Halloween

The kids had a fun Halloween. We had a potluck with our neighbors on Monday night which they wore their costumes too. Landon had already been to one Halloween party on Saturday which you saw the pictures for. Then on Tuesday he had a preschool Halloween party. He loves going to preschool. Lauren and I ran errands and did as much as we could while he was in school She actually came to work with me for a bit and I accomplished a few things. We had a ward trunk or treat and chili cook off. Jerry did not make his famous chili this year but maybe next year. We ate and then the kids got candy from all the neighbors. I want to upload some pictures but we are having problems with our camera so we will see if it works. After the trunk or treat our REAL Halloween adventure began. Jerry had dressed as a hunter and I wore his Navy uniform. He decided we should go check out the neighborhoods where they give out "big" candy bars. We went to Stonecliff where Dr J and Celine Dion supposedly have homes. The neighborhood was really dark and there were no kids there. Did I mention it is a gated community but we just happen to follow a car in? That's part of the thrill of it. So we drive around looking for any sign of candy and finally see a bucket of candy on a porch. Jerry decides to go in and see what's there. I reminded him maybe he should take a child with him so he didn't look "suspicious." At this point Landon was no more in costume but Jerry took him regardless. He came back with a whole bunch of full size candy bars. He was very pleased with the success of his mission. That is exactly what it turned into was more of a military operation. So at the next house, he didn't even have to take a child with him. We had fun and Jerry got lots of his own trick or treat candy to take to work. We considered the evening a success.

The Week Before Halloween

We had a good week. We finally found the kids costumes. Landon is insisting on being a power ranger which I would have no problem with except for the fact that his costume is spandex red with black lightning bolts (pics to follow) and you can see his striped underwear through the back. The other issue I have is that he doesn't know what Power Rangers are but whatever. He went to a Halloween party yesterday and Jerry and I had a hard time not laughing. Of course, he looks cute because he is our child but the costume is just funny. I also borrowed a Thomas the Train costume which I am encouraging him to wear to future halloween functions. We will see how it goes. Lauren is planning on being a princess and we have lots of accessories we borrowed from a friend. I spoke at our Young Women in Excellence this week. I am very grateful for this new calling and I am enjoying the presidency and getting to know the girls. A few of the girls also spoke and did a great job. We have a good program and the parents and girls seem very involved. I went to the What Women Want Expo here at the Dixie Center. There were lots of interesting booths there. I ran into some people from Rexburg which was fun. I helped at Landon's preschool this week and am amazed at how much he is learning. It is so fun to watch him grow up and discover new things. He constantly asks what time it is and how to spell words. He is also recognizing letters on signs because he is learning how to draw them at school. Lauren came as well and did pretty good. I am hoping to get her in this same preschool next year. I taught my first lesson today and it went well. We are doing good.

Dentist

I took the kids to the dentist today. It was the first time for Lauren and the second for Landon. I just have to document this because they were both so well behaved. Landon coached Lauren through the whole thing and they did great! They both had two x-rays and sat perfectly still. They got their teeth cleaned and I got an evaluation from the dentist. Lauren has very large tonsils and he suggested I take her to an ENT and have her evaluated. I am planning to do that this week. We need to teach Landon to floss and continue to help them to brush everyday but they did great. We met Jerry and had lunch together. Lauren is so busy I think lunch with his co-workers may be a bit less stressful. We had fun though.

Salt Lake City

We went to Salt Lake this weekend and I was reminded of how cold it actually gets. I do have to say Friday was a nice day so I can't complain but we were not too prepared for the cold. We drove up Thursday night after Jerry's game he officiated. We stayed with Landon and Dana and it was fun to see where they live. They were very gracious hosts. The next day my parents came down and we went shopping in Park City with Lindsay and her kids. Grandpa and Jerry watched the kids at McDonalds and the playground while we helped my Mom Christmas shop. We had a good time. That night we had a birthday party for Brooklyn at Kevin's. Jerry took Landon to Cabela's and they brought Landon and Dana with him so we all ate together. The next day I went to a baby shower for Rozalynn. It was so fun to see all my friends from Rexburg and also some of our college roommates. It is so fun to catch up and see everyone. We need to do it more often. I was able to talk Kevin and Lindsay into going on a date and watched their kids. Roz came over to see me and we caught up since we didn't talk too much at the shower. Jerry went hunting with Landon and his Dad in Logan and they had a fun time. They apparently climbed two mountains. I guess that is fun dressed in camoflauge and looking for deer. We had fun visiting with Landon's parents. They are great people. Kevin and Lindsay are awesome hosts and we had fun playing with the kids. Landon's favorite part of the trip was playing in the leaves at Brooklyn's. It is great to be with family.

