the gardner family: 2010

Jackson's first day of Preschool!

Thursday, September 02, 2010

It's been a while since we've posted on the blog, but one can't miss documenting the first day of school. Jackson started pre-school on Tuesday and was so excited. We were a little nervous for him since the closest thing to school has been nursery at church which is 2 hours max. Preschool is from 9-2! As any parent probably does, we had some anxiety with the thought of him going to school. Will he like school? Will he miss mommy after 2 hours? Will he make friends? Will other kids be nice/mean? Then all those feelings turned into one huge "oh my gosh, he's growing up too fast!" feeling once we put on his (what looks like a giant) backpack and walked him from the parking lot to class. Jackson has made these last 3 1/2 years fly with so many wonderful memories - from the day we started this blog with him in the NICU to now - where has the time gone!

Well, Jackson absolutely loved his first day of school and couldn't stop telling us about the cool sand box (made of rice), Ms. Jana his teacher, and show off the craft that he made. Let's hope the 2nd day of school goes as well.

All set for school!

Livin' large with the cool backpack and thermos! (He can only make it about 10 yards when there is a lunch in the backpack and the thermos is full)

Daddy and his boys

(and a UT fan / gardener in the back - nice...)

Mommy with Jackson on his first day of preschool

Cousin Lovin'

Monday, May 10, 2010

While we were in Utah we had a couple of cousin photo shoots. We don't get together very often so it was really fun getting the kiddos all dressed up in matching outfits and attempt to take their picture. It wasn't an easy task to get so many little ones to look at the camera at the same time, but it sure was fun trying.

Gwen, Jackson, Cannon, Ava and Ella.

Zachary, Emily, Tyler, Kate, Jackson and Cannon

Trip to Utah

Thursday, May 06, 2010

A few weeks ago we returned from a much needed trip to Utah. It had been close to a year since we had been back so it was great to be home again. It was my first time flying with both boys by myself so I was a little nervous about that but they were great and once we got there it was all worth it. My brother and his fiance, Sammi were in town when we arrived. They were there so we could have a bridal shower for her. It turned out great and we are so excited for the two of them. Sammi is such a cute and fun girl and we can't wait until she's officially a part of our family!

The cute couple!

We got to do a lot of fun things while we were in Utah despite the crazy weather (it snowed twice while we were there!). We spent a weekend at the Moffats house where we visited Macie, went to a BYU baseball game, went to the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival and enjoyed some cousin time.

Cannon's first trip to Babyland with us.

Go COUGARS! (They actually got killed by TCU which made it even more painful for us!)

Jackson with Cosmo, his favorite part of the baseball game. He kept calling him "Carlos" (not sure where he came up with that one) but he wanted to hang around him the whole time.

The whole Moffat/Gardner clan at Thanksgiving Point.

We had a wonderful two week visit and as always it went by way too fast. Thanks to all of our family who came to hang out with us. We love you and miss you already!

Spring Time in Texas

Can't pass up an opportunity to take a picture in the Blue Bonnets when they are in bloom. It's so pretty! I love this time of year in Texas!

Jackson turns 3!

We celebrated Jackson's third birthday on April 1st! He was so excited to be turning three and I think I was even more excited that he was potty trained before his birthday! We started the morning off right with PRESENTS!

We had a CARS themed party for him this year and he wanted a Lightning McQueen cake. This is what a came up with. Not exactly what I had pictured in my head, but it turned out pretty cute and he loved it.

(a little shy in the picture of us, but really he did like his cake.)

The Party! We celebrated in style...CHUCK-E-CHEESE style that is! All Jackson had been talking about months before his birthday was Chuck-E-Cheese so we thought why not. On the way to his party we were talking about going there and I asked him if he was excited. He said yes and then I asked him what do you do at Chuck E Cheese? He replied, "I don't know!" It was so funny. All this time he hadn't a clue to what there was to do at this place yet he was dying to go there! Funny boy!

We had a joint party with his friend Norah who's birthday was just a week apart from Jackson's. Her dad made the AMAZING Mr. King car from the movie. The kids had a blast and we literally had to drag them out of there when it was time to go. As we were driving away Jackson said in the cutest, yet sad voice "Bye Chuck E Cheese!"

What a great day! Happy Birthday Jackson!
WE LOVE YOU!

Cannon 4 months

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Can't get enough of this chunky, drool-y, smiley, lovable little guy!

Weekend with Meggi and Papa

Last weekend Meggi and Papa came to visit for a few days before heading down to Cancun for a vacation. We didn't have a whole lot of time with them this visit so we took advantage and packed in as much as we could.

Jackson had been waiting so patiently for them to get here. (I made the mistake of telling him they were coming 4 days before the actually got here and he was constantly asking me when they were coming). He was so excited to go bowling with them for the first time. He loved it and he's not bad for a two year old. He beat me and Meggi!

Papa had fun playing with Cannon and thought it was pretty fun to dress him up in his hat and to put him on Jackson's 4 wheeler. I don't think Jackson ever let Meggi leave his side the whole weekend. We just loved having them here!

