Logan and Camille Spence

New Years 2012

2012-01-19T16:04:00.002-07:00

This past new years eve was pretty chillaxed. We spent the evening at Autumn and Doug's, eating food, and chatting it up with friends. I made some pretty rockin' jalapeno poppers that I was pretty proud of. We got Aaron to stop by our party with his date, Kim, who is a girl I used to dance with in high school. We rang in the new year at midnight, but by 12:15, we were already packed up and headed home. I don't know if we are just old farts now and are incapable of partying it up, or if we are just experiencing parental tiredness (in which case, I'm sure the tiredness will wear off just in time for the old fartness to set in...so are we going to be party poopers for life now?).

2011 was a good year, we found out we were having Sadie, I graduated from UVU, we traveled lots, we laughed a lot, we had Sadie, we found out what "tired" really feels like, but we found out what "love" and "joy" really feel like too. I'm sure 2012 will treat us just as well, if not better. Honestly, every year since Logan has come into my life has just gotten better and better. Oh dear, I love my little family so much it hurts a little.

Oh, and also...this is what Sadie did basically our whole party:

Even with 9 other kids running around screaming their guts out.

Even with all of us blowing our new years horns.

Even with everyone talking and laughing super loud.

She stayed asleep.

It's almost as if she has a parent that also falls asleep at various locations,

and could sleep through nuclear warfare.

(hint: I'm not talking about Logan)

To My Sweet 4 Month Old Baby Girl

2012-01-19T15:48:00.000-07:00

Baby Girl,

Your personality is starting to shine more and more, and it makes it so much fun to be your mommy. You have learned so much this month, and it is seriously the coolest thing ever to watch.

The day after Christmas, you rolled over for the first time. I was sitting in the basement with Grandma Deana at her house, and you just rolled over from your tummy to your back, like it was no big deal. I got so excited about it though, I think I scared you because your eyes got all big and you looked very worried. You don't do it all the time, but you do try so hard to roll from your back to your front. We will lay you on your back and show you our phone, then we drag the phone so it is above your head, and you'll arch your little back to look up at it. You can get your legs to roll over, but you can't figure out how to get your elbow out of the way so you can end up on your tummy. You'll figure it out soon though, I'm sure of it.

You like tummy time a lot more than you have in the past. You can hold your head up so strong, and even reach out to grab a toy in front of you. You love toys now, and can hold onto them and bring them to your mouth. We think you might be in the early phases of teething because you like to chew on everything, but your most favorite thing to chew on are your own fingers. This, sweet girl, drives me a little batty. You are constantly a slobbery, wet (and cold) mess. You suck and chew on your fingers basically from the second you wake up, to the second you fall asleep. You aren't picky about which fingers get in your mouth, in fact, sometimes you will stack your hands on top of each other and chew on all ten of them at once, gagging yourself the whole time. We try to stop you, but you don't seem to listen.

This month we found out you have a bit of acid reflux, and you're on some medicine to help that. You spit up a lot now, and I constantly smell like puke. Not my favorite, but you're too cute to get upset at. The medicine is helping a little, I think. You spit up, but you don't fuss as much about your tummy hurting. Hopefully you will stop spitting up so much, though, because you are a tiny little bug, and seem to be struggling a bit to gain weight. You are about 55% for height, but only 5% for weight, and you're dropping lower every month. What can I say though, with Logan for a daddy, you're bound to be tall and skinny.

You laugh and chatter all the time. Daddy and I can't get enough of it either. You also recognize us and prefer us over other people now. Grandma Ilene will be holding you as you scream, but then I pick you up and you settle right down. You love it when Daddy comes home from school or work, because that means it's play time! He will "fly" you all around the apartment, sing songs to you, or get down on the floor with you to play with your toys. He loves you more than life, and you have him wrapped so tightly around your baby (slobbery) fingers.

I love being your mommy. I try to tell you I love you, kiss you, and snuggle you about a trillion times a day. I feel like I'll blink and all of the sudden you'll be 12 and too cool to snuggle with your mommy, so I'm doing my best to soak it in. I'm so glad I'm your mommy, and I'm so glad you chose to be my daughter. I feel like I'm finally adjusting to my new normal of hanging out with a baby all day, rather than running around from school to work and back again like I have been for the past ten years or so. Sometimes I miss my old life, but honestly, I would never trade it in a million years. I get to hang out with you, my bestest buddy, and cutest friend all day long. Plus, you seem really like me too, which makes me feel like a total rock star.

I love you so much my rib cage might just explode from trying to hold it all in. I love you so much, sometimes I think I might have to scream it from a roof top. I love you so much that sometimes I have to remind myself to not squeeze you too tight. You are amazing, little girl. I'm learning lots, and you are patient with me.

More love than you could ever imagine (until you have your own baby),
Mommy

Christmas with our Little Miss

2011-12-31T10:46:00.004-07:00

Last year I was writing about how weird it was to do the whole Christmas thing without kiddos. Now, one year and one kiddo later...it is still weird. Haha, for some reason, a 3 1/2 month old just doesn't get all jazzed up about opening gifts. I'm thinking by next year she'll probably like all the boxes more than the presents.

(Note to self...only get Sadie boxes for Christmas next year, kidding.)

Honestly, maybe we are bad parents, but we really only got Sadie one outfit this year, but she didn't seem to mind because she got spoiled rotten by all her grandparents and aunts and uncles. She loves things that light up, make noise, and are shiny, and she sure got lots of all those things.

Logan spoiled me with "The Help" on DVD, some makeup, and a super cute sweater he picked out himself (this is a rarity, people). Poor Logan got undies and socks, which were much needed, but still...boring. I got him a copy of our apartment key...boring but needed. I also took stamps of Sadie's feet into the shape of a heart, and framed it, which he did really like. (thank you pinterest)

Most of all, we have been spoiled by this little girl coming into our family:

She really is our favorite gift.

We found out she was coming a little after New Years last year...I feel like 2011 has been the great baby adventure. I'm excited to see what 2012 brings!!

Mommy and Sadie in front of the tree.

She's so excited...not.

Logan and Mini-Logan

The rest of the day was filled with family, food, and fun. I seriously am the most blessed girl ever to have such a wonderful life. Here's to making 2012 as wonderful as 2011 has been!

Sadie meets her BFF (#1)

2011-12-23T12:12:00.002-07:00

Autumn had her sweet baby girl on Tuesday! That means two of the three girl cousin triplets are here! Brynn (number 3 baby girl is still baking in her tummy) said she imagined Avery coming down "Saturday's Warrior" style...you know, when the spirit stands on the platform and dissolves as they are being born...leaving her baby girl all alone up there. Don't worry Girly, you'll be down here too in about a month (we're all super excited to meet you)! I seriously think these three girls must be the best of friends, since they all decided to come into the same family within 5 months of each other. What lucky little girls to have the opportunity to be best friends and cousins. I hardly know any of my cousins, but I'm glad that my babies will know theirs.

Anyhoo...Avery is here, and she is precious beyond words. Almost (but not quite) as cute as Sadie was when she was brand new...but I mean, as her mommy, I'm bound to be biased :). She has the cutest chubby little cheeks, and the brightest eyes; she cries like a kitten, and has long fingers and toes. She was a breech baby too, so she is always trying to get her feet up by her head since that's how she grew, which I find both adorable and amusing. And this girl, she already loves her binkie. She can hold it in a thousand times better than Sadie. (Maybe Avery will teach Sadie a new trick)

Avery Lyn

It is really fun for me to snuggle on Avery and think back on when Sadie was that tiny. Even though it wasn't even 4 months ago, I feel like Sadie has been here forever, so it seems like it's been a lot longer.

Also...everyone comments on how tiny my Sadie Lady still is...but now that I've seen her up next to a smaller, newer baby, I feel like my baby has magically gotten ginormous. How quickly we forget how tiny they are when they come. I mean, look at this picture...Sadie looks huge next to teensy little Avery!!

I am so grateful Avery is here, safe and sound, and healthy as can be. I am seriously ecstatic for Sadie to have her friend here! In only 5 more weeks, we'll have another sweet little spirit in our family, and the triplet cousins will be reunited! (Dude, how humongous is my baby girl going to look next to the new baby then?!)

To My Sweet 3 Month Old Baby Girl

2011-12-15T17:16:00.001-07:00

My Little Sweetums,

I literally call you "Sweetums" so many times a day, you are probably confused at what your name is. I can't help myself because you really are the sweetest thing in my world. I am that annoying mother who thinks their child is the most perfect being to grace the planet...except I don't think, I know you actually are. Don't let it go to your head little one.

This month we had...constipation issues. Yes, it is true. Thank goodness for brave Grandma Ilene, who came to your rescue many a time to help you poop with torturous ways like glycerin suppositories. I'm sorry, your mommy is a chicken still...but Grandma is brave, brave, brave. I think we are on the up and up on that issue, though. You are pooping more regularly...please keep it up. And please don't hate me in the future for posting about your potty habits on the web. Thank you dear one.

You are seriously the dang cutest thing I have ever laid eyes on. When you came home from the hospital, I swore you would NEVER be as cute as you were those first few days, and I seriously mourned that you would get bigger and not be as cute. Oh my, was I ever wrong. Yes, Sweetums, you were darling then, but you are sooooooo much cuter now than I could have ever imagined. You smile ALL THE TIME. Your most favorite things to smile at this month are Christmas Lights, Daddy and me, and other little kids. You love your cousins, especially Bailey and Avery (my side of the family's Avery, not the one that is coming down from heaven next week). They are both almost 2 years old, and love to giggle, love, and snuggle on you, and you love smiling at them. Yesterday while I was reading the mail, you were squealing at the pictures of them on their Christmas cards on the fridge. I love that you already love other babies and children. I feel like you still remember all your siblings up in Heaven, and you are excited to have other children in your life more regularly. Give your parents a few years to get our feet back under us again from having you though, please. But trust me, I'm excited to meet them too. I'm sure they are just as awesome as you.

You are usually sleeping through the night now!! You go down at around 8, wake up at 11 to eat, and then don't wake up again until 7:30 the next morning. It rocks my world. I am seriously loving it! I am so proud of you for sleeping for so long!

You are still a petite little thing. Haven't gained much weight or length from your 2 month appointment, the doctor told us to keep an eye on that for next month (you have barely cracked 10 pounds, and are 22 inches long). But you eat lots, and you don't spit up a ton, so I don't know where all this milk is going! Grow my little one! (But at the same time, not too fast)

You laughed a little at Daddy yesterday. He was singing Alvin and the Chipmunk's "Christmas Song" to you, and whenever he would sing the words "hula hoop" you would laugh at him. We basically melted with joy over this. It was seriously the cutest, most bestest sound I have ever heard in this life. I look forward to when you giggle more, sweet thing.

You snuggle lots. You are recognizing other people. You love watching Baby Einstein videos. You love having us read books to you. You go back and forth about liking or detesting your binkie. You are a full fledged hand sucker...we tried to deter you from that, but you fought us on that, and won the battle. You are very, very sweet. Most of all, you are probably the most loved baby I have ever met, and don't you forget it!! I say this all the time, but seriously, thank you for coming to our family. I can't even imagine my life without you in it anymore. I am so stoked I get to be your mommy forever!!

Love,
Your #1 Fan,
Mommy

Sadie and Santa

2011-12-14T13:22:00.001-07:00

Our ward Christmas party was this past weekend. Santa was even kind enough to come down from the North Pole and visit all the children personally (I mean, seriously, how legit is this Santa?!), and braved our hysterical Sadie.

Oh, you don't think she looks hysterical here? Well, she was, until the second I placed her in his arms, and then she turned into a complete angel baby, and was totally fascinated with his beard. Don't worry, she continued her little freak out the second I picked her back up.

Oh, I see Sadie, you'd rather be with the magical man with the soft snuggly suit than your own mother? Well, at least your first Santa picture turned out adorable!

Christmas Lights at Temple Square

2011-12-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

We went up to Temple Square with the whole Spence Family. Sadie LOVES our Christmas tree at home, and will stare at the lights forever, so we thought she would maybe like to see lots and lots of trees all lit up. We bundled her up to a ridiculous degree...think Ralphie on "A Christmas Story" that falls over and can't get up because he's wearing so many layers. But she stayed warm, and seemed to enjoy it a little. Honestly, she fell asleep through most of it, and woke up for the very end to take a peek, but she really liked the 5 minutes she was awake for! I think next year she'll get a little more excited about the whole idea.

Our little family.

Look at her pink fluffy legs...they are only really half that size, she was bundled up LOTS.

Her sweet eyes taking a peek.

Most adorable thing ever, yes?

This was on our way out into the cold. We had just woken her up to get her in her snow suit and hat, and she was less than thrilled about it. Her face just cracks me up here...she looks like one of those cats with the squished up faces!! Oh my, I am just so in love with my baby!!

Guest Blogger for Adoption

2011-11-30T12:32:00.001-07:00

I was asked to be a guest blogger for an adoption blog called "My Angels from Heaven."
I wrote about my experience of growing up knowing I was adopted, reuniting with my birthparents and their families, and how it has affected me as an adult and as a mommy.

If you want to check out my post, you can find it HERE!

Adoption is amazing, people!!

Baby's First Thanksgiving

2011-11-30T12:19:00.001-07:00

We celebrated Sadie's first Thanksgiving with Logan's family this year. Alicia's family had dinner with us, and it was so great spending a whole afternoon with them and their silly kids.
Sadie basically thought the food was totally uneventful, and slept through the whole dinner. However, she sure does love going to Grandma Deana's because she gets passed around the whole time. She's a social butterfly and loves to snuggle, smile, and talk to everyone around her. The food was great, but the company was even better!

We had a game and pie night at Grandma Belnap's later that evening, which was super fun. As long as I can remember, PIE has been the big to do at Thanksgiving with the Belnaps...not turkey...it's all about the pie, and there are always close to a dozen varieties to choose from. It was fun to be able to see both sides of our family on that day. I LOVE OUR FAMILY!!!

As we sat down for dinner, I leaned over to Logan and asked him if last year at Thanksgiving dinner he thought we would be parents by the next year. We thought maybe we might be pregnant, or still even trying to get pregnant by the next holiday season, but we didn't think that she would already be here! I am so glad she came when she did, because she is the best thing in our lives.

I am so grateful for my sweet husband and for the wonderful job he has to provide for us. I am grateful for the opportunities we have had to get us through school almost debt free. I am grateful for our apartment we live in, for the shelter it provides, and the loving landlords we have upstairs. I am grateful for our neighborhood and the friendships we have made since living there. I am grateful that we have a running car that has good gas mileage, and has been so great for our little family. I am grateful that I have been able to continue teaching dance after having Sadie, my boss is amazing and so supportive of me. I am so grateful that we have all of our family so close so we can visit them often. I am grateful that Sadie will grow up knowing her family and being close to her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Most of all, I am grateful that I have the gospel in my life, for the joy and peace it brings, and the knowledge that I can be sealed to my family forever. I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the love he has for me, individually. I know he knows who I am, and that he loves me, and I love him.

We are so incredibly blessed, and I am so grateful for the life I am living, and all of the wonderful things in it.

Blessing Day

2011-11-30T12:14:00.001-07:00

November 6, 2011 Sadie had her baby blessing. Her daddy gave a wonderful blessing, and Sadie was so well behaved during the blessing. It was a sweet day, especially for me, because ALL of my family was there to support her--my family, my birthmom and her family, my birthdad and his family, and all of my in laws. I am still just blown away at how many people love and spoil this little girl of mine. She is so blessed!!

My super talented mommy made her gorgeous blessing dress, hair bow, and blanket for her big day. The dress is so beautiful, with beading to add "bling" around the bottom, and lace, ribbons, and flowers galore. Super girly, and I LOVE it. (We couldn't get a good picture of the details of the dress...when we put her in it, she just kick-kick-kicks away at the skirt and all the pictures are super blurry! Haha!) She was so beautiful in the dress, it made me a little emotional--I will blink and she will be in her white baptism dress--then I will blink again and she will be in her white wedding dress.

She is just so sweet, we are just soaking in every moment. I am so incredibly blessed to be this baby girl's mommy. I am so grateful she chose to come to our family!

To My Sweet 2 Month Old Baby Girl

2011-11-09T13:40:00.004-07:00

My Sweet Sadiebug,

You are two months old. When did this happen? Half of me feels like we've had you forever and ever, and half of me feels like just ten minutes ago I was feeling you move around in my tummy.

