Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thanksgiving
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Update on life with us
Jake has been working a lot. Well no more than what other managers work at Mattress Firm but more than a normal 40 hour work week. But he has also done a few extra things that his bosses have asked him and between that and in general I think he has earned a lot of respect. So recently he got a promotion. Jake was a Manager On Duty and now he is a permanent Manager of the Mattress Firm on Octillo and Arizona Ave. No increase in salary but a great opportunity. I am so proud of him and thankful for his hard work. Even though he isn't doing what he wanted to do after graduating from ASU he is thriving where he is at and in the current state of economy we are blessed that he has a job!
Since Becky moved out there has been some extra room in the house so there were some room changes. Donna moved into where Becky was so now she has her own bathroom and Brody is in the room where Donna was. Its a pretty big room but he will be sharing it with his brother at some point. So to save money we decided there was room enough in the house to empty our storage unit. A couple weeks ago Jake spent his days off after the room change and brought everything here. One of my major responsibilities was situating Brody's room and going through old baby clothes. There were 11 boxes (some were small but still) and 3 garbage bags full of Brody's old clothes. Needless to say we see the blessing in having another boy cause we have plenty of clothes!!! I wanted things separated and organized for when the baby gets here. I bought some tubs and sorted through everything and now that Brody's new room has two closets there is room to store it all. Here is just some of the mess all the stuff made until it was sorted through:
Unfortunately Brody got pink eye last week. I think he might have gotten it when we went to the park on Thursday. So far none of Brody's cousins who come to our house daily have gotten it which is a relief since it is SO contagious. Other than how bad it looked Brody was happy during the whole thing. But Brody actually responded to the antibiotic really fast and though he is still taking the medicine he doesn't look like he has pink eye!
Eating popcorn in the backyard with cousins (yes he is in just a shirt and a diaper)
Another fav
Of course with his smile this is a big fav as well!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Being Mischievous and Tired
One day last week I was looking around the house to see where Brody was (great mothering, right). I noticed one of his cousins had left the bathroom door open and I heard something but the light was off. Then I opened the door to find Brody sitting in the sink!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Veteran's Day
Veterans for America (http://www.veteransforamerica.org) is an advocacy and humanitarian organization. VFA focuses specifically on the signature wounds these conflicts: psychological traumas and traumatic brain injuries. VFA concentrates much of its attention on the needs of those who are currently serving in the military since the majority of those who have seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan are still in the military and under the care of the Department of Defense. Veterans for America unites the current generation of servicemembers and veterans with veterans from previous wars to address the needs of our men and women in uniform—both active-duty and Guard/Reserve—and their families. VFA’s mission is to ensure that the voices of those who have sacrificed immeasurably on behalf our country in recent years are heard and that support commensurate with their sacrifice is provided.
To promote and protect the interests of military families by influencing the development and implementation of legislation and policies affecting them.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Jake is for sure the father!
Josh and his bride-to-be Amy were looking through family photos the other day wanting to get some pictures of Josh to use for a video to play at their up coming wedding. While looking through, Donna came across some of Jake when he was little. As soon as I saw them I thought, "Wow, except for Brody having lighter hair when Jake was little he looks exactly like Brody". So not that there were any doubts about who Brody's father was and not that it is strange to have a son look like his father but these pictures really illustrates the saying, "Like father like son"!!
A lot of the facial expressions Jake made when he was little are the same that Brody makes but as I was looking through photos of Brody to put along side Jake's to show a comparison I realized that many of the photos I have taken of Brody don't always capture his wonderful facial expressions. I guess you still get the idea...
This is the only photo out of all the ones in this post where Jake is two. All the rest he is around 3 almost 4. So this picture in particular is appropriate because Jake is closer to Brody's curent age in this picture and I think this picture really shows, more than the others, how similar they look.
Happy Birthday Evan
Here is a picture from the day we went and visited Evan and Sarah at the hospital after he was born.
Here is another picture from that same visit. This is the introduction of Brody (about 5 months at the time) to Evan.
It was a fun experience to bond with Evan at such a young age. Not many people have the luxury of spending that much time with their nephew!
Brody and Evan started bonding...sort of!
This is Evan now, I am back to watching him and he brings lots of joy to me and to our home when he is here! He has a fun personality and I love hearing him talk.
He has a head full of blond curls and is always smiles - except when the trains do something to make him mad
Thursday of last week Sarah, Grandma Donna, Evan, Brody and myself all went to the zoo to celebrate the birthday. It was lots of fun but tiring for the boys...more for Brody as you can tell!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
President Elect Barack Obama!
On the future
On bipartisanship
"Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too."
On the genius of America
"To all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope. For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."
On the moment
"America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made? This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can."