California

Last week we headed down to sunny San Diego for a family getaway and to meet the newest member of our family, little Brewin John Ford. We had a good time and the kids actually did really good with the drive, even our little Talan hung in there and did AMAZING!
While we were there we spent one of the days in Sea World and another with Grandma and Grandpa at Legoland. I think the kids favorites at Sea World were for sure the shows, Taylor was in awe of them, as well as the penguin encounter. And at Legoland they loved all the little rides they got to go on there. It is actually a really fun little place for the little ones because they have quite a bit of things for them to do there. Taylor even went on her first roller coaster while we where there. I was actually quite surprised when she said she wanted to go on it and with good reason. Because it did seem to be to much for her. She did good going up, but the coming down really scared her. Poor thing, I guess I should of known that it was a bit too much for her.


We of course also took the kids to the beach and let them play for a bit. They absolutely loved that! They would run into the water and wait for the tide to come in and then run back out before it caught them. Poor Chasey actually fell in at one point, (it was quite cold!). But honestly, he didn't seem to mind.


We also spent a lot of time at Cort's sister's house playing with their new little guy. He is sooo adorable and such a easy going little guy. When he was born after close to 24 HOURS in active labor, he weighed 8lbs 14 oz. He really brought back some memories for me, because he reminded me alot of Chasers as a baby.


I also got to go for a really nice long run right on the beach, while Cort watched the kids in our hotel room one morning. I love doing that, running on the beach is my favorite! I haven't been running too much lately, because I just haven't had it in me to go out in the cold, so it was a real treat to be able to go. Me and Cort also got to spend a little quality time with one another for a little late valentines celebration, while Cort's parents got to spend some quality time with the grandkids. (Thanks so much Grandma and Grandpa!!) First we went to a spa and had a little pampering done and then Cort took me to a really nice resturant right along the coast for some REALLY good seafood. (I LOVE SEAFOOD!) It was really fun and kind of funny when we got there the hostess informed us that it was like a 45 minute wait for inside or we could eat outside under the heaters overlooking the ocean, however she warned us that it was really cold outside and since we didn't have jackets she wouldn't recommended it. Well, we asked if we could just go out and see how cold it was. We walked out and couldn't help but laugh to ourselves, we told her it would work being that we were from Utah and all. We really did have a great time. It's alway nice to get a way for a bit. And I'm pretty sure we wore the kids right out while we were there, because on Monday they took some real good naps in the car on the way home. We really did pack a lot into the 6 short days we where there. Can't wait til we can do it again. Until next time.
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Rock Star

We were downstairs earlier tonite and I was trying to take some pictures of Talan for the Photography class I'm taking, when Chase comes be-bopping in with his Diego sunglasses on, Taylor's Hannah Montana doll in hand, and her microphone, and starts jamming out singing "You got the best of both world." (Or his version of it, which is "You got the best mamma.") We hurried up and got the camera and fortunately got part of it on tape. So, here he is in all his glory! We laughed our heads off. What a little ham we have. Never a dull moment. We are having trouble uploading this video so check it out through this link until then(copy and paste it: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6621215261143660183&pr=goog-sl

What I love about us

I saw this idea on a blog that I love to look at, so I'm stealing the idea! (Thanks Amelia.) Here are some of the things that I love about us....

How Taylor and Chase are always thinking of one another. If Taylor gets a treat or anything, she makes sure that Chase gets one and vice a versa. They are constantly making sure that the other one is taken care of. In fact, if Taylor gets in trouble Chase is sooo concerned about her. And Taylor does the same thing too. I'm lucky they haven't ganged up on me as of yet.

How Talan absolutely loves his bouncy seat he got for Christmas. He will just sit in that thing forever and bounce away while he literally screams at his toys.

How Chase loves to build, explore, and figure things out.

How much Taylor loves to sing and dance. She always has. At 18 months she was singing I am a Child of God, word for word. And by the time she was two, she could sing I love to See The Temple. She has always loved to sing. In fact, when she was a couple years younger, I was told to put her in voice lessons when she got older because she seemed to have a talent for it.

How Chase loves to sleep with things. Sometimes it's the most random things. When he was almost a year old, he had a play fork that he slept with. And just recently some of things he has slept with have been a ball (his most favorite), a controller from the XBox, his Diego book, Pablo from the Backyardigans, his Nemo swim diaper, and of course his precious blue blankie that he's had since he was born.


How when Taylor has a friend over, she lets Chase just follow them around and makes sure that he feels included. I don't think I have ever heard her tell him to leave them alone. On the contrary, she tells him "Come on, Chase."

