Meet The Spencer's

Austin has a green thumb!

2011-08-16T22:17:00.003-06:00

Austin is our little scientist who always wonders who? what? why? when? where? and how? and often does his own little experiments, to answer those questions. Well at the beginning of summer, he was outside eating sunflower seeds with Alyssa, and he decided he would try to plant some of those seeds in our garden. He had been learning about seeds and the life cycle at the end of his first grade year, so he knew how it all worked, and what the seeds would need to grow. So he put those BBQ flavored sunflower seeds in the ground, where it got lots of sun and water, I just don't think any of us expected to see this monster of a sunflower come out of those seeds! Now Austin and Alyssa are wondering if it will produce BBQ Sunflower Seeds :)
Isn't she a beauty?

It's taller than Austin

My husband is 5'10" and it is just about his size! Kinda crazy!!
There are even some bees living inside of this monster!
If this is what kind of produce Austin grows. Maybe we should put him in charge of our garden next year :)

A PRESCHOOL GRADUATE

2011-06-08T23:17:00.000-06:00

She did it!!!

( Alyssa posing with Miss Michelle, on her last day of preschool,

they got to celebrate with a circus party!!)

My baby girl is a 5 year old preschool graduate! Kind of strange to think that, that whole stage of life, is over for our family. We now officially have 2 school aged kids! The year after that will be CRAZY when they are both in school all day, I can't think about that now, because I am SOOOOO not ready for that!!!

Alyssa is incredibly intelligent and loves to learn!

She is reading easy reader books she knows letters, sounds, vowels

adding and subtracting

knows proper names for shapes (ie: Diamond/Rhombus)

knows all of her colors

She is writing short stories, spelling out words on her own, (phonetically)

knows colors, and knows what colors are made when mixing colors (blue + yellow = green)

She can memorize poems, songs, and short passages.

She amazes me everyday, by the things she learns and knows! I love my children more than anything in the world, and I am glad I was blessed to be there mother!!!

I ran a marathon....of a day of pictures!!!

2011-06-05T13:57:00.002-06:00

HAHAHA some day I might be able to say I ACTUALLY RAN a marathon....

Yesterday was a great day for pictures!!! Me and my assistant Ashley (my niece, who I love and adore) started my back to back sessions at 10:00AM going every 15 minutes until 5pm, we had a few breaks, but the breaks were just enough to give us time to get back on schedule! This time we were smart and brought a cooler so our water stayed cold, and we brought treats for the kids (I am not against bribery) and brought mentos for us! All of the sessions went great, couldn't have wished for a smoother running day of pictures!! THEN came my last session, it was just a few quick pictures of a couple (this is a story for another time), so we took all the props and equipment to the car, and then as we were walking back to our spot, I slipped and fell HARD down the hill, landed flat on my butt, I heard a snap, from my shin, and my wrists and back hurt instantly, I couldn't stop the laughter and the tears, they were coming before I realized what happened. UNFORTUNATELY, the couple saw me fall!! Luckily I don't embarrass easily, I stood up and besides being swollen and bruised my wrists were fine, they ached a little but I could move them just fine, my shine was swollen but was fine even to the touch (weird! what was the snap sound?) I am glad Ashley was with me, she was laughing, which made me laugh, and then I pictured what it would have looked like to everyone else, which made me laugh harder, good times! I was able to finish their pictures, and felt fine, but then the drive home was excruciating and the tears came again :( my back never hurt so bad, so I went inside, when I dropped off Ashley, took some ibuprofen, laid down on the floor on my back, and did some of the spine massages I have learned in yoga and pilates, which felt good, and then when I tried to get up, something happened and it was the worst pain in all my life, it took my breath away, as this unspeakable pain radiated in my upper back, I rolled around in pain on the floor, and thought this was how the rest of my life would be. My mom has suffered with back pain throughout her life, and has had back surgery, and lives with pain everyday. I said a little prayer, and almost instantly, the pain started to relieve itself, not completely but, definitely not the pass out kind of pain! I went to bed early last night because it still hurt to sit in a chair, and after about 10 1/2 hours of sleep, I just feel like I had a great workout! Sore but, not painful sore, I am so thankful for whatever reason Heavenly Father had to relieve me from that pain, I know that is not always in the plan. AND I am thankful my camera didn't get destroyed in the fall!!!

I can ride my bike with no handle bars, no handle bars, no handle bars. . .

2011-05-24T21:49:00.008-06:00

well actually, without training wheels!!! Alyssa wanted nothing to do with learning how to ride last summer without training wheels. So I was incredibly surprised when her cousin Abby, which is a great teacher, taught her how to ride her bike in less than an hour!!! Abby was so cute running along side her, telling her "I am not going to let you fall, trust me!" and giving her encouragement, "you can do this!" "your doing great" "Way to go!" I was bummed I didn't have my camera with me, to get the actual FIRST time, but we recreated this and showed dad, for the first time! She was so proud of herself, and we are all proud of her too!!!

Austin was so excited for her, he said, "Now when we go on our family bike rides, we can explore the world even more, where her training wheels couldn't go before!" I just love my kids!!!

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T00:05:00.001-07:00

WiGgLe..:..:..then WiGgLe some more!!!

2010-10-19T21:25:00.004-06:00

Austin lost his first tooth today!!! I remember when he got his first tooth! This is the same tooth that is first to come out! Can't believe how big my baby boy is getting, I just love him to pieces!

He has been wiggling and wiggling and wiggling his tooth, and it was ready to come out. It hurt when he would eat a soft banana or bread and tonight when we were brushing his teeth he said OUCH! When the toothbrush touched it, so I told him I needed to look at his tooth, and I gave it a little tug, and it didn't come out (I think I chickened out) and then I said let me have one more look and he said "I'm just so nervous this is my first time losing a tooth" haha so I gave it one more tug and out it came! He said it scared him a little and it did hurt a little but now it feels fine. We just tucked his tooth under his pillow, and now he is anxiously awaiting morning to arrive so he can see what the tooth-fairy left him!!!

Fall Break!!! Day 1 "Fabulous Fall Break FUN!!!" Wheeler Farm

2010-10-13T23:50:00.012-06:00

Today is the first day of Fall Break for Austin's school and I am bound and determined to spend as much time with my kiddos as possible. Because this time of year is so busy for me with my photography business I feel like I am always on a shoot, or in front of the computer editing, I wanted to give them one on one time with mom, and not only that some fun Halloween and Fall activities and play time too!!!

So for Day 1 of our "Fabulous Fall Break FUN!!!" We went to Wheeler Farm. The kids and I love it there! I bought them some cute Halloween attire just for the occasion. My brother in law and sister in law are moving this weekend, so I brought my little 2 year old nephew, Preston, along, so they could get some packing done. My kids adore their cousins so it was perfect!!!

They got to feed the ducks (mostly geese). They are so used to people that you can get right up close and personal to them. Austin was walking around and honking like the geese and his little buddy Preston who like to copy his every move was doing just as he did. Preston liked roaring at the geese because it really got them honking.

We got to look at the animals...the kids favorite was the pigs! Because every time we have come the pigs have always been in their little house, and this time they were out and active!

Then we went on a Tractor pull ride, and got to see a scary graveyard and some more of the farm!! They got to climb on some of the old tractors and play in the old tree house, they were having so much fun!!!

Then we went into the hay/corn maze where Austin was the leader in finding our way out. Along the way they got to see some scary spiders and the corn that was left behind...they found that fascinating! They were very excited when the maze lead to the pumpkin patch where they could pick out there very own pumpkin! I told them, they could pick ANY pumpkin they wanted, the only rule was they had to be able to carry it by themselves, they were so excited and they each picked the perfect size pumpkin!

They had a blast!! And went right to bed when asked because they are excited for Day #2 of our "Fabulous Fall Break FUN!!!"

Alyssa's first day of pre school

2010-08-23T21:00:00.001-06:00

She started school this morning,

And she seemed so very small.

As I walked there beside her

In the pre school hall.

And as she took her place beside

the others in the class,

I realized how all too soon

Those first few years can pass.

Remembering, I saw her as

She first learned how to walk.

The words that we alone made out

When she began to talk.

This little girl so much absorbed

In learning how to write.

It seems as though she must have grown

To girlhood overnight.

My eyes were blurred by hastily

I brushed the tears away

Lest by some word or sign of mine

I mar her first big day.

Oh how I longed to stay with her

And keep her by the hand

To lead her through the places

That she couldn’t understand.

And something closely kin to fear

Was mingled with my pride.

I knew she would no longer be

A baby by my side.

But she must have her chance to live,

To work her problems out,

The privilege to grow and learn

What life is all about.

And I must share my little girl

With friends and work and play;

She’s not a baby anymore –

She’s in pre school today.

Alyssa started pre school today! She was so excited!! Time couldn't pass fast enough she wanted school to start NOW!! So to pass the time we had a little photo shoot on the front porch!

When I dropped her off, she gave me a hug and kiss and said "bye mom!" and out the door she went! She was so big!! I am so happy she loves school and had a great day!! She asked me when I picked her up, when she would be able to be big enough to go to Austin's school, I told her it would be next year, and my heart started to race...one step at a time...one step at a time :)

Birthday Weekend :)

2010-08-20T21:23:00.004-06:00

Chad and his dad and brother are hunting this weekend. I was bummed it was over my birthday, so I decided I would do something fun! So I decided me and the kids would go to relaxing lava hot springs, my mom thought it sounded like a good idea so I asked her to come along! Then my brother Matt, and my nieces Ashley and Grace decided to come along too!!! :) Funny thing though the motel didn't have any more rooms with more than 1 bed! So here we all are in a King Bed jacuzzi suite, hahahaha! I walked into the room and the jacuzzi is in the room, so I can't even enjoy soaking in it, unless I want to scar my family for life!!!

Day 1:

We got into town at about 6pm, checked in, and went and had a yummy dinner at Fat Jacks, it was so good, either because I was really hungry or because I am on vacation, either way very good! Then we went and walked up to the sunken gardens, which was really fun for the kids to explore, and it is so pretty! Last time I was here was 11 years ago, in March when it was all snowy and grey, so seeing all the greenery and flowers was fun! Then we took the kids to play at the park and they had a blast, they have one of those merry-go-rounds that all parks used to have...those are the best! Then we came back to our room, I am laughing at the comedy that is my life all 7 of us in a 1 king size bed room!!! We gave the 3 little kids a bath in the jacuzzi tub, they had a blast! Ashley is now taking a "bath" in the jacuzzi with her swimsuit on, and the kids are all on the floor watching Harry Potter...oh my life. Crazy, but it's the best!

Here's some pics from the lap top of our room:

need some inspiration???

2010-08-19T09:46:00.000-06:00

The O.G.

