Spencer's Birthday

Spencer is 17 !

Spencer's Birthday was on the 23rd. We have had a lot of family time lately (and a lot more is coming) so we didn't do anything too crazy.
My mom made fajitas for dinner and then we just hung out, watched Modern Family, had ice cream cake and opened presents.

Happy Birthday Spencer!

Instead of Birthday tributes this year i think I'm going to do 10 things we love about the person.

10 Things we love about Spencer

1. Spencer is a stud-he has so many friends and they are always out doing fun things.
2. Style-Spencer has this unique preppy/skater/urban/european style. I love it.
   
3. Spencer is caring-still so tenderhearted and so sweet. Someday he will make a special girl so happy.
   
4. Money savvy-I don't know how he does it, but this kid always has cash.
   
5. Smart-he just got his ACT scores back...he beat all of us...by far! (sorry but you will never beat my high school gpa Spence)
6. Spiritual-Spencer has always been so good at fulfilling all of his priesthood responsibilities. He is a good example to the rest of us.
7. Funny-Spencer is so quick/witty.
8. Cocky/Stubborn-lets be real... he is a teenager! But we still love him for it!
9. Ping-Pong Maniac-Shawn can't handle it when Spencer beats him. He has some crazy skills.
   
10. Game Savvy-Spencer always tells us which games we need to get on our iPhones. He keeps us young and hip (:
    

Talan's Birthday

Happy 5th Birthday t-RaY!

We sure are lucky to have Talan as one of our nephews! He is the cutest, most stubborn little stinker around. He can be so sweet and tender when he wants to be. He loves to be doing whatever his big brother is doing and is such a great big brother to his little sister and brother. He is so witty, but gets so embarrassed when we laugh at something he says. We love spending time with Talan and can't believe he is already 5! Shawn and I started dating when Tal was only 5 months old!.

Love you t-RaY!

Shawn is 27!

Shawn turned 27 on the 16th! We started off the birthday celebrations with dinner at my parents the Sunday before.

I had that nasty flu bug that was going around...

The Birthday Kids!

On Shawn's actual birthday we went to Mikados for sushi. We have become friends with the head sushi roller...josh...he always goes out of his way to make everything look so cool for us! I will have to post some more pictures another time of the crazy stuff he has done for us. He is super talented!

For Shawn's birthday with his family he told everyone that he wanted to go to Classic Skating. I wasn't sure if he was serious...but he was. We all had a blast!

After Classic we went back to his parents and had cake.

Shawn is the perfect husband for me. I love him so much. He works so hard for us and takes such good care of me.

I love how he searches for my hand in the middle of the night so he can hold it. I love how great he is with the kids in our nursery. He is a great uncle! He is a great listener. He pushes me to be a better person and I'm so grateful for that. He is my biggest fan and always believes in me. I love Shawn so much and I'm so grateful he is my husband forever and ever!

My Mom...

It was my mom's birthday on the 16th. We celebrated the Sunday before and had a yummy dinner...mostly prepared by my mom...I need to be better about that.

My mom is super mom...she is my biggest hero. She always knows what to say to make me feel better. She is so easy going (she lets me know when I'm being overly dramatic). She is a great cook and recently I have enjoyed a couple of cooking classes in her kitchen. She has put up with a lot over the years...mostly from my brothers of course (: She is a great friend. She has always been the best example of doing service. My mom will do the most random crazy things for people. She is so loving to everyone.

She is super talented artistically...it's kind of annoying. My mom's friends always say that I must be as talented as she is because I'm her daughter...NOT. I wish I were as creative as she is...I have gotten pretty good at milking off her creativity though. She always helps me come up with good homemade presents for people and she is going to paint our living room window so we can win the Christmas Window Decorating Contest. Oh...and my kids are going to have the best decorative painted bedrooms ever.

My mom is pretty amazing. I never went through that stage when a teenage girl doesn't get along with their mom. I've always felt like I could tell my mom anything. She has been a great example to me of what a good wife should be. Shawn will sometimes laugh at something I say or do and call me "Cindy Joy"...I will get mad at him and he will always say "What? It's a good thing!" It is a good thing! I want to be just like my mom!

I love you mom!

Payson's Baptism/Birthday

Payson turned 8 on October 24th. I have been waiting for his baptism to do a 2 in 1 post. Shawn was out of town the weekend of his birthday. He went to Idaho with his Dad and Chris to watch Chris play in a tournament. They had a lot of fun, but I missed him a lot! Mickie had us all over the weekend of his birthday for a little party.

Payson asked Shawn to baptize him. His special day was on Saturday, November 6th. He was very excited and was smiling the whole time...except in this picture! Shawn said the day was very special to him. He said it made him very excited to have kids.

The Schneiders

Preslie was my buddy at the baptism. She is so cute. She had biffed it on the cement the day before...poor Pres!

The whole fam damily

After the baptism we went to Mickies and ate some great food. Stacey, Kallie and I watched a movie and tried to relax while the guys were watching football. ew!

