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. 

My daughter turned 8

There is just something about birthdays that make me a little weepy. Maybe it's that darn slide-show I've started putting together for each child for their birthday. Looking at all those pictures, seeing how they have grown up, how fast time has flown by, how sad I am that they are growing up but so thrilled that they are becoming such amazing young people. It's enough to get me teary-eyed real quick. Kate's 8th birthday has been especially tender for me as I have asked myself - have I taught her enough? Is she ready to be accountable for her own choices? Yikes it's scary being a mom.  Yet somehow our kids seem to learn despite our many, many faults. Don't get me wrong, we definitely have our struggles, but as I look at Kate I am just so happy with her and the young woman she is growing up to be.

  Here are eight of my most favorite things about Kate:

She is so thoughtful and loves doing things for other people.

She loves to help me do things around the house and take care of her brother and sister.

She loves to sing.

She is a planner and very detail-oriented - in fact she started making very detailed plans about her birthday celebration a couple months ago :)

She loves to learn in school and in the Gospel.

She has the greatest laugh and smile.

She tries so hard to do what is right.

She always gives me lots of hugs and tells me she loves me all the time - especially when she can tell I'm "stressed out".

We are so blessed to have Kate in our family!

Her birthday was on a school night and she also had gymnastics that day so things we pretty crazy. But Grandma Ginger came and helped me with everything that day - what a gem! Grandpa Sam, Bailey, Darren, Brandi, Cade and Blakely came over for cake and presents. Fun times.

Kate had requsted a butterfly cake and so I copied this one off one of my fave cooking blogs - the Sisters Cafe.

 



Sorry guys, but Blakely was our cutest guest, hands down.

 



Some of her favorite gifts!



 

Love this girl!

Gas Works Park

Brent was feeling adventurous and we took a last minute trip downtown to gas works park last weekend.  It was early evening and just beautiful - we have been having the most gorgeous weather here lately!  I am loving every second of it.  I took the chance to try playing with my camera and got a few good ones, plus a couple more that may not be the "best photos" but that I really love anyway.

 

 

She was getting pretty good at climbing that pole!

 



Love the skyline in the background - see the space needle?

 



Sadie found a fuzzy Caterpillar

Spence was running around like a maniac :)

Kate took this one of Brent and I

It was a lovely day.

First day of school 2012

We're alive! Wow, I can't believe it's been over a year since I posted on this blog. But the new school year has me trying to get back on top of things, and that includes sharing snippets of our lives for family and friends. If anyone reads this blog still then hope you enjoy!

The first day of school was exciting this year. Kate is in 2nd grade and had picked out her outfit well in advance. We even pulled off a fancy hairstyle - which was quite a feat because I am not good at braids.

Sadie started Kindergarten and she was thrilled! I was a nervous wreck sending her off to school because I'm so scared of her getting hurt (and we have had plenty of meetings with the school trying to make things safe for her). But she was all smiles - except for the camera.... she hates when I turn into the papparazzi.  This was a lucky catch between all the annoyed faces :)

And here's a picture of Spencer for good measure.  (Yes he is eating cucumbers with nutella.  We have resorted to letting him eat basically anything he wants just in hope that he will actually eat something!)  All day long he kept asking me where Kate and Sadie were.  He was so lost without them.  When we picked up Sadie (she has half day) he shouted her name across the courtyard and was so excited.  Then he couldn't figure out why Kate wasn't coming home with us.  Sorry buddy, she has to stay at school a little longer... 

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