Oh the Blessings....

So, it has been such a long time since I have blogged.... Many new and exciting things have happened this past month. January was such a crazy month, Brayden turned 8, Rylie turned 1, we painted our entire upstairs of our house, and we have been madly helping out family as much as we can....

I am so excited for the weekend, on Saturday Brayden is getting baptized and after his baptism we are finally blessing my 1 year old Rylie... this has been a long time coming... and I am so happy that it is here... it is going to be so wonderful! It will be so nice to see family that we haven't seen in a while.

Brayden just celebrated his 8th birthday and I am still trying to figure out where the time flew by to. He had a special birthday and got everything and 8 year old could ever want. He really wanted his very own scriptures and was so excited when he opened them. But the most important gift that he is receiving this year will be the gift of the Holy Ghost. I am so proud of him and his decision to be baptized....

Rylie just celebrated her 1st birthday and can I just tell you how lady-like she was eating her cake... she was so sweet and dainty picking little pieces off the cake and putting it in her mouth. She wasnt' messy at all! My first child that didn't need a bath after their 1st birthday party... she was too cute. She was spoiled by all of her grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, and cousins... I definitely thinks she had a special day...

I just want to thank all of those who supported us in so much this past month... we love you!

The Grinch who scared Crew....

Speaking of bad days... my sweet cousin Riley just sent me her family Christmas card. They have the cutest little boy Crew. She claims the lines were too long to see Santa and that nobody was in line for the Grinch! There was probably a good reason for that too. But then again I've seen lots of little ones not happy about sitting on Santa's lap too... Pretty sure this had to have been a bad day for Crew. This has got to be the best Christmas card ever!



and this is what it looks like:

Even after all this..... I think she is an awesome mom!

Bad Day.....

Have you ever had one of those days that you don't think the day will ever end? Well, today was that day for me. I have been madly trying to get everything that needs to get done for the holiday's all taken care of and that includes rushing from store to store and my Carson has absolutely had it with me. I think if he sees another Robert's or Michael's he is going to freak out! Oh wait, he's already done that..... in fact he did that today. We were on our way to Robert's from my sister-in-law's house and he was throwing a fit because he wanted to ride with Aunt Sara, well, mommy told him he had to ride with her because his car seat was in mommy's car. He wasn't having any of that and he started running away from me and wouldn't get in the car. I finally caught him, kicking and screaming, and put him in the car. He bawled the whole way to the store. When we got to the store he freaked out and told me he hated stupid Robert's. His exact words... So, I had to carry Rylie and screaming Carson into the store, talk about an attention getter. There is nothing worse than walking into a public place with a screaming child, and all eyes are on you. So, I asked him if he wanted to sit in the cart and he told me," No!" and that he wanted me to carry him because his legs hurt. So, I ended up carrying him the whole time. I don't know why I even bother attempting the stores when Jake is out of town, but Christmas is a week away and I still have a million things I need to get done.

Well, I don't think tomorrow can be any worse than today, so I will just put one foot in front of the other and keep pressing on....

Also, I am really struggling getting in the mood for Christmas, if anyone has any ideas please pass them on! I hope that everyone may have a wonderful Christmas and remember the true meaning of it. I am so grateful for my family even when they are putting my patience to the test. I love my kids so much and I love being a mom. I wouldn't change it for anything, not even a bad day!

Tagged With Love

1. Jacob P. Spencer

2. At Riverton High School (he was a Senior and I was a Junior)

3. We dated for a year.

4. Almost a month!! My mom and mother-in-law pretty much threw everything together. It was pretty crazy.

5. We just hit our 8 year mark. Wow!!

The Secret Life of Bees

Well, last night for my "family game night" which is really code for Bunco night, we went and saw The Secret Life of Bees. I read the book about 4 years ago and absolutely loved it. I thought the movie was fantastic! But.... a real tear jerker. I think I bawled through the whole movie. My mom and sisters decided that I could be May because I cry over everything. (I cry when someone else cries) I haven't been to a movie in probably a year, I forgot how expensive it is. By the time you buy your ticket, popcorn and a drink, you could have just bought the movie when it came out for the same price or cheaper! But hey, everyone needs to enjoy a movie at the theater every now and then. The popcorn is my favorite.... I highly recommend this movie. I definitely think I will buy it when it comes out.

