Vaughn's Big Day

The decorations are up...

The six hour, Southern Salted Carmel Cake has been made....  Now we are waiting on the birthday boy.

There he is.  We had everything ready for Vaughn's birthday dinner/party.  

I would have put 36 candles on the cake, but we didn't have enough room.  Ha ha ha

Vaughn, like the rest of us, enjoys opening presents.

We got him a nice, new backpack, a French cuffed shirt and lots of hugs and kisses.

He got money from family so he can go and buy what he wants.

And his parents sent a picture of him, his dad and Tyson.  Three generations of Jackson men.  Happy birthday babe!

First Day of Preschool

Taryn had her first day of Preschool and she was thrilled to say the least.  I bawled, and she rolled her eyes.  My baby is all grown up.

She had to wear the new shirt Grandma T bought her for her first day at school.  The school I enrolled her in is actually run by high school students and is at the Karns High School Tech School.  The preschool is overseen by a master teacher who is teaching the high school kids how to teach.  I think the big kids have just as much as the little ones.  It is 5 dollars a day and they feed them lunch.  What a deal!

This girl was so ready to go.  She misses the cut off date for Kindergarten by 20 days.  So she will start Kindergarten turning 6.  I am okay with that.  I would rather she be the oldest and not the youngest.

I thought we would buy a princess backpack, but Taryn wanted the sparkly Smurf one.  I was taken back.  I didn't think she even liked the Smurfs.

Had to have a first day of school picture with mom.  Love my baby doll!

She had so much fun the first day, that she was ready to go to the second one.  She also wanted another picture to commerate her second day of school.  Love this girl. I am so glad she likes school, but it makes me teary to see her grow up.  When did she get so big?

Ragnar Running with the Supermoms.

I am running in a 200 mile race with 11 other ladies in October.  This race is called Ragnar.  I have been training for this for months.  When I started training in June, I could barely run and mile and every bone, joint and muscle would ache for days.  Then I was running two miles without much protest from my body.  I am now up to 4.2 miles without issues.  This is one of those things that you put on your bucket list.  We each have to run 3 separate legs.  My first leg is the first one of the day starting with a 7.8 mile run.  Holy Cow!  I haven't run that far yet, and I stress the yet.  I have time still to train, thank goodness.  My second run is 3.5 and then rounding it off with a 5.4 mile run.  I hope my body can with stand all the training I am putting it through.  I am on a schedule to run M, W, F And Sat.  On Tuesday and Thursday I cross train and lift weights.  I can actually say I am in better shape now than I have been in years.  I totally hate to get up and run in the mornings, but once I complete the run, I am so glad that I did it.  I can't wait for this race.  It should be a good bunch of memories.  

Everyone Leaves and Baseball Begins

I hate the day when family leaves.  It always comes so quickly.  Tyson was mad he had to go to school and miss taking everyone to the airport.  Poor guy.  We had a quick breakfast at the Waffle House with my mom, sister and Trit.  I wish I could stop time at these moments and live there for a while; an hour is never enough.

Trit and cousin Taryn.  She loved being around this little guy.  I hope it isn't another year before we see him again.

I tried to get one more smily picture with him, but he wasn't going to smile, so I did.

I love my little sis.  It is too bad we don't live closer together.  I could spend more time with my nephew and my family.  Oh well, such is life.  We sent everyone home and after Tyson came home from school it was homework, piano and his first baseball game.

He was ready to play.  He loves this sport and has improved each year.  This was a heck of a wind up and he hit the ball to left field.

I wish all our family could have seen him play.  Maybe another time.  It was a great weekend to have everyone here with us in Tennessee. Thanks all for coming. We miss you!

Tyson's Baptism 2013

My beautiful little family at Tyson's baptism.  This day has come so quickly.  One minute he is 2 and we are playing on the beaches of St. Marteen and the next minute his is 8 and getting baptized. 

I am so proud of him and his decision to be baptized.  He is such a good kid, with the kindest heart and loving personality.  He is such a great example to his little sister, dad and me.

This is Tyson's primary teacher, Cheney Groberg.  She is amazing and Tyson likes class with her.

Tritt and Tyson.  You can tell they are cousins.  Those are some handsome boys!

After the baptism family photos.  Tyson's baptism started in the RS room where the font is, but after the actual baptism ceremony, the bishop moved us all into the chapel, because we had so many people come to support Tyson.  He had 85 people there to his baptism.  He was so touched to think that so many people we know came to support him and his family.  I couldn't believe it.  I was feeling the love.  Wow!  Grandma Jackson and Uncle Brett gave the talks, my mom and sister took care of the music, Vaughn baptized him with Papa Jackson and Brett as witnesses, and I gave a prayer. It was such a nice program.

A picture of the whole family that came to support Tyson.  Thanks everyone for making the treck across the country to be with us.

Three generations of Jackson men.

Grandma T and all her grandchild.  Aren't they cute!

Grandma Jackson and her two grand kids.

Papa and Grandma Jackson with my precious babies.

A funny picture I know, but it was the only one with Uncle Brett.  And even though Papa Westwood wasn't present, we all felt his presence and know that he was smiling down from above at Tyson and his awesome choice today.  I am so proud of my big boy.  He is going to make an awesome young man and missionary some day.

Birthday Parties and Surprises

Happy birthday to Tyson.  It was finally his birthday party.  He was allowed to invite 5 friends to a bowling party.  I couldn't get them all in the picture, so that is why there are two pictures.

The boys got to bowl for 3 hours.  They were in heaven.  I had the workers put up the bumpers so that they could bowl without gutter balls.  Two of the boys had never bowled.  So we showed them and they loved it.  Above is Tyson willing the ball to make a strike.

Brody had an arm on him and was in front of the pack most of the way.  

Noah had never bowled, but loved it once he learned to throw the ball.

Micah was another who had never bowled. He did awesome!

James was a pro.  He had the most fun, making tons of spares.

Xander had a dance at the end of his turn to celebrate his good throw.

That is my boy with the good form.  He loved the party.

We got a lane for Tritt and Taryn and they had fun rolling the ball down the lane.

The boys being silly.

More fun.

Taryn got a glow necklace and headband.  They turned off the lights and had black lights and strobe lights with music while the kids bowled.  They thought it was awesome!

Pizza, pop and bowling with cupcakes.  What more could you ask for?

Gifts...

Gifts...

Gifts...

And more gifts.  Our friends are the best.  Tyson gots lots of fun things.  Thanks everyone.

The "Boys of Bowling".  They all had a blast and at the end of the party the bowling alley gave Tyson a bowling pin and let everyone sign it.  What a fun keepsake for him.  I was so glad he enjoyed his party.  

Mom had one more surprise for him.

Tyson's Uncle Brett flew in to surprise him for his baptism.  Tyson was in shock and then so happy.  I have been keeping this a secret for many weeks.  It was the best surprise ever!

Grandma and Papa Jackson's hotel had this awesome water park inside the place, so after lunch we all headed over to play.

Tritt had a ball.  He ran all over and made his momma crazy.

Tyson loved the slides and the raining water from atop the water park.

Check this out. I want to rent a room one night just to go there and play.  The bucket at the top fills with water and then dumps it all down the slides.  The kids were in heaven!

There was a pool and a nice big hot tub there as well.  What a fun place to stay.  We all enjoyed it.  Then it was home for pizza, fun and bed.  The baptism is tomorrow.  The big day has finally arrived!!