This month you started to smile real, honest to goodness smiles, and you talk to us a little. You are starting to get more on a schedule, which I am loving because I can predict your day a bit better than I could at the beginning. You wake up around 7:30, eat, get a diaper change, and then we play. You usually take 2 shorter naps in the morning, and then one longer and one shorter nap in the afternoon. We pick up Daddy from work at 7, and you are so nice to stay awake and play with him until around 8:30, and then you go to sleep for the night. You usually sleep until about 2 or 3, which means I am getting more sleep too (thank you), but I am still just awaiting the day you decide to sleep through the night.

You are so friendly and love to be held, talked to, and played with. Last week Grandma Deana gave you a toy rattle and you actually held on to it, and cooed with delight. You love the bouncer seat with the toy bar above it, and you love to bat at the little toy animals that hang down. You talk to them too, like they are your friends. You have started to sit up in your Bumbo, and love to sit in that while I cook dinner, watching me walk all around the kitchen. This month you also discovered the Minnie Mouse magnet on our fridge, and love to sit close to her and look at her. This, sweet Sadie, makes me so happy. You may look like your daddy, but perhaps you have my personality in there, and with it a deep love for all things Disney.

Speaking of Disney, you were dressed up as Tinkerbell for Halloween, and you were the darn cutest little fairy I have ever seen. I wish I could have bottled up your cuteness that day, because it made me extra giddy seeing you in your little costume.

You are holding your head up so good. I seriously can't believe how strong you are getting!! You always like to look around, checking the place out, and already do not like being held laying down because I don't think you can see as much. When you are tired, and I'm holding you over my shoulder, you love to lift your head up, look around the room, and then snuggle your little head on my shoulder for a little rest. I melt every single time you do this. It never gets old.

You had your baby blessing this past Sunday. Grandma Ilene made your blessing dress, and you were so gorgeous in it. You were so good for the blessing, didn't make a peep the whole time. Your daddy was nervous to give you his first blessing, but he did a wonderful job, and the spirit was so strong. All eight of your grandparents came for the blessing, along with all your aunts, uncles, and cousins. You are so loved by so many people, you lucky duck baby girl.

You got your two month shots yesterday afternoon, and I cried in the doctor's office longer than you did. You got poked, and did a very loud scream, and I started to bawl. By the time I picked you up and snuggled you, you had stopped crying, but it wasn't until after I had fed you, gotten you dressed, and back in your car seat that I finally stopped crying myself. Later that night, though, was a different story. You broke out in a fever, and cried hysterically for two hours straight. It was no fun to watch you not feel well, knowing there wasn't anything I could do to take the pain away from you. I snuggled with you all evening, hoping that maybe it would make you more comfortable and help you not feel alone. When I am sick, I still want my mommy, so I wanted to be there for you. Just so you know, I will always be there for you, no matter what.

You are the most perfect little girl I could have ever asked for to be my daughter. You have such a strong, sweet, and loving spirit. Your personality is starting to show, and I can't wait to get to know you better this month. I love you one billion percent, my sweet angel!

Love,
Mommy

Halloween...first holiday with a baby!

2011-11-08T13:32:00.001-07:00

Honestly, I'm not the most festive person when it comes to Halloween. I love the idea of being festive, but I'm just not. I have no big traditions for the holiday, but I would love to adopt a few. I love dressing up in costumes, but I hate trying to figure out what to be, and then getting the costume together--yeah right. I especially love the idea of ~~forcing~~ convincing Logan to do a cutesy couple-y costume with me, but I'm too lazy to put in the effort.

Logan did get in a bit of the spirit and dressed as a Pharmacy Tech who is a dad...complete with Smith-Rexall scrubs and spit up all down his chest, courteous of our most favorite baby. Woo, party with the Spences', I know.

I think it will become more fun as Sadie gets older and gets excited about more than milk and fresh diapers. When I have someone to be festive for, I think it will be more exciting to decorate the whole house, figure out her costumes, and go trick or treating, so I have not given up on the holiday quite yet.

My parents bought Sadie this adorable costume in Disneyland. I love Disney, I love my baby, and I love having my baby dressed up as a Disney character.

I always think she is cute, but I literally squealed, giggled, and squished her little cheeks about one million times after dressing her in this. I mean, come on, isn't she the cutest little Tinkerbell you have EVER seen?

The costume even came with wings that velcro on and off, you know, for car seat purposes.

We trick or treated to Grandmas' houses, then went home to watch "Young Frankenstein," a movie I had forgotten was so funny.

A pretty boring holiday, but dang we had one cutie patootie baby to dress up. I just love her to pieces.

To My Sweet 1 Month Old Baby Girl

2011-10-05T12:19:00.000-06:00

My Sweet Sadie,

One month ago I became your mommy. This month has been seriously the fastest month of my life!! Half of me feels like we've had you forever, and I can hardly remember what my life was like before you, but the other half of me feels like you were just born 10 minutes ago, and the thought that you are already a month old boggles my brains.

You are still the sweetest, most precious baby EVER. You love to cuddle. You love to be talked to. You love being around people, and get lonely if you're in your bassinet or in a room by yourself. You might have smiled your first smile yesterday, but I'm not sure.

You sometimes sleep 4-5 hours in a row at night, and I love that. However, sometimes you sleep for only 2 hours in a row at night, and I don't so much love that. You have had a few rough days this month with baby gas. Sometimes you fart and scare yourself awake, and cry and cry and cry. I'm not going to lie, your daddy and I laugh a little, but we snuggle you until you feel better so you don't think we're mean.

You are more awake now, and like to look around. You love to wiggle your little legs and arms all over the place, like you're figuring out how to work your body. You love your binky, but only if Daddy or I hold in in for you. You love sitting up against our tummies and checking the place out. You love getting passed around the family and getting snuggly loves from everyone. You are so girly already and love getting primped and pampered--you love taking baths, getting your hair washed, and having your nails clipped. You hate having your diaper changed, or having shirts pulled over your head. You also hate being put down, which makes it hard for me to get things done around the house, but luckily you love your baby sling, so we do our chores together with you snuggled against my chest. You make so many little grunts and squeaks. You snore when you sleep, but you sound like a little puppy. It's basically the most adorable thing ever.

You already weigh 8 lbs. 2 oz. and are 22 inches long. 85% for height, 25% for weight--you are our tall and skinny girl. No surprise there, your daddy is also very tall and skinny!

I am so excited that it is starting to get chilly, you have so many cute Fall and Halloween clothing, I love dressing you up every day. You are my real life dolly. I don't even really mind when you blow out your diaper or spit up all over yourself, because then I get to dress you up all over again!!

Thank you so much for choosing me as your mommy. I'm learning, and you are patient, and for that I am grateful. On a scale from 1 to 10, I love you one billion.

Love,
Mommy

The Day I Became "Mommy"

2011-09-20T15:10:00.000-06:00

Do you see this face?

This is the most precious, beautiful, sweet face I have ever seen.

My heart is so full of love for this little girl, and it has only been 16 days since I laid eyes on her. I can't believe how lucky and blessed I am to be her mommy.

Last week was my due date, but I am so glad she decided to come a bit early. She is so much more fun on the outside than in!

Our little adventure to get that sweet little girl here started Friday, September 2, 2011. I had been experiencing a few contractions here and there for a few days, but nothing to be really concerned about. Logan and I had been telling our nephew, Braxton, that we would have him over for a sleepover sometime that summer before the baby was born. All of the sudden, September was here, and we decided we BETTER have that sleepover quick, because we were hoping that by the next weekend I would be in the hospital delivering our sweet little girl. That day I guess Braxtie wasn't feeling so well, and wanted to stay home from school, but his mommy told him if he did, he would miss the sleepover, so he sucked it up and went. That evening when we picked him up, he seemed his normal, energetic, happy self. Before we left, his parents gave him some cough syrup to help him sleep through the night without coughing, and we took off to our little apartment.

While watching "Over the Hedge" and baking brownies, Braxton said he felt like he was getting "all hot like a fever." We gave him a half a Tylenol, wrapped things up, and got him all set up on the couch. Nighty Night, Braxtie...

I wasn't sleeping well anyway, between contractions and having to go to the bathroom every hour or so. Around 3:30 a.m. Braxton started to whimper, and the cough, and then cry. Logan and I went to go check on him, and we found him curled up in a ball coughing so dang hard, lips turning blue because he wasn't able to breathe in really well with out coughing it all back out, and crying that his throat and head were hurting really bad. He was burning up with a fever, and just shaking. We called his parents, told him we were bringing him back, and Logan wrapped him up in a blanket really tight while I gathered all his things. We got him home, laid him back down to sleep, and Logan and his dad gave him a Priesthood Blessing to help him through the night. We got home a little before 5, and I was too awake to get back to sleep.

Later that morning, Logan was playing tennis with his friend Wyatt. We headed to the park, where I was set up to watch with my camping chair, reading book, water, etc. I was talking to my mom on the phone while they were playing, when a pretty strong contraction hit. Afterwards, I felt a gush...and started wondering if my water had broken. I told my mom I had to go, called my sister in law Brynn to see if she thought maybe I might be going into labor, and then decided maybe we should go to the hospital just to make sure. I called over the boys, and told them they had to cut their set short (and that I was sorry).

We headed over to the hospital, they hooked me up, and we waited an hour. My contractions were picking up, and we started to get excited that maybe we could be meeting our little girl that weekend. They checked my progress, and I had gone from a 2.5 to a 3, so they wanted me to walk to see if I could progress enough for them to keep me. So we walked for an hour. Labor and Delivery at my hospital isn't that big, we must have done about 4 million laps around that place, all while some teen mom going natural was pushing in Rm. 9, screaming her head off, and freaking me out. At the end of my hour, I was checked again. Almost to a 4, and definitely in early labor, but they didn't want to keep me yet, so they sent me home to labor, and told me to come back "when it hurt so bad I couldn't breathe well." (yikes)

We went home to pack our bags...our little girl was coming within the next few days!! I finally was tired enough to fall asleep (kind of) for a few hours, and then we headed up to visit my parents, and to be closer to the hospital, you know, just in case. We walked around the neighborhood a LOT, and my contractions were coming every 2 minutes, and they were starting to hurt pretty bad, so we thought maybe we should head back to the hospital. We went back to my parents' house, and as I sat on the couch to catch my breath, my contractions STOPPED. Not spread out, not get less painful, FULL ON STOPPED. I cried. We went back home to get some rest, and hope that maybe we'd have to go back to the hospital sooner rather than later.

The next morning we got ready for church, went, taught our lesson in primary, and went back home. Nothing. No more contractions, and I was frustrated. We decided to visit Logan's parents and walk laps around the park behind their house to see if maybe we could get things started up again. 3 miles later, I suddenly had the worst back pressure of my life. I was hurting so bad it was hard to breathe...hooray!! And off to the hospital we went.

They checked me again, but whoops, she felt a "hand" and went to go get an ultrasound machine to check the situation out. The plan was to break my water, push the hand back behind the head, and I would deliver like normal. However, once they checked me with the ultrasound, it was not our little girl's hand, but her FOOT. We had thought she had been head down this whole time, but it turns out every time they checked my progress and felt her "head," it was actually her little bum. Not only were her feet down, but her umbilical cord had also pooled up at the bottom of my uterus, which could be a bad sign--if my water were to break, the cord would be flushed out, followed by a foot, which would pinch her oxygen supply off.

My doctor came and checked me out too, and gave me my options of where to go from there. He thought maybe we could do an external aversion, where they turn the baby around by pushing on her on the outside, or I could have a c-section that night and get her out, or we could wait a few days and see if she would flip on her own. However, after seeing that I was already dialated to 4 centimeters, "waiting it out" was off the table, as was an external aversion, since the chances of my water breaking were too high, and I would have to be put under for a panicked emergency c-section. My only option to make sure our baby got here safely was to go through with the c-section. Out of all of this, I will never forget how kind and loving my doctor was towards Logan and me. I remember asking him, "If I was your daughter, what would you have me do?" He assured me that they would keep both me and my baby safe, and that this was for the best. (To my sister in laws--thank you for sending me Dr. Liddle's way, he really is the best)

My whole pregnancy I was scared of getting an episiotomy, and here I was facing a much larger, much deeper cut through my abdomen. I was terrified!! I called my daddy, and had him come down to the hospital to help Logan give me a priesthood blessing. Amidst all this, Logan filled his parents in on the plan, and they also came down to the hospital. There were twins being delivered before me, so we had about an hour to chat and try to calm down.

At 11:40 p.m., Sadie Marie came into this world. Logan, who had previously said he did not want to watch her come out, stood up and looked over the blue curtain thing and watched them pull her out of me. I remember looking up at his face, and he was in complete awe. He was smiling from ear to ear when he first laid eyes on her. After she was out, he did not leave her side until she was back with me in my room. He was already so protective and watchful over her.

Welcoming our Sweet Sadie into the world

Our first family picture

Our hospital stay after that was a bit of a blur. Visitors came in and out, nurses checked my vitals probably about a billion times, and I was in quite a bit of pain from the c-section. But I could not get enough of my little girl. I could not stop looking at her, holding her, kissing her, snuggling her, loving on her.

On Thursday, September 8, we brought our baby girl home. She is the sweetest, most precious and perfect thing I have ever seen. Logan and I are so in love with her we can hardly stand it. I knew I would love my child, but I did not understand HOW MUCH I would love her. It is like a glimpse into how God must feel about us--I think Sadie is so amazing, smart, beautiful, and full of so much wonderful potential--I know God feels this way about us too, only to a much larger extent that I can not comprehend.

I love being a mommy. I love waking up to her sweet face. I love doing all that I can to make sure she is comfortable and happy. I love watching her daddy with her. I am trying my best to soak in all of the moments, to snuggle her and try to remember everything I can, because I'm going to blink and she'll be all grown up. But really, there's not much I can do about that, so I am enjoying every moment.

36 and 38 Weeks Baby Bump

2011-09-03T21:24:00.003-06:00

I haven't been as dedicated at taking "Bump Pics" as I thought I would be. No real reason why...except laziness, and extreme pregnancy brain, where I forget EVERYTHING. I can't believe how much I stick out when I look at these. My body is stretch marked, sore, and exhausted from being pregnant, but I know this little girl will be totally worth it. I bet she's growing all cute in there. I'm almost done...I'm almost done...I'm almost done...

And then I start on Phase II, PARENTHOOD. Which I'm sure is going to be one heck of a ride!

36 Weeks
38 Weeks

Team Geeks

2011-08-07T13:45:00.009-06:00

We've all heard of

"Like Father, Like Daughter..."

But what about

"Like Uncle, Like Niece."

?????

What geeks.

(Cutest geeks ever)

Steamboat Springs, CO

2011-07-21T21:10:00.003-06:00

Logan's parents have a timeshare, and we are lucky enough to use it and take family vacations together. Last weekend we went to Steamboat Springs with the gang, and it was so fun!

We hiked to Fish Creek Falls,

Which was gorgeous.

Mostly we hung out at the pool A LOT.

Something about being in the pool 7 months pregnant is WONDERFUL.

We had a KILLER game of "Monkey in the Middle" going on, with everyone, I mean everyone, even Deana :). It was so fun!

(Doug makes a funny "sea monster" when he's trying to get the ball from you. Terrifying, in a laugh your head off way)

Also, the boys thought it would be cool to make a 4 man tower.

And they were successful....

Most hilarious moment ever.

Check out Doug's face...hahaha.

And this is for Autumn...her and her cute baby.

Bailey was so dang funny in the pool with us, I stinking love her guts.

We had such a great time up there, it was so relaxing, and full of lots and lots of laughs. Thanks Mom and Dad Spence for inviting us up! We really enjoyed our weekend there!

Daddy Logan

2011-07-12T14:52:00.002-06:00

We're getting the nursery ready for the baby.

Logan set up the crib today.

It's feeling a lot more real being able to walk in and see the room coming together.

This baby is so lucky to have Logan as a daddy.

He is so great with kids.

He loves playing with our nieces and nephews.

He loves running with them, tackling them, wrestling them, snuggling them, throwing them in the air, he just loves them all a whole bunch.

He's got a special little attachment to Bailey.

She loves him back. A lot.

I love watching him play with her, it's like "practice" for our baby.

He seriously adores her to pieces.

We joke around that if his niece can get him so wrapped up around her little finger,

he's going to be A TOTAL MESS when he has a daughter.

(I bet it will take about 3 seconds after her being in his arms that he will be a melty, goopy, in love with his daughter mess)

But for now he keeps practicing on Bailey.

