Jane turns TWO!

The day began with running through streamers on her door, following candy acorns down the hall and discovering her Totoro!!! What a fun 2nd birthday beginning! I remember so clearly the night/morning Jane was born. It is a very special memory and was the day I became a mommy. This little lady has brought our family so much joy! She is smart, clever, strong, adorable, caring, loving, adventurous and full of sugar and spice. She laughs, dances, swims, runs, and is full of more energy than a thunderstorm. Jane has a very keen sense of the world around her and enjoys exploring every bit of it!

This year we decided to do a Totoro party theme. It was a lot of fun! Jane loves this spirit of the forest and is the one movie she will sit all the way though. I love that it teaches imagination and has such a childlike way of teaching about family and love. I found a little picture of a Totoro stuffed animal and decided that must be her birthday present this year. So the past few nights I endlessly sewed by hand a little Totoro friend for Jane to enjoy. It was so worth it!!! She has played with him all day and cuddled with him for nap and bedtime. It is so fun to see her enjoy this gift so much! She even fed him at dinner time.

Look at that cheese Totoro grin :). I let Jane watch Totoro with her Totoro while I prepped dinner. It was really adorable to watch her holding him as she watched her favorite movie. For dinner we did rice, broccoli (her favorite!), wontons, and chicken. And of course did CHEERS with some apple juice!

Her cake was simple and had some Totoro acorns on top. He loves collecting acorns in the movie and the little girl follows a trail of them when she first finds him. So it was fitting to make sure we had some at the party. And chocolate and strawberry, mmmmm, you can't go wrong with that. Two of Janes other favorite foods.

I bought some special balloons for her birthday that say her name, and one that was a huge letter 2! They were sooooooo fun! I love balloons. Jane really is a special little lady and I adore her. I could not ask for a more bright and fun spirited little gal. She is my favorite 2 year old in all the land. Happiest of birthdays to my favorite girl in the world!

Oh, and her other favorite gift was her $3 bag of Legos. They are cheap, but surprisingly worked really well. She loved building towers with them. I think they will soon be her favorite toy like her dad. I see lots of building fun in our future.

When there's Love at Home

This. Melts. My. Heart. I am going to treasure this image forevermore. I love seeing my Mister James playing the piano and love it even more when our kids are here with him. Each Monday we do Family Home Evening and James is our designated song player. He is so good at playing he hymns in the LDS Children's Songbook. I want him to make a cd someday with his music. It's so peaceful and perfect. I always look forward to hearing him on the piano.

I'm grateful that music is and always will be a big part of our family. James' brother is amazing at the piano, his grandfather played the trumpet, his great grandmother played the piano, he has an aunt who is amazing at music and then j have a grandma who is incredibly musical talented and tons of relatives that are amazing musicians as well. So, music runs deep in our blood I think. I hope that our children will discover an instrument they love and that our home will always be filled with uplifting music!

Happy New Year, 2016 here we come!

Happy 2016! This last year has been amazing, hard, growing, and so happy. We are ready for a new year to grow and learn in. Our theme for our goals this year us clean. We want our home to be in better order and cleaner, we want clean teeth with regular dentist visits, we want clean and healthy bodies, we want "clean" language (basically speaking kindly and being positive!) and thoughts, we want to strive to have a clean car, and basically just help cleanliness be a big part of our habits we form this year.

Our New Years feast was awesome. James loves lamb so that is our new tradition for the eve of a new year. The dish this year was incredible. He stuffed it with olives and herbs and so many yummy things. I made mashed potatoes and corn to go with it. And of course we had our bubbly sparking cider to do cheers to! Jane loves to do cheers! The lamb really did turn out incredible and James said it was the best lamb dish he'd had besides the one we enjoyed in our first anniversary in Jackson. And that was a very upscale restaurant (the blue lion). He did an awesome job cooking that leg of lamb!

Our last outing together was going to a toy store. And dropping off two huge bags of clothes I went through New Year's Eve day to donate to a thrift store. Part of that whole being clean goal ;) is getting rid of excess and clutter. It felt good to just say adios to those items. Jane thoroughly enjoyed the toy store and we got a toy wooden airplane and jacks in the $1-5 section.

