Family Pictures

I had my friend Micah who is an amazing photographer take our family pictures this year.  I didn't even think to bring my mom or Brandi to help the kids look at the camera and they weren't exactly cooperative.  We still got some gems and I love how they turned out. 

Ballet

Sadie has been asking to do ballet for a while but I was scared.  I had bad visions of her tripping or running into someone and getting a cut.  But I also want her to do things she enjoys and recognize how amazing her body is even if her skin is "fragile."  I finally found a little class through our parks and rec that would be perfect, just four weeks long and a decently small group.  It was totally low-key and Sadie had a great time.  This was their last class that parents could come take all the pictures they wanted :)  She was so cute!

Halloween

Kate - Cleopatra.  She saw this in one of those cursed catalogs and couldn't get over it.  I told her I would pay for half. That is a lot more then I am usually willing to spend on costumes but it turned out so cute and she was thrilled! 

Sadie - Kitty. She changed her mind several times about what to be.  She wore a princess costume to a Halloween party we went to, refused to dress up for the ward trunk or treat, and settled on a kitty for Halloween itself.  She was adorable. 

 Spencer - Gnome.  I bought this costume a couple years ago when I saw it in Target on clearance and almost peed my pants laughing.  I figured this is probably the last year I will have complete say over what he wears.  But believe me he didn't want anything to do with that hat, much less the beard.  He kept ripping it off and saying "I don't like that hat!"  - we even caught it on video.  This is a rare moment that he actually wore it, but most of Halloween was spent without it.  Oh well. 

 Cade - Bumblebee.  It was so fun having my mom and Brandi's family come trick-or-treating with us.  We went to the local mall - which was insane - even us adults dressed up :)

 Dinner - Taco soup and corn muffins, plus some little fruit parfaits that looked like candy corn.  Then off trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.  The kids all got such a kick out of this.  Fun times. 

Grandma and Grandpa!

We were so happy the Brent's parents were able to come for Kate's baptism. We went to a fair at the Country Village and had so much fun!  There were also several rousing games of memory "wild game" edition and headbands.  Brent and his Dad did a salmon fishing trip out in the Puget Sound.  Brent caught salmon but he had to fight a seal for it, so a big chunk was missing once he pulled it in.  They had a great time.  We love Grandma and Grandpa so much! 

Kate's baptism

What a wonderful day - I was so happy.  The only thing that would have made it more perfect was if our many loved ones that live far away could have been there.  But it was so special to have both sets of grandparents there, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  Kate looked so grown up in these pictures we took for her invitation, I am so pleased and bittersweet at the same time. She is an amazing girl and we are so happy she decided to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She has such faith, a great thirst for understanding the Gospel and desires to do what is right.  I'm so grateful that Brent baptized her and that he, along with our dads, confirmed her a member of the Church and gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost.  I pray that she will come to recognize how the Spirit speaks to her and that it will be her constant companion. 

 

Spencer's Birthday

Doughnuts and chocolate milk for breakfast

 

Spencer pretty much only wanted trains, cars and trucks and that's what he got. 

 

 

 

This was the first year Spencer really understood that it was his birthday.  He said he wanted Thomas and Percy on his cake, but he kept trying to take them off :)  We've been working hard teaching him that "I'm 3!" 



We always write notes on a balloon for Nathan and send it off to the sky. 

 

I have been overwhelmed with gratitude as I reflect on how far Spencer has come.  Sometimes it doesn't even seem real.  I think, "did that really happen?"  It's hard for me to remember how truly small and fragile he was.  His life is a miracle.  The fact that he is a normal three year old, getting into trouble and being my best little buddy, is a miracle.  To me, there is no other way to explain what he has been through and where he is today.   

 

This picture of Spencer holding a sharpie was taken when he was 9 days old.  He was 1 lb 13 oz and 13 inches long.  Brent could fit his wedding ring around Spencer's arm just like a bracelet.

 

We took this picture for some perspective.  This was a month after Spencer came home (so he was almost 6 months old at this time) and weighed about 10 1/2 lbs.  Amazing!

 

Some notes about Spencer at age 3:

He is a very social little guy - he loves to talk and is friendly to everyone

He loves all things boy, especially cars, trucks and trains

He loves reading stories, and gets stuck on certain ones that we read over and over and over

He loves to sing and knows many primary songs

He is finally starting to eat!  He likes pb & j sandwiches, chicken nuggets, pizza, spaghetti and cereal.  He also loves fruit, mandrain oranges are a favorite.

He is starting to get an attitude - we are dealing with tantrums, hitting, etc.

He loves to snuggle, give hugs and kisses.  He has the best laugh. 

We sure love this kid and are grateful everyday that he is part of our family.