2010-08-18T21:52:00.004-06:00

Austin's 1st day of First Grade was a SUCCESS!!!
We celebrated by going out to dinner at the Olive Garden (or the O.G. as Chad calls it, he is big on initials) at the request of Austin. He has been begging to go to the olive garden so several weeks now, so we finally caved! I think he found his new favorite soup..MINESTRONE! mine too!!
Alyssa was so tired from trying to get used to the new early morning routine, she was in a little trance at dinner, I thought she would conk right out when we got home, but she caught a second wind, and was jumping on the trampoline and giggling right along side Austin.

The best part of an early morning schedule...kids not fighting you when you say "BED TIME!" they gladly brushed their teeth, said their prayers and climbed into bed! (sigh) Now time for me to crawl into bed!

FIRST GRADE!!!!

2010-08-18T10:48:00.006-06:00

Today is the day that Austin started first grade!!! Last night, Austin told me that he was a little nervous but I explained to him that most everyone is nervous, but it would be fun and after the first day he wouldn't be nervous anymore. So he took a nice relaxing bubble bath and then Chad gave him a blessing. In his blessing Chad blessed him to have confidence and my shy, timid little guy walked into his classroom more confident than I have ever seen him! He saw friends from his kindergarten class so he was very excited!!!

I wanted to be there with him and not leave, because it is hard knowing, that he is now going to be with his teachers and friends more than he is with me, I wish I could be there to protect him from anything that comes his way, but all we can do is prepare our children so they can handle the obstacles when they come their way. I'm excited that he is growing and learning, but there is a part of me that wants to keep him my little boy forever!

Today will be the first time he is having school lunch, he was pretty excited about that! They also get Pizza Hut Pizza every Thursday so he was really excited about that. He was also really excited that he will now have 3 recesses!!! I just hope he does well with the WHOLE DAY of school... we'll see! These first 3 days this week are short days, so the full day of school doesn't start until Monday.

Last year Austin and his cousin and best friend Abby was in his Kindergarten class. This year they are in different classes. They were both a little bummed and I am sure out of their comfort zone a little but they were excited that they would be able to see each other at recess :) I'm glad that they have each other!!!

Alyssa starts preschool on Monday, so I get to do this "letting go" thing all over again, next week!! OY VAY!!!

Abby

Austin's first day of school went great!!! We had a few issues with the pick up procedures, apparently they don't tell you what to do you just figure it out. So there were a few tears, but we got it all figured it out now, and tomorrow should go much, much, smoother!

It's what fun is....

2010-08-13T21:30:00.001-06:00

My awesome mother in law took all of her boys and families (minus Kim, she was stuck at work) to Lagoon. We set up a little camp and spent the day there. We had so much fun!!! The kids can't stop talking about it!! Last time we went our kids were 4 and 2 and couldn't go on many rides other than the kids rides, well this year they are 6 and 4 and Austin was at the heigh requirement to go on most the rides...he was nervous and didn't want to go on some of them, but decided to try them out anyway, and love it! He went on the Tidal Wave,Colossus, The Wicked, The Screamer, The Terror ride, The Wild Mouse, The White Roller Coaster and of course all the kiddy rides! Alyssa loved going on the ladybug bop and, the egg drop (is what they called it) They had so much fun playing all day with cousins, and being with Grandma, Uncles and Aunt, and of course mom and dad! We went down the rattlesnake rapids, and the little boys did not like getting all soaking wet, and neither did Alyssa, so she stayed out the next time with Grandma and sleeping Bryson! I love that our families all get along so well, and we can do fun things like this!!

Thanks again Luan, for an amazing day!!!

Swimming Lessons

2010-08-12T00:05:00.007-06:00

Tomorrow well technically today is the kids last day of Swimming Lessons...they have taken 3 sessions this summer, and they are quite the little swimmers now!!! They have always loved the water but now their confidence and ability has gone through the roof!!! They love to swim, and I love to watch them learn and grow!!! My favorite thing is when they learn something new or finally get the hang of something they look over at me with a big grin to make sure I was watching...SO CUTE!!!! The teachers are so cute with the kids and have taught me some fun games to play with the kids in the water ("What time is is Mr. Shark, Fishy in a basket, Treasure Hunt)
I like how they had fun cute names for everything like monster arms, catch a falling star, starfish floats, monkey-airplane-soldier, it helps the kids remember the different moves and motions with their legs and arms!! They have been GREAT!!!

And although they don't always do it at home, it makes me very proud to see how well Austin and Alyssa both listen to their teachers...other kids will be swimming and doing their own thing and my kids are little angels sitting on the steps waiting for the teachers instructions...they save their devious behavior for mom and dad...Lucky us!

1st session

2nd Session

Tomorrow is their celebration day where they get to just jump off the diving board over and over again....they love it!!! (these pics were taken at the end of their last session)

It's Great to be 8!!!

2010-08-07T21:59:00.002-06:00

My niece, Jaydyn was baptized by her dad on Saturday 08/07/10, I was so happy that I would be able to be there. Chad had to miss it he had CNA clinicals that needed to be done that weekend, so the kids and I went to support her. She was smiling from ear to ear and the spirit was so strong! It was the feeling where you feel like your chest is just going to burst open, very overwhelming. Austin and Alyssa enjoyed being able to watch the baptism. Austin has been a little nervous (I know he still has 2 more years) but I think seeing that they didn't hold you under water eased his nerves, he has now been saying he can't wait until he is 8 so he can start scouts and be baptized :)
Alyssa just liked being up front taking in all the action. Her and Laney sat in their own pew, and held their own hymn books and thought they were as big as could be!
I had a wedding to photograph so I missed the luncheon afterward, but Luan, took Austin and Alyssa with her so they could play with the cousins!
Jaydyn
Jaydyn with her Dad (Nick, Chad's brother)

Seth, Preston, Alyssa and Alayna

Summer isn't complete without CAMPING!!!!!

2010-07-18T23:20:00.002-06:00

We had an overnight camping trip with Chad's brother Nick and family. The kids always play so nice together!!! I always wanted cousins my same age when I was growing up. I only had 2 cousins and when I was in elementary school they were in high school, so they didn't really want to play the same things I did :)

We went up American Fork Canyon, had tinfoil dinners and a yummy tinfoil breakfast, ate s'mores and some junk food...it was GREAT!!!
The kids got dirty, got to throw rocks in the river, burn sticks in the fire, Alyssa gathered all the wild flowers she could, and Austin got to chop down trees with his hatchet...he even got Seth in on the action :)

We had a lot of fun, but I think I am definitely only an overnight camping kind of girl. So it was so nice to get home and get in the shower!!!

Austin is S-I-X !!!!

2010-07-14T23:52:00.001-06:00

Love you little man!!! Hope you have an awesome day!!!!

Happy 6th Birthday Austin!!!!

2010-07-09T23:23:00.000-06:00

Austin had his 6th birthday party at Bouncin' off the Walls...our family loves this place!!! He wanted to do a batman themes party as well. And I was lucky enough to win a cake giveaway a few month earlier from Sprinklebelle Cakes So Austin got a very cool Batman Cake and cupcakes!! He had friends from school and his cousins at his party so he had a blast!!!

Things Austin Mastered Last Year
* can read simple books, and is an awesome speller
* can swim
* goes down waterslides by himself
* make his bed
* and what he most proud of is passing off levels on his own on this PS3 games

Happy Independence Day!!!

2010-07-04T23:59:00.003-06:00

Take a look at my cute little fire crackers!!!

and here is some awesomeness (at least I think so)

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T23:19:00.002-06:00

my kids in their "My Mom Rocks!" and "Mommy's lil girl" shirts!!!

I am so thankful to all the women in my life that are such an amazing example of being a great Mother. I am lucky enough to have not only an amazing mother but a fabulous mother in law that raised an amazing son...my husband!!!

10 reasons why this Mother's Day was awesome

- I got to sleep in...YAY!!!!!
- I have 2 very special reasons that I get to celebrate mothers day as a mother
- I received a handmade card by my husband
- I received a handwritten card by my son (I cried reading it, I can't believe he is old enough to write his own letter)
- I was able to spend time with my mom and sisters and nieces today
- I got to eat a dinner prepared by my brother
- I received chocolates from my hubby and kids
- I got some yummy lotion and body wash
- I opened a hand painted bird from my son in a decorated gift bag from my son
- I got a picture and card made by my daughter and she wrote out and spelled "MOM" all by herself

the list could go on and on...I love my kids and everything about being a mom!!! My favorite quote for the day"

"one of the greatest things a father can do for his children, is love their mother ♥"

Alyssa is F-O-U-R-!!!!

2010-04-26T00:55:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it!! She has grown up so much!!! She was so excited to have her four year old photo shoot with her mama!!! We went shopping and got the perfect outfit(s) and then we painted nails, and did her hair, pampered her from head to toe and she was ready to model!!! She is so smart and says the cutest things! We are almost through registering her to start pre school in the fall! She is excited to go to school like her big brother, we'll see how it goes though. I still have to sit in her sun beams class with her, however she was fine with me just dropping her off at her dance class....you never know with this little girl, she is definitely a DIVA!!!

She was so excited to have her birthday party at Bouncin off the Walls!! All her cousins and family came, and had a blast!!! I think Dad and her Uncles had the most fun though :) Chad and his brothers were making obstacle courses and timing each other and having a little competition!!! Alyssa also chose a tinkerbelle ice cream cake she thought it was the coolest thing, ice cream as cake...crazy!!! She was spoiled with presents and got the cutest dresses and summer clothes (thank you), and fun toys and cards!!! Oh and to top it all off, she wasn't grumpy once the whole day!!!

Alyssa's Dance Recital

2010-04-21T01:12:00.000-06:00

"Me and My Teddy Bear" was the song that they danced to. It was so cute!!! Alyssa loves to dance and loves to perform on stage, she was so cute with her cousin Haylie all dolled up!!! Haylie was a bit confused when they forgot to give her, her TeddY Bear to dance with but she kept going right along, luckily they finally realized what happened and ran it out to her!!! I'm so glad Alyssa loves her dance class and teachers so much, we will definitely be signing up for the fall!!!

Something cute happened to me while at the dress rehearsal for her recital. I was walking through the hallway when I saw a cute little face smiling back at me and waving frantically!!! it was one of the little girls that I have taken pictures of several times, I heard her little friend say "is that your mom?" she said "No, that's my photographer" best part was she said it all proud and with a huge smile on her face...I felt like a mini celebrity!!!

Just a reminder...

2009-12-21T09:06:00.005-07:00

Today (by 8pm MST.) is the last day to order your temple pictures in order to receive them BEFORE Christmas!

To order just send me an e-mail: kristenspencerphotography@yahoo.com

you can get them customized with your wedding date or favorite saying at no extra cost!

www.kristenspencerphotographytemples.blogspot.com

Cute Hats!!!

2009-12-01T22:09:00.003-07:00

My sister in law is incredibly talented at whatever she does!!! I have to say I was thrilled when she picked up this new skill!!! She makes those cute hats that you see everywhere, but are way too expensive to buy, and she sells them at a price I can afford!!! You should check out her website, she can make them in any color, or size!!! I have one for me AND Alyssa and I have to say we are very cute in them!!! Her website is:

http://crochet-d.blogspot.com/

I am having a boutique at my house next week and she is going to be selling her hats there, you will have to stop by!!!!

