Baby Seat Canapy's

I made these cute baby seat canopy's for one of my cousins and a friend. If anyone is interested in buying one, let me know and I can match up cute colors that you would love, or that you choose.

Temple

We had a class with a bunch of girls on how to make these large pictures. We made the frames from base boards and than had posters of the temple that we textured. They are completely beautiful. My camera didn't do justice for what they really look like. What I loved most was the price too. Now we finally have a picture of the temple hanging in our house.

Family Home Evening

Lately, for FHE we have been doing some pretty cool things together as a family. We have been really diligent about doing FHE with Baby James ever since the New Year. I know it is something that will help my children learn of Christ and gain a testimony, while at the same time allowing our family to be strengthened and gain relationships and memories. Along with prayer, song, lesson and an activity we have learned that the lessons need to be only about 5 minutes in order to keep James' attention. It has been awesome using the FHE bags that have simple, easy lessons with a prop. For one of our special days together (day off) we went to the Thanksgiving Dinosaurs Museum. We all loved it, it was very informative and there was so much to see. I was very impressed!

Here we are digging for fossils. He even got to dig on his own with the big boys. He did more watching than digging though. This was kind of scary for our little guy. It looked pretty real and it was huge.

Daddy, Mommy and Jamesy will go back when he's big enough to enjoy it even more. Pirate Island was so much better than I thought it would be. We made it another FHE activity. Talk about a great and fun atmosphere for everyone.

The pizza even taste good.

My favorite part was our server. He had the whole pirate thing going, even his accent. James didn't know what to think about it, it was a little scary for him. His favorite part was shooting with daddy and playing on the Farris wheel and the little playground ship. Our little dude loved the Farris wheel. He went on it about 5 times and only wanted more. He's such a big boy he could do it all by himself. He is becoming more independent (sad but true) and doesn't need mamma's help as much.

When it was time to go, he cried. Poor little guy, I guess we found his next favorite place.

We have so much fun, just the 3 of us, even though our fourth was with us in spirit. I am so happy to have two of my babes with me all of the time. They are a blast!

Another successful FHE we had was more of a service. We went to visit an Elderly Home. It was the old one I used to work at in American Fork- Heritage. There were only about 4 people there that I still knew, how sad is that, that the rest have probably passed away. Yet good, because they are not disabled and are now perfect in Heaven. It scared James half to death. He wasn't to sure about all the wrinkles, hunched over in wheelchairs and it even scared him more when they started talking. For a little guy it is kind of an overwhelming experience. I want to continue taking him, so he can eventually learn to love the elderly. It is a great lesson and these lonely people need love from anyone who is willing to give it.

This is just the beginning of all of our FHE's and even though James is so young, I think he already knows it is something special that he does with his mom and dad.

Little lessons, step by step...... I pray that it will make a difference.

My Perfect Parents

Wow, I just feel so blessed to have the family I do. I seriously had the best time with mom and dad as they came to visit this weekend. They arrived on Thursday morning at 2:00 a.m and left about 9 hours ago (Sunday, after church). I always hate saying good bye because the time just flys by way to fast.

When I think about mom and dad, I just can't help but smile. They did a dang good job of raising us kids. I always remember how mom was home every single day after returning from school, she always made us food and there was never a worry for me as a child, if mom would be there for me at anytime. Than, my fondest remembrance of Dad is having little daddy daughter dates or councils with only me and dad. I remember feeling like he always cared and that I could cry to him about anything. Mom and dad were amazing at raising us. They had their priorities in the right spot, even today they make these long 12 hour drives just to come see me and my family for a few days, just because they love us. How did I get so lucky, to be so loved by 2 people who love so unselfishly and perfectly.

We had fun playing games (Settlers, of course), shopping, eating at Cafe Rio (all of our favorite), mom and I went to Natalie (my cousins) baby shower, playing with big guy, talking, watching the Olympics, but most importantly, spending time together. Mom even came and helped me out with teaching- she loved it, while James spent the whole day with Grandpa. What an enjoyable weekend. I just wish mom and dad lived closer.

Mom and dad you made my weekend so great. James loves you guys so much, thanks for loving him so much, even through all the dirty diapers, throwing up and runny noses. We all feel your love when your with us and away from us.

My mom and dad are the greatest parents and a big thank you goes out to my Father in Heaven, because he knew just what I needed to get through in this life. My parents are one of my greatest blessings.

