3 years old!

WHOOO look at me go! 3 new blog posts in one week...that's big for me!  So..My little Talon just turned 3 this last week so we wanted to share a few pics of the fun day and thank my friend Jill for letting me steal her camera for the eventful day.  At my last family reunion I took some family pics for my Grandma and as we were leaving my cousin came up to give me a hug goodbye so I set my camera on top of the hodd of my car to hug him and right as I let go it rolled off and crashed onto the cement..completely destroying it.  Yes, my big Nikon photography camera that cost an arm and a leg..which is going to cost the other arm and leg to repair. Many tears and frustrated words over that one...hopefully I get it fixed soon but it's going to be quite the process.  So annoying!
 ANYWAYS..we had a great day for Talon's 3rd birthday!  He had a blast and we loved watching how excited he was to play and enjoy it.  He woke up at 6:45 a.m. of course super excited and wanting to open ASAP.  I know we are mean parents because we never let our kids open their gifts until that night because Ben wants to be apart it.  A tradition I do with my kids every birthday morning is get up, get ready, and go to Costco to pick out a cake and a new movie.  It is seriously their favorite part!  Luckily my neighbor called and took Brooklyn and Austin for me to have  a play day with her kids so I only had Talon and Dru.  We met daddy for lunch at McDonald's and then headed to Costco and picked out a green Dinosaur cake and a new Ninja Turtle movie.  After that we went home, had quiet time with our new movie on, and then got ready for Monkey Island!  Monkey Island is a place where they have those huge blow up slides and jumpy things in this huge building that they just run around and play in.  The kids go crazy!  We brought pizza and cake and had some of our friends come and enjoy the party!  After that we headed home and opened a few gifts from mom and dad and then off to bed! 
Talon has been so much fun at this age.  He is for sure my hardest 3 year old when it comes to talking back, throwing fits, being wild, and not listening..but, in the same breath he is the sweetest most loving boy and has been so much fun.  He is constantly saying the funniest things.  I love how 3 yr olds have their own language, it is so funny. For example, last night he wouldn't finish his dinner and I told him he couldn't go outside with Dad until he finished.  He literally sat there for an hour crying and when it was to late and Dad came back in the house I said, "See buddy, now you can't go outside because you didn't eat your dinner fast enough." His response in full on tears, "MOM! YOU BROKE MY FEELINGS!!!"  I couldn't help but laugh so he cried harder of course.  He is for sure the biggest Ma-Ma's boy our of all our kids..that I LOVE.  He constantly wants me, wants to hold my hand, wants to sit on my lap. If he's taking a bath, playing outside, etc..he wants mom.  LOVE IT, it melts my heart every time.  Here are a few fun things about our little bug at this age!

-LOVES Buzz Lightyear
-LOVES Ninja Turtles
-LOVES Lightening McQueen and Franchesco on the new Cars movie
-LOVES fighting with his brother Austin and wresting ALL OF THE TIME
-LOVES the color green, and if there isn't green, beware!
-We all over how he calls Brooklyn "Grooklyn" and Austin "Austie"
- Loves riding his Buzz bike
- Loves taking baths and it's a fight to get him out every time
- Loves animals but only to look, never to touch unless someone is there helping
- Favorite movie is Buzz Lighyear, Ninja Turtles, and Cars
- Favorite food is chicken nuggets by far..and anything with ketchup
- Is super tall for his age and is just a big kid.  Him and Austin and wear the same size clothes, shoes, everything. 
-Loves mommy and daddy and we love him!
* Thank you for being such a good boy Talon bug and for bringing our family so much joy every day.  It's always an adventure to see what you're going to say or do!  We hope you and Austin are always best friends as you are now and you remember how much your family loves you.  LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU!!!

Famous Costco cakes!  If you haven't had him they are so yummy!! Of course I ordered a green dino one, and Talon was so excited when he saw it he literally didn't take his eyes off of it until we checked out.  It cracked me up!

Mommy cutting the cake at Monkey Island

Our daddy

 I'm not where the blond hair comes from...but I LOVE IT! He's my dark skin blond boy and is super handsome...I'm in trouble with these little boys I think

A family tradition we have around here is for every birthday, the night before I blow up a whole bunch of balloons, wrap gifts, and hang up a birthday banner.  Of course we had to get  a Buzz Lightyear one..he was shaking he was so excited when he woke up and saw it,  it was hilarious!

 Mommy and her 3 year old

 Daddy and his little Buzz

 Cheese!

