MESSY EATER

Wyatt is finally starting to eat solids, and it is next to impossible to actually get any food into his mouth! He won't stop smiling and sticking out his tongue, and the food just goes everywhere. At least he liked the spoon!

CALLED TO SERVE

Mark's brother and sister both entered the MTC on Wednesday! They got their calls on the same day, are both serving in the states, Spanish speaking, and went in on the same day. Crazy, huh! They were both so excited, and we're excited for them even though we it was sad to see them leave. Alyssa is going to San Jose, and Tyler is going to Chicago. Don't they look like cute little missionaries?!

BUDDIES

Jaxson and Wyatt are cracking us up lately, so I thought I would post some cute pictures of them together. They are best buddies! Jaxson LOVES Wyatt--he sings to him, "reads" him stories, helps him play with his toys (this usually consists of Jaxson shoving toys in Wyatt's face until Wyatt crys, but hey, it counts), and makes sure we are taking good care of him. A typical conversation at our house--Jaxson:"Mommy-Wyatt's crying! Mommy--Wyatt's crying! Mommy, he's crying, you need to get him! Mommy..." Me: "Okay! Just let me finish going to the bathroom!!" Wyatt loves Jaxson, too. He will just crack up laughing all the time just from watching Jaxson do something. He watches him ALL the time, and you can tell he already worships his big brother!

Jaxson helping me feed Wyatt. Helping. Haha.

'Nuggling' on our bed.

In Memory of Jamie

Jamie Nicole Huntsman
June 26, 1976-May 14, 1999

Wednesday the 14th will mark 9 years since my older sister, Jamie passed away. She was almost 23 years old when she died, after fighting Leukemia her first year of college and then again after her mission (Texas, Fort Worth). I think about her all the time, but especially at this time of year, and I thought it would be a good time to remind everyone else how truly special she was.

She was the oldest in our family and an awesome sister to all of us. When we were little, she used to have a 'sale' every time she cleaned her room, and she would let us all pick from the stuff she didn't want any more. I loved that! We would have a sleepover in her room every Christmas Eve. She let me come and stay with her at Utah State and we ate crazy bread from Little Caesars for dinner and went sledding on plastic bags. Even though she was six years older, she always made me feel like her friend instead of her little sister. She loved the zoo and Disneyland and Christmas lights, and hated to shop. One Easter after she had lost her hair from chemo, my mom and I brought her home dress after dress to wear on Easter. She didn't like any of them because she said they were 'dresses you needed to have hair for'. We looked everywhere for a dress you DIDN'T need hair for. When she got sick the first time, she was so upbeat and so brave and was a great example of faith to everyone who met her. All she wanted to do was serve a mission. She went into remission and was able to do that, even though she knew her cancer might come back. It came back fourteen months into her mission and she was so sad not to be able to finish. The second time around was a lot harder to take because we all knew firsthand what the treatments were going to do and how sick she was going to be. Even though it all seemed so unfair, she still had unwavering faith and a positive attitude. She had a bone marrow transplant and went into remission again, but her body had been through so much that it just couldn't take all of the complications that developed. She passed away on a Friday afternoon at LDS Hospital, and while it was so sad for all of us, it was also such a relief to know she wouldn't have to endure any more pain.

She was such a big influence in my life while she was living, and she continues to be one now because I try everyday to live in a way that will make sure I get to be with her again. It's so hard to lose someone you are so close to, but over time the Saviour has healed my heart and my testimony has grown stronger and surer through the experience. Even though I still feel cheated sometimes (she left me here with 3 brothers!), most of the time I smile instead of cry when I remember her. I feel that we were so blessed for the time we got to spend with her here on this earth. I am so grateful for the knowledge and testimony I have of the plan of salvation, and I can't wait for the day that I get to see her again.

Discovery Museum

Last week we went to the Discovery Museum at the Gateway and had a blast! I bought a 6-month pass for 6 people with my sister-in-law, so we can come and go as we please and even bring friends! It was so much cheaper to do it this way and definitely worth it so far. There was so much for the kids to do, they just ran from one thing to the other nonstop! Jaxson was having a little bit of a naughty day, but he was pretty good... as long as I stayed away from him. He was minding my mom and Holly okay, but he was an ANGEL for my brother's fiance, Ann. He will do anything that girl tells him! In Jaxson's defense, we found out the next day that he had two really bad ear infections, so I think that's what was making him cranky. We went again this week and he was a lot better. When we pulled up to the Gateway, he said "Mommy, we don't have any money so we can't go in the stores!" That's what I tell him at Walmart when he wants a toy I won't buy him--the little stinker is trying to turn it around on me because he gets bored shopping. Maybe Mark taught him to say that, or maybe he figured it out on his own, either way he inherited it from his daddy! Naughty toddler aside, we still had a really fun day.

Jaxson and his soon-to-be aunt, Ann. His favorite part of the whole museum was the fake grocery store. He looked like he knew what he was doing, too. Maybe we have an aspiring grocery checker in the family!

So tired he couldn't even make it through his ice cream cone on the way home! I took it out of his hand so it wouldn't melt all over the place, and when he woke up the first thing he said was "My ice cream--where's my ice cream?! (my child FOR SURE)

Hallelujah - The mold is gone!

After a lot of hard work the mold is gone with new tile in it's place! Mark worked his behind off almost every night after work to get the new floor in. It is SO NICE to finally have our bathroom back. Not that sharing a bathroom with Jaxson was that bad, but between the tub toys and the potty chair, we definitely are glad to have our own space again. Thanks SO MUCH to my dad for helping clean up, and for Mark's dad for helping with the tile--we couldn't have done it without you!

THE FINISHED PRODUCT

Happy Birthday to....EVERYONE!!!

This past month has been a busy one full of birthdays and fun parties! It seems like half the people we know were born within two weeks of eachother! Since we have had so many chances to sing it, Jaxson has got the song down--I especially like the high notes!

Happy Birthday to:

Grandpa Kelly
Cody
McKay
Makenna
Cami
Alyssa
Chad

Connor

Jaxson's cousin Cody had a birthday party at Chucky Cheese and Jax thought it was the greatest thing ever! It was a couple of weeks ago and he still talks about it everyday. It's a good thing we don't live very close to one, but I think we are going to have to go there for his birthday in July!