Learning the Hard Way

I really need to document an experience that I hope to never have to go through again with my little munchkin. I never wish this to happen to anyone, it was scary.

So as we were packing our Honda civic in Canada to go home from Christmas Holidays, Josh took James, who was already to go, out and placed him in the car. It was pretty cold, so he closed the doors not thinking anything of it. Dad and Josh continued stuffing out car with all of our luggage and gifts. Dad and I are known as the best packers just because we fill every single spot and make everything fit nice and snug, every time without fail. So I came out with the last few things and saw James in the car, the car was running (because it was bitter cold out) so I went around to the back door to make sure it was opened and placed somethings in the back seat. By this time James had made his way up to the drivers seat, standing and pretending he was driving. I ran inside again to grab the food and then we would be off. We were already running late, it was 11:00 am and it was a 12 hour drive on a clear day.

As I walked out I gave hugs to mom and dad, I went to open the car door where James was and it was ......LOCKED! I looked in the back and the doors were...... LOCKED too. The worst part was that the keys were in the ignition. I could not believe it, my sweet baby, who had a huge smile on his face was in the drivers seat, playing with the steering wheel and there was no way I could get to him. Once we realized that a hanger wasn't working and trying to entice James to touch the unlock button(which was next to impossible). While the guys tried to find a solution, I stood out in the cold trying to keep James happy through the window. After a while I could tell that he just wanted me to hold him, I honestly was scared that the car was on and that at anytime he could push it into gear, yet at the same time if the car was not on, he would have froze. All I could think about was getting him out.

Thank goodness mom and dad knew a mechanic from Raymond, he finally came out after about 30 minutes, and he opened it in less then 10 seconds. What a blessing. I grabbed him out, and just couldn't stop telling him how much I loved him and that I was sorry. He was a trooper, but I don't know if I was.

It was so hard for me, his momma, being totally unable to help my son. All I ever want to do is keep him safe and always be there for him. I guess we learned a lesson the hard way. So for all of you, read this and learn instead of go through it. Little ones can do things you'd never think they could do. I had know idea my little one, who was just barely one, could lock all the car doors.

He did it all with a smile too.

We got off to a late start, but seriosly how can you be mad at a face like this?

.......Lesson Learned.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, IS IT TRUE?

And......

Then there were 2.

Baby #2 is due on August 15th, 2010!!

We feel so blessed and excited about our little baby growing in my belly.

Just look how cute he/ she already is.

HOW WE FOUND OUT:

My last period was right before James' 1st birthday in November. We wanted to get pregnant, but we just didn't know God would let it happen so fast. So the first week of December came and I was probably a week late on my period. I didn't think anything of it and Josh kept on saying take a pregnancy test. I doubted the fact that I would be pregnant already, so I bought a test, but didn't take it for a few days. I just didn't want to jinx it and didn't want to be disappointed either.

So I had Josh there in the bathroom with me, handed him the test and watched Josh's face react. He smiled and actually kept it real, instead of teasing. He said "YOUR PREGNANT!" I didn't know if I should believe him or not, so I said "Let me see." I saw it and sure enough there was the solid line with another line that was kind of fainted. We just hugged each other and then got on our knees right away and said thank you to our Father in heaven for this kind blessing of letting us raise his child and entrusting us with another little one. I went crazy happy after that, I yelled it out many times, jumped up and down and just hugged Josh to pieces. The next day I did take another pregnancy test, just to make sure the one line really was there and not so faint. Sure enough it was there indicating the great news. Ever since that day, we pray for our little angel to be healthy, safe and to feel our love.

I went to my first doctors appointment on January 22nd. Dr. Savage took care of all the procedures and then we tried listening to his/ her heart beat (I don't know what to call the baby, and I really don't like to call it an it. So until we do find out what the baby is I will call it a HIM.- Yes we are wanting a boy. The biggest reason is so that James will have a buddy, but you know darn well that if we have a girl, my little heart would melt too. ) She tried finding it for about 2 minutes which seemed even longer and than said that it was normal to not hear it this early at 11 weeks. I will be completely honest, that I was a little worried, as most moms would be. But I did not say a thing and just kept positive and praying that we would hear the heartbeat and that the little baby would be healthy for our Monday ultrasound.

