Papa Dave and Grammie Lou Visit

My Parents came out to visit in September for the BYU - University of Texas Football game. I always love a visit from my parents and so do my kids! Grandparents = heaven.

Brayden looks a lot like my Dad and it shows in these pictures. He even sticks out his tongue the same way that my Dad does!

Paying Tribute

During the 4 weeks after Brayden's birth, we had visitors.. family, namely, to come and help out. And let me just say their help, love, support and service was 100% needed and appreciated. Because I had called my Mom when my water broke, she was on alert and made arrangments to fly to San Antonio that night. I'm so lucky to have the supportive parents that I do. I know that they would do absolutely anything for me and my family. When my Mom walked into the hospital room that night, I felt so much relief! There's something about having a baby (maybe it's just me) that just makes you want and need your mommy. She was able to stay until the morning of Christmas Eve. She had to fly home to be with my dad and meg for Christmas, of course, and then we were even more lucky to have her come back 10 days later. She took turns with Brent staying at the hospital and our 2nd night there, Bray was still in the NICU. So she was wheeling me in there every two hours in the middle of the night to feed him along with washing the pumping supplies in between. She took care of Brooke and kept her happy and provided a great deal of emotional support to me during many emotional breakdowns in the hospital and at home. (I don't keep my emotions in tact post baby very well!) It's hard to even describe and adequately thank her for all she did for us during this time but it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it! When we got home from the hospital, there was SO MUCH TO DO. Nothing was ready, remember? There were piles of stuff that she organized, we washed loads and loads of baby clothes, organized them and put them away... things were in chaos at our house and she pulled everything together. Among all of that she left us on Christmas Eve with a clean house (from top to bottom), laundry done, and a stocked fridge full of food and treats fit for the holidays. I felt so so grateful. Thank you, MOM. And thank you DAD for letting her and arranging for her to come out twice. The 2nd time she came out was no different. She took care of Brooke all day long, held Bray when I needed to sleep, made us all of our meals, made a ton of freezer meals and muffins to freeze for breakfast, all while keeping the mood light and airy (I'm emotional remember? More on this later...). I hope to be half of the Mother that my Mom is to Brooke when she has a baby. Because I was always either sleeping or nursing and the visitors were always helping and working, I didn't take a lot of pictures while they were all here but I did take some.

I love this of Brayden and Mom and can't believe how jaundice he looks.

This is out of order... After my Mom left the 2nd time, my sis, Meag came out for 5 days. She was able to do this because of waiting to go on her mission. And because we couldn't make it for her farewell, we were so happy to see her and spend that time. Before my Mom went home, she said, "don't expect Meag to be like me." Meaning to keep my expectations low for how much Meagan would help.. hahaha. But she well exceeded my expectations. The time that she was here happened to be a really difficult time for me physically and Meag stepped up to the plate doing pretty much everything my Momma does so I guess she proved my Mom wrong! Sorry, Mom. Yay, Meag! She's on her mission now... been in the MTC for 2 weeks!


Brooke, Meagan, Brayden - January 2011


Love this of Brooke and my Mom. Such a fun picture to always have and remember that time with. Brooke loved getting pampered and having her hair done just like Grammie Lou's.


A few days after Christmas and before my Mom came back, Brent's parents came into town. The morning after they arrived, Vicki went straight to work taking down and putting away all of our Christmas decor, and Kirt kept Brooke completely occupied from sun up until sun down. This is quite a feat if you know our little Brookie. :) It was so so so nice to not have to worry about Brooke or keeping things clean. They kept us fed, and kept the house clean and stayed with the kids twice so Brent and I could get some time away. And some people may shy away from their mother in law doing their laundry but mine just happens to do it very well and claims she loves doing it. I don't know if I believe her (who loves doing laundry?) but I'll take it!

Kirt, Vicki, Brooke, and Brayden - December 2010

"Papa Soli" playing on the floor with Brooke. I love this picture and will always remember that he spent hours every day keeping her entertained like this.

Thank you, dear family for everything you did to help us out. We love all of you.

Texas Thanksgiving

Probably what you would call a dream come true for me... MY family coming to MY house for a holiday! We lucked out and they all came to us this year. We hosted my entire family in Texas except for Krista and Steve and their boys (and they were missed!) for Turkey Day 2010. Soooo ya know when an event or holiday goes by and you wonder why you didn't take pictures of so many things? Yeah... hate that. And that's totally how this was, and I'm still regretting and fretting about it. I didn't even get a picture of all the food! Glorious! Food! This pregnant girl barely lifted a finger as sitting is what I spend most of my days doing, so it was almost as if they hosted us in our home. The food was particularly good and we were left with leftovers for over a week. I want to remember who made what... Brent did the turkey in our new roaster, Mom and Meag made the gravy, yams, PW woman's green bean casserole, glazed carrots, pomegranate salad, razzleberry pie, banana cream pie, and Bobby Flay's Pumpkin Bread pudding with vanilla cream anglaise sauce, Amy made rolls and stuffing, Dad did the mashed Potatoes, and Brent and I did a Pomegranate cranberry spritzer to drink. Oh and my Dad did dishes for two days straight! A memorable thanksgiving, for sure, and I will note in another post what I have been most grateful for this season.

