What a difference 8 months makes!

1 week old @ Primary Children's Hospital

8 mths old at Grandpa Hirschi's house!

I was looking through pics of James when he was born and couldn't believe what a difference just 8 short months can really make in a baby's life! Everyday this month has got me thinking of so many things I'm thankful for and I always go back to the beginning of this year when our littlest guy was fighting for his life and our lives were turned upside down! I am so absolutely grateful for the blessings he has brought to us and our family, for his health, for strengthening my testimony of the savior and the gospel, the laughter he brings to our house and the smiles that light up a room - we love you baby boy and couldn't imagine our life w/out you!

Today he played catch w/his dad for the first time - it was the cutest thing in the world, I don't think I've seen an 8 mth old play catch before! He actually would toss the block back to his dad every time his dad tossed it to him, so great! He is also cutting his second tooth and it is going to break through the gum any day like tomorrow or the next day I'm willing to bet! He got his first tooth in October a little before Halloween I wish I would of wrote the day down but of course forgot :-S I can't believe the weight difference in these two pics either he is already 21 pounds I think (I'll know for sure at his 9mth checkup on Nov 29th) and at 1 wk he was only 7 pounds! He is growing like a weed! Well I just wanted to get a post up about being grateful before Thanksgiving came around, I'm hoping to do more then this one but you never know!! There's so much more I am thankful for so I am going to try super hard to post them before Thanksgiving :)

Halloween 2010

Here's our Turtle and our Tiger! The Tiger costume was so fun b/c it's what Brian wore around the same age as what Spencer is now and his mom made it for him so Spencer got to dress up in the same costume as his daddy when his daddy was his age and he LOVED that! If I ever get a pic of Brian in it I think I'll post it so we can see how much they look alike! We were missing Brooklynn this year since it was her daddy's year to have her but she had a great time w/him and after 3 costume changes she ended up a Southern Bell!!

Not too many dad's I know out there that could do this good of a job on a daughter's make-up and hair! She is very blessed :) He did it all and he seems very proud of it which he should be! He also said he caught her trying to sneak on the fake eyelashes the next morning, so cute! Here's some more pics of the boys!

We did our usual tradition and I made my oh so yummy homemade chili in a pumpkin w/scones for dinner and had some family over! Was so busy I didn't get any other pic's of everyone but hey at least we got the kids dressed up that's all that really matter's ;) It was another fun and successful night, I even attempted a new dessert I hadn't tried before and it was really good! It was a pumpkin dessert and definitely will be making that again - very festive! Earlier that day we had some fun w/the kids and comparing James in the same outfit I've put all my kiddo's in every Halloween starting w/Brooklynn almost 10 yrs ago! So below the pic on the computer screen is Spencer at the same time and age 2 yrs ago! What's your vote - do they look alike or not?!? Just some fun shot's I wanted to post! Hope you all had a great Halloween and I really can't believe Thanksgiving is now just 2 wks away, the time goes by way too fast!

Family trip to SLC...

We decided to do a little family weekend getaway together in October! It was UEA wkd and we actually had Brooklynn which rarely happens so we jumped right on it and planned a little vaca! We headed to SLC Thursday and went straight to the Gateway Mall. There we went to the Planetarium! Kids had a blast -

Brooky is washed out but it was such a cute pic I still had to post it! After we were done at the Gateway we went and checked into our Hotel! Had dinner at one of my favorite places, Macaroni Grill, then back at the hotel we all went swimming together, very nice place! Friday we got around and went to the zoo! Spent pretty much the whole day there - kids were loving it there, big animal lovers in this family!

After the zoo we went and rested for a bit at the hotel before dinner. We went to a really yummy authentic Dominican place to eat in Sandy. Our friends from the Dominican Republic discovered it and we were going to meet them there but they had sick kids and decided to not risk it. But Brant came and met us after he got off work and it was a good visit w/him! I think it's more Porto Rican food but so close to the Dominican food it still felt like we were back there - Great place! It's been too long now I forget the name of it :( Then back to the Hotel again after a long day! The kids and Brian went swimming for a little bit but baby and I stayed back this time! Then we packed up everything Saturday morning and checked out of the Hotel, on our way back home we went to Lagoon which they call in October Frightmares! It was really cool to go during this time since we've never got to experience it before! Perfect weather - great fun and yummy food!! Once it got dark all the workers started coming out dressed in costumes and scaring people! All the haunted houses were opened up and we only went into the 'kid friendly' ones of course but they still got a little scare out of them which was fun!
Lately since being a mother I haven't been into haunted houses I've gotten wimpy but I think the old me kinda came out that night - I REALLY wanted to go to the Scariest one's and probably would have if the kids weren't there but that's what we do for the kids! I think it was better I didn't go though I probably would of had nightmares the rest of the week!!!
The kids had a great time on the rides and played lots of games! Brooklynn was barely short enough for the kiddy rides w/Spencer so it was great that they could go on all the rides together but for sure next year she will be too tall! Poor Spencer though he wasn't tall enough for some of the stuff Brooklynn went on he was very sad about not getting to go on the bumper cars...they had the kiddy one shut down to have the haunted house in for the kids so he was really upset but poor Brian and Brooklynn ended up in a car that didn't go at all and so they had to sit in it the whole time and didn't even get to enjoy it - just wasn't our year for bumper cars ;-)

Then we were off back to Logan - home sweet home! It was a great little trip but it's ALWAYS nice to get home and in your own bed!!! Especially when sleeping in the same hotel room as all the kids! Not the most joyful experience - but building good memories I guess :)

Fishing with Grandpa!

So many times Brian and the kids go fishing w/grandpa - I don't mind it since it's a chance for me to be at home and catch up on stuff around the house w/out interruptions from the kiddo's! Growing up I liked going fishing w/my grandpa and have the best memories from it so I'm excited that my own kids will get to have those same memories! Brian does ask me to go w/them often but these day's it's just not my thing! I haven't really 'liked' fishing since I was a kid - except deep sea fishing that was awesome I would do that again in a heartbeat :) So I usually never go but one Monday evening, last month, I decided to go and make it our FHE activity! All I need is a nice camping chair, warm coat and a camera and I'm a happy mom!

Didn't do any fishing, of course, but it was good to be there w/the family and watch the kids build those memories and be able to capture them on the camera! Brian even brought dinner and made a fire - really cool! So we roasted hot dogs over the fire and it really cooled off towards the end of the night so that fire was really nice to have! I must say that I have a very prepared and smart husband! He does a lot for our family and it's great to have him as my other half! There's a lot of times he (in subtle ways or sometimes not so subtle) ;-) reminds me of how important it is to do things together as a family and I the same w/him - I am so grateful to have him there when I need those reminders on the days I'm just wore out and tired and just want to stay home! There always needs to be balance and I'm still trying to figure that out w/life being so hectic but I have a great helper and love him so much! I am a very lucky woman :)

This happy little guy was so pleasant the entire night! What more can I say about this little jewel in our life - always a smile on his face, I just wish the pic wasn't so out of focus! He sat w/mommy most the time in the great camping chair to stay warm and he kept me warm too :)

The kids loved the fire too - and cooking their own hot dogs made them feel pretty darn special! Was a great October family night w/Grandpa and a few others in Brian's family showed up too - they all caught a TON of fish that night - not sure what was going on but they were biting like crazy so the kids got to catch a lot and that made it exciting for them! Here's one last photo I thought I'd share it was one of the times Brian went w/just Spencer and Grandpa, Brooklynn was w/Taber - they caught a lot that time too!

Here's to making many more memories as a family - but hopefully it won't always have to be fishing for mom's sake ;-)