 This is one of the gifts Talon received which he wears all of the time!  This is actually Austin wearing it though and I had to put this here because this is the first thing I saw at 7am the next morning when I rolled over and opened my eyes.  Austin staring back at me...scared me to death.

 Mom Look!!



1st grader!!

Yep, that's right!  My baby is a first grader!!  For those of you that understand the importance of that...HUGE!  First grade means ALL DAY.  She catches the bus at 8:50a.m. and doesn't get home until 3:45pm.  The first week of school was a little rough but we made it through it!  Brooklyn LOVES school and whenever it's summertime or even the weekend she's asking when she gets to go back to school, so I knew she was really excited about it.  The first little hiccup was the bus driver...oh boy the bus driver.  Last year Brooklyn's bus driver was one of her favorite parts about Kindergarten.  He was a little old man who told jokes, made them laugh, and was just plain sweet.  This year, NOT THE CASE.  The first day of school he was super late because he made them have assigned seats (which Brooklyn didn't get to sit by one of her best friends so they both got off of the bus in tears over that)  on the way home from school the first day I witnessed the bus driver SCREAMING (like in your face, shaking. spit everywhere kind of screaming.  I counted 4 little kids crying off of the bus.  He didn't yell at Brooklyn ever but it scared her so bad that during the next 3 prayers that was all her and her brothers prayed about "Pls help Brooklyn's bus driver to be nice.") which I DID NOT LIKE.  So as soon as I got home I called the transportation dept. and complained.  They called me back the next morning and come to find out 12 moms had been into their office THAT MORNING complaining about the same thing.  To make a long story short, the head of the transportation department called me and apologized over and over.  They had cameras on the bus so saw his behavior and reassured me he would no longer be the bus driver.  Yep, when the Ma-Ma bear claws come out..!  Brooklyn got the teacher I was hoping for so I was super happy about that, BUT, 2 days before school she had her baby!  So Brooklyn has a sub (which she was nervous about as well) but then on top of that, the school decided that there were to many 1st graders in each classroom so were randomly going to select a few students from each class and make another 1st grade class with them.  Brooklyn was terrified she was going to get switched into the other class but we made it through and she gets to stay with her sub/teacher so she's a happy camper!  Her teacher is only out for a few weeks so I'm super excited she got this teacher and can't wait to watch my little girl learn to her heart's desire!  So, now that all of that is over and we are a little more settled, this next weeks should be a lot better.  She's having a little bit of a hard time adjusting to how long 1st grade is and comes home exhausted...and STARVING.  But besides that she loves it and can't seem to talk enough about it.

The week before school started I started thinking about how crazy it is that I have a 6 year old already.  I can't believe my only daughter is officially in full on school now!  I know how nervous she was to start school so to surprise her I went and bought her a beautiful silver Tinkerbell necklace.  The morning before she left I gave it to her and explained how proud of her I was and how much mommy and daddy love her.  That this necklace was to be a reminder for her during the day of how much she is loved, and if she ever gets nervous just to hold on to the Tinkerbell charm and it will make her nerves go away.  She of course LOVED it, and I kid you not that girl wheres it everywhere.  She now believes there is magic power in it that helps her feel better, so she won't take it off!  ha ha

Brooklyn is the best sister ever and such a big helper to me!  I miss her like crazy during the day, and sometimes get a little tired of the wrestling, ninja turtle, action hero conversations during my days now instead of our daily dance parties and talk about hair , barbies, baby dolls and all of the important girls stuff!! But I do lover hearing about how much fun she had at school and all of the fun friends she is making at recess.  She loves eating lunch at school and loves sharing all of what she learned that day when she gets home.  It's an amazing thing to watch your kids grow up right before your eyes.  It's funny being parents because sometimes I can't wait for my little ones to get a little older so they aren't so much work, but then they start to get older and I want to freeze time so they will stop growing up!  Thank you to all of the friends and family out there who are are an influence in my kids' lives and help them along the way...it definitely takes a village.  Thank you Brooklyn for being such such a good girl, a peacemaker, an example to your brothers and friends, for having such a positive attitude and for your tender little heart that melts mine every day.  Your daddy and I hope that you have a love for school and realize how important school and your education is even at this age. We want the best for you and hope you always choose the right and see the good in everyone. WE LOVE YOU, thank you for being our everything!  Here are a fun few facts about my little princess that at this age:

-Loves the color blue

-Loves dance but also loves soccer, riding her bike, and swims like a fish

-Is always the tallest in everything she does gradwise because of her legs that go on for days

-Has the most beautiful hair in the world and every person that sees it or trims it for me comments on how thick it is.  Something you will probably hate while you're younger but love as you're older. 

