The "Grace" of God

Last night Jared and I went to see a house we are hoping to buy. When we arrived home an hour later I had 5 messages on my answering machine. Everyone of them was from different members of my family and they all said pretty much the same thing "Jen, call me, right away - it's about Amy." After the 5th message I was pretty sure Aim was having the baby. I had no idea what was really going on but now that I've talked to the fam and Miss Amy herself here are my feelings on it. I love that my beautiful niece is named Grace and that long before she was born she was Grace. I love that by the Grace of God a neighbor man who I would love to call and personally thank, had the knowledge to call ahead, drive through lights, do everything he could for his "neighbor" my sister. I love that by the Grace of God a hospital who normally doesn't have any OB's on duty just happened to have 2 there when Amy arrived. I love that by the Grace of God my sister was able to have her baby within 8 minutes of arriving at the hospital - a C-section normally takes about an hour for prep - delivery and all the what not. I know that by the Grace of God , his tender mercies our little Grace and Miss Amy are alive. I'm so grateful for a Father In Heaven who knows our every need and isn't amazing who he places in our path to help us along the way. I love you Grace! You too Aim!

Love Aunt Jenny

What I Love About Christmas!

1. My children acting out the nativity
2. Christmas music

3. All the extra cars in front of peoples houses (it means their family is there)

4. Phone calls from family & friends singing funny renditions of Christmas songs.
5. Staying up late for months making my kiddos a handmade Christmas and them fully appreciating every detail.

6. My hubby sewing - yes I said sewing all of my kids a football . I love that he can sew better than any one of my siblings! THAT AIN'T RIGHT!

7. The gift of the Savior's birth and knowing that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.

8. Waking up early and just loving every minute of it

We had a lovely Christmas and the kids were spoiled. Didn't mean too but it always happens. You know you forget exactly what you have gotten them until you pull it out to wrap it up and then bammmo you realize that you have alot of stuff! TOO MUCH STUFF! Here's some great pictures of the day and some pics of my cute sisters in there matching aprons that I made them. Molly thanks for being patient for a whole year to get yours - Em thank your lucky stars you got yours on time. Aunt Jen thanks for making Gavin that adorable dinosaur play blankie. He loves it -mostly his mom loves it. Grandma thanks for the darling, comfy, cozy jammies. Love you all and hope that the spirit of Christmas lives on at your house for the rest of the year. Alot of pics I know but isn't it fun . Oh and isn't the Z-man funny in his Charlie Brown shirt - we just had too - when he was littler and had no hair he looked so much like ole Chuck!

Kisses!

Happy 9th Birthday Sweet Pea!

It was 9 years ago today (the 21st - I'm writing this after midnight) that I became a mother for the very first time! It was a wonderful day and she was so so little and scary to me. She weighed 6lbs 13 ounces & only weighed 6lbs 3 ounces when we took her home the day before Christmas. She was our very best Christmas present and to this day I still believe that she is one of those Christmas Angels - the kind without wings. Paige is silly & talkative, beautiful & kind, she is a lover of Ballet & an amazing artist. Paige is honest & loves her heavenly father. Paige is creative & is always dreaming of the most wonderful crafts she can make. At the age of 9 Paige understands how important the sacrament is in her life, she understands that she can pray to her Heavenly Father for any reason and she knows that he will answer her. It is so amazing to me how clear these important things are to her. I just want to share one little story about my girl although I could share a million like this. "One day Paige, Anna and I were on a walk. Paige got distracted for a moment and when she looked forward again in the direction she was walking she ran her face right into a metal mailbox. It was a pretty hard hit and she quickly began to cry. I bent down to kiss her sweet little face and to comfort her and said "Paigey I'm so sorry are you Ok" . Then she said to me "Oh Momma thanks for taking care of me." I will always remember that day because it just really hit me how unconcerned this girl was with her self and just how much she does and always has looked outward to others and this has made her such a grateful person.

Happy Birthday my girl! I love you !

Mommy

Here's a picture of Paigey today on her 9th birthday and here's the present she gave Jared and I on her birthday. She made this origami nativity for us. Isn't that just amazing. What a talented , thoughtful girl! Oh and thanks Aunt Molly for making Paigey's birthday special and for the yummy brownies and icecream. We love you!!!

2008 Holyoak News

Merry Christmas
2008

The Holyoak Family

Jared -a.k.a (most wonderful dad, handsome hubby, bacon bringer, family glue, tickle monster, brown haired cuddle-up, Idaho's only Jets Fan, all around good guy!)

Jen - a.k.a (momma, meal maker, taxi, school volunteer, etsy lover, sewing enthusiast, scrub cap maker, the one with the phone stuck to her ear, ward enrichment leader)

Paige - a.k.a (sweet pea, ballerina, artist extraordinaire, most obedient, 3rd grader- OH MY!, 2nd momma to Gavin, Webkinz lover, beautiful green eyed girl.)

