A Day Early

Wishing you all a warm and very...

Tub Time

Some fun pictures from the kids bath the other day.

Let It Snow

Like every other child, He was so excited to get out and play in the snow.
I was excited too! I love to watch the snow fall. It's on my "favorite things list," or it would be if I had one.
He has been waiting so patiently to build a snowman, and kept saying "what will his name be Mom?" This morning we ventured out to make it, only to find non packable snow. So we improvised and built a mini Frank... that is his name. (I named him because Tate kept saying no to every name.)

9 Months

Making her debut with her 9 month pictures...

Weight: 17 lbs. 10 oz. = 25 %tile

Height: 28" = 75 %tile
Head Circ: 44 cm = 50%

She started crawling at 8 months and is following me everywhere around the house.
She does an army crawl but is quick.
Her smile is still the sweetest thing to me and she loves to laugh.
She loves her brother and he loves her. It is so much fun to watch them together.

And one for my main little man, cause he is a little devil, and also the sweetest little boy all wrapped up in one.
He is into hiding my things from me and then forgets.
I am currently not able to prove that I have a drivers license because he decided to put it who knows where?

Just because she is 9 months today...
This picture was a few months ago.
I'll post some of her 9 month pictures soon

Gimmy

This little girl has a bad case of the "gimmy's" when it comes to food. and toys. (She is old enough now that she will follow Tate around and take his toys. When he takes them back she SCREAMS like a girl. It's actually not cute at all.)
She is really starting to get her personality and boy does she like food.
I think she would sit and eat all day if I let her.
This morning I put her down with some banana puffs to enjoy and she polished the bowl.

She is our little stink that's for sure.

A little side story so I don't forget:
This morning Cole got up and did the morning ritual with the kids... Get the boy his snack tray, which usually consists of crackers, cereal, and a piece of bread; a drink; and a movie.
Get the babe some toys.
Go back to bed.
We don't really get to go back to sleep, but it is nice to try.
We were lying in bed when we heard Tate start to laugh so hard. The laugh kept getting closer and closer to us. He ran into the bathroom. Ella was chasing him. He closed the door. She pushed it open and went in. It was so funny to watch them laugh together and play.

Christmas Tree

This year we ventured out into the mountains to get our tree.
It was so much fun. It will be a tradition from here on out for sure!

It all started with waiting in the freezing cold for the permit.
Or so I hear, I didn't have to do that part!

Just heading out to get the tree.
It was SO cold. The wind was CHILLY.
Lucky for us, we all dressed for the occasion.

Eyes

My kids are seriously blessed with their Dads eyes.

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken by none other than Jessie O'Neal Photography herself! ;)
(With a little help from her tripod, and her rockin sister in law to help get kids attention - the tripod can't do it all!)

Disney On Ice

We had a little date night with just our boy the other night and took him to see Disney on Ice.
He had a blast. It was so fun to watch his reactions.
He kept saying "is it almost over?"
and we would ask "why, are you ready to go?"
to which he would respond "No, I don't want it to end!"

So expected and typical of him.
He was so nervous when the whale and sharks came out. He is hiding here:

How Will They Know

My cousin has this posted on her fridge, and I love it. As a parent, I have so much responsibility to teach my children, because if I don't, how will they know the things I want for them? They won't. At this point it's all up to me to teach them. This little song opens up a whole train of thought... mostly on how important it is to teach children morals, right and wrong, how to be kind, how to treat others, how I need to teach by example, and on and on.

So, back to the poem on the fridge. (It is actually a song from the Children's Songbook.)

How will they know, the ones for whom we care,
That God is love and with us everywhere,
That life is good, with blessings all can share?
How will they know unless we teach them so?

How will they learn that, though they go astray,
God will forgive and help them find the way?
How will they feel the Spirit day by day?
How will they know unless we teach them so?

How will they grow in wisdom and delight?
How will they choose to follow what is right?
How can they trust the future will be bright?
How will they know unless we show them?

How will they live when they at last are grown?
What will they give to children of their own?
Will they reflect the values we have shown?
How will they know, as on through life they go?
How will they know unless we strive to teach them so?

Great Christmas Gift Idea

These would be a great gift for all you parents and grandparents out there.
CLICK HERE

Don't wait, get them soon!

Some Randomness

Here are a few of my thoughts.
1. I'm going to start a new business. It will be called "Green Box." It will be like "Red Box" only tons cooler because you will be able to drive up to it. (Hence the green... go) No getting out of your car. Plus there will be a separate place for online pickup, and returns. Great idea hu?
2. Sensored by Cole
3. The end of the world will be on April 6th 2038? I don't know, talk to Trevor about that one. He does have a pretty interesting conspiracy worked out. Makes for good conversations if nothing else.

Looking for...

I am looking for a chair/recliner similar to the above picture, but in that 70's green color.
Anyone have one or know of one they would like to sell?
I am getting sick of watching the classifieds and stopping in at Savers.
(It doesn't have to look exactly like the picture above, that was just to give an idea. It's more the color that I am after.) Come on, come on, help me out! =)

Today

Do you know what is significant about today?

No, it has nothing to do with the election.

Today is our one year mark of not eating candy.
How many more can Cole and I make it?
I will tell you what, it's the best thing I have ever done for myself.

