RAISING HIM RIGHT

Carder in his trance watching the game

Carder, Jake & Holli

(at half time we went down and visited Scott, Annie, Caleb & Jaynie who also happened to be at the game)

Brittany, Holli, Jake & Carder

Carder with his Uncle Jared

(Carder absolutely adores Jared, every time he sees him its nonstop smiles and giggles)

Carder had quite a weekend. He turned 8 months on Saturday. We went down to Provo to go to Brooklyn Giddings birthday party, after went over to my sister Brittany's house. She and Jared, along with some of their other friends were going to go to the BYU basketball game, and talked us into coming along. Jake had been trying to figure out a way to go all week so when this was brought up he was all over it. I was a little apprehensive, I didn't know how well Carder would do, plus the stairs in sporting venues freak me out! But to Jake's delight Carder loved his first BYU basketball game. That day he had only taken about and hour and a half nap in the morning, and since the game didn't start til 7pm, I was almost certain we would be leaving early. But as soon as we sat down he was in a trance, just fixated on all the players and we ended up staying the whole game. It was really fun, and we were glad to see he's a BYU fan!

AND IT STARTS...

So Jake is now half way done with Law school, and the downhill feeling is supposed to kick in right? Yeah, not so much. The day after we got back to Utah I started school. I have 3 1/2 classes left till I finish, and I am pretty sure they are going to be the longest 3 1/2 classes of my life!!! Tuesday nights I go to BYU's Salt Lake center to take two classes, the dreaded Statistics and my Advanced English class. Yeah, there is a reason that those two were left for the end. In addition to that I just have one that I am half way done with on Independent study and another Independent Study one I need to start. Anyway, the day I start back its dumping snow (thanks Utah, nice way to welcome us back!), anyway I am trying to be good and get to class on time...Tuesdays are crazy for us Jake goes to school all day, there a couple mins of overlap where we do a Carder swap and then its strait to Salt Lake center for a few hours. Anyway I am getting ready to head to class and already dreading it and guess what...I get totally stuck in the driveway. Yeah Jake had to dig me out. It was fun, just the cherry on top. Well that was a foreshadowing of what this semester was going to be like. I guess it gets darkest before the dawn, right??? Jake's schedule is super busy this semester and since I have had my major and minor done for some time now, the generals are just super tedious! For my last class via Independent study I did add a fun elective that is somewhat applicable to my major so hopefully that can help make things a little better, all I can think now is how amazing its going to be once I finish!!! (Which should be in April, but since my baby never sleeps I've gotta get a little creative on doing my homework/studying b/c during nap time is not so much happening!)

Alright downer time is over...When we got back we got to see my cousin Jared who just got back from his mission to Mexico. My aunt Kimi was in town moving him up to Provo to get back in school. It was so fun to see Jared again and we are excited to see him more often now that we are living near each other.

Jake finished his externship with Judge Green, but when we got back in town we went a morning and met the Judge and checked out where he spent so much time last semester. He loved the experience. He did really well to, he wrote an order for the judge that got published in the federal reporter. It was cool because the Judge took it completely as Jake wrote it no changes and published it. Way to go babe!!!

Jake & Carder in his office at the Courthouse

Carder & his uncle Jearbear

GREEN CHRISTMAS

For the holidays we got to spend two wonderful weeks in sunny California. Carder has NEVER got to have Jake around as much as he did while in California, so he was totally spoiled with all the play time with Daddy, he loved it!!! It was so great to be at home and get to be with everyone for the holidays :)

HOLIDAY GOODIES

Jaxon was my little helper doing holiday baking. Once he saw me have an apron on, he went over and got his little home depot apron from his tool bench and insisted on wearing it to help.

FAMILY PICS

The Watkins clan. I am pretty sure this was the 3rd attempt at my mom getting a Christmas Card picture (which I am pretty sure never happened). Jaxon pretty much did this face every time. Since Jake isn't the biggest Christmas Card picture fan, him and Carder got to watch sports center until Jaxon would cooperate. Obviously Jake and Carder never had to come join picture time.

CARDERS FIRST CHRISTMAS

Once again I was the first one up for Christmas morning. Gosh I am a loser! But hopefully by next year Carder will catch on to the magic of it all. Jaxon got this power-wheels car from Santa, and he insisted Carder ride shot gun. They were so funny riding through the house (and this lasted for pretty much the rest of the time we were there.) They would go to work, and to the Candy store (this Santa fireplace screen, I have no idea how that became the candy store, but oh how I would love to get inside of that childs head, I think it would be quite entertaining.)

NEW YEARS

This was our new years eve :) New Years used to be a pretty big deal, but this year it was us an the little guys. Brittany and Kelsie went to parties, and my mom and dad had a shin dig of their own, so Jake and I played with Jaxon and Carder for the evening. I went downstairs to do something for a bit, and Jake was watching shows with the boys. When I came back up to check on them this is what I saw. Life with kids def gives you a new life (did I mention it wasn't even midnight yet! But the night of building forts, playing chase etc made these boys crash)

STRIKE A POSE

I really need to get better at taking more pictures, but thanks to my mom pretty much every hour of Carders live was documented via photos.

THE FAMILIA

It was so much fun to spend SO much time as a family, gotta love the holidays :)