Payson is a very special boy. He has everyone wrapped around his finger. He is very smart. Payson loves to play with his friends and to just be outside doing something ALL of the time! He is always asking anyone and everyone to play a game with him. He is a great little baseball player...but Shawn says he has some crazy soccer skills when they play together. Payson is a great big brother and is always so helpful when we watch the kids. It's crazy that Payson was just 3 years old when Shawn and I started dating!!! We love Pays so much and are so proud of him for his decision to be baptized. We love watching him grow up!

Stacey's Birthday

Stacey's birthday was on the 3rd. Rick prepared an awesome dinner and we all had fun just hanging out...and watching modern family!

Stace.Rick.Hayden.Payson.

Preslie playing dress-up with my shoes.

Shawn and Payson practicing for his special day!

Shawn.Hayden.Me.Talan.

hApPy BiRtHdAy StAcEy !!!

Stacey has taught Shawn and I a lot recently. She is an awesome gramma...or mahma. She always puts her family first. Always. She is a really great listener and always cares about what's going on in our life...even if its boring! Stacey has a lot of patience. She has done such a great job of taking care of her parents the last couple of years. She is so patient with all of our crazyness!

She has taught us that when one of our family members is struggling or has messed up we need to love and support them...and get in the mud and fight for them. She will drop anything to help any one of her kids. Shawn is so lucky to have her as a mom...and I'm so lucky to have her as a mother-inlaw.

We love you Stace..."to the moon and back".

My 24th Birthday Celebrations!

I turned 24 last week.

i lOvE bIrThDaYs!!!

My birthday week was kicked of by a joint sunday birthday shared with Brandyn at the Blymiller's on the 3rd. He turned 29 a couple of weeks ago.

I was spoiled with presents and we had fun just hanging out and eating.

I thought this was a cute little precious moment with Payson & Shawn. He is almost 8 which means his sweet little cuddling days might be almost over.

On my actual birthday, the 7th, Shawn took the morning off to sleep in and lounge around with me. Shawn made me a vegan meal the night before my birthday. It was very yummy. I was so proud of him for thinking of something to make all by himself!
He even remembered to serve it on our traditional red celebration plate. This picture of the meal doesn't look very good. But I promise it was so yummy!

I met up with my friend Angie for lunch at Happy Sumo. This isn't the best picture of either of us...

It's always fun to see Angie. When I got home Shawn had left some beautiful fall flowers on the table for me.

That evening Kevin & Spencer came and picked Shawn and me up to go to dinner. We tried going to a japanese restaurant...but it was super busy...on a Thursday night! The owner (Alex) is a very popular guy. He remembers all of his customer's names which we love...and is what probably keeps him so busy. We ended up just going to Chili's. Which I was happy with. I can never say no to chips'n'salsa'ranch.

I love my brothers. My parents were out of town. OH. Spencer had just taken 1st place in his golf tournament so we had an extra great night!

Yesterday I had my second Sunday Birthday with my family. I asked my mom to make salmon. It was amazing.

Bryce, Ashley & my grandparents joined us. We had fun hanging out...and playing a few rounds of Hearts.

My parents gave me lots of fun presents!

Ashley & Bryce.

My mom makes the best ice cream cakes ever!

I had a great birthday week. I wish I could skip all my even birthdays. I'm excited to be 25...

Rick's Birthday Tribute & Park City Tournament

I have been waiting to post about Rick's birthday because I wanted to do special birthday tributes this year for special people...I told Shawn he was in charge of his family...and that's why there has yet to be one for Mickie & Rick. I will just have to do them myself I guess!

Shawn plays in the Park City Tournament every year with his men's league. This year he asked his brother Chris and a couple friends to guest play. It was a lot of fun. The tournament happened to be over Rick's birthday (which I think Shawn & Chris playing soccer together was the best birthday present). On Saturday, July 10 we all went to their afternoon game as a family and then headed to the Homestead, where Rick & Stacey were staying, for a little birthday dinner.

I had fun pushing Kallie & Talan

Payson loved it when I gave him "under doggies" on the swing. I love swinging in the summertime. . .

Everyone hanging out after dinner

Preslie

After dinner we went swimming. I thought this was a pretty funny picture of Shawn & Preslie.

Rick & Stacey

tRiBuTe To RiCk

Rick is one of the best men I know

he's definitely the most selfless guy around

he will do anything for anyone and not expect anything in return

he is a very hard worker and makes sure his family has everything that they need

Rick is a great Dad & Grampa

he is extremely nonjudgmental

he puts up with all the drama & never complains

he is very easy-going

I'm so lucky to have a father-inlaw like Rick. He really is so great, and there is not one bad thing that I could ever say about him. He has raised an awesome son. Shawn has learned so much from his Dad and I'm so grateful that Shawn has such an awesome Dad to learn from and look up to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The tournament was July 10 & 11. The guys made it to the semi-finals. I think they had a lot of fun & I know Shawn enjoyed playing with his brother & friends.

Jared Trusell, James, Me, Shawn & Chris

Sunday was the World Cup Finals. In between games we went to a restaurant to watch the game. I found us these sweet seats right in front a TV.

