What Christmas looked like at our house

We had a great month of fun filled Christmasy type activities. I'm a little sad that it's over, but looking forward to what 2010 is going to bring...lots of changes I think.

My dad called about a week before Christmas and said we needed to get away for a couple days and head to St. George for a quick trip down to his condo. He only had to tell us once and we were off! Cort met us down there and we had a great time playing at the park, going out to dinner, and just being together. Easton even gave me one of his first real smiles while we were there. Melted my heart.
The kids watching a show with their Grandpa

Talan fast asleep with his sword. He takes this thing with him everywhere these days. Before we leave to go anywhere he will run to his room screaming "my sword! my sword!" And if he can't find it he will say "mommy help me find my sword?"

Eskimo kisses with my Easty.

My wonderful dad also watched my kids minus Easton, one night while me and Cort went to dinner and saw New Moon. Cort actually really liked the movie, but he has no intention of reading the books. Even though I keep telling him how good they are!! I have no picture of us out, I am so bad about taking pictures if it doesn't involve my kids. But it was a great night, definitely blog-worthy and worth documenting!

On Christmas Eve we took the kids sledding to one of the many parks by us. The kids all loved it. The only problem was we only had one sled, so about 20 minutes after we got there I ran home to get the sled my dad had bought the kids for Christmas.
One sled + 3 kids=DrAmA!

Chase going down the hill mumbo style inspired by the movie Happy Feet.

Then later that night we made cookies for Santa and had a big Christmas feast at our house and watched a quick video on the true meaning of Christmas.

Making cookies. Talan has such a sweet tooth. I don't think any candy made it past his mouth to his cookies!


New Pajamas

On Christmas morning Chase was the first one up. He came in our room around 6:00. He soo reminds me of me as a kid.

Opening presents

Talan was hilarious to watch this year. Everytime he opened a present, didn't matter what it was he would oooh and ahh over it and say "Wow!" and things along those lines. Me and Cort couldn't help but smile.

We decided to keep it simple this year, and do one big gift for everyone and a couple little ones, so Santa brought us a Wii. We have been playing Super Mario non-stop! The kids absolutely love it. Chase is so into it and is hilarious to watch. He'll tell us "come on guys let's get big power" or if he dies he'll say "I guess it's up to you mom." Probably one of those things you have to see for yourself. We are already on level 6. But I hear there is like 12 levels so lots more fun to come.
The kids opening the Wii up. It was the one thing they all asked for.

Easton wasn't that interested in the presents.

Two days before Christmas my dad had us meet him at a store to buy the kids a couple more things. He loves to play Santa. I mentioned to him how much Taylor and Chase wanted spark razor scooters, but that I already told Santa NOT to get them cause they already had razor scooters they just aren't spark ones. Well, my dad disagreed and said we HAVE to get them. So he did! Here is Chase when he opened his over at my dad's. I'm pretty sure that's the reaction my dad was hoping for.

The whole fam on Christmas day. Check out my new boots...love them!

How could you not love this face! Easton the day after Christmas.

We had a great Christmas and are looking forward to all that 2010 will bring.
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Happy 2010!

Red Hots

Taylor has been taking tumbling for about a year and a half now and she LOVES it! She has such a passion for it, no matter where we go you will find her doing a cartwheel, a back walk over, a round off, you get the idea. She does them at home, in the grocery store, on the tramp, etc. etc. I've even seen her do them down the hall at her school.
Tonight was her Christmas concert and she did AWESOME! It was a great night. Even though by the time it was her turn to get on stage the boys had had it! I couldn't be more proud of the beautiful little girl that she is becoming. Here's some pictures of her on stage doing her thing.


And here she is with some of her very cute friends.


Love you Tay!

One month old

I can't believe Easton is 1 month old today. Time does go by fast. Tonight after Taylor got home from ice skating with a friend we were sitting in the kitchen talking about her day and such and she told me "I can't wait til I'm 7." I thought about that and I couldn't believe that it's been almost 7 years since she was born. And before I know it little Easty will be almost 7. He doesn't look much like a newborn anymore, not that he ever did. He is now sleeping for 4 hour stretches at night, so much better than every two hours! And he can hold his head up pretty good and he loves to be on his tummy. Oh how we love this little guy. Here's some fun pics of him over the past month.
One month old

First bath at home. Such big helpers I have here. A couple days old.

