Love/Hate

Dear Family Blog,

I've recently discovered our love/hate relationship. I know how fun you are to have around, you've given me an easy way to document our life through pictures and words. While at the same time I am able to share and communicate with our loved ones and friends. What a great tool you are in doing this. At first, you were fun and exciting for me, I loved sharing what was going on in our lives, like what clever thing Xander said yesterday, or what cool parents we are to throw a super-sized Star Wars party for KC. But, what I mostly use you for now is to blog stalk my friends/family blogs. It's fun still, but somehow I feel guilty when reading others blogs when all the while they have nothing new to read on mine. And it's not that my life or my kid's lives have become so dull and boring that there is just nothing to share, it's just that I have no interest or motivation to share anything.

My husband reminded me yesterday that I need to update you, but I don't want to. Sorry. I'm just not feelin' it. And now I realize that I have guilt for not wanting to blog about our lives. I don't keep a journal, I should but I don't. For along time I felt bad for not doing that, but you came along and gave me reason to not feel guilt-ridden anymore because you became my "journal". I'm hoping this stage of our relationship won't last much longer. Hopefully we can get this resolved and start back at where we began.

Yours,

Jenn

P.S. My Facebook affair means nothing to me, really it doesn't. It's just a filler in my day, really it is. Promise.

Grandpa Washburn

Thanksgiving for our family was really good, I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was the same and you found a lot to be grateful for this year. We always love to be together with family and enjoy eachother. I like to reflect on the blessings in my life. I have a lot to be grateful for this year. I feel the Lord has watched over our little family and continues to. My biggest blessing in my life is my family.

My husband, who is my biggest fan. He gives me all the love and support that I need. This has become very evident to me this last year as I accepted a calling to serve as the adult Gospel Doctrine teacher in our ward. A calling that I never could imagine myself fulfilling, but Thomas has helped me see that this was something I can do and dare I say "enjoy" doing.

My children. These two boys make me so happy, I can't imagine my life without them. They help me laugh and not take life so seriously. They really are the greatest kids I know, and I really can't take the credit for that.

Our extended family. Our parents, who are so supportive to us. Both my parents and Tom's parents are great examples of what parents should be. We owe a lot to them. Our siblings. Our cousins, aunts and uncles. Our grandparents. Which leads me to the reason why I started this post. In September, I lost my first grandparent. Grandpa Washburn passed away on the first day of school. A milestone to send my first child to school, and also to witness my grandpa's passing from this life to the next. It was a bittersweet day.

My sister and I were asked to speak at the funeral. We are the only granddaughters of the family and we felt honored to share memories of our Grandpa. In preparation for our talk, we decided to meet with all the cousins and gather everyone's memories of Grandpa. It was a neat experience to reflect one those memories, and learn a few new things about Grandpa as well. What a great man he is. What great man to have raised such good children and grandchildren. I am grateful to him for his example and love he showed us.

Losing a grandparent has reminded me of the importance of family. What a blessing it is to have family. What a blessing it is to know of our Heavenly Father's plan of happiness. To know that it doesn't end with this life. What a sad thing to think about. . . losing a loved one to death, and not knowing or believing that you will see them again. At this time, as I reflect on my blessings, I am most grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and of THIS plan. It truly is the plan of HAPPYness. I am grateful to be part of my eternal family. I miss Grandpa Washburn, I've thought a lot about him lately. But I know that I will see him again. What an awesome blessing. THE greatest blessing that our Heavenly Father has given us.


This picture was taken just weeks before Grandpa's passing. I will always treasure it. Right before this picture was taken, Grandpa was "chasing" my boys around the driveway in his chair. He was always a good for a laugh.

I've always loved this picture. It means even more to me now. That's me in the corner of the picture waiting for Grandpa to throw me the ball.

Fall Festivities

I love this time of year. Three of our four family members have birthdays in the fall, which makes it more festive. I love the leaves. I love the urgency to be nestled into our homes on a cold day with our loved ones. But mostly I love fall because this is the time of year that Thomas and I met and began to fall in love with eachother. Brings back so many great memories. It was ten years ago this year. Can't believe where the time has gone. Seven years of wedded bliss and two kids later, we are even more in love today. Anyway, here are some pictures of some of the things we've been up to.


