Spencer's B-Day Party

We finally got to have Spencer's birthday party. He has been sick for a while now. He came home from UT with a cold (I will post the month of August eventually, our last trip to UT I left the camera charger, so all my pictures are on Rachel's camera) Then Steve brought home this cold, cough and fever. Dallin got it last Tuesday and missed the 1st week of school. Then, Spencer came down with it. He was supposed to have his party on Saturday, then Sunday, and finally on Monday he was feeling well enough to have it. I had so much fun planning it. We invited (by the way Steve didn't want me to have a party and invite people, but I ignored him and through one anyways) So I invited only people who were close to Spencer. That was the Moore Family, they love Spencer. Hallie and Spencer are boyfriend, girlfriend, and they have been babysitting Spencer since he was born. We love the Moore Family, all great kids. We also invited the Graham's (they are our Flagstaff family), we also love this family. There girls come over a lot and spend a lot of time with Spencer. Last but not least, we invited the Mickelson's. Tanner is Dallin's buddy and is over a lot, Cassidy loves to steal Spencer as well when we are at the pool. Love them also. I was glad everyone could come and celebrate with us.

Now, lets get one thing straight. While I was stressing out, over Spencer's party, Steve was reminding me that Spencer is never going to remember this!!! I just want to state it now, "the first year party is not for the baby. It's for the Mother. It still is about Spencer, BUT my BABY is turning 1!!!

So, here is all that I stressed over for a while and put in about 3 days of work, baking, cleaning, shopping, decorating, cleaning and decorating, and baking. Then last minute decided to serve dinner, so more shopping, and cooking, and cleaning. It was all worth it everything was so cute and so fun for our family.

Below, is how I decorated the front door.

I found these lifesavers, below, at Micheal's I was planning on some how working them into the party. I also wanted to put up some pictures of Spencer. I was going to get a picture of him at every month, up to a year, and put together a collage. However, that was just way to much work. Anyways, this is what I came up with. It fit perfect into the "Under the Sea" theme, and I think they turned out so cute.

I put tables out on the deck, and decorated with balloons, lots of cup cakes, sea shells, and fish. I really had a lot of fun doing all this.

OK, there is a problem decorating with fish. We did have a casualty. If you look in the fish bowl, there is a fish "sleeping" at the bottom. Thank goodness he/she was the only one.

Spencer's whale cake. (second attempt at the caption)

At first this is what I wrote, and then after I finished, I second guessed myself. I looked at the picture again and thought, "Emily you are crazy, no one is going to look at that cake and think there is a problem with it. You are pointing it out." So, then I decided to write the caption over. Then, when I went to delete the bottom part, I thought, "Just leave it, let people know your crazy thoughts, it's all for history. Someday my kids will get to read this and really know there Mom was a little questionable. Aren't we all???

(First attempt at caption) This is kind of a funny angle of Spencer's whale cake, but you get the idea. I am probably the only one who can tell the mouth doesn't look right in the picture, but if you look over it straight, I promise it's centered. Just had to say! For my piece of mind! Because I'm kind of a perfectionist, (I 'm sure this is a surprise to some of you) when it comes to stuff like this and I don't want people thinking it doesn't look centered. Just had to say! :))

I used these during dinner. They held the plates, napkins, and chips.

I had jars of gum balls, sixletts and swedish fish around for the kids to grab handfuls.

This was the center piece at the adult table. I got a huge fish bowl and a Betta fish, then put sea shells around the bottom of it.

At the kids tables I did the same thing, just used smaller fish bowls. I had 3 tables total. At the end of the party, as the guests party favor, each family got to take a fish bowl with them. I also put together a bag with fish food and water conditioner..

Spencer opening his birthday present. He got 2 of his favorite things. He loves cars, and with this car, he pushes a button on the top and off it goes. He chases the car all day. He also got a ball. Which he also chases all day. He picks up the ball, throughs it, and then crawls after it. Repeat!

CAKE TIME!!! he is not going to start until he gets that hat off.

I gave all the kids those party blowers, mistake. He cared more about getting a hold of one of those, than eating cake. So he decided to show off and take a few steps, to try and get one.

When he reached for it he fell over, and almost fell in the cake. It put him close enough to it, that he decided to check it out, and see what it was.

First bite.

Who knew that he was trying to watch his figure, because this is how he ate the cake. He stayed pretty darn clean, and cared more about working the crowd to get some laughs, than eating cake.