Another new tradition we are going to go each New Years is glowsticks!! We turned all the lights off in the house and played with glowsticks, both kids loved it!  And of course the traditional bang pots and pans! Except this year it happened at 7:45, not 12. New Years is a bit different with babies. Now I don't know why I'd stay up that late ever again by choice, oh old age ;).

After Jane went down we enjoyed some cheesecake with orange chocolates. It was decadent and sinful and my last bit of indulgence. My goal is for the month of January to not have any chocolate. And then to try and go a little further and have no sugar. This will be a very difficult goal for me because that is my hurrah victory item: something sweet. And I have a huge sweet tooth. But I really want to be healthier and loose some weight and control that desire. So wish me luck, cause dang this is going to be hard!

Happy new year and happy goals to becoming better people! I am excited to see what this year brings our family.

The best breakfast.

Oh delectable breakfast bites!!!! My parents gave all of us kids a brand spankin new ebelskeiver pan for Christmas and we broke ours in on the first day of 2016! It was so yummy and fun to have a special breakfast to welcome a new happy year.

We had homemade strawberry syrup, cinnamon sugar and powdered sugar, whipped cream and maple syrup to adorn them. But honestly I could eat them plain they are that tasty. When I think of my mom making these for us as kids I realize how much time it took. They aren't the quickest thing to cook and there are 8 in our family. So that means s lot of ebelskeiver eat'n. I love having special holidays to have the excuse to make extra delicious breakfasts!!!

The Great Animal Tree

Today was record breaking cold with temperatures as low as -17. Oooooo, brrrrrrrrr, that is cold!! We hadn't yet done our animal tree because of all being sick the past but, but it is a tradition I have to keep. Usually we have family or friends do it with us but this year it's been so hard to pin someone down and we've been sickies lies to. So today I got out all the gear and said "we are doing this, sick or not, and we'll have fun!" And it was fun!!

Jane had a blast throwing seeds all about the kitchen and watching daddy make funny faces (doesn't she look amazed ;), she actually laughed quite a bit with her daddio!). She loved the feel of all those bird seeds. And it was so much fun to have her help this year. We read "The Night Tree", which is the book that inspired the animal tree. And it really is such a great tradition that I look forward to every December.

We dipped pinecone into peanut butter and rolled them in seeds, cut out bread and toasted it and put candied nuts on them as ornaments. Usually we'll make a popcorn chain with cranberries to, but that was not a good idea for this year. We had fun with what we did and decided to not go overboard with our littles.

It was so cold outside and the snow was just sparkling in the sunshine. Right now Idaho feels like Narnia. It's so snowy and magical feeling. Hanging the little ornaments and throwing seeds and such onto the ground got us excited to see the first animals that might show up. And guess what the first one was....a squirrel of course! Jane had so much watching him through our back window. THAT is why I have to keep this tradition the magic in a child's face as they make, hang and watch the animal tree get eaten makes it all worth it. Happy winter and new year little animals and birds!

Here's her magical face below, so sweet!

Heavenward New Years!

I love love love these great men and prophets of our age. Both are individuals I greatly admire and look up to. As we move into a new year I ponder what and who I want to become more of this year and goals I would like to strive to accomplish. There are many! Being a more patient and happy mommy, having more dates and time with my Mister, getting my blog more views and an Etsy shop made, having my home feel more organized and peaceful, exercise and eating goals....the list goes on and I really feel strongly about all of them. But one of the biggest and most important, I feel, is to have less complaining and more joy.

I love these two quotes about positivity and looking upward to heaven. Life is truly meant to be filled to the brim with joy and it can be! There is always something we can complain about, cause hey, life's hard. However there is so much more to rejoice about and you know what, it makes life SO much happier when you have a positive and grateful attitude. You can serve others more faithfully, you are healthier in body and mind, there are so many benefits to this lifestyle. I pray that this year even though I'm still working really hard at becoming a better me, getting my home in order, exhausted with youngins, feel far from family, and sometimes have those low moments that I will rise and shine and see the good in all things! That is my desire and a deep motto within my life already and this year I hope to make it dominate this girls attitude!! Here's to a positive and grateful year full of service, love, joy and seeing all things with a heavenly perspective!

