Circus!

We got a chance to go the circus with my family a couple Saturdays ago at the Farmington Fairgrounds. I wasn’t sure how Jacks would react to all the noise and craziness…..He had his ups and downs but overall I think it went really well. When I first took him out of his seat and held him up to see he LOVED it – he bounced, squealed, and even clapped his hands. I think he was looking at the light up toys all the kids had mostly but hey whatever. He also got his first taste of cotton candy too…I know I am terrible! I meant to get photos of everyone but missed the Murrays and mama Carol and papa Bob. It worked out so great because it was just a fun last minute thing! Next year same time same place? I'll have to let Jacks ride the elephant next time...

Nick and Erica

Our buds the Laudies

Chris, Bethany and the kiddos

Jackson Joe

I cannot resist this face! With those big bright eyes...Jacks is going to get away with so much. I love the middle face he is making too - he does this anytime he sees that we have food for him. He is just like a little baby bird, he thinks that if he holds his mouth open long enough someone will give him a treat!

What handsome guys

I love taking photos of my two favorites! It is so fun to see how much these goofballs love each other.

Christmas Chaos

My little brother Jonny is on a mission in Australia. He sent our family an amazing package with tons of treats and gifts for everyone! It was so fun to all gather around and open presents from our little Elder Dundee. He sent Jacks a cute little koala bear and music box (which he really loves!) And he sent me the best cookies in the world TIM TAMs they are SO crazy good. Thanks Jonny for all the tons of presents - you're the best!!

Christmas Eve at the Harts

All the Hart grandkids. Leah, Christian, Kyle, Jackson & Carter. Five seconds after this was taken Leah decided to body slam Christian so the rest of the photos look like a wrestling match - crazy kids!

Christmas at the Woods! We have the coolest tradition with Nick's family. The day before Christmas Eve we spend the night at Nick's dad's house and have our own pre - Christmas. Every year Sherrie gets us matching jammies and we stay up play games then do presents in the morning.

Christmas was great! Jacks was so much fun and we loved getting everything ready for him. He loved the wrapping paper and got some really fun new toys that he goes crazy for. It is always great spending time with our families and doing our Christmas traditions. What could be better? Nick got me a Nintendo DS so if you don’t see me again for the next few years you will know why…It is so addicting, I really could play it all day. So I had to set a rule for myself that I am only allowed to play at night before I go to bed. I love Super Mario, Tetris and Guitar Hero. Oh dear. This could really become a problem.

I am so not used to having a normal December. This is the first time in about 6 years that I haven’t spent the first half of Dec studying for finals and finishing art projects and the second half with the flu due to my lack of sleep and exhausted immune system from the first half. You know what I’m talking about…I am so so so grateful this year to be done with school! And Nick is officially done with school now so it was his last crappy December – Horay! It’s a Christmas Miracle!!

I got really carried away this year making these marshmallow pops. I hand decorated and dipped them - I must seriously need a creative outlet. I think if the art thing falls through I'll start a candy and cupcake factory. Great back up plan.

Every year at Christmas time my fam goes to the Roof for dinner. It is a great time of year to go there, its so pretty and festive. I love looking out at the lights in Temple Square. The food was great and we all had an awesome time. We missed Jonny but it was really fun to have Erica with us for the first time!

Nick's 26th! Happy Birthday Big Papa!


THE NUTCRACKER

Mascha, Alicia, Linda, Alissa, Amanda, Grandma

One of my favorite traditions! My aunt Linda took us all to the Nutcracker at Capitol Theater. My mom and Linda have taken Alicia and I to the Nutcracker ever since we were little girls. I really love the ballet and this one in particular has always been special to me. It makes me miss ballet class with Leeshy! We did it for ten years and even both performed in the Nutcracker when we were about 11 or 12? It had been awhile since we had all gone together so it was such a great gift. Thanks Linda!

