Happy New Year 2009

Not a bad way to start a new year!

For new years this year we were invited to go to "Tucanos" Brazilian grill downtown SLC... We had a great time with the Driaza's and Anderson's.. We got to shop for new outfits and get all dolled up.. Tiana even said as we picked them up... "This feels like we are going to prom"... Regan said " I even got to borrow the mini Van he,he.." It's great to have kids old enough to baby sit! We shared the kids (babysitters) with all our group. We had amazing food, Brazilian music and dancing.. We danced our socks off... From the dance floor we could even see the "First night" fireworks.  All the employees passed out sparkling cider and we got to toast in the new year while balloons and confetti/streamers dropped from the ceiling... And of course a real new years kiss and first dance was sweet! 

MOM! I'm a teenager now!

Happy 13th Birthday Spencer!

Mom and Dad made a cake with Spencer's favorite guy in mind "Jack Skelington".

What a handsome young man Spencer is turning into.

Spencer, Dad, and Andrew Disneyland "08" Our little boys are sure growing up. 

Spencer played Soccer this last spring. He playing the "Forward" position Spencer makes a great Goalie.

Spencer swimming at the Clayton family's pool in Summerlin, Las Vegas this last spring. Spence loves visiting the Clayton's just as much as Disneyland.  

And we have another teenager in the house! Spencer has been reminding me for a long while know that he is going to officially be a teenager on (XX) amount of days.. I say " Wahoo! Luck me! What a fun time of life for Spence. I absolutly loved junior high. I was so ready to leave Elementary and make new friends. What a great two years I had. Lucky Spencer get 3 years where we live in Middle school he has 7-9th. I would have loved an extra year at good old "Clayton Junior High" I miss all my friends that went to Highland High While I went to East High. With the exception of my best girlfriends Lis my BFF sense kindergarten and Jen my BFF from Junior high. Ironically all three of us went to the "University of Utah" together as well. While all of our friend/traders went to BYU. We also join the same Sorority together.

Back to Spencer. Spencer just finished his first Quarter/term in 7th and made the Honor Roll. He is so good about motivating himself for the most part. I have had more that a few late nights these last few weeks up with him while he finished his report on "Brigham Young" for Utah History and "Andy Worhol" for Art History. Know one ever told me I had to go back to Junior High so many times ...Well I still have 2 repeats to go. Spencer is not currently in any sport. He is going to tryout for the school basketball team really soon. Last year he played in a city league but being in 7th grade is awhole new world. Spencer just finished helping plan and participating in the school Halloween Carnival and did a great job. Today Spencer and Andrew attended a Utah County council scout "POW-POW" they are taking class to advance in there scout rankings. Spencer just passed his board of review last Sunday and is now a "Star" and is working on his "Life". Andrew is one away from earning his "Life" maybe they can receive their "Eagle" ranks together. Spencer is such a great kid. I always have people come up to me an pay such great compliments about him. He is the kind of kid you send out into the world and don't worry about his choices. He has a lot of integrity about him. Spencer has a few friend that can get permission to just about anything as long as Spencer is going. They know that he will help them to make good choices. One of the Coolest things about Spence is that he is not afraid to leave if things are not right and we have received phone calls from mom's to thank him for his good example. Mom's always feel like they are doing there job when they send their kids out into the world and they are making good choices. Spencer is a gentleman as well. He hold the door open and has learned to wait until everyone is served to eat. Spencer is not with out fault believe me he has a little temper every know and then. Especially if it's his night for dishes. When he gets a little testy he gets it out quickly and doesn't let it eat at him. After a little disagreement he ALWAYS comes and apologies for acting "Stupid or being a Jerk" as he says. Spence and the kids ended piano this summer. Due to their teacher having a 3 baby. They were all so excited to quit. DANG says mom. Spencer and Andrew were getting so good too. Spencer has an amazing voice but is way to shy to share it. I once threatened him with voice lessons to keep him in piano. (he,he I am bad mom) Spencer is not as much a die hard Sports fan as his dad and brother are. He is a UTAH fan and a bit of a BYU fan as well. He likes to go to the Utah games with the guys but not all the time he lets Abbie take his place now and then. Spencer is a great help in the Kitchen and loves to cook. He is a huge fan of "Food Network" as is the family. He has his own cook books and Chef attire. Spencer really enjoys science and how things work. Spencer is a great brother and is trying to learn patience. (aren't we all) Spence is also a magnet for really cute friends too(wink-wink) but would kill me if I said anymore. Spencer is the one kid that will go to bed the rest are just plain RATS! Spencer's room on the other hand is always in need of help. He is always behind on his laundry. And when he is doing his laundry you can tell, the walls start to shake and the noise coming from the washroom.. Yikes! You could say he like to make his loads efficient (overloads) I should say. At least he is trying.

