8 is Great!

8 years of being married, that is. Today is the 8th anniversary of the day Bryce and I were sealed in the temple for time and all eternity and promised to love and serve each other from that day on. What a wonderful 8 years it has been! Three college degrees, three apartments, and three children later, I am still head over heels for my Sweetheart.

Some trivia and pictures to commemorate:

In Tahiti, 2005. Trivia #1: I asked Bryce out on our first date to the fall Preference Dance at BYU.

New Zealand, 2005. Trivia #2: We waited 5 months for our first kiss. Neither one of us had ever kissed anyone before.

Our 2nd Anniversary, 2006, pregnant with Amelie. Trivia #3: Bryce proposed on December 27, 2003, over a year after our first date. He wrote me a wonderful poem talking about all the things we had done together and expressing his love for me (and writing poems is not something Bryce normally does for fun!) and popped the question in North Carolina.

Graduating with my MA, August 2008, very pregnant with Calder. Trivia #4: Bryce served his mission in El Salvador. One of our first dates was to a great pupusa place down in Provo. We've talked about going back to visit El Salvador. He could show me all his mission sites, and I could show him some of the places I remember from the 7 years I lived there.

January 2009. Trivia #5: Of all of the places Bryce visited while a member of the BYU Ballroom Dance Company (and he visited tons of places!), Paris was his favorite. We have framed photos that Bryce took of Paris landmarks hanging on the wall above our bed and we're thinking of going to Paris for our 10th anniversary so Bryce can show me everything he loves so much about the city.

April 2009, 5th Anniversary, Disney Land. Trivia #6: Bryce and I just recently finished watching every single episode of Star Trek: Next Generation. He convinced me to watch the first episode (I had never seen any of them before) and then another and then another and then I was hooked. It took us several months to get through the whole series, but it was a lot of fun! I still can't believe he got me into it.

2010. Trivia #7: I know you're wondering about that first kiss. This is how it went down. I was getting tired of waiting for Bryce to get the nerve to kiss me. As he was leaving my apartment one night, I called him "Chicken." He, in an ultimate moment of geekiness, quoted Back to the Future and said, "Nobody calls me chicken!" Then he kissed me quickly on the lips. I mean, really, you knew a first kiss between two people who have zero kissing experience wasn't going to be that amazing. But practicing was sure fun!

2011. Trivia #8: Bryce and I like to try different things for a month at a time. It adds some variety to our lives and the challenge is always fun. One of our latest experiments? Going completely vegan for a month. It was great! We still don't eat nearly as much dairy and meat.

Happy 8 years, my love! Thank you for being my very best friend. Being married to you is a gift and a joy. I love you!

“Uh oh!”

Easton’s first official word? “Uh oh!” It’s pretty much the cutest thing ever. Whenever something falls off his high chair? “Uh oh!” Whenever something slips away? “Uh oh!”

Easton’s First Birthday Party

Last night, we had lots of family over to celebrate Easton’s first birthday. Easton seemed pretty overwhelmed by all the people and especially concerned when we all decided to sing to him and watch him eat his cupcake. But all in all, I think he had a good time and we certainly enjoyed the fun.

Very excited about the big ball we gave him. Classic smooshed face here.

The mariachi card that had a moving guitar inside (from Uncle Colin and Aunt Jill) was a big hit.

He was showered with so many lovely gifts–clothes, books, a few toys, lots of snacks.

Then came the Happy Birthday singing and the cupcake eating…

"Why is everyone looking at me?"

"And why did Uncle Brett just try to help me eat my cupcake?!"

"What kind of torture is this?!"

"Oh, well I guess..." Sniff, sniff..."I guess this stuff is actually kind of tasty." Sniff, sniff.

 

"You mean I have to do this again next year? You've got to be kidding me."

After the cupcake trauma, he was actually very happy and enjoyed playing with his gifts.

The kids made a banner to help decorate for the party. I love Amelie's little drawings of Easton crawling around.

Look! A whole army of little Eastons crawling around!

 

Happy 1st Birthday, Easton!

Wow…My sweet little boy is already 1! As much as I have tried to cherish every moment of his babyhood, it still seems to be slipping through my fingers like shimmering strands of silver. With my third little one, I feel like the lessons I’ve been learning the past 5 years as a mother have given me the room to just love every bit of him. Of course, I cherished Amelie and Calder, too. That’s one of the wonders of motherhood. Each child, each experience, is filled with different miracles and moments of clarity and growth. I am so glad to be a mother.

But this post isn’t about me. It’s about Easton! This darling boy spends his days crawling around our home, clapping, waving, resting his head on my chest as I sing to him before sleep, teasing the kitty, watching his brother and sister with eager eyes, and melting my heart over and over again. From his amazing birth to this very moment, he has had one wonderful year.

Now, for the traditional birthday portraits. Thank you, Marcie, for squeezing us in just before your own baby arrived! Oh, and, Grandmas–make sure to let me know which one you’d like.

Hello, Handsome!

Hello, Tongue! Don't you just want to plant kisses all over that face?

A frequent look for Easton. Always trying to figure things out.

Looking very chill. Wazzup?

Pretty happy little boy.

Hello, My Love!

What a little man he is. I can't get enough of him.

So, Happy Birthday, my little one! You are sure loved.