Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, and every day, I am thankful for many things--my faith, family, friends, work, food, shelter... The list really can go on and on. I feel very blessed. I'm also very thankful to wake up each day and see these beautiful smiling faces. Take time to give those you love a hug or if you're far from home, at least a phone call. Love you all!

Mackenzie turned 8 in September. She is doing great in school. She just started accelerated math and is in the TAG (talented and gifted) program at school, and she's loving both. She never ceases to amaze me with her creative and inquisitive mind. This summer she learned to ride a bike without training wheels while camping with Grandma Carla and family. She also learned to tie her shoes.

Emma is five now, as of May, and is our little sunshine. In fact, I sing her, "You are my Sunshine," every night before bed. She adores her big sis and loves to take care of little brother. She's also doing well in school, and is proud to have homework to bring home on Fridays. She's incredibly helpful at school and home, wanting to be in the middle of it all and enjoying life.

Jayten is almost 3-that's hard to imagine. I keep thinking of him as my baby, yet he's turning into such a little boy. He LOVES cows, horses, cars and trucks. I've found he's got a great imagination too, as he can turn anything into a cow pen-mardi gra beads, plastic french fries, anything. He vocabulary continues to grow every day, and it's fun to see the new things he's learning. Did I mention I feel blessed? Yes, very, very blessed, indeed!

We will not forget...

It is hard to believe today marks 10 years since 9/11. I remember my sister and I were getting ready for class. I was a senior at K-State and she was going to school there too, and we lived in a little apartment not far from campus with a girl, Maury, who we went to church with at St. Isidore's. We had the tv on in our bedroom. I went in there to see the second plane fly into the towers. It was so surreal. I kept thinking it was a movie. It just didn't make sense. I couldn't believe this was happening right then in our country. I remember sitting in Food Science class and everyone was talking about it. I went to St. Isidore's at some point during the day to prayer. I kept wondering if this was the beginning of World War III. I'm sure I called Josh and my parents. I was just in complete shock. I turned to my faith and my God more than ever before. I knew He was in charge and whatever was to come, He would be there with us. It was such a time of uncertainty, yet you could see some blessings from it, the heroes of the day, weeks and months to come who gave their lives for others. No matter how much time passes though, we will never forget that day.

"For me and my family personally, Sept. 11 was a reminder that life is fleeting, impermanent, and uncertain. Therefore, we must make use of every moment and nurture it with affection, tenderness, beauty, creativity and laughter."
- Chopra, M.D.

June 2011

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So since I've been a bad, BAD blogger this year, I thought I'd try this just for a quick update. I really miss the journaling of our lives, so I need to get back into it, but at least I can share some recent pics from this summer. It's been a good one, but has gone by way too fast!

The first photos are of Jayten playing with the library the girls had set up. They used the whole living to set up all their books and such. It was really cute.

In June, Mackenzie showed her first Hereford heifer. The plan was for everyone to go to the show in Twin Falls because Matt was showing several head, but unfortunately he tore his ACL the weekend before and couldn't show. So, Josh and Jayten decided to stay home, and Carla, the girls and I went to the show. Since we only had one head, we sent the heifer with Hereford friends of ours, and we packed the mini-van with our show supplies and headed out. :0) As soon as we got there, the girls got right to work making the beds. They had dumped huge piles of compost in the barn for us to use. Emma immediately said, "I want to help," and grabbed a shovel. She is such a great worker. MJ did so well with her heifer, getting her washed and brushed. She was a little frisky each morning so I exercised her first, then MJ could lead her anywhere. She was so proud. We had brought the heifer up to our house for several months so Mackenzie could start working with her, then she went back to the barn to be bred. The last few weeks before the show, MJ went up to the barn to work with Crystals. She named her that because she was born in February. I was a nervous wreck for the show. It's so hard watching them out there. I didn't know whether to jump in and help or let her try to handle it on her own. The heifer did well for her, but did push her around a few times when she had to go in first to the ring. We had some great teenage girl friends who stepped in and helped where needed. Emma showed in Itty Bitty with our friend Emilee Holt. It was really cute. Emilee led her big heifer in the ring, and Emma did the stick work. It was such a great experience for all of us. It gave us girls a chance to do something together, and Josh and Jayten had fun doing cow stuff at home.

Jayten also got moved to a big boy bed that weekend. He'd been getting his leg stuck in the crib rails, so Josh decided to take him out. I was just glad he was doing all that! They went and picked out Cars sheets, blanket and pjs. He really likes his new bed!

Malson Family Christmas

We went up to Mark and Carla's for dinner and to celebrate Christmas. It was a nice evening with family. We are very blessed to have lots of Josh's family around us in Idaho.

Kids

 
The girls were playing dress up one day, so here comes Little J holding a pink dress, and wanting me to put it on him. I did, then he proceeded to get his cows, horses and barn out to play with. Just too cute. I couldn't resist. I'm sure he won't be impressed when he's older. He is such a mimic and just loves to do whatever the girls are doing. 

 

 The girls still love to dress-up. I hope they never out grow it. I think they were playing wedding that day.

 

Jayten loves the cows. He is always picking up Josh's cattle magazines and going through them, saying cow and bull.

 

Silly Emma!

 

One morning Josh hollered at me to come look at our son. He had gotten out the oatmeal and spilled a little on the floor, then started eating it like a dog. Boys! LOL!

 

Jayten is such a silly boy. I let him stay up late while I was working one night and he was playing with the doodle pad. 

 

Taking notes like mommy.

 

Opening and hanging up his Drummer Boy ornament from his Godparents, Mike and Lisa.

 

Playdoh is so fun! And yes, that's J with a baby. He's love that little doll. Plays with it just like the girls. I hope it means he'll be tender hearted when he's bigger.

 

Playing with Cousin Mya

 

What a mess. He has a bad habit of dumping out his food.

 

Getting into the plastic containers.

 

Throwing away the binkie! Such a big boy!! 

Christmas Eve at Nana's

We went over to Katrina's the afternoon of Christmas Eve. We enjoyed some good food, visited with her, Barth and his kids, Uncle Jason, Grandma Ellen, Zeke and Joe. We also played a game of Trivial Pursuit, which I determined I am not very good at. :0) But, it was still fun. The kids again enjoyed opening presents. We made an attempt at getting them together for a photo. As you can see it was a little comical. One of the photos E put her head down, so the next photo J put his down. I tell you; he is a master mimic. Quite funny though. After that we came back and attended Mass. It was such a nice, peaceful service. MJ stayed up a little late and decorated some cookies for Santa. And Josh and I finished our evening listening to Elvis sing Christmas carols and wrapping the stocking stuffers.