Ian's Make A Wish Party

Most everyone knows that we went to Disney World as a family at the beginning of August. Our trip was courtesy of the WONDERFUL organization Make A Wish. Well before we left, a party was scheduled for Ian when he came back so that he could share his pictures with all his friends and family. The party was held in Murry Utah at the Make a Wish headquarters in Utah. It's such a neat place. There are pictures of other children who have had wishes granted, what they wished for and how they are doing now. It was humbling and inspiring to read of other children and their journeys. At any rate, we mostly had friends there, and Grandma and Grandpa Jackson were the only family that were able to make it. We were so grateful that they could be there to support us! Before our guests arrived, Ian and the family were taken to the wishing room, where Ian was able to officially make his wish to the wishing wizard. It was just a neat ceremony where we his family could write on little papers what our wishes for him were. It was a very tender sweet moment! Of course I cried like a baby! Our guests arrived a half hour later and we had cake and ice cream, enjoyed a slide show of pictures from our trip, we had a chance to talk about some of our favorite moments on the trip, and Ian was given his own star to raise in the Make A Wish building to commemorate his granted wish! I want everyone to know what an amazing organization Make A Wish is, they go above and beyond!

Mike and me with Bishop Maughn and Sister Maughn. Bishop Maughn was our bishop when we first moved to Hill AFB. He was released in the spring. He's been such a support to Mike and me, and continues to take an interest in our family.

This is Ellie and Jen. Jen is holding Ian, and she is the boys' FAVORITE babysitter! She is so awesome! In fact, Jen enjoyed the party so much, and the Make A Wish atmosphere, that she mentioned she would like to volunteer there and maybe work for them.

Me helping Ian raise his Star. He was so cute, he almost didn't want to raise it, because he wanted to take it home with him. Someday, if he wants they said he could have it back.

Ian's special star. It's orange but you can't tell in this picture. He told them orange was his favorite color. That made Mike so proud, Mike LOVES orange!

Mike and me with Ian. This is the cake Ian requested. A TRANSFORMERS cake. He was thrilled!

Golden Spike National Monument - Fun Outing!

We decided to go on a fun family outing to the Golden Spike National Monument. It was so fun! The boys really enjoyed the steam locomotives! This is where the west and the east train lines met. I love family outings! We had such a blast this day!

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Bryce

I can barely believe my baby is 5 and entering kindergarten. Where have the year gone? I'm so grateful to have this little boy in my life! He is so sweet, funny, handsome and smart! I can't imagine life without him! He was so excited to celebrate his birthday. We had some friends over this year. Last year that was not possible. Friends and Family who couldn't be here all called and wished him a happy birthday which he thought was really neat! I hope he grows up knowing how much his father and I love and appreciate him!

Team Revolution and Team Rapids

We enrolled Bryce (and Ian) in soccer. The idea was that it would provide them with the opportunity to get out and interact with other kids and also help them burn off some excess energy. Well Bryce does very well during warm up and individual practice, in other words when everyone has their own soccer ball. The problems start when there is one ball for the entire team. Bryce doesn't grasp the concept of go after the ball with you team mates. He will actually stand in the middle of the field crying because " They took the ball from me! " LOL! Last Saturday at an actual game, he laid down in the middle of the field while his team and the other nearly trampled him. After the game, I told him that for everytime he goes after the ball and his foot makes contact, I would give him a quarter. I'm not sure if bribery will work. We'll see! In his defense, he is the youngest kid on his team, just barely 5. Maybe he'll get better as the season progresses and there is always next year.

Ian is with the 3-4 year olds and they don't play games. They just have practices. Well it's like yanking out teeth with a wet tissue to get him to partipate. He cries if I'm not on the field with him and even when I'm with him he doesn't want to do anything. Usually, I can get him to play and practice, but heaven help if anyone should look at him let alone talk to him. Crazy kid!!!! I don't have any pictures of him yet because well it's kind of hard to take pictures when you also have to be in them! LOL!

Yet more photos....

The boys getting excited to meet Mickey and Minnie. They visited the boys at GKTW. So FUN!

Bryce giving Minnie a smooch.

Horse back riding at GKTW. Spencer going on his first ride!

Ian giving a thumbs up for horse back riding.

Bryce giving the thumbs up for horse back riding. I wish you all could hear the boys gleeful giggles as they had their turn riding the horse. Incredibly cute!

More Photos of our Florida Adventures

Sorry the pic isn't that good...it was a dinosaur themed restaurant we ate at when we visited Downtown Disney. The atmosphere was excellent, but sadly the food was over priced and NOT that good. Anyhow, it's supposed to be a pic of Ian and Mike with a Dinosaur in the background.

Ian and Bryce meeting Spiderman. Ian is crazy about spiderman.

Mr Incredible! Another of the boys favorites. We found him at Magic Kingdom during one of the many parades. Too bad the strange kid is in the pic...we got there first and this kid couldn't wait I guess....

Bryce and Ian riding the train at Give Kids the World. They loved it and would have gone on train rides all day to the exclusion of meals and other activities.

Mike and Bryce riding the Carousel at Give Kids the World.

Sea World and the Boys Souvenirs

Shamu at Sea World

Mike and the boys at Sea World

Spencer with his toys

Bryce with his toys

Ian with his toys