Animal noises!

Jaylen is a pro at animal noises now days. My new favorite is his cougar (GO BYU!). He even does the claws that go with it! His other noises he does on demand are a doggy, kitty, seal (random I know!), chicken, horse, cougar and is pretty good at mimicking any new animal noise we do on the spot.

As I posted earlier, Jaylen has been crossing his arms for prayers. At night time, we say night time prayers with him and he usually folds his arms and giggle at us while we pray for him. Two nights ago, I said, "It's time for bed Jaylen!" and he came running over with his arms crossed. It was adorable. Aaron came out and as we asked whose turn it was to say the prayer, Jaylen started softly babbling a sound-a-like prayer. Aaron and I were completely blown away, and just smiled and watched him babble his own little sweet prayer.

Jaylen is so sweet. He is learning so fast now days and picking up so much on his language skills. He says more and more each day. He says "Thank you" all the time and calls me mommy in the sweetest way.. I'm back to loving this stage of life! (Month 15-18 was brutal!!!!!)

Proud to be a Kansan

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Driving around my old stomping grounds was amazing. I've had a pretty negative view of Kansas, since I really didn't enjoy growing up there. This trip back really changed my view on my home state. It was absolutely gorgeous. I missed being out in the country and looking out over the beautiful farms and the hard work they stand for. Driving from our old house to the Paola ward building and to the cemetery, I realized the drive to church and my grandparent's house really wasn't as far as I thought growing up. I used to hate having to drive "to the middle of nowhere" for church and felt like an outcast being from out in the country. I just shake my head at my old logic- I feel extremely lucky to have experienced such a beautiful area. Midwestern people are so awesome; down to earth and ready to help. Honestly it was maybe the first time I understood my Dad's love for Kansas. Maybe why I loved it so much this time around was it really reminded me of my Dad and what made him happy. I wish I could enjoy the Kansas country side with him, with my new found appreciation.

A quick story that really touched me: As we were headed out in the line of cars to the cemetery I was really touched by the respect and sweetness of the local Kansans. Almost every vehicle pulled over to the side and waited as we passed. As I looked at a few of the cars, the driver would nod and put his head down. I really appreciated that they would take time out to be so respectful and pull over for us. An extremely simple thing, yet it gave me such a good feeling and appreciation for them. I want to get back to my Kansas roots and concentrate on being more respectful, polite, and just warm and warm-hearted.

The experience of this trip and funeral really helped me to reevaluate my life and what's really important. I'm really happy that we were able to go and to those that made it possible- Thank you!

Grandpa Parker's funeral

My Grandpa's funeral was wonderful. I loved listening to the stories my uncles and brother told of Grandpa. I felt a greater understanding and appreciation for who he was, what he stood for, and the hard work and dedication he gave to everything in his life. My sister asked him a few days before he passed away if he was prepared to meet his maker, to that he was unquestionable ready and very eager to. He was so humble- I loved when my brother said that he doubted Grandpa would have showed up for the funeral if he knew it was for him.

A few of my fondest memories of Grandpa were pulling up to see him push mowing his large yard with his one arm, sweat rolling off his face at age 91 (I remember feeling so proud to have Aaron see and interact with him- he is one tough man!) Watching him get baptized in his late 80s and listen to him receive his patriarchal blessing. Helping him pick vegetables from his garden, listen to him talk about the danger of microwaves, see him reading his Bible, eating pork rinds at his old cabin, talk of stories from the Great Depression, predict the weather from watching squirrels, and showing us his chicken house he was so proud of. My grandpa did more work with his 1 arm then most people do with 2. What an awesome man. He makes me proud of where I'm from!


Grandpa is buried right across the way from my Dad. It was really sweet to be able to share some of those beautiful Kansas sunflowers my dad loved so much with his grave site too!

Grandpa is buried right beside his parents.

My cousin had a cute idea to give all the great grand kids blue (my Grandpa's favorite color) balloons. They all said a little prayer and at the same time released them to go to heaven to Grandpa. I thought it was a sweet idea, and Jaylen busted up laughing watching all the balloons rise up into the sky.

My mom with her siblings and in-law at the grave site.


Sisters and cousins watching the casket being carried over..

Grandpa's flowers on his casket were beautiful and so him! I loved the piece of sod under them, and the big sunflowers and corn. I feel such a sense of appreciation and love for my Grandpa. He gives me such a proud feeling to be from such a hard working, God fearing, down to earth, nice as can be Midwestern man! His funeral definitely made me want to be better and follow his great example. You'll be missed Grandpa!

Fun at mom's house

We had a fun time playing and chatting with the family Friday night at my mom's place. My older 2 siblings and families and us stayed at my mom's place. It was awesome to have Scott, Jenn, Ellen and Tyler come over to hang out with us!

It was a fun night full of tickling, leg wrestling and most definitely full of WEDGIES!

Scott was tough! I haven't pushed that hard since child birth!

Wet willies are the worst!


Watching Ellen get tickled

Christian got the best wedgie ever!

They sure got cousin Tyler and Ellen real good with tickling. The laughing was contagious!

Little Kansas man

I know I posted this earlier, but I LOVED seeing Jaylen experiencing Kansas. Recently in Albuquerque, we were invited down to a dinner with an awesome family I train that lives in the country. As I watched Jaylen play with their horse, dogs and cats, I realized how Jaylen hasn't been exposed to really any of that! I really want him to have an appreciation and understand the heritage he comes from.. I loved seeing him play and enjoy the farm and outdoors like I was raised!

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Jaylen loved this mower! He was hilarious on it!