2009-12-01T21:37:00.003-07:00

I received this award from Becky. In order to receive this award I was asked to list 10 honest things about myself and then pass it on to 7 other bloggers.

1. I will sneak a lick of the frosting on cakes and blame it on the kids! I can't resist!!!!

2. I still feel like and act like I am 15 when I am around my friends and when I am alone with Chad. I am wild and crazy and say and do weird things, and I don't know if this is normal, or if I will ever grow up!

3. I absolutely hate snow in my front yard that has footprints in it! And absolutely LOVE seeing my kids footprints in the snow in the backyard!!! Oh this is only the tip of the iceberg of how weird I am!!!

4. I love to go to fancy restaurants, even though I know I won't like any of the food, just because it's fancy!!! And feel no shame when I have Chad stop at Taco Bell for a .79 cent taco on the way home!!!

5. I can't stand wet wood!!! It gives me the chills, this includes popsicle sticks!! I can't stand watching someone lick a the last little bit of their popsicle off the stick....I just got the chills thinking about it!!!

6. I love to have people brush or play with my hair and tickle my back! I selfishly play hairdresser with Alyssa so she will play with my hair, and let all the kids draw all over my back because it tickles!!!! See, getting a little more weird aren't I!!

7. I have feet issues! If I am asked to take off my shoes, I excuse myself to their bathroom and wash my feet in their sink to make sure they don't stink!!! You'll think twice about asking me won't you and somehow it got even more weird....

8. I absolutely love my job and would do it all if I was getting paid or not...BUT because we NEED the money, I won't turn it away :)

9. I love otterpops, slushies, snow cones, etc. I eat otterpops by the handful, slushies in the winter and wanted to buy a snow cone stand this summer!!! I would have saved money that way!!!

10. I am a quick learner! Show me how to do something once I can do it, BUT if I have to read how to do it, it will take twice as long, because I wont read the instructions all the way through, I will make my own attempt at how it "should" be done!!!

Now I am going to Challenge

Jessica

Keri

Jennifer

Nora

Nicole

Miranda

Shanon

to do this same thing on your blog!!!

H.A.L.L.O.W.E.E.N. 2.0.0.9.

2009-11-03T15:02:00.011-07:00

Let the Halloween festivities begin!!!

The week of Halloween was full of different celebrations, I was so excited to be able to go to Austin's school and help out with his class Halloween party. They had a school assembly and they sang a little song to the school, such cuties!!! I was asked to help out by giving a group of nine kids their spelling test, and I am sure I wont be asked again!!! The kids were at 2 different tables and between me going back and forth and being confused myself, the kids words were all out of order and crazy SO I am sure I made it very hard to correct...sorry Mr. Matt!!!

Then we switched gears into something I am good at, and that is playing with the kids!!! I was in charge of pumpkin bowling!!! The kids were so cute some would just throw the pumpkin as hard as the could, I am surprised they didn't put a hole in the wall, and some just barely rolled it, but they all had fun!!! They also had a bean bag toss and fun edible craft snack, an oreo spider, and then they had their picture taken in their costume and they decorated a little coffin and their costume picture will go inside it!!! It was fun to put faces to names and to see how Austin interacts with his little buddies and teacher!

me "Doctor" Austin " Skeleton" Abby "Sherbet Fairy"

I don't look too tired do I??? I am so not a morning person!!!

No just the cute ones!!!

Miss Abby

Mr. Austin

Mr. Matt is Super Mario

Austin and Abby's Class

Their Halloween Song performance

Austin bowling

Abby with her stretchy skeleton

Austin getting ready to leave

Abby getting ready to go

Austin and his buddy Nicholas

Later that night we went to a Halloween party at Nick and Kim's house (Chads Brother) we were bringing a 7 layer dip, and I made ours to look like a spider web...

Chad was being a "scrooge" about dressing up...so he claimed to be a homicidal maniac, and also my patient....LAME!!!! Next year I am going to make him go all out!!!

we had a lot of fun seeing everyone in their costumes! The kids got to go on a little treasure hunt and the clues took them all over the house!!! Then Kim read us all a spooky story, told in the dark, and as she was telling the story she passed around a dead mans body party...GROSS!!

More pictures of this night coming soon (I didn't have my camera with me) !

TRICK or TREAT

Halloween day was spent with over excited kids!!! So I started getting them ready earlier than I should have and then that just made it worse. Finally the time came to go on the candy hunt!!! The kids were so cute running from door to door and racing to ring the bell first, I was so proud when they said thank you at each house!!! Luckily since they are still young they didn't want to stay out very long, they just wanted to get home and start eating their candy!!!

My mom made her homemade chili and cornbread...it was so yummy!!! I have hidden their trick or treat bags otherwise Alyssa would have had hers gone on night ONE!!!! I keep thinking she will forget, but the only thing that I think runs through her head is "get candy, get candy, get candy, get candy "

I'm glad they had such a fun night!!!

Austin

The whole gang

Austin and Alyssa

Happy Halloween!!!

2009-10-31T17:15:00.001-06:00

Don't get too wild with the candy!!!!

Guess Who???

2009-10-29T23:34:00.002-06:00

I told you all Chad was an amazing pumpkin carver :)

Now it's mom and dads turn!!!

2009-10-29T21:04:00.000-06:00

I am so impatient, when it comes to things like, poking holes through a pumpkin carving stencil after I just gutted and scraped the insides out and then have to carve the dang thing after the stenciling...ya right!!! So not for me!!! I will leave that to Chad...BUT it definitely shows in the results :) I freehanded my spider and he took the time to make an amazing creation!!! We couldn't quite keep the kids busy enough...Alyssa kept sneaking over for a stab at the pumpkins!!!

love this picture...you can see Austin looking at the pumpkins. SO cute!!!

Chad's pumpkin pic coming soon!!!

Pumpkin guts...eeewwww!!!

2009-10-29T14:44:00.013-06:00

Halloween wouldn't be complete for our family without some pumpkin carving!!! Chad is an amazing pumpkin carver and is still at work so he won't start his tonight, and I will make my meek attempt at pretending I know what I am doing and still end up with the triangle eyes and nose and 3 tooth mouth...it's a classic!

I wanted to carve the kids pumpkins before their after dinner grumpiness set in, and I am glad that I did. They are older now and thought they should be able to do the actual carving themselves, so I let them draw the faces and let them dig out the inside, the best they could, and let Austin do a little sawing and I let Alyssa have her hand on top of mine while I did the carving :) They were so curious about the pumpkin guts!!! Asking all about it, and wondering why it smelled funny, and if we can eat the seeds etc... so cute!! They were thrilled when they were able to see their pumpkins all lit up!!!

Pumpkin face!!!

pumpkin head!!!

so proud!!

Haylie's pumpkin

Abby's Pumpkin

Austin's pumpkin I carved this using his drawing as the pattern

Alyssa's Pumpkin

Happy Halloween

What kid (or adult) DOESN'T like this....

2009-10-29T13:51:00.008-06:00

We have the biggest tree in our backyard that has more leaves than any other tree in the whole wide world...at least that is how it feels when your the one raking them up!!! Luckily, because of all the leaves we can make an awesome leaf pile, perfect for jumping!!!

Wait where is Alyssa?

there she is!!! Daddy just buried her under the leaves!!!

the four musketeers!!! just relaxing in the leaves on a nice fall day ;)

Austin

Alyssa

Haylie

Abby

Spooky Dance Party

2009-10-28T14:15:00.003-06:00

Alyssa has been looking forward to this day all month!!!! Her Halloween party at her dance class!! She got to bring a little treat for everyone in her class, we made Ghost suckers that looked a little like this...

But her favorite part was being able to wear her costume to class!!! Her little cousin Haylie is in her class too so they were very excited to be in costume !!! Here is our very cute witch with her black cat :)

First day of snow...xplain

2009-10-27T15:00:00.004-06:00

7:02 am I went into Austin's room to get him up for school. He sleeps on the top bunk of the bunk beds. He sits up in bed if he hears me come in, and when he hasn't gotten enough sleep he will sit up and then scoot the furthest away from the edge of the bed making it hard for me to get him! Well this morning was one of those days but then I whispered "Austin, it's snowing" he popped right up and went to look out the window, he was so excited!!! When the time to pick Austin up from school the snow had all melted and there wasn't any snow on the ground. I knew he would be upset...luckily on our way home there was a little mini blizzard and there were a few inches on the ground...Alyssa was just as excited and wanted to go play too!!! They quickly ate their lunch and headed outside!!! They made snow angels and at some snow too!!! "but not the dirty kind" Alyssa said....I of course was the one that made them come inside, they love it out there!!! Now the snow is starting to melt once again...they act like I am making it happen...Alyssa is in her room crying about it right now, I know she is just tired, but why do I feel bad about something I can't control??? Austin was okay with it once I explained to him that it's a good thing that it's melting now, so he can show off his costume on Halloween...wish me luck I am going to try to explain it to Alyssa....

Here I am...

2009-10-26T19:51:00.005-06:00

You know when you decide okay, today is the day that I am going to start writing in my journal and I am going to write every night and nothing is going to stop me, and then your next entries are saying "sorry it's been so long" or " from now on I am writing every night" and then this vicious cycle keeps going round and round? Well I am not going to make apologies or make empty promises that I don't know if I can keep, all I will say is I will try to do better at keeping this blog afloat!

My kids are getting so excited for Halloween! Austin mostly. He has a strange confidence that comes with dressing up, especially since this year he has a mask! He is going as a glow in the dark Skeleton, and Alyssa is going as a witch, a cute witch! We got BOO'd the other night. Not the bad kind where people shout BOOOO! BOOOO! at you, but the kind where a secret person comes to your home and leaves a little treat on your porch, with a cute little poem, that goes something like this:

BOO

The air is cool, the season full

soon Halloween will come to us all

The spooks are after things to do

in fact, a spook brought this to you

"BOO" is the shield, from spooking hour

just hang it up and watch it's power

on your front door is where it works

it wards off spooks and scary jerks

the treats that came with crypted note

are yours to keep enjoy them both

The power comes when friends like you

will copy this note and make it two

then others here along our street

will say howdy do to all they meet

we'll all have a smile upon our face

no one will know who "BOO'ed" whose place

just one short day to work your spell

or a big zap will strike your fail

and don't forget a nifty treat

like something cute or something sweet

please join the fun lets really hear it

spread some "BOO's" and Halloween Spirit!

So we got our BOO and Austin was so excited to go, since we went last year, but this time he wanted to wear his costume and hide at the door and scare the people!!! I told him you weren't supposed to be seen and that you were supposed to run away and he was set on staying at the door to scare the people. Anyone that knows Austin knows that he would NEVER do this, he is reserved and doesn't like to be center of attention. So we knocked on the door with the kids in their costumes and we ran, and Austin stood there ready to scare his unsuspecting victims, but when the rest of us ran he went from their porch to hiding behind their lamp post, to running away with us...he was so grumpy that we didn't stay and let him scare our neighbors!! I told him he will have to wait until Halloween... BUT he can't wait so, here and there throughout October he would put his costume on and hide around the house and jump out and scare us!!! He gets a kick out of it!!!!