He can't help himself...she's just so darn cute!

(Her mama's real pretty too.)

4th of July 2011

2011-07-12T11:33:00.002-06:00

The 4th of July, to the Belnap family, is practically our summer Christmas. It's a huge deal. I love, love, love the 4th of July. Every year for as long as I can remember, we go up to my parents' hometown for a chuck wagon breakfast, then watch a parade, and then we have a big family bbq and swim party at my grandma's sister's house. This year we got to celebrate with my family on the Saturday before, and I forgot to take pictures...but it was a lot of fun!

The actual 4th, we went to a hot air balloon launch with Logan's family. It was kind of windy, and they weren't actually able to get the balloons off the ground, but they still blew them up and let us walk around. Logan loved the Darth Vadar balloon the best :)

Ever since I was little I have LOVED hot air balloons, so this festival is so fun for me every year.

Later that day we had a bbq with Logan's family, and I made this delicious "Fruit of July Pizza" that made me feel uber-domestic, and was really fun to make. As my mother in law put it...strawberries, blueberries, and chocolate, how does it get better than that!?

That night we went to watch fireworks with my parents, and it was a great show. Baby Spence was so jumpy the whole time, she does NOT like loud noises I guess.

It was a great 4th...all the way up until Logan decided to give us another fireworks display and throw up all over my parents' bushes in their front yard. Kid never gets sick, so it was kind of scary to see him not feeling well, but two days later he was fit as a fiddle.

It was a great year, and I'm so excited for next year to be able to dress our baby girl up all patriotic and be able to watch her experience her first 4th of July (even if she won't remember it at all).

Wish List

2011-07-11T22:24:00.002-06:00

We are loved. A lot, and by a lot of people, and we are super duper blessed by all these people. We have been given so many things for this baby already, and have been really lucky to find wonderful deals on things like a crib and stroller, and Logan's sisters have been wonderful to let me borrow things like a swing and a bassinet for when this little girl arrives.

My dad has a younger brother who is actually closer in age to me than to him. He's married to a seriously awesome gal. They have two little girls, one almost 6, and one who will be 1 in a few days, and they are adorable. When they found out we were having a girl, they so kindly gave us all their baby clothes that their baby is so quickly growing out of.

And then I have a friend from school who also gave me some hand me down clothes after her sweet little girls grew out of them.

And then my birthdad Mark and his cool wife Angie had a baby last June, and they are done with the having kids thing too...and gave us all of their (practically new) clothes, along with some other things like a baby bathtub, a play mat, and such.

We are BLESSED to have received all of these things. I will admit, we are poor, struggling college students just trying to do what we feel is right for our family, and trying our darndest to follow what God has in plan for us. We are not "settled" in a career or a home or really anything. But we realize that we have been so blessed by those around us, who love us, and support us. These kind acts are only a few of about one billion that have already happened, and we are so grateful to all the support we have received.

Since we have been given so many things already, there are things we don't really need (like clothing), so my dear mother asked me to post a list of things we still need for our little girl, so if you are another wonderful person who loves us, and want an idea for what we are still needing (for shower gifts and such), here you go (and thank you so much!!)--

-Diapers and Wipes

-Baby Shampoo, Soap, Lotion, etc.

-Diaper cream, powder, vaseline

-Baby Thermometer

-Baby medicines--Tylenol, Gas Drops, Motrin, etc.

-Medicine dropper or spoon

-Swaddling/Receiving blankets

-Burp cloths/wash cloths

-Humidifier

-Hooded Towels

-Diaper Genie

-Changing Pad and Covers

-Crib sheets

-Baby hangers

-Breast Pump

-Bottles, Milk storage containers/bags

-Nursing Pads

-Lanolin Lotion

-Bottle brushes/drier rack

-Bibs

-Snack containers, sippies, dinner ware

-High Chair

-Organization bins/baskets/jars

-Umbrella Stroller

-Toys

-Children Books

We're also registered at Babies 'R Us and Target. And of course, we would put gift cards to good use :)

Like I said, we have been so incredibly blessed to have already been given so many things for this baby. She is already so loved by everyone, and is seriously the luckiest girl I know to have the extended family and friends that she will have.

Strawberry Days 2011

2011-07-03T19:08:00.004-06:00

Every summer, Logan's hometown has their summer celebration called "Strawberry Days." I wasn't all that into it before we met, since I didn't grow up in the same town, but Logan's family has completely converted me. It's a week full of carnivals, rodeos, parades, and Logan's Favorite--the doubles tennis tournament.

Logan and his best friend, Max, played in high school together, and the past two years they have competed in this tournament together. They won the B-Division bracket in 2010, and this year they won it again, defending their title. I love watching them at this tourney, they get really into it, and I love seeing Logan get so excited and happy about something he loves.

About 2.8 seconds after Max got his trophy, he promptly dropped it on the ground, snapping the little star thing on top. Nice going Maxy-Boy!!

And no, they are not twins, or brothers, or even related.

But people ask them if they are all the time.

Dang my husband is a sexy man :)

Two Years as Mrs. Spence

2011-07-03T18:49:00.004-06:00

Logan and I have been married for two years now. I still can't believe how lucky I am to have this wonderful man as my husband. I am so extremely grateful for him, and I am so glad that we were married in the temple so I can be with him for the rest of eternity. I love him so much!!

Last year we were in Paris, France for our One Year Anniversary, which was so much fun.

I remember just feeling so much more in love with him than on our wedding day, and I couldn't imagine loving him more than I was right then. But I was wrong, every day I just love this man more and more. I can only imagine how my love will grow for him after our little girl comes.

This year we happened to be in Vegas with Logan's family. We actually went to the Paris Hotel there, but being a doofus, totally forgot to take a picture...drat. But we did get this picture of us in the Bellagio Hotel.

We also scored some 5th row seats for a killer deal to Phantom of The Opera (I have a friend who concierges at the New York, New York--It's not what you know, it's WHO you know, haha). The play was amazing, we absolutely loved it! Our favorite parts were all of the special effects built into the theatre at The Venetian. There were so many trap doors the Phantom went down, or firework type effects, or the chandelier coming back together at the beginning and crashing down at the end.

Logan and I have been so blessed to see so many broadway plays together since we've been married, and it's some of our favorite memories. I hope it's a tradition we can keep up over the years :)

I love you Logan!! Here's to a billion-trillion more years together!!

29 Weeks Down, 11 More to Go!!

2011-07-03T17:59:00.003-06:00

Do you see this? I look like a legit prego!! I'm actually almost 30 weeks, which means after this week, we'll be down to single digit weeks left on the countdown. Crazy!!

Things as of late:

--Baby Spence is around 3 pounds, and 15 inches long from head to heel. She's getting cramped up in there, and she keeps trying to stretch out into my ribs...which is quite uncomfortable.

--My favorite thing she does when she stretches out, is we can feel her whole back and little baby bum up against my left side. It's so wild, and just feels so weird.

--I have to pee all the time. I mean, seriously, about one billion times a day.

--It's also starting to get hard to sleep, but after getting my "pillow cave" figured out (body pillow along one side, one pillow for my head, and two pillows on the other side in case I roll over...I need to have one in between my knees, and one under my tummy. Logan thinks it's a little high maintenance, but I just do what I gotta do), and my sister in law Autumn told me she took a half a Unisom to help sleep, I've been having much better nights for the past 3-ish nights, which feels great.

--Baby Spence doesn't like fireworks...we were watching some for the 4th and she kept jumping around every time they popped like she was scared. I think she'll probably be a crying mess next year.

--Hands and feet are starting to swell a bit. Not very bad, but enough that sometimes I'm afraid I won't be able to get my wedding ring off at night, when it's the worst.

--HEARTBURN. Constantly, basically no matter what. Equate's Mint Tums are my BFF.

--It's quite warm. I wasn't that heat-tolerant before, but now I hate hate hate being outside. Even walking out to the car to go somewhere is beastly. I'm a huge fan of ice water, the shade, and fans while being outside. Thank goodness we live in a freezing cold basement apartment. AKA, Logan freezes, and I'm in heaven.

Cravings:

--Popsicles, especially Pace's Fruit Bars (Peach and Lime are the best)

--Watermelon

--Strawberries

--Fruit in general

--Occasionally chocolate, except it makes my heartburn TERRIBLE.

I am so grateful everything is going so smoothly. Every time we go to the doctor, everything has been right on track, and we're relatively complication free. Only 2 1/2 months left, and I think they'll fly right by. We're both getting antsy to meet this little girl, so I sure hope it goes by quickly!!

In case you needed a REALLY good laugh today...

2011-05-30T23:50:00.004-06:00

I don't usually read this blog, but I found it on my friend's blog and just the title intrigued me...especially since becoming a new parent is definitely on my mind.

Logan and I were laughing so hard we were crying and could barely breath. Hop on over to THIS GUY'S BLOG to read his article "You said WHAT to your kid?"

It's awesome. Laugh away.

23 weeks of babyliciousness

2011-05-21T10:38:00.003-06:00

We're 23 weeks now. The little countdown on my e-mail that tells me I have only 17 weeks to get ready for this baby freaks me out a little. So much to do, in what seems like such a short amount of time. My sister in law was saying this summer would probably go by really slowly for me, but it's completely flown by...maybe once Logan goes back for summer semester time will all of the sudden go at a snails pace.

Last night I was having some overwhelming feelings of fear of change. I know we will love her and once she is here, we will not want to trade her for anything, but still, I know it's change, BIG change, and I'm scared. This would be a great time for comforting and reassuring me. Thank you, amen.

I have my next doctors appointment next week. So far everything has been perfect, we're hoping to hear the same old same old everything is right on track from Dr. Liddle. We've definitely been blessed to have such a smooth pregnancy thus far. I hope it just keeps on going like this until the very end.
My cute mother in law found this funny shirt for me. Never mind my goofy face. The shirt says "Babylicious" on it, and that's how I'm starting to feel...most definitely, undeniably babylicious, and no going back now, even though I feel like I'm already stretched to my max, I know I'm going to keep getting bigger and bigger. In fact, I'll probably look back on this in 3 or 4 months and just laugh at myself. But for now, It's really hard to comprehend myself getting even bigger than I am now.

Also, things I will kill myself if I forget--

Baby Spence loves music. She kicks around anytime it's on in the car, or especially during my dance classes I teach. Her most favorite songs to dance around to are:

Walk This Way by Aerosmith (she's my daddy's granddaughter, what can I say?)

Price Tag by Jessi J

and Look at Me Now by Chris Brown

Why she likes these specific songs beats me, but anytime they're on she just kick-kick-kicks away.

Yesterday I saw Pirates of the Carribean 4 and it must have been loud in there to her too because she was squirming around the whole 2 hours.

She loves it when we're in Primary and singing songs. This little girl likes music!

Logan is (finally) starting to feel her kick on a regular basis.

Logan and I went to the temple to do some sealings and while we were in there she was just rolling around the whole time and would start kicking during the end of every sealing. It was pretty funny to me, like she was telling us she loved being in the temple.

I love being able to feel her move around (ha, can you tell?), it makes me feel like I'm getting to know her personality a little bit before she comes out. I bet she's gonna be the cutest thing I've ever laid eyes on :).

GRADUATION!!

2011-05-13T15:45:00.003-06:00

Ta Da!! Proof that I actually did it! Starting college, I never really thought I would actually end up getting a degree. My initial plan was to go to please my parents and (yes, I'll admit it) snag myself a husband. Then I would probably drop out to work to put him through school and make him lots of babies. However, when I met Logan and he told me he wanted to be a dentist, I decided I needed to get my butt in gear because why would a dentist ever want a college drop out? Although my logic throughout the whole process was faulty and immature, I am so glad that I had something to change my mind so I would FINISH.

Thanks Logan, for being such a great motivator, inspiration, and providing an endless amount of support to me to finish what I had started.

My happy parents

(I swear my mom was happy, she has a hard time smiling at the right time for the camera, hahaha)

Bill, Deana, Brynn, and her two kids, Gav and Ky came to watch me walk. I just love this picture because my mommy had made me a candy lei necklace to wear, and Gav was definitely eying it when I came out of graduation. He said he didn't want to smile for a picture, but when I told him I would give him a candy if he smiled, this was the sweet result.

(No, I'm not above bribing my nieces and nephews into doing stuff for me, why do you ask?)

(Also, I swear this kid could pass for my son, and really quite like it because he's just so darn tootin cute.)

I have no idea what I'll actually end up doing with my degree, but I am glad that if nothing else, I taught myself I can finish something, even if it is hard, or takes a long time, I know I am capable to complete the goal!

Now, onto getting ready for this sweet little girl to come into our lives, which is quite an adventure, if you ask me!

Senior Capstone Concert 2011

2011-05-13T15:19:00.002-06:00

For my dance degree, I had to take a class called Senior Capstone. It entails all of the seniors in the dance department to come together and produce a dance concert in one semester. It was a fantastic learning experience, but one heck of a stressor during my last semester.

The other degrees (Ballet, Modern, and Dance Education) had to choreograph an 8-10 minute routine, but that is so unpractical for ballroom, so for my degree we are required to do two opposing styles, any length, any thing you really want to do, just as long as they are not the same type of dance. I started my degree with several other dancers, but by the time graduation rolled around for me, most of the dancers had gotten behind, dropped out, or changed their degree, so I was the lone ballroom graduate this year. It definitely had its pros and cons--I could do basically whatever I wanted style wise because I was the only one, but at the same time I felt an ENORMOUS amount of pressure to do a very high quality job to set a good example for my department.

Rehearsals went great all semester, with very few MAJOR stumbling blocks, but SEVEN DAYS before the concert was to open, I got a nightmare of a phone call. I had one girl in both of my pieces, and she was doing so awesome, and I was feeling great about how things were going to be at the concert the next week. That girl had a freak accident dropping her husband's laptop, and tore all the ligaments through her middle and ring fingers to past her wrist in her right hand. Her doctor told her if she was to dance, she would probably further damage her hand, and need major, major surgery and therapy to repair the damage.

I had seven days to find and teach a replacement for two completely separate pieces!!

I made some quick decisions, and found one angel girl who was available for all of the remaining rehearsals and all of the performances, but I felt very shaky about trying to teach two different people numbers in such a short amount of time...when I realized, "Hey, I choreographed it, I could fit into the other costume, I'll just dance it!"

Mind you, I was 19 weeks (About 4 1/2 months) pregnant at that point.

This is me and Abe, my partner for the foxtrot "H.R. Would Have a Fit" which was a story of a secret romance in an office setting. We had to really work hard to hide my baby bump so as to not give off an even MORE scandalous vibe...office romance with a baby on the way? Haha, no.
These are my wonderful cha-cha dancers, Caitlin, Joe, Anna, Abe, Brooke (the replacement girl, she was awesome!), and Cory. This was to "Mad World" by the 80's band Tears for Fears. I love the band, but I do NOT want to hear any of their stuff for at least 6 months, haha. The dance was titled "Trapped" and was about abusive relationships and the abusee not being able to get away from the abuser. It was a pretty intense dance, and was very challenging to do something NOT light and bubbly, which comes so much easier to me after all my years of choreographing for younger kids.

It turned out great, and I felt really awesome about how the concert went after it was all done. I had been dreading that incredibly intimidating class for basically my whole college career, and I was so relieved to have it over, and that it turned out so well!!

Ooh Baby Baby!!!!

2011-04-30T08:12:00.006-06:00

Yesterday I graduated from UVU, and my in-laws were SO kind to let us crash their house for a graduation party last night. Basically my whole family and Logan's whole family was there, and it was so fun to just hang out and eat some great food (Thanks again, Deana!).

I'm now 20 weeks, and last week we decided to pull a little trick on everyone. Originally I was to have my 20 week appointment on Tuesday, and then schedule the ultra sound for the next week, so I wouldn't be able to know the gender until after graduation. However, as it got closer, I decided I just couldn't wait long enough and called the doctor's office to see if they could pull a few strings for me and get me in sooner for my ultrasound. The nurse that answered the phone thought it would be super fun to help me find out before graduation so I could tell everyone at the barbeque, so she let me schedule the ultrasound for this past Monday, rather than the next week.

Logan and I kept it a secret from everyone in the fam (which, if you know me, is SOOOOOO hard, I am a terrible secret keeper when it comes to stuff like this), and got the ultrasound and found out the gender. Then we had to keep playing off like our ultrasound wouldn't be until the next Monday, which was soooooooooo hard to keep from my mommy.

Finally Friday rolled around....

We took my first belly picture together.

