Utah Fun

while in UTah the girls were able to reconnect with some friends...especially Fritz.  the girls love him, and love to torment him too.  often times they would try and wrap him up like one of their dolls and snuggle with him.  Fritz is a good sport, and secretly loves all the attention he gets from them.

we weren't able to see all our friends (because i was working like a dog, and I didn't have a half the time) but we managed to see Ladd, who if heather and i have a say will marry Quincy some day.

my dad bought a futon so we would all have enough places to sleep... and the best part about the futon was this huge box that the kids played with!! they thought it was really cool they could all fit in it and close it up!
the chrisman kids taught the girls all about hide-n-seek!

we also had a girls sleep over with Jo's kids.  oh so so fun!  the girls cuddled together while we watch
 little mermaid.  Taylor has been waiting for about 2 1/2 yrs to cuddle with tenley!

we also all piled into Jo's minivan and went to visit the lights at the spanish fork golf course.

we made Jed drive through twice just to make sure we didn't miss anything!

this was my first time doing the spanish fork lights and it was a hit! 

for sure we will do it again next year.

all 10 of us fit in one car boys in the front, girls in the back!

and of course, we got to eat some snow too!

Annual Santa Run

Once again this year for my birthday we ran the santa run in downtown Provo.  I'm getting old, but it sure felt good to still have fun and run wild through the city.  The girls loved running in the stroller as always, and they even started cheering for everyone yelling, "go santa, go santa!"

This year Josh and his crew came out to Party as well, the boys dressed up as Grinches and he did their girls hair like Cyndi-lou-hou.  They were even asked to turn on the christmas lights for the city.

this family sure knows how to party and run at the same time.

all kids ran at least 1mile!

they had reindeer and the kids all thought it was pretty cool!

after the race we went to the provo house and had a birthday party for Josh and I.

we had pizza, rootbeer floats and watched polar express.

such a fun way to celebrate getting old, 

with friends and family and running, and of course food too.

Welcome Back UTAH

The month of December Spence had a busy rotation so he took us and the girls to Utah for a couple weeks to have fun, celebrate, and so i could work at my old job. (thanks Ash for letting me fill in for you while you were on maternity leave)

We were met in Utah with several happy faces! Amanda and her twins came into town just before we left, and the cousins were so excited to all be back together again!

Ms T. is very very attached to Pappy.  She asks for him all the time, so she couldn't stop smiling the whole month we were in Utah.  it breaks my heart that we aren't closer, but i absolutely love that my dad is such a great Pappy and the girls love him so much.  He really loves them, and we all know that my girls are his favorite!

Tenley has really gotten into playing with baby dolls.  She made quick friends with Jason, who is going to school in price, but lives with my sister and four other Samoan's during the summer and holidays.

tenley just sat right next to Jason and had him help her with her dolls.  Every time we saw the Samoan's tenley just  buddy with Jason, he was so cute to play with her. 

It was super special to be in Utah for a couple weeks, and amazing that my sister Amanda was able to fly into town with her twins from south carolina.  the family was together just missing Jason in NY, but i'm sure this summer we will all have to get together again!

November

We knew that for Thanksgiving we would be heading to colder weather so i pulled out our winter clothes and let the girls try on the clothes.  it was hilarious to try and pull all the clothes on the girls, and all we could think about was the movie  'christmas story'. 

the girls had a blast in the puffy clothes and did a great wrestling/hugging match.

Spence was able to take a couple days off work and we headed to cold alamosa colorado for Thanksgiving.

the girls had a great time playing in leaves! i don't think they have ever played in leaves until now, Arizona and Texas don't really have leaves to play in!

They even helped rack up the leaves in a pile so they could run and jump into it!

then it was on to piano lesson's with grandma debbie.

 and of course in true thanksgiving day celebration, a turkey bowl down at the church.  the weather was great so i walked the girls down to watch their dad play...and get some doughnuts and hot cocoa of course.

 these girls had a great time and were able to throw the ball around too.

 however, their favorite part of the day was jumping over all the deer poop.

yes that's right jumping over dear poop, with a chocolate doughnut in hand!

 We also got to read books with grandma sally!

 This year it was just us at the mortensen's house for thanksgiving.  we had a great time and loved all the attention from grandma debbie and grandpa todd.  we had so much fun it's hard to believe we were only there a day and a half as had to leave to make it to Utah for some more fun.

My sister and I

Last night spencer was working late, sometimes i hate it when he isn't  home for dinner, bath or bedtime.  but sometimes it allows me to focus on how special our girls are.  on how much i love them, and how much they love me.  i remember several years ago watching my sister Jo play with her kids, and i felt the love they all had for each other.  at that particular time i was unmarried and i thought to myself, 'i can't wait for the day to feel that much love." and i am lucky enough to now feel how great the love is between a mom and her children.  there is nothing more amazing than hearing a little voice yell, "mom your home." or hearing their feet slap the floor as they chase after you in a fun game of tickle monster.  i knew i always wanted to me a mom, and i am so grateful to be able to experience the many highs and lows mother hood brings.  but the other night as it was just me and the girls reading books for bedtime we read "my sister and I".  (my sister amanda gave it to me several years ago, before i had kids, because it is so sweet and talks about the great bond sisters have together.)  sometime spencer laughs at me because i can tear up at just about anything these days.  and he would have got a good laugh the other night as i read this book to the girls.  but i think most sisters, and moms would tear up when they read this book.

"My sister and i are birds of a feather,

we love one another and being together.

And so you wil find us most every day, just tending the friendship that God sent our way.

We like to draw pictures of horses and cats,

we like to wear costumes with glamous hats.

we like sharing secrets, our dreams, and our plans... and we laugh at our mishaps as only friends can!

We play with our dolls and comb out their hair. we pick up our tools and fix the old chair.

ands we like to go chasing fireflies at night and follow their flight till they fly out of sight.

we like cozy nooks! we like storybooks!

we like to pretend that we're really good cooks. but its eay to spot; great chefs, we are not!

sometimes we'll listen to favorite songs and sing right along and get the words wrong.

or sometimes we'll play with our puppy all day and teach him with treats how to sit and to stay!

and yes, there are times that we part for a while....

but we always make up with our hearts full of smiles.

yes, we're two of a kind, and i know that is why...

we'll be close forever,

My sister and I."

 I'm so grateful to be a mom to two wonderful little sweet spirits.  I'm so grateful that like me, they get to experience the sweet special love of sisterhood.  i'm so glad that these girls will allows have each other.  Just like i have always had my sisters. Because my sister's and i are birds of a feather, just like me and my girls.