One Day at a Time

We are off to another year. I like doing monthly updates on our travels and life because at the end of the year, I print off each month and put them in a binder. Someday, we can look back at all the fun we had and how much we have grown and changed.



December I posted our family letter so I'll just add that is was a very fast month and it was so fun watching the girls with the Christmas tree and presents. Kamille LOVED watching movies about Santa Claus and kept telling me that he was her friend. She would tell every one Merry Christmas and ask about all the presents. Christmas day was so cute waking them up so they could spend the morning with Devin before he had to head to work. Lillian's favorite thing was wrapping paper, she didn't really care for the gifts much.

January we got to celebrate Lillian's 1st birthday. Devin and I started the KETO diet on the first (you can see that journey HERE) and so I was worried about making cake. Luckily I found a recipe using almond flour and sugar alternatives that tasted not too shabby.  Kamille loves birthday parties and she now has to wait until July to celebrate Devin's.
On January 14th Devin's grandpa Galloway passed away. I've only known him for 4 years and only knew that he loved his great grandchildren. Kamille wasn't afraid of him and he always wanted to talk to her and play with her. I wish I could have gotten to know him better when he was living. It's strange how much you can learn about someone after they pass. Devin's family found boxes and boxes of journals. He wrote EVERYDAY just a small paragraph and ended with it was a great day on most entries. I could turn back to Devin's birth-date 27 years ago and find him writing about it. It was a great reminder to keep a journal and as soon as we returned home, Devin and I took ours out and started writing.


Kamille is growing so fast! She has almost outgrown 3T and after we started her on a preschool kit she got for Christmas, it seems like overnight she decided she wasn't a little girl anymore. She knows what she likes and she isn't afraid to let us know. I'm lucky to be able to stay at home and watch her grow. She makes us laugh and says the funniest things. The other day I asked her to do something and she didn't do it. I made a sad face and started to fake cry (I know...it's called manipulation) she comes over and holds my head up with her little hands. Then she looks into my eyes and says, "Mom, life is hard sometimes....but I need you to be happy right now." She was so serious and I just fell over laughing. I don't know where she gets things sometimes.

Lillian never stops going. She likes to run, climb and do EVERYTHING that Kamille is doing. I can't help but smile when I see them laughing and running around. She can hold her own when it comes to her sister. If Kamille grabs something, Lillian isn't afraid to take it back and then run away of course. She is a daddy's girl all the way. She always wants to talk to him on the phone or snuggle with him. She is learning a few words like UP and BALL. I can't believe my little baby is one now and just moving right into 18 month clothing.

Devin just started work today after being off for just over a week. We are so grateful for his job with Kinder Morgan. Devin works so hard to provide for us and when he gets home from a 10-12 hour day he works on his online class. Only one more until his associates. He always had time for his girls and I love watching him interact with them.

I am enjoying being home. My days are filled with taking care of my girls, cleaning, cooking, laundry, small graphic projects for friends or family and then if I have time, scrap-booking and sewing. I love being in the Young Women program in church! It's been awesome getting to know the girls and I hope that I am a good example to them. I've been called to go on Trek as a photographer this year and that's going to be a neat experience.

This year we have many trips, reunions, and hopefully good changes coming our way.
God be with you,
Kaylynn Jackson

CHRISTMAS LETTER

November was a quiet month for us. I didn't have any photoshoots and we didn't really travel anywhere exciting. We have had really nice weather, so we got to go on a few walks. I'm on a league volleyball team and we are just about to finish that up with a tournament this Saturday. I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout. I was thinking it would be more of an open gym and we might get enough people to play a game, but we have 6 full teams and we play 2 games a week and have t-shirts and everything. It's been a blast, and I have finally started meeting the locals. This month we also finally traded in our Borrego for a Truck and we celebrated my 26th birthday.


Kamille is as sassy as every. She says some of the funniest things and I just have to laugh and go with it. Last month we went to visit Grandma Jackson at her new job in Williston. The boss came out to meet the girls and he picked up Lillian. Kamille marched right up to him and yelled, "Are you CRAZY?!" We all laughed so hard and I don't know where she picked that phrase up. Just the other day she started using "Amazing" a lot. I don't think she quite understands how to use it yet, Example: "Mom I just pooped in your toilet and it was amazing!" .....oh child
Lillian is walking all over the place and eating everything she can get her hands on. She likes to pull Kamille's hair and take her toys. She also like to wander during church meetings and sit with different people. She is the sweetest little girl and loves her daddy so much. She wants to talk to him every time he calls but so does Kamille, so it turns into a big fight.
Devin and I did awesome during November on eating better and working out. I lost 11 pounds and 6 inches! We also had a carb-less Thanksgiving and I didn't even crave the potatoes, rolls...etc. We are continuing to eat better and hoping that we cans stick with it.