Hooray, I'm getting out of the awkward chubby-maybe pregnant stage!

(But not quite into the big-as-a-barn and so uncomfortable stage)

Logan and I decided to make cupcakes together, which were delicious if I do say so myself :). We frosted half of the tops with pink, and half with blue, but filled the cupcake with the color that would really tell what the gender was. Then we passed them out to everyone and had everyone take a bite...

And it was pink!!!!

We are having a baby girl!!!!

Everyone was so excited to hear the news, but really, I don't think anyone's excitement could have topped Logan's during the ultrasound. He was just giddy to find out that this little baby is a little lady and that he will have his very own little girl to cuddle in just 4 months. He is so sweet to her already, he always wants to talk to her, and wants to feel her move SOOOO badly. She already has him wrapped around her tiny fetus fingers, I can only imagine what kind of mess he's going to be when she's actually OUTSIDE of me and he can hold her himself. Or when she's walking and talking...or *gasp* when she's 16 asking for the keys to his car. I love Logan so much, and I love watching him just fall in love with our baby girl, he is going to be the best dad in the world, I just know it.

Endings, New Beginnings, and Predictions

2011-04-22T11:50:00.005-06:00

The end is near...for my college degree that is. Yesterday was the dreaded dress rehearsal and opening show for our senior capstone concert, a show where all the seniors in the dance department choreograph pieces and produce an entire concert in one semester. It has been a challenging class, that is for sure! There have been multiple mishaps throughout the semester for my pieces...from complete music changes and having to gut the whole choreography 2 months into rehearsal, to having the girl in both of my pieces break her hand 8 days before the concert opened. I've resolved most everything--switched to a song that I could re-chunk all my choreographed movement into in a different order more or less, and finding a last minute replacement for both pieces--a miracle girl who learned the whole 3 1/2 min cha-cha routine in about 2 hours of rehearsal, and myself being able to disguise my baby bump enough to pull off dancing my foxtrot non-prego looking, and have had to relearn the process of calming down and not overly stressing the small stuff. That, in and of itself, is one DIFFICULT lesson for me, since I seem to get rounds of trials to remind me of what I should have already learned years ago.

However, last night's concert went fantastic. Tonight my mother in law, sister in law, and husband will be in the audience, which is wonderfully exciting because I love having people I know in the audience, and tomorrow my family will be coming to the show as well. I am relieved that the show is almost over, but a bit sad that I won't be spending time with all the women I have made friends with throughout my degree. In a week from today, I will be graduated, and everyone will be moving away, getting married, starting new adventures, and I'm sure we will all lose touch a bit as we all go our separate ways. I have learned a lot from these women in the department, and it's been fun to watch us grow and change as we have worked our way through the program.

I am so very much looking forward to our new adventures after graduation though. In only 21 weeks I will have a small thing to snuggle and love on. I am both terrified and ecstatic at this prospect. I'm sure that's normal. It will be a lot of change. Good change, but change--which is scary. I'm currently 19 weeks prego, and just this past week or so I've been starting to feel little flutters from this little one, making this whole pregnancy feel just that much more real. Next week will be half way, I can't believe how fast it has gone. At my appointment next week I will be able to schedule my ultra sound, which probably won't be until the week after graduation, but just knowing that in only a week and a half I will know if this little one will be a she baby or a he baby is so exciting to me.

So, with that, place your final predictions. I've had probably about half and half of people saying it's a boy or girl. I have no idea what it is. At first I was dead set that it HAD to be a girl, but then a few weeks in I thought it could definitely be a boy, and now I'm just right in the middle. I've had dreams about having both. Logan doesn't have any feelings either way either. We just want to know so we can start getting ready, and I know we will be just so excited about either. Just thinking about it makes me so giddy.

So, if you want to make any guesses, it's now or never...because in just a few short days we will know! I am so excited!!!

Laugh or Cry

2011-04-05T18:21:00.002-06:00

Today I was reminded that God really does have a sense of humor, and he sure is a funny guy.

Logan and I have been in the process of applying for medicaid for prenatal coverage for this baby. It was going pretty smoothly, until they went to pull up my file, and under my social security number, was listed a DIFFERENT PERSON. They officially put me through the ringer to get it straightened out, and they did fix it all, and cleared that other person from my records, and it's all fine and dandy NOW, but AT THE TIME, it was mega, mega, mega stressful.

I don't handle stress well.

The week before our wedding I was in the hospital with an ulcer.

Again, I do NOT handle stress well.

I know it's something I need to work on.

Apparently, when you are stressed, your body releases toxins. When toxins are released, it stresses the baby out. When lots are released at once, your body wigs out. These toxins decided to set up camp in my right shoulder, trap muscle, and neck. A week ago, I was sore, and had head aches, but as the week went on, the pain got much more intense, and by Friday I could barely lift my arm, or turn my head. I couldn't get from laying down to sitting up or visa versa without Logan helping me, and I couldn't roll over without help either. I was in pain, folks. So, after several nights of not sleeping well, and hurting all the time, I went back to my doctor to get it checked out. My muscle kept doing this weird charley horse thing, so they put cortizone in the muscle via 3 shots, prescribed me a low dosage of lortab to help me sleep, and put me in this sexy, sexy neck brace to help my muscles relax.

Don't lie, I know you are super jealous.

So today, when I'm finally starting to feel better, I'm craving egg salad sandwiches, like bad. I start to boil eggs, which I've done before without problems. I go through the whole process, and when I'm done I start to peel the eggs....and the yolks are mushy runny. I get on my trusty Google and see how to salvage the other 5 eggs. Some lady said she sometimes microwaved her eggs at the very end to finish cooking the yolk. 2 minutes at 50% she said. Cover with saran wrap she said. Google has never failed me yet, I said, and decided to give it a try.

I placed them in a bowl, covered in saran wrap, and got those little eggies in the microwave. I went to the bedroom to continue with some homework, and KAAAAAAABBBBLAAAMMMOOOO!! A huge crash came from the kitchen. I thought the microwave somehow fell off the counter.

WRONGO!!!!

All 5 eggs spontaneously exploded in the microwave, out the doors, and across my kitchen, splattering the wall ACROSS THE ROOM over my oven. It was on the fridge, down the cabinets, in the sink, all over the floor. And when I opened the microwave, I found this...

So I had a choice people, I could laugh or cry.

And I, Camille Marie Spence, in my neck brace of sexiness,

sat down in the middle of the egg mess,

and laughed my freaking head off.

And then I took pictures. And then I texted my husband. And then I called my mom, who also laughed, to the point of nearly peeing her pants.

Sometimes you can only laugh or cry,

But laughing is MUCH MORE FUN.

Chicken Roll Ups

2011-03-09T21:19:00.002-07:00

School is kicking my trash. Well, that and being pregnant, I feel sucked dry for energy. On better news...I still have not thrown up, but I think I'm making up for that with migraines, so I don't know which is worse. And my birthday was 6 days ago, and it was swell, and I will post about it sometime. That, and my amazing Wingers knock offs I made over the weekend.

But for now, Chicken Roll Ups. A wonderous pocket of yummy in your tummy.

I don't remember why, or what was going on in life, but Sister Terry, a lady that lived up the street from my family in Orem called our house one day. My mom wasn't home, but she asked me if she had dinner ready yet. She didn't, so she then asked if she could bring us some, because she just "randomly" had extra. I said that would be fine, my parents were stressed out about something that I can't remember because I was like 10 I think. So Sis. Terry came by with Chicken Roll Ups, steamed veggies, a side salad, and a box of Twinkies. She helped me set the table all fancy for my parents, and when they got home, they were so surprised. I think my mom may have cried. I just remember how nice I thought it was that this kind woman in our neighborhood thought of us in a time that my family needed a little tender mercy. Whenever I make these, I think of Sister Terry and her kindness to our family. She probably doesn't even remember that day, but I definitely do, and she made an impact on my tender little 10 year old heart.

Chicken Roll Ups

Makes 16 rolls, or 8 servings

2 cans large biscuit dough (with 8 biscuits in each can)

1 package cream cheese, softened

1/4 c. chopped onions

1 stalk chopped celery

1 large-ish chicken breast, cooked, and shredded

1/2 t. ground sage

Melted Butter

Bread Crumbs

Preheat oven to temperature on instructions on biscuit dough can, a

Mix cream cheese, onions, celery, chicken, and sage together in a medium bowl.

Open up biscuits, take one biscuit at time, and flatten it slightly. Add about a tablespoon of mixture to the middle of the dough. Fold over the mixture, pinching edges, and then pull the dough around the cream cheese, pinching closed the ends, making like a balloon of dough with the cheese stuff inside. Then, dip the opposite, non pinched off side in the melted butter, then bread crumbs, and then place pinched side down in a casserole dish.

Repeat with all other biscuits until your pan is filled up, then bake in the oven for about 16-18 minutes, or until biscuits are fully baked and it's all golden brown and yummy on top.

While the roll ups are baking, make the "gravy" by mixing 1 can of Cream of Chicken soup with 1 can full of chicken broth.

After you pull the roll ups out of the oven, let sit for a while to cool off or you'll burn your mouth off. Serve with the gravy poured over the top.

So yummy, and they make great left over lunches the next day too.

New News (Big Time News) for Team Spence!!

2011-02-20T12:34:00.004-07:00

Logan and I are going to have a baby!

This baby is due September 15, 2011.

We're super excited.

Super duper excited.

So far I'm 10 weeks along, almost 11. I haven't been TOO sick, which has been a blessing.

Now if I could just get myself through my very last semester at UVU, so we can start getting ready for this sweet baby!! (senioritis is running rampant at our house)

With any luck, our baby will look something like this:

I would just die of happiness.

Logan was the cutest-patootist baby.

Christmas Morning 2010 Spence Style

2011-02-10T11:26:00.002-07:00

I know, failure for not posting about Christmas until almost Valentine's Day. My apologies.

Santa brought quite the loot this year, including a pretty clock to hang in our kitchen

and some new pillows for our bed.

Christmas is bizarre when you're married with no children, folks.

Bill and Deana (and this year Aaron) go to each of their married children's homes to check out what Santa brought to each of them. Since we were severely uneventful, having no kids to watch get excited about Christmas morning and the magic of it all, we invited them over for breakfast. That morning we made biscuits and sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, and juice, which might just have to be a yearly tradition because it was delicious!!

Logan's favorite gift was his Seinfeild Soup Nazi shirt I gave to him.

He looks mighty handsome in it, if I do say so myself.

And my most FAVORITE gift (ever!!!) is my candy apple red Kitchen Aid mixer.

My husband freaking rocks.

And well, happy holidays yo.

Spence Family Christmas Party 2010

2011-02-10T11:04:00.004-07:00

Every year on Christmas Eve, Logan's parents host a Christmas Eve party for their whole family. I always love going because it's a change to see EVERYONE at the SAME TIME and the SAME PLACE. Also, the amazing food, great company, and hilarious kids certainly rock too.

Every year we rotate family names and one family will give to another family. This year we had The Losee Family. Gavin and Kyson are 3 and 1 and the most boyish boys I have ever met. They love tools, trains, trucks, dinosaurs, monsters, anything that just screams "boy." They are super easy to please, and Logan and I had so much fun searching for just the right present for them. They get so excited about everything, and we were so highly anticipating seeing their faces when they opened up their presents. We made them both twinner little coloring books that I made with family pictures that I learned how to make here. The pages were actually pictures of them, their cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and their mommy and daddy. They turned out super-dooper cute. Along with their coloring books, we gave Gavin a race car track. You can make the track whatever shape you want. It comes with bridges, gates, and two battery operated cars that speed around the track.

He was pretty excited. Brynn and Casey said they woke up to him playing with it on Christmas Morning before they went down to open their own presents.
That night at the party, they told him he had to wait until they were home to open it up. He dragged that box around with him EVERYWHERE, and even used it as a little bench while he watched the rest of the family open up their presents. It was pretty darn cute.

Kyson has been loving tools, hard hats, and anything that has to do with construction and building things. We found him this little tool belt, complete with hard hat.

He is such a tiny dude, he looked so cute playing dress up with them.

But of course, what did he really have more fun with that night?

The netted bag that the tool set came in.

Silly Boy.

Aaron gave gifts to our little family. He is a smarty pants, and gave us the perfect gift...two gift certificates to two of our favorite restaurants so we can go on dates. We are looking forward to using them very soon!! Thanks Aaron!!

The day Cailie chopped my hairs.

2011-02-10T10:26:00.004-07:00

It's been over a month and a half, but I've been a total and complete blogging slacker. Two days before Christmas I called my friend, Cailie, and told her to come over, it was time for a change of my hairs. Cailie is a hair stylist, and she is the boss of what I can and can not do with my hairs. This is not because she is mean, this is because she loves me and because she knows that if I make drastic, sudden changes with my hair, the control freak inside of me will have an absolute conniption fit. I had talked with her for a few months about chopping my hairs, and finally, when I brought it up again, she said she thought it would actually be a good idea.

We decided to donate what we could to Locks of Love, since I've highlighted my hair, I couldn't donate anything that bleach had been used on. The top half had been processed, but not the bottome half, so that hair was good to go.

She chopped it, and chopped it good. With fourteen inches of hair sealed in a bag, and placed in a padded envelope, it was off to help make wigs for some lucky kiddo.

It was a little scary, and I'll admit to slightly hyperventilating while this picture was being taken, I've really liked having short hair for the first time in my life! I don't get sad anymore, but right after I had cut it, if I did start to get a little sentimental, if I thought about the little girl or boy that would get a wig made with some of my hair, I felt all warm and fuzzy inside.

And I would do it all over again. No regrets.

Quiche Sent From Heaven

2011-01-16T22:13:00.005-07:00

When my friend from work, McKinley was prego with her darling boy, Zenith, she craved this quiche from the Lion House Pantry at Deseret Book. I had never eaten quiche, but with her raving about it on a daily (okay, hourly :D) basis, I decided to try some one day after she had her baby and had quit Sister Missionary Mall, and I was missing her something fierce. And wow, she was super right...quiche is awesome stuff. Flaky crust, cheesy eggy goodness, and yummy things like...well...bacon. How can you go wrong? I submit you can not. They have another quiche at Deseret Book that I love with Bacon, Mushrooms, and Spinach, and I'm gonna try making that one...hopefully later this week. I'm so excited.

Well, we have a recipe book that has a quiche recipe in it, and I played around with the fillings and made it, and it was easy, and delicious, and now I will never have to pay for an over priced slice of quiche again...I can make a whole pie for about $5 instead of paying $13!!! Fabulous. Make this quiche. You will love it and feel fancy pantsy. And I would have taken a picture, except my camera is still at the parentals. And we ate it all gone before I could even think of snapping a pic.

Quiche

Prepare a pie crust (I love Western Family's frozen crust. Deep dish would be wonderful for this, so you could fill it more and not have it spill over like mine did), and spread egg white on the inside of it. Cook it only until half done.

Filling Ingredients:

2 T. flour

1 1/2 c. grated cheese (I used cheddar, swiss would probably be great)

1/4 lb. diced bacon

1/4 lb. diced ham (we just used lunch meat stuff)

1/2 c. onion, chopped finely

2 T. butter

3 eggs

1 can evaporated milk

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix cheese and flour and spread on bottom of half baked crust. Cook bacon/ham (or whatever ingredients you think would be yummy in it) and onions in butter and spread on top of the cheese. beat eggs, milk, and seasonings, and pour on the rest. Bake at 450 for 15 minutes, turn down to 350 and bake for 15 more minutes.

You might want to put pie pan on a cookie sheet in case it spills over. And let it cool a few minutes after you pull it out before cutting into it. So yummy. I mean, really, really delicious.

Also, happy 50th blog post to us. Ta da.

Someday...

2011-01-14T23:36:00.002-07:00

I will post again on this blog. For reals. But after I get my camera back from my parents. I accidentally left it at their house during Christmas. And I have so many things to blog about to!! I chopped my hair all short, Christmas happened, we went to St. George, New Years, final semester of college, and further life plans.

On the bright side, I had my first Senior Capstone II rehearsal today, and I feel like it was really, really great!! For this class all the seniors choreograph a piece (or pieces for the ballroom major) and create a concert to showcase their works. It's a pretty complicated and stressful class, but I feel like I'm staying on top of things well. Which is good, because I have a feeling this semester I need to stay organized and focused or I will just slip away into a senioritis oblivion and fail every one of my classes!!

Also, I am married to this really great guy named Logan. He just never ceases to remind me of how great he really is. Man alive I love him.