Time changes everything!

The clock is ticking and this little man is growing by the second. Not quick enough for his daddy and me though. William has truly been such a beautiful and wonderful baby but his sleep habits and crying are enough to make us go crazy!!!!! In fact we have gone crazy many a night. Sleep deprivation is one of the worst plagues of early parenthood and it has been ruling our household for 5 long months. I know everyone will say, "oh but it will be gone so soon" "enjoy those early years" "treasure that time" and all sorts of other well meant phrases...but time could not go faster! When you have not had a straight night of sleep in 5 months you are ready for your sweet little angel baby to grow up a bit. I know every phase of his life (and all our children) will have its challenges, but this early stage is one of the most time consuming, draining and absolute hardest things I've ever done in my life!

Besides the fact that William is the most exhausting creature on the planet right now here are some things I absolutely love about this boy of mine:

- his smile is always ready and it is perfect! Really perfect! It melts my heart!

- he loves to blow his lips together tons

- looking in his new mirror toy is a favorite place to chat away with his new friend ;)

- he's mastered rolling

- loves loves to kick his legs

- has the most adorable and handsome eyes

- can talk super loud and for quite some time

- loves watching his mobile and sister

- follows his daddy everywhere with his eyes

- can be stiff as a board and is super duper strong

- sits up in his bumbo seat

- loves to snuggle (love this most of the time, except for when it's every two hours at night, like right now)

- is an excellent eater

- loves to chat and look back and forth between mom and dad at night

- takes nursing, a binki and and bottle (thankfully)

- has the cutest little voice that loves to make noise

- enjoys grabbing all sorts of things and chewing on even more!

William is an amazing little boy and I can't wait to see what is in store for him in his life! His nursery theme is "Be brave little one" and I think he truly is. He is my little brave boy. I love you to the moon and back William and hope you will know that all your life. You are a treasure!

Above is one of the precious moments parents like us adore...a sleeping baby!

Be AWESOME

Homemade goods make the abode smell delightful! Unless you leave your rubber sided oven pad on the burner, whoops. But truly, making food is one of my favorite hobbies and something I sincerely love doing. It seems like when you've got 2 under 2 you just don't get to it very often. Lately I have felt like a horrid mama and wife in this realm because we haven't seemed to have really great meals put on the table from this mama who's been dealing with some sort of sickness, ouchie, sleep deprivation, caring for other sickies, and just trying to juggle two very small children for about 5 months straight. I know I am not alone in this great feet. Many friends and family are in that similar position where life is pretty overwhelming and tiring. It's so special having small children but it is a time in your life you tend to feel like your life, and you, will never be normal again. Ya hear me on that one mamas? Well, we will be "normal" again and sleep, that heavenly thing that happens when you hit the pillow for more than just 3 hours straight, will come again.

I'm not yet in that delicious stage, but I am savoring the now when I feel triumphant after making a simple dish. Today after a night of maybe a total of 3 1/2 hours spread out through the night I made homemade macaroni and banana bread. Smelling them cook away was like a gold medal to my nose. Small successes make motherhood doable. This was my little trophy today. When and if you are in these times of your life just take a minute to applaud yourself for your little triumphs throughout your days. It may not be something cooked, but it may be a mountain of laundry tackled, just getting up out of bed, putting on clothes, doing those horrid dishes, or being patient with your kids. Pat yourself on your back, you're doing AWESOME! And no that is not my awesome, stylish and beautiful bathroom above (I wish!!), but I am going to make myself a poster like that! "Don't forget to be AWESOME" cause hey you are!!!!

Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas Day!!! Oh how fun it is to open gifts with those you love. We had a blast watching Jane open presents and William was intrigued by all the wrapping paper. It was a beautiful and special day all day long. Our kiddos are battling the croup and us parents are battling the sickies you get when you have no sleep so we are all exhausted but that didn't ruin the excitement of the day.

We made a delicious Christmas Eve tradition meal of Cornish Game Hen, and then a full spread breakfast. I love the meals at Christmastime. And I love eating them next to my favorite man, James. Ever since we dated James likes to sit right next to me when we eat. Even at a restaurant, he'll slide into the booth by me, even if the waiter put his menu on the opposite side. I love that. I love him.

