My Jackson is 4 !

I cannot believe that my Jackson is four years old.  A cool story about our Jackson is when he was born.  Don't worry I am not going to share all the horrific details of my labor.  By the way it was horrific.  Jackson's due date was December 27th.  Because of pregnancy complications they induced me on December 13.  I had Jackson on December 14.  That is my dad's birthday. Many of you may or may not know that my dad passed away when I was 13.  So, Jackson never met him. However we gave him his Grandpa Ator's name as a reminder of him and what a great man he was.  That is how Jackson got the name Jackson Boyce McCarty.  A few years ago Elder Bednar gave a talk in conference about God's tender mercies.  I felt like it was a tender mercy of my father in heaven to give me this little guy on my dad's birthday.  It was like the Lord was saying I love you Amanda and so does your dad.  Jackson has been a delight in our life since the moment we had him.  He is so stinking funny.  He says that funniest things and is such a sweet heart.  We are so lucky to have him in our home.  Some things that Jackson is doing and liking at 4

-He loves Transformers, Cars, Indiana Jones, & Star Wars

-He loves football, soccer, and basketball

-He loves to be active . . . playing with his friends . . . riding his bike . . . anything that is outdoors

-He loves his little sister

-He says the best prayers.  The other night he thanked Heavenly Father for the ocean that it is so deep and awesome.  What a great kid.

-He loves preschool and can't wait until he can go to the "big kid school"

-He is learning to write his name and can write almost all of it.

Jackson is such a great kid and we love him so much.  Happy Birthday kiddo.  

Christmas in Utah

One of the fun things about living in Utah is Temple Square at Christmas time. It is so beautiful and you really feel the true spirit of Christmas.  We also had the opportunity to go to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert at the conference center.  It was incredible.  We got awesome seats and the music of course was amazing.  They had a guest soloist, which I don't remember his name but he was Trevor on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.  Ryan and I were super excited.  They also had Edward Hermann he Richard Gilmore on Gilmore Girls (one of my all time favorite shows).  He did some readings.  It was such a great night.  I love being in Utah at Christmas time.  

Miley's Birthday Party

We had the family over for Miley's 1st birthday party.  It was so fun.  My mom made her a tutu and we had a little princess crown.  She looked so cute.  It is so great to have a girl to dress up.  I can't believe that she is one.  She is such a sweet girl.  She got some great presents and she LOVED her cake.  Thanks to everyone who came.  

Miley and I are Famous!!!

Well kind of. We went to a performance of the live nativity at the Provo Tabernacle and a man from the Daily Herald (local paper) took a great picture of me and Miley looking at the animals. Check it out!!


http://www.heraldextra.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=163192

Miley is ONE!!!!

I can't believe my little baby is one. I can't imagine life without her. She has such a sweet disposition and is so loving. Here are some things that she is up to at one.

-She is walking. I can't believe it. She started walking around 11 months. She is not only walking, but she walks fast.

-She has nine teeth. The better to eat with my dear.

-She loves getting into anything that has a handle. Lately it has been the playstation cupboard, and Jackson's dresser.

-She has more hair than I know what to do with.

-She loves Jackson so much, she gives him hugs all the time.

-She gives kisses on the cheek (better watch out because sometimes those kisses may come with a bite, she's already a Twlight fan)

-She sleeps through the night since she was 2 months old. That is the best thing ever.

-Yesterday she started to sip through a straw for the first time, I don't know if she totally liked the Sprite she was getting, but I was a proud mama.

-She certainly lives up to her nickname "Smiley Miley"

-She says, Mama, and Dadda, and Baba (which we thinks may mean bottle)

We love this little girl and I am so grateful to have her part of our family.

Family Pictures 2008

The Church Is Still True!

Happy Birthday!!

One of Ryan's favorite places in the world is Hawaii!!

My Ryan is 29 (as of yesterday). I remember when he turned 18. He was freaked out about it so he decided to watch Peter Pan to make him feel young. Now he is an old 29. Time certainly does fly. Ryan and I have been together (in one way or another) for 11 years. He is my best friend and I love waking up to him every morning. I love you sweetheart and Happy Birthday.

BYU Womens Soccer

Jackson and Amanda sharing the number 9. This is now Jackson's favorite number and notices it everywhere we go.







This is from the MWC championship last year. This year it was in Vegas and we weren't able to go.



After going to close to every game Jackson and Cosmo became good friends.


Here is Jackson with the whole team, this was such a big deal for him. To go out on the field and sit with Amanda and the Soccer team. He still talks about it.