Don't be scared, here he is!!!!!........

He is such a teaser like his daddy and is going to scare someone!!!!

ringing the doorbell....
waiting.....
RAAAAARRRR!!!! Judging by the look on dad's face I think he scared him!!!!!

Alyssa wanted to show off her costume too! Her face is red and blotchy from the tantrum she was throwing, I don't even remeber why...I got her to stop by saying I would take her picture in her costume...she is becoming quite the HAM!!! Thank goodness, I have been deprived of taking my kids pictures (cooperatively) for about a year!!!!

8 years ago today...

2009-10-19T12:47:00.002-06:00

My husband proposed to me on this very bench...
My sentimental husband came up with the great idea to have our family pictures taken here this year...it didn't go just as had planned, BUT they will be special to us!!! (pictures to come)

The winner is...

2009-09-21T10:38:00.001-06:00

The winner of the giveaway is posted on Giveaway Today go to their website and follow their instructions to claim your prize!!!

Enter to WIN a FREE photo session with ME!!!!

2009-09-18T17:56:00.002-06:00

Just go to www.giveawaytoday.blogspot.com for details!!!!

Good Luck!!!!

We have our own little Dancing Queen!!!

2009-09-08T23:49:00.004-06:00

Alyssa has been a little dancer at heart since birth!!! She has been able to find the rhythm and beat in everything, from the washing machine, to the sounds made by construction workers, this girl likes to move!!! I remember seeing her only a couple months old the washing machine was doing it's thing and Alyssa was bouncing to the beat with a smile looking in the direction of the laundry room!!! I was going to sign her up for a mommy and me dance class when she was one and two but never did, and then when a great friend (thanks Shyann and Brooke) told me about this home run studio I knew it was the right time!!! This lady has the studio in her home, in riverton right on the way, to and from Austin's school, everything about it was perfect, the class time, the location, the cost!!!

Alyssa all ready to go

Alyssa started last wednesday!! She has been so excited for weeks!!! We went to payless and bought her ballet slippers, she treats them so nicely. She knows she can only wear them inside and she keeps them in her little dance bag my sister made for her!!! My sister and her husband have their own embroidery company and it is perfect for me, because I love to personalize everything for my kids!!! easter baskets, stockings, blankets, and this year she is going to make their trick or treat bags!!! I save a lot of money by reusing these things each year and they are super cute with their names on it!!!

Such a cheeser

The first day of the month is parents "watch day" so we get to go in and sit and watch the class to see how they are doing, it's just a 1/2 hour class so it's perfect for keeping their attention. ALL the girls just looked at their teachers in AWE and did exactly as they said. The class of about 10 3 year olds did exactly as she said!!! Maybe I need to wear a leotard to help me with my sunbeam class at church...WAIT!!! That won't work, I don't have a dancers body AND most importantly my class is ALL boys!!! Anyway, they learned their stretches and a few ballet terms.

Can't believe my baby girl has a bun

ballerina

She loves to pose for me lately!!! I love it!!!

Alyssa and her cousin Haylie are in the same class together, and they are usually silly girls who laugh and giggle together but they both listened so attentively AND have been practicing all week!!! Tomorrow is their first day without me there, but I am not worried at all, they are in love with this place!!!

Haylie

Haylie is a dancing queen too!

Alyssa's super cute dance bag

I love that my sister's embroidery business allows me to personalize everything!!!

Best friends

I am so thankful for my kids friendships with their cousins. They are so close with them they are more like brothers and sisters. I never had that when I was little. I had 2 cousins that I saw who were in high school when I was in elementary school. NOT FUN!!! Even though they did play and tease with us. BUT I am so happy that they have friends in their family!! I can't wait until Alyssa has her first performance on stage in December!!! Even though I am sure she will be the one biting her nails staring into the audience...

not a tear was shed!!!!

2009-08-25T22:06:00.006-06:00

THIS IS HUGE!!!! Pre school was not a fun time for either of us in the beginning, to see what I mean you can see this post and this post.

Austin started kindergarten!!! My baby, my tiny baby is now grown up enough to go away to school everyday without me? When did this happen? Seriously!!! When???

I have a feeling this year is going to be different. Austin and his cousin and best friend Abby were both lucky enough to be accepted to the same charter school which meant that get to be in the same class!!! They were going to go to American Preparatory academy down in Draper by IKEA well, they just built a new campus and it was going to be done just in time for this school year to start so we were "lucky" enough to be the family that got to start out in the new school. Well this new school is in West Valley, and quite the drive!! I didn't care though, I want to do anything to give my children a leg up in education, since we have no where close to the money that it takes for private school.

Well a week ago today, I got a call that got accepted to another charter school and this one would start on Monday, and rather than being in the afternoon kindergarten it would be morning kindergarten, best of all this one would be so much closer (if you want the name and location, just e-mail me but leaving it out for the sake of privacy from freaky weirdos)!!! I said yes, then immediately jumped online(I didn't actually jump, I was very sick in bed, so I slowly reached across the bed to my husbands nightstand and grabbed the laptop :)) to check out. This school was going to be a lot better for us for a few reasons and best of all the uniforms were pretty similar, we just had to exchange a few shirts for a different color. WHEW!!! Okay now that the back story is out of the way....

Austin and Abby started kindergarten!!! They were so excited, like Christmas eve I can't wait until Santa comes excited. We had Abby sleep over, since I will be the one taking them both to school. They woke right up, well actually they probably woke up half way through their bowl of cereal. Austin is so excited that he gets to watch Phineas and Ferb before school each morning (yes, I am a "bad mom" I let my kids watch TV first thing in the morning) it distracts them so I can do their hair and get them dressed with them not even realizing what just happened. :)

They were so excited, that they were both more than willing to have me take their pictures (so not like both of them, these two hide the second they hear the zipper on my camera bag!!!)

So in the car we went!!! Me, Chad, and Abby's big sister Ashley all climbed in the car to drop them off. We walked them to their class the first day so they knew where to go.

The kindergartners are so lucky, they get their own playground that they get to play at before school starts, it is all gated in and then the teacher comes out and gets them when it's time to come in!! Austin didn't hesitate or linger around me or Chad, he and Abby walked ahead eager to get to school and play and learn!!! I will admit I did get a little teary eyed when we were walking away. I was just thinking about how this is the beginning of him turning into a...BOY! The boy that wont kiss you in public, the boy that secretly waves goodbye as I am yelling his name waving franticly, the boy that has me park around the corner to drop him off at school, the boy that doesn't tell me about his day, the boy that would rather have a kiss on his cheek from Sally Sou Sampson than his dumb old mom, the boy that no longer wants to be tucked in at night, the boy that doesn't want to sit on my lap for story time, the boy that....WAIT!!!! He is not that boy yet, so I am going to enjoy my sweet affectionate little guy for as long as possible, and eat up every 'I love you' and hug and kiss, and that look in that eye when he sees me, that is the boy that I will always remember!!!

(Austin and his class waiting to picked up after their first day-parents couldn't get out of their cars, best pic I could get )

I love you Austin and Abby I am so proud of the both of you, you are going to learn so much this year, I am glad you have each other!!!

And their backpacks were hung by their new clothes with care...

2009-08-23T21:25:00.004-06:00

in hopes that first school day soon would be there!!!

Austin starts kindergarten tomorrow!!! I am so happy that his cousin Abby gets to be in his same class with him!!! It is making all the difference!!! They are so excited!!!! I had Abby sleep over tonight, I bathed them, trimmed their hair, clipped their nails, painted Abby's nails, put curlers in her hair, ironed their clothes, and hung them up , and now they are currently snuggled up in bed anxiously waiting for their first day of kindergarten!!!

They met their teacher last Friday and on Saturday they had a get together with all the kids in their class at a park to meet each other before their first day of school to make it a little easier for everyone! Austin's teacher is named Mr. Matt and he has a room-mother named Miss Amy , they both seem like the ideal kindergarten teachers, so I am thrilled for all of us!!! Well, for me who normally goes to bed just before the sun rises, 7am is going to come way to early :) They have to be at school at 8:15 and we have about a 20 min. drive, so wish us luck, and good traffic to arrive on time!!!

Happy Birthday to

2009-08-21T02:29:00.000-06:00

ME!!!!!

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

2009-08-20T04:37:00.005-06:00

Chad and I didn't take our kids when we went to the Draper Temple open house in January. We didn't think we could keep them calm and quiet that long. And that was probably true. However we decided that we would take them to "Our Temple" is what the kids call it. Right down the street from our house, basically, and literally down the street from our old house. The kids enjoyed the golf cart ride up to the temple from the parking lot, they wanted to go on that "ride" again when we left :) Austin's favorite part of the temple was the baptismal font because of the oxen and Alyssa's was the celestial room, because it's sparkly. Austin, Alyssa and their cousins Abby and Haylie were so reverent and really enjoyed walking through the temple. My mom walks with a cane and she rode the elevator and we got separated for about 20 minutes but the kids even sat still while we were waiting, I was very impressed. The kids enjoyed their own water bottles and cookies afterward. It was an amazing experience to be in the sealing room with our kids looking into the mirrors seeing our family go on and on and on and on. I am so thankful we will be a family forever. I hope you were all able to make it through the open house. We are excited for the dedication this weekend.

The day we went it was so hot and SOOOO windy

windy doesn't even describe it, it was border line tornado :)

Our Family

Chad and Austin

My mom, Haylie and Abby being windblown

I am lucky I got these pictures, it was so windy, dresses and skirts were flying up and OH BOY!!!

As if there weren't enough people living in this house already, we go and add 240,000 more guests...

