Private

After much thought I've decided to make my blog private. If you read our blog and would like to continue to do so please leave a comment - I love sharing our lives but I want to protect my family as well. It's been such a fun way to catch up with people so don't be embarrassed if I don't know that you've been reading!

Baby

I scheduled our c-section for June 27th! That happens to be my grandma's bday and two days before my mom's...busy time of year! The best news is that she'll come in our fiscal year for insurance so we won't have to pay another deductible - Yahoo! (we're so cheap)!

Lady's Man

Oh how fast he's growing up! We went to Chris' soccer game the other day to cheer him on, when a group of teenage girls sat by us. Ashton immediately went over to introduce himself and ended up laying down by them and flirting - yes flirting - for a good portion of the game. His Uncle Scott was pretty proud as was his dad.
He has gotten sooo smart! Aaron took him out with our dog Kia to some fields by our house to go "find pheasants" (it was really for a walk) when Ashton came back understanding North, East, South, West - the way the sun rises and sets; how to identify seagulls as well as male and female pheasants. He already tells the difference between ducks and geese even when they are to far away for us to tell. I love it. We are reading a lot about dinosaurs and he's figured out that while we were in heaven (pre-mortal) the dinosaurs were on earth...he isn't sure if grandma is with them now though - but I think he thinks it would be cool if she were. He's so much fun, I love watching him learn.

Colten is now helmet free and the Dr says that his head will continue to round out on it's own now. He is so busy, walking everywhere and exploring everything. I can't keep him contained. He's saying words like Kia (which sounds like tia), bye-bye and uh-oh (which is more like uh-huh). He throws things down over and over saying uh-oh and laughing. He also enjoys picking on Ashton every chance he gets - which is pretty funny to watch (for now). He was head-butting Ash in Sam's club today and when I told him to be nice he just laughed! Oh boy!
I'm getting excited for his 1st birthday and I've been planning things for over a month now - I can't wait to turn the car seat around and for him to start drinking milk (one month without having to buy formula -yippee).

Walk and Roll

Colten has started walking recently - we're so excited considering that we will have another baby in a couple months! He's up to walking just over 20 steps and he loves to show off! He thinks he's especially tricky when he tries to carry something as he walks... here's a video of my cute boy.

Too Smart

Easter morning before church Aaron and Ashton had this conversation
Aaron: If mom tells me that you don't behave during church I'm taking all your toys away.
Ashton: And giving them to the kids who don't have any toys?
Aaron: Yes.
Ashton: Then I'll be a kid without any toys!

We're pretty sure he figured that if his toys were taken away, then he would get them right back since he would be a kid who no longer had any toys -ha ha ha... What are we going to do with this kid?

Easter

We had our Easter celebrations at our house this year. Ashton and his friend did a little Easter egg hunt in the back yard. They were more worried about beating each other to the eggs than anything. The weather was beautiful and the boys enjoyed playing out on the swing set while dinner was cooking. It felt low key and relaxed but we were glad to have both my family and Aaron's dad with us!

Life Lessons

I've been reflecting on the things that I've learned from my mother-in-law Janin this past week and a half - the things that I want to make sure are instilled in my children: Most importantly she was so dedicated to serving. She served and loved those that are hardest to love. I read this quote recently "If you judge people, you have no time to love them."-Mother Teresa. That's the key, she didn't judge. She wasn't blind either, she saw the quirks in all of us but she loved us because of/despite them.

Between her viewing and funeral it is estimated that around 1200 people came! I will never see anything like that again in my life. And the thing was, that she kept active, sincere relationships with all of those people. She had served each one of them and touched their lives profoundly. Many people flew in from out of state - and they weren't blood relatives. There were people that I judged harshly only to find out that Janin would make time every month to take them out to do something. She sent everyone birthday cards every year, I don't even do that with the people I care most about. The letters and emails we have received have so many memories of the things she did for people- things no one knew about.