List of Spencer's current favorites:
Games: cards, board, Wii-Kung foo Panda (b-day present)
Movies: Comedy- Brian Regan, Home along, Young Frankenstein", Monty Python, Nightmare Before Christmas, Kung-Foo Panda
Treat: Kit-Kat
Collects: Nightmare Before Christmas-shirts, pins.
Book/Author: Erragon/ Cornelia Funk and has a good wish list.
Sports team: UTAH & a little BYU, What ever team he is playing on. Andrew school team.
T.V. shows: Myth Busters, Rewind, Food Network
Cloths: Anything but his school Uniform.
Seasons: Spring and Fall.
Pastime: Hanging out with the Family.
Wants to be a Pediatrician when he grows up. I think he would be great! Spence is so good with kids. SPENCER BABY SITES IF YOU NEED A BREAK. He is happy to not have to watch Zach. (should I say wrangle)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEENAGER! WE LOVE YOU!

Zach turnes 5!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZACHARY!

All the boys in the family got new white shirts for church so little Z got one too. Most of the time he would rather wear a polo shirt he is mister casual man.. I had to get a birthday photo on in he looked so cute in his white shirt and tie... His little friend Ellie even noticed how dapper he looked and said" Mom look Zach is wearing a tie".  How cute is that. After church Ellie and Ben (who we call by multiple names like "bellie and en" or "Benellie") came over to give Zach a b-day present. They had made him card and gave him candy and a dry-erase marker with dry-erase handwriting practice sheets. Wahoo! Know Zach can master his Surname now. What friends.

The Anderson's family Derek, Cassie, Katie and Joshy came over as well. They had picked out a really cool b-day present for Zach. A red Power Ranger guy with a Ranger car (or what ever it's called). He played with it all day by the way.

Spencer and Abbie had such a great idea to give Zachy his presents. They made a fishing pond. For every present he opened he had to fish for it.. How stinking clever.. They opened the French doors to the office and strung up a sheet and made a little sign that said "fishing pond". They re-strung the fishing pool that was in the mud-room with yarn and voila!  Andrew was the fisherman's assistant. What cool brothers and sister Zachy has to help make his day so fun. Zach pick out a "Power Ranger" motorcycle that came with three guys at the store and has been dyeing to play with it.. I also found other "Power Ranger" gifts on clearance on the Disney store on-line really cheep. The kids wrapped up thing that they had in there room that they though he might like to have.. Abbie gave his "Wilber the Pig" from "Charolett's Web".  Spencer gave him a little puppy that Zach named "Duddly".  Abbie also wrapped up 5 pennies. Zach love it.

Zach wanted me to make him a red "Power Ranger" cake but we have been under the weather and just dang busy around here so we talked him into warm brownies and ice cream. YUMMY!

I love this picture if Zachy because it's dark you can really see him and not have any distractions.. He was so excited to be sung too. He makes his daddy proud taking after his like that(bring attention to your birthday) In fact Zach told I think the whole ward that it was his b-day. He would see someone he knew and run up to them and say "Hey today is my birthday".

