It's Official!

We can now officially call daddy Matt Shane, PT, DPT. He received verification of his Utah license to practice yesterday as well as his HUMONGOUS diploma - I don't think they could have made it any bigger without calling it a wall poster! In his words, "This made my year...well my 3 years (referring to 3 years of PT school)." I asked him if it was all worth it and he said, "Oh yeah." I think that with anything which takes a whole lot of sweat and tears, it is always worth it and believe me we had a lot of sweat and tears as a family! (Although sometimes it is hard to think that at the time or while you're going through it). Matt insisted that we celebrate last night at Red Lobster. I suggested waiting until we could be kid-free, but the boys were on their best behavior and Carter loved looking at the fish in the fish tank and the live lobsters. We are so grateful to those who helped us through the process and for your many prayers. We are also grateful that Matt has a job that he loves and that I am able to stay home and play with my boys (at least 2 of them anyways).

Monster cookies!

In celebration of Halloween, my mom made "Monster cookies" for my brother, Dustin, serving a mission in Croatia (we'll see if they get there without breaking into 100 pieces). "Monster cookies" is a sufficent name because they were really about the size of a pancake. I was preoccupied by and my mom had given Carter some of a cookie. The next thing I know he has more cookie on his face than in his mouth and he is kissing and loving on Jaxon. You really can't tell from the pictures, but Carter's face is covered in chocolate and Jaxon has chocolate on his shirt, on his eyebrow, face, and hair and all over his shirt! I think calling Carter the "Cookie Monster" is very fitting!

Cousins

Brooke and her family came up to visit us to go see Cody's football game and to celebrate my birthday! My friend Britt mentioned that I haven't been posting many pictures of Jaxon, and as I look at my blog I sadly find that to be true. Maybe I can blame it on the fact that I'm either feeding Jaxon, changing his diaper, or he is sleeping so there aren't to many moments to snap a good picture. For the past two nights he has slept 6 hours in a row which is heavenly. Anyways, here is a picture of Jaxon and his cousin Max (his birthday is August 23, almost exactly a month before Jaxon's of September 24). Aren't they too cute for words?!?

Pickin' Pumpkins

There is a cute man down the street who sells pumpkins every year and as Matt drove by on his home for work he thought it would be fun to go pick out some pumpkins. Carter had a blast, Jaxon cried most of the time (because he hates his carseat), and Matt and I loved watching Carter try to pick up every pumpkin in the patch. We even picked out pumpkins for Cody, Kaylee, mom, and dad. Carter kept picking out the flat squatty ones (which won't be much good for carving), so we told him to pick another one and he would go right to another flat squatty one! Nevertheless we got 8 pumpkins for less than $20 and had a lot of fun in the process!!

Pics of Pickin' Pumpkins

Utah!!

As many of you know, we have migrated back to Utah. After being in Arizona for 3 years, I have really come to appreciate the mountains and especially the 4 seasons. In Arizona there are only 3 seasons, cool, hot, and really hot! For Conference weekend we were able to spend the time at my parent's cabin in Sundance. It is so beautiful up there and right out the back deck they have a gorgeous view of Mount Timpanogos and Stewart Falls and I love to sit there and soak it all in. I'm looking forward to winter, but no so much the snow, as I hate driving in it. But bring it on right?

Silly Big Brother

Carter is all personality lately. I don't know if he's trying to compete for our attention since we had Jaxon, but he has been so silly lately. He says the funniest things and is such a ham at times. Here is a prime example of this. He found these "80's sunglasses" today and put them on and wanted me to take a picture. Then after I took one, he started running away from me laughing as I was trying to take another (hence the second picture). He is really enjoying being at Grandma and Grandpa's for a time and is loving all the attention he is getting. It probably makes the adjusment fo a new brother a little easier!! Too cute!

My very first SWAP!

So I can hardly contain myself (and maybe it is just because I get to do something besides changing diapers)!! My friend Britt from Bend, Oregon invited me to participate in my very first Swap. It's pretty simple and super fun! She compiles a list of people who want to participate and then she gives everyone someone else's name and then we send a package of goodies to our designated someone. This was a Halloween Swap, and I had way too much fun browsing all of the Halloween decor to find items for my package! I'm posting pictures of the final project and I hope it doesn't spoil the surprise for my Swap buddy. I don't personally know the person who I got so it would be ironic if she looked at my blog and saw my post. So, anyways it's kind of a fun way to celebrate the holiday! I'm thinking about doing my own Thanksgiving Swap in the next few months, so let me know if you're interested or if you know anyone that is!

Jaxon, Jaxon, Jaxon

I feel like I fell off the face of the earth for a few days, but I'm slowly regrouping from the move, baby blues, and sleepless nights (even though these still continue). Jaxon is keeping us all busy but we couldn't love him more (especially Carter, who we have to watch very carefully because he tries to pick him up...yikes). Here are some more pictures. Enjoy!

I'm reluctantly posting this picture, but here are me and my boys a few hours after Jaxon's arrival.

Jaxon's first car ride home from the hospital.

Jaxon's new outfit from grandma.

Carter can't stop loving on Jaxon.