There he is at the end, like I said, not much of a mess. He then decided, to crawl off and get into the kitchen drawers.

After all this blogging, I am sad I didn't get one picture. There isn't one of Spencer and his guests. I really wish I had one of those!!! Over all fun party, and... MY BABY IS ONE!!!

Glam Girls, Gross Guys

Isn't Spencer cute?!?! He loves to play the piano and dance. So Saturday was a bit hectic for me. Spencer's party was supposed to be today, Sunday. However, yesterday his cold took a turn for the worst and he spiked a fever. (I know on his B-Day, it was so sad) I really didn't have time for him to be sick, I was trying to get ready for his party. I still had to make his cake and about 30 cupcakes, but all he wanted me to do was hold him. So I called Steve and said, "When are you coming home??? Because I am going to lose it!!!" I still had to clean the house and make all the food. Well Steve got home late and then he went to his friends to watch the UFC fight. I'm really not complaining about Steve, he is always a huge help. It was just the situation that day. So finally at around 12:30am Spencer went to sleep and I did get most of the party ready. I even got an extra day to work on the party,we postponed the party to Monday. Spencer still had a low fever today and I don't want to get everyone sick.

So, Thank Goodness, I had the camera out yesterday, because Girls really are GLAM. I love Tabby and Eliza. These girls are just the best of friends. The other day we, as in Tabitha's G-parents and myself,were waiting for the girls to walk down to the pick up spot. All the other kids had made it down about 10 minutes ago. Well sure enough,they come strolling down holding hands, just looking at each other. Once they spotted us,they come running asking for a play date at the pool. Once we tell them yes, they both start to scream and hug while jumping up and down. i just rolled my eyes and smiled. So on Saturday while I am feeling overwhelmed about all that I have to do, (get ready for a party, a scout meeting, and still do sharing time) the girls come to me begging to dress up in my clothes and wear my jewelry. Finally I got a second to help them. We turned my shirts into dresses and they each put on some of my jewelry and then went to the play room to accessorize. They are so stunning. They then went for a walk around the lake with Spencer. However,they didn't come home with Spencer. I guess the boys came with there guns and stole Spencer. They tried to get him back, but the boys (Dallin and Taige) were running away with him,and they couldn't keep up in there heels. They continued to tell me that,Madison,was still out chasing the boys trying to get Spencer back. Sure enough,about 5-10 minutes later,I hear a baby crying. Madison is carrying Spencer home. Dallin had tipped the stroller over and the gun hit Spencer in the face. BOYS!!! Here are the girls in there dress up.

So the boys did disappear for a while. They went out to the woods and built a fort. They were gone for about 3 hours. They showed back up around 6:00, to go fishing. They stopped by for plastic bags. I guess that is all you need to catch fish. About 4 days earlier, Dallin and Tanner caught 3 fish. They were about an inch long and put them in my nice glass pitcher. So when they went out fishing, in my head I thought, how fun they are going to catch cute little minnows. Well I was in the kitchen decorating cupcakes, and in they walk, with there plastic sandwich bags full. I look up and my first question was, "Are those real?" They were all proudly holding up there bags with these huge fish. They assured me they were. I then said, "Well we need to get them in water, quick, before they die." They then told me, and yes, I through up in my mouth, "No,they don't need water they are already dead." I told them to get out of my house, and to wait on the deck for a picture. As soon as the picture was over, I made the burn their hands in the hottest water, while I soaked them with soap. BOYS are GROSS, and look at them they are so PROUD!!!

Happy Birthday Spencer

So I know time flies, but really, where did it all go. I love this little guy, he makes me so happy. I don't remember this with my other kids, but every time he sees me, Steve, or the kids his face and whole body lights up. We love having him in our family, he is truly the best, happiest baby. I feel so blessed to be his Mom.
So, enough of the cheesy stuff, on to what he is doing. He is into everything, he is not supposed to get into. He loves to unload any drawer and doesn't put anything away (hopefully this changes by the time he is 20). He smiles at everyone. He loves to swim, He loves to eat, everything. When you put him to bed, he opens the curtains, stands in his crib, and looks outside. He has a stool by the window that he stands on, it looks out at the lake. He cries at the window until you take him outside. He even cries when you try to bring him back inside. He is almost walking, he could if he would try. He has been taking a few steps here and there, but he is comfortable crawling. He does say one word, and that is OOS (sound it out, just as it's spelt.) This is what he says when he sees Lucy. That's right not Mama or Dada but OOS. He loves to dance. He makes the cutest fish lips and he puckers those lips up all the time. There is a lot more but that's all I have time for. The girls want to wear my dresses and I have to make a birthday cake for his party.