 We had combine primary today so we could practice for the primary program coming up so Zach got to stand up in front of all the kids and he was so proud of himself he was grinning from ear to ear. He thought it was so funny that they gave him a coupon to get a special treat from the bishop after church.. He was probably thinking I get one after church every week from dadda. But the birthday one is much bigger. He also got a small figurine of a little boy praying from the Primary which he was so excited to receive because big sister Abbie has one too. 

Is this so cute he shut his eyes to make a wish!  When Zach was all done blowing out the candled we asked what did you wish for? A Power Ranger". Go figure.. Oh when life was so simple. 

Happy Birthday little man.. We love you so much.

Summer Family night fun.

FAMILY NIGHT FUN

I came across these photos from July and couldn't resist sharing.. Every month we meet together at my Mom and Dads house and have family dinner and celebrate all birthday's in that month.. 

After Dinner Spencer and Abbie had planned an little activity for us all to do... Face painting!!! It was so much fun..  All the Kids were the Artists.. It was hilarious... Spencer painted Cameron to look like Captain Jack Sparrow he even painted his own face using a mirror (cool picture arrr!!!) 

Sienna stayed still for about 20 min while Abbie painter he face. I have never seem a 2 year old sit so still and be so patient. 

Mindy and I were the only Adults who were brave enough to let the kids paint there faces.

Zach Painting mommy.
The masterpiece.. "A lady Bug"

Alex painting his Mom Mindy. Maddy painter Mindy's other cheek. She got a double dose of fun.

The Birthday BOY!!!

Regan

Later in the summer the we had a ward party and the youth were in charge of face painting.. Let's just say we had a lot of Jack Sparrows walking around.

Abbie has been bugging me for a hair cut for ever... Every time I take the boy for a cut of say we need hair cuts in this house she says: I know Mom We ALL DO" ! and she is looking right at me and points to her hair... She was within seconds of cutting 10 inches of so she could donate it to lock of love again.. She donated her hair by her own choice when she was 7... She couldn't bare to cut it that short this time....

                                                                                 before

And six inches after.... One excited girl.  

                                                                             After

This biggest change for Abbie is  NEW GLASSES!!! 

Abbie has been getting a lot of headaches so we made an appointment with the eye doctor and sure enough.... She has 20/20 vision... but has astigmatism which was making her eyes really work overtime... She can see close up as well but her eye have to work a little harder.. now the can chill out and see so much better and hopefully not get so many headaches... Abbie picked out her glasses. She tried on lots of frames and these were her favorite... Her aunt Mindy said she was proud of her for not picking out pink.... And being a little more practical...  Lucky for Abbie the doc. told her she only has to wear them when she wants to. Because unlike the rest of us who can't see a thing when we take our glasses of she can see still... She might even grow out of this he said... I definitely enjoy lasik and not having to wear glasses...

Is she cute or what!!!

Look who started pre-school today.

I can't believe my baby is in his last year of pre-school. I just had the little guy.. I have to day I I have truly enjoyed having this wild little big boy with me every day of my life. Zach has so much energy he never give up.. He can stay up until 12:00 am and it doesn't even phase him.. He might just sleep until 8:00 a.m at the latest he is the early riser at out house. He usually get up around 7:00 am. I will miss my little shadow when he is in school full time. Zach is a easy to please guy. Hence the outfit.  I had a brand new pair of plaid brumuda's and a polo shirt laid out and ready for the first day of school and like all the guys in my house "I want to wear the new tee-shirt and shorts mom it has a cool motor cycle on it". Will know one in my house ever willingly  wear something just a little dresser. Zach has been looking forward to going back to school at Teacher Wendy's sense the last day of school. Zach learned so much last year and I can't wait to see him blossom even more this year.. I LOVE YOU ZACH... Thanks Daddy for making it all possible.