Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great this year. We got together with a bunch of friends and had a awesome dinner and funny conversation! We are so lucky to have such great friends here that we can get together and feel like family. Jackson wouldn't eat a thing while we were there. I don't think any of the kids got much to eat. They were all to excited to get down and play. The afternoon/evening was mostly spent talking about going shopping and planning out how they were going to get everything. Most the husbands went out shopping together and braved the crowds. It was a great day and I have so much to be thankful this year!

Jacksons photo shoot!

Here are some pictures that we took of Jackson for his 2 year old pictures! I think they turned out really cute! Sure love this little guy

Graceland Holiday Lighting

We went to the annual Lighting of Graceland this past weekend. It seem to be a lot shorter then last years but we are thinking that was because we showed up on time and not way early like last year! The weather was perfect this year too. I wore my coat and all I needed was a jacket. Jackson loved the snow (bubbles) falling and singing along with the songs. They had Skylar Laine, a top ten finalest from american idol come and sing and flip the switch with kids from the St. Judes hospital to turn on the Christmas lights. After Skyler sang Santa (Elvis style) came down from the house in his limo and all the kids could get pictures taken. We have been prepping Jackson for a couple weeks now showing him pictures of santa, watching Christmas movies with santa in it and coloring pictures of santa to try and make him not afraid when he sits on his lap... Well, it kinda worked.. ok not really but he was really excited that santa was there all the way up to when he was next to sit on his lap! Looking at the snow falling Jackson wouldn't look at the camera in any picture because of the snow coming down. Santa trying to bribe Jackson into liking him with a candy There was a group of kid singing in the building and they started back up right as Jackson went to sit on santa's lap. Santa got up and started dancing around with Ross and Jackson haha I guess we'll try again next year!

Its a...

BOY!!! We couldn't be happier to be having another boy! The ultrasound was so much fun to see him moving all around. Everything is looking great with the little guy. Now just to think of a name for him!

Fall

The past couple of weeks our leaves have been changing color and they are so pretty. Sunday I made Ross go on a drive with me to see all of them.

We went with the Butterfield's down to Tunica to see a hot air balloon festival but it was to windy for the balloons to go up. That was a little bit of a bummer but we created our own fun and went and walked along the river. Jackson was just happy to be outside and running around with dad. We also went into a casino to look at the car from back to the futur, the batman car and a replica of the titanic sinking. Jackson was scared the entire time we were in there. I don't know if it was the smell, darkness, loud noises but he was scared. I guess thats a good thing.. Jackson is scared of everything lately!! Pointing to a boat going down the river Getting a ride with dad Jackson running A riverboat cruise ship going by Back to the futur car Titanic Batman car Jackson scared and holding on to dad for dear life.

Walmart Riverboat Cruise

Last weekend Ross and I were able to go to on the Walmart Riverboat Cruise. Its a dinner cruise that goes up the Mississippi river right outside Memphis. I was so nice to get out and be with friends without kids. It was well worth the hour long "come work for Walmart" during dinner to have a free cruise. I loved sitting on the top of the boat and looking/taking picture of everything.

Election 2012

Can I tell you how excited I am that the Elections are over! I was thankful to be informed this year and have an opinion when I went to vote but Ross has been following everything politics for what seems like forever. The past couple of evening he would come home and have both the tv and the computer on following everything that was happening.. Unfortunately the outcome wasn't what we would have hoped but it was a good fight. Personally I felt like whoever was elected we were going to have hard times in front of us. Its scary to think whats to come in our country but I'm thankful to know that happiness can alway be there. I hate seeing everyone complain about our country and how horrible it is. When we sit back and look what we have we are blessed beyond measure to live here. We will never have all that we want but we are still living like kings and queens compared to the rest of the world. I'm thankful that I can live in a country where I'm free, as a women I have rights and treated as an equal, where life might not be always easy but I have freedom of religion where I can turn and always be happy and know that this is not the end. I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to be able to vote and voice my opinion on how I would like this country to be ran. The first Presidency came out with a statement about the result of the elections and that I agree with.. "After a long campaign, this is now a time for Americans to come together. It is a long tradition among Latter-day Saints to pray for our national leaders in our personal prayers and in our congregations. We invite Americans everywhere, whatever their political persuasion, to pray for the President, for his administration and the new Congress as they lead us through difficult and turbulent times. May our national leaders reflect the best in wisdom and judgment as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people." I hope that all of us can follow these words and pull together to make life a little easier for everyone! The lame sticker I got after voting Jackson and I were watching Sesame Street and they had the first lady on for election day. Actually the whole program was on the election Jackson sporting his vote for me shirt! He wouldn't sit still for me to take a picture!

Halloween

Trick or Treating was a big hit with Jackson this year! We went to the same neighborhood that we have been raving about all year to our friends because it was so fun last year. We had a good group of us going this year and of course it starts out dead. I'm sure everyone thought we were crazy for making them drive 15 min to go to a neighborhood that wasn't giving out candy! After awhile the houses got better but most of the kids were done so most our friends left. All that was left was our family and the Christensen's that went with us last year and yep.. the next few block were just how it was last year with every house giving out candy and tons of kids running around haha Jackson was nervous at the first going up to the door but after a couple of houses he caught on and thought he needed to run to every house. There were people sitting outside in their driveways handing out candy and Jackson would walk right past them and go to the door! He didn't wan't anyone to pick him up or carry his candy bucket for him. He kept strong the whole hour and a half we were out and carried his full bucket everywhere even if that caused him to hold it with both hands because it was so heavy. I will miss going to this neighborhood next year. Jackson ready to go trick or treating Jackson a little nervous to go to the door Running with mom to the next house Jackson with his friends Krew, Gray, and Bennet This house have trains going around and you grabbed candy of that cars! Jackson didn't want to leave that house Happy to be getting candy Bucket getting heavy and having to carry it with both hands Jackson at a door getting candy with his friend Soren Love this smile on the way home The next day Jackson woke up and grabbed his bucket and ran to the door and said trick or treat! He could go every day!