Halloween

Jacoby was the cutest SWAT police officer this year for Halloween and Jace was the cutest little dinosaur based off his favorite book Dinosaur Roars and he roars like no other as you can see from some of the pics.  Luckily for us we had taken all of these really cute pictures at the zoo a few weeks before Halloween because this year it poured!!!  We were all soaking wet but we had a great time.  Jace wasn't so sure about trick or treating but towards the end he was walking right up and if he didn't like what they were handing him, he would take something else.  It was so funny!

Primary Program

Since I am the primary chorister in the ward the primary program was a big deal at our house.  It was even a bigger deal because Mamma was here visiting and even a bigger deal becuase Jacoby sang a duet to If The Savior Stood Beside Me.  He did an incredible job and knew all of his songs.  I was one proud Mama! 

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the same pumpkin patch this year and Jarod took an afternoon off so we didn't have the crowds and once again it was great!  The weather was beautiful and we practically had the whole place to ourselves.  The boys had a great time on the tractor ride, petting the animals, playing on the toys and of course picking out our pumpkins.

Rain Boots

Oh my these pictures make me smile.  Watching him tromp around in rain boots for the first time was great entertainment.  Watching my boys be in there jammies and one with no shirt on in rain boots was even better. 
Every time it rains, we  head out to our front porch.  Jarod loves to listen to the rain and he has instilled this in our children as well.  Day or night if it's raining we run out, swing on the swing and listen to the rain.  Today we did it in style!

Tender Mercies

Well I have been trying to figure out how to write this post for quite some time.  I wanted to share this experience with my boys so they know that I know Heavenly Father is aware of each and every one of us and in our darkest hour He will be there or He will send his angels to lift us up.
A while ago, the Jostes' cabin burnt down in Colorado.  Mary and Jim ended up hiring Paka to come in and do some of the work.  My dad and Derek lived in Denver for a few months in order to work for them.  Things turned out pretty bad between them and Mary and Jim filed a law suit against my dad and Derek.  I was furious!!  They were planning on coming out here in a few weeks, so I wrote them an email to tell them what the rules were going to be if they were coming to my house.  I told them that I didn't want to discuss the law suit with them and I didn't want them to talk badly about my dad or Derek to my children. 
Also, when we were in Wisconsin a few months ago there was an incident where Mary was asking Jacoby to cut in line and Jacoby told her that we told him not to listen to her.  She ran out of the room crying and made a pretty big scene.  Jacoby was upset with me that I told him not to listen to her and he had made her cry.  I was upset because she had put Jacoby in that situation but I didn't say anything. 
Anyway, Jarod called his parents to ask them not to move forward with the law suit and they told him that they didn't care what he thought that they were going to do it any way.  They also brought up the wedding.  Jarod told them that we tell him that he always has to listen to us, unless some else is watching him and then he needs to listen to them.  Which is true but Jarod was not there when this took place and I was so I thought I should clear things up.
In the email, I told them Jacoby's side of the story and told them that they had made him feel really uncomfortable by asking him to do something that we had asked him not to do.  I also told them that I was proud of him for standing up to her.  I asked that they please respect us as parents and to not put Jacoby in that type of situation again.  The email was very direct and you could tell I was angry but I kept it very black and white to try to get my point across but keep my anger in check.
Five days later I got an email back from both Jim and Mary.  It was filled with the most hurtful, hateful, angry words that have ever been spoken to me.  I was devastated.  I fell to the floor and sobbed.  I felt like the rug had been pulled from under neath me and it was more then I could do to even stand.  I then started throwing up, in between my wails and sobs.  Jarod and the boys were very concerned about me and I was trying so hard to pull myself together for my boys but I was in a place that I just couldn't.  They hit me in every way that hurt the most and it was physically painful for me.  In the middle of the night, I couldn't take it any more and got up and called my mom.  I am so thankful for her and I am so thankful that I can call her any time.  Sometimes you just need to talk to your mom and it makes things so much better. 
The next day, Jarod took Jacoby to go and see a movie and I put Jace down for a nap.  I was crying and really struggling.  My phone rang, it was my friend Alana at first I wasn't going to answer it but the spirit whispered to me that I needed to so I did.  She said that she was in the middle of the store and knew that she needed to call me.  She asked if I was ok and what was going on.  I broke down and cried.  She had been through a similar situation with her mother about a year ago.  Her advice was exactly what I needed to hear.  She told me to go there.  She told me to take every thing that Jim and Mary had said to me and to think about it and ponder it until I knew for myself whether those things were true or not.  We hung up the phone and I went to put it down and it rang again, this time it was my friend Joy who lives on the other side of the country.  I felt impressed that I needed to talk to her as well.  She had kind words for me and helped lift my spirit up.  I know that they were both inspired to call me.  I know that they had no idea how much I needed a friend that day.  I know that my Heavenly Father was aware of how I was feeling and sent them both to me that day.
Jarod had to have a hard conversation with his dad and told him that we needed to take a step back and not have any contact with them at this time.  Jarod and I needed to heal and we felt this was the best way for us to do so. 
Over the next couple of weeks, I read a lot of conference talks about forgiveness, I read my scriptures a lot and prayed a lot and every time I knew that some way some how I needed to forgive.  Forgiveness is not an easy thing to do but I really didn't like the feelings that I was having of depression, anger and hate.  About two weeks after the email it was fast Sunday, I felt that I needed to get up and thank my Heavenly Father for the tender mercies that he had showed me by prompting my friends to call and for all of the amazing conversation and words that were spoken to me by my family and friends.  I did get up and thank him publicly and bore testimony that he is aware of each and every one of us.  Later that day, I was reading a conference talk and I had the impression that I needed to read my blessing from being set apart for my calling that took place in April.  in April, I had felt impressed to write down what I could remember.  I read my blessing and was blown away.  Almost word for word on the things that they said about me in the email, my Heavenly Father had told me that He thought differently about me.  In the blessing, He told me that he was proud of me.  He was proud of the love I have for Jarod and my children.  He told me that I was doing a good job at being a mother and a wife.  That was all I needed to know.  I felt the depression leave me and Jarod commented a few minutes later as I told him that I looked like a huge weight had been lifted from me and I had.  I knew that my Heavenly Father didn't feel that way about me and truly that is all that matters. I knew that Heavenly Father didn't feel that way and either did my family or my close friends.  In that moment, I felt very close to my Father in Heaven and I am so thankful for the words He spoke to me months before that He knew I would need to hear.  The calmed my soul and brought light back in and pushed the darkness away.
Since then, I have continued to study on forgiveness, moving on and faith.  I do not know what the future holds but I do know that I need to have faith that everything will work out for my good.  I went to the temple to do baptisms and felt very impressed that I need to let my faith be bigger then my fear.  We still have not had contact with them but I feel that at some point I will need to reenter that relationship.  It scares me but I know it is what I need to do because I have been told that is what my Heavenly Father wants me to do.  I don't know what our relationship will look like but I do know that it will require a lot of faith on my part and putting my trust in the Lord and if I do that He will provide a way.