I hope everyone has a great December!
Love, Kaylynn Jackson

My husband bought me an instant pot for my birthday this month and I have been using everyday! I love making beef stew but I hate letting it simmer for hours on the stove top. I also love beef barley soup but I have never made barley ever! I searched for a few recipes and couldn't find one for the instant pot (maybe you've had better luck). So I decided to venture out and try my own recipe! It was AMAZING! Homemade beef barley stew in less than a hour, start to finish! The meat was so tender and the barley wasn't mush too! (I used the Lux Mini...but I would suggest a larger one because it was over the fill line)

So here is my recipe!

Ingredients:
1.5 lbs stew meat
1 Tbs Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
1 C Pearl Barley
6 C Chicken Broth (2 C and 4 C later)
Baby Carrots
Celery
1/2 Onion
Minced Garlic
1/4 C Ketchup
1 Tbs Worcestershire

Directions:
Saute the meat in the oil on the Saute setting. Season with salt and pepper. Rinse your barley and add it to the meat. Put in 2 Cups of chicken broth (or water and bullion). Set it on Pressure Cook for 25 min. When the timer goes off quick release. Add the rest of the ingredients and set to Pressure Cook for 4 more minutes. Quick Release and TA-DA! All done! :)

I was doing so good this year....then I got really busy with photoshoots, then I just forgot about September.

In September, the biggest thing we did was go to the Oregon Coast for the Scott and Julie Lloyd family Reunion. My sister and I were in charge this year. We got a beach house in Rockaway. We planned the food, family pictures, and a day in New Port. It was so much fun seeing everyone and catching up.



The drive was pretty long and because of wildfires near Portland, we had to go the long way home through Boise. On our way home just after dark we hit a broken semi tire with our Avenger. We got a litte dent in the front and got a small hole in our tire. It also tore the plastic underneath out. It was way scary! Usually tires are broken up and it's not too bad when you hit one...but this one was a whole tire tread! We made it to Nampa, to my aunt and uncles and then got the tire fixed in the morning.

October has been full of photoshoots! Pretty much every night. It's been fun getting to know new people and a lot of time Devin and the girls come with me for the drive. This month we got to watch General Conference and a few weeks later my mom came over for a few days to help can and freeze 80 lbs of chicken. Our canned chicken turned out amazing and I can't wait until Zaycon comes again in the spring. I also finally got to use my new pressure cooker! Lastly, Halloween! Kamille was Elsa and Lillian was Olaf. They had so much fun trick or treating and going to the Holy-ween in Stanley. 


Lillian is almost 10 months now. She is almost walking. Yesterday she stood up and took two steps to the couch. She likes to hold on to everything and go anywhere. She doesn't eat much baby food anymore. Now that she has 4 teeth (2 more about to break through) she is eating everything we eat. She loves to say Dada and I have only heard her say Mom a few times. She's our happy little girl and I love how much she loves her sister.

Kamille turned 3 on October 9th. She had a fun party with family and a few friends. My mom and I made a Barbie cake and had a delicious lunch! She got lots of presents and goodies. She loves to sing and dance and take care of Lillian. I always find her trying to feed her or change her diapers. She likes to pick out her own clothes and if I show her something she doesn't like she says, "Ahhh that hurts my eyes!" and she won't wear it. She knows all her colors, shapes, and can count to 10. She knows 3 letters (A B and C). She loves to go to Nursery on Sundays and I am looking forward to her starting Sunbeams in January. If I could use one word to describe her...it would be SASSY! Yesterday I told her to pick up her shoes. She looked at me and said, "ummm they are BOOTS!" And she does that horrible sigh and disgusted look when I ask her to help me pick up her toys. (I thought they do that when they are teenagers...not 3!) We love her so much :)

Devin is always working hard to provide for us. I'm so blessed to have him. The girls always get so excited on his days off when he can stay home and play with them. Today when he left for work, Kamille went to her little kitchen and said she was going to make dinner so Daddy would come home. (Because every time I make dinner he walks through the door) He's halfway through his class he's taking online and then he has one more class to get his Associates.

I have two more weeks of pictures and then I'm done for the season. It's getting pretty cold out already, but I hate turning people away. This year has been so busy with pictures. I love it! I have met some incredible families. Sometimes I get overloaded with processing (like now...after this I have 21 discs to finish and get out!) After photography season is over, I can catch up on my scrapbook and get a few sewing projects finished. I also have a few projects around the house I need to finish.

My weight-loss journey: yeah... I don't want to talk about it, but I will.  We took a little break (like 2 month break) we thought we could just watch what we eat and workout when we can, but that doesn't really work. I am someone who tracks inches, pounds, water, food intake and work-outs, otherwise I won't do it! so today is Nov 1st and we have started again, and that's okay :) It's better to start again and again and again as long as you never give up.

God be with you,
Kaylynn Jackson