My sweet boys. One week old

Talan and Easton. Talan is obessed with Easton...in a good way though. He always wants to be near him, kiss him, and hold him allnthe time. It's very sweet.
10 days old

Fast asleep in his swing. He loves his swing and so does his mom. Such a lifesaver when you have three other little kids running around.
One month old

I have a gazillion pictures just like this one. The kids love to hold their brother and are constantly asking me if they can hold him...However sometimes they don't ask..."Hurry up Tay, take the picture before mom comes!" Crazy kids.

Christmas pictures! Corts very favorite thing to do! This is my attempt at getting a good picture of everyone in their Christmas clothes...Easton was such a distraction.

Brotherly love

Lots to be thankful for

So this is a little late but...that's the way it goes sometimes...We had a wonderful and laid back Thanksgiving this year, we spent the day together just us at home and then Cort took the kids to meet up with my dad and fam to see the Christmas Carol. It was a lot of fun. And it helped that a very dear person in our lives brought us an entire cooked and delicious Thanksgiving dinner. As well as another dear friend who brought us some yummy desserts to go with it. It was all VERY much appreciated! I swear I have some of the most amazing people in my life.

Of course, I had to document the occasion with a picture. My cute little family getting ready to eat, not the best picture but whatever.

Chase and Taylor both pulled out their indian hats that they had made at school for the ocassion. Chase wasn't that excited about getting his picture taken with it though, shocking I know. I had to beg him to take one...and this is what I got...

We also learned this weekend that Chase is allergic to penicillin, after his 8th day of being on it he broke out into hives. Good to know. Poor kid. He was such a trooper through it all though and didn't complain once.

Just a cute one of Talan being Talan right after he had rummaged through Tay's room. My dad keeps telling me we could sell him for a lot of money. I agree. Just ask him if he's cute and he'll tell ya "I can't help it!" Love him.

Lastly, I couldn't do a Thanksgiving post without listing some of the things I am most grateful for so here goes....
Of course, and this should go without saying, but my family. My kids are the lights of my life...I am so blessed to be their mom. Cort. I am so grateful for him. He is truly my very best friend and does so much for me. Good friends and family who don't ask what they can do to help, instead they show up on my doorstep ready and willing. What a blessing you have all been to me. My testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it is true and that He is there and very real. I am also grateful for the house we live in, the street we live on, that my husband has let me sleep in everyday this week, that I finally saw New Moon with a couple of great friends, and so much more. Life is a little crazy right now, but oh SO good! Like I said before I definitely have lots to be thankful for.

And then there were four

Meet Easton Spencer almost 2 days old

On November 11 2009, our little Easton finally decided to make his appearance...with a little help...We went into the hospital Tuesday night to be induced and after a long day of laboring he finally came at 2:57 pm the next day. I started to progress a lot faster than I normally do this time, which got me all excited thinking this was actually going to happen fast...but in the end this little guy did what all my kids have done, and took his dear sweet time. It was a long day. He weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces and was 20 inches long. He is absolutely perfect and none of can seem to get enough of him. I have found myself just laying around staring at him a lot these past couple of days. I love the newborn stage so much, it's seriously one of my favorites, it always goes by too fast, so as a result, I am determined to enjoy every minute of it, even the ones in the middle of the night. All the kids are always wanting to hold him and Tay is all about helping out, she loves to burp him, and even wants to change his diapers; anything that has to do with him she wants to do. I asked her if she wanted to trade him in for a sister and she looked at me like I was crazy..and immediately replied with a very firm NO! He is such a wonderful addition to our family.

Minutes after he was born

One day old

5 days old.

Seriously she can't get enough of him.


Our four cute kids.

