New Cub Scout

Everything about Jimmy is new.  He's a new Cub Scout.  He went to his first den meeting tonight with Jason.  I was so excited for him, I just had to take a picture.  Jason and Jimmy had a race to see who could get ready for Scouts first.  Jimmy barely won.  If it weren't for those pesky "knots" in Jason's shoelaces he was struggling so long to get undone, maybe -- just maybe -- Jason would've won!  :)

When we talked about Jimmy getting baptized this Saturday, he said, "Yeah, it's like I get to start my whole life over again."  Ha ha ha.  Loved that.

Weekend

Jimmy had a nice birthday, with his football cake and presents.  He got a lot of fun gifts.  His baptism is Saturday so more celebrations to come!

 

 

 

And Christie and I had some fun taking self-portraits after we painted our nails bright pink.  I love having a little daughter, that's for sure.

Jimmy is 8

So grateful for this little boy that was born 8 minutes after midnight 8 years ago today.  His birth 4 weeks early truly is a testament of the fire inside his soul.  I've never known any child to be more happy, more ready and eager to grab everything life has to offer.  He has a huge spirit. 

I remember he asked me once when Easter was.  I explained to him all the months and holidays from then until Easter and that it was kind of a ways away.  He was not satisfied or content.  He let out a big sigh and flopped to the floor.  He's always been a kid that just can't wait.  He wants what he wants and he wants it now.

20 hours into a roadtrip and he'll ask, "Where are we going????"

And trying broccoli for the first time, "It's a little bit not bad."

We're expecting great things from Jimmy.  He is a friend to everybody.  School and sleep are just distractions to playtime.  He thinks recess is far more important than actually learning.  He's a good student; but he just cannot believe he has to sit still and do actual work!

When I ask him how his day went at school, I get the full report on how many punts he kicked, passes he caught, and who tackled who, and if he was the quarterback that day.  I don't hear anything scholastically.  Ha!

He'll be an incredible missionary because he has no fear of talking to anyone.  He's inquisitive and wants to know everything about everything.  He said he wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up because he likes rocks and digging around and learning about stuff from the "old past."

He's very sensitive and tender, too.  He refers to the Holy Ghost all the time.  If he makes a mistake, he feels terrible about it and whispers to me his wrongdoing, which is never anything really wrong.  But he wants to tell me and work it out through repentance.  When my sister Amy sent him a birthday card that their whole family all signed, he said when he opened it, "I think I'm gonna cry."  It was very sweet.

I love that when I go into his room to kiss him goodnight, he sits up in bed and reaches out for me as far as he can stretch.

I'm excited for him to be baptized.  He already understands the Gospel in the most real way. 

I love you, Jimmy James.  I thank my Heavenly Father every day for you, for your life.  I'm so grateful I can be your mom.

Basketball

It's fun to watch your son play basketball...

 

...especially when he's having so much fun!

 

Go Wildcats!

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friend

Sometimes getting winter boots off is really, really hard.

Jimmy's friend is helping him out a little bit.

 

 Collapse to the floor!  Winter boot still on!  I guess it takes a mom to really do the job right.  :)

Later, while overhearing Jimmy's conversation with his friend as to why he missed his birthday party, Jimmy told him, "Your birthday party was on a Sunday.  And I try to keep the Sabbath Day holy.  Do you go to church?  I go to church.  Do you believe in Jesus?  I believe in Jesus!  Do you?"

Who is this amazing boy of mine?

Dreams Come True, Y'all

Jason and I left the kids in Idaho and went to Salt Lake City for a George Strait concert.  All my country music dreams came true.

 

 

The temple is behind us in this picture but you would never know it!!!  It was so foggy!

Of course, I have no pictures of the concert because no cameras were allowed ... even though EVERYONE had a camera.  Oh well.  My soul is filled to the brim with loving memories of the concert as well as a wonderful weekend with my amazing husband, Jason, who spoiled me and showed me the greatest time of my life pretty much!

We spent a little time shopping and mingling around Temple Square.  We stayed downtown and had a delicious dinner at one of our favorite restuarants, Biaggi's.  Then, the concert!!!!!  Words can't describe.

Ladybug

 

My friend mentioned in her blog about "Keeper Moments."  And I had one today.

 

Jimmy, Christie, and I walked in the door from an outing and saw a ladybug crossing our kitchen floor.  A ladybug!  All three of us sat on the floor, huddled around the ladybug, and passed him (her?) around back and forth.  Christie was screaming "spider!" and refused to hold him, but once she saw Jimmy and I allowing him to roam freely over our skin, she gave it a whirl, too.

 

It was a tiny little precious moment. 

 

It was tickling Christie's little hand and she was laughing.  Then she'd try to pick him up between her fingers and got to squishing him a little too hard so I'd have to swoop in and rescue the poor guy.

 

Jimmy let the ladybug go all the way up his arm and it curved around.  He was lying on the floor at this point, twisting and turning on himself to see where the ladybug was headed.

 

Finally, we released him back into the wild.  Not sure if I should've done that since it's so cold out.  Do ladybugs like snow?