Pumpkin Patch with a Pirate and a Flower!

We finally got to the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday! We got the girls dressed up in their costumes and set out to pick out the best pumpkins we could find. Jayla wasn't really excited about her big pumpkin, but she loved the baby pumpkin we got for Sadee. It was a lot of fun to have my mom and sister in town, so they got to go with us.

Daddy and Jayla about to imbark across the patch!

Grandma and JuJu making their way to the best pumpkin. Strut your stuff, Jewelz!

So many choices!! What to choose?

A pumkin selected!! Nice choice Jayla!!

Sadee trying to sit up on her own. So cute with all the pumpkins!! Our cute little flower!

Our little pirate holding a flower! (or dropping her very slowly)

Lots of love from Aunt JuJu!

Vote Yes on Prop 8

I know I don't live in California and I can't vote on this but I want anyone who does live there to know what's going on. My sister-in-law posted this on her blog and I just wanted everyone to read it and get the word out there. This isn't fair for every Christian out there and we should be able to speak out.

Thanks for the info, April!!
"You don’t think Proposition 8 will affect you? Here are six ways LDS and non-LDS Christians will be effected if Proposition 8 does not pass:

1. Children in public schools will be taught that both traditional marriage and same-sex marriage are okay.
The California Education Code already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage. (§51890)
Therefore, if the definition of marriage is changed, children will be taught that marriage is a relationship between any two adults. This will be very confusing for our children.

2. Churches will be sued if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings that are open to the public.
The civil rights activists could fight to keep our church from doing temple marriages since same-sex couples could not be married in our temple or in our churches.

3. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father.
Children deserve to be in a home with a mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston have already closed its doors because of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.

4. Religions that sponsor private schools and provide housing for married students will be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if it runs counter to church doctrine, or the church will lose tax exemptions and benefits.

5. Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages will be sued for hate speech and could be fined by the government. It has already happened in Canada, one of six countries that have legalized gay marriage.
Bishops, stake presidents, and other clergy of other faiths would be liable for hate speech if they taught their congregation that same-sex marriage or same-sex relations are sinful. This is taking away our freedom of religion!

6. It will cost you money. A change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits. Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today’s activist judges), think of the money – your money, your church contributions – that will have to be spent on legal fees.

As you can see, our rights will be drastically effected by this election. If same sex marriage is
legalized in California I worry that the new definition of marriage will spread like wildfire and our children will reap the consequences. We should have the right to worship as we please—this is why our ancestors came to America in the first place.

But what about equal rights you say? The Gays and Lesbians of California will not lose any rights or benefits for their families if this proposition passes. However, if it does not pass, we (Latter-Day-Saints) could lose everything, including the right to preform temple marriages or civil marriages in our churches. Civil activists could fight to take away the right to marry if we do not open it up equally for all marriage arrangements. No on prop 8 could also take away the right of LDS adoption agencies to place children with LDS mothers and fathers only. Children deserve to be in a home with a mother and a father. We owe it to those children and our own!

If you are a christian or an LDS Californian, you’ve been called to action. Here is how you can help:

First: Get to work by registering to vote at your most recent address—or absentee. October 20th is your deadline. This is a good start. Though your vote is very important, it’s not enough. President Monson asked us members to “… do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage.”

Second: Last night the leaders of our church asked you and I to post on our blog our opinion on prop 8—this could be done even if you don’t live in California. Many people who look at your blog may live in California. We need your help too! If anything, please put the consequences of same sex marriage (above) on your blog or if you don’t have a blog please send an email to friends and family or a letter to your newspaper. Do what you can. There is a great link in which Elder Ballard gave to us last night that will help you in your efforts. There is a lot of great material that you can read and or view. The link is http://www.preservingmarriage.org/"

I hope that we all can see the damage this may cause to our beliefs and lifestyles. Please post your opinion on your blog as well. Thanks!!

