Grace's Baptism

January 17, 2010

You have come into the world so tiny,

Yet with such great promise for the future.

Before you were even born,

God planned wonderful things for you.

As you are baptised,

May you feel His love

And the love of those around you,

And may you always follow in His way.

Christmas 2009

We had such an AMAZING Christmas this year. The boys were both old enough to really get excited about it, learn about baby Jesus and the REASON we celebrate Christmas, sing all the fun Christmas songs, etc. Celebrating Christmas with children is truly a blessing and makes everything so magical.

Here are some of our Christmas highlights

Ben - New bike, daily Advent calendar elf visits, visit from Santa Claus

Joey - New bike, learning all about Christmas for the first time, Christmas lights

Grace - First Christmas!! First American Girl doll

Katie & Jeremy - New video camera! First Christmas with our family complete.

The Plan 2010

I've really never been a person who makes New Year's Resolutions. But when my friend Miss K posted this blog, I knew that it was as good of a time as any to make some changes.

So, here's my plan. Not resolutions to be resolved and forgotten about, but hopefully a plan for a new way to live. In 2010 and every year following.

Physical Health

Lose weight. I don't have a target weight in mind, yet. Mostly, I just want to feel healthy and comfortable. And look good in some cute clothes!! I've been there before and know I can get there again.

Eat healthy. This is one area that is so hard for me and gets lost in the balance of work and home life. For me and for my family, I need to figure out a meal planning system and healthy menu that works and that I can stick to.

Become more active. I hate, HATE, working out. But with our new family membership at the YMCA, I'm hoping that it will become less of a chore and more of a fun family activity. Have been daily since we joined and feel good about it. I'm nervous about this continuing once I'm back at work, but NEED to make it happen.

Find a dentist and schedule (and attend) regular appointments.

Self-Improvement

Read more

Have more patience...especially with kids.

Be a better housekeeper. Create a housekeeping schedule and STICK TO IT.

Complete at least 4 house projects in 2010. We've spent 7 years talking about what we want to do, now's the time to actually do it!!

Scrapbooking. At least one weekend away in 2010, and 1 day a month dedicated to working on getting organized and caught up.

Take a couple of photography classes and take more (better) pictures. Take more videos.

Be rid of guilt and put myself first every once in a while.

BLOG. I really want to keep up on this. Please, harass me if I don't. :)

Relationships

Spend more time with my sister and girlfriends, child-free.

Plan more one-on-one time with my husband. Work on our relationship, aside from parenting together.

Whew. That sounds like a lot, but I have BIG hopes for 2010!!

Grace Pauline Jackson

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Originally uploaded by katiej721

Introducing our beloved baby girl, Grace Pauline Jackson.

Born October 21st, 2009 at 12:43 PM. Weight at birth was 7 pounds, 7 ounces. Length, 20 inches.

Grace is now almost 3 weeks old and everyone is adjusting and doing very well. She has two VERY proud big brothers!

I have not done a good job and keeping up with this blog, but will do my best to do better from now on!

Fall Fun

Hard to believe that Halloween is in just 2 days, signaling (at least in MN) the end of Fall and the dreaded start of Winter. Yikes!

I LOVE Fall. I often wish that it could be October all year 'round. So for this one month, I tried to throw out all plans of weekend chores and just focus on having a great time with the family. I think we succeeded. Multiple visits to the corn maze, apple orchard, raking and jumping in huge leaf piles, baking pumpkin and apple treats and just savoring every possible minute of this amazing season... it really doesn't get much better!

Here are some photos from this phenomenal Fall...

ben in the corn pitjoey in the corn pithappy joey!ben's first pony ride!ben and his pumpkin jeremy and ben in the corn maze joey's first leaf pile!ben playing in the leavesthe boys at the apple orchardfresh off the tree. yum!joey at the pumpkin patch favorite fall 2008 photo!
Hope you all are having a wonderful Fall as well!

Thanks everyone, for sticking with me on this blogging thing... I'm already falling behind but am determined not to give up!!

Joey's New Trick

climbing the stairs!
Originally uploaded by katiej721

My little baby is officially a stair-climber!
He's been trying with little success for a while now, but as of last week he has mastered this new skill.
And nothing, I repeat nothing, distracts him from wanting to show off his new trick!

And so it begins....

I've broken down and been sucked into the world of blogging.
I've started more calendars, baby books, journals and scrapbooks than I can count... and haven't been able to keep up with any of them! This is my last ditch attempt at creating something for my boys that will be a record of their childhood. Cross your fingers and bear with me as I get this thing rolling.

Welcome to our life!