Attention Gardners Glad Tidings...

Kristin- If you read this...I miss you! And I've been meaning to write for a long time...I can't access your blog anymore because you've gone private. I'd love to peek into your life. :)

Happy Birthday Jackson!

My Jackson turned one today. I actually had a tiny meltdown...he's ONE! Where has the time gone? I swear he was just born a few months ago...not an entire year ago! Oh he melts my heart. He is the SWEETEST, happiest (most of the time!) little guy ever. Life is a fantastic party for my little Jack. He brings such joy to my life. And he loves his daddy and me! Okay, especially me :). And he loves Ellie, and Ellie loves him. They are the best little siblings. I love my little Jack more than I ever could have imagined. I am so blessed to be his mommy!!!

Ellie and Santa's Love

This is such a funny picture of Ellie last year with Santa that I had to post it! Everything about it makes me laugh...including her funny hat (why she had it on, I'm not sure)! I wasn't there for the experience, so it's even funnier to me because I didn't have to witness the trauma. Am I a bad mom?! Santa looks thrilled about the whole thing too. I swear this picture could win an award somewhere...
She and Jack are going to see him again this Saturday. I can't wait to see this year's picture! John is a good sport to take them without me.

Happy Birthday, Johnny

Happy birthday to my love, Johnny! You're the best!!

Way Too Long

Okay, it's been way too long! I'll go back to Halloween...it seems like forever ago. Ellie LOVED it and still wants to go trick-or-treating and asking me what I want to be for Halloween. Jack was the cutest bear you've ever seen. Poor guy couldn't really move in it though! The next week we left for Newport Beach...and got back last week! It was a fantastic 12 day vacation. We drove so that we could see John's brother and his family in Las Vegas. Ellie loves her cousin Abby. While it was great to see them, and we were able to extend our vacation because we drove, I'm not sure when we'll do the drive again. It was long! For the most part, the kids did great. But it was a LONG drive even though we broke it up going both ways.

One of the highlights of the vacation was that my parents ended up going down to the same resort for a few of the days we were there, and flew my Granny down for a couple of days. It was such a wonderful time, and she loved it so much. I will always remember how special those days were. My Granny is 83 and is doing great, but she wanted to see the ocean again and so she just came for a couple of days and left my grumpy Gramps (whom I ADORE) home. We didn't spend everyday with them, but the time I spent with them was so special. My granny is so cute!

Four Generations of us girls...Ellie's middle name is Ginger, after my Granny.

Another highlight (of course!) was Disneyland. My dad, Ellie, and I went one day and it was also such a special day! It was so fun. I love that my dad came with us...he's the best.

Then the next day, just our little family went to Disneyland. It was the perfect day. Perfect weather, not too crowded, perfect kids...just delightful.

Disneyland had their giant Christmas tree up...

I think one of the highlights of the vacation was for John to golf with Big Jim (my dad). My dad is a serious golfer, and it was fun for John to play with him.

We've been to Newport so much the past few years that we feel like we really know our way around that part of Orange County. We're actually kind of sad because for the first time in a long time, we don't have plans to go back. RANDOM PICTURE, I KNOW...BUT IT'S SO CUTE!!! JACK'S FIRST SHOWER WAS IN NEWPORT, AND HE LOVED IT! And...FUNNY Ellie at the pool one day...She is so awesome!!

Now to the most important part of my blog. My sweetheart Ellie. My baby girl turned three last week! Oh how I love her. She has change me. I cannot articulate how blessed I feel to be her mommy. I am so grateful for the sacred opportunity I have to be her mom. I am so grateful for the joy she brings me and John. She makes my heart sing. She still has no hair...but hey, on the bright side, I haven't had to battle her daily to do her hair!

Part of the reason we went to Newport was to take her to Disneyland for her birthday, and then on her birthday, she and I had a "girls only" afternoon. Then that evening we had a small party for family. Her auntie Liz made the CUTEST cake you've ever seen. It was a great day. Wow, I'm a lucky mom!

GO UTES!!! We had season tickets this year, and had so much fun going to the games...especially the last one! Hopefully we'll get to go to the bowl game too :).

I have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. To name a few; John, Ellie, Jack, family, the Gospel, My Savior, the Pilgrims, our Nation, good health, great medical care, my friends, my life. I am so blessed. I don't deserve it, but I'm so grateful for it and always try to remember how blessed I am.

I love em'!

Friday night we took our kids to a great pumpkin patch. Ellie helped me pick out the pumpkins while Jack rode around in the wheelbarrow. He loved it and thought he was awesome! Jackson and his cousin Lucy in St. George. Lucy is two days older than Jack.

Grandma & Grandpa Evensen have a Halloween party every year...Ellie is the cutest Minnie I've ever seen!!

At Gardner Village...Nana sat by the witch first, then Ellie got brave and sat on her lap!

I did it!!

Okay, so those who know me know this is completely out of my element...but I completed my first triathlon last weekend with my sister and sister in law! We all have new babies and thought it would be a great way to get in shape. I was afraid I wouldn't even be able to finish. But, I did! And it was so fun! And I did better than I thought I would...5th in my division! We all had so much fun doing it, that we're ready for our next one. And, how sweet is this - the night before the triathlon, John took our kids to buy me flowers and a card. He's been really excited that I did it. The only thing is - I should have gotten a TAN before I went!! My legs could blind you. Hooray for Katie, Liz, and me!