Just home from the hospital. Because of all the gunk going around right now, the kids were not allowed in the hospital. Taylor and Chase were crushed, especially Tay. Here we all are minutes after coming home from the hospital. The kids were all oooing and ahhing over him. The first picture is Talan blowing on him. We weren't sure why he was blowing on him, but it made us laugh and once he realized that he started doing it even more. He is our little clown...anything for a laugh.


I am so blessed. I love being a mother.

Birthday boy

Chase turned 4 today! I can't believe it....4 sounds so much older to me than 3. He really loved all the attention he got this year. We celebrated his birthday on Sunday when Cort was home with presents, cake, and a small family party. Then today on his official big day he got to choose what we did all day long...needless to say I am EXHAUSTED! We went to Jumping Jack's, the park, did lots of playing at home, and had his cousin come over. It was all worth it though, because he went to bed with a huge smile on his face, I could tell he felt so special. He really got into being able to choose too. But then again who wouldn't?? All day long he kept telling me "I want to do this or I want this...and we have to cause I'm the birthday boy." Here's some pictures of our Chasers celebrating turning 4...
Opening presents on Sunday.


Chase and his new bike. What a hit this gift was! We still need to take the training wheels off, he picks up on things like this so fast. We had him try Tay's bike the other day just for fun and off he went. He really is a natural when it comes to things like this...he gets that from his mom! HAHA

Trying his cake.

And here he is at Jumping Jacks with Talan and his cousin. These boys were in absolute heaven running around and jumping on things without a care in the world; with no one there to tell them to stop and settle down.
Little boy heaven.


Chase is such a delightful boy, his smile is so contagious. He has so much energy, I tell ya he is NON-STOP all day long. He loves to play "tricks" on all of us. He'll tell us a story about something that "happened" and we will say something like "really" and he will say "I'm just tricking you!" He is thriving in his preschool and loves going so much. His teachers tell me he is very respectful, so smart, and such a big helper. Some of his favorite things to do are ride his bike and/or scooter, go on walks, swim, play any type of sport, play swords with anything that slighty resembles a sword. His favorite colors are orange, green, and blue. His favorite food is lasagna and pizza. And his favorite TV show is Electric Company on PBS. He also loves to try new things. He is so maticulous with anything that he does, from coloring to making his bed, everything has to be done a certain way...just right...(that he does get from his mom.) He is such a wonderful boy and I can't imagine life without him. Happy Birthday bubba. We love you.

Tyson gets married...finally!

October 30th was a big day in our family. My little brother finally did it!...he is now officially taken and we couldn't be more excited for him and the newest member of our family, MiKail. Taylor is so excited to have a new aunt and I am excited to have a new sister. The day was absolutely wonderful! It helped remind me what is really important in life, and that the stuff I usually worry about on a daily basis is just nonsense. Congrats Tyson and MiKail! We love you both. Here's some pictures of the big day.

At the temple...

The cake

There's nothing quite like family...
Could I be any more pregnant! Good grief!

Two of my mom's sisters, uncle, and cousin, made the long drive (13 hours) one way up for the big day. They are SO supportive and I know my mom was so pleased that they were there. We love them dearly. The only picture I got of them though was this group one at the temple. Not quite sure how that happened! We missed you Marie!

The reception center they used had a downstairs equipped with video games and a DVD player. Genius! All 3 of my kids were in heaven. Running around like they owned the place. I only saw them a couple times once the reception started...it was usually around the refreshment table, getting some sort of treat to eat.

Talan enjoying his second or maybe third desert of the night.

Taylor doing her duty, with her cousin Rylee, collecting the gifts for Ty and Mikail. Taylor just loves to help. Chase joined them for a bit, but after about 30 minutes or so he was totally over it.

Waiting for the guests.

Taylor was in awe of MiKail's dress, so of course Chase was too. I love that Tay is my girly girl who loves to get all dolled up and play in make up and yet at the same time can climb a tree like nobodies business! Both Taylor and Chase wanted their picture taken with MiKail so badly and kept asking all night...So here it is...

After the reception, me, Cort, and the kids ran some of the flowers from the reception, over to the place where we remember my mom. Just like we have with each of our weddings since she passed.

What a special day and memory it was for us all.