Disney World

Oh Disney World, how I love you!!  We had the best time ever at Disney World when we went on Sunday.  Seriously the best day ever. 

Jacoby was so excited to see Jake and told him we were having a pirate birthday in a few weeks. 

Jace loved meeting and seeing all of the characters.  He never hesitated just ran up and gave them big hugs. 

Uncle Connor came with us which was awesome because that meant we got to divide and conquer and got to push our three handled stroller with all three of us, which never got old. 

Jacoby was tall enough to go on all the rides and he did!  His first big ride was Splash Mountain and I could not have been more excited to take him on it.  We left Jace with Connor and Daddy and I took him and had a blast.  We all loved it!  He wasn't scared at all!  Since we had a baby they gave us a baby swap pass and we didn't have to wait in line as we swapped the baby which worked out perfectly.  Jacoby and I went again with Uncle Connor and then he was a pro the rest of the day. 

When it was time for nap time, I went on Main street and got us a good spot for the parade.  Jace nursed and fell asleep even with all the commotion and woke up just in time for the parade to start.  Jacoby was with Daddy on Thunder Mountain and loved it!

The boys both enjoyed the parade and waving to all the characters.  We also had our Disney tradition of a carmel apple, which was a big hit with every one. 

The only ride that Jacoby was not so sure about was Space Mountain.  Connor and Jarod wanted to go on it and when they started leaving Jacoby said he wanted to go.  We told him it would be dark and scary but he was insistent that he wanted to go, so Jarod took him.  What we didn't know was that they had changed the ride and you ride by yourself and he was in the front!  I guess that the whole time he just kept going Dad??  and Jarod would lean forward and put his hands on him and then he was ok.  When they got off Jacoby said, "Dad, that was really scary but it was awesome!!"  I tried to get him to go with me and he refused.  I guess it was a little more scary then awesome.  The entire time I was on the ride, I could not believe that he did it.  It is a little scary, especially all by yourself in the front.  What a brave boy he is.

Jace was so excited to meet Mickey Mouse!  It was the cutest thing ever!

I love these boys and I am so thankful that we were able to go and see Mickey both of their favorites!

Disney wasn't busy at all.  The longest wait we had was 15 minutes the entire day and we had the baby swap which meant we waited 15 minutes to go on two rides.  How cool is that!  We took full advantage of the short rides and went on almost every ride at least twice and Splash and Thunder 4 times!

The last ride of the day was Jace's favorite!  Jacoby loved it too.  We went on Dumbo.

I love this picture!  He was so happy!

Jacoby was so cute and so excited that Jace got to go on this ride.  He kept saying wasn't that fun Jace, pretty soon you will get to go on lots more rides.  I love that he is always aware of his little brother.

Some one was tired by the end of the day but we didn't have a single melt down all day.  They were both troopers and loved every minute of it!

These last two pictures sum up our whole day!  It was a day that I will never forget.  Disney World is really a magical place for all of us!

The next day we hung out at the pool and then Daddy had to go to work.  The boys and I drove to see my Chicago friend Amanda Dudley and her girls.  They had just moved to Florida.  Then we went back to downtown Disney for dinner again and played in the Lego store for hours.  We also watched the concert and just had the best time.  I just wanted to be in Disney one more time before we left.
The next day, we stayed at the pool all day.  Ate breakfast and lunch there and just enjoyed being there.  Daddy came and found us at lunch to say good bye and then we loaded up and drove to the airport.  Daddy stayed the rest of the week.  It was the best little vacation and I am so glad that we were able to go.  Jarod and I both said that this is a vacation that we can do every year and never get sick of it.  It was a blast!

Jace and an Ice cream cone

We left the beach and drove to Orlando.  Jace slept the entire way and was still sleeping when we got there so I got to jump out and hit the outlet mall while Jacoby played on his i-pod, Jace slept and Daddy drove.  We checked in at the Ritz in Orlando, which was amazing!  Then Uncle Connor drove up from Tampa and we went to downtown Disney for dinner.  After dinner, we had icecream and watched the festivities.  Jace is so cute when he eats his icecream cone that I had to get some pictures.  He uses his tongue and tries to lick it all up.  I love to watch him and I just laugh.  Some one was being a big Daddy's boy that night too.