Anna - a.k.a (annie bananie, treat lover, Minnie mouse lover, worlds happiest girl, most willing to share, 1st grader -OH MY!, beautiful brown haired girl)

Zander - a.k.a (zooka bazini, Mr. Independence, Mr. I can do that, lover of yogurt and cheese, binky holder, mommas boy , 3 year old computer guru, handsome blue eyed boy)

Gavin - a.k.a. (baby GOO, chubba wubba, littlest big man, happiest baby, sleeper through the nighter (yes those are words), worlds cutest baby, 2008's biggest blessing.)

We Hope this letter finds you all happy & healthy! As you can see we are doing quite well at our house. We have had a wonderful year and we were all so excited to welcome our new little “big”Holyoak man, baby Gavin who was born on September 8th and weighed in at an amazing 9lbs 13 ounces. ZOOWZERS! We have not made it through this year without the blessings of our Savior whose birth we are so grateful to celebrate this time of year and all year through. We love the Lord and are very aware of his hand in our lives and just how lost we would all be without him. We love you all and are grateful for your friendships and unfailing love. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas & A very blessed New Year.

Love & big kisses, The Holyoak Family
Jared, Jen, Paige, Anna, Zander, & Gavin

Joy To Everyone! Merry Christmas

Elfin Holyoak Hoedown

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Funny Stuff!!!

THANKFUL !!!

When I look at these pictures I can't help but be Thankful. It brings to mind a favorite song - ok a little part of that song " We Love Thee Lord. Our Hearts are Full. " I do love the Lord and I know he has given me all that I have and just thinking of that does make my heart full and my eyes run over!

Quote of the DAY!!

"HAVE YOU EVER SOLD YOUR LEG FOR A SKITTLE?!"

thanks Aim

This is Scary Folks!!! I Warned YOU!!!

Uncle Sharky & Hammy Head! When Matt picked up Hammy Head he exclaimed" geesh he is heavy"!!! Can you tell by the way he is holding him ? LOL!!! I was Fairy Godmother and then I couldn't resist puttin on the shark head! I know , I know , I'm a dork!!! Isn't it funny to be a dork some of the time!!!! By the way if you look at this blog and I find out and you didn't comment then I will have to come to your house and sick Uncle Sharky on you! I mean it! Kisses!!!

Mummies & Pirates & Ghosts all a Fright! OH MY!!

Sooooo today is Halloween! I wake up bright and early and my children have all of their WEBKINZ. You've heard of Webkinz right!!? Well, we have alot alot alot of them at our house. WEll anyhow, I wake up and there are the Webkinz and my children dressing them up for Halloween. Yes, they thought up all of them on their own. I sewed the witch costume and the ghost ones. My favorite one is Alvin , Anna's chipmunk as a ghost , no he is not a member of the KKK! Oh and how clever is Miss Paige for making that "outerspace helmet for Horton the Elephant"! ENJOY the pictures they are good for a laugh! Happy Haunting!!!!

Happy Happy Halloween Part 2

Happy Happy Halloween!!!!!

This year I decided to use the Under the Sea theme for my little darlins! So here they are. I had to include the one pic of Mr. Sharky Boy with his gigantic hammerhead stuck in his baby brothers eye! I laughed so hard when I saw that one - it is actually smashing little NEMO's nose flat!!! Oh and just for your Halloween enjoyment I thought I would post some pics of years past. I do so enjoy Halloween! Happy Haunting!!!

School Picture Day - It's a Tradition!!!

Wednesday was school picture day! You know they never turn out that great and that Aunt Amy can do it so so so much better but it's a tradition and so you at least have to order a small picture - Right!!! Here are the pictures of my girly girls just before I sent them off to school on picture day. As you can see if the pictures don't turn out it wasn't because they didn't look sooooooo darn cute! It comes easy to them! CUTIE PATOOOTIE!!!

I Wanna Suck Him Up Through A Straw!!!

Kissing him just isn't enough, I wanna suck Him Up through a Straw!!! I read this statement on Amy & Scotty's friend's blog about his little baby boy and I couldn't help but laugh and whole heartly agree! He put my exact feelings into words! You now when you have a baby and you say things like this or "I could just eat him", "I could suck his ears off ". You know what I'm saying. Well people who don't have kids look at you like you've clearly lost your mind or that they might have to turn you in. It's all good though because one day they get their little edible baby creature and they know exactly what your talking about. I think this must be the reason Grandma Bonnie kisses so hard it hurts sometimes. She too wants to eat them! Just look at my little delicious boy. Don't you want to suck him up through a straw too! Man I love being a MOM! Nothing better I tell you, NOTHING!!!

My Little Monsters!!

Here are pictures of my two little monster boys in the shirts I made them! Also, I thought I would include pictures of my living room with my newly finished (thanks honey) fabric armoire and the new black picture frames (missing one for Gavin) and my vinyl Miracles sign! I think it turned out pretty snazzy - any suggestion from anyone ? I'm going to move those pictures off the neighboring wall! Don't my Halloween decorations look cute in here with my new black stuff? Well, i like it!