You should do it too!

All Halloween Into One

Carving of the pumpkins

Kids Halloween Party
Nat you throw a killer party. You out did yourself, and I LOVED the Carmel apple. SO good!

Trick or Treating
Tate wouldn't stop. We told him it was time to stop and get dinner and he started to cry.
He had a blast running around door to door with his cousin. Trick or Treating is always funner with your friends! Apparently even when you are three.

Friends Halloween Party.
SOOOOO fun!
We were the devil and a dark angel.

We did the annual road ralley.
This year Greg and Taylor mixed it up a bit and sent us out with GPS.
They sent us to all the sites of the freaky things that have happened around here... murders, graveyard etc. If I might say, we had a stellar team, even though we didn't win!

Lisa lying in the grave were Ted Bundy burried a body. FREAKY!

There are true stories to go along with each place we had to visit.
Thanks again to all the planners and host!
Its always a good time!

Funeral

In an effort to keep things in order, I am going to blog in order.
I usually don't get this far behind but this last week has been insanely busy for me.
We had the funeral service for my Grandpa and it was beautiful. They split his life sketch between his four children. Then one grandchild from each family took a few minutes to reflect a couple of memories.
I few things I loved that were said:
*Just a day or so before he went he said "I'm going to see what I can get done today" (That is so typical of him. In a rest home, on his way out, and still trying to get things done.) =)
*"Keep on keepin on"
*How Wade put his hat on, just the way Grandpa would wear it.
*When you go visit, Grandma is in her chair, and Grandpa in his, and as soon as you walk in he would say: "Who's there?"
*That my Grandpa actually built his camper. (I didn't know that!)
*My grandparents have known each other from grade school. What a fantastic life together.
It ended with the congregation singing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." I now have a new connection to that song and will love it forever.

After the service we headed down to Manti where both Grandma and Grandpa are from.

How sweet is this picture of my little Ella at her Grandpa Dales Grave?
I love that she reached over to touch it.
(My Grandpa is next to my Dad, so we were able to pay a visit there as well.)

*If any family wants pictures, email me your email address and I will send them to you. Email me at: jessieoneal(at)gmail(dot)com
(There are other that I didn't post. I do try to narrow it down.)

Boo!

Scared you didn't I?

Happy Halloween!!!!!

What A Man

I have been blessed to have all four of my Grandparents around me and a part of my life for so long. Yesterday evening my Grandpa (My Dads Dad), just short of his 89th B-day, said goodbye to his wife, and family and passed on to the other side.
I grew up 3 houses away from my Grandparents, next door to my Aunt, and about 2 miles from my other Aunts and Uncles. Close is an understatment.
I have so many great memories with him and I am thankful for the legacy he leaves behind.
He taught everyone how to work, and how to work hard! If he asked for help it was expected that you do it - right away. It didn't matter if you were busy, because who is too busy to work a little more? =) He always appreciated any form of work you would do, and would praise how good it is to be a hard worker.
He was loved and respected by all.
He saw and said things the way they were, and I respected that in him.
He not only taught his family his beliefs, he showed them by being an example. I remember at a family home evening he said something about his legacy (5 children, 22 grandkids, 29 great grandkids (Thanks for making that easy for me Sandi) and how proud of them he is and how rare his family is. He said how happy it makes him that all of his family belong to the church and haven't fallen away. I feel lucky to be a desendant of his and come from the family that I do.
I consider myself blessed to have the family that I do. I grew up literally surrounded by my Dads family, and they continue to be some of the best friends I have.
I felt lucky to be there just moments after his passing, and be a part of his goodbye. It will be something I will always remember. It was neat for me to see his kids morning his loss. In that moment I was so thankful for them, that they have had all this time with him. What a great blessing it is to live a full life. To be able to say your goodbyes, and have a lifetime of memories.
I am comforted by this, and it turns a hard time, into a time of joy for me. I know that there was a joyful reunion between he and my Dad yesterday, and the heavens seemed so close for such a breif moment. On the drive over to say my goodbyes I was so comforted. I had Ella with me, and I said to her: "Do you feel it Ella?" I love it when I feel his spirit with me. I know that the veil is thin and that those who have passed are allowed to be with us at times. This was one of those times.
I love life. I love my family. I love my friends. I love that I know what this life is all about. I love that death doesn't have to be the end, and that one day I will have my own joyful reunions.

Halloween Shoot Mishap

I had a Halloween Mini Session this evening.
Here is a little sneak peak of a scary looking Mr. who really should have been dressed up in his costume from last year... THE DEVIL. He was SOOO bad for me tonight. All I have to say is sorry to those of you who were there to witness not only him, but both of my children in the middle of a crisis. I feel awful that you had to listen to two kids screaming. HUGE thanks to Ashley and Amanda for saving Ella. I REALLY appreciate it!
And thanks Tiff and Emily for acting like you didn't care that Tate was following me around crying... oh yea, and the wind blew!! Literally and a figure of speech!
I ended up canceling the other half of this session which will be rescheduled, and coming home feeling totally worn out.
BUT... I was pleasantly surprised when I uploaded the pictures and went through them.
Come to find out I did get good ones after all! Phew...
Anyways, here is a little sneak peek until the rest are done.