I love getting to spend time with my family too.... I am so lucky that I have such a close relationship with my mom, my 2 incredible sisters and my awesome sister-in-law (whom I consider a sister as well). Jake always teases me because my oldest sister Robynn and I talk on the phone at least 2-3 times a day. He will always ask, "So, have you and Robynn got your phone call in for the day?" He thinks he is so funny! It is so fun to have such a close relationship with her, we love doing everything together. Okay, so maybe not everything!! My sister's are truly my best friends.

Tagged

8 things I am obsessed with right now:

* My kids
* Shopping
* Beads (making jewelry and picking out beads)
* Making Rylie's baby bows
* Exercising
* Blogging
* Taking pictures
* Painting my house

8 phrases I use often:

* Brayden will you please listen the first time! (all too often, this one is not a big shock)
* Is it time for bed yet? -the kids
* What is Rylie getting into now?
* Brayden you need to finish your homework, it's taking you forever!
* Can anyone watch my kids tonight? - my mom and Jake's mom
* So what is your schedule like today? - Jake
* How many legs do you have to fly today? - Jake
* When are you going to be home? -Jake

8 shows that I love to watch right now:

* Grey's Anatomy
* Prison Break
* Desperate Housewives
* Extreme Makeover Home Edition
* The Office
* 'Til Death
* Ellen (occasionally, when I have time)
* Dora and Diego (because I get to watch them with Carson and Rylie)

8 things I did yesterday:

* I went to a close family friend's funeral
* I had lunch with my mom and sister's (Cafe Rio)
* I made Jake an anniversary card
* I changed lots of diapers
* We had Family Home Evening
* I read with Brayden
* I exercised
* I talked to Jake on the phone for almost a minute (he was in Canada and he told me it cost way too much to talk!

8 of my favorite places to eat:

* Ruby River
* Red Lobster
* Cafe Rio
* Zupas
* Brick Oven Pizza
* Olive Garden
* Texas Roadhouse
* Black Angus (now no longer an option. I am so sad!)

8 things I am looking forward to:

* Rylie being blessed by Jake
* My kids opening their presents on Christmas morning
* Spending time with family on Thanksgiving
* My house getting painted
* Taking my kids to Disneyland
* Seeing my Grandparents
* Growing old with my hubby (as long as he doesn't turn into a Grumpy Old Man!) -teasing
* Rylie's 1st Birthday (in January)

Eight Years of Wedded Bliss......

Well, today was my wedding anniversary. I actually celebrate 2 anniversaries. We were married November 10th, 2000. We were later sealed in the Manti Temple January 5th, 2002. I cannot believe that eight years ago today we were married. The weather was a lot worse than it was today. There was a terrible snow blizzard and I remember driving up to Park City affraid for our lives, that we were going to slide off the road. When we got married I was 7 months pregnant and too young to be getting married. We knew our options and to this day I know that we made the right decision to become a family. After being married for 2 1/2 months Heavenly Father blessed us with our first precious baby boy, Brayden.

Brayden 3 days old

I lost a lot of other opportunities in my life because of the choices that I made, but I gained two wonderful and amazing opportunities. I was now a wife and a mother of a healthy and beautiful baby boy. I am truly grateful for what I have today and would not be where I am now in my life without those choices. Jake too made great sacrifices in his life in order to become a husband and father. He never had a day off for about 6 years, he was always working, studying, flying, attending class and trying to make time for his wife and baby. Through it all he never complained about being tired or stressed. He just kept going no matter how hard it was. He finally finished all of his schooling and flight training in the Spring of 2004. This wasn't the end of the road for him yet. He got hired at UVSC as a Flight Instructor, and taught for about 2 more years. When he was finished he got hired on at SkyWest and has been flying with them since. I am so proud of all of his accomplishments. As busy as he was all the time, he always played with Brayden and made the effort to be an incredible husband. They have an amazing bond that will never be broken.

Brayden and Jake

In life we need to make the most out of our trials whether big or small. I know that the trials in my life have made me a stronger person. And I know that the trials that both Jake and I have gone through together has made our relationship grow stronger. He is such a great man, and I want him to know how much I truly love and appreciate all that he does for me. Happy Anniversary Jake! I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven who continues to watch over our family.