I love this picture. I can't believe he is already 2!

Loves to ride his bike

One of the nice thing about living in Phoenix is riding bikes almost all year long. Jax loves riding his bike. I was very particular when looking for a bike for him for Christmas - it had to have a way for me to steer him without having to bend over. We can now ride all over the neighborhood. He loves it!

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Jax loves the train park. One of his favorite words is "choo choo." He uses it for buses, motor homes, semi-trucks, fire trucks. Every moving vehicle is either a "car" or "choo choo."  This train park is located on 30 acres of land and has an awesome playground and a "choo choo" that rides around the whole park. 

this little boy is afraid of nothing

loves his Daddy

the picture is not great, but at least he is smiling

Ski Trip

At one point in my life I was quiet the snowboarder. For years I was one of the few girls that would head up to the slopes every weekend with a group of friends. I was a daredevil. I wasn't ever great, but I tried to go off jumps, tree trails and into unchartered territory. 

All that has changed after several years without any time on the mountain. I am now a total wuss!! I could barely get off the ski lift. I refused to go on anything but green circles for most of the morning. By the end of the day my body felt the beating. Despite the toll, Matt and I had so much fun with my my sister Angela, her husband Dan, their awesome kids and my Mom. 

I have to admit my Mom could Now out ski me anyday.

Happy Holidays

We are so grateful for our friends and families this holiday season. We are grateful for good health and a beautiful, happy and growing little boy. We are grateful for jobs, a roof over our heads, kindness, opportunities to serve and grow. Most of all were grateful for the atonement and the Savior's sacrifice for each and every one of us.   

I copied this from my sister's blog who chose not to tag anyone, but invited anyone who wanted to, to play. The invitation is extended to you... Copy and paste into your blog. Highlight the things you've done.

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars (Nights on the trampoline as a kid -- good times!)
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown my own vegetables - this year I promise
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 
20. Slept on an overnight train - through Mexico in unairconditioned trains & in Italy under better circumstances
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping 
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise (a yacht does that count?)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language 
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted 
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar or escargot
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating -- the turkey on pioneer trek -- not fun.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (no but Matt does quiet often does that count)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous. Yes when I lived in LA as a nanny I met many famous people and their children and nannies.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Been to a foreign country

I miss Chicago at Christmas

This is our second Christmas living here in Phoenix. While I love the temperatures - I just can't get over how much I love Chicago during Christmas time. Chicago has so much culture, excitement and great shopping too!!Every year we lived there we went to the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Daley Plaza, the traditional German Christmas Mart and visited the Macy's Christmas windows. Chicago lent itself to fun Christmas traditions, we haven't created any new ones here in Phoenix yet.

I love this age

www.maggieholmesphotography.com

I wanted to write down a few of my favorite things about this toddler age. Jax is so much fun now! He understands a lot and interacts with me more than ever before. It is fun having a little budy to enjoy my days with. Ever since his friend Will was in town he started to become much more verbal. His favorite words are:

• "DADDDY" over-emphasizing the "DDD"
• Cars - every car in the parking lot, not missing one "cars, cars, cars, cars," he wants to make sure I see every one.
• Doggy and "woof, woof" He loves dogs. He holds out his hand to let the dog smell him and lick him and then barely touches their fur before getting a little scared.
• Juice. Matt got him hooked on orange juice and he loves it.
• HOT. Everything that he hasn't tasted he asks "hot?" I guess he is cautious. 
• Baby. He loves babies and loves to point out every one.
• Shoe. He loves to get his shoes on and get ready to go.
• Choo, choo. loves trains

He is very independent. Despite the tantrums and the opinions about everything I love this age! I love how much personality he has. I love that he is a little more manageable than at 18-months and I love that he is growing up to be a wonderful little boy.