We had an early ultra sound to find out dates and measurements. These are seriously the most amazing technology devices around. What an amazing miracle to see an 11 week little body growing in my tummy. Utah Vally Hospital sure has a great screen too, it was very high tec and showed so many details, with the red and blue blood flow and every single angle. Every time we would see a really great view, I would get so giddy and keep on saying how cute my baby was. I am already attached and in love. We are happy to say that our sweet little baby is healthy and growing. What a huge blessing! My heart skips many beats just thinking about having another little baby of mine to raise, love, teach and to care for every single day of my life. I have so much gratitude towards my Father in Heaven, he truly is the reason for this miracle.

It's perfect, the Baby will be born just as James turns 21 months. He will make the best brother, after he gets the hang of sharing his momma. Lately he has been a total mommas boy and I just love how much he wants me and I KNOW he LOVES ME. He even gives hugs and kisses now- and trust me I get as many as I can all day long.

Post Christmas

Grandpa had so much fun rustling with all his little munchkins. They all sure adore him. He's the best grandpa ever!

Having all the cousins together was a blast, they played the whole time. The day after Christmas we made our ginger bread houses (a tradition). It was James' first time and all he wanted to do was eat the candy.

We used to have a ski-doo and a four wheeler that would pull us around on a tube, so this year after about 10 minutes the four wheelere died and dad went to other means and dragged us behing his truck. It was cold, snowy and a blast. I don't know how well James liked it as he couldn't see anything, because of the snow in his face, but he was a little trooper and went with me and daddy. James got all decked out in his winter attire. He could hardly walk around himself, it was funny watching him wobble like a duck (almost like the Christmas Story).

New Years this year was pretty lame, it was just us and mom and dad. We did miss it and re-inacted the countdown, because Josh was in the bathroom and mom and I were the only ones with pots and pans getting excited. Oh well, we're gonna make 2010 better than all the rest.

Merry Christmas

Christmas at a glance

Our family always acts out the manger scene on Christmas Eve. It is so much fun being with my family, it is always a great time seeing how the nieces and nephew is growing. James had so much fun interacting with them and playing with them. James and Talmage both acted as baby Jesus in the manger, depending on who would sit still during the big moments in the story. James was pretty proud of himself. Every Christmas Eve the elves bring us all a new pair of pajama's. The little kids got cute Christmas ones and us ladies got cute LaSenza ones, that we could wear throughout the year. The guys got comfy bottoms. James loved rustling with grandpa and all the cousins. He has the greatest grandpa, who spends so much time with him, they just love him to pieces. I have never seen such a great big smile. James was so excited when he unwrapped the gift from his auntie Amber. He hopped right onto it and just thought he was the most special guy ever. He continued smiling this big for a full 5 to 10 minutes. I just absorbed that little grin and was so happy he actually realized he got a truck. He is such a boy! Thanks Auntie Amber for making James' Christmas . He plays with it everyday and the sounds make it even that much more fun.

Our family has always taken turns to open gifts. Youngest to oldest. It is always funner that way because it lasts longer and you get to actually see what everyone gets. Well this Christmas was a little different. Now, we just wait until some of the kids wake up and then we wake everyone else up. James didn't quite understand the excitement, but he did like unwrapping the gifts. We opened gifts from about 9 to 11, then my brother Mike, on the mission called. So we had to hold the unwrapping for a bit. We had an amazing talk with him, there were tears, laughing, and everyone got a chance to talk to him, even though he was on speaker the whole time. Elder Leavitt has grown so much, just by talking to him I am amazed what 2 months can do for a young man. I am so impressed with his dedication and change of heart to only do that which the Lord would have him do in California. The most touching part was when he got on the phone with Dad and just told him that he was sorry for the way he treated him at times and how Dad was right the whole time with serving so many people. I think it really made mom and dad feel that it was finally all worth it to see their only boy realize the importance of the Gospel.

Dad aka grandpa got a pull up machine to build his young lean muscles. James wanted a chance to try it out and he actually held himself up. What a tough little guy. We had another wonderful Christmas with the family. I have realized that each one gets even better with more kids. Children are what make moments like Christmas even more magical. Thanks mom and dad for always making it a priority to have us all together and to carry on all the traditions we do each year. One of the greatest traditions we do each year is helping the neady. Mom and dad always find some family to help out with food, presents and any other needs they may need. Than we put it all on their front porch, ring the doorbell and run as fast as we can to the car, drive off and make our round to see if they got it. This year we even went to the hospital to visit a man who had his leg amputated. He is mom and dad's neighbor who has always been in need of help. Without any hesitation, mom and dad have always helped him in even the most crazy situations. We took Christmas dinner to him as well, before the big Leavitt relative get together. It is people like him that your heart hurts for and only want to help out more.

