It's been a challenging week. Joel is out of town, Amelia and Ollie were sick and had ear infections, and today right as everyone was finally feeling better, Sam broke his hand!!

We went to enjoy the Fall colors with friends in Big Cottonwood Canyon and the kids had a blast. After being cooped up in the house, they were thrilled to be out in nature. At one point when climbing a rock fell on Sam's hand, and though it obviously hurt pretty bad, he seemed fine after a bit. Later in the afternoon, though, it was swollen and blue-ish and he couldn't grip anything. The twins were both over the moon excited that he might need to get a *cast*. In the end, he does. It's a small break and he's wearing a split now and a cast will happen next week. He couldn't stop smiling when the doctor told him- hehe. I was so proud of him at the office- he was so articulate and confident talking to the providers. Growing up, that little guy. 

Anyway, it's been a long day and a long week. It's 11:30pm and I have a toddler rolling around in my bed refusing to sleep - ay yay yay. It could be so much worse though, and tomorrow is a new day. Actually in about thirty minutes it will be a new day. 

What a gorgeous morning in the mountains though, it lifted my spirits and even now I can still feel the effects. I'm also so thankful for such caring friends. Bringing dinner, watching the girls  tonight, offering help of all sorts. So much to be thankful for.

  All for now, Jen

Sunday Drive

        Gorgeous, gorgeous fall. 

Creatures of the night...

Such good, old fashioned fun at the Ogden Nature Center tonight! Poor Amelia is pretty sick and couldn't go, so the boys and I headed out with the Cox crew. 

They climbed through a huge, string web inside a yurt, played fun fall festival games, watched an owl presentation, went on a flash light hunt, learned about all sorts of creepy crawlies...it was so great. So thankful the weather was nice and not too, too chilly until the very end. I must say, not having a toddler there meant we could stay the whole three hours with no problem, and that was nice:) Laid back Ollie just hung out in the Beco carrier the whole time, mellow little fellow! Anyway, lots of Fall fun, and though the boys both coughed a lot (none of the kids are feeling great), I don't think it was too, too much for them. Anyway, going to go fall into bed now!:) Jen

I never knew a baby could actually be fun to have in the kitchen...but this guy is!! :)

Ok smiley boy, let's make some muffins! 

He loves to get those feet:)

He also rolls, rolls, rolls onto his tummy and tries to scoot and then gets frustrated and fusses. It's all going so fast with this sweetie pie, pumpkin bug, cutie patootie, bubba dubba, chubba wubba (to name just a few lovey names:)! We all just adore him, and he really is the sweetest, smiliest baby ever. Jen

Autumn craft day.

I'm not sure how many pumpkin muffins she ate today, but it was a lot!

Emily models wet felting to make felted acorns- so cute! 

Jubilee's little hands. Right before we spilled the water. Oops!

Wet on wet watercoloring to make leaves for wreaths. Such beautiful colors. I could watch children paint for hours.

Couldn't get over how creative and cute their "nature creatures" were. I mean, honestly, so great! Amelia especially loved this activity! I need to put out loose materials more and let her create- maybe that'd keep her from digging in the trash can to find materials for her trash toys. Oh my!

Anyway, what a great day enjoying crafting with friends. It's so much more enjoyable done together:)

Jen

"What about socialization?"

                What about it?!;)

Sweet, sweet boy.

 I mean, honestly, look at those little hands. Those cheeks! Too tired to write much tonight, but couldn't help posting this picture. Now, to join this little (big) guy in getting some rest!:) Jen

"At home days"

That's what the kids call days like today, blank slates with nowhere to go and nothing (other than a short "lesson time") on the agenda. The days are usually full of play, baking, catching up on cleaning, walks around the neighborhood. I treasure these days and try to make sure we have them frequently. But Wednesdays are absolutely and for sure "at home days" right now, and as I switch the laundry over, change diapers, play " monster mama" (unlike yesterday where I was a bit of a real monster mama,at least in my heart, when Jubilee wouldn't nap again), smell the pumpkin chocolate chip bread baking, go out to pick some tomatoes off of a very neglected plant,do some training and heart to hearts,it just feels right. This is breathing in for me, and absolutely necessary for us all. Jen

P.S.does Ollie's mouth look blue? If so, it's because he was sucking on a blue play silk dyed with kool-aid. Oops, does that mean his first food is technically kool-aid?  Poor fourth child;) 

Two.

Dear Jubilee Rose,

You turn two tomorrow! What a wild and wonderful age two is, and you are already very much both of those things. 

A few things I want to remember about you at this stage: 

You love baby dolls. I mean love. You are the cutest little mama I have ever seen. You bounce your babies, pat their little backs, nurse them, make sure they can see during stories, push them in a little stroller, wear them in slings. Oh man. It's awesome. You copy everything I do with Ollie, which has shown me just how observant you are!

Speaking of Ollie, you love him too! So much! I'm so glad:) Hearing you say his name is one of my favorite things. Need to upload a video of it soon. 

You can do incredible things! Ride a plasma car like nobody's business, climb up those horrible arched, metal structures at playgrounds, turn around and climb down backwards, climb up tall, tall slides and slide back down, walk and walk on hikes...things that you seem entirely too little to do, but you watch brother and sister and just go for it! AHHH! 

You still aren't talking much at all, and boy, we are ready! I'll just leave it at that, this is your birthday letter after all. Hehe

You prefer not to stay with anyone for very long that isn't in your family. No childcare situations like the nursery at church at.all. You will stay with Emily and Stephanie (my two closest friends here) and they have children that love on you and will include you in play, so that helps:) 

You are not big on sharing with friends your age, or with your siblings,  but you are learning and the great thing about being child #3 is that mama and daddy know that with lots of patience and guidance, this too shall pass. :)

You love to play in the sink while I work in the kitchen, enjoy play doh and stickers and blocks and, of course, babies. You love to GO,GO,GO and are always up for an adventure like grocery shopping with daddy. Oh, and speaking of your daddy, you adore him. 

Oh Jubilee, our little firecracker, you bring so much joy into our lives. I can't tell you how many times a day your adorableness just overwhelms me:) What a privilege it is to spend my days with you and watch as you learn about this world, about love and family and friendships. How I hope you feel our love, baby girl, as we navigate this next year of your life together. I am thankful for each and every day we have with you, tired as we may be at the end of them. :) With all the love in my heart, Mama

P.S. On a superficial note, your hair grew so much this year!! Actually, just since Ollie was born 4 months ago it has gotten SO much longer:) You usually insist on it being up when you see me doing Amelia's, which is great! You also love pulling on your own pants, putting on socks, etc. You are very much Miss independent in many ways. So different from the twins. But then, you are very much your own little person, that's for sure! Ok, really, that's all.