I had the kids help me make a little art piece for their daddy with their hands. It was quite the feet. Because William loves to fist his fingers tight, really tight, so I was prying them open with dripping paint to get his on there. It turned out pretty special. Little William was so sweet watching his sister open things and smiling away. He also really enjoyed crinkling and trying to eat wrapping paper.  He is growing so quickly and is becoming the cutest little man ever.

James got me 3 huge gifts the weeks prior to Christmas: a huge rug, a nice chair for sitting up with William, and a new washer and dryer. These are all things I've been dreaming of for about 2 years...we are loving all of them! Then he surprised me with a 4th on Christmas: Chaco sandals! I'm pretty excited to use them ALL summer next year! He was so thoughtful to get things I really need and things I've really wanted. His big present has been collecting all the works for making his own bullets. Now all he needs is the gun and pistol to use his bullets. He's very very excited to get into metal work. I also got him a robe, slippers, new pjs, some favorite foods, and made an FHE chart for our family. It was really fun to gift give to my man.

The kiddos got lots of fun little items; toy cars, musical instruments, a car street rug (scored that for $3!), toys, books, a highchair and cradle for baby doll, a tutu, bath toys and a play matte both from their Grandpa Reid, and a new binki clip for William. I was pretty excited that I spent less then $25 on both kids. Thanks to dollar bins at target, sweet neighbor grandmas getting rid of old toys, and mommy swap sales. Super fun!

Christmas really isn't about gifts, but they are a fun tradition and can be a special way to show love to one another. We enjoyed gift giving during this season and remembering the greatest gift of all; Christ!

12 Days, Twelve: CHRIST

1. 
   
   
   I believe in Christ! What a beautiful season we've had celebrating his life. I am so thankful for the blessings of His gospel and knowing what His life means for me. I may attain my "fondest dreams" because of Him. The beautiful words in this hymn share many of my own. My testimony grows each and every year and my gratitude for Him deepens every day. We are eternally blessed because the Savior Lives!!!!
   
   
   "I believe in Christ; he is my King!
   With all my heart to him I'll sing;
   I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,
   In grand amens my tongue employ.
   I believe in Christ; he is God's Son.
   On earth to dwell his soul did come.
   He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
   Good works were his; his name be praised.
2. I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
   As Mary's Son he came to reign
   'Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
   To save them from the woes of sin.
   I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
   Who did gain all his Father hath,
   Who said to men: "Come, follow me,
   That ye, my friends, with God may be."
3. I believe in Christ--my Lord, my God!
   My feet he plants on gospel sod.
   I'll worship him with all my might;
   He is the source of truth and light.
   I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
   From Satan's grasp he sets me free,
   And I shall live with joy and love
   In his eternal courts above.
4. I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
   From him I'll gain my fondest dream;
   And while I strive through grief and pain,
   His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."
   I believe in Christ; so come what may,
   With him I'll stand in that great day
   When on this earth he comes again
   To rule among the sons of men."
   
   
   
   
   
   Amen.

12 Days, Eleven: White as Snow!

I love the snow! Our little family all loves the snow. So needless to say having tons of it is heaven for us. My coffee filter snowflakes line our windows (see 12 Days earlier post, Day Two) and then a blanket of white covers the outside. This morning as I sat up with my sick Sir William I watched the snowglobe world outside. Snow softly fell from the sky and it was beautiful. Snow is such a peaceful thing to watch, especially when you're cuddling a sweet warm bundle.

We just had to take Jane out in it. So we bundled everyone up, got our red sled and headed to a great hill. It was so much fun!!!!!!!! I forgot how much fun it is to fly down a hill in the snow. Jane had a blast, and we got some good exercise holding her while climbing the hill. Snow is such a iconic image of Christmas. The songs, paintings, movies and decorations all make you dream of a white Christmas. We feel pretty lucky to live in Idaho where that is usually always the case! It really is so special to have a white Christmas, I love it. 