Brooke in sheer heaven with 6 cousins that she hardly ever sees. Lydia, Rachel, Brooke, Ellie, Colin, Jacob, and Seth.

We looked over while getting the desserts out to find these three munchkins eating whipped cream out of the bowl!

The kids table covered in butcher paper to color on. I will do this every year that I can on the kids table. My niece, Rachel, made the namecards and decorations for the kids table and did such a cute job!
Meg had her food first and rightfully so... she kicked some booty in the kitchen for two days straight. Let me also just say that this sister of mine is going on a MISSION! She gets her call very soon!!!

The kitchen workers

Thanksgiving table... this may have been the only thing I did for the whole day.

Thanks for making the trek to Texas, dear family.

It was so appreciated and we miss all of you.

Meet My Jorgensen Family

As I mentioned in the last post, we were in Utah in August for my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary and my dad's 60th birthday! As part of the festivities we took our parents out to dinner at the Roof on top of the Joseph Smith Memorial building and rented the private room. It was nice and relaxing to be together as adults and we took turns asking my Dad questions about his life, while dining at the all-you-can-eat buffet. Such a wonderful evening with my family. I love my family. Let me introduce you to them, if you care!

Mom and Dad - I think my Dad looks great at 60 and Mom is just a beauty

Amy (the oldest) and her husband John - Amy looks great after losing 30 pounds after her 6th baby and John, who turns 40 next month! They live in American Fork.

Steve and Krista (2nd oldest) - Steve works as a dentist and Krista is the Mom to 3 boys. They have great teeth, right? They live in Vancouver, Washington.

Devin and Meagan (the youngest) - these two are good friends. Meg has traveled the world during her time at BYU and is a dance major graduating next spring.

Brent and Bethany (3rd oldest... or is is 2nd youngest?)

Mom with her four girls - we are pretty

The Jorgensen Family - August 2010

So that's my fam-damily and I like them.

Dad's 60th Birthday Party

My sisters and I threw a party in my parent's backyard for my Dad's birthday. We wanted it to be a laid back fun time with lots of sugar and just plain ole' fun. We rented a bounce house, snow cone machine and a cotton candy machine. We played all afternoon and ended with a great barbeque and a big hostess cupcake cake... his favorite!

Grandma and Grandpa with their grandkiddies

The three of us and debuting my baby bump on this blog. Oh except this was taken at 18 weeks and I am now 28 weeks - so much more LARGE AND IN CHARGE.


She actually didn't love cotton candy like I thought she would

Grandma Lou going down the bounce house slide

Brent and Brookie eating a snow cone

60 year old Grandpa finally comes out of the house in his swimming gear

Amy at the top of the bouncehouse

Steve, Ethan, Krista going down the slide

Barbeque - see my dad's head as part of the decor?

Ethan eating a fruit kabob

Make a wish, Daddy-o!

Good times and happy 60th Dad!

GRAMMY

It is only appropriate that I post about our trip to Midway, Utah for my Grandparents 60th wedding anniversary in August now because my Grammy passed away last Saturday, October 2nd. She was fighting breast cancer for the THIRD time and all just hoped she would live for the celebration with her family in August because she loved having her family together and she loved a good party. I am so grateful I was able to see and spend that time with her in August. It is not easy being one of the only grandchildren away and to have not seen her on a regular basis for the last 4 years. Grandparents and especially grandmothers are such special people and we almost don't realize it until they are close to leaving this earth. Second to my parents and own mother, my Grandma gave me the foundation for a testimony of Jesus Christ, that I am a daughter of God, with divine nature, and all the responsibilities during this earth life that come with those blessings.

I was able to be in Utah last week for the funeral for 48 hours, sans Brent and Brooke. It was an incredible blessing and a wonderful spiritual experience to be there and help pay tribute in a small way to her life and the person she was. My grandparents have given us such rich heritage provided through many traditions and an example through living beautiful, Christlike lives. I am so proud to be a part of the family that I am and I know that my siblings and all of my cousins feel the same way. And along this note, I am the only one of my grandma's posterity that carries on her name, 'Elen.' Also the reason why it was so important to me for Brooke to have this middle name. One of the wonderful parts about the gospel and what we believe in the plan of Salvation is that while death is difficult and hard for us to deal with, what wonderful comfort we find in the knowledge that we will see these loved ones again. And not only that but we have their entire life to use as a pattern for how we should live our lives. If there was one thing I took back to Texas with me, it would be to live as Christlike as my Grammy Elen did. Thank you Grammy for your example and love!