Tribute to NI NI

Ever since my brother lived with us for two months, Jayla has become obsessed with his picture. Every time she sees him in a picture she yells Ni Ni!! Its so dang cute. At the end of my painful pregnancy, Nick would entertain Jayla with fun songs and even let her stand on the computer desk and dance.

This picture was taken at Spaghetti Factory. He was keeping Sadee happy so I could eat. Jayla wanted to join in on the fun and climbed up onto the chair to give hugs to her favorite uncle and little sister.
Thanks Nick for being such an amazing Brother and Uncle!! I know Sadee is going to love you just as much.

Sadee's Blessing!

We finally blessed Sadee this weekend. It was a wonderful day and we had a lot of fun with my parents and brother staying with us for the weekend. Thanks everyone who was able to come and for all your support!! We even have a nice family picture. Yeah!!
What a cute daddy and daughter moment!!
Josh and Nick cuddling on the couch!! Josh spent the weekend on the couch with Nick, while I shared a bed with Jayla!! Cruel, you say? Well, he wanted to bond with Nick. Maybe they bonded too much!!
My daddy!! How cute!! The only sad part of the weekend...my dad smashed the bumper of our brand new explorer into a pole. Very nice!!

Three generation shot!! and Nick waving in the background!
Our most favorite friends, well besides everyone else, hehe!! Alana and Joe came to support the big day and even brought games to play.
Karen, Julie and Ashlyn Preece! Such cute girls!!

Preece men watching the football game
Nikita and Kelly snuggling on the couch.

Papashaw and Bonnie! He's almost ninety-one and still going!! We love you!!
ANother highlight of the weekend!! Jayla got a new coat from Grandma Karen and Papa Coy!! She rode her bike up and down the street with it on. So cute!

Sadee's Two Months Old!!

So I am a little late on this but.....We have made it past the two month mark and we actually got a smile caught on camera. So so cute!! You have gotta love them!!

Okay not the greatest smile, but we at least got one!! Jayla couldn't miss out on the photo shoot!!

Oh yeah, here is Jayla and Sadee each at two months old. What do you think? Do they still look alike? Let me know!!
Sadee

Jayla

A visit from Grandparents!!

Josh's grandparents called me up one random day last week and asked if they could come visit and drop off a blanket for Sadee. I was so glad that they wanted to come and was more than willing to let them stop by. Plus, I needed a good reason to clean my house. Jayla did not take a nap that day and so I was really worried that she would be a total punk and not talk to them at all. She surprised me and brought out her toys and read books with Josh's grandpa. It was so awesome to see. Jayla even blew pretend bubbles that Grandpa Gividen pretended to pop.
(The battery in my camera was dead, so I found some old camera in the back of a drawer in our computer desk. Thank goodness it worked. I wanted to have these pictures to share with Jayla some day.)
Hugs for everyone!! What a cute girl she was that day!

I am so grateful for the time we get to spend with them because I never knew my great-grandparents, and my dad's parents died when I was really young. Plus, My nana (my mom's mom) died when I was seventeen, and I only have one more grandpa left. I want to see them whenever we can because it won't last forever. If Grandma and Grandpa Gividen ever read this, I am grateful for their love and support.

The funny things Jayla does...

A few Sundays ago, we put Jayla down for a nap and went downstairs to relax. Little did we know, Josh accidentally left a full pack of wipes in Jayla's room. She likes to be like her mommy and change her babies diapers and I guess she thought she needed every wipe in the pack. This is what we saw when we went to get her up from a nap.

Josh, of course, thought it would be funny to throw all the wipes back at her. Such a fun game!


In the mornings I am not the easiest person to wake up, so when Sadee starts crying it takes me a minute to realize where I am and to go into her room. Jayla however is usually awake playing in her room, and she always wants to make her sister happy. I have now caught her in Sadee's room sitting on a box of wipes and diapers several different days, telling her sister that its okay. I fear the day she learns she can climb into the crib.