The Orchard Team Huddle

As I started gathering pictures for this post I realized that most of them are terrible!  I just don't take the time to plan for pictures and usually end up snapping them with my phone in less than ideal conditions.  Most of them are grainy or dark or blurry or cluttered.  I REALLY need to take a photography class but that didn't happen this season so I will do the best I can with what I have to work with here!  Our 2010 holiday season... Stockton had so much fun adding all of his favorite school ornaments to our kid's tree.  Mason had fun with everything! Yay!  Mason is not afraid of Santa.  My others boys were terrified even when they were old enough to "get it". The first time I have had all three of them with Santa. It wouldn't be the holidays without sugar cookies. We never tire of Christmas Eve bowling.  This is Douglas' favorite tradition. The Prize Box is Stockton's favorite tradition.  Stockton gets the odd days an...

20 years ago we promised to love each other, honor each other and help and serve each other for time and all eternity.  We had no idea what was in store but knew we wanted to do it together.  And, that we have done.  The innocent and happy couple pictured knew nothing of trials, struggles and heartbreak.  Yet, they knew nothing of sacrifice, trust and joy.  Our love has increased 20 fold and 20 years from now I expect to feel the very same way. Happy Anniversary to my best friend. Love, Jenny

It is amazing what a mid-December morning walk in sunshine and tolerable temperatures can do for the soul! *Not pictured...mom having just as much fun as Mason!

15 years ago on December 6th I held my firstborn. There is something about that firstborn child that can't be described.  He was the first to be completely dependent on me, the first to call me mom, the first to take claim of my mommy heart.  Words really can't describe the feelings of joy and love I have for this special boy.  Heavenly Father sent me one of the finest spirits he had and of that I am grateful. The night before his birthday Douglas campaigned hard to open his presents early due to a 6:30 am basketball practice.  I told him they would still be here for him later on in the day.  He went to bed frustrated but got over it.  I share this experience to show that Douglas does have a bit of teenager-ness in him even though it is rarely mentioned or seen.  For the most part he is level headed, easy going and obedient.  He is a great guinea pig for my not so great parenting skills!  Douglas allowed me to deliver lunch to the Jr. H...

A few weeks ago we read President Thomas S. Monson's latest conference talk about gratitude.  I loved this quote so I hung it on my pantry door for a month for all of us to see. "My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive?  Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love." We listed things we were grateful for on the feathers of a turkey and I could have easily had 15 more feathers available.  For our family prayer and personal prayers that night we only said thank you. Again, around Grandma and Grandpa's Thanksgiving table we shared what we were grateful for.  Mason was grateful for the temple.  He must have picked that up somewhere:).  I love Thanksgiving and the feeling of love and gratitude that comes with the month of November.

I seem to be in a bit of a blogging slump lately.  I just haven't felt like there has been anything super noteworthy to write about.  Today I realized that perhaps our everyday life would be interesting to someone in the future so noteworthy or not, here goes. The most exciting thing about today was a trip to Target to purchase this: I love EVERY song this guy has ever sung.  Me and Keith put in quite a few miles together in the mornings.  I am so excited to listen to this over and over!    In fact, I am listening to it for the first time right now!  Mason just zonked on the couch, I am tapping my toe and sipping on a fountain Diet Coke, also purchased at Target:).  A little over a month ago I purchased Kenny Chesney's new album (CD?).  I really don't think it is fair that they both put one out within months of each other and then I have to wait years for something new.  I love Kenny but Keith is my favorite. When I am not buying C...

The kids are out of school tomorrow so today was Halloween Day.  Halloween is far from my favorite holiday but it is one that has brought me so much happiness.  For the past 10 years I have done a party in one of the boy's classes.  One year I even got to do a party for each of them.  When Stockton was small he had so much fun sitting with Douglas, eating candy corns from his Bingo card and feeling like one of the big kids.  I LOVE doing Halloween parties.  Today I was not needed.  My boys have moved on and I was left feeling very empty and completely lost. Mason and I went to the annual costume parade.  I loved holding him on my lap and watching all of the kids go by.  I loved posing him on the stage trying to get a good shot of his costume.  (This pose was ALL his idea!  I was just trying to get him to look at me.) But the whole thing only lasted about 30 minutes.  This is the only picture I got of Stockton and then we we...