Precious Picture - Grammy ELEN and Brooke ELEN, Midway - August 2010

Grammy, Brooke, me, Brent, Grandpa

The last night we had a dinner and dancing at the Homestead resort. I had to include this picture of Brooke dancing with my sister, Meg. Pretty darling.

Christmas with the Jorgensen's

We flew to Salt Lake City on December 11th and were able to spend 10 days with my family. Brent was even able to come for the first 4 days which was a treat. Enjoy some scenes from our time there...

Lovely Grandparents at the Jorgo family dinner and program

Nieces Rachel and Ellie playing their harps together

My Mom hosted the traditional saffron roll making day with all of her extended family

Mom reading a christmas book to the grandkids at their sleepover

I was fortunate to be in town for the wedding of one of my oldest and dearest of friends, Annalee Allen. It was so much fun to attend the ceremony and dinner. We have known each other since we were 3 years old!

Cousin cookie day at my sis, Amy's house

Seeing and spending time with my grandparents was such a treat. My grandma has been battling cancer for the 3rd time but I think she looks as beautiful as ever!

Brookie had such a wonderful time with my parents. She just loves them and they adore her. Brooke would not let go of my Dad and just cried and cried when we had to leave! We had a little Christmas with them before Brent left and they gave us a solar oven to add to our emergency preparedness... sooo cool!

Brooke with Grandma and Grandpa playing "ring around the rosy."

Brookie opening her present from Grandma and Grandpa

We had a nice time with my family and were sad to leave but happy that the trip was not over, as we were on our way to see the next family in St. George! My only complaint from this part of the trip... Brooke getting pink eye and then me being sick for three days really ruined some of our plans and we missed seeing lots of friends that we were supposed to meet up with!

I also want to mention, we did not end up sending Christmas cards this year but want to thank you if you sent us one!! Next year, I'll be on it!

Merry Merry Christmas!!!

Look at this beauty!

Welcome to the world, Lydia Jane Ogden! This is my sister, Amy's 6th and final baby. What a mother, eh? She was also her biggest baby at 8 lbs. 9 oz., 19 inches long. Oh! I think she is just a beauty! Congrats, Sister.

It's all about the memory

Well, I dropped my family off at the airport and Brooke and I came home to an empty house. SAD! At least we have some great pictures to remember the great memories of the weekend.

We did the boat tour on the riverwalk on friday morning. Wow, those tour guides have some of the driest humor I've ever heard!

Brent and I on the boat tour.

Dad and his classic "picture smile."

On Saturday, we went swimming. Brooke is still freaked out about getting in!

My Dad is a pest in the swimming pool so Meg needed to tackle him.

Brooke was constantly and thoroughly entertained by my parents and Meg. Sometimes her laugh sounds fake because she won't stop laughing!

Meg swimmin'.

3 BG's at the pool.

My Mom trying to get my Dad back for splashing everyone.

*****

As always, we had some really late nights. My Mom brought down my sewing machine and taught me the basics that I have forgotten. We sewed baby blankets, a little bandana dress that I found HERE. See the pictures below of Brooke wearing it. It really did take 15 minutes or less!

We also went shopping at the fabulous outlets. At JCrew, Meg found a flower belt that was $20. I told her she could make it for much cheaper and get the satisfaction of creating it. So, while my Mom and I sewed, she found a tutorial online for making fabric flowers and went to work! Doesn't it look awesome? The button in the middle has an anchor on it. She is obsessed with anchors. I don't know why.

Could also be used as a headband.. which I prefer!

We went out to lunch before taking them to the airport with Brent and got a few last pictures.

Classic Grandpa face and classic Brooke face. I also must note that Brooke gave me quite the surprise on Saturday afternoon by refusing to nap and climbing out of her crib for the first time! She has done pretty well at staying in but it takes lots of talking, singing, reading books, etc. before nap and bed-time.

Outside the restaurant.

We also went to X-men: Wolverine, Ghosts of Girlfriend's Past (which I hated), and ate at the New Grimaldi's which is the same as the famous pizza in Brooklyn New York. I highly recommend going if you live here!

Thanks for coming, Grandpa, Grammie-Lou, and Meg. Brooke will be on a detox this week from getting away with everything but it sure was worth it!