A little catching up...

So I know I have a LOT of catching up to do. While doing that blog challenge I neglected doing actual updates. We've been rather busy the last couple of months. The beginning of November my wonderful mom turned 60, so my whole family got together here in SLC, without my mom's knowledge, and surprised her. It was great. My dad rented a house that we were all able to fit in and the weather was fabulous. We had a great time.

Thanksgiving was great also. We traveled down to my parents house in Nevada and spent the weekend there. Our trip was cut a day short by a huge snow storm that moved in, but the time we had there was great. The only ones that couldn't make it for Thanksgiving was my sister Brenda and her family in Idaho because of another snow storm. We missed having them there. One of my brothers-in-law brought some guns and skeets and most of us went out and took turns shooting. I managed to hit 3 :)!! The dinner was delicious, as always, and our group got so big that we ended up eating at the church. That night we had a trip down memory lane when one of my nephews pulled out an old mattress and got a lot of the nieces and nephews to mattress surf down my parents stairs. We even took the girls down a couple of times and they loved it. Brooklyn got very upset whenever we made her get off the mattress.

The last couple of weeks have been a little rough with all of us taking turns being sick. It started with Emmalyn, then me, then Brooklyn, and is finishing up with Jeff. We ended up going through quite the ordeal with Emmalyn. Hers first started out as a cough and runny nose but then she started sounding very "rattly" and wheezy while she breathed. So I took her into the pediatrician. They did a chest x-ray on her and said they couldn't "see anything for certain" and "guessed" that it was either an early stage of pneumonia or she had swallowed something that got stuck in her throat. So we took her up to Primary Children's Hospital to do some more extensive x-rays and testing. They confirmed that neither of the previous guesses were right and said she had Reactive Airway Disease, which basically means her throat was reacting to a virus and was inflamed. So we've had to give her some breathing treatments but she seems to be much better now. Of course now Brooklyn is starting to do what Emmalyn did, so it'll be interesting to see how things play out with her.

Anyway, that's about all that's been going on around here, including continuing on in the job search and getting ready for Christmas. Sorry there are no pictures by I have to get some from my family since I've gotten really bad at taking my camera out when we're doing stuff! Hope everyone is having and continues to have a wonderful Christmas season.

BC Day 30 - My Favorite Song

My favorite song changes on a somewhat daily basis. However with it being Christmas season I will choose my favorite song of the season. It is Carol of the Bells. My favorite versions of this song are by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

BC Day 29 - In this Past Month, What Have I Learned

I have learned quite a bit this month.

-I have learned that it's hard to do a daily blog post...especially when I have two (sometimes three) little 1-year-olds to look after!
-I have learned that perseverance and faithfulness is key in overcoming obstacles.
-I have learned that when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
-I have learned that when going through hard times, family and true friends are always their and the best people to lean on.
-I have learned just how random acts of kindness can bless your life.
-I have learned that you can't just give up, you have to keep pushing, keep trying, and keep praying.
-I have learned that I have a ton of pictures of my girls over the past 16 months, and not so many of hardly anyone else :)
-I have learned that no matter how poor you are monetarily, as long as you can stick together as a family you will NEVER be poor emotionally or spiritually.

BC Day 28 - A Picture of Me from Last Year and Now, How Have I Changed Since Then?

When I think of last year I mainly think of being pregnant...probably because I was for just over half of the year! So I only thought it appropriate that I post of picture of my pregnant. This is actually one of the last picture taken of me pregnant. It was taken almost a week before I had the girls.



And my picture from this year is from just over a month ago. When all of my family was in town for my mom's birthday a bunch of us went to the zoo. My sister Vera got this cute picture of our cute little family of four.
I have changed in many ways over the year. First off I've become a mother...of twins :). I have learned a lot about myself, my strengths and my weaknesses. I've learned what it takes to become a mother, both the good and the not so good. Everyday is a day of change and growth with a few set backs here and there. I love that I am ever changing, and as long as I keep changing for the better than that's all I can ask for.

BC Day 27 - Why am I Doing this 30 Day Challenge

I started doing this 30 day challenge because I thought it would be fun to let others know more about me. I was hoping other people would start doing the challenge as well, but as far as I know no one else has started after I did. It's been fun, it's made me think of things and relive some good times and good people. I urge any and all of you to do this challenge...

BC Day 26 - What do I Think About My Friends

I think very highly of my friends. They are great people that I love to be around...otherwise they wouldn't be my friends :) There are many of my friends that I don't see often but I still hold them very dear to my heart.

BC Day 25 - What You Would Find in My Bag

Well I have the typical "mommy" bag. You'll find diapers, wipes, toys, sippies, snacks, a change of clothes for the girls (when I remember), and of course my wallet, chapstick, gum/mints, etc.

I try to clean out my bag quite often because stuff tends to build up in there and I hate it, but ya. Nothing really exciting!

BC Day 24 - A Letter to My Parents

Dear Mom and Dad,

I love you both so dearly. You have always been there when I've needed it. You are such amazing examples to me and what I want to be like in the future. I learned so much from you and can't thank you enough for all that you have taught me. I never really knew how hard it was to be a parent, but I love that I can call anytime I have questions, concerns, joys to share, etc. You have loved me and supported me unconditionally and I couldn't have asked for more.

I love you both so much!

Love always,
Jeanette

BC Day 23 - Something I Crave For a Lot

I don't know if this is referring to food or what, so I'll list a food and something else.

I crave popcorn a lot, it's a big comfort food of mine, plus I just love salty crunchy stuff.
I crave peace and quiet :) I'm sure all you mother's out there would agree!

Well those are the only two things I can think of right now...

BC Day 22 - What Makes Me Different from Everyone Else

What makes me different from everyone else is that I am me and everyone is, well, their own individual selves. Some of us similar some in some ways and some of are similar in other ways, but we are each our own individuals with our own personal knowledge, experiences, challenges, joys, etc.

BC Day 21 - A Picture of Something that Makes Me Happy

Of course there are many things that make me happy but I think that this place encompasses all of the big main things that make me happy. First of all my family makes me the most happy and the temple is a symbol of the eternal aspect of my family and how we're all together forever. The gospel of Jesus Christ also makes me very happy and the temple is a huge symbol of the church and all the wonderful things that can happen because of the gospel. And finally the closeness to the Lord that I can have inside the temple is amazing and can make the worst situations seem small and very bearable.

BC Day 20 - Someone I See Myself Marrying or Being with in the Future

Well seems as I'm already married, and I'm VERY happily married I will have to say that I can see myself being married to Jeff for the rest of my life. He is an amazing man who makes me a better person. He's shown me strengths I never knew I had and is always there for me.