2009-08-20T02:28:00.003-06:00

Anyone who really knows me, knows that I am terrified of bees!!! Even just thinking about them gives me the chills. Maybe it's because I have been stung 15 times...not exaggerating 15 freakin' times!!!! My first time I stepped on one, my last time it flew up my sleeve and stung my arm pit!!! WHY, do they love me so???? I think it is my scent! I am so sweet inside because of my sweet tooth and all my sugar cravings that I succumb to, so they follow me around. I now know this to be true because guess who is living on the other side of my wall, right at the head of my bed???? about 240,000 (probably less but I want to be dramatic here) of these hairy little creepy guys....woooooo, just got the chills....here is the e-mail I sent to the bee keeper of Utah guy:

Hi, My name is Kristen Spencer. And we finally figured out the noise we have been hearing in our wall are coming from bees!!! I know after reading your site, you love them BUT I am deathly afraid of them having been stung 15 times! I also have young children who play outside around the area where they appear to be entering. So I am just wondering what our next step would be? How do we get these bees out of here ASAP? This will be tricky! They are crawling in where the brick meets the soffit in a little openings where the mortar didn't get placed. On the other side of the wall is my bedroom...EEK! I am hoping it can be done, without tearing down the wall on the inside of the house, but I have no clue how this all works! If you would please give me a call or shoot me an e-mail ASAP, I would truly appreciate it!!! I can hear them now as I type, busily working in there, I am scared they are going to make their way through the sheetrock!!

and here is his response:

Thanks for the email. For starters, they won't come through the sheetrock unless you bang a hole the size of a pencil! (uh, OKAY, those nails in the wall that are currently holding picture frames better not even think about coming out)

I have a few questions. How long have they been in the house? Is it an old house or newer? It sounds like you would have to remove the drywall to fully remove them. For example, yesterday I removed one that had been there a year. The comb (this is wax with bee larvae, honey and pollen on it) extended over eight feet. I can put a one way trap on them but it will not kill the queen. The queen lays 240,000 bees a year. No matter what an exterminator says, he can't kill her. She is too protected in that fortress of theirs. The only way to get her out is physically remove her. A one way trap takes most of the bees away so that there is relatively little activity after. Just because you don't see them though, doesn't mean they are not rebuilding. The usually rebuild better time after time. I charge $50 to set a trap and it takes about a week, longer the better on them.

Let me know. I forgot my phone at that job last night so I won't have it til later.

Albert

www.UtahBeeRemoval.com

WHAT?!?!!? I was hoping they could gas the flying evil creatures!!! I know, I know SAVE THE BEES! OUR PLANET NEEDS THE BEES!!! Yes, but they don't need to be living in my wall!!! (chills again)

all I know is, every last crevice of my room, is being blocked off, and every item of mine is coming out before they tear down that wall!!! One plus is that I have a sliding glass door off the back of my room, so it should be a straight shot, but they want ME!!! So I will be sure to go out of town that day! (Chills again)

Secret Lake Hike

2009-08-19T22:53:00.021-06:00

Finally got up and out of bed, I made a promise and my promise I will keep....

So after the doughnut falls hike went so well with the kids we figured we would try another easy hike with them! So we chose to do secret lake (also called cecret lake) it was harder than they said it would be, they described it as a stroll, and there were a few people that were on their way back down because they couldn't hack the steep rock hiking part, but not our kids...they did it!!! And I think I only heard them ask a few times if we were almost there. On our way up one of the families said they had just seen a bull moose up ahead so to be careful. I have a fear of wilderness ( I am definitely an indoor girl) so I made sure to talk loud and would clap my hands so I would scare it off before we got to it. Chad laughs at me, but I think it works :)

our little friend "squirrely"

me and the kids at the top of the "mountain" they climbed
Chad and the kids

Fearless Alyssa and her partner in crime-Haylie

When we got to the top, the lake was so pretty!!! There was this little squirrel who liked the sunflower seeds we were hiking with so it followed us around, especially the little girls who would tend to drop a lot of them. And then we think we also discovered a new species of fish! I know thats not the case but I have never seen one that looked like that. Half frog, half snake, half fish, it was weird!! My nephew Tyler was teasing that it was nessie the loch ness monster :)

We saw a big mound of snow that hadn't melted yet, so the kids played around and we had a little snowball fight. A snowball fight in July! Can you believe it??? The wildflowers were so beautiful I couldn't help but stop and take pics. even though the kids were annoyed with me :)

Austin our little explorer he loves hiking!!!

Alyssa helping her daddy :)

Ryan loves to climb to see how high he can get

Tyler liked climbing around too

Abby loving the great outdoors

Tyler and Haylie

Alyssa in the wildflowers

yes I told them to do this, thought it was cute, and it will be the last year they listen to me :)

the kids loved walking out on the rock into the lake

me and my girls

Austin looking for the new species of fish

the kiddos

gorgeous isn't it

me and my boys

me and my very patient man :)

Austin not quite mad yet at all the pics

Now he has had it

Ryan jumping on the snow mound

Alyssa with her snowball, I think she took a bite of this, oh so clean snow--YUCK!!!

I was hoping for a better pose from them :) still gorgeous though!!

Alyssa being sneaky

The kids loved playing on the way down, it took forever to come down after the hike

I thought this would make a cool pic

We made the kids carry their own camelbacks (its a waterbottle backpack thing) and boy did they drink them, GONE!!!! We had to stop at a gas station on the way home otherwise we would had some pee pee accidents :) I sure can choose them to, the gas station was the stinkiest gas station I have ever been in....woo-wee :(

Im not slacking already...

2009-08-19T11:10:00.002-06:00

Just sick as a dog!!!! I am pretty sure I have a sinus infection, there is nothing like the throbbing pain in your sinuses when you lean forward, sideways, any way that would cause anything to shift, no, no mistaking that at all!! I am bed bound and hallelujah I have my husband and my mom to take care of the kids while I literally stay in bed all day!!! The only way I am able to type this is on the laptop other wise I would be updating this blog like crazy with pictures and stories of our summer!!! But I can't even make it to 2 feet away to sit upright in a chair :(

I would post a picture of me laying in bed, but I don't want to scare you all and have you never come back!!!

Good news though, Chad is in the shower as we speak getting ready for his job interview down at IHC! This would be a float position working 4-10 hour shifts in a Dr. Office building. and then he has his second job interview tomorrow for the other IHC job the phlebotomy training program, so hopefully one of these will be "the one"

Doughnut Falls...mmm DO-NUT (said in homer's voice)

2009-08-16T16:54:00.007-06:00

No sadly to all of our surprise their weren't doughnuts flowing from the mountain. In fact no sign of frosting or sprinkles either!!! That's okay though, because it made the hiking we did, actually burn something :)

I have heard of the doughnut falls hike here and there throughout the years, then I finally decided to look it up on the net, and was so happy to find that it is an easy hike that even children can do!!! So we packed up the kids (our 2 and 4 of my sisters) and headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Chad and I were a little worried and weren't quite sure how this was going to go with 6 kids ranging from 2-10 years old, luckily they shocked and amazed us!!! No whining, crying, complaining, NOTHING!!!! Hallelujah!!!

We actually got to the falls quickly and thought there was more to the hike, so there appeared to be a man made bridge going across the river/stream thingy, so yes, yes we did. Chad and I got all of the kids across this river, without any of us getting wet!!! Only to find that, the whole thing was completely unnecessary because the only hiking that could be done beyond that would be rock climbing. So there we went rock climbing with the kids, JUST KIDDING!!! YA RIGHT!!! No we did get some cool pics, and Chad waited down with the kids while I climbed up to the doughnut rock, and then I did the same so he could. And then back across the stream/river thing we went, and still no one got wet!!! Amazingly so, because I am the clumsiest person I know, when I am trying NOT to be clumsy. If I am not trying I am just fine, but when I TRY I end up falling and tripping and dropping things all over the place. Well, if you haven't tried the hike, definitely go, and take your kids!!!

The boys doing what boys doing best, throwing rocks into water :)

Our Hike Leader

Our "bridge" we made across

Our family

The Diva....AKA Alyssa

The Scientist....AKA Austin

The trouble makers, AKA, Ryan, Tyler, Abby, Haylie, Austin and Alyssa

taking the summer off...

2009-08-15T22:47:00.002-06:00

So, you all know at the end of June Chad was laid off work. Although this was very hard, let me tell you the positives.

~hubby to snuggle with in the morning.

~hubby to get up with kids while I sleep in.

~hubby takes kids to the park so I can get my work done in peace :)

~I have been able to double my work load because I can take jobs in the morning and evening.

~We have been able to spend a lot of time as a family.

~ We've been on lots of hikes, and family outings.

~I can run to the store by myself to buy a gallon of milk that I forgot to get the night before, without taking the whole gang with me!

~I have been woken up with hot breakfast made for me and brought to my bedside after sleeping in!

~ I have a late night workout buddy

~Projects around the house are getting done!

~kids get more daddy playtime

the list really goes on and on... However, I love my Chaddy dearly, BUT he has had a job since he was 14 years old when he worked at Bellvue Elementary cleaning the building after school. He saved up all summer to buy a stereo system. And now with all this spare time he doesn't know quite what to do with himself. He had to drop his summer school class because of a computer glitch that wasn't allowing him to receive assignments. So he really had nothing to do. So although, I love having him gaze upon me, admiring my EVERY move, at about week 4, I started getting a little irritated. So here are some cons...

~hubby asking plans for the day, on the hour, I love you Chad!

~hubby asking what the menu is for the day, on the hour, I love you Chad!

~hubby looking bored and me feeling bad that he is bored and feeling like I need to entertain him, I love you Chad!

~ hubby wanting me to be able to be as free as bird as he is and go camping and hiking and on outings whenever the idea strikes him, I love you Chad!

~ me feeling guilty because I can't do all the things he wants to do because I now am the only one with a job, that requires a lot of time on the computer and can't be in the wilderness, I love you Chad!

Definitely more pros than cons!!! I love you Chad!!!

However he did have two interviews last week. One at EBAY, he left having already gone on a second interview, they were talking to him like he had already gotten the job then a few days later a thanks but no thanks letter...seriously???

Second interview is for a phlebotomy training program through IHC. It would be a huge, huge, HUGE pay cut, BUT it would get Chad in the doors at IHC and in December they are having a Nursing program training class that would start May 2010, but you have to be a current IHC employee. If he could get in to that, it would cut his waiting time down by 3 years. There are only 12 positions for the phlebotomy thing, and 534 people applied, well guess who got an interview??? CHAD!!! Guess who got called back for a SECOND interview???? CHAD!!!! That is next week, so say your prayers!!!!

Chad we love you so much and so glad we have been able to spend the summer together as a family. love you, love you, LOVE YOU!!!

promises, promises

2009-08-15T22:39:00.002-06:00

Okay I know I have been a bad blogger lately. My sister told me she used to love to read my blog but now it's boring. US, BORING???? Couldn't be!! So here is my vow, to update my blog with all of the happenings from the summer and stay up to date!!! Can I do this??? YES!!! I will start now, so hold on tight, because your about to be knocked out of your seats with this overload of information!!!!

Kids are unpredictable!!

2009-07-15T22:40:00.007-06:00

Our kids did awesome in the Harry Potter movie, Alyssa slept through some of the show snuggled up on my lap, and Austin did awesome as well! There was really only one scene that I had them look away or covered their eyes, to avoid bad dreams! It was a great movie, we can’t wait for the next two movies to come out, but we will have to since they aren’t scheduled until November 2010 and May 2011.

I think Austin might be coming down with that darn stomach bug that Alyssa and I had. He didn’t hardly eat a thing all day, including popcorn, and his treat bag at the movie. He told me his stomach hurt and then has just been really mellow laying down. So I feel bad for him!!! Throwing up isn’t fun for anyone, crossing my fingers it doesn't turn into this!!!