-Wants a dog and asks daily for one.  (which we are hoping to accomplish after this winter)
-You get along with pretty much everyone you play with, but as of right now the two you play with the most are Marissa and Bailey.
-You are such a beautiful girl and love getting all dressed up, going to dance class, but at the same time you are SUPER athletic and love playing sports
-Favorite Princess..you like them all, but you love Tinkerbell and her little blue friend Silv
-Favorite Movies: You like alot but as of right now it is Rio and Nomeo and Juliet.
- You can be super timid and shy but at the same time went to Lagoon with us yesterday and went on the White Rollar Coaster, The Colassus, and Wicked...the 3 scariest rides in the park. We had so much fun with you!
-You have a very tender heart and it breaks pretty easy if mom looses her temper with you or if another adult or child gets upset or says anything mean to you. 

-You love animals and want to keep everything as a pet.  This summer that has included our friendly Toad we found in your windowell (Loala the toad that mom fried to death by leaving it out on our table in the back yard) every grasshoper known to man, and I'm pretty sure every rollie pollie in our backyard has been put in a jar somehow. 

- You love being the only girl but still beg mom on a daily basis to have another baby in hopes that it's a girl...good luck convincing your Dad on that one my dear!

-Favorite food: Ham and cheese sandwhich with Miracle whip.  You want it everyday for lunch and if I put Mayo on it you gag and can tell on the first bite!

-Love your mom and dad and the famous two phrases around here, "Love you to the moon and back." and "Best Friends Forever."

*Love you baby!


Waiting for the Bus!

 Cheese!

Brooklyn and one of her best friends Bailey.  These two were inseperable the first week of school.  I have never seen to little girls hold hands so tight in my life.  Thanks to Bailey for helping Brooklyn get around and helping witht he nerves!

Getting on the bus!

Mom taking random class pictures on the first day after having driven down to the school and watched her get off of the bus, walk to her classroom and get settled in.  Trying to make myself leave was the harderst part!

Weddings, Family Reunions, etc..

Well the summer has come to an end! Bitter sweet I know, but we did have a great summer and here is a quick  highlight of what we were up to!  Ben's Brother Jake got married in Arizona in July so Ben and i drove up without kiddos and went to the wedding.  It was so much fun to just get away with just the hubby and to go to Arizona.  It was 114 degrees and miserable outside!!  Although, it was definitely a beautiful place, I loved the palm trees..they're my fav!  Jake and Summer were married at 12:30pm so we were taking pictures right after during the hottest part of the day!!  You couldn't even breathe normal because the air was just so so hot, my lungs were not used that!  Of course while we were all dying of heat and not loving the sun beating down on us my husband makes the comment, " I don't know what you guys are talking about, it's not even hot." (He LOVES the heat and would move to Phoenix in a heartbeat!)  The reception was so fun and event though the 12 hour drive killed my back, it was fun being able to go on a road trip not having to worry about what snacks were being spilled all over the place or who needed to stop every 2 min to go potty.  2 weekends after that was the Fullmer reception so it was in Rexburg, Idaho.  We drove down for that too, kids in tact this time, and they loved it.  Summer's colors were so pretty and they held in in a neighbors backyard...it turned out BEAUTIFUL.  Dru of course was OUT OF CONTROL, tipping over every flower pot he could find, or pulling ever table cloth he could get hands on off, crying every 5 min over falling down or crying because he wanted every person's cupcake he saw them eating.  I lasted 2 hours and then off to Grandmas for bed we went.  It was a super fun weekend having the whole fullmer clan home (6 kids in the family, all married, and 3 have kids so it was quite the event having everyone home all together.  So much fun and whenever I go to Ben's it makes me want to have another baby!  I love the big families!  All of his siblings get along so well and it's a riot when we all get together, I love it!  Then I come back to reality when I'm back home, paying for school clothes, dance, T-ball, doc appts, groceries...and I don't know how people do it with that many kids! 

