Murder on the Grill

For my Birthday we celebrated with my family by having a murder mystery dinner. The first time I did one of these was at Nick and Kim's house for Halloween. It was so much fun! This one was based on a 50's backyard BBQ. We had a lot of fun!! I bought two other Murder Mystery games to play too. I want to try and get Chad's side of the family together for one, and then I would like to do one with our friends. We only have one picture of all of us in our costumes...here we all are.

Jen- Tiara Diamonds, Jeff- Johnny Angel, Robyn"mom"- Barbie Que , Chad-Ivan Spudnick, Ashley, Peggy Sue, Kevin-Chubby Cheddar, Kristen-Bobby Sox 

Pre School watch out, because Austin is here to take over...

My favorite saying that someone told me as I was a very new mother (and I am so thankful for this) is:
"It never gets easier, it just changes and becomes different."

I am so thankful for this because, I remember secretly thinking, "If he would just sit up... if he could just crawl... If he could just walk" etc...
Always wishing they were bigger, and could do more. (more so with Austin. I wanted nothing more for him to turn one years old. With him being such a small preemie I wanted to know that he was going to be OK and the only way to tell was for them to grow and develop) Only to find, that yes, now he can walk/crawl and get around and isn't as bored, but now I have to wash ALL of my tupperware containers on a daily basis and make sure there isn't anything that is potential danger in sight or reach... not easier just different.

Today, my secret thought came true, he is grown up. He has grown out of the stage of being my baby and into my little boy, my little man. So bitter sweet. I am so happy that he is in the stage he is to be able to be independent and leave me for a few hours a day, and I am so sad for the same reasons. Now I find myself saying "if he would only let me hold him a moment longer... if he would only sit still for a moment longer... if we could only stay in this moment just a while longer..."

As we were driving to his pre school he said. "Now, do I get to stay here for a long time?" I said "Yes" He said " Okay good! And your going to be at home right?" I said "yes" he didn't answer. I started to worry he was going to cry. Then I reminded him of the fun things he was going to learn and about the playground. Last Friday we went to his pre school orientation and they were just finishing up the new playground and Austin said, " If they aren't finished with the playground, we are going to have to talk to someone about that." He was so excited he could hardly stay in his seat. Then his teacher came to the car and took him in and he looked back at me, his eyes asking, if this was okay. I shook my head with a huge grin on my face and my camera snapping pictures, that I couldn't tell were in focus because of the tears in my eyes (I made sure he did not see).

When we picked him up 3 hours later, he saw us waiting our turn in the line of cars and he had a huge smile on his face. Standing just a little taller I could tell he was proud of himself. He got in the car. With his papers that he had done that day, and a little school bus necklace that they made. He said " I almost started crying for you..." Then I said "but then you realized school was so much fun, that you didn't need to cry, huh!" (even though I was secretly happy that he missed me) He looked at me and said "yep!"

Chad called and talked to him, and he told him he learned a spaghetti and roll song, and they learned not to stand on the tables or chairs, and they got to play on the new playground. He sounded so grown up on the phone. Then tonight as I put Austin to bed, he said "Mommy, I love you so much!! will you stay in here for 2 songs (they listen to the baby einsteins CD's as they are falling asleep)?" I said " I love you so much too, and Yes." So maybe not quite grown up, still my baby just in a little boy body.


Before we left our house

waiting to be picked up by his teacher

My picture to prove to Chad I didn't have a nervous breakdown, just a teary eyed mess.

Getting picked up on his first day.

So happy and proud of himself

15 inches gone...

I wish it was off my body, but it was off the length of my hair... too bad it doesn't have the same effect on the scale...anyway, here it is, if you don't like it, pretend you do, because it's gone and there is nothing I can do about it. Thanks for all of your votes and comments!!

decisions, decisions...

I have an appointment to get my hair cut and colored, on my birthday (Happy Birthday to me) and I can't make a decision on what to do. I love having my hair long because I can do a lot with it, and I am pretty fast at doing it, BUT most days of the week it is in an oh so beautiful messy ponytail. I am tempted to chop it all off, but every time I say that, someone in hearing distance, makes me promise not to think such thoughts again, telling me I will regret it, and that I should keep it long while I can. So, I would like your help and opinions....what should I do? I posted a poll to the right, don't worry it's anonymous, but I would love to hear your comments about your decision if you wouldn't mind leaving one below. (You don't have to have a blogger account, and you can even leave an anonymous comment...how 'bout that?) So please give me your opinions, My appointment is on the 21st at noon!!
Thank's D, for the tip on the Hairstyle website...this is what I came up with

isn't it freaky, how much I look like Katherine Heigl with my hair like hers...

Lake Alexander...