Cafe Rio Pork at home!!

2011-01-02T13:27:00.004-07:00

Logan and I love Cafe Rio, a mexican grill that is really popular where we live, but we can't afford to eat there all the time. I got this recipe from the same book I got the Spinach Pesto Linguine I've also posted on my blog. I love that it makes everything you'd need to make a bunch of different Cafe Rio entrees--salad, burrito, enchilada, quesidilla, whatever floats your boat. I usually make the roast, and then freeze half of it right away. We can eat the other half of the roast for quite a few days afterwards, and it is so yummy. Makes for a great "date night in" too. We love to invite people over to serve this because it's impressive but it's a cinch to make.

Hope you love it as much as we do!!

Pork
4-5 pounds pork roast
3 t. minced garlic
4 c. Dr. Pepper
3 T. molasses
Pepper to taste
4 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
2 c. brown sugar
4 t. cumin
1/2 t. salt

In a crock pot, combine all ingredients except roast. Mix well. Add roast(s), and cook on low for 8-12 hours until the roast shreds easily with a fork. When the roast is falling apart and shreds easily, remove from crock pot and shred meat. Remove about half the liquid from the crock pot and return the meat to it. Keep it warm in the crock pot until ready to serve. You can freeze left over meat.

Lime Rice (You can double this if you're going to serve all the meat to a large crowd. I usually half this recipe when I am making it for my family and I don't want a lot of left over rice)
4 T. butter
4 1/2 c. chicken broth
Pepper to taste
Juice of 4 small limes
2 1/2 c. rice (uncooked)
1 1/2 t. salt
4 T. chopped cilantro
1/2 t. cumin

Melt butter and stir together with rice in rice cooker or large pot. Add other ingredients. Cook until rice is done.

Creamy Cilantro Dressing
1 (16 oz.) jar green salsa
1/2 c. sour cream (I use light)
1 c. chopped cilantro
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. cumin
1/2 t. cayenne peper (if your green salsa is medium or hot, you might want to put in less of this)
1 pkg. ranch dressing (dry)
1/2 c. mayonnaise (I use light
1 t. minced garlic
juice from 2 limes
1/2 c. sugar

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend WELL. Chill before serving.

For the beans I just buy canned black beans, drain them about half way, mix in a little bit of pico de gallo or salsa, and warm them up. You'll also need tortillas, grated cheese, salsa, lettuce, avocados/guacamole, whatever else you like to eat with your Cafe Rio Masterpiece!!

Happy Festivus to the rest of us!!!

2010-12-29T19:25:00.000-07:00

Many of you may know that my husband is a total Seinfeld geek. I, however, am not. More of a Friends type of girl myself. Logan is constantly quoting Seinfeld, and even though I've never actually seen an entire episode start to finish, Logan has explained to me the in's and out's of the show, and I am almost starting to appreciate the humor of the show (Let's be honest, Jerry drives me a little bit nuts).

Max, Logan's best friend, wishes us a Happy Festivus every year, so to Logan and Max, I dedicate this video clip to bring the rest of you up to speed about Festivus.

Until I get my Christmas pictures up...Happy Festivus to the rest of us, and a very happy new year.

Maybe next year I'll be one heck of a wife and throw Logan a Festivus Party. Maybe.

School

2010-12-21T21:21:00.002-07:00

Since my husband just made it out of his hardest semester ever with nothing lower than a B, I think I should be allowed to be proud of him.

So there.

My lowest grade was a B too. We did pretty good this semester.

Decking our Halls! Fa la la la la!

2010-12-20T23:12:00.009-07:00

Even though this is our third Christmas together, I feel like this is the first one that we are really all grown up for. And now that finals are over, I am really trying to soak it all up, even if Christmas is this weekend.

This is our tree for Christmas 2010. It is little, but it is loved.

Our first Christmas we had been engaged for about two weeks. A few days before Christmas I started feeling weird, and by Christmas Day I had full blown strep throat, ear infections, and sinus infections. I was a hot mess. Logan spent every day during break coming to my house and letting me sleep on him while I snored like an old grandpa because I couldn't breathe. My mommy was so impressed with him for treating me so well being so kind and gentle with me. We had only dated about 2 months before getting engaged, so even though I knew Logan was the best person in the whole entire universe for me, my family just didn't know him as well as I did, and I really think that those few days over the holidays were what sealed the deal for my parents and confirmed to them that I was making a good decision about marrying Logan.

Our second, we lived in the smallest apartment EVER. We had a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree...

Our Charlie Brown Tree, Christmas 2009

My parents gave it to us as a joke. It lived in a little pot of water on our kitchen table. Yes that table is folded up and tucked away next to our couch. Smallest apartment EVER, remember? We tried to put a few ornaments on it to make it festive, but it kept falling over. It was fun on our first Christmas Morning together as husband and wife. Different, and kind of uneventful, but kind of silly. We were both so used to having kids get so excited about presents, and here we were sitting on our bed opening our presents together. But it was so sweet, we had really put thought into the few presents we could afford that year.

Christmas Morning 2009 in The Love Shack

We sure did have a lot of fun that year, laughing at ourselves and the stories we could tell our babies of our first Christmas together. Here Logan is modeling his froggy robe and slippers my mommy made for him. I have a matching set that is pink.

(In the background of this picture you can see a full HALF of our apartment. I never really got good pictures before we moved, but this was the kitchen/living room/laundry room. Off of this was our bathroom, and on the opposite side of the picture was our bedroom)

This year we moved into a bigger apartment. Our first night in our new place, we were almost asleep when Logan said "Hey! Where should we put our Christmas tree this year?!" We are so excited to have more space and to be able to decorate more. We've actually acquired quite the collection for only one year.

It all started with this little guy:

My sissy, Dawniel, gave him to us. He has slinky legs and bells on his toes. We just love him.
Next is our Santa Figurine. He's our newest addition to the decor. Margret and George gave him to us. They are my birthdad's parents. It's been great getting to know my birthfamily this year!

And then these two little treats I found on a RIDICULOUS sale at Joann's. The red berries one is on our hallway door...
And this little guy is on our door outside. I just love coming home to see it on our door!
I love being all "grown up" and decorating our little home. It has been so, so fun. Merry Christmas to all of you! Let us remember the reason for the season--The birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Whoville-ation Celebration

2010-12-18T10:45:00.003-07:00

My parents' home ward had their Christmas Party last night, and it was "Grinch" Themed. They had the whole place decorated like Whoville, complete with post office, Mt. Crumpet, Who-lympic games, and a Town Bake-off. They also had a hair contest for the best who hair. My baby (12 year old sister, and not really a baby anymore) sister, Emily, won the hair contest. And you might ask how she came across such an awesome who-do? Well, if you must know...I did it! It was a "who"le lot of fun trying to be all creative and wacky, and we had a lot of fun putting it together. As you can see in the above picture, Emily was doing her very best to try and do a "Who Face" but she ended up busting up laughing about two seconds after this was taken.

I also got to do Dawniel's hair, and it turned out super cute. If I ever am blessed with little baby girls, their hair will look like this on Valentine's Day. Not even joking!! I got her hair to do little hearts all the way down, finished off with a big red bow. Dawniel thought I was nutzo for making her do this, but I had a lot of fun!

Here are Dawniel's hair hearts, isn't she so stinking cute?!

This is the up close look at the Christmas Tree, complete with ornaments, a tree star, and Christmas Lights (that really lit up, this is for reals yo)!!

We also did crazy tails in the back. Yes, those are easter eggs, but its because the ornaments wouldn't fit...besides Christmas, Easter, what's the difference, they're both about Jesus!! And the ribbons looked like candy canes, but my flash went a little crazy and whited out the ribbon, but it was really cute!!

Spinach Soup with Gruyere

2010-12-09T21:07:00.003-07:00

I found this on thepioneerwoman.com, which is a website I absolutely adore, earlier today, and noted that I had all the ingredients, give or take. I was in need of getting some dinner in my hungry hubby's tummy, and I decided to give it a go. Result--I actually liked it way, way better then I had expected I would. And Logan loved it too. It has a great creamy, fresh, and yet spicy flavor, and it's super easy to make!

Spinach Soup with Gruyere

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
10 ounces, weight Spinach
2 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
4 Tablespoons Butter
½ whole Medium Onion
¼ cups Flour
5 cups Whole Milk--I used skim, and it turned out great
2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
½ teaspoons Cayenne Pepper (Optional)--Do it.
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
4 ounces, weight Gruyere Cheese, Grated (other Cheeses Are Fine)--I used sharp cheddar and it was delicious (where do you even buy gruyere?)

Preparation

In a large skillet, heat olive over over medium heat. Add spinach and garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, or until wilted. Add spinach to a blender or food processor. Pour in 1/4 cup hot water and pulse until pureed. Set aside.

In a large soup pot, cook onion in butter over medium heat until onions begin to soften. Sprinkle flour over the top and stir to combine. Cook for about 2 minutes, then pour in milk, stirring occasionally. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour in pureed spinach, then cook another 3 to 5 minutes until thickened.

Check seasonings, adding more salt, pepper, or cayenne as needed. Serve in a bowl. Add a little grated Gruyere.

Seriously so good. Pioneer Woman recommends adding creme fresh, or chopped bacon, or shrimp. I think tomatoes would be delicious, and then it would look all cute and Christmas-y. I think it was a great base that you could basically add whatever you think would sound good and it would be delicious. Let me know if you try it!! I wanna know if it turns out for you too!

The Big, Fat Move

2010-11-21T16:48:00.004-07:00

We came across a new apartment suddenly, and very quickly decided it was time to take advantage of the opportunity and upgrade to a bigger place. We found out about the apartment on October 20, took a look at the apartment on October 22, and decided we wanted it the next day. We told them we wanted to be in by November 1st, and then realized that we had a week to frantically move everything over. Our old land lords were extremely understanding in our rushed move, and it worked out great because their son just got engaged and will be moving in soon with his new wife (but we didn't know that at the time)! Logan had about a gagillion tests and projects due the week of our move, and helped when he could, but I, Camille Marie Spence, basically moved us by myself (other than my blessed in laws that came and moved our furniture and the last boxes...Thank you again Doug!). It was quite the accomplishment. A crazy, stressful one. The Love Shack was so tiny to begin with, having all of our stuff in boxes in the middle of the kitchen was comedic...here is the chaos we lived in for the longest week of my life...

Exhausted Logan, helping after his 8 hour day at school and 5 hour day at work.

Me just trying to stay positive among the absolute chaos.

Our last night in our first home.

Lime Cheesecake Brownies

2010-11-21T16:37:00.003-07:00

I was craving something creative, chocolate, and pretty. So, I started brewing some ideas and came up with this, which turned out great!

Lime Cheesecake Brownies

1 box brownie mix for a 9x13 pan (or just make your own from scratch like I did because I was out of mix, but I am TOTALLY for using brownie/cake mixes!)

Prepare mix like it says on the box and put in buttered 9x13 pan.

Then mix this up:

8 oz pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/3 c. sugar

1 egg

zest from 1 lime

juice from 1/2 lime (or the whole lime because I'm crazy about citrus like that)

Okay, really, cream the sugar and cream cheese together, and then add the rest of it and mix it up real good.

Plop spoonfuls of this on top of the brownie batter, and then take a knife and drag it all over the pan, mixing the cream cheese mixture and brownie batter together so it makes a marble-y effect, but don't mix it so much it gets to be a poopy effect. You want it marbled people!

Then, bake like it says on the box. Approximately 350 for 18 ish minutes I believe.

They are so yummy and so pretty, and a great way to dazzle up some box mix. And did I mention that they're impressive? Totally easy, totally impressive. Go ahead and take all the credit! Enjoy!

French Dip Sandwiches...Slow Cooker Style

2010-11-18T15:08:00.004-07:00

If you've ever met my mother, you'd know she's a genius at basically anything she does. Cooking, crafting, mothering in general; she's amazing. This is a recipe she made for us growing up and we all LOVED it. I always thought it would be a super complicated thing to make, but after getting hitched I decided to just give it a try and make it for my husband, who was super impressed and thought I had slaved all day. But in reality, this recipe takes about fifteen minutes to throw together, and it really does taste like some fancy schmacy restaurant dish. I made it again yesterday, and marveled at how simple and tasty it really is. Give it a try! For reals!

Frenchie Dips

Brown well in a large pot 1 3-4 lb. chuck roast and place in slow cooker.

Add:

4 c. water

1 1/2 t. garlic pouder

1 t. basil

1 t. oregano

1 bay leaf

1/2 c. soy sauce

ground pepper to taste

Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Decrease to low and cook for 4-6 hours more until meat is tender. Strain the broth and shred the meat. Serve meat on crispy rolls and use broth for dipping.

The best part about this recipe--you may freeze the meat in sandwich amount packages and the broth in small containers for a quick meal anytime.

Limeade Chicken Deliciousness

2010-11-13T22:11:00.002-07:00

My birthmom, Carrin, has this older brother named Jerry. He passed away before we met each other, so I don't really know much about him, except that he's wonderfully kind, spiritual, and just sounds really awesome. And he has this really awesome recipe he made up called "Limeade Chicken." I'm always up for a new recipe, so I nabbed this recipe from Carrin, and ended up LOVING it.

Limeade Chicken

1/3 c. frozen limeade or lemonade concentrate (thawed)

1/3 c. honey

1/3 c. vegetable oil

1 t. celery or poppy seed

1/4 t. garlic powder

1/4 t. marjoram

1/4 t. salt

And I had a fresh lime on hand, so I zested that up and juiced it right in too.

Mix up in a large ziplock baggie, add chicken, and marinade for several hours, or overnight. Grill, bake, whatever ya gotta do to get the chicken cooked. I used my George Foreman Grill, and it turned out splendidly.

I made a bit more marinade and took some out before I added the chicken to use as a glaze later, which I later patted myself on the back for the genius-ness of this. I served the chicken over rice and with steamed carrots, which I covered with the glaze, and a green salad on the side. It was super moist, full of flavor, and just yummy and fresh! And the Hubby loved it!

Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

And pictures of the new place are forthcoming. We need a new name for it, but how can you top the Love Shack?

Happy Fall!!

2010-10-24T16:09:00.002-06:00

For Fall Break Logan and I got to go up to Bear Lake with his whole family (minus the brother in laws). We had a blast and a half!! It is absolutely gorgeous up there and it was so fun spending time with everyone. I forgot my camera, but Brynn was kind enough to take some pictures for us.

Down by the lake. One of the most gorgeous places I've seen. The water was so pretty and blue!

Proof that my husband will be the best father ever. He played with all of the nieces and nephews from the moment they woke up to the moment they went to sleep. He took them to the park nearby the condo, played with them in the pool, watched cartoons with them, read to them, and wrestled with them. He is so incredibly patient with them, and loves them so much. I love watching him with all of those kiddos.

Me and Kyson, my birthday buddy. He is getting so big and is the funniest little kid I know.

We rented these Surry Bikes. They sit 8 people and you work together to peddle them. It was so fun and a great workout! The kids really enjoyed looking at all the beautiful sights around the town.

And onto some big news...we are moving out of the Love Shack, and into a cute 2 bedroom basement apartment in Orem next weekend. We are so excited! I will make sure to post pictures as soon as we are in there. It is in a great location, at a great price, and our new landlords are great! We will miss our first little home, but we are excited for this next adventure in life!

Just some Handsome Boys...

2010-10-03T10:21:00.004-06:00

Last night, all the Spence sisters got together for our traditional "Girls' Night" while our hubbies go to the Priesthood Session for General Conference.

Bill and Deana have a really cool back yard, and they have a cute little play house the grandkids love to play in. Kylie and I decided to have a little "Tea Party" in the house. Braxton and Damon, who were happily playing Jedi Fighting together, saw that I was going into the INCREDIBLY small play house with Kylie and wanted to know what was up that a grown up was trying to fit into this teensy house.

When they heard Kylie say they couldn't come in because it was "Girls Only," those little boys devised a sly little plan. Braxton and Damon came and knocked on the door, and when we opened it Braxton said triumphantly, "Hello, here we are! Two handsome boys here for your party!"

You would have thought he was saving the day for us girls! I couldn't help but laugh at their sweetness. I love being an aunt.

Logan and Camille Sitting in a Tree...

2010-09-29T14:46:00.004-06:00

Today marks the day that I have been kissing the same person for the past two years.

Logan kissed me at a playground, on the bridge. He climbed right up and told me to join him on the "Bridge of Love." And then I did, and then he smooched me. And he still keeps on smooching me. And I still get butterflies.