Spain ended up winning the game in overtime. It was a lot of fun to watch. We are very sad that World Cup is over...hopefully next World Cup we will be in Brazil.

I couldn't get a good picture of the guys...they are lame!

I had fun going to all of the guy's games. Shawn says I'm a good wife to tag along and go to all of the games with them...and he's right (; haha All weekend long they had been doing construction in the canyon. It was getting really bad, so Shawn decided to take this random way home. It was pretty intense...dirt roads...angry husband...but really, really, pretty scenery. It reminded me of my childhood going to Mt Rainier.....with out the glacier & river of course. When we were halfway up the mountain we found out that there wasn't any traffic going home the other way. oops!

Kevin's Birthday Party & Tribute

July 10 was Kevin's 22nd birthday. Spencer was in Cabo, Kevin had a party with his friends and we were in Park City all weekend at Shawn's soccer tournament...I will post on that & Rick's birthday next...So we celebrated Kevin's birthday last night.

Kevin & Me.

His Birthday dinner was Salmon...so yummy!

Mom, Spencer, Kevin's good friend Justin, Dad & Kevin.

Dad, Spencer & Mom

After dinner we decided to go to Talons for some golf...we actually had a ton of fun!!!

Justin in his 80's attire/mohawk, & Kevin.

Me...golfing in heels...My dad has definitely given up all hope on me. I spend most of the time hitting air or just the very top of the ball.

After the range we decided to have a little mini tournament. My dad & kev were the captains...dad's team had my mom & Justin. Kevin's team had spencer & me (I was the last to be picked). You had to go through the team lineup...like kevin would hit, spencer would hit where his ball landed, and then I would hit that. Who ever had the least amount of strokes won.

Our team had a little bad luck...but we won...I think. My dad would tell you that we cheated...who knows?

Kevin way out in the distance looking for my ball...I thought I hit it well?

After golf we headed back home for ice cream cake!

Kevin's Birthday Tribute

Where to start? Kevin is the closest brother in age to me. I think we are only like 21 mo apart. I feel like we have always had a pretty great relationship. He is an awesome brother. I love him so much.

Growing up when we would fight he would say something mean and then just walk away. It drove me nuts! He would always be the last person to say something...but always the first one to apologize. He is very sweet when he wants to be.

Kevin is hilarious. Ever since I can remember he's been poppin' his colla' . . . that just came out of no where, sorry. No, ever since I can remember he has been quoting movies. That kid can see a movie 1 time and have every funny part memorized. It is a talent. Shawn and I try so hard to remember lines so that we can quote them with my brothers and sound cool. It usually doesn't work very well for us.

Kevin is definitely the most stylish of my brothers. Before his mission he was like preppy/skater style. Now he has his own unique european-latin/preppy/urban thing going on. Growing up he would always ask me "Ang does this look good? Ang do my shoes match my shirt?"

He has a "baby" or maybe a couple... they are his Nixon watches. When he left on his mission he sent his favorite one to Scott & Jenn's (the "safe house") just so he would know exactly where it was at all times. Before he left on his mission he actually gave me a Nixon watch for my birthday, I love it.

He might have had the 2nd worse teenage relationship with my parents...me having the absolute worst. When Kevin was mad he would just hold all of his feelings inside & give my parents the silent treatment until he would finally explode. When he did explode we were all so shocked that we didn't know what to do! After he got everything out he wouldn't want to talk about it ever again. He has gotten a little better about expressing his feelings...I think. He never told my parents anything that was going on in his life. If you asked him questions about life he would either not respond, or give you short sarcastic answers.

Kevin has always had great taste in music. He is always telling me of new bands to listen to.

Kevin loves to be taken care of by his "mommy". I would say his responsibility level is somewhere in between Curtis & Spencer's. His mission actually made it worse. I don't know how that happened, but it did. He loves having my mom make him breakfast, lunch & dinner. If Kevin is hungry he sits at the bar in the kitchen until my mom asks him if he wants something to eat (kinda like a puppy). Jenn says that when Kevin & Bryce were staying with them she asked Kevin if he wanted an orange. He said, "yeah, but only if you peel it for me. My mom always peels my oranges". Or whenever she would make something he would say "that was good, but my mom's is better". Good luck to his future wife!

Kevin has some of the greatest friends. They are all so much fun, and we love that he shares them with the family. He is a such a great example to his friends. He was the first one to go on a mission and I know that he had a big part giving a lot of his friends a little push to go as well. Most importantly he is an amazing example to Curtis & Spencer.

Kevin succeeds in everything he tries. He came home from his mission this amazing singing, guitarist!

Kevin's is obsessed with the idea of being an uncle. He always asks me if I'm "knocked up" yet. Some Sundays when we do family dinners he says, "it would be so much more fun if you were bringing a baby with you". I hope one day we can make his dreams come true. He will be a great uncle. He is so cute with all of our little cousins. They LOVE him!

Dear WeeWee,
I love you so much,
I hope you have a great year!