Seth Singing

Seth has been singing more Primary songs over the past several months and getting better everyday making his words clearer. His favorite song is "I Love to See the Temple." We've been trying to get it on video for so long but something always happened to mess it up (background interference from Madeline, stage fright once the camera came out, etc.)

This time, we had just given him his own pocket size Children's Songbook (he loves the one at Aunt Marianne's). He found the page on his own and started singing! I frantically motioned Justin to find the camera. After a long minute stretched by (finding the camera, waiting for it to turn on), I told Seth we were going to sing the second verse. The result is below--Enjoy!



Seth loves the song so much that he loves to clap after we finish!

The words to the entire song are below:

"I Love to See the Temple"

I love to see the temple.
I'm going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit,
To listen and to pray.
For the temple is a house of God,
A place of love and beauty.
I'll prepare myself while I am young;
This is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple.
I'll go inside someday.
I'll cov'nant with my Father;
I'll promise to obey.
For the temple is a holy place
Where we are sealed together.
As a child of God, I've learned this truth:
A fam'ly is forever.

(Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, 1980. Children's Songbook of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1989).

I love the Primary songs! I love the reminder in this song that families can be together forever. Sometimes when I sing this song for the boys at night, the Spirit is strong, and I feel a small portion of the special peace I find at the temple.

I'm so thankful that I know my Heavenly Father lives and that He has given us temples to seal families together beyond death into the eternities!

Seth Growing Up

Since he hasn't wanted to stay in his big boy bed at night, we've had to stop giving him naps. This has made him rather cranky sometimes. One of the first times he just had "quiet time" instead of a nap, he fell asleep on the floor in the middle of his toys. His door was open, and I snapped a picture!



Seth, like Benjamin, loves to be a big helper! Here he is helping to cook the sauce for enchiladas.
As a side note, in these pictures you can see the back splash I painted in the kitchen (sunflowers and ladybugs)--I took separate pictures when I finished it last summer but never got them posted :).

He kept asking to "check" the chicken--he would pick it up with the spoon, say "not done yet" and drop it back into the water. He LOVES to stir! (Even after he grazed the pan and had to spend a minute with his finger under the cold water, he still wanted to help cook!--I gave him a longer spoon that time around.)


He also loves to "wash dishes" though he often gets distracted "making soup."

He has his moments of terror, but we all love him!!

Madeline is Mobile!

So, I don't really know what to call how Madeline moves in this video--creeping, army crawling--but whatever it's named, she is mobile!



p.s. In the two or so days since filming this, Madeline has improved dramatically in her coordination and muscle strength--it looks like traditional crawling more of the time!

Christmas

When we read the story of Christ's birth this year on Christmas Eve, we also acted it out. Our boys really enjoyed it (Justin less so for the dressing up). Madeline kept not wanting to lay down and play Baby Jesus. We also borrowed a tradition from one of our neighbors and throughout the month of December we placed a soft piece of cloth in a box every time we did something like Jesus would do. It really helped center Christmas around Christ and His birth. On Christmas morning, the boys woke up to see Baby Jesus in his box under the Christmas tree. They really liked thinking about how soft the bed would be for Baby Jesus.






This year, instead of trying to capture our children's faces as they opened their gifts, I opted for enjoying watching them. I did pull out the camera for this wonderful photo below of the boys enthralled with the last gift they opened.The boys' favorite toy is this train set Grandma Clendening sent. They play with it every day (Justin of course loves to help them set up cool new arrangements).

We had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed all the time we were able to spend together as a family. I love this time of year that we get to focus on the Savior, His birth and His life. We hope that all your Christmases were equally merry!

Halloween Photos

So I know this is totally belated but enjoy the Halloween photos below.

The boys loved making and frosting Halloween cookies (and of course eating them too!).


Miss Madeline was adorable in the ballerina tutu that Aunt Marianne made for her! We got so many comments on her as we were out trick-or-treating with the boys.



The boys loved being pirates! Seth got pretty good at saying arrgh!

Updated Pictures

We tried a couple of times to get more family pictures over the Thanksgiving break. Marianne was amazing--taking copious amounts of pictures two separate times. However, when you have to try getting three small children to be happy and all smile at (and look at) the camera at the same time--even miracle workers (like Marianne) have difficulty. It probably didn't help that it was nearing nap time, and the boys wanted to play since we were outside.

Luckily, I've discovered a new feature on my computer (thanks Marianne!) that allows me to capture selections of photos. So, below are the pictures I wish were all in one!
Seth holding his favorite bear (luckily it made it through the wash recently though the tag warns against washing). He loves all stuffed animals but this bear is his favorite. (As a side note, his nickname, Squishy, used to apply to his posture but still fits because he loves to squish stuffed animals--either in his arms (hugs) or on the floor).


Miss Madeline in one of the rare face front smile (ish) faces. She has a full-face, open mouth smile that is heart-stealing. I'll have to get more pictures from Marianne that have better photos of her.


Benjamin was having fun with grandparents visiting and being outside with everyone.


While I like Justin and myself in this picture, I love Madeline's face! It is so indicative of her personality. She is so excited she got her arm free from Mom's jacket! She loves to wiggle and move and surprise those around her!

Hope you enjoy these pictures of our family. I will try to get more photos and updates posted in the next three weeks that I have off from school.

Merry Christmas!

Growing up!

Our children are growing up!

Below is the result of Seth refusing to take a nap in his big boy bed a few weeks ago--he fell asleep during Kung Fu Panda!
He is getting better sometimes at staying in his big boy bed to sleep--he will occasionally take naps and sleep there at night. The other nights he sleeps in the pack 'n' play as Madeline is now sleeping in the crib.


She is also sitting up! While she does tip over eventually, she does sit up for extended periods of time (at least when she wants to).


While we tried some rice cereal a few weeks ago (to disastrous results--she screamed and fussed the whole night long), I brought the highchair in tonight so she could watch the rest of us eat dinner. Usually she is in her bouncer near the table during dinner (though she ends up on my lap or Justin's), but she enjoyed being able to see so much better from the highchair and contributed some gurgles to the conversation!

Seth in a Big Boy Bed!

Madeline is getting big enough that she will need the crib soon. We weren't sure Seth was really ready for a big bed but we tried it last night! We set up the bunk beds in the afternoon (with Seth watching and helping) and then put them to bed at night. Seth only got up twice (but never came out of the room and slept well!



They love their bunk beds!

Benjamin's first day of school!

Benjamin is five and a kindergartener! He rides the bus to school and gets on the bus at 6:30 in the morning and gets home around 3:10. The pictures below were taken the first day of school, the first two in the morning one with night vision the other regular and the last picture was taken when he got home from school.



Benjamin loves going to school and Seth is adjusting to losing his daytime playmate--luckily he gets to go and see Aunt Marianne every day!

So I know these posts are short but hopefully they will get you a little caught up on what is happening with the Jorgensens. :)

Madeline Rolling Over!

So I know I am totally behind on the blog--here is an attempt to catch up!

Madeline has started to roll over from her stomach to her back. I got out the camera five minutes ago to try and catch it and she cooperated!



She is growing so much!!

We all love Madeline and her brothers are so cute helping me take care of her!