Family Pictures

I had to post this picture.  We got some family pictures done a couple of weeks ago, and I just love this one!  I can't believe how grown up the kids have gotten.  Look how tall Kate and Kirk are!  Our kids are really growing up!

Jence turns one!

Can you believe that Jence is one years old!  It seems like I just brought him home from the hospital!  What is going on here.  Has time sped up?  Don't get me wrong I'm really happy with were we are right now.  Jence is sleeping through the night, and Benjamin is now in preschool, and I don't have a kindergartner pick up from the bus stop in the middle of the day, but seriously my kids are growing up way to fast.  I'd have to say that I love the stage that Jence is in right now.  He is crawling everywhere, but that means he's more content becasue he can explore and get to the toys he wants to play with.  He is always happy, and smiles at everyone and everything.  He is a fantastic eater, and loves his bottles.  He takes his naps like clock work, and doesn't mind it when his brother Kirk carries him around.  What can I say he's the perfect baby.  We love you so much Jence you are the cutest baby ever!  This year we had a family party combined with Kate's baptism.  His theme was animals.  We had tiger and elephant cupcakes!  We also got him a few new toys, a snowsuit, and some new boots.  We had talked about taking him to the zoo this year, but we will have to see if the weather stays warm.  This year I did something new.  I printed some pictures of him through the year, and pinned them up to a ribbon to create a banner.  It's amazing how much babies change in the first year.  He has always been a big baby, I think my babies especially change alot because of how fast they grow.  I swear Jence only wore some of his 3mo. old outfits once or twice.  Jence loved his cupccake and ate every bit of it.  He also got some wonderful gifts from his grandparents.  Happy Birthday Jence.  It's been a wonderful year, you make our home such a happy wonderful place.  Your beautiful smiling face brightens our days, and makes our hearts so full with pride!  

Kate's big day! She's been Baptized

It was a super busy weekend.  Kate was Baptized, and Jence turned one.  Both were huge milestones!  To make it easier to write about I'll separate them into two different posts.  But keep in mind that this all happened on the same day.  Needless to say I'm exhausted!  Jence actually turned one on the 11th instead of the 13th, but it seemed logical to combine the celebrations together. 

Kate was baptised on October 13th, 2012.  It had been a crazy couple of days leading up to the baptism.   on Thursday two days before her baptism she fell off of the playground at school, and hurt her back so I picked her up early from school.  The next day she woke up with a fever.  It was a weird coincidence that those two things happened right before her baptism because the fever was unrelated to the fall.  All day on Friday I worried about whether or not to go through with the baptism the next day.  I had spent all week preparing for it, my house was clean, the dinner was ready to be cooked, and the program planned and invitations sent out.  I decided to wait until the next morning and if she was still not well I'd call it off.  I'm glad I waited because the next day she was up and about, and feeling 100% better.  The day was perfect.  Kate looked so beautiful, and the program went very well.  We are so proud of our little girl. Kate has always been such a joy to have in our home.  We love you so much Kate.  I looked at her in the font with her Father and I couldn't help but think how fast he past eight years had gone by.  Didn't we just bring her home from the hospital?  She was so tiny, and helpless.  We were first time parents and scared to death.  We learned as we went.  I learned how to feed and burp her, and how to take her temperature when she was sick.  So much work and effort went into raising this sweet daughter of God.  I look forward to the next eight years we have with her, I just hope they don't go any faster than the last eight. 

Visiting the ducks

 For family night we thought we'd head out to the Pumpkin Patch, but they weren't open yet, so instead we went to the duck pond which is located near the farms.  The kids had fun. The light was beautiful and I got a few really good shots.  I loved the bridge!   

Jence is almost a year old!

Can you believe that Jence is almost a year old!  He has grown up so fast.  It's amazing that just a year ago I was miserably pregnant, anxiously awaiting his arrival.  It seemed like those last few weeks were months long.  Then when he finally came the next thing I know he's almost reached his first birthday!  It's funny how time has a way of slowing down, and speeding up like that.  I just wish I could keep him at this age just a little longer.  He is our jolly little baby.  He always gives a smile and laughs when we tickle him.  His big blue eyes are so expressive.  He is just as cute as a button!  

I did a little photo shoot of Jence while Kate was at dance lessons.  I wasn't sure where I'd take the photos.  I thought I'd try the botanical gardens just down the street from her dance studio.  I made the mistake of taking some photos with these cool marsh reeds in the background.  I shot one or two and then Jence got into some mud.  He got his white sweater all dirty.  Poor baby.  Luckily it was a warm day,  so I stripped him down to his diaper and shot some on the grass.  Naked baby pictures are the cutest. 

Football Widow

 Kate and Kirk ready to go and catch the school bus on the first day of school. 

 Kate standing in front of her bulletin board at school.  Kirk wouldn't allow me to take a picture of him at his class room.  I guess having your mom take pictures in front of your class isn't cool. 

 Benjamin starting preschool.  This actually wasn't his first day.  His first day he was a little more nervous, and wasn't all smiles.  But as you can see he loves preschool now!

Well tonight I'm a football widow.  It's the biggest game of the year if you are a BYU or U of U fan.  For Dan's sake I really hope BYU wins.  Last night he couldn't even sleep!  Anyways I thought I'd post some pictures of the kids first day of school.  Kirk has started first grade, and Kate is in second grade.  Benjamin has started preschool.  They have been very excited, I was very excited too.  This summer seemed especially long since they started back to school a week later than usual.  Carefree easy summers a fun for awhile, then I start feeling ready for routine, and structure which a school schedule gives.  Also it's good for the kids to get out of the house, they were going crazy with boredom.  Fall is my favorite time of the year.  The kids LOVE their teachers.  This is Benjamin's first year of preschool, and it has been great for Benjamin to get a chance to get out of the house, and enjoy some social time.  He goes to the same preschool teacher Kirk went to Miss Sharon, we just love her.   

Kate with earrings

Kate got her ears pierced for her birthday.  She has been begging to get her ears pierced for awhile.  She was pretty excited.  We went to the mall, and I had to take along the boys.  They were really good sports.  Here are some photo's of her in her new earrings. 

Here she is sitting in ther chair waiting to get them done.  She was so brave, she didn't even cry.