Christmas Past

Kyle and Christian in the best Santa photo ever. Even Santa looks distressed!
Christmas sweaters last year. It makes me miss our missionary Jonny Dundee in Australia

Nursery

It is so weird. I worked so hard to get Jackson’s nursery together before he was born and then hardly showed it to anyone - I guess I kind of just forgot about it? I swear having a baby brain damaged me brainzies…It turned out pretty babyish which is okay because he is a baby but I think I will change it up in the next year or two to be a little more boyish. Painting over old work has no affect on me anymore. I'm thinking off beat mosters or vintage comic books...we'll see. If it was up to Nick we would have Fat Heads of all the Jazz players and spider man....scary.

I love this little space we have for Jacks. I didn't want to get too specific so the room turned out to be fairly eclectic. Nick got me a special glider before we had him and I love to sit in it and read bedtime stories. I found the old nursery chairs from an antique store and painted them. It is also impossible to go to Ikea and not go a little crazy, so I have various things from there also. I really want to build up my childrens book collection more too. I LOVE them. I'm sure I'll keep adding and changing things, but it is so fun to have the little guy here using it all.

Reading one of our favorites Where the Wild Things Are

I painted this for Nick about a year and a half ago. It just happen to be just the right size and color for the room.

I came up with this tree and sparrow design and painted it by hand - using tape for trees. I'm not much for the staight lines

Loving all the little things

We have late church on Sunday so Nick and Jackson let mama sleep in and make her waffles. It's the best!

Jackson has been eating rice cereal for the last couple of weeks and one thing is for sure the boy LOVES to eat! I love to put him in his little Bumbo chair and feed him – it such a wonderful mess. I really have to watch him because he likes to hit the bowl out of my hands, last week he sent cereal flying all over the kitchen. One of his new favorite things to do now is to blow raspberries so of course he does that with the food in his mouth and gave mama a little cereal shower. It’s a dirty job so I guess it’s a good thing I don’t mind getting messy!

Jackson is just over 5 months now! He rolls around like a mad man and loves to talk, squeal and giggle. He goes crazy for any kind of interaction and loves playing peek-a-boo. He sleeps about 11 hours a night now? I am so lucky he has practically been sleeping through the night since about 7 weeks. Jacks also got his first tooth! Its not too visible just yet –so I haven’t been able to get a pic.. His nic names keep getting longer - "JayJoe Monkey Bug Bean" is the latest. He also gets called all kinds of other things from everyone like Jacks, Action Jackson, Jacky Joe and such. I'm sure we'll come up with more.

He has definitely got my dark eyes and Nick’s smile AND a hole in his chest (we think). When Nick comes home he totally lights up and loves his papa. It is amazing how aware he is of what’s going on around him! He is also really interested in Trouble now and loves when he gets the chance to touch him or when Trubs sneaks up to lick his toes. Jayjoe is so mellow and as long as he can see me he just hangs out while I get ready, cook, and all kinds of things. I think he has a great disposition and is at really a delightful age. I am such a lucky mom to have such a great little guy.

This is Halloween

Halloween Flashback!

This was EIGHT years ago - that is craziness. Yes Nick's hair is real & my belly is not

Halloween was great this year. I totally copied my sister's costume. I love to dress up - even if Nick doesn't dress up with me and I look like a dork! I am starting to get a nice collection of cosumes. It was so much fun for me to dress Jackson up (even if he didn't really appreciate it..) I am trying to take advantage of being able to pick out his costume. Before I know it he'll being telling me what he wants to be. He did pretty well considering he is more interested in eating his sock monkey than halloween candy. We made the rounds and had fun seeing everyone. Having Jacks with us makes everything better. I love that I get to share all of his first experiences with him.

. Me and Leeshy with Parker and Jacks. Don't they look like they're having so much fun? They are already mad at us for dressing them goofy.

Monkey buns! I had to add this feature to the costume - why wouldn't it already be there? Its totally the best part.

Mama Lou La, my brother-in-law Greg, sister Sarah and brother Chris. This was not planned I think this means we should start a Hart Family band. We will call ourselves "The Black Harts" and I will play the cowbell.