A long time coming...

We have an official date for Brett's DEFENSE of his thesis

December 10th, 2012!

I think that those who are close to either of us know what kind of hurdle this has been in our life.  It has been the ups and downs, the bitter and sweet, but most of all a very strengthening experience for our WHOLE family. I know that just because he is defending doesn't mean it is completely over, but it sure puts us a lot closer than we have ever been.  I am so proud of him overcoming so many things to accomplish this task.  I am also SO thankful for a Heavenly Father who answers prayers (not necessarily making the trial go away, but in a manner of solutions).  As a couple we have come closer together than we ever have been!  I LOVE you, BRETT!  You are amazing!

We still ask for all your prayers, because defending won't be an easy task...but we just have to remember we are DEFENDING!

GOOD LUCK BRETT!

WE ARE ALL SO HAPPY FOR YOU!

Halloween Festivities 2012

A little bit of everything...

We got to have Cyle and Caylinn (my sister's kids) here for the trunk or treat.  This really was a treat since they live in Illinois and we NEVER get to see them.  Thanks for making the drive LaVon!

My cute spiderman and monkey! 

Our family...we have just recently all started dressing up...a big accomplishment for our family! 

Pumpkin carving with Grandma and Grandpa Jenson (2 years in a row...we are so lucky to have them close by) 

Jace always gets a little skiddish about touching the guts of a pumpkin.  In fact, this is about as close as he gets...otherwise he starts to dry heave.  Poor guy...how will he ever gut a fish. 

Brett's pumpkin...any similarities?  Jk 

Our kids with their pumpkins...yes the third child is represented by a #3!

This year's halloween was one of the best yet...just because of our kids age.  We handed out candy for about an hour while we had our traditional dinner of "dinner in a pumpkin", then we locked up and the kids went door to door for about an hour and a half.   It was seriously SO fun!  I think I loved that we got to go out as a family...nobody had to stay home for bedtime or cause it was too cold.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2012!!!



What I should wear for Halloween

Yes that is right, this is an announcement.  We will be adding Eggett #3 around April 21st 2013.

Only read on if you want to know more about the "spiritual" experience this has been and how it all went down.  And please excuse my writing...I have never been much of a writer, but this is my journal...so take it for what it is worth.

When we were trying to get pregnant with Mckelle, I was very bitter and knew that the Lord was trying to teach me empathy for those that have a hard time having children or can not have them at all, but that didn't make the experience any easier.  If you don't believe me, you can go and read a blog post that I posted on 10/17/08.  It was a very dark time in my life and it really made me have to TRY to be happy in life.  After we finally did get pregnant with Mckelle and the experience that we had with her, I always told myself I would NOT doubt God's plan for me again.  So this time around, as we have been trying for 18 months, I didn't have the same feelings I did as before.  Don't get me wrong it was still a roller coaster of thinking you were pregnant and then having that nasty TOM (time of month) show up and the let down that comes with that.  But,this time I wasn't jealous of others or angry with God.  I had two, a boy and a girl.  I couldn't be ungrateful for the blessings I already had.  I just knew that he KNOWS me and "is in the details of my life"!  Now I say that as a preface to other experiences that I will relate.

Back in January, when we were asked to be TREK parents, I said I would go on the condititon that only if I wasn't pregnant.  As we went to the meetings each month, I would walk away with goosebumps knowing that God needed me to be on TREK.  My additude started to change and I said I would go on TREK even if I was pregnant.  Brett and I would joke that if would be funny if I ended up being pregnant right after TREK, because that is how overwhelming that confirmation feeling was.  Well come to find out, the Lord did bless me with starting my period the day after we got home (yes, I was supposed to be on my period on trek...could you imagine how HORRIBLE that would have been, seriously a BLESSING).