Lauren

There are so many stories about our wonderful Lauren. She keeps me so busy and on my toes. There is at least one story a day I tell myself I need to write down. I will see now how much I can remember. Lauren did well on our trip to SLC. She has all of her teeth in now and is growing up so much. She had fun with Grandma and Grandpa. One of her habits is to come and sleep on the couch which is OK with me as long as she is not in our bed. She usually waits until she thinks we are asleep and then brings her blanket and baby and sleeps on the couch. She doesn't do it every single night but she definitely has a bad habit. We found out she could unlock her door so it does no good to try and keep her in her room. She is sleeping in Landon's little toddler bed and the crib is set up for the new baby. We also put some curtains up in her room so it is starting to come together well. I have so much I want to do but I will have to do it a little at a time. She plays really well with her dolls and is always concerned about taking care of them. She loves to dance and move her hips. I think we need to put her in dance next year. Her and I have enjoyed spending our time together while Landon is in preschool. I pack her and I a lunch and we take it with us so we can eat in between our errands. Some events which have taken place in public.......I took her and Landon to Wal-mart last week. I asked Landon to use the potty at home which he did not do which meant he had to go right when we got there. I was helping him and Lauren ran in the huge stall and locked me out. I got Landon all set and started "encouraging" Lauren to come out. I noticed her pants, shoes and diaper were all on the floor but was concerned because of the size of my stomach and my inability to crawl under the stall. My encouragement turned to threats and at one point she opened the door and ran out towards the store with only a shirt on. I caught her right before she went out and then attempted to clothe her before having a nervous breakdown. We got everyone all together and were attempting to shop when Landon got a stomachache. He was told to get in the fetal position in the cart and try not to cry. The experience seemed much more traumatic at the time but I remember thinking that we should just stay at home from now on. When we took Landon to the doctor (on the third floor of the hospital) we went down to the basement to get Jerry. As we were leaving, Lauren ran outside of the office and I couldn't see her. I saw one of the employees with his arm in the door of the elevator and we found her with both hands over her eyes. I am glad he was there to save her so we didn't have to put the hospital on lock down in order to find her. I thought she was scared by this experience but she did the same thing the next day at BBBS and I got my arm in the door at the last second. She calls the elevator the "alligator" and apparently would like to ride on it all by herself. The other major incident involved "the moose." Jerry took the kids to Sportsman's Warehouse one day while I was working. He came home and when Lauren wasn't looking he bit her toes. Somehow he convinced her a moose bit her in the foot. He called me and said she was sobbing and wouldn't get off the couch. I told him to find some aerosol spray and tell her it was moose spray and the moose would be gone. This worked somewhat well although she ended up on the couch that night. We ended up having to go to Albertsons and get a can of brown air freshener which is our moose spray and we have to use nightly before going to bed and for naps. Things have been better the past week but we have at least one discussion daily about the moose getting a spanking from Dad and returning to live in the woods. If you ever have a moose, now you know what to do. Lauren talks extremely well and is very smart. She loves to read books and build with blocks. She loves milk wants to drink it nonstop. She just put a bowl of green chili dip on her head for some reason and I have to go put her in the shower. Like I said, she keeps me moving and I love her.

Landon

It is hard to document all the changes our Landon is going through. He loves his grandparents and had so much fun while they were here. Grandma bought him some puzzles and he can already put all of them together. He loves reading "Word Bird" books and reads to Lauren all the time. He insists on wearing his sliding jammies every night and has to wear long sleeves and long pants on a daily basis. I am grateful it is getting colder so he doesn't get quite so hot. He also has to wear socks and his basketball shoes. There is no talking him out of it. He is learning so much in preschool. He was drawing with sidewalk chalk and was drawing a capital F, capital A and just learned W. He has a great teacher and loves going. When I go to pick him up he runs and yells, "Mommy!" He is always so excited to see me. He is a very loving little boy and always tells me he loves me. He did get sick and by the time I took him to the doctor, he was better. He had RSV when he was little and seems to always take respiratory illness a little harder than Lauren does. He had a sore on his mouth which I thought was a virus but turned out to just be injured from him biting the sides of his mouth so we are working on that. When he was sick he told everyone he had "the coughs and the sneezes." Landon is a very good big brother. He takes care of Lauren. He always reassures her and does everything he can to help her. It is fun to see their relationship develop and they play well together most of the time. He is memorizing the articles of faith. One night when he was saying the second one he said, "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for baby Adam's" (Adam is the Rogers' little baby). He is very observant and takes in so much.