Thanksgiving and Christmas Preparations

Currently I am sitting here catching up on every ones blogs, I feel alittle overwhelmed about catching up on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and all the others things that have happened and are going to happen this year. Thus, I finally said, stop looking and start doing. THANKSGIVING I am catching up all the way back to Thanksgiving. Well back in 2009 we had the pleasure to go to Brianhead. Josh's brother and his family had us up there in a beautiful cabin. It was so delightful getting away, one of the first times this year that James got to see snow, a time to just relax with the family, eat, ride 4-wheelers(and get stuck- yup me, I thought I was untouchable and went through some really deep snow and couldn't get out. Note to self: don't act like I am so experiences and just follow the person leading instead.Yet, that just doesn't sound as fun.)We ate an amazing, scrumtous dinner and was so stuffed, we did absolutely nothing that evening. These pictures are priceless on how much James really enjoyed his first understandably good food on Thanksgiving. I let him dig in and be as messy as he wanted to, it was fun watching him stuff his little mouth and seeing him use his little fork. He is now so independent when he eats, he loves to shovel the food on an plop it in. No longer does he have his mom feed him. He was very interested in the stuffed animals all over the cabin. He started pointing at everything he saw interesting and he would talk his little baby talk, almost like he was having a conversation with the animal. He is such a curious boy, I love him. All the cousins made gingerbread houses with Nana and James felt like he was just as big as them.

He sure had his share of sweet candy.

CHRISTMAS

Getting ready to leave:

My awesome husband has made me a deal that as long as we live away from my parents and close to his family, we can make the drive every Christmas to go see my family. Now that is one of the best gifts he give me every year. Before we took off we were in complete stress and all Josh did for the last month was study for a math class he had to complete on December 17th. The stress that was on my husband was from the advanced math class (from 950, 990, 1010, 1030 and 1050 all in one class)and he only had until this date to complete it and all the 3 remaining tests in about a week and a half. Everyone we are close to was praying and fasting for him, especially my family, because if he didn't pass it, he would have to retake the test on the following Monday which would mean we would only be with my family a few days before Christmas. He finally finished it that night at 7:30. There was sweet rejoicing and praise as it saved him from taking another 2 years of math. I was so proud of him, because this class was one of the hardest he has ever taken and it really required him to buckle down and live a life where all he did was eat, sleep and study. I kept on telling him it would be worth it and that he could do it, yet I think he was pretty hard on himself and the pressure sure was visible and evident. I can still remember the phone call from him, I was so nervous for him. I picked up the phone and tried to sense his tone of voice before he went on. When he said he had passed, the pit in my stomach disappeared and I was full of gratitude to my savior. This was truly a test of faith and prayer. Everyday for the whole month we always prayed for Josh with the ability to remember that which he had studied and to clear his mind and help him recall all he needed to know. First thing we did when we saw each other was get on our knees and give thanks. I know without a doubt that God was there, placing his arms around Josh during the test and helping him out. What a blessing to have him on our side everyday, and especially during times where you feel all alone.

On the road:

We left at 8:00 pm ( ya we are a little crazy), just so we could get there earlier. We drove all through the night, taking turns sleeping and driving. We struggled a lot staying awake and had to wake each other up just to stay awake and keep each others eyes open. James slept the majority of the time and was such a good sport, I think I fuses more than he did.

The arrival:

We finally arrived in Calgary at my sister, Amber's house at 11:00 am the next morning exhausted and done with cars, seat belts and anything having to do with driving.

Calgary:

We spent the next two days with my sisters, hanging out, shopping, getting pictures with Santa and getting ready for Christmas. I worked 2 days for Amber's cleaning business, just so it would pay for the gas expense there and back. Amber's has quite the gig going on there, I am really proud of her and all she has succeeded in. Of course she took a bunch of pictures of James, she has a great little studio in her basement. It was a lot of fun. I can't wait to see them, the suspense is killing me but she is in Hawaii right now, so I will have to be patient.

Then we headed home, to grandma and grandpa's house for Christmas......