for the months yet to come
Of people we'd serve and we talked of the fun

Now Angels are singing in our home today
We finally invited them to come our way.
And Christmas is lasting the whole long year through,
With scriptures, prayer and devotion His spirit grew.