Not thinking anything of being a week overdue on my next period, I started waking up at night so stinking hot.  And I wouldn't be able to hold my bladder the whole night through.  I kept talking myself out of the idea of being pregnant, because honestly that roller coaster is just not fun.  But in all actuality I was definitely showing some of the first signs for my body.  I took a test and instantly it changed...I was shocked.  God does have a sense of humor...I go on TREK and immediately I am pregnant afterwards.  I can't lie, GOD HAS A PLAN FOR ME and MY FAMILY.  I look back and know why I was on TREK.  Sometimes, God needs to teach us things, but also he needs to use us as instruments in other peoples lives.

I didn't tell Brett right away.  He was pretty much set on the idea that God only wanted us to have 2 children...it was his way of coping.  But on our anniversary, I gave him a psychological card (perfect for him) that announced the good news.  He figured it out and was pretty much speechless the rest of the night...and the next week.  I still think that both of us pinch ourselves as if it is just a dream.  We have never waited this long to tell people...but because people aren't expecting it anymore we decided to keep it to ourselves until I was showing.

I keep looking down at my stomach and wonder why I can't wrap my mind around being pregnant and that I willl show and that I will put on weight.  It still feels surreal at 14 weeks.  I guess I just don't have the nausea and morning sickness and fatigue to remind me...just some belly weight that makes me feel like I am not taking care of myself.  I have craved Dr. Pepper, corn nuts, fresh bagels and cream cheese, anything candy, and pickles.

We are so EXCITED!

But ultimately I just have to end with...

I KNOW THAT GOD KNOWS ME, LOVES ME, & HAS A PLAN FOR ME!

Pumpkin Patch and Fall by the river

For a friday evening activity we decided to go pick pumpkins from a patch.  I have wanted to do this for years and it was everything I imagined in my head.  We ended up seeing several friends while we were there and we each picked a pumpkin that suited us.  Unfortunately, there are no pictures of me and my pumpkin...guess that is the downfall of Mom always taking the pictures.  But really, I WAS there!

Mckelle with her little but big pumpkin.

Jace with his larger than him pumpkin! 

Brett with his large, tall pumpkin.

The pumpkin I chose is perfect for the pumpkin dinner I do on Halloween night.

They gave us a wagon and clippers and told us to go find out pumpkins.  We let the kids cut them from the stem and they LOVED it.

The kids enjoyed the hayride, especially since it was with some neighbors (Mae and Will Stephens) that have moved away about a year ago.

I think this picture just about sums it up of how much fun my kids had.  Yeah for Fall!

Over conference we went back up to Logan for a night and enjoyed an old tradition of walking down the Logan River Walk and enjoying all the fall leaves and color changes.  It was so beautiful and made me miss Logan so much.

Family picture and Mckelle's 3 year old picture

September...a little bit of everything!

Brigham City Temple Open House

The BOOTIES!

The cutest kids ever!  Mckelle loved the chandelier in the celestial room and Jace loved the 12 oxen below the baptismal font (probably because we just read about it in the old testament). 

Mckelle started gymnastics and her face BEAMS throughout the whole 45 mins!  She loves it and now knows how to do a somersault all by herself, and for some reason has no fear of heights when she is on the beam or bars.  If you know Mckelle she has a SERIOUS fear of heights, so this is a great accomplishment!

Here is a quick video of her first time on the bar.

We have been busy with other things too...but I don't have any exciting pictures of them.  Brett is getting really close to defending his thesis...hopefully by the end of October or beginning of November.  I am so proud of him for almost finishing this daunting task.  I continue to work 2 days and that keeps me busy enough.  I still LOVE it!  The office will be featured on the cover of the November Hometown Values...kind of exciting.  The Dr.  also had a retreat/training recently, where I got to have a pedicure...it really has been too long since I have had one.  Loved it and my nails are so cute right now.  I think that about sums up our September!  Can't wait for October...one of my favorite months!

Jace's first days of Kindergarten

The day before school started, Jace and I went and met his teacher, Mrs. "G", for Grgich with all his other classmates.  He was so excited to find out he had a bunch of the neighborhood kids in his class.