Okay anyway, on the way to the movie Alyssa brings up out of no where , getting her ears pierced, asking what kind and color of earrings she could choose from. Well, Chad for some reason is all over getting her ears pierced, I on the other hand, am a little more nervous about it. Hurting her, infection, caring for her earrings etc.
On the way home from the movie Chad said let’s just stop by claire’s at The District (yes, there is a Claire’s there now) and let her look and see. Well, when we were there Alyssa said she wants her ears pierced today. I asked a couple times to make sure, and then ran out to the car to grab my camera. I came in, the lady had her gloves on all ready to go, when Alyssa said, “Actually, I changed my mind.” And hopped out of the chair and walked over picked up a necklace and asked if we thought it was beautiful, to divert our attention. (smart fart) We made sure she didn’t want to. We asked her why she changed her mind and she just said, “Maybe when I am a little older like Austin, when I am ready.” (she sounds so grown up!) I am kind of glad she changed her mind, I had butterflies in my stomach , and was sad that my baby girl was growing up.
So for now, we will wait, hopefully a few more years ☺
I did manage to get TWO horribly lighted pictures of the almost ear piercing…

Harry Potter, here we come!!

2009-07-15T01:08:00.003-06:00

No we didn't see the midnight showing of Harry Potter. Surprising, I know! Chad, really wanted to bring Austin and Alyssa this time, and we are too smart to bring them to the midnight showing!!( I can feel the glares of the other movie-goers now ) I really hope I am not jinxing us, BUT our kids do really well in movies!! I think it is my magic multi-treat treat bags that I make, and also the fact that I have snuggly kids. Alyssa AND Austin will snuggle up and will stay forever, no matter what I am doing. So at the theater, it's the same, they bring their blankies and have their treat bags and snuggle in for the show!!! I just hope it's not too scary for them. Don't laugh but I got a little scared on the last Harry Potter. Okay, I told you not to laugh. I don't watch scary movies and if a scary movie preview comes on a commercial I change the channel if possible or turn my head. I get way too scared, and it messes me up with bad dreams and paranoia, so I just avoid the whole subject! So I just hope it's not scary!! My awesome Brother in Law, Casey and his wife D, bought the tickets in June!!! So we are very excited. Chad is a little too excited, I am making him keep his Harry costume, wand and broom in the closet, I don't want to be pointed and laughed at :) totally kidding about the costume, or am I?????

Excited!!!

2009-07-14T16:40:00.005-06:00

I woke up this morning to a sweet little 5 year old voice. His face about an inch away from mine, saying "I was just going to ask you if I can open my presents now?" Seriously how could I say no?!?! Chad has been wanting to give him his gift since we bought it!! Chad was so excited he even wrapped it himself and he is not a gift wrapper!! I usually wrap every Christmas and Birthday gift, so I was very surprised to see his gift wrapped and ready to go!

All of us, still in our jammies, made our way into the family room, and Austin got to open his present from Me, Chad and Alyssa.

Austin has been wanting a Nintendo DS since, as long as he has been able to know what one is. All of his cousins have one and he usually props himself up behind them so he can peek over their shoulder and watch them play. So as much as I am against video games, we decided we would get him one, and just have rules on time limits and such!!! He made my day when I got to see his face and how thrilled he was to have his very own DS!! Afterward he said "mom and dad I love you, and I love my new DS, thank you!!!" all of that said in his new baby voice that he has been talking in lately :)

Austin got a couple cards in the mail yesterday from his Grandma and Grandpa who are in Holland until September, and His Great Grandma Roundy in Escalante, and his Great Aunt Marilyn, so he pooled the money together and deposited most of it into his savings account, and then Chad took him to target and he picked out The Ghostbusters Game, which he bought with his own money, he was so happy!!
I can't believe our little baby boy is 5 years old!! We are getting excited for his birthday party on Saturday!! He just can't decide if he wants me to make him a ghostbusters cake or a batman cake...I am thinking to myself, that it doesn't matter which one he chooses, I am by no means a cake decorator and people are going to need to use their imagination when looking at my decorated cake!!

Austin is 5 years old!!!

2009-07-14T01:58:00.003-06:00

I cannot believe he is 5 years old already!!! Where does the time go!!! I remember people telling me when he was an infant saying, take it all in and enjoy this stage while it lasts, it goes by fast!! Well, at the time I was doing the midnight feeding, the endless diaper changes, etc. So it felt like it was going very slow! But now he will be starting kindergarten next month!!! I am so not ready!!! Austin gets to open his presents from mom, dad, and Alyssa and then his birthday party will be on Saturday, with aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends!!! Austin, our dear sweet angel, we love you so much and are so happy that we get to be your mom and dad, what a special gift you gave us!!! We love you and hope you have a very HAPPY birthday!!!

p.s. thank you for choosing to have your birthday party at Bouncin’ off the Walls!! We are going to have so much fun!!!

My favorite 'F' words...

2009-07-04T18:49:00.007-06:00

Get your heads out of the gutter I don't use those kind of words...

Food, Fun, Fireworks and FAMILY

Occupational hazard of being a mamarazzi....my kids HATE having their picture taken, therefore look like they are in pain, in photographs!!!

Cavity FUN!!!

2009-06-13T17:17:00.004-06:00

Those two words are never said together, AND for good reason!!! A cavity is never fun!!!! Austin had a cavity filled last year, and the little bugger fell out, we went back in and the dentist fixed it, he said that in baby teeth fillings tend to fall out because blah, blah blah I don't remember, so when it fell out a second time, I didn't think anything of it, except the fact that he had a horrible tooth ache with it. So we called the dentist yet again, but now our insurance has switched so we have to go to another dentist, YAY this is always so much fun to take your kids to a new dentist. Luckily my fabulous sister in law used to work for a pediatric dentist which she loved so we thought we would give him a try!!!

This is where it gets "fun"! We take Austin in for his appointment he cried most of the way to the Dentist Office, then cried when they tried to take x-rays then cried when they asked him to sit in the chair, then cried when they just looked in his mouth!! And because of all of this...

We get to go to Primary Childrens on 06/25 and he gets to be completely put out, sedated, asleep, knocked out, however you want to put it, so that he can have a baby tooth fixed!!!!

Tip to all parents out there Brush AND Floss your kids teeth morning noon and night, and no sugar EVER!!! And don't let your kids inherit your super thin enamel and let them get cavities easily like you.

However I am so thankful that there is such thing as sedation dentistry otherwise, we would have to strap him to the chair kicking and screaming through the whole procedure!!!

YA RIGHT!!!! This poor kid is going to HATE the dentist when all is said and done!!!

Wish us luck!!!

C.E.L.E.B.R.A.T.E.

2009-06-13T10:48:00.005-06:00

Austin had his last day of pre school and to celebrate they had a circus day at school. Everyone got to dress up in any costume they wanted, and Austin chose Peter Pan!!! Austin has loved his teachers and school and has learned so much!!! He is all set and ready for kindergarten at his new school!!! I can't believe I am old enough to have a child in elementary school!! and when did that happen anyway, it feels like we just brought him home from the hospital...Austin we love you and we are so proud of the sweet little boy you have become!!

*Austin on his first day of school*

*Austin on his last day of school*

We are changing her name to DRAMA QUEEN

2009-06-10T22:38:00.004-06:00

it's much more fitting!!! Alyssa has always been quite the DIVA but she is only 3 and she already has me and Chad worried and asking each other how we are going to handle the teen years!!!

Please tell me this is normal for girls her age... (notice what she likes to pretend she has)

Heaven help us!!!

Luckily I have been busy with pictures!!!

2009-06-10T15:53:00.002-06:00

So thank you all for your referrals I really do appreciate them especially in a time like this!!! I absolutely love what I do, I just wish I could add more hours to the day, so I can fit more session and editing into my day, so thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
And keep sending all you know my way!!!

Chad got laid off

2009-06-10T15:49:00.002-06:00

after almost 9 years at his job, Advanta Bank Corp, they finally had to let him go. They did a big layoff laying off 1/3 of the company in February and things still aren't looking good for them so they did another layoff and told them all in May. He is looking for something at IHC so he can get into the nursing program sooner, so if any of you have a connection, please let me know!!! His last day of work is June 30th so we are crossing our fingers that he will find something by then!!!

R.A.N.D.O.M.

2009-06-10T15:36:00.003-06:00

I went to the nursery garden and let the kids pick out a flower that is theirs to water and care for. They would fight me for the watering can to water the plants inside and it just made a big mess, and when you have hardwood floors, water on the floor is just not an option, so this was perfect!!! They love to take care of their flowers and will check on them each day, it's so cute!!! I don't have any pictures yet, so you get a picture of our pretty cherry blossoms on our tree!!!
It's no mystery I like to take pictures, and people around me get pretty sick of it, so I always get them making goofy faces, well we got a little carried away and started making crazy faces and shaking our heads all around to see what we came up with so here is a little of that (kinda gross and kinda funny to see yourself like that):

however if you try this at home, still be aware of what your children are doing so they don't get into the sunblock and spill it all over!!!

We went to a Birthday Party!!

2009-06-10T15:25:00.006-06:00

My niece, Grace turned 8 years old!!! She chose to have a friend party in her backyard, they had lots of fun games, and she gave these cute gift bags with their names embroidered on them...she and her husband have started their own business, I will do a post later about that... all the kids had a lot of fun!!!!
Alyssa loved hanging out with the older girls she thought she was just as big, and hasn't stopped talking about Grace's friends since!!!

We saw the movie 'UP'

2009-06-10T15:22:00.002-06:00

Such a cute, cute movie!!!! I recommend all to see!!! My 2 brothers went alone they are 25 and almost 22 they saw the 3D version and loved it, my kids were glued to their seats enjoying every minute of the show!!!! We didn't see the 3D version, I thought the glasses might be too distracting for my kiddos!!!

We saw Night at the Museum 2

2009-06-10T15:20:00.003-06:00

the kids liked it a lot!! However I think they both kind of antsy at the end of the movie, but it was a cute family show!!! And I enjoyed playing Pacman in the lobby before the show starts...I'm a pacman addict!!! I wish atari would come back!!!

We went to Cedar City...

2009-06-10T14:56:00.006-06:00

My good friend Keri had her second baby boy (isn't he a doll), they live in Kanab but her Doctor and Hospital was in Cedar City, and I was lucky enough to be the one to take his newborn pictures right in the hospital. We decided to make a little mini vacation out of it!!

We went on a little hike in Kolob Canyon, Zions National Park and the kids loved it!! It is so beautiful, we are going to plan another trip just to go see and do all the fun hikes that are there, and then we just relaxed and had fun at the Hotel swimming pool, nothing much but we all had so much fun, it was a much needed getaway!!

I went to the Taylor Swift Concert!!!

