these are a few of my favorite things....

My girlfriend Lisa took pictures of the kids a few weeks ago. She is a great photographer and with a little help from Photoshop, my kids look like models (ok, I am a bit bias). Thanks Lisa!!

Guess what showed up in Rockefeller Center yesterday...

That's right.... the Christmas tree. Some of you may think it's too early for things like Christmas trees, Christmas music, Christmas shopping. BUT NOT ME!! I absolutely love Christmas. I come from a long line of Christmas lovers. You should have seen my grandparents house at Christmas time. As a little girl, I thought they lived in "winter wonderland". Then there's my mom and dad. It's "winter wonderland 2" over at their house. I love everything about Christmas. Even the snow and cold. It's magical. So, to those of you who are not Christmas lovers, sorry for the Christmas music in November. I waited as long as I could. When Gregg tells me that I seem to "skip over Thanksgiving" I just tell him, "no I dont. I'm just really THANKFUL for Christmas". MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!

That's right folks, he's 8!

Ok, I don't know how this happened, but Spencer is turning 8. I know. I'm shocked!! This is my baby. I used to make him promise me that he wouldn't get older than 4. Then 5. Then 6. It's not working and I don't know how to make this whole growing up thing stop.

Spencer had his birthday party yesterday. We always do it a few weeks early because of the holidays. It just gets too crazy.

We went to Boondocks and had a great time! He had 12 of his friends come and it was as crazy as you might imagine with 13 eight year old boys running around an arcade on a sugar high from birthday cake. But I must say, Spencer has THE COOLEST group of friends. They are the cutest boys. They are all so sweet and good and friendly. He is one lucky little boy.

I can not say enough about Spencer. He is an amazing boy. I am beyond lucky to be his mother. He is joy everyday. He is smart, kind, thoughtful, sensative, funny, loyal and so sweet. He is the greatest big brother. Josh and Allie adore him. Not to mention Gregg and I.

Happy birthday my beautiful boy!!!! Now, stop growing up!!

One spooky night

Halloween once again! The weather has been beautiful here and we were able to enjoy a REAL, fall, Halloween. Spenc, Indiana Jones. Josh, Iron Man. And Allie, a "blinged out" Dorthy. Anything with sequins and she is thrilled. We had our good friends, the Lintons, over for a spooky dinner of brains (spaghetti) with rat meat balls, pumpkin salad (pumpkin shaped croutons) and cheesy ghost bread. Not to mention the cups dripping in blood and eyeball cupcakes. Too fun. We love Halloween over here!

The trip of a lifetime!!!

Disney just knows how to do it right. We have heard for years ~ from soooo many people ~ that a Disney cruise was the greatest vacation to take with your family. IT'S TRUE! We spent 3 days at Disney World and then went for a 4 day cruise. Gregg and I agree... if we did it again, we'd skip the whole Disney World part and just head straight for the cruise. We had such a wonderful time..... rides! rides! rides! and more rides! and then cruising and making a stop in the Bahamas to swim with dolphins and then a stop at Disney's island, Castaway Cay, for some snorkeling, swimming and relaxing on a beautiful beach (also seeing the REAL 'Black Pearl' from the Pirates of the Carribean movies). We were running the entire time and we didn't even begin to do everything that they offer. High School Musical Dance off, Oceaneer club where our kids got to make flubber and have treasure hunts, swimming, playing soccer and basketball on the sports court, movies in their theatre and outside on the big screen, live shows, bingo, charecters, pirate party, and dont forget... EATING!! I believe I can see all of us gaining weight in each picture. OH MY!! Our kids keep asking when we can go back. UM?? Have any money saved up kids??? Anyway, AWESOME vacation and we really do hope to do it again. And just so you know....I took over 200 pictures so I really did pair these photos down.

Fall is in the Air and we are LOVING it!

Last night we took the kids out to Cornbelly's (out at Thanksgiving Point) and had a blast! We went with our wonderful friends, the Freedmans. It's such a fun place to go and enjoy family and Halloween and FALL (my favorite time of year). A little something for everyone.... go cart racing, a jumping pillow, the "princess corner", where Allie got to dress up in princess dresses and sit in Cinderella's pumpkin carriage, pig races, hot chocolate, roping, slides, the corn maze (made into David Archuletta's likeness), the "haunted monster and so much more! Fall is FABULOUS!!!!

Ode to Joshua James....

My boy is 5!! What can I say about Josh? For those of you that know him well, know that he is a bundle of ....... EVERYTHING!!! I am crazy for this boy AND he can drive me crazy as well. I am so grateful for this boy in my life that really loves his mommy and daddy, adores his older brother and worships his little sister. There is joy bubbling over from every inch of him. And he has a twinkle in his eye to prove it. I cannot imagine life without all the laughter, noise, heart stopping "tricks", emergency room runs, dirt and happiness that Joshua provides. Joshua....You are pure joy and I am beyond grateful that you are mine!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Things we love about Josh ~

1. His eyes. They are bluer than blue and really do twinkle and sparkle.

2. He has the greatest laugh!

3. The fact that he told me the other day that he knew who the REAL super hero was. When I asked him who, he said, "Jesus".

4. Totally happy 98% of the time.

5. Even at 5 he totally knows who he is and really likes himself.

6. His unending energy (ok, I don't love this all the time but.....)

7. If lizard catching was an olympic sport, Josh would own the gold medal.

8. His love of adventure.

9. He really isn't scared of anything (except for when we ask him to go to the basement and clean up, he's all of a sudden scared of the dark).

10. The fact that he loves my singing. If I tell him there is no time for lullaby's one night he'll ask me to just "sing his name".

11. He's loves to cuddle.

12. No matter what I do to his hair it always looks BEYOND haggered by the end of the day.

13. He's completely oblivious to dirt on any part of his body or the amount in which it accumulates.

14. This morning, when opening our present (a VERY large box with a remote control car) he says, "Man, I hope this isn't a shirt".

15. He has a real and true love of life!!!

Here's to you Joshua and to all the love you bring to our lives. We love you big 5 year old boy!!!!!

ps. For those of you that don't know who this adorable 12 year old girl is in these pictures, she's out neighbor Hannah. Joshua has been IN LOVE with her for the past 2 years. She has come to his past two parties and Joshua is certain this is his soul mate. Hannah is so awesome to come to a birthday party with a bunch of 5 year olds. You rock Hannah!!!!