How Taylor loves to help Chase say prayers.

How Chase loves to be on the go. He has so much energy, I wish I could bottle it. He just loves life. Taylor on the other hand is a home body. So, if I tell them we need to run to some places, Chase is always happy to go and Taylor always just wants to stay home.

How Talan loves to watch his big sister and brother, no matter what they're doing, if their in the room, his eyes are usually on them.

How excited everyone gets when Cort gets home!! (including me!)

How much Taylor and Chase love to hold Talan. All day long they are constantly asking.

How Chase will get down to Talan's level and talk with him and play with him. He has done this ever since Talan was born. When Talan was maybe a week old, I walked into his room where Talan was laying, and found Chase all alone with him, playing patty cake.


How Taylor is soooo easy going and independent. In fact, her preschool teacher has told me this about her as well. Whenever I ask Taylor who she played with at preschool, it's usually someone different every day. She is so considerate of others and doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings ever! Even if that someone hurt her feelings. It's no wonder why she has so many friends.

What good helpers my kids are! They both love to help unload the dishwasher, help with the laundry, and put away their clothes. I was so happy when a good friend who was watching Chase one day for me told me that when he would get a toy out to play with it, he would then put it away when he was done, without being asked!

Most of all...the thing that I love the most about us is the love we feel for one another.

And a couple more....

These one's are for you Whitty! What cuties!

Take Two...

One of my very favorite people in the world gave me the best Christmas gift this year. It is one of those books that you put together of pictures you have taken, like Heritage Maker, if you have heard of that. She actually put it together with pictures of my kids that she took one day while we were at Gardner Village. I love it so much! I have it on my fireplace mantle at home. Anyways, it was such a great gift that I decided to put one together for my dad, (probably the hardest person ever to buy for) of all of his grandkids for his birthday this year. I had all these ideas of different poses we would use and in my mind it played out perfectly!!! I thought that it would go as follows: all smile at the same time, everyone looking at the camera all at once, perfect poses, etc. etc. A yeah, 7 kids under the age of eight....not so much. It was a very interesting, but fun experience trying to take pictures of this little group. They so where not into taking pictures, first of all it was freezing outside even with all their gear on, and second they wanted to play with one another, not just stand there and take pics. Go figure. Anyways, (this is for you Les) here are some pictures of them during our second attempt at taking their pictures. The first time around was just a mess! And I wasn't pleased with any of the pictures, so I told the moms we were going to try again the following Saturday. And when we were done I thought once again I got nothing, however when I got home and looked at what we got I was surprised! I think we actually got a few good ones. And I think that my dad is going to love it.

An Amazing Man

Yesterday was a very bitter sweet day. Our dear prophet President Hinckley passed away. I felt a lot of saddness with his passing, but at the same time I wanted to celebrate his life. He is such an amazing man, who did SO much good during his lifetime. I know without a doubt that he was and is a prophet of God. One of my very favorite memories of him was when I was fortunate enough to go with my sisters to a youth fireside at the conference center. I will never forget that experience. The center was filled to it's capacity, thousands of people talking and laughing, but when he walked in the room, without being announced, everyone stopped talking and immediately stood up to show their love and support of him. At that moment I knew with out a doubt, I was in the presence of a prophet of God. The spirit was so strong, and his words that day touched my life for the better, as they always have. He was and is an amazing man who I love and will deeply miss, but what a celebration of a life well lived, he definitely returned home with honor! Thanks again to our beloved prophet President Hinckley for his MANY years of service and his amazing example of goodness and righteousness.

Amazing

I have a friend in my ward who takes the most AMAZING pics and we had her take some pics of our little family last month and can I just say I LOVE, LOVE, how they turned out. She is so good. She totally inspires me!!!! Anyways, here's a look at a couple of the shots she took. I love them so much I just had to show them off. The one of our family all sitting down, is probably close to being my favorite. Which is actually kinda funny cause when she gave them to me she warned me not to blow it up because something happened to her camera and she thought that it wasn't as high of quality as it could of been. Anyways, I couldn't resist...and I blew it up anyway and again I love it. I hope to one day be taking pics as good as her. She actually gave me a few tips the other day as well, which I was over the moon about and actually spent at least two hours yesterday playing with my camera and photoshop, while my boys were sleeping and Taylor was at preschool. I'm going to be taking a photo class next month and I can't wait! If by chance your reading this, thanks again Haylee, I love them!