2009-06-10T14:45:00.005-06:00

My little 8 year old Grace was so thrilled when for her birthday she opened up the box to find Taylor Swift Tickets for the very next day!!! My sister, Melissa, wanted to tell her so bad because she knew how badly she wanted to go, but kept it a secret, for a long time and it was worth Grace had the cutest surprised reaction!!!! The next day me (having strep, but not letting anything keep me away from the concert) Melissa, Grace and my other niece Ashley went to Iggy's for dinner (Grace's request) then to the concert, it was great!!! She is so cute, she came into the audience and took time to hug, and shake peoples hands and sign autographs and talk to the audience, she seems like a really sweet girl!!! And even through strep I managed to sing my little heart out through all the songs, we had a blast!!!

We have been Sick

2009-06-10T14:43:00.002-06:00

not fun, but we have all had our fair share of sickness, I had strep and what felt like a constant cold, Alyssa still has the cold, poor thing!

We went to the ZOO!!!

2009-06-10T14:36:00.005-06:00

We love to go to the zoo as a family in the spring!!! It is not miserable because you are dying of heat, and best of all the animals are so active, not just laying like lumps in a corner (poor things)...

Facebook is Killing my BLOG!!!!

2009-05-29T02:16:00.002-06:00

OKAY, SOOOOO much has been going on and you don't know about it, and I wont have it for my records because of stinkin' facebook!!!! I promise updates will be added this weekend, so fasten your seat belts your going to be in for a Spencer overload!!!!

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-11T02:16:00.003-06:00

Chad and the kids were great on Saturday night, Austin had bugged Chad enough to give me my present early (I said no gifts) but they were sneaky and got me some beautiful pink roses, chocolates and a handmade card from Austin, that he made at school! I was so happy to have my first handmade card, with words he wrote himself, and a picture of our family, that he drew all by himself. I thought that Austin was so excited to give me the gift to see my reaction, but he had better things in mind, his exact words "now, about that chocolate..." little sneak, just wanted some of my special chocolates!!! Well, of course he got one, and so did his little sister standing at his side batting her baby blues!

Every weekend Chad is amazing and gets up with the kids and let me sleep in!!! Well, today he let me sleep in until 10:30 am it was, the best!! Then he woke me up, normally I would have been grumpy, but it was because he was bringing me breakfast in bed!!! It was awesome!!! The kids made me some more cards in primary, at church! Alyssa was so proud that she got to make a card like Austin!! And then we had to leave church early so I missed them singing to me, in sacrament, so Chad video recorded them singing me their songs!!! It was the best!!! This year has been the best Mother's Day so far, I have an amazing family who I love so much and my kids love me more than anything in "the whole wife world" no mis-spelling , that's how they say it :)

Being a mom is really the best thing ever!!! I am so thankful to my kiddos and my dear sweet chaddy for the joy and happiness they bring to my life, and I always find my self wishing I could be better, wishing there were more hours in a day to get things done, especially housework! OY! I feel like I am following my kids around cleaning up mess after mess, until I give up and join in and play along too! and I found this poem on my friends blog, that made me realize, I would much rather have a messy house and enjoy my time with my kids, than to be able to have a spotless house and miss out on all the time with my kids....well, here it is, I hope you love it as much as I do:

What Did I Do Today?

Today I left some dishes dirty,

The bed got made around 3:30.

The diapers soaked a little longer,

The odor grew a little stronger.

The crumbs I spilled the day before

Are staring at me from the floor.

The fingerprints there on the wall

Will likely be there still next fall.

The dirty streaks on those windowpanes

Will still be there next time it rains.

Shame on you, you sit and say,

Just what did you do today?

I held a baby till she slept,

I held a toddler while she wept.

I played a game of hide and seek,

I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.

I pulled a wagon, sang a song,

Taught a child right from wrong.

What did I do this whole day through?

Not much that shows, I guess that's true.

Unless you think that what I've done,

Might be important to someone

With deep blue eyes and soft blonde hair,

If that is true...I've done my share.

Happy Mother's Day to all 3 of our moms, we love you more than you will ever know!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Alyssa!!!!

2009-05-08T15:58:00.004-06:00

Alyssa turned 3 years old on 04/26...I truly can't believe she is 3 years old already. Some days I can't believe she is ONLY 3 , but I still think of her as my little baby, so I really can't believe it has been 3 years!!!

We had our family over to celebrate!!!

Alyssa wanted a princess party (of course) so we had a princess castle cake, princess costumes, tiara and wand making...it was a princess extravaganza!!!!

Happy Birthday sweet angel we love you!!!!

The winner of the giveaway...

2009-05-04T16:44:00.001-06:00

was announced today, check it out ongiveawaytoday.blogspot.com

I copied and pasted the winner of my package:

The Winner of the Utah Photography Package from Kristen Spencer Photography is:

Congratulations! You have until Tuesday, May 5th by 7:00 am to emailgiveawaytoday@hotmail.com to claim your prizes. If we do not hear from you by then we will choose new winners. Thanks!

Utah's Featured Photographer

2009-04-30T23:08:00.002-06:00

Hi everyone!!!
I just wanted to tell you all to enter to win and tell your friends and family to enter to win this awesome giveaway from Kristen Spencer Photography!! I am Utah's Featured Photographer, so I am really proud of that and so excited, and would love to have all of your support!!! Even if you are out of state, enter to win and if you are ever here or I am ever there we will make it happen!!! You can also give it as a gift to someone you may know that lives in Utah, so EVERYONE please enter!!!
www.giveawaytoday.blogspot.com
I am so excited to be giving away my most popular package,
1-2 hour session at a location of your choice. That's right I come to you!!!
My custom post-session editing of your images, to retouch and beautify!
You will also receive a copyright released disk with your high resolution
images to print as many whenever and wherever you want!!!
I am also including a FREE 11x14 portrait, of the pose of your choice!!!

*****************************************************************
no worries, to the ones who don't win, I am offering a free 8x10 with every session booked when they mention this amazing giveaway!!!

Enter to win Friday 05/01/09-05/03/09 at www.giveawaytoday.blogspot.com the winner will be announced on Monday 05/04/09 , follow the instructions listed with the giveaway....

Good Luck Everyone!!!!

Happy Birthday Alyssa!!!!

2009-04-25T23:03:00.006-06:00

our sweet little baby is turning 3, in a few short hours, we had her birthday party today (pictures to come) and are so thankful for all those that came out to help us celebrate!!!

Know anyone who's looking???

2009-04-24T00:50:00.004-06:00

My brother and sister in law are moving!!! Their town home is officially on the market...If you know anyone who is wanting to take advantage of the low house prices and get a place of theirown send them their way because their house is way cute!!!

Their 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath town home is in west jordan in the Tuscany community, with play areas, gym, club house, and just in time for summer a swimming pool!!!

They're selling it for $159,900 got to:

http://forsaleutah.com/fin e/real/estate/home_view/fromfea/877004

for more details.

Master Bathroom

Master Bedroom

Kitchen
Dining Area

1 of 3 bedrooms

upstairs bathroom

another angle

living room

with a gas fireplace

Shameless Plug...

2009-04-20T22:41:00.003-06:00

I am sure you have all heard of Give Away Today...and if not, go check it out...It's a website that has fabulous giveaways all you have to do it enter!!
Well, I am so happy to announce that The one, The only Kristen Spencer, yes that's right, Kristen Spencer of Kristen Spencer Photography is going to be featured as the Utah Photographer on May 1st!!! So you all need to enter and tell your friends and family to enter, even you blog stalkers go enter, so you can win a fabulous prize from Kristen Spencer Photography!!!
What is this fabulous prize you ask...why, it's a free session, and a free 11x14 of the pose of your choice!!!!

Good Luck!!!!

Happy Easter

2009-04-15T02:31:00.008-06:00

We had a fun Easter weekend!! Yummy dinner, family, chocolate and candy galore, a yummy strawberry shortcake and a fun Easter egg hunt!!! I need to get rid of this candy that the Easter Bunny brought to our house, before this 8 lbs. that I have lost this month sneaks back on!! Funny how it does that...I have to work and work and work and work to get it off, but it sneaks back on without any effort at all!!! Anyway, we woke up Saturday morning (The Easter Bunny comes to our house on Saturday, so we can celebrate the true meaning of Easter on Sunday) to find what the Easter Bunny had brought the kids...Austin got some handcuffs (He so badly, wants to be a police officer when he grows up and has been dying for a pair of his own handcuffs) and Alyssa got lipsticks (what was the Easter Bunny thinking?? This little girl is in love with , chap stick, lip gloss, lip stick, and anything that looks like it might be lipstick, the only problem is she doesn't STOP putting it on) they loved their prizes and of course their treats!!!!

We had an Easter egg hunt with Austin and Alyssa's cousins, they were so cute running all over the backyard trying to find their eggs...they each got to find 10, no crying, fighting, or complaining it was perfect!!!

We had a yummy dinner with cheesy potatoes, ham, rolls and veggies and did I mention the Strawberry Shortcake for dessert...yummy!! It was Ashley's birthday cake, since we didn't get a chance to have a cake for her last weekend on her 15th birthday!!!!

Because it was spring break, my sisters kids were out of school, so I watched both my sisters kids on Thursday and Friday, before Easter. I waited for my sister Melissa to get home before we attempted to color eggs. All 9 kids had a blast and luckily and miraculously no major spills!!! unheard of considering at least one drink gets spilled during each meal!!! They were so proud of their creations...and want to know what was better than all these things that happened this weekend...the wonderful aroma the 84 hard boiled eggs gave our house!!!

Austin and Alyssa dressed their best for Easter Sunday

It's warming up!!!

2009-04-08T10:11:00.005-06:00

We have been enjoying the warm weather...Chad and I started our nightly walks again, the kids have pulled out their bikes and all of their outdoor toys, the trampoline has been up for a few weeks now, it's been great!!!!

Austin wanted to try out his spiderman skates, he got for his birthday. They are the kind that buckle around your shoes. Well, this fall/winter Austin had quite the growth spurt!! His shoes wouldn't fit inside the skates... he was so bummed...So he took off his shoes and just had his socks on. He looked so cute in his knee and elbow pads. He was doing a good job skating around. He wanted to go over to the church across the street from our house, and skate in the parking lot. I told him he needs to wait until he has a bit more practice, because at the church they don't have a deck railing to grab on to if you are going to fall!!

Alyssa is quite the bike rider. She already wants her training wheels OFF!!! She is doing awesome and is determined to keep up with Austin!!! She was showing off, showing us how she can turn around and pedal with one hand and with no hands...shes our little dare devil.

They have been having so much fun!!!! their favorite thing has been to walk over to the church and ride their bikes in the parking lot. And they will just run back and forth across the lot...I just say keep running!!! (they have been sleeping great!!!)

Alyssa also got some way cute flowers for her hair, and she attached it to her headband and did her own hair!!! She can do everything by herself!!!