Here's to many more years of kissing that boy. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Tuscan Chicken Simmer AKA Logan's Fave Dinner

2010-09-27T20:41:00.003-06:00

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.), I cut mine into chicken tenders

8 oz. Cream Cheese, cubed

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup pesto

2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes (or just plain fresh diced tomatoes)

1 cup Mozzerella Cheese

A few dashes of Parmesan Cheese

HEAT large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cover. Cook 5 to 7 min. on each side or until done (165ºF). Remove chicken from skillet; cover to keep warm.

ADD cream cheese, water, pesto and tomatoes to skillet. Cook, uncovered, on medium heat 2 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

RETURN chicken to skillet. Cook and stir 1 min. or until chicken is coated and heated through. Sprinkle with shredded cheeses.

I serve this over cheese ravioli (Logan's favorite) or egg noodles, but it would definitely be delicious all by itself. You can also steam other veggies, like broccoli, and add to the sauce.

Logan requests this recipe every single month. It really is so delicious! You will love it!

Two Years Ago Today...

2010-09-27T16:00:00.002-06:00

I went on a date with this handsome man. And my life was changed forever, in the best way possible.

We met in an institute class at the end of August, and I had the most major crush on him from the first second I laid eyes on him. He was just so cute! He was so quiet though, and it was like pulling teeth trying to get him to talk to me, let alone ask me on a date! Just as I was giving up on the dude, my grandpa got really sick. That doesn't seem like it would have anything to do with anything, I know. You see, my grandpa has this amazing talent of making us think he's on his way out, and then making a come back. He's been doing it since I was like 8. Well on this particular time, I was competing in the Miss Pioneer Valley pageant, and my whole family went to Flaming Gorge to take care of dear ole Gramps. I was devastated that I would have to do this pageant with out anyone in the audience cheering for me! C'mon, strutting across the stage in high heels and a swim suit with only the sound of crickets to accompany you is nightmare-ish!

By this time Logan and I would chat a bit before and after our classes, and I had mentioned while walking to his math class my pageant and my plight and suggested he came, knowing it was a long shot, but worth a try. Of course, he said no, until he found out my dear friend Bealynn was going, and then he was ALLLL game about it. I totally thought he had the biggest crush on her, he was just thinking "Sweet, I really didn't want to go alone, but I think this Camille girl is cool and I'd love to go support her." He is just so sweet.

Well, he came. And afterwards we all went to Mimi's Cafe with some other friends that came as well. We ordered the exact same thing...a BBQ Cheese Burger. He thought it was really cool of me to be eating a hamburger, he said. We somehow ended up going dancing at the Murray Arts Center. And then LOGAN started flirting with ME!!! And the next week we went dancing again, and he came, despite his two left feet and extreme fear of dancing in front of a group of ballroom dancers. And on this night, next to a giant fan on the side of the room, He asked me out on a date. I about died and went to heaven, but I tried to appear cool and told him I'd like that.

And then somehow we never planned anything, except I went to the temple that morning, and he tagged along, and then we had sushi, and then we went to a baptism for a convert in his ward, and then we went to his house because he was going to teach me how to play tennis, but we really ended up playing with his three year old nephew, Braxton, and then we spent several hours on his parents' deck talking about so much, and I really started to fall in love with that kid. Later that day he tried to kiss me, and I freaked out and turned my head. It was his first kiss, and he was so embarrased. (Yes, I'm the only person Logan has ever smoocharooed. Or held hands with. He was a really shy kid pre-mish, and I snatched him up right when he got home.)

Later that night after I was off work we ended up hanging out again. Somehow we ended up at his sister Brynn's house and I met her and Autumn and loved them and their families (I met Alicia and her gang later, and loved them too of course!). And then day after day we spent time with each other, and we fell in love. That December he proposed in the very class we met in, and the following June we were sealed for time and all eternity in the Mt. Timpanogas Temple, where we had done baptisms for the dead for our very first date.

I love Logan more than anything in the whole world. He is the best thing that has ever come into my life, and I am so blessed to have him as an eternal companion and best friend.

Logan, thank you so much for coming to that pageant, it meant so much to me at the time, and it still means so much to me now. I love you sweetheart!

World's Most Awesomest Cookies

2010-09-16T16:51:00.004-06:00

I made these about two weeks ago, and I've made them three times since. Not only are they splendidly soft and delicious, but they are super easy to make, and the cookie dough is so stinking yummy...not that I would actually know, because of salmonella or anything. I'm responsible, I don't eat raw cookie dough (ha). But seriously, try them, love them, and try to share them, so you don't eat all of them yourself.

"Soft" Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 C Butter, Softened

1/4 C sugar

3/4 C brown sugar

1 t vanilla

1 small box vanilla instant pudding mix (or get creative and try other flavors!)

2 eggs

2-1/4 C flour

1 t baking soda

1 package chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Cream together butter, sugars, vanilla, and pudding. Add eggs and mix well. Add flour and soda, and mix well. Add chocolate chips and mix well. Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 9 minutes. Store in an air tight container to prevent the cookies from drying out.

The recipe says it yields 24 cookies, but I can usually get about 36 or more out of the dough.

Try using different flavors of pudding, like chocolate or butterscotch, or adding different kinds of chocolate chips, like peanut butter, mint, or whatever tickles your fancy.

It's the end of the world as we know it...

2010-08-24T15:08:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow school starts.

Tomorrow I start my final year of college.

Tomorrow my poor, poor husband gets thrown into the most hectic and insane semester he's ever had to face. He's taking 17 beastly credits of science and spanish. I on the other hand am taking 12 measly little baby dance credits. I have only about 20 credits left of my major, and I'm forced to slow it down. And, as pathetic as it is, I'm a little bit terrified.

I'm scared to watch my husband go through 4 months of solid panic, while I helplessly stand by not knowing how to help him. I can handle if I'm the one going slightly crazy, or up at 2 am finishing up homework, but to see the love of my life go through that...well, I'm a wimp when it comes to that, and I'm nervous for him.

He's been such a trooper with my crazy insane school schedules. He's gone to school with me every morning at 6:30 so I could be to team. He's worked so hard so I could focus more on school rather than holding down job (other than teaching a few times a week) AND taking a ton of school. He's glued pieces of presentations together. He's edited my papers. Heck, he's TYPED my papers. I wouldn't have been able to do it with out him. And now here I am getting spit back out the other end, and we've flipped situations in a blink of an eye, and well, I don't handle change very well. But, now it's my turn to be the helper. I'm gonna have to keep myself busy SOMEHOW.

Don't get me wrong, school has been a great opportunity for me. I have learned a lot of little tid bits, but if anything, I know I've learned that I can accomplish something big. I can stick it out, and do well at it. And I know that no matter what, time keeps on ticking, and I've always come out the other side and I've survived, and I know more, and I'm a stronger person because of it. I've had to handle a lot of strange situations and deal with some real weirdos, and I've learned from that too. I can do it!! I've also began to appreciate the process of learning. I enjoy learning new things. After school is over, I know I'm not going to roll over and die. I can still go and take classes in the community, at my church, and I can always keep learning new skills from my family and friends. I'm blessed with such a wonderful husband that will let me try new things, and loves to see my joy in sharing my new knowledge with him.

I'm close to being done. So close I can taste it. This summer was wonderful, and now I'm starting to look forward to the next. I was talking to Logan last night that I want to keep doing things for "me" time, even after school is over and we're making our babies and stuff. I'm compiling a list of things I really want to do...feel free to toss out any ideas for me.

Things I want to do after graduation:

I would love to get into Zumba and/or Yoga. And maybe Spinning, but I may be too wimpy for that. I want to stay moving and healthy. I've been so used to just dancing my way through life and not having to worry about scheduling in exercise, but I've been wanting to try Zumba and Yoga more seriously for a while, so I think after graduation would be a prime time to get into that little doodah.
I want to learn how to be a better cook. I am finding that I really enjoy cooking, and I want to become a seriously good little chef. I want people to want to come over so I can feed them! I love cooking for others, and I'm excited to learn more about this so I can be stellar in the kitchen.
I want to learn a little more about crafting/scrapbooking/perhaps sewing. You know, "typical" housewife stuff. I want to be able to make our home a beautiful one...when we actually have one that's bigger than 500 Square feet.
I want to read books other than text books! I haven't been able to do this for ages! Autumn's always talking about the cool books she's just read, and I am always so jealous. After graduation I can say "Cool! Can I read it next?" Instead of wishing I had more time to even wash my hair, let alone read leisurely.
Any more ideas? Please, help a woman out.

So, wish us luck. Two more semesters for me, a few more than that for Logan, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and as much as I'm dreading going back tomorrow, I know we need to start so we can finish. So, here goes nothing.

This is Team Spence entering Fall 2010 semester, over and out.

Dear Bailey...

2010-08-23T16:55:00.003-06:00

Dear Bailey Jo,

You sweet baby girl, anyone around you can't help but want to gobble you up because you are seriously so cute. From the second you were born, you were so gorgeous. I couldn't imagine you ever getting any cuter, but woah baby, I swear you are more and more cute every time I see you.

I don't think I've ever been so excited for anyone getting pregnant than when your mom announced she was pregnant with you. They had been waiting so long for you, but I think they'd say you were worth the wait. They love you so much. I hope to be like your mom and have that incredible capacity to love and adore my children like your mom loves and adores you and your brother.

You are such a happy baby. I can't help but giggle with you when you are playing with me. You have the most precious little dimples when you smile. Promise me you'll keep them. I love how drooly you are. I know this sounds strange, but it's quite endearing when you lean over and give me the most slobbery "kiss" followed by that little grin of yours. I love it when you slobber on Logan. I love watching Logan with you. He's going to be such a wonderful dad, and I love watching him practice his daddy skills on you and Brax. He really adores you. You have him wrapped so tightly around your little finger, I can't even imagine what he'll be like when the little girl he is holding is his own.

I love that you are starting to scoot around, and roll over, and that you let me give you raspberries on your tummy, and that you let me kiss you a million times an hour without any protests. I love when you do your serious face and your chubby cheeks hang down. I love when you do your little raptor squeals. I love when your face lights up when anybody gives you any sort of loving attention. I love that you just love your brother so much. Sometimes he's a little rough with you, but you don't seem to mind, you just eat him back up. He loves you so much, and I think you can feel that. You two probably made some sort of pact in heaven to make sure you got into the same family, because from the very beginning you were so happy to see him, and he was so happy to see you.

I love when I get to feed you your bottle. It's like I get you all to myself for a short amount of time. You just stare up at me, and I stare back at you, and I just can't get enough of your snuggles. I hope you stay as sweet as you are now forever and ever. Thank you for choosing to come to our family, we all love you to bits and pieces. I love that you are my niece and that I get to spoil you and keep you forever and ever. Thank you for being the sweetest little baby girl.

I love you Baileybug,

Aunt Camille

Dear William...

2010-08-18T14:12:00.003-06:00

Dear Baby Will Will,

You little bundle of chubbers, slobbers, and smiles. I remember going to the hospital to see you when you were born. Kyson was the first baby nephew I had met, and I was so scared I wouldn't be able to love you as much as all the others. But how silly of me, because the second I laid eyes on you, with your chubby cheeks and your thick dark hair, I felt my heart get a little bit bigger, and I loved you right from that second. You were the first baby that really showed me that I couldn't run out of love. I couldn't believe how perfect you looked. You and Kyson looked so different, and yet you both came out so beautifully perfect. As weird as it sounds, it was comforting that I could love you both so much, no matter how different you were, because I'm sure my kids will all be different, and I will be able to love them so much too. I am so grateful that you, as small as you are, could teach me that valuable life lesson.

You are such an incredibly sweet and happy baby. Your mommy calls you a little dolly, and she is spot on with that nick name. I've always described you to other people as a real life Cabbage Patch Kid. You have always been so good when other people hold you, and you love to snuggle. I have been fascinated with watching you grow teeth. Maybe because you are always smiling so I can always see them, but I just love looking at your tiny mouth and seeing your cute little pearly whites coming in one by one.

You have the bluest eyes I have ever seen on a kid. They are so bright and are always aware, looking around checking things out. You always look like you're smiling with those little blue eyes of yours. You also have the cutest chubby cheeks too. They're so squeezable and pinchable, and everyone does just that, and you don't seem to mind too much...you seem to enjoy the attention.

You are so patient with your older siblings. You're constantly being hauled around and having them in your face, and you just love it. You are also so enthusiastic. If you see something you want (like ice cream, your favorite), you will squeal so we all know it. You are so exploratory, always on the go, trying to find something new. You are so fun to watch, you're so often getting excited about things, and that little smile of yours is so contagious.

Thank you for being such an amazingly adorable, squishy, sweet, and funny nephew. I love you so much!! Just thinking of you now makes me miss you and want to give you a squeeze and kiss your cheeks off. I love you, Will Will. I love you, I love you, I love you.

Love,

Aunt Camille

Dear Kyson...

2010-08-14T14:51:00.004-06:00

Dear Kyson,

To my bestest birthday present I have ever gotten, I love you my Kyson Mckay. I was so excited when I found out your mom was pregnant with you, and that she was due the day after my birthday. I remember sitting on the couch in Grandma Deana's house in between conference sessions telling her she should have you one day early, so we would share birthdays. I was so excited when it actually happened. I remember the day so vividly. I kept texting Logan about every half hour seeing if you were born yet. I was so antsy to see you for the first time! After dinner with my family, we came to the hospital to visit you. I remember seeing you for the first time and just thinking you were the most perfect baby I had ever seen in my whole life. You were so tiny and pink, and your face was so handsome. You were the first nephew that was born after I came into the Spence Family. I was so excited that I would always be in your life, and that we were going to be able to share birthdays forever.

You are such a sweet little boy. You just love your mom, but you're starting to open up more and you are learning to like playing with Logan and me. When Logan and I were playing with you at that playground by your house, you were so darn adorable on the slide. The first time you came down you flipped around and came out head first. I was worried you would be scared by this, but when I pulled you out you said "adin!" so I passed you back up to your Uncle Logan. You went down again and again, and by the end you were holding yourself up on the slide, pushing yourself down to get started, and you even mimicked my "Weee!!" I said every time you came down. You showed me how fast you can learn, and it was so amazing to watch.

You have the cutest smile ever ever ever. I love your big teeth, and the way you scrunch up your nose. Usually your smile accompanies a little squeal of glee. I love spoiling you and bribing you to come to me with candy and other treats. You are so cute toddling over to me with that fat teeth, scrunch nose, squealy smile to get a bite of some sort of goody, I just can't help but spoil you again and again.

You are starting to roar like your big brother. You are such a little copy cat, and watch his every move. You also like to tease him, and even though it makes Gavin a little annoyed, I can't help but laugh at you two.

I love your crazy hair. I love your blue eyes. I love your little legs. I love your big teeth. I love your little squeals. I love your pudgy tummy. I love your slobbery kisses. Really, I just love you, a whole bunch.

Thank you for being the cutest, best birthday buddy. I love you Ky-Ky.

Love,

Aunt Camille

Dear Gavin...

2010-07-31T14:31:00.003-06:00

Dear Gavin Jay,

My Gavvy Boy. You have transformed from a shy boy that kept to himself to a fun, energetic boy that loves to dig right in there and get in the middle of the action. You have turned into a little "roaring" machine. This is your favorite thing to do right before you chase before Uncle Logan, and he loves it every time. He loves that you will wrestle with him, and let him throw you around. I think that's how he tells you all he loves you, and he's really liking that you'll let him "love" you now.

You are such a sweet boy. You are the one that runs right to me to give me the biggest hug. Your face lights up every time you see Logan or me, and it makes me feel like I'm on top of the world. You are so loving, and not afraid to show it.

I love that you are talking more now. You say the cutest things that I would never expect to come out of you. I love that you are more adventurous now. You tackled that playground last night with vigor. You couldn't get enough of the slides and monkey bars (with us holding you up, but you totally held on all by yourself when I let you go for a few seconds at a time). You even wanted to get your little doggies in on the fun, and took them down the slides too.

You are so sweet with animals, in your own little way. You carry Emma around everywhere, making her play with you. You just love her so much. When we took you to my parents' house to see the baby bunnies, you kept petting them and whispering "Soft, soft soft." You got so excited when we actually put one on your lap for you to hold. The joy on your face was so incredible.

You make me so excited to have little boys. I'm still hesitant to how I'll be able to mother them after only having little sisters in my life, but you are so sweet and easy to love, you make me feel a little more confident in how I'll handle my own sons.