She came one day every week to be with my kids (and she did this for Aaron's sisters too) so that she could know them and play with them but also so that we moms could get a little break. I appreciated that more than I could ever express to her. I was grateful that I could get out alone or on a date with Aaron without worry!

She fulfilled every church calling she had above and beyond what was "expected." She would often talk about preparing her nursery lesson days in advance and all of the fun activities she had put together for the kids. I believe she also went to the temple weekly and I know she was really excited about doing her genealogy. Aaron often talks about finding her on her knees in prayer and we have found notebook after notebook that she had filled out with notes from her scripture study.

She served her community in numerous ways. My parents remember her helping my dad on his mayoral campaign and how many hours she logged walking for him.

She was always found helping out in the schools too - she even signed my yearbook in high school because she was such a part of our lives there. I remember elections for homecoming queen our senior year, I was paired up with Janin (I was on student government) to go take ballets to some of the classrooms and I was so worried that Aaron would think I choose to be with his mom (these were days when we really didn't care too much for each other ) and now I think how silly!

She valued people and spending her time doing things that were lasting and uplifting. She was the least worldly person I have ever met. All of her clothes were purchased at DI or were hand-me-downs. Yet she took really good care of all that she had. She just didn't occupy herself with things that didn't matter. I cannot think of one single moment when I saw her sit back and relax, not even at Lake Powell. She told me once that she would set a timer at night before bed and she and Randy would watch a movie until the timer went off, then they would go to sleep. It would take them days to finish a movie! I laughed and said I couldn't handle the suspense - I now realize that she couldn't handle sitting there for that long to watch a whole movie.

I am so grateful that I married Aaron, not only because of our marriage and relationship but because of his family. Its funny because most people have 'something' to say about their mother-in-laws and I never did - and I'm not just saying that now. I am truly grateful for the example she has set for us to follow.

L. Janin Briggs Jackman

L. Janin Briggs Jackman 1956 ~ 2009 The world's best wife, mother, grandmother and friend left for her final great adventure March 31, 2009. Born Oct. 14, 1956 in Jerome, Idaho to Gail Lamar Briggs and Laura Pearl Hansen Briggs. Janin joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a teen while attending West High School. She married Randy Argyle Jackman in the Salt Lake Temple June 24, 1975. Her greatest joys in life were summers at Lake Powell, spending time with her grandkids, traveling, books on tape and sneaking chocolate treats. She was a genuine friend to all. Her time was spent serving the Lord, both in numerous church callings and by lifting the souls of those who needed it. She was selfless and found joy in the simple things in life. Never bought what she could make or borrow, never kept what she could give away. Janin never missed an event. She was there for EVERY birthday, graduation, wedding, sporting event and party. She was the greatest fan and loudest cheerleader. She had an amazing sense of humor which kept everyone laughing at all times. She was young in heart, spirit and body. Janin is survived by her loving husband Randy A. Jackman -Lake Point, children Emily J. Finlinson (Jason)-Lehi, Aaron R. Jackman (Sarah), West Point, Claar J. Runyan (Michael) South Jordan, 7.5 grandchildren, her mother, sisters-Randa Briggs, Elise Sanders and Tracy Briggs Haynes. A viewing will be held Sunday, April 5, 2009 from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary 260 E. South Temple, SLC UT and Monday, April 6, 2009 from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the Stansbury Park LDS Stake Center, 417 E Benson Road, Stansbury, UT. Funeral will begin at 11:00. Interment to follow at the Lake Point Cemetery. Online condolences to www.larkincares.com

Aaron's mom Janin passed away completely unexpectedly on Tuesday. She was babysitting our nephew and Aaron's little sister found her. There was nothing that could be done for her and we aren't exactly sure what caused her death. We've set the viewing for Sunday night from 6-8 pm at the Larkin funeral home in Salt Lake. The funeral will be held Monday at 11 am with a viewing before hand at 10 at the LDS stake center in Stansbury. Please check back here for further information and addresses if you wish to attend. We are grateful for all the prayers on our family's behalf and we know that so many people were touched by her and will be grieving her loss with us.

Love the Jackmans