Kathryn

I had a BBBS training in SLC the same time as Jerry's meetings. Kevin and Lindsay and my parents were able to help with the kids and make it possible for me to go to the corporate office one afternoon and Cabela's the next day. It was nice to meet the staff there and I had fun with the girls from our office. Sue, Jill, Teri, Sarah and I went to dinner at Cafe Med. The food was really good but mine was a little spicy. Sue made me laugh really hard when she ordered dessert for me. She kept telling me "not to embarrass her because we were in a fine establishment." I really like my co-workers. The training at Cabela's was good as well. I took my Dad to pick up Jerry with me and we spent some time at the Jacobsen corporate office. Lindsay made us dinner and we took off to come home so Jerry could work the next day. My parents spent the night and came to St George the next day. My mom and I went shopping that evening with Lauren and the boys went to a football game. My mom and I left the next day for Las Vegas. We met my Aunt Jenness and her daughter Jennifer. We went shopping at the outlets, ate at PF Changs, saw Celine Dion in concert (which was really well done and enjoyable) , played cards and had fun visiting. We drove home Monday morning and Grandpa had everything under control with the kids. They were coloring. Grandpa and I took the kids to Lowe's while Grandma took a nap. We looked at all the Christmas stuff and got popcorn from Target. That night Grandma made halibut chowder and we went to Blue Bunny for ice cream. The kids really love that place. The next day I had to do a first aid training so the kids spent time with their grandparents. Jerry had his last softball game and Grandpa and Landon attended while my mom helped me sort through all the kids clothes and get them into sizes. As usual, I had way too many ideas about what we could accomplish while they were here but we all had a great time. The kids all slept in Grandma and Grandpa's room. Luckily, they brought a double bed so we have a guest bed and they had a more comfortable place to sleep. My mom was able to attend a doctor's appointment with me and was impressed with the doctor. I was glad she was able to meet me. I was called to be the Laurel advisor so I am excited for this new opportunity. I have been to mutual the past two weeks and am enjoying getting to know the girls. I have to say I was OK to leave the organ behind but feel I did gain confidence to play if I need to. I really like the women in the presidency and am looking forward to getting to know them better. I was able to attend the Relief Society broadcast which I throughly enjoyed. I always leave feeling inspired to try and be better. I need to be more grateful and look for more opportunities to serve. I also had a chance to work with a photographer in our ward at one of the high school dances. I realized things have changed since I was in high school. It was a fun way to earn some extra money. We had a great conference weekend. I survived a week with sick kids staying home and they are all now better. We drove to an apple festival in New Plymouth it was very pretty but their were no apples there. The kids enjoyed it. We have enjoyed lots of time together as a family since moving here and I am grateful for that.

Jerry

I decided to to an update on each family member because it has been so long since I have written. Our laptop battery needs to be replaced but we let the computer sit for a week before we realized we could just take the battery out and use it without until we get a new one. So I want to give a quick update on Jerry. We went to SLC a few weeks ago because he had a quarterly meeting with Jacobsen. He also had a golf outing in which he took second place. He also got a closest to the pin award which he was happy with. He gives all the credit to Kevin because he borrowed his golf clubs. He had a great time. We came back and my parents followed us down to spend a few days. Jerry entertained my Dad and the kids for a few days while my Mom and I went to Las Vegas. They went to a football game with Landon, drove to Pine Valley and took great care of the kids while we were gone. Jerry cooked for him as well and he was very happy with the meals. He has been officiating and the kids and I had a chance to go and watch one of his games. He does a really good job and luckily we sat on the winning teams side. I found out fans can get a little crazy even at freshman football games. We enjoyed watching conference as a family and hearing the words of the prophets. It is such a blessing to be able to stay in our homes and listen to all the sessions. We were able to set some personal and family goals together after hearing all the inspired words. Last week he and his SOCOM team passed their X-squared review with flying colors and got a $50 bonus from the corporate office. He called and told me to get a babysitter because we were going to dinner. He feels bad for me because he eats out all the time with his work and I eat a lot of Macaroni and Cheese. We went to a hibatchi Japanese grill and the food was very good. We had a great time. He is teaching the 14-15 year olds and does a great job with them. I had a parent call and tell me what a great job he has done with her son. He spends a lot of time with the kids and is a wonderful father to them. I am so grateful to have him.