Gray turns 3!!!

I can't believe my little Gray-bug is three! He has always been in the 90% for height so he's always looked 2 years older than his age, but, to me he's still my little guy.

This year we decided on a camping theme for the birthday party. It was a huge hit. We set up a tent and made a fire out of red and orange tissue paper and real wood (thanks Dad for chopping logs for me). It was so cute even though it was indoors. When everyone arrived, we ate BBQ hotdogs and salads and drank juice boxes and rootbeer. Then we gave the kids a "bug-bag" and their own flashlight and we went on a bug hunt throughout the house. We turned the lights off for more effect and the kids loved it. After our bug hunt, we sat around the campfire and Uncle Kurtis and Grandma Kathie told scary stories in the dark-the kids thought the flashlights were the coolest thing ever :) Then Grandpa Wayne got his guitar out and we sang camp songs. Next we opened presents and then ate bug cupcakes and ice-cream. It was so much fun. Thanks to everyone who helped make Gray's birthday so special!

(Waiting for his party to start and making cupcakes with mom:)

Is this normal?

At our house Gray is known as Fancy the dog, thanks to my friend Kellie who named her dog with such a girly(is that a word?) name:) Anyway, I let him crawl around the house, act like a dog even when we are at other people's homes or in the cart at the store. I figure he has a fun imagination and I should let him be a kid. However, he threw a massive fit yesterday when asked to eat his cereal at the table and act like a big boy and not a dog. He insisted that he would not eat unless he could eat like a dog. This went on for an hour until finally I gave up. Not quite sure what to do with this one!

"Mom you can't see good"

Gray-bug loves to look at the blogs with me and see all the pics of him, sis, and his cousins. But he was very concerned when I pointed at the kids and said their names in the picture of Layla's birthday party. "Mom you can't see good". Then he pointed out that the cousin I was pointing out was not Caleb in the picture but Trevor. So sad, but he's right. I can't see "good". So to clarify-it is Trevor not Caleb! According to Gray I better get that right.

Little Tinkerbell!!!

The theme for Layla's 1st birthday was Tinkerbell. We celebrated with my family in Monroe and decorated the house to look like Tink's garden. We had tissue paper flowers, streamers, and balloons in greens, pinks, and purples. We ate "Tink-tators" (a.k.a. Potato bar) and drank "Fairy-punch" (a.k.a. lemonade with pop-rocks). Because Layla has boy cousins who would rather not come to a pink Tinkerbell party, we also included pirates in the theme and added "Captain Hook Chili" to our meal. When the kiddos arrived, the girls were given Tink tiara's and wands to match Layla's. The boys were given pirate patches and black bandanna's (just Gray and Jace of course). We ate dinner, opened presents, ate cake and ice-cream, and visited. It was a fun first birthday - even if she won't remember it :)

(Notice the t.v. show playing as we ate. It was Tinkerbell the movie but turned to regular t.v. when the boys showed up.) Gray, Adison, Jace, & Maycie were all big helps when it came to opening presents.

We usually try to include both sides of the family for one big party but because Layla's birthday is so close to Christmas (and this year we celebrated Christmas day in Ephraim) we didn't want the Jenkins to have to drive so much, so we had a second party the Saturday after Christmas. We decorated cupcakes with pirate swords and Tinkerbell sprinkles and different colored frosting. Then opened presents and put on our Tinkerbell and pirate tattoo's.

"The boys" wanted a front row seat to the present opening part of the party. (Gray, Mason, Issac, Tyce, & Caleb). Sister-in-law Aubrey took the sweetest pics of Layla's party but I'm still trying to figure out how to put them on the blog without looking tacky. At least my scrapbooks look great :)

We are so glad that we are able to spend birthday's with Grandma's and Papa's, Cousins, and Aunt's and Uncles. Thanks to everyone who made Layla's day so special!

Happy 1st Birthday Layla!!!

Dear Layla Kate,

This year has gone by so fast. You are getting so big! I hope you know how much your mom and dad love you. You make us smile everyday and your sweet little spirit is such a blessing to our family. Gray can't wait for you to wake up every morning so he can help mom get you out of bed. You struggled a little with jaundice and RSV when you were first born, but you were a little fighter and in no time trying to keep up with brother. You are at times such a shy little sweetheart. You have always been our little cuddle baby, most of your life you've been attached to mom's hip. Your first game was peek-a-boo and you would laugh until you had the hick-ups. Once you could crawl, you were an adventurer! You were given the sweetest smile and already know how to use it to your advantage. You also have, to date, four front teeth (with more on their way) which you use on Gray daily. Your little personality has really shown through the last couple of months and your dad and I can already tell you are going to be a handful, but a beautiful, smart, funny, and sweet little handful. We love you little sis-you make our eternal family complete!
Love,

Dad, Mom, and Gray

Layla's Stats:

30 inches long = 68% for height

19 lbs = 13% for weight (They had to weigh me with her- I think it is a mistake)

Likes: hugs, yogurt bites, crackers, books, her mini rocking chair, riding brother like a horse, dolls, tutu's, playing tease, tastes of candy, biting everything in sight,singing, and dogs.

Dislikes: squash, getting her diaper changed, drinking from bottles, sharing toys, messy fingers, and hats.

Happy Birthday Love!!!

So I am a little late at blogging about a lot of things, oops.
For John's 32nd birthday, he and I went to the movies-Four Christmas (not that great). That was the first movie at the theatre that he and I have been to in almost three years. Pathetic I know, but I guess it's called kids and we never go anywhere without them. I just want the old man to know how much I love him and appreciate him and need him. He is my everything even though I don't tell him or show him enough. I could not have chosen a better Eternal companion nor father for our children. I love you babe!

Christmas!!!

We had such a great Christmas this year! We are so blessed to have such amazing and fun families who live close enough that we are able to spend time with both sides during the holidays. This year we spent Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas Day with John's. The kids had a blast with their cousins and we had fun just relaxing and visiting.

The kids were able to sit on Santa's lap at our ward's Christmas program. Gray told Santa he wanted a real horse for Christmas-a white one. Layla was a little intrigued by this Santa man but never cried.

Both Layla and Gray got horse's this year that sing the same song. Gray rode his horse so hard that after the first 5 minutes he was laying on the horse instead of riding.

Layla was Jesus again this year in the annual Jenkins Christmas program. Gray was a little lamb.

We are also grateful that we got to spend another year with Granny Great. However, it makes me miss my Grandma Mickelsen and how special she made every Christmas.

The Saturday after Christmas we went sleigh-riding with my family up Willow Creek. I love being outdoors, especially with family. 2008 was a beautiful year for us. We are truly blessed!