White snow makes the earth look so peaceful and clean. It is a perfect reminder of the atonement and the joy of repentance. Jesus Christ was born into this world to fulfill His divine mission to perform the everlasting atonement for mankind. When I think of His plea to the Father, "Let this cup pass from me" it breaks my heart to know that He had to suffer such anguish and grief. And yet triumph followed with the ressurected Lord, bringing hope to all mankind. Each of our lives are full of many mistakes but all can be made right again through repentance. As the scriptures say "though your sins be as scarlet they can become white as snow." How grateful I am that Jesus Christ had the courage, strength and love to perform His great call. The world is blanketed in His love, and what a better reminder for snow to come at his birth and blanket the earth. Let it Snow!!

12 Days, Ten: I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause!

There is one little Christmas tradition of old that I think is so sweet, that of the Mistletoe! My mom had a beautiful red berry ball that she hang as our "kissing ball" and I loved it. One year there was a door salesman that was selling the real thing!! Did you know mistletoe isn't all that pretty? It isn't. Or at least the stuff they were selling wasn't :). History says the serving class of Victorian England is credited with first recording the tradition of kissing underneath the mistletoe. The tradition dictated that a man was allowed to kiss any woman standing underneath mistletoe, and that bad luck would befall any woman who refused the kiss. One variation on the tradition stated that with each kiss a berry was to be plucked from the mistletoe, and the kissing must stop after all the berries had been removed.

When Mister and I got married and had our first Christmas I decided we needed a mistletoe hung. I thought about trying to find a ball like my moms, but also thought having it look like the real thing might be fun. So in a non-expensive newly wed style I got felt! Green and white and I was set. I love hanging this sweet sentimental piece each year now and remembering that first Christmas James and I shared together living in my sisters sister in laws basement. First Christmas' are really special! This year is Williams first Christmas! And Janes first one she will actually enjoy. I am SO (beyond so!!!) excited to watch her Christmas morning! She has really loved all the decorations and traditions we've done this year during the holidays. These little kiddos make holidays so special and fun! I love kissing there soft little cheeks as we celebrate each day the birth of Christ and joy of Christmas.

Our little mistletoe is such a piece of nostalgia that I hope we will treasure each Christmas giving kisses under.  If you don't have a mistletoe in your home make one today!!! Go get your little cheap fleece pieces and cut and glue away! For all should have a good kiss under a mistletoe at least once a year!

12 Days, Nine: Days of Christ

We have been so blessed by one of my dearest friends this year with a gift I will cherish for many Christmas's to come. She handmade this amazing book of countdown pages from December 1st to Christmas. Each page has an attribute of Christ and a scripture or quote to go with it. Each day we have loved going to our book, opening it up, and reading about Jesus Christ and thinking about how we can become like him. For truly that is what all should strive for in this life; to become like Christ.

This special book reminds us of the first gift and greatest of all. Jesus Christ exemplifies all that is good. Even if you do not believe in Christ you cannot deny that the teachings and attributes that encompass him will make you a better person in this world if you live them. I know that Christ lives, I know that He lives, and I know that He will return again to this earth. I know that my life is blessed forevermore because of Him. My family is eternally indebted to Him. There is not a greater person who has or will ever live in this earth. He was and is the Great I Am. The King of Kings. Remember Christ this season and find ways you can become like Him. You will not regret it.

12 Days, Eight; Family Time

Jane has been in love with Christmas lights as of late. We finally took the time to go on a light drive and it was so fun. My awesome friend told us the best spot to go to and I felt like a kid again at the amazing display of lights. It was incredible!!! They had 1,000's of lights covering the trees and it was truly quite the display. Jane just kept repeating, "WOW, pretty!" It was magical seeing the reflection of lights in her eyes.

Doing family time during the holidays is the best! Make sure you are pausing from the hustle bustle of shopping, decorating, parties and events to just be with your family. Those parties and presents are fun but time with family can never be replaced. I heard giggles from Jane and William so much today as they spent time with their fun daddy and it made my heart so happy! Family time really is what makes this life sweet and meaningful. 

So, Happy Christmas Sunday from the Spencer Family!!! I had to get a quick photo of our Sunday outfits cause hey, when you all match it just has to happen. I love how Sir William is pulling his suspender and crazy baby Jane can't seem to keep her fingers out of her mouth lately phase. This little family...I love them! Go hug your family today and hey even if you don't all match catch a photo of your crazy bunch this year!