Jet's 1st Birthday

Jet didn't need any help diving into the cake.

He practically ate the whole thing.
He's learning to clap.


We got him a BIG WHALE pool for his birthday.
Wearing Grandma's reading glasses.


My mom made him a Jet cake. Isn't it awesome?


I love this little boy SO much!

He's so happy and easy goin'. He likes to be out and about. He loves playing with balls, big or small. He likes being outside. He LOVES to babble and talk. He LOVES the stairs. I could go on and on. I can't believe I have such a perfect little boy. He's the best. There are so many small moments, every single day, that are so precious and dear. I love you, Jet!

Utah trip with the youth

At the end of June, I went with our youth on a big, week long road trip to Utah...with Jet. It was wonderful. We have such an amazing group of young folk...I love them dearly, and miss them. I think we always brought out the best in eachother.

The ladies
Boise, Idaho Temple

Outside Bountiful Temple



This was one of the first times that Jet was in the grass....he didn't like it at first, so you can see how he's trying to lift his legs up...so cute.
I hadn't ever seen the replica of the temple in the Visitor's Center. It was awesome. We were able to do some work in the temple that day. I had never been inside before....exciting!
I hiked Ensign Peak with Jet in my arms the whole way...I felt studly.
We saw many of the prophet's grave sites. Being there, you realize how short life is, and how much service these men were able to do within their lifetimes. It also reminded me of what is important in life, and what isn't. What's important, is how we serve each other, and how much we become like Christ.
Jet and I got to go to In-n-Out burger for the first time.
The new, Draper, Utah Temple....I think that's how it's spelled.
We did LOTS of driving. 12 hours the first day, and lots in between. We were doing whatever we could to keep Jet entertained. He became particularly fond of this straw. It was hilarious. All the youth just loved him, and were so helpful. All things considered, (lack of naps, lots of driving etc.) he did GREAT! It still wasn't easy, but it was fun to have him there and laugh at all the funny things he would do, and experience everything with him.

He has a "peg leg". Instead of crawling on his knees, his left foot always touches the ground, but he still uses his right knee normally.
Manti Pageant. I think this is my favorite temple. But, going to a performance that starts at 9:30, with a baby that won't go to sleep (and hasn't slept all day), isn't the funnest. I was exhausted.

This is the Place State Park.

Monday: Drive to Utah, stop at Boise Temple for lunch
Tuesday: Visit Bountiful Temple, Temple Square day, temple work, touring, Legacy Theater to see Joseph Smith movie (Nate was awesome, no surprise), BBQ with Bountiful Ward and games
Wednesday: Hike Ensign Peak, visit graves of the prophets, Draper Temple, Jordan River Temple, In-N-Out Burger, drive to Manti Pageant and watch
Thursday: Drive back to Salt Lake, tour BYU campus, Provo Temple, This is the Place State Park, 19th century pioneer etiquette classes and dinner, youth dance, tour outside of Brigham Young's house
Friday: Shopping, Lagoon Amusement Park (so much fun, especially when you go on a big roller coasters with a 65-year-old)
Saturday: Drive home, try to remain sane when Jet only takes one short nap, and I'm exhausted.

It was awesome.

Um...hi

So yeah....haven't posted in awhile.

This post actually happened a few months ago and I wrote a blog for it, but it didn't get posted cuz computer probs...so here it is. I need to post things in order so it all makes sense when I get the ol' bloggy printed into a book for memory's sake.

Original Title: We moved...and Chad’s crazy

We had to move last weekend because the house we were renting is being foreclosed on, on June 2^nd, and the lametastic owner gave us a 30-day no cause notice, that expired May 5^th. Are you kidding me? We’re good residents! I was so tempted to leave the place in shambles, and paint atrocious murals with my fingers and flick my boogers on all the lightswitches. But, we had a deposit to get back, so we have to play nice. But…we did have a few items that we needed to get rid of, so we buried them in the holes that the dogs dug in the backyard. Tehe, our little secret. Yes, we’re naughty, but I couldn’t help it. ::grin:: There were just a few items. It will be like a time capsule…we’re just doing our family history!

We moved into a trailer. When I first saw it, I tried to hide the worry and slight disgust from my face, (I’m a very animated person, so, I really doubt that my eyes didn’t bug out at first glance, but luckily, I was wearing sunglasses….PHEW!) because the owner was standing right there. But, I was wanting a cheap place cuz we were only going to be there a few months anyway.

It turned out, I LOVED the place. It had a log cabin feel, a back deck, secluded, the backyard went straight to the river, a big bay window. But, we couldn’t drink the water, even with a filter cuz it tasted like metal and turned everything orange….and orange is just out of style.

On move-in day, Chad went all “psychotic, LaPine redneck” on me.

He hung his camo shotgun up right above the couch, before I even got to the house. When I walk through the door….”OH MY GOSH. You are such a dorkwad. You had to put your shotgun on the wall?”

Chad: (Big guilty grin on his face) Well, I knew you probably wouldn’t let me do it if I asked. I thought it was just so, LaPine, that I just had to do it.

Jess: Okay, luckily, I think it’s really funny…in a sporting-a-mullet-for-a-few-weeks kind of way. Mullet footnote: (David Bowie’s mullet in Labyrinth is amazing, yes?….John Stamos’s on Full House? Thank goodness it only stayed for Season 1. Differing opinions?)

When it’s time to start unpacking, Chad puts everything on the back burner….so he can organize his tools!!!! Nevermind that we haven’t unpacked the food or the toilet paper, he just HAS TO situate his tools on his stupid pegboard, while I do the important things like take care of Jet, and try to unpack the stuff that we’re actually going to need within the next 24 hours. I mention this to him, but he says he will feel SOOO much better once this is done.

Once Chad is done, he plays show-and-tell. “Look hun, doesn’t it look great?”

Jess: Wow….it looks awesome! (thinking: yes, it looks schnazzy, but I would rather know where the tools called, fork, spoon, and knife are, as opposed to pliers and screwdrivers. Okay, at least now he can start helping with other stuff.)

NEXT

Chad: Now I’m going to the store, and we’re going to grill steaks to celebrate our move-in.

Jess: Chad, we have other stuff to get done first and we already have leftovers for dinner, plus, it will take you forever to go to the store.

Chad: No, we have to celebrate.

Jess: Chad, you’re just trying to come up with an excuse to grill steaks. (Steaks do NOT thrill me. Steaks are guy food.)

Long story short, Chad goes to the store.

Exhausted from moving all day, we grill the steaks and make mashed potatoes and gravy. We sit down, and have a nice (manly) dinner. I’m finally able to relax, and I admit to him….”This is nice.” Chad says, “I knew it would be.” Having a good, sit-down meal together was SO relaxing. We crawl into bed, pooped, share some funny experiences from the day, as usual, and crash. Although he has some serious move-in priority problems, he always makes things interesting, and that’s one of my favorite things about him. Love you Chad, even though you have issues. Tehe.

Guns, tools, steak. Oi yoi yoi.