(Angie and Cami, I would love to see a post on twiddle thumbs, on how to make these hair flowers, along with the nylon head wraps/bands...just a suggestion)

A Message from my love, Chad

2009-04-01T21:40:00.004-06:00

Dear Friends and Family,
The National MS Society is kicking off Bike MS: Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride campaign. I am planning to be a part of that event in June 2009 and I am asking you to join me in the movement to end MS by making a contribution to support my effort.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of MS. They simultaneously fund research for a cure while also helping people who currently live with MS lead more fulfilling lives. I believe in the work they do, and I invite you to see for yourself all the good they've done for the MS community. More than 400,000 Americans live with MS, and your support can and will make changes in their lives.
Please help by making a donation - large or small - to end MS. Or, why not join me at the event? Become a participant and side by side, as teammates, we can work together to raise the funds to make a difference.
Whatever you can give will help! I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Sincerely,
Chad Spencer

Click here to get to my personal page and make a secure, online donation.
To send a donation, Make all checks payable to:

National MS Society

Mail to:

9870 Yorkshire Dr

South Jordan, UT 84095

or my wonderful wife put a link on the sidebar, which will also lead you to my personal page, so you can check my progress and/or make a donation!!!

Thanks in advance for all your support!!!

Hip Hop Princess

2009-03-31T20:47:00.004-06:00

My cute little niece, Grace, had her practice recital tonight. She started taking hip hop dance last year (I think) she has gotten so strong...(how she is holding this pose with a smile ? ? ?)

Just for fun!

We were so nervous about making it on time. My sister asked if I would come take some pictures of her, after waiting through 3 turn lights and running through the parking lot while holding my camera and Alyssa (thank goodness Austin chose to stay home with dad) we didn't think we would make it, she was the first performance! Luckily, we made it as the lights dimmed, and the curtains rose, to see Grace and her wicked awesome (is that what the kids are saying these days) moves!!!!

Check out her hair, she must have an Amazing Aunt (ME!) to do her hair!

New Moon

2009-03-27T19:14:00.003-06:00

So, my amazing sister in law D, called me just now. She said 2 things. 1. do you have your tickets to see New Moon, yet?

me, confused thinking I missed something and it is coming out sooner than I thought, say NO, NO why?

she then says 2. Do you want to see it with me?

OF COURSE!!! WHY!!!! Whats going on?

Well, her amazing Visiting Teacher works for a company that rents out a theater, and they are already reserving tickets to see New Moon for the night it comes out in JULY!!!!! And D, being the amazing, beautiful girl that she is, was nice enough to ask if I wanted to go with her!!!!

Y E S ! ! ! ! ! !

Guess what we aren't doing anymore?!?!?!

2009-03-26T16:09:00.004-06:00

M O V I N G ! ! ! ! !

at least for now...maybe in a couple years OR if you all keep telling your friends and family what an awesome photographer I am, maybe not at all :)

I hope it's the latter of the two...

Sometimes I wish I was a procrastinator because now I have to unpack everything that I already packed...my whole living room looks like this.... Oh well, at least I got some deep cleaning done!!

"on some stairs..."

2009-03-22T19:52:00.004-06:00

A few weeks back, Chad and I were taking some boxes to Chad's moms house and Chad missed a step walking down the stairs and fell down. As he fell he heard a "SNAP!" We had a birthday party to go to right afterward and said he didn't think it was broken. As the day wore on it kept getting more and more swollen. Finally I talked him into going into the insta care especially since he heard the SNAP! Come to find out he Sprained (tore ligaments) his ankle very badly. I kept laughing at him because the check in lady, the nurse and the Doctor all asked him how it happened and he would respond ..."on some stairs." I told him, to give them more information than that, tell them about the snap and the fall, and he said he didn't want to seem like a wuss. So I just laughed, and I told the Doctor the story :) They gave him a formed fitted brace/cast. And told him to go home relax and put his feet up for about a week...I wish someone would tell me to do that, I would have no problem with that treatment!!!

More Twilight...

2009-03-21T01:11:00.005-06:00

So my awesome friend Miranda had the inside scoop, once again (I think she e-mails the cast personally, with the info she knows :)) and told me to go to the DVD release party at the Walmart in Riverton because Rachelle Lefevre a.k.a. Victoria from the Twilight movie was going to be there. How she knows this I don't know. It's crazy that of all the places---Riverton, Utah. We had a lot of fun amongst all the chaos! I got my signed copy of TwilightDVD. Unfortunately I ate a black frosted cupcake right before I met Rachel so my teeth, lips and pretty much whole mouth was stained a dark purple...she probably didn't notice and thought I was trying to look vampire-esque...

waiting in line for a long time does crazy things to a person...

Thank goodness for the law enforcement there otherwise we could have been trampled in the stampede to catch a glimpse at "Victoria" at once point my face was in a B.O. filled armpit....yum!
Mrs. Lefevre herself, after she just signed my DVD....how a smile is still on her face I don't know....
Ashley and I so happy to have our copy of the Twilight DVD....the had employees pushing around carts FULL of the DVD, it wasn't a problem getting a copy

Oh ya, I was the second person in line and to get my copy of the DVD. woo hoo....pure luck! And the lady behind me was just doing her grocery shopping and had no idea what Twilight was, and was confused why everyone was there and screaming and dressed up....don't worry I filled her in, and told her to read the books!!! (Much better than the movie, if you ask me)

This is what I will be getting tonight at midnight....

2009-03-20T22:21:00.000-06:00

I know, I know....'Bite Me!' :)

Spring has Sprung!!!

2009-03-20T13:12:00.002-06:00

And how do we celebrate at our house?!?!?!

We jump on the trampoline in our underwear!!!!!
(mine, chads and Alyssa's pics will be posted later ;-) )

Dinosaur Museum

2009-03-19T11:23:00.009-06:00

Austin has been absolutely fascinated with SHARKS and DINOSAURS lately. We have spent a lot of time on the internet looking at Shark pictures and videos and rented videos and books from the library. We finally compiled all of Austin's favorite pictures into a book, so he can look at them any time he wants, he loves to show everyone. We started trying to look up dinosaurs and they didn't have as great of pictures so we took him to the place that has amazing dinosaurs...Thanksgiving Points Dinosaur Museum!!! I took lots of pictures to make a dinosaur book for home. Austin was just in AWE the whole time we were there. And then we came to a point in the exhibit with the prehistoric shark and you would have thought we were in Disneyland. He was in heaven!!! There are so many hands on exhibits and great/fun things for kids to do...

The part that disturbed me a little was "THE SCALE" they have a scale where you can step on and see what dinosaur you weigh as much as...that was a little scary that I weighed as much as a dinosaur....yikes! The scale is big enough for several people to step on, and our whole group together would have had to been times by 50 (or maybe it was 100) to weight as much as the supersaurous. thank goodness we will never run into him in a dark alley.

Did I mention we got to dig for dinosaur bones!!!!

Check out my moms cute new haircut...(thanks Ashley)

Who says these exhibits are just for kids????

Austin building his own dinosaur with a museum buddy

Alyssa doesn't discriminate where she throws her fits...anytime and any place!

I honestly think Dinosaurs weren't just boring green and brown, I think they had polk a dots and were pink and purple and blue...I was glad the museum had a fun display so you could change the color of the dinosaurs skin...

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!

2009-03-17T08:54:00.006-06:00

Look!!! We found the end of the rainbow...sadly no gold coins were found only butterscotch disks, and little bits of the rainbow (skittles) and a few Lucky Charms for us, they say if you eat them the luck only intensifies. There were also some green outfits for the kids to wear to school today so they don't get PINCHED!!!!! Hopefully you all remembered to wear GREEN today, or else, watch out for me, I love to pinch, pinch, P I N C H !!!!

Inquiring minds NEED to know...

2009-03-16T09:21:00.005-06:00

I got my hair cut and colored again and have had so many compliments and questions as to where I get it done. My family has a hair problem we have a TON of hair, very, very thick. And in the past we have only been able to wear our hair one way...poofy!!! I don't know how she does it, she is a miracle worker. I have absolutely LOVED everything that she has ever done to my hair, every color, every cut, every style, she is the one that cut 15" off my hair and not a tear was shed, she is AMAZING!!!

So how do you schedule your appointment with this miracle worker? I'll tell you...

Her name is Ashley Williams,
she works at Taylor D'Shaw Salon

call her at 801-201-4922

Tell her that you were referred by me (blog stalkers welcome, she's not going to ask me if I know you just say "I got your info off Kristen's blog" and you'll get the discount) and she will give you a discount!!! She's AWESOME!!!

She does it all...Women/Men/ Children cuts, colors, styles, perms, deep conditioning treatments, waxing, special occasion style, etc...

I know that you will be THRILLED with your new look!!!!

Last day..

2009-03-16T09:20:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was our last day teaching our sunbeams class. They are so cute and so sweet we are really going to miss them!!!!

No worries!!!

2009-03-12T01:42:00.002-06:00

I wish I could say we were moving to Europe, or we found a school that Chad can get into now, or that we found an awesome deal on a house that we can't pass up, BUT I CAN'T!!! Nothing exciting, we are just moving from South Jordan back to Sandy. Chad's job is really unstable right now. They laid off a 1/3 of his entire company the beginning of February and just let go 3 more people in his building last week. I am not making enough to support us (sniff, sniff) So off to Sandy we go. Chads sweet mama and step dad are crazy enough to let us come move in with them for a while. We are so thankful that, that is even an option for us!!! THANK YOU!!! I am so thankful summer is fast approaching so that we can be outside and stay out of their hair, we are going to try to be as "un-annoying" as possible, BUT since that is IMPOSSIBLE when you have 2 kids who are 4 and 2, we will stay busy outside!!! So all my friends that are out there answer your phone, because I'm coming over to play!! I am so thankful for Luan and Rich for their willingness to let us come move in, and I apologize for anything and everything that is about to happen to your quiet, clean house :)

I am so sad to leave our friends in our neighborhood and ward...so we're not. I am still going to be coming back to our old house M-F to watch my sisters kids...My mom and my sister and her 5 kids are going to move in together in our house, so we are still going to be able to see all of our friends, so still call for park play dates!!!!

So thats that, WOO HOO!!! Exciting stuff, huh??? Oh ya, all of this is happening THIS MONTH!

Our BIG Announcement!!!!

2009-03-10T16:40:00.001-06:00

We're Moving!!!!

(bitter-sweet)

Chad got his letter....

2009-03-09T01:54:00.002-06:00

He was placed in a lottery for the nursing program (we've been playing a lot of lotterys this year) and they drew all the names out and placed them on the waiting list for the nursing program. And he will be able to start in Spring Semester of 2013...WHAT?!?!?! Yep, 2013. Only 4 more years of waiting and then 2 more years of school, then more school on top of that....shouldn't he be a Doctor?!?!

They said in the letter that it is averaging about 2 1/2 years because of other students dropping out, changing majors etc... And I can see why they get discouraged.

It's a good thing Chad saved some classes to take during this "waiting period"....

Due to this information, we will have an announcement to make within the next couple days or maybe weeks....

Happy Birthday Laynee!!!

2009-03-05T09:52:00.003-07:00

Our niece Alayna turned 4 yesterday!!! She is so sweet, we are going to her birthday party on Saturday and can't wait to see her and give her big hugs and kisses!!! Love you Laynee hope you had a great day!!!