Chad and Austin went camping with Chad's brother Nick his wife Kim and their kids, Jaydyn, Alayna and Seth. Alyssa and I had to stay home, we weren't able to fine a substitute for our primary class. We were so bummed because this is the best camping trip of the year. It's a tiny little lake up past mirror lake, in the Camas/Heber area. You have tot wait to go in August to wait for all the snow to melt. It's worth it, It is just beautiful.After I told Austin it was just going to be him and his dad, he got this huge grin on his face. He was so excited it was just going to be a father and son trip. I gave Chad the assignment to take pictures of the trip, and he did so good. In the past he would come back from his trip with 2 pictures of scenery or pictures out his hotel window. So thank you for doing this for me. Well, from Austin's point of view, Uncle Nick and Daddy, chopped a lot of wood and let him help too. Aunt Kim, took all the kids on a walk around the lake a couple times and it was a lot of fun, they even saw a yellow fish with it's mouth open (Thanks Kim). Nick and Kim brought their dog, Shadow, and Austin thought that was pretty funny, how he would jump into the lake chasing after rocks that they would throw in. They had s'mores and everyone had a good time.

look what happens

When you tell your kids, "go get your shoes on." and your not specific, on which shoes...

Neglect

I have been neglecting this blog because, I am having a love affair with my camera!!! Take a look at my photography blog that I made. My goal is to one day start my own photography business. If anyone would like to volunteer to be my "subject" or "subjects" while I am still learning, please let me know. Then if you like how they turn out, hopefully you will hire me, to do your next photo session!!!

http://www.kristenspencerphotography.blogspot.com/


Enjoy!

To avoid spoiling anything for anyone....

Loved it!!

Ten Year Reunion

It has been 10 years since Chad graduated high school. And last weekend was his reunion. He decided not to go. We'll go to the next one for sure. But I was looking for a mouse pad in my craft drawers and came across this old scrapbook page, that I made when I was still in high school. I still think of us at this age, but when I saw this picture I sadly realized we are soooo not. We look like babies. And so much has changed (expanded) since this picture.

Chad has had 4 jobs:
-Fred Meyer
-Mountain States Mortgage
-United Health Care
-Now at Advanta Bank Corp

Chad has had 4 cars (all Honda's of course)
-Accord
-Civic SI
-Civic EX
-Pilot

Chad has had 2 kids
-Austin
-Alyssa

Chad has had 1 pet
-Wylie (siberian husky dog)
oh wait, and several fish that we never named

Chad has had 2 houses both in South Jordan

The only constant: Chad is still attending school and I am still by his side :)

Happy 10 years old man!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!

As I am sure you all know, because the date is circled over and over again in red on your calendar. My Birthday is on August 21st. On Saturday I got an early birthday present....

Olympus Evolt E-510 camera
Look what I can do (remember this is my first day with my camera and I am still learning everything that it can do and how to use it):





I am so happy!! You may want to save copies of my pictures as one day they will be worth a lot of money, when I am a professional money making photographer!!!
Thank you Rich for all of your knowledge about photography and cameras and your patience with all my questions and deer in the headlights looks at you! I'm loving it already and I still have no idea what I am doing!! Thanks again!!
Thanks Chad you are the BEST!!! Love you!!!

My Public Apology to my Dear Sweet Husband...

Chad was/is a Harry Potter fanatic. He would pre-order his book, go to these hilarious "parties" at the book store. Where there were people dressed up as their favorite character, from the book. We saw the movie on opening "day" (Usually the midnight showing) We waited in line in the morning to get a wristband and waited in line again in the evening to pick up the book at exactly 12:01am to make sure not one moment of reading time was missed, even though usually sleep won the battle of finishing the book, the first night. And I don't know how embarrassed Chad will be at me telling this, but...Yes, Chad even bought himself a wooden wand, complete with velvet carrying case, so he could preform spells, just like Harry. And there I was beside him laughing, pointing, giggling, joking. Making fun of him every step of the way. Not understanding how anyone could be so foolish as to become this obsessed, dare I say infatuated, with a book and it's characters.


Well, last night, Chad had the last laugh. As I put on my t-shirt that I made with a huge grin on my face with my iron on letters and decal. I headed out the door to one of those book stores where again there were people dressed up as their favorite characters, however I took it a step further and actually got my picture taken with these people. It had to have been over 100 degrees in there, but I wasn't going to go outside to cool off, and possibly miss a moment of the chaos going on around me. I stood in a herd of people with my hands waving in the air, screaming "over here, over here" as I waited for a fake bouquet toss. I too, stood in line to buy my book at 12:01 am and if that weren't bad enough, they weren't getting to my number, or letter rather fast enough, that I called my sister and had her run to the local grocery store to see if she could get it any faster, and when she could I quickly left and met her to pick up my book, sped home and read until the words were blurring into each other and then I tore myself away from the book and forced myself into bed.

So Chad I am sorry, for all the teasing and giggling and joke making I made at your expense. Because, I now, am one of you, one that fall in love with a book and it's characters. For Shame.

Thank you to my partners in crime for a fun night: Miranda and her very patient husband Jeff, Ashley and Jen)

Breaking Dawn

This is a video of the Bouquet Toss, that was a total flop. It hit the ceiling and I'm not even sure if there was a winner...