Thank you for being such a sweet, kind, funny, and lovable nephew. I love watching you learn and grow. I can't believe how big you are getting already, but it seems the bigger you get, the more surprises you have in you to keep me on my toes.

I love you Gavvy,

Love,

Aunt Camille

Dear Kylie...

2010-07-26T21:58:00.004-06:00

Dear Kylie Mae,

My very first niece in the whole world. You are everything any girl would ever want to be: tall, blonde, thin, and spunky.

You are getting so fun to play with. You used to be so shy around me. I would bribe you with gum and lip gloss and lotion and nail polish to get you to be around me and not run and hide, and today you came right up to me and gave me an unsolicited hug. It made my day. You even asked me to play with you! I had a lot of fun playing with you and the rest of the cousins, thank you for inviting me.

You are so adorable in pink. So, so, so adorable! I love how girly you can be, while still trying to keep up with the boys. I love watching you with the baby cousins. You coo and goo over them and squeal with joy when they slobber on you, or giggle at you.

You have the most contagious laugh. When you laugh, I can't help but laugh with you. You're also so funny when you don't try to be. Like today when I was watching you play Rock, Paper, Scissors, or when I was babysitting you and you were sleep walking like a little girl zombie. The cutest zombie I've ever seen, of course!

I love watching you with Baby William. You just snuggle that boy to pieces, and he loves it. You are a big help to your mom with him. I love watching you play with Klinks. You baby talk to him and tell him how cute he is. I love it, it's so cute. You have such a big heart full of so much love.

I also love seeing your photographic works of art. Your pictures always have a different perspective than I would have thought of, because you see things in a different way. Partly because you are so little, but also because your mind is full of light and innocence that most have lost. Don't lose it, hold onto it and treasure it. (By the way, my two favorite pictures of yours are the one where you put a tiara on William, and the one where you have your hat on sideways and you're making a "pimp" face. So adorable, and so hilarious. I laugh every time I see them.)

You are such a happy little girl. You're so full of enthusiasm and joy. Your eyes have a special sparkle to them. You are such a special little girl, and I love you. I love being able to dote on you and be gal pals together.

Please keep your sparkle, your light, your sense of humor, and most of all, your sweet spirit. You can do so much in the world, and I'm so excited to watch you grow into a beautiful young woman.

I love you Kylie Mae,

Aunt Camille

Dear Braxton...

2010-07-25T23:07:00.002-06:00

Dear Braxton,

I credit you with the beginnings of me falling in love with Logan. You were the first nephew I got to meet, and seeing Logan play with you was so adorable, I knew he was a quality guy I should definitely get to know.

You were so cute that day. I could barely understand you when you spoke, but I do remember you wanted to drive in Grandpa's wooden truck out back to go to Disneyland and buy "candy" which was the gravel surrounding the truck. You let me sit up front while you drove, and made Logan sit in the back. You instantly became my friend. Later that night when I went to Brynn's house for the first time, you remembered me, and gave me the warmest hug.

You haven't changed a bit when it comes to being friends with everyone. You even tell everyone that they are your best friend. You aren't shy in the least bit, and will talk to anyone with ears. You are a definite charmer, which can be good and bad, because you sure are cute, but you definitely know how to put on that puppy dog face to get what you want. We think you will be the funny guy in high school that everyone likes because you are everyone's friend. We're so excited to see how you turn out!

I love that you tell me I'm a-gorgeous. It makes me smile every time. I love when you tell me I'm your best friend, or when you say I'm your favorite aunt, even if your only reason is because I'm married to Logan, but it's still good to hear. I love when you tell me you like my Power Rangers shirt, because I totally bought it thinking of you, and think of you every time I put it on. I love when you play Sorry with me, even if usually you and Logan gain up on me and I end up losing. I love when you "squeeze my guts out." It's something we've been doing to each other from the very beginning, and I love that you still remember that I said that one of the first days we met.

You are so sweet with your sister. You love her to bits and pieces, and are always wanting to squeeze and kiss her. It is so cute to see her smile when she hears your voice. She really loves you.

You make Logan feel like a total rockstar uncle. He loves that you will play with him for hours and hours and never get bored of him. He loves that you call him on the phone to ask him to come over and play. He loves that you will wrestle with him and chase him around. He always has the funniest stories to tell me when he gets home from playing with you.

Thank you for being the funniest, cutest nephew a girl could ask for. I love you to smithereens.

Love,

Aunt Camille

Dear Damon...

2010-07-25T00:43:00.003-06:00

Dear Damon,

You are the smartest, most inventive, and competitive (almost) seven year old I know. You amaze me every time I see you. Logan and I talk about how fun it would be to take you out to play sports. He wants so much to teach you how to play tennis. He loves that you are always willing to try something new with him.

You have the sweetest spirit. I watch you with your baby brother and how you will play with him for hours on end. You will do anything to make him laugh. I am amazed at how well you get along with Kylie. I fought a lot with my sisters, but you are so patient with her, and I am so glad. She is very lucky to have you as an older brother.

You are so smart! I have watched you grow so much the past two years, and you are constantly learning new things. Whether it was in school, something you learned at home, or something you figured out on your own, you're always in the pursuit of knowledge. I love it when you play a song on the piano for me, it is so sweet. I love when you tell me something you learned in school, it is so awesome you're remembering these things. And I love when I see you turn around and teach it to you sister.

Logan and I love how willing you are to run around with us and play games. You are so courageous and willing to try new things. Tonight you ran and caught that old grumpy cat, and cradled it like you found a precious baby. You didn't care that the cat was cranky, you still were just loving on it. You also let me "crack the egg" with you on the trampoline. I haven't done that since I was really little, and it was fun to do it again with you. Playing with you makes me see the world with new eyes again.

I love you so much, and I know Logan does too. We know you are going to do great things with your life. We are so excited to watch you and be part of your future. Our kids are going to be very lucky to have you as their oldest cousin. I always admired my oldest cousin when I was little, and I know they will do the same with you.

Thank you for being such a fun, crazy, and energetic nephew. I love having you around (and so does Logan).

Love,

Aunt Camille

When I cook, My husband loves me more.

2010-07-21T20:50:00.003-06:00

So it's been a good thing I've been on a major cooking spree the past few days. I love cooking, when I have ingredients and don't have to clean up the mess. But sometimes I just get in these kicks to try new recipes. Last night I was up pretty darn late and just couldn't fall asleep to save my life. I got up and made these muffins I found on thepioneerwoman.com...aka my new favorite website. They're called "Muffins that Taste Like Doughnuts" and they are dee-vine. Seriously delish. There's only 1 left, and it's Logan's, and I want more, but I'm not sure if I'd like to bake another batch and heat my house up more, since it's already about 250 degrees in here. However, another hundred degrees and I could just set the muffins on the counter and let them bake themselves. That could be interesting to watch. But really, you must try these muffins. Super easy, SO AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS. And pretty too. Here's the recipe...

Muffins that Taste Like Doughnuts

1 3/4 C. Flour

1 1/2 t. Baking Powder

1/2 t. Salt

1/2 t. Nutmeg

1/2 t. Cinnamon

1/3 c. Oil

3/4 c. Sugar

1 Egg

3/4 c. Milk

Topping:

1/4 c. Butter

1/3 c. Sugar

1 T. Cinnamon

Preparation Instructions

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

Combine oil, sugar, egg, and milk. Add dry ingredients and stir only to combine.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, melt butter in a bowl. Combine sugar and cinnamon in another bowl.

Shake out muffins while they're still hot. Dip muffins in butter, then sugar mixture. Let cool.

Then try not to eat 5 in one sitting. Deary me. They are delicious.

Also, because I am a champion wife (ha), I decided to make this next recipe for dinner tonight: Linguine with Spinach Pesto. Seriously so good. This tasted like something I would get in a fancy-schmancy italian restaurant and pay 12 dollars for. But I didn't pay 12 dollars for it...not even half. I think I spent maybe 5 on a ginormous pot of pasta, and that includes the grilled chicken I sliced up into it. Our ginormous pot serves about 4-6 depending on how big you're serving it. And if you live with my bean pole husband who eats twice (sometimes three times) as much as I do and still stays all cute and thin. You must make this recipe. Really, you must. It is so stinking good. I got this recipe from a recipe book a fabulous cook gave me for my wedding. I dated her son off and on all through high school and a little in college before Logan came home from Brazil. She didn't like me. I think that's why she gave me a fantastic wedding present...it was a thank you for getting married before her son came home from his mission. Or maybe she gives this to everyone. Either way, it is seriously one of my favorite wedding presents. Haven't had a recipe in here I haven't liked. Anyway, enough blabber, onto this recipe of celestial glory....

Linguine with Spinach Pesto

1 oz. Parmesan cheese

1 lb. Linguine or spaghetti

1-10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained

3 T. olive oil

2 large sprigs fresh parsley (can use parsley flakes...I did and it was still wonderful)

1/2 t. dried basil (okay, I used like 1 t. because my husband would have an affair with basil if it were a human. He loves basil. Almost as much as he loves me.)

2 cloves garlic (uh, except I used like 4. Because I love garlic almost as much as I love Logan)

1/2 t. salt

1 T. butter

1/3 c. water (I fished this out of my hot pasta water)

4 oz. Feta cheese (I didn't have this, so I just added more parm, but I think it would be yummy to have)

Cook pasta, keep warm. In blender, blend spinach, oil, parmesan cheese, parsley, basil, garlic, and salt. Blend until finely minced, scraping sides if necessary (I added a little pasta water here to get it going because I think I drained my spinach a little TOO well). In saucepan combine butter and water over medium heat and bring to a boil. With blender running, gradually add hot butter mixture to spinach mixture and blend thoroughly. return spinach mixture to saucepan and cook, stirring, over low heat, until heated through. Add pasta, toss to coat, and transfer to serving dish (or not, since we don't really have one of those). Sprinkle with feta and parmesan cheese.

I added broccoli florets to the last few minutes of cooking time for my pasta, and right after I tossed the pasta with the pesto, I mixed in some sliced grilled chicken I had marinated in italian dressing before grilling and it was splendid.

This dish is definitely on my top 10 list of things I've ever cooked. It was so easy, so delicious, and pretty darn healthy. And cheap. And delicious. And Logan loved it and thought I was a champion for making it for him. This boy likes pesto, I'm telling you. He really, really likes it. And he really likes it when I cook with it. I like it when my husband likes me, it makes for a good marriage, or so I'm told.

European Adventure--Paris Pt. 3

2010-07-17T15:45:00.002-06:00

The same day we went to Sacre Coeur we also went to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Interesting Facts: The tower was built in 1889 for the World's Fair by Gustave Eiffel. After the fair they put it in Paris and the people HATED IT!!! They were going to tear it down, but decided against it when the radio boom hit and they put a radio tower in it to receive broadcasts. It weighs 7000 tons, and is 1,040 feet high. It sways 4 inches in high winds and grows or shrinks up to 6 inches according to temperature.

This is the view from the second floor (There are 3)

And this is us kissing on the top of the Eiffel Tower! It was a joke that we were going to do this on our anniversary (well, we were 2 days late), so we had to document it.

After we came down. I sure love him.

Our last night we went to the Eiffel Tower, just like any other night. However, the World Cup was going on, and they had a HUMONGOID screen right below the tower that they showed all the soccer games on. People got so dressed up, painted their faces, carried flags, and shouted all these cheers all up and down the streets, on the metro, in our hotel, it was nuts. Our last night Brazil played, so Logan donned his Brazil sweatshirt, we went to a crepe stand and got our last crepes (I teared up a little), and watched the game. They won, so this is our victory picture!

Our trip was so fun, and we are so glad we went. It is definitely something we will remember for the rest of our lives. We got a bit of a travelling bug, and we're already wanting to go explore more of the world and take another adventure together. Next on our dream list is Greece, Italy, and Austria. Of course, we're now broke as a joke from this trip, so we'll have to wait until we're more established, but we can still dream, right?

European Adventure--Paris Pt. 2

2010-07-17T14:55:00.004-06:00

Our friends Ben and Cassidy Bolick had just gotten married and happened to be in France at the same time as us on their honeymoon, so we met up with them and went to Versailles, Notre Dame, L' Arc d' Triumphe, the Moulin Rouge, and the Sacre Coeur.

This is in front of the Chateau de Versailles. It was so much fun to take the tour inside and around the gardens. King Louis XIV moved the royal courts from downtown Paris to this elaborate palace. Everything is just over the top spectacular. King Louis XIV loved to dance, party, and show off his wealth. I'm currently learning all about him in my dance history class, and it's fascinating to learn about him after having been to his house.

The Hall of Mirrors. One side is all windows, and the other is all mirrors. Louis wanted to "bring the nature indoors" so the mirrors reflect everything outside, making the hall feel like an enormous ballroom. It is decorated so incredibly, with chandeliers every few feet, and carvings all over the walls, along with the elaborately painted ceiling. However, although so much was put into decorating this area of the castle, it simply was only used as a HALLWAY.

The overview of the MASSIVE gardens. Where you see green, those are the gardens for Versailles. The day we were there they turned on all the fountains and played classical music throughout the gardens. It was so magical.

This would be all the boys in our group. Holding all the purses..ahem, sorry, man bags. The girls didn't have to carry a thing! What great gentlemen. Also, behind them...gorgeous gorgeous gardens. The water way in the back is called the Venice Petite and they have all these people in boats going around in it, and the boat guides sing to them. Kinda like the Venician in Vegas, only in France...and awesomer.

At L' Arc d' Triumphe. Napoleon had this made to be a memorial of French Army.

We found the Disney Store in Paris. I was a happy lady.

Notre Dame

Moulin Rouge. The (ahem) prostitute district where the Can-Can was invented. Hence our attempt at a Kickline.

The Sacre Coeur. Priests work in relays to keep prayers going 24 hours a day. They have been praying here for 125 years straight.

The church is up on a very high hill. We conquered the several hundred steps to get up to the church. We turned around, and this is what we saw. Breath taking.

European Adventure--Paris Pt. 1

2010-07-17T14:16:00.005-06:00

After our trip to London, we got on the Chunnel, a train that goes under the water and takes you from the UK to France. The train in front of us broke down so we were stuck under water for a long time before we made it to Paris. Not a huge deal, just a slight annoyance. Especially when that was the specific day our bodies decided to have food poisoning from sandwiches we ate the day before. Train+5 Hours+Food Poisoning=Not a Barrel of Fun.

However, by June 12, our one year anniversary, we were feeling back to normal and were able to hit the town hard. We spent the day wandering the streets, going into little shops here and there, and trying on clothes that were WAY to expensive for us. We then met up with a group later that night and went on a river cruise on The River Sienne, which took us all around and showed us a lot of the famous monuments. We also got to see the Eiffel Tower for the first time, and from that night on, we went every night, got crepes, and watched the tower sparkle. At 10, 11, and 12 midnight, they have all these lights go off for 5 minutes and the Eiffel Tower looks like the most magical thing on earth. More magical than Disneyland...maybe.

We were able to go to The Louvre and Musee d' Orsay, which are two ginormous famous art museums. We went with our friend Dane, who is an art major, and he gave us a lot of background history about what everything meant. It was really cool to see the pyramid at The Louvre because that's been in a lot of movies, including The Da Vinci Code.

On the River Cruise

Our first night at the Eiffel Tower, on our one year anniversary

Behind me is the Musee d' Orsay, which used to be a train station before they turned it into the art gallery it is today.

The Pyramid at The Louvre. This is what is in The Da Vinci Code.

Another part of The Louvre. This thing is like 6 floors and takes up an entire city block. If you stopped to look at every piece in the gallery for 10 seconds it would take you about 2 weeks to see it all.

At our favorite Creperie. It was across the street from our hotel and was so delicious and inexpensive. For 5.50 Euro we could get a "formule" which is a combo with 1 panini, 1 crepe, and a "boisson" which is a drink. Our favorite was to get a "Poulet et Fromage" Panini which isChicken and Chesse all melted together on the grilled baguette, and a Banana et Nutella et Coco Crepe , which is a Banana, Nutella, and Coconut Crepe--Kind of like a melted mounds bar with bananas on a delicious crepe. And to drink we'd usually get a tropical fruit juice, or Orangina which is kind of like a carbonated orange juice.