K.C. played T-ball for the first time.


The boys and I got to go the circus for the first time. Xander was scared of the clown, and was clinging to me. Thanks Grandma Harris, we had a blast.


We went to visit the Witches at Gardner Village. Xander again was scared, of the witch this time,and wouldn't sit close to it.


We attended the Harris 2nd Annual Halloween Party. It was a pirate theme this year, and so much fun!


Xander performed at his first preschool program. They sang Halloween songs and did actions to them. This was the only picture I got of him actually singing the song. He mostly didn't sing, but doesn't he look cute as a boxer?


Adorable.

I wish that I had pictures of my favorite thing so far this fall. On my birthday my sweet husband surprised me and had my sister fly in from Las Vegas to take me to the spa for a girls day. I knew nothing about it until she showed up to take me! I was kind of in shock for a bit. I had so much fun with my sister and was glad that she was so willing to spend the day with me. Probably the best birthday present ever. The day with my sister wasn't all, just when I thought the surprise was over, she blindfolded me and took me to our church where my husband and a bunch of my friends and family were there to throw me a surprise party! Let's just say I was in complete shock. It was so much fun though. I loved seeing everyone that came, it had been awhile since I had seen some of my friends. Thank you to everyone who came, and thank you Thomas for planning everything. Also, congratulations for pulling off your first ever surprise to me. You did awesome!

May the Force be with You!!!

KC didn't have a party last year, so this year we went all out and had a Jedi themed party for him. Thomas and I didn't grow up watching, or loving, or even knowing anything about Star Wars, so we faked our way through this one! I got the idea from KC's classmate's party last year, and thought it was so cute, so I copied the idea. I know, I don't take the creativity award home for this one, but it was still fun! Plus, KC thinks his parents rock, and that's all that matters here.

Thomas pretending to be the Master Jedi and training the young Jedi, or whatever all you Star Wars nerds call it! I'm not sure of all the technical names.

Thomas being attacked by the Jedi'.

The "Death Star" pinata. Which by the way is soccer ball pinata spray painted black and silver. It was a much cheaper option than the Darth Vader pinata.

The really cool and really sweet Lightsaber cupcakes!

The whole crew! Yes, there were many invited and all but two came. 14 total came, making it 16 with my two boys. What was I thinking? Well, I didn't want to leave anyone out on having so much fun!!

Cap'n Crunch . . .

. . .or is it Crapped in Crunch? That's what Xander called it this morning when he asked for a bowl of it. I just made you all hungry didn't I?

The big 6!!!

My sweet baby boy turned 6 today, and I know you are not surprised by this, but it makes me sad that he is growing up so quickly. Life has really seemed to hit this "fast forward button" lately, and I'm having a hard time coming to grips with it. It seems the older I get the faster it goes.

I just want to take this post and dedicate it to me sweet "KC Boy". When I think about the time that me and Daddy found out that we were going to have you, boy was I scared and unsure of my ability to be a mother. It may have been a rough start, but becoming a mother to you has made me grow in so many ways and I couldn't picture my life without you. You came to us at just the right time in our lives, we needed you. You were such a good baby . . . okay maybe not for the first 3 months of colic and non-stop crying. After that you were golden. No, really you have always been golden. When I think of the first time I held you in my arms, I still get emotional and wish that I could experience that moment a million times over. Getting you here was not an easy process, but 27 hours of labor later you arrived safely to us, and oh what a relief it was. You are such a good little boy, and are growing up so quickly. You are so bright and are learning so many new things. I love helping you learn how to read each night before bedtime. You are talented in so many ways. You are polite, reverent, funny, and make friends easily. You have a real talent for music, and can make up songs off the top of your head. You remind me at times how to not take life so seriously. KC you are such a great big brother to Xander. He loves you and wants to do whatever you are doing. Thank you for being so patient with him with whatever the situation is. Your relationship with your brother reminds me of the relationship I had/have with my sister. I hope that you will always be friends and close to eachother.
Thank you KC for being exactly who you are. You are a great example to our little family and I am so very grateful and lucky to be your mom. I love you, and Happy Birthday!