For the last five years we always look forward to BYU Women's Soccer. Our cousin Amanda has been playing and she is such an awesome gal. She is beautiful, smart, & sweet. She is just one of those people that you feel good about yourself when you are around her. She just concluded her final season at BYU. I think we went to almost all of her games. It began to be something we looked forward to. We are so proud of Amanda and her perseverance with soccer. She got injured , she didn't play much at when she was an underclassmen. Then she became one of the stars of the team. They won the MWC championship last year, and this year. They also got to the second round in the NCAA tournament, they played USC (reigning NCAA Champs) they held in to double overtime and then lost it in a shoot out. We are sad to have the season end, we always enjoyed Steve and Dara coming up and hitting Cafe Rio and eating chocolate cinnamon bears while watching the game. Jackson loved going to the games and would scream as loud as he could, even if Amanda wasn't on the field at that time. Then when we would go and see her after the game he always ran and gave her a hug. It was some great memories. We love you Amanda !!!!

Halloween

Ryan dressed as a Utah Jazz basketball player for his work. It took some coaxing on my part. He didn't want to dress up.

We visited Pumpkinland and went through a corn maze. Jackson loved this, because he could choose which way to go. I am raising a control freak.


Jackson and his preschool buddy Max, Jackson likes Max because he plays cars with him during playtime.

This is Jackson's other friend Jessica. He loves Jessica and wants to play with her constantly.


Jackson and his teacher Ms. Sherryn.


Jackson at the start of his preschool parade.


Jackson loving the parade. He just kept waving and smiling.


Ryan and Jackson carving our pumpkins.


How hot is my husband!!! I am a lucky girl.


Miley is enjoying a doughnut found on the floor after the doughnut eating game.


Here is my mom and sister dressed up and so happy to be dressed up.


Miley our little Butterfly.


Here is Grandpa with the grandkids.


OPTIMUS PRIME!!!


Here is Jackson enjoying his cupcake from the cake walk.



So, I know that I am a little behind on the posting. October has been so crazy for us that I just have so much I want to blog and so to sit down and do it takes some coaxing. We had a great Halloween this year. Jackson wanted to be Optimus Prime from Transformers. So like any good mom I went to the drawing board and tried to make one. I wasn't about to spend $40 on a costume. So, after long hours and a lot of cardboard boxes we did it. He looked great. For preschool he had a costume parade all the parents lined up on the grass to watch their kids walk on the sidewalk up and down, and up and down. Jackson thought that he was hot stuff. He loved waving and everyone taking pictures of him. He kept saying, "Mom, that was such a great parade." I would have to agree. Katie and her kids came to see him and so did my sister Amy. It was fun. Then on the Monday before Halloween we had a family Halloween party. It was so much fun. We all dressed up and played fun games with the kids, and then we carved pumpkins. I didn't get a picture but I dressed up like Ryan. It was a hit and everyone totally knew who I was. Miley was our little butterfly. She looked so cute. On Halloween we got Jackson already for trick or treating. It was the warmest Halloween on record in Utah. Which was so much fun. We would take Jackson around to houses and after just a few houses he would say I have enough candy can we go home. So, Ryan and I were terrible parents and made him trick or treat more. After all was said and done he had a great Halloween. It certainly comes more eventful when you have kids. I am ready for Thanksgiving though.

THE BEACH!!!

For anyone that knows Ryan knows that the beach is his very favorite place to be. Especially in Hawaii ( who could blame him) but a close second is Huntington Beach. It feels like our second home. So one day on our vacation we spent some time at the beach. We ate some yummy Mexican food with Steve and Dara and enjoyed the beach. Scott and Emily and family were there and so we hooked up with them and spent the rest of the day with them. Miley of course loved to eat the sand, she had so much fun. Jackson joined the Yeates' clan and played with all the cousins like he was one of them. He loves building in the sand. The water was way too cold to go in however Ryan and Scott decided to give it a try. Later that night we went back to Steve and Dara's with Scott & Emily and watched the debacle of the TCU/BYU football game. It seems like whenever we watch of BYU football game on vacation they lose (last year we were in Hawaii when Tulsa beat BYU). I didn't realize how much our Cougars need us to be in Provo with the rest of Cougartown. If we could survive the "Crowton" years then I think we can handle one lose from a great TCU team. We had a great time that night just eating and talking and hanging out. Ryan's cousins Justin & Julie came and stayed the night with there three kids, Stephanie was there and Alison. We had a great time. Steve decided that Ryan needed to prove his loyalty to BYU and have him (Steve) shave a Y in his back (unfortunately Ryan had enough back hair to do this). He is now constantly complaining about how itchy it is. You never have to worry about Ryan's loyalty to the Cougs!!! I think my favorite thing we did this day was when I was introduced to Yo Yo Yummy. So good I want some now. Thanks to Steph and Alison for helping me see the light. All I have to say is Root Beer and Peanut Butter. We had a great trip and can't wait for next time we get to go and visit the Draegers.