David and Olivia's Wedding -- October 2018

David and Olivia got married last fall! It was a beautiful wedding, a beautiful October day up Big Cottonwood Canyon at the Silver Fork Lodge. Olivia joined us on our African Safari trip last August, so we got to know her a little bit. She is so incredibly sweet, and such a good match for David. 

It was the first time since my dad's funeral that all of the Jackson siblings have been together. I am so grateful for each of them! And I'm sure my angel father was with us too.

Photo cred: John (of course!)

CJ the Tweenager

I love this kid. And he looks great in his swim gear. But he gave me a scare this morning! I got a text from Kathryn, my cousin and our nanny for the summer. It was 8:45 and C.J. was nowhere to be found. She said he must have left the house without telling her where he was going. And Paisley was home, so he wasn't walking her. His bike was still here.

Hmm. That is SO unlike him! He's just barely 12 years old. He hasn't hit that full-on moody, I hate everyone and will do what I want teenage years yet. Or maybe he hit that stage overnight?? I told Kathryn to check around the house again -- it turns out he was in the garage, working on a project Barry gave him to help organize the garage. Phew. He's still a tween, hasn't hit teenager yet. This is what he built, it took him three hours, and he's pretty proud of it!

Oh Paisley!

We adore this puppy of ours. She's not really a puppy anymore, she turned 1 1/2 on April 30th. She's an F1 Labradoodle (50% Labrador Retriever, 50% toy Poodle) with really short legs. Paisley joined our family on Christmas 2017. She was born October 30th that same year; because she and I share a birthday, I decided that meant I got to name her.  Here are some of my Paisley pics from Memorial Day weekend at the cabin LAST year. Photo cred to my brother, John. 

And these are from our Memorial Day trip to the cabin THIS year. Just as we were packing up to leave, Paisley rolled in FRESH horse manure. Oh, Paisley! 

C.J., the Family Violinist

When C.J. was in 3rd grade, he asked if he could play the violin. No, I said, you have to learn the piano. We had a piano on loan from Marianne while her family was living in Germany. He took piano for two years from our dear friend and neighbor, Corri Hamilton. Corri reported that C.J. was really good at the piano, he had progressed much more quickly than other children his age. But C.J. didn't love it. It stressed him out. Especially the rhythm part...which stressed his mother out when he couldn't keep it.

After two years of piano lessons, Marianne moved back to the states and wanted her piano back, so we helped load it into her UHaul that took it to New Jersey. And C.J. still wanted to play the violin. So we signed up for before-school orchestra and shopped on KSL classifieds for a used 3/4 length violin. Turns out our 3/4 violin is really a full-size one. All well, he does just fine with it.

I am truly amazed what that orchestra teacher was able to do with those kids. They met just twice a week for 45 minutes. And they did so well!

He did orchestra this year again in 6th grade, this time it was his first period all year long. The kids all adore their teacher, Mr. Cox, and C.J. has signed up for Orchestra II for 7th grade. He loves it!

I couldn't find any great photos of C.J. with him violin, but this is him with a HUGE sundae at Leatherby's after his spring orchestra concert.

Our Runner, Eli

Eli (9, almost 10!) loves to run. Last fall he was part of an elementary school running club called Race Cats. There were just a few from his school who participated, thankfully one of the moms stepped up to be the coach. And he loved it. Didn't do too bad either! His last meet was October 22, 2018. Out of 70, 9-10 year old boys, Eli placed 13th! His time: 14:55 for a 3k. Not bad for a kid who had just started running twice a week about 6 weeks earlier.

This spring, Sprucewood Elementary did a fun run fundraiser for the school. A one-mile run through the neighborhood around the school, the kids ask family and friends to sponsor you. I used one of my work volunteer days to help out. Eli's goal? 1st place in the fourth grade. He trained all week -- every day after school he went to the park and ran up and down the hill. He was so confident that he could do it that both Barry and I had heart-to-hearts reminding him that he might not win.

They staggered the kids and didn't have timers, so we're not sure how he did overall. But he DID take first place for the fourth grade!! Some of his sponsors said they would pay additional $ if he got first place, so after the race I had to go to the office and give them a check for an additional $75. And just as cool, all of the 1st place runners, as well as the top fundraisers, got to ride in a limo with the principal to Bahama Bucks, a local shaved-ice restaurant. DURING school hours! We are SO proud of our little (okay, not so little, he's one of the tallest in his grade) competitor!

Back to Blogging!

The other day Eli lamented to me that we don't have many of his baby pictures around. My pitiful response was that it's because they are online. For a 9 year old very little online access, this didn't help. So I decided that one of my goals this year was to do better when it comes to pictures. Taking pictures, posting pictures, printing pictures, and even framing pictures. 

One of the first things I did was to order a printed book of this blog. A hard bound record of 2008 - 2013! 173 pages, worth every penny (which happened to be about $90 through Pixxibook, fyi) I plan to give it to my family on Father's Day. I can't wait! 

Next -- back to blogging about our family. It's been way too long, I don't even remember why I ever quit! I know I can post snippets on Facebook and Instagram; but let's face it, I could do with a little LESS Facebook and little MORE real journaling. Real life journaling that in a few years I can print into a beautiful book with plenty of pictures that Eli, and the rest of my family, can enjoy forever. Because there is something special about a printed picture.

Throwback to October 2013