I can't wait to watch him grow.

Assassians

Assassins is a night game that Dallin, Eliza and their friends love to play. They always beg Steve and I to play and we always do, it really is a lot of fun. Let me explain. You have 2 assassins, they are trying to hunt you down. There are boundaries, you have to stay undetected and uncaught for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes you have to try and make it back to base with out being tagged or hit by the stick. Last night we played after dark, Spencer was asleep, usually he plays with us and sits right on my hip. He really is a great hiding companion. He can be very quite (just hard to run with). Since Spencer was asleep Lucy (our yellow Lab) was my hiding buddy, she is not very quite and breaths very LOUD. We were out hiding and managed to not get caught the first 20 minutes. I was sneaking up on home base and was close enough that I knew it was going to be close but I was sure I could make it. So I got up from behind this bush and started sprinting for base. I was really running and Lucy was at my side. I had Dallin and Chase, the assassins, on my tail. I guess that spooked Lucy a little so she decided to cut right in front of me. I not only tripped over her but when I hit the ground I slid for a good 10 feet. Steve thought I was going to slide into the cement. Well I did stop and I was a little hurt, but laughing. The funniest part is laying on the ground and looking up at 4 boys, Eliza, Steve and Lucy all standing over you. Then having the 2 assassins, not help you up but, TAG YOU OUT. I was so close to winning the game, I was robbed. I do think I should grow up but, really who wants too???
So I have to tell you what the kids and I did all day. It was me and 7 kids. MOM, Dallin, Taige, Chase, Spencer, Madison, Brooklyn, Eliza, and Lucy. I took them all to West Fork, in Oak Creek Canyon on the way to Sedona. I was already feeling, a little "Sound of Music" seeing as how we sang the whole way up. We hiked into the river and then made our way through the "mossy" rocks to our spot, that's right I slipped a lot. I have a cut up knee, ankle, a jammed finger and thumb from saving Spencer, the towels and food in the fall. So this is what really made it the "Sound of Music." We did climb trees and there was wild blue berries (they were really black, but the kids called them blue) and raspberries growing all along the banks of the river. For those of you who haven't seen Sound of Music a million times, remember when the kids sneak off to see Maria at the Abby. She leaves because she has released she loves the Captain. (It's such a great movie) Anyways back to the story line, the kids sneak off to the Abby and when they get home Captain Von Trap questions them about where they have been. Well the 7 children lie, and say the were out picking blueberries. So yesterday I was feeling very Maria. If you haven't seen the Sound of Music in a while you really should watch it.

Summer Fun

The kids have been playing soccer for the last couple of months, I have just not been taking pictures like I should I get to help out and coach Dallin's team. That means I am busy yelling at the defence with a baby on my hip. Dallin reminds me of, ME. He is so intense, I love to watch him play. The picture below he is chasing down 14 who is on a break for goal. Dallin is a boy after my own heart. I just need to teach him how to slide "tackle" legally. He was a little behind the guy. The ref didn't blow the whistle, which is a good thing seeing as they were in the box.

I also love to watch Eliza play she makes me smile. She loves to play soccer and I just love to cheer for her.

Eliza loves soccer because she really wants to score a goal. She also loves her friends "A Lot." So much that sometimes she just gets talking and the ball will go right by her. All while she is smiling and laughing away. Which makes her Mom smile :))

Here she is after warm ups, taking a little break.

Spencer at the soccer games. He didn't sit here for to long.

Serious TROUBLE, and he isn't even walking. I can't get this boy to play with any baby toys. He just wants to unload and destroy my entire home.

Here he is at his favorite drawer in the whole house. It is full of all safe cooking utensils. The problem with this arrangement I have made with him is; While he has full access to the drawer and carries things off to different places through out my home and then it comes time for me to make dinner I can never find what I need. Here he is finally noticing that I am photographing him, and......

He thinks he is so funny!!!!

Some of the kids in the neighborhood. I love it when they are all at my house.

Swimming fun. I really think we go to our country club more than most people (we as in me and my girlfriend Gretchen)

My kids with some of the Moore kids.

We have been up to so much more more, which I will have to tell you about tomorrow. Steve wants to use the computer. It's Tuesday which means he and his buddies meet online and play killing X-Box games. That's right he is in the 3rd grade.