The other family event we just got home from was the McSpadden family reunion!  Every year during the first weekend of August my dad's family gets together and we have so much fun.  This year we went to Park City.  My uncle rented this AWESOME cabin that slept 25 people that was in the heart of the Mountains and was beautiful!  It was close to a lake, which we played in all day that Friday.  Between all of the uncles there were 3 boats, so we had a blast.  My uncle of course suggested me, my mom, and my sister Kyli tubed in this huge couch like tub he had, so we did.  The water was SOOO choppy that day and I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  I kid you not, we were thrown around like rag dolls!  Finally after a good 15 min. run we hit a wave that was larger then Niagara Falls, flew a good 10 ft in the air and that was the end of it.  I couldn't MOVE my neck for a good week after that experience!  The next day the guys golfed, the girls shopped...pure bliss.  From there I headed to Boise with my fam for the week.  My sister Taucia who wouldn't make it to the family reunion met us there too and we had a great time.  I love that my kids are getting to the ages where they can sleep pretty much wherever and for the most part all sleep through the night..a stage I am thoroughly enjoying!  The week consisted of my mom doing all of our hair of course, a few good runs with my little sister Kyli along with some bike rides around the hood where my mechanical skills came in place quite a few times as her bike chain fell off multiple times. (it was hilarious actually and I was laughing so hard I was crying)  my kids playing with my parents dogs which have lead to to mom and kids wanting a puppy (which there has been allot of talk of getting a Fullmer puppy sometime after Christmas which the kids are thrilled about).  The highlight of the Boise trip was Roaring Springs water park for sure.  We played for hours and hours there and my kids could NOT get enough.  Brooklyn even went on some of the big slides and had a blast!

As you can see it's been a great summer!  I love summertime but was definitely ready for the school year to start and am even a little excited for fall...it's getting to hot for my liking. Thanks to all of the family members who helped with my kids during the trips all of the attention they received...they were spoiled rotten!  I am so lucky to have such wonderful family/extended family and miss you al already!

xoxo

My handsome Talon bug in his sweet little wedding tux..love this boy

Heart breaker anyone?  Yes, he is a stud, I have to say so myself.

My handsome baby boy.  Still cannot believe he is already one and all over the place..officially out of the baby stage..not sure how I feel about that!

My sweet Brooklyn girl..she just started 1st grade believe it or not and I miss her so much all day!! This is the first year she is gone ALL DAY and she is loving it ...mom misses her little helper though and is now stuck at home with all of these boys!! She's at such a fun age though and I'm loving her grow up and all of her fun little stages.

So..we were at the Mesa temple and Ben thought these cactus' were pretty sweet so wanted some pictures by them.  He was cracking me up because he's never super admiment about things but this was one thing he wanted for sure, a picture my the cactus.  So funny

The happy couple!  They are so adorable and so in love, it was fun watching them start their new life!

While we were there we went to visit one of my BEST friends Shellee!  They have been living in Phoenix for a long time now and she has been wanting me to come visit forever...so we finally did!  This girl is quite the trooper lately, she just brought home her adorable baby Brock from the hospital 2 weeks ago, but in this pic he was still in the hospital diagnosed with spina bifida.  It has been quite the roller coaster ride for this little family with baby boy not home yet, mom having MULTIPLE MAJOR surgeries over and over and Grandma taking over.  (Thank goodness for them!) It was so much fun just vising with her though in her BEAUTIFUL home and having some much need high school friend time!  Miss you Shell, thanks so much for making some time for us!

 Uncle Jake and Aunt Summer!! We LOVE Summer!  (and Jake of course! haha!)  She is the PERFECT fit for the family and I couldn't be happier with my new sis in law!

 Here is my one year old trying to figure out what this feeling of mud between his toes is.  He was hilarious that weekend, I loved watching him and all of his reactions to all the new things he was experiencing.  Such a good boy he is!

My amazing little sister Kyli!  I'm still trying to figure out how this once "little girl who I used to have to babysit ever Friday night when I was younger and chased me around the house all of the time" is now a super hot athletic babe who I adore more then anything!  She is truly an amazing girl and even though there were a few cat fights with all 3 of us sister home that next week..we made it through it and we still love each other!  Ha ha...oh that's another blog story for another day! haha, love you sister!!

 Love her!

 The McSpadden clan! Growing every year!

 Can you tell these 2 are brothers...I think so!

Talon loving his life jacket and not wanting to get out of the water...ever!

 Hey mom, watch me dance...for the 100th time today!  This little girl is quite the ballerina and can't wait to start her combo class next week!...mom can't wait either!

 Best friends..lucky for me they love each other and have been good kids this summer.  I still can't believe how fast time is going by and how big my kids are getting!

 Um dirty much?  Look at the adorable face...can't help but love those cheekies!

 There we go, all cleaned up! These huge white things were balloons they hung from the trees, but not before my little Dru B. got his hands on them and popped a good 3 or 4 first!

 Daddy time!  Dad has been quite the busy guy lately and seems to pass by more then we'd like..but when he is home, it's playtime at it's best!  We love him and am so grateful or all he does for our family and for they amazing dad/husband that he is!