Down memory lane..

I had alot of fun being in Kansas. We went to alot of places I remember being and going growing up. It was absolutely gorgeous in Kansas. I realized how much I've missed the beautiful green, luscious landscape. It was great to have all of our family together and take a trip down memory lane..

Here's the sunset from my cousin Brandi's home. It was absolutely gorgeous. It reminded me of a scene from Pride and Prejudice.

My two adorable boys..

On my cousin's farm..

Westhoff sisters; Jessica, Rachel, Jenn and me

The Westhoff family; my mom and all my siblings with our kidos!

Siblings and kids..

All us kids had a child within a years time. Here is us, minus my sister Jenn and Cliff.

I loved seeing Jaylen experience Kansas and what I was used to growing up. He sure loved exploring around my cousin's farm.

Enjoying a family dinner at my cousin's home..

Cousin's playing together


After the family visitation Friday night at the funeral home and before the family dinner at my cousin, Brandi's house, we drove over to visit my Dad in the Bucyrus cemetery... Here's a few of my siblings (my oldest sister Rachel, brother Jared, me, then my sister Jessica)

The cemetery is small and beautiful, overlooking acres of beautiful farm land. It's always a special place to come visit. My dad and both grandpas, along with other distant relatives are buried here.

My nephews, Christian and Braden, along with my sister Rachel with Birgita and brother Jared with CJ at my Grandpa's family visitation at the Louisburg funeral home.



Talk about a flood of crazy memories stopping by our old house in Spring Hill that we grew up in. Even though a new high school was built really close by, I was surprised to see that our home was still surrounded by beautiful farms and our house still looked much the same. It was really fun to stop by and see it with my sister Rachel and brother Jared..

Traveling to Kansas

Wow, what a crazy weekend we had last week. I received news my 94 year old, awesome Grandpa passed away on Tuesday morning, got a call from my brother later that day offering to pick me up to drive to Kansas. Thursday we were on the road 12 hours and arrived in Kansas at 6 am on Friday. Luckily, Aaron was able to get off work last minute so he came, along with my two adorable neices, Kylee and Maggie, and my 15 month old nephew, CJ. It was a long ride, but it was really fun reconnecting and spending time with my brother and family. Here's a few pictures of the ride up..

Kylee and Maggie playing on our bean bag...

Jaylen LOVED playing at my mom's desk! We walked in to see him sitting in this chair chatting like crazy into the phone. He is so hilarious with phones!

Love his cute expressions!

Jaylen did a great job summing up how he felt in the car ride here..

Kylee did a great job entertaining and taking care of her cousin!

Moving and Pinata making!

This week I have been packing up boxes for our move this weekend. Jaylen loves to follow me around, sit in the boxes I'm packing- or as pictured here, crawl on whatever I'm packing up. He makes packing up pretty entertaining.

Here's a pinata I made for a co-worker's Twilight themed birthday party. It took a couple of days to make but it was alot of fun and I was pleased that it turned out decent! Aaron helped me out on a previous attempt and it was alot of fun to make it together!

Snack stealer

Today was stake conference. We got there about 30 minutes early to make sure we got a seat that would be good with handling Jaylen (haha). Our seats were in the overflow (gym) and Jaylen would not sit still for a minute. He saw the basketball hoops and all he wanted to do was run around. After spending the beginning of the meeting holding him and walking around, we found the primary room with others families with children and moved ourselves in (so much for getting there early for a good seat!). Jaylen was all over the place and was happy as he could be walking around playing with other kids, rather, stealing other kids treats. A particular family had fruit snacks and Jaylen would crawl under 2 rows of chairs and snatch a fruit snack within reach. Jaylen is a rather sneaky boy. For example: One little boy finally picked his fruit snacks up and was holding on to them. Jaylen went over looking to get some fruit snacks. When he saw the boy wouldn't give any up, he snatched the boy's pens sitting nearby. The boy got all bothered about the pens and put his fruit snacks on the ground. Jaylen quickly crawled under the chair from behind and stuffed his fruit snacks in his mouth. 2 hours of stake conference with an 18 month old is rather crazy, especially when he's as active and all over the place as Jaylen. Jaylen had 1 cereal bar, a bowl of goldfish (a handful from other kids snacks), 5-8 crackers, a package of fruit snacks, 1 sippy cup full of milk, 1 sippy cup full of water, bowl of mandarin oranges, peanut butter cracker and was still on the rampage for other treats (We fed him breakfast before we got there too- blueberries, oatmeal and cheerios). He also found it fun to stick crayons in his nose. We love watching him play and interact with other kids. He is such a good little boy-loves just doing his own thing. Even though he's very active and a handful in that way, we feel really lucky to have such a happy, easy go lucky boy! He sure is cute!

Our praying man

As mentioned in my post earlier about Jaylen, here's some video of him folding his arms and saying a few of his favorite things.. We said a family prayer tonight and he actually sat still through it and had his arms crossed most the time! We were really impressed! He sure is a sweet boy!


On the flip side, there has been some complications at the child care this week because Jaylen has bitten 2 little girls this week. I think its a combination of teething and he thinks the reaction is funny. Any ideas out there how to solve the biting issue? We better figure it out soon, cause if he does it again, we're banned from child care for weeks! At least he's biting and not kissing girls- or we'd really have some problems! :)

Piggies!

This is how Jaylen does his piggy noise and how he smells after I spray something. Its really funny. We love it!

Sneezing tennis balls!

Jaylen could not get enough of Aaron "sneezing" tennis balls. We love his deep belly laughter. Its so adorable and contagious!