Thanks for such a wonderful visit. Come back soon!

Snow? in Texas?

Yup, it snowed here in Texas! We couldn't believe how much snow we got a couple of weeks ago. (I know all of you who don't live here and who might live in Utah are laughing that we think this is a lot, but it is!) We had enough to make a snowman and Jackson was sooo excited about it. He loved watching it fall and was so sad to wake up the next morning to see that it had all melted. I wasn't too sad that it was gone, but it was sure fun while it lasted!

Valentines, twins and a little Chub!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

last week we got together with some friends to make valentine cookies. jackson was so excited because we had been talking about it all day, but he only frosted a few before he lost interest. he was more interested in eating the ones he just frosted than decorating more. a true boy, i guess.

twins? haha...jackson and his cute little friend ava. we were watching her that night and ended up putting them in matching pajamas. they thought it was so much fun to be "twins" we just had to take some pictures of them being so silly!

my cute little chubby guy. i can't believe he is three months and already so big!

Aunt Lynsie

Monday, January 11, 2010

One of my favorite presents I got this year for Christmas was having my little sister Lynsie stay with me for a week and a half after all of our family left. It was the best surprise! After all the presents were open my mom told me I had one left to open but it was hidden in the big suitcase. I figured it must be something that was too big to wrap or too difficult so I opened it up and out popped Lynsie! We had such a great time with her here and miss her so much already. She was such a wonderful helper with the boys and a perfect companion for me during the day. She made me some cute new burp cloths for Cannon and played with Jackson endlessly!

While she was here we celebrated Macie's 5th birthday.

Thanks for such a great visit Lynsie! Come back soon!

(The only picture we took together...right before the big championship game. Hook'em horns!)

Cannon's Blessing

Cannon Jon Gardner was blessed on December 27th in our home ward. Jordan did a great job and we are so thankful to our family and friends who came to support us.

The little guy all dressed up.

The Leinbach side

The Gardner side

December Events

The most wonderful time of the year?...most definitely! We started the month of December off right with our 3rd annual Christmas party. We've done this for the past three years now and this year had to be the best by far. We are so lucky to have such great friends who make it so much fun. Some highlights of the party...yummy tri tip dinner, the MOUSE (yes, a real live mouse) Jordan opened as a white elephant present, the jumping pictures (who knew it would be so much fun to do something so silly) and the game of hide and go seek in the dark (I know pretty juvenile, but oh so fun!)

Jordan's parents came out again the week before Christmas. Jordan and his dad spent the majority of the week working on converting the playroom into a movie room. To make a very long story short, the guys did a great job installing the speaker system but because the TV Jordan ordered got "lost" in the shipping process we never got to fully use the new room while our company was here. These are just a few pictures of the work in progress. More to come of the finished product!

My whole family arrived Christmas Eve to spend the holidays with us too. It was one full house (10 adults and 2 kiddos) but so much fun! We had a relaxing Christmas Eve reading the Night before Texas Christmas and putting out cookies for Santa. Jackson was really into Santa this year which made it so much fun. Christmas morning was priceless as we all watched Jackson open his presents. I think he got spoiled this year having both sets of grandparents here as there were still presents he hadn't opened the next day! He was too into playing with his new toys from Santa to care about opening more.

We enjoyed having so much family here especially my siblings. This was the first time in the almost 5 years that we've lived in Texas that my whole family was here at the same time. Thanks Bry, Derek and Lynsie for putting up with us and for sleeping on the floor. It was great having y'all here!

As always when we all get together (which doesn't happen too often) we have to take a family picture. Pretty good looking group!

Derek, Lynsie, Jackson, Jordan, Cassie, Cannon, Bryant, Meggie and Papa Jon

Catching Up

We've been very busy since Cannon joined the family and have a lot of great things to catch up on. This is what went on in November.

My parents (Meggie and Papa Jon as we like to call them) spent a wonderful 2 weeks at our house after Cannon was born. It was so great to have them here to help with Jackson and to be involved with the arrival of Cannon. We definitely could not have survived without their help! Jackson loved every minute of it and was just about as sad as I was to see them go back home. Five days after they left Jordan's parents (Nana and Papa) and his sister Lindsey came out for the weekend. We had a great long weekend with them as we celebrated Jordan's 32nd birthday, put up the Christmas decorations (thanks to Lindsey), worked on some vinyl projects and enjoyed Papa's crepes and Nana's cooking! She and Lindsey spent an entire day cooking freezer meals for us to use once our company was gone!

Just two days after the Gardner's left Carrie and Tracey came out to spend Thanksgiving with us. Jordan deep fried a turkey for them and we had a wonderful (and small) thanksgiving dinner. We must have been having way too much fun, or we were way too tired to document their visit because I don't have any pictures to post. They were a huge help and we hope that they come back again soon!

whew...believe it or not that's just the beginning of our visitors!