Trick-or-Treating with Maximus

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At every house he would yell, "GO GO GO!" while everyone was piling out of the car.

He would say thank you, thank you, thank you until the person at the door said you’re welcome.

If they tried to give him more than one piece of candy he would put the other one back in the bowl.

When we sent him to the door with the kids he would come back excited, but with no candy.

Would unwrap his suckers then stick them in his bag.

Was more excited about the apple than all the chocolate.

Ate ½ of the apple then added it to the bag with all the unwrapped suckers.

I told him to tell our friend, “Jenny, give me some candy!” He really got into that one and kept repeating it.

One of the other kids said, “Oh, that is where Trinity lives”. So Maxx started yelling “To infinity and beyond” at the top of his lungs, joined by all the kids, for the rest of the time. (Trinity is now a swear word in our house).

He is one funny ginger.






Deb and Wolverine

Husbands Say The Darndest Things

Talking just now I started saying, "man, I smell, it is almost like I forgot to"...

before I could finish "put on deordant today."

Mike inserted "shower?"

Maybe he won't be so sassy when I start hanging up his dirty clothes instead of washing them. :)

Here is s cute picture of Titan to remind me why I put up with Mr. Squeeky Clean and Sleeping On The Couch.

For future reference dear if I wanted to hear it straight like that I would call my sister.

Autumn

I'm not quite sure why Autumn is so distinct. You seem to feel it coming independent of the weather changing. Perhaps it is because it was when I started dating Mike 7 years ago. The knowledge that holidays which bring great times and memories are on their way. Maybe the consistency of the changing seasons speaks something to us of an overall plan. There is just something indescribable about the different colors, perfect temperature, and change that seems to blow in the air... it is certainly one of my favorite moments although fleeting in nature.

This year the world looks a bit different. It is such a gift to be able to step back and thank God that my life is exactly what I want it to be. To be able to enjoy those few magical weeks although I well know that the leaves will fall, the air will turn cold and I will be left wanting for this exact feeling for a few seasons. It is a lesson I have missed before, but hope I will never again. Things are never perfect in this world, but they can be so sweet. That change is as certain as the changing of the seasons, so enjoy today for what it is. And most significantly that there is no reason for sadness because the snow will melt, the air will be warm, and the sun will shine again.

The older I get the cooler I was

I showed some of our friends the video of me punching a girl in water polo the other day. Things like that come back to bite you a little when you realized that not only are you an example to others, but to your little shadows that carry on your name. I read a bumper sticker last week that said it well, "mean people breed little mean people".

Now I don't want to give my young women's leaders the satisfaction of being able to say, "I told you she would mellow out", so know that I am not taking it back; she deserved what she got and we will continue to laugh at the video when the kids are asleep. However I'll give you this... perhaps how cool I was can better serve my boys and maybe someday girls (scary thought) with stories of good choices, how much I love learning truth, or fun that doesn't end in me being banned from a sport. Heaven knows it better be soon because Maximus is almost big enough to pull people's shirts over their heads and punch them.

Nothing Beats a Baby - New Niece!

Reagan Janin Jackman
Very Cute
Congrats Aaron & Sarah

Somethin's just not right with that kid

It seems to be Maxx's challenge to make sure Aaron thinks he is retarded. He has picked up crossing his eyes, putting his shoes on the wrong feet, and saying TREAT YUMMY YUMMY constantly like a goon. His goofball looks and Rufio hair don't help. Anyhow the kicker...

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In the craziness of my Mom's funeral week Maximus had made it to their house with no shoes and was borrowing the 2 sizes too big Elmo watersocks my mom had for the kids. As Aaron was looking out the front windows of the house with my aunts watching him play he said "Ya know there is something just not right about that kid". On queue Maxx picked up a big hand full of rocks and put them into mouth with Aaron banging on the the window... "HEY, DON'T EAT ROCKS!!!"

Mike says, "That's my boy"... I say, yes he is. :)

How I'm Doing

Words don't seem to come easily to me lately, but everyone seems to wonder how I'm doing. Thank you... we appreciate it... we have been spoiled... you rock!
Does that get me off the hook when it comes to thank you notes? Just kidding.

Good. I'm doing good.
Not "well" because that would make sense
Not fantastic because that would put back the piece of me that seems to be missing
At times okay or hanging in there - that is typically Tuesdays because that was the day my Mom watched my kids so I could go to the temple with Mike, the day we usually hung out, walked/talked, and the day she died.
So better than yesterday and hopefully not as well as tomorrow.

Most of the time I am excited for her, that she had a great end to a great life. I know she is excited about all the new experiences, responsibilities, possibilities, freedoms - that is just her. However sometimes I forget that it is the world that makes death seem like an end, like a tragedy, hopeless and alone. It seems poetic that the person most responsible for teaching me that the truth is that it is none of those things is the one I would need it most for.

I believe this change has enabled my mother to multitask, boss me around (I mean encourage :) ), and be there for even more that she was in life (if at all possible). That she now has the time she has always wanted to further the Lord's work while still supporting her family. I have felt her influence, her words, her strength when I need it. Even more lasting I have felt the comfort from a loving God that I know greatly because of her.

Exactly what she is up to is of great interest to me and has sparked a desire to learn even more which is always good. It is interesting that death is so common, but it impacts you so completely. I walk alone now and there is no one to save me from the dogs that will surely eat me. I cry every time I go to call her and tell her about something exciting, frustrating, or funny. I am heartbroken for my Dad - although he is so tough; and makes me a lot of cookies.

Basically it is like this post, or life... a roller coaster with more ups than downs.