A couple of us parents had to chuckle, because this poor innocent teacher put Jace, Noah Ellinger, and Damon White right beside each other.  I am sure she will soon learn that that might not be the best combination.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL & THE BUS

  

We waited about 20 mins total for the bus...early by 10 (because Jace couldn't wait anymore) and another 10 because it was late.  Jace'didn't care.  He wasn't even scared or anything...just SO excited!

As he was getting on the bus, I gave him a high five and said good luck!  I had purposefully wore my sunglasses cause I knew I would get a little teary eyed, but didn't want him to see it.  Mckelle's reaction was the total unexpected.  As soon as the doors on the bus closed, she started SOBBING and saying "I don't want my brother to go to school!"  She said this over and over all the way home and for about 5 minutes once we were in the house.   I took a picture for proof...she does love her brother!

So, when Jace arrived home that day I asked him what he learned that day that he didn't already know...his reply

"I didn't know I would LOVE recess SO much"!

That's my boy...such a social butterfly...just like his momma.

Then later that week on friday, we tried out the bus stop where he will have to get on and off for the babysitters house.  Things were just fine, except he forgot he had to get off on the stop.  So, the bus driver tried getting his attention at least four times, before I stepped onto the bus, only to find my boy so involved with the friends he was sitting around, that he didn't even notice me getting on the bus to pull him off.  I will just have to have the babysitter know in advance that she may have to get on the bus and remind him to get off.

Overall, I can't believe he is in kindergarten, but on the other hand he is so mature for his age, that I know it will be a great experience for him this year.  Now, if we can just get him to focus on some academics....any suggestions?

Mckelle is 3!

It seems like yesterday, that we were just bringing her home!

But now she is so BIG and 3! 

 Don't Judge....yes, that is the frosting melting off of the cupcake!  I have been away from Las Vegas for 7 years now and totally forgot how HOT it really is!

 But it was still YUMMY to all the kids!

Her Repunzal card that plays the music...yes, I am a little tired of it already!

You might wonder why she is holding a card, but looking down at the ground...there is a joke between The Eggett's and us to put confettti in the card.  They are checking out the mess it made.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Eggett...we definitely thought about you longer than just reading the card!  Love you guys!

 This is what she really wanted to do during her party...swing with aunt JerBear and Thomas.  All the other kids were actually playing in the splash pad.

 Well, that is until she opened her fishing pole, and then all she wanted to do was practice her casting.  She has been asking for a fishing pole for MONTHS now. 

We love you Mckelle!

A few things to remember:

She always tries to think about others

She is in the 25th % for height and weight

She is very girly - pink, bling bling, dollies, princesses, dress-ups

She is very independent and doesn't need her mommy by her side all the time

She gives the best hugs and kisses

She knows what she wants and that usually can not be swayed

She loves to eat chicken nuggets with ranch, fruits, yogurt, cheese, and candy

She does not like beans and some veggies and is very skeptical of trying new foods

She has a fun loving, exciting, and playful personality

She would spend all day outside playing with friends if I would let her

She is sporty - likes riding her bike, playing baseball and soccer, and will try gymanstics this fall

Jenson Family Reunion

This year it was spent in St. George.  It was AWESOME.  We swam, biked, hiked, played games, and went to the temple to do family names.  It was jam packed with fun.  Unfortunately, we were missing a few families...and they already know they were missed.

One of the highlights was hiking in the amazing beauty of Zion's Canyon...it was SO GORGEOUS!

At the end of the hike, before you turn around, there is water you can wade your feet in...so fun, so cool and refreshing!

 Of course, the boys still wanted to climb and conquer while we were taking a rest.

 bonding time...once they made it to the top

 The rest of the pics are just random ones I took along the way.

Can't wait until next year!  Or the wedding in October...that will be the real reunion, with everyone!