The crepes there are HUGE!! We got crepes every day we were there and I never got sick of them. Some days we would get a savory crepe, my favorite was the Chicken and Cheese with Pepper, but ham and cheese, or tuna and cheese were also delicious. We also ate at the bakeries almost every day, Doug told us to get Pan Chocolate, which is a croissant with really really yummy european chocolate chips through it. So yummy!! We also tried a variety of tarts, breads, and anything else we thought might be tasty. We figured we were on vacation, and we didn't know when we'd be back and Paris, so we basically pigged out. And loved it. France has scrumptious food. I miss it. We were also nervous that the people would be really snobbish since we didn't speak French and couldn't communicate with them. We were surprised to find out that (yes there were some that were rude) most of the locals were very helpful. We tried to be as polite as possible and asked "Par le vous Anglais?" (Do you speak English), before trying to communicate with them. Usually they spoke enough English, and Logan spoke enough French that we got along just fine.

One of Logan's favorite memories about our language barrier was when some dude in a park started shouting over to us in French. We were confused and had no idea what he was saying so we asked if he spoke English so he know we didn't understand him. He came over to us and nudges Logan and asks (in English) "Uh, do you have a paper to roll a, uh, joint?" It took all Logan had in him to tell him no without bursting into hysterical laughter. Of all people to ask, he asks little innocent Logan to help him roll a doobie. Classic.

European Adventure--London Pt. 3

2010-07-17T12:07:00.000-06:00

We also got to go see Abbey Road, where the Beatles' Recording Studio is located, Wimbledon (Logan about died and went to heaven), The Tower of London, and 3 broadway musicals (But only took pictures at 1 because we were dingdongs the other two nights and forgot)--Les Miserables, Wicked (favorite!!), and The Lion King.

So which Beatle would this make me?

At Wimbledon with my Tennis Boyfriend, Roger Federer.

In front of the court where the final game is played

Tower of London

Traitor's Gate. They took high profile prisoners through this gate by boat so others wouldn't know that they had them as prisoners.

Medieval Loo

King Henry VIII's armor. Gross, gross, gross man.

Soldier hats

European Adventure--London Pt. 2

2010-07-17T11:58:00.000-06:00

We went and saw the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. The surrounding areas were impressive, and it was fun to say we were there, but it wasn't necessarily a must on our trip. If you ever go to London, stop by Buckingham when it's not so crowded to take a picture of the grounds and the little red soldier dudes, but you don't have to stay at the actual change...just a tidbit of advice.

Buckingham Palace

(Yes, Logan really did take this picture, this is really what it looks like. Amazing, yeah?)

The Horsey Soldiers

Gorgeous Statue/Fountain in front of the Palace

Buckingham Palace, closer up.

European Adventure--London Pt. 1

2010-07-17T11:39:00.000-06:00

London is now my favorite place in the world. It is just spectacular. We were there for only 5 days, and I could have tripled that and never have gotten bored. I could live in London and just be as happy as a clam. These are a few hodgepodge random pics we took around town.

The London Eye--the largest ferris wheel in the world. We didn't go on it because it was redunkulously expensive, but it was pretty cool to look at.

Tower Bridge. Way cooler than London Bridge. I thought if London Bridge had its own song, it would be pretty awesome...nope. Tower Bridge is bomb. This is the bridge Sherlock Holmes is on at the end of the movie with the bad guy.

Better view of Tower Bridge. And us kissing just because.

Trafalgar Square. The National Gallery is located here. They have all these amazing structures, fountains, and statues here. These lions mean something, there are four of them and their guarding the big column in the middle, but I can't remember what it all represents.

We're not sure why, but we found a statue of Abraham Lincoln in the middle of LONDON. If you can figure out why it is there, 20 gold stars for you.

Westminister Abbey. As you can see, it is ginormous.

Parliament

Big Ben

European Adventure--Warwick Castle

2010-07-17T11:13:00.000-06:00

The morning after our visit to Chatsworth House, we got to go to Warwick Castle, a real castle from way back in the day. They've revamped a lot of it and put in a bunch of wax people and such to show how people really would have lived back when this castle was in use. They also have a few actors that walk around and take pictures with you and talk to you. Some of them were funny, some were cute, others were down right creepy. The castle would be really awesome for kids to go see, and we did have fun, but it was kind of cheesy. However, they have a real dungeon that we got to go into and see where people were kept. It was too dark to take pictures down there, but it was definitely spooky. I'm glad I won't have to be kept in there for anything. It was icky, in a cool and interesting kind of way. We also got to see a trebuchet (spelling?) be shot off, it flung this giant rock a few football field lengths away. At Warwick they also have a falconry show, a jousting show, and a swordfighting/archery show, but we weren't there long enough to see those (much to Logan's dismay).

This is a ginormous picture frame that is carved out of pine and then completely gold-leafed. It is so intricate and ornate and difficult to make that there are only 5 in the world, and they had two in the same room right there at Warwick.

Logan with Princess Giselle

Plague infested peasant people. They were nice enough to let me hold their baby though!

Logan getting ready to go off to war with Edward, the King Maker. They went to war and helped England win some sort of battle which put some king in the throne. I can't really remember the story, but they had a huge walk through museum thing that told the whole tale, and you got to see actors and wax people performing various tasks around the castle.

This, my friends are a sexy, sexy pair of Medieval Panties. Complete with waist and leg draw strings. Hot, I know.

European Adventure--Chatsworth House

2010-07-17T10:06:00.000-06:00

After our little Blackpool adventure, we got to get on with the REAL fun of being in Europe with the love of your life. We took two days to get to London, and did a few site seeing doodahs on the way.

Our first mini stop was to the Preston, England Temple. It was the first clean place we had seen in over a week since Blackpool isn't exactly classy or clean in the slightest. We wanted to just kiss the ground and hug the temple. The temple is one of the smaller ones, and it is right next to the Preston MTC. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous.

In front of the gorgeous temple.

Walking the grounds and absolutely loving all the flowers and trees.

After visiting the temple we stopped at Chatsworth House. This is where the Duke and Duchess of something (I can't remember right now) currently live. The Pride and Prejudice movies were filmed here. I have never seen these movies, but after seeing the grounds, I've been dying to watch them...so if anyone would like to have a movie party, I'll bring treats. I'm just sayin'....

These grounds are AMAZING. Take the Thanksgiving Pointe Gardens and times them by about 14. They are just incredible. We had scheduled about 3 hours to walk around the gardens, but we all ended up staying about 6. The house was amazing too...so ornate. They definitely like to be flashy with their decor. The whole time we were there we kept saying how much we wished we could bring over our whole family to see just this very place. It was just so incredible.

My favorite part of the gardens. They have a sprinkler type thing that looks like a weeping willow. The steel are the branches, and the water is the leaves hanging down. You can run around in it, or just sit and admire. It really is just so gorgeous.

The had a REAL LIFE hedge maze--like in all the movies! They really do exist! Logan and I found our way to the middle pretty easy, it was getting out that was the hard part!

Most gorgeous flowers ever.

Inside the house...this dining room was MASSIVE!! It was to serve all of their guests at their outrageous parties. They had a menu displayed and it was a full ten course meal.

Intricate wood carvings on the walls. This all was one chunk of wood, and they cut out the flowers and made them pop out of the wood. Amazing.

Reason #28372 I wish I could bring the whole family over to this place. Not only would Deana just flip out over the gardens, but they had a big dress up room that you could try on costumes of their era. They also had a big playground for the kids.

European Adventure--Blackpool

2010-07-15T22:27:00.000-06:00

Alright, the start of the European Adventure for Team Spence. We were able to go to England and France for three weeks for me to dance with the UVU Ballroom Tour Team. We left very early May 28th and after a flight to JFK, a layover that was supposed to be 1 hour that turned into 4 1/2, and another flight to Manchester, we arrived the next morning. We were so extremely tired, but despite our horrible night sleep on the plane, we stayed up all that day to try to adjust to the 7 hour time change. Our first stop on our tour was to Blackpool, what I affectionately refer to as the armpit of the planet.

It was a very good thing that this was our first stop on the trip, because after London and Paris, it would have killed me to be trapped in this town for 6 days. However, it was at the beginning, and although we were bored during the day, the reason we were there was exciting. We danced in the Formation Team World Championships at Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England, and ended up taking 4th place...in the world...so not too shabby in my books. I was in the Standard Medley, which was titled Tres Secret Medley, and was French Themed.

Our hotel we stayed at was called the Ascot Hotel, and a man named Ian owned it. He was so incredibly sweet, and his hotel was so cute. If I ever HAD to stay in Blackpool again, I would totally go back to this place. Our days consisted of me going to rehearsals (held in a tiny church's activity room...like a cultural hall only smaller) very early in the morning, rehearsing for about an hour, and then rushing back to the hotel to shower before the latin girls could get home and take all the hot water. Logan and I would get ready for the day, and then about an hour and a half after I got home from rehearsal, we'd head down to the common room for a "full english breakfast" which I think I could live my whole life without eating another one, but it was nice to not have to worry about buying another meal during the day. A full english breakfast is a heart attack on a plate....We'd start of with some really yummy cereal (my favorite was Crunchy Nut, which is a cross between honeynut cherrios and honey bunches of oats), yogurt, and grapefruit segments. And then they'd bring out the cardiac arrest platters--baked beans (not even joking), fried eggs, "bacon" which is a huge slab of hammy/bacon type meat, hashbrowns, fry bread (deep fried pieces of toast, I never ate mine, but Logan did the first day and described it as soggy and sick at the same time), racks of regular toast, and fried tomatoes. Not gourmet, but it was a meal we didn't have to pay for, so we ate it.

After breakfast, we were free to explore the town as we chose. Blackpool is like a washed up carnival that came to town and never really left. There were two piers with carnival type things. The night that the girls had to get ready for the competitions with tanning lotions and stuff like that, Logan and two of the other husbands on the trip went and gambled a little at one of them...they lost everything...all like 25 pence. The town was right on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean, so we walked around there a few times. There was an indoor water park that we went to with the largest indoor water slide roller coaster in the world. Claim to fame, peeps. There was a decent shopping mall that we went to and tried on clothes we could never afford.

Wednesday, June 2, we competed the Standard Medley, and that Friday they competed the Michael Jackson themed Latin Medley (they took 5th, but they truly got robbed and should have taken 3rd, seriously). Here are some pictures from our Blackpool adventure...

Logan, Me, and Dane on the Flight to JFK

The Ascot Hotel, where we stayed

The Standard Team at Band Call, the morning before we competed. I'm the first girl from the left, with my partner Nick.

Yeah, this basically sums up Blackpool

Us on the beach, kissing because we love each other.

Logan and Me at the Winter Gardens Ballroom after the competition. There were three VERY FULL balconies all the way around the room watching us compete...talk about nerve racking!

I had to dye my hair dark brown for the competition. It washed out mostly...some spots in my hair was tinted red for a few days after the competition.

Me and my honey. And I love our hats we got to wear.

The team all in costume. I'm the 4th girl from the left. It was hard to tell us all apart with matching hair, makeup, dresses, hats, and even nails...we all had to have super long red nails for the competition. We also had red lacy garters under our dresses that we showed off when we did kicks and stuff, mostly in the finale.

We survived Europe, I swear.

2010-06-24T12:04:00.000-06:00

Logan and I have now been back from Europe for over a week, so I can't say I was just at the Eiffel Tower just last week anymore...sniff...

But we have oodles of pictures and I swear that I will post them soon. I'm not sure how soon. I am currently at UVU's Library, where I'm SUPPOSED to be studying and researching for a paper I have to write for Dance History, the bane of my degree and sole reason I sometimes consider just getting pregnant so I can drop out (kidding, most of the time). This class is insane, and me doing it in 7 weeks instead of 16 is also insane. So, as I periodically have mental breakdowns and burst into hysterical tears for the remainder of my summer, I'll try my best to remind myself that I ASKED FOR THIS and THIS IS A GOOD THING SO I CAN JUST FOCUS ON THIS ONE CLASS. But I will still inevitably whine I am sure. And I apologize in advance.

Pictures to come. I promise.

Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum

2010-05-04T12:37:00.000-06:00

As a newlywed, I'm always on the look out for easy, delicious recipes to make for my cutie patootie husband. You see, he's kind of a WAY better person than I am, and I know this, so I have to keep him hooked somehow...and he likes food...so I try to even the playing field by cooking for him.

Enter the most delicious soup I have EVER made in my entire life. I know this is kind of geeky to put a recipe up here...but I made it on Sunday, and just finished off the last of the left overs and it really was just so incredibly delicious, I think you should all try it. I got it in a Pampered Chef recipe book thing that Alicia gave me after she went to a Pampered Chef bridal shower and we watched her kids.

Loaded Baked Potato Chowder

3 baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 lbs)
3 1/2 C milk, divided
4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 T butter
2-3 green onions with tops (1/4 C)
4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 t coarsely ground black pepper
Option toppings such as chopped cooked bacon, sour cream, or steamed broccoli florets (We added broccoli and corn and it was splendid)

1. Slice Potatoes in half lengthwise, place in Deep Covered Baker (or any other microwavable casserole-type dish). Pour 1/2 cup of the milk over the potatoes. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 11 minutes. Remove baker from microwave. Move center potatoes to ends of baker and outer potatoes to center. Cover; microwave on HIGH 8-11 minutes or until potatoes are easily pierced with a fork. Remove from microwave. Coarsely mash potatoes.

This is where I had to change the recipe to fit our needs in the tiny-ness of the love shack...I'll put what the recipe says, and then say what I ended up doing.

(Pampered Chef version)
2. Meanwhile,whisk cream cheese until smooth. Slowly add remaining 3 cups milk, whisking until smooth. Add cream cheese mixture and butter to baker. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 3-5 minutes until mixture is hot. Slice green onions.

3. Carefully remove baker from microwave. Grate cheddar cheese over chowder; add green onions, salt, black pepper, and mix until cheese is melted, serve with toppings, if desired.

(Camille version)

2. Whisk together cream cheese and milk like above, but instead of adding milk to baker, transfer potatoes to biggish soup pot and add cream cheese mixture. Heat on stove at medium until hot.

3. While the soup mixture is heating up, add salt and pepper, green onions, as well as broccoli, frozen corn, or any other things you think might sound delicious. We also added a little Hidden Valley Ranch because Logan is OBSESSED with it. The veggies cooked while the soup was heating up quite nicely. At the very end, add the cheese and stir until melted. It was a little thin at first, but after taking it off the heat, it thickened up.

Yield: 6 servings (8 cups)

It was so much easier than I thought it would be, and it turned out so delicious! I'm going to have to go buy more potatoes and make this one again really soon! We just loved it! Hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did!

Tennis Lessons

2010-05-03T20:57:00.000-06:00

I have decided to take advantage of having a personal tennis coach as a roommate/best friend/husband. Mind you, I am NOT sporty at all, and my hand eye coordination is crap, but today for FHE I suggested I cook us some dinner (delicious avocado ranch burgers, salad, and some watermelon) and afterwards we go out and play a little tennis. Logan looked at me like I was nuts...I'd cook him dinner AND play his favorite sport with him?!?! He was excited none the less.

Dude, I really did have so much fun though. I'm not very good, but Logan was so cute and patient with me. He worked on me with my swing and trying to put spin on, which I think is way over my head because I'm still having a hard time following through with my swing, but I really did enjoy myself. I know I still have a long ways to go. Max and Logan just make it look so easy when I go and watch them play!! I think Logan had a lot of fun too, he was talking about going home and watching pros play so I could watch their swing. I wouldn't mind if I had to watch Roger Federer (my tennis boyfriend). He's a cutie patootie.

At the end of my lesson, Logan helped me work on my Kick Serve...where you throw the ball in the air and arch your back and whack it hard. Logan's got a good kick serve. Camille needs work. Lots and lots of work. I don't think Logan would mind too much, he'd get to play more often, even if it was klutzy me.

Also, Logan looks so incredibly hot doing a kick serve. But then again, I do have the hottest tennis coach out there.

The Love Shack

2010-05-02T21:13:00.000-06:00

This is The Love Shack. Not just any Love Shack, the Spence Love Shack. Yes, do you see this teensy, weensy box of an apartment? This is where we live. Don't let your eyes fool you into thinking maybe it's bigger than it appears. It is most definitely as small as it looks. And we love it here.

Through the front door is our kitchen/living room/laundry room all rolled into one. One step down the hall is the bathroom...with a tiny shower and a toilet you have to slide into like a desk with the sink right over your lap. One more step down the hall, and you reach the bedroom. Our bed is so long we can't ever shut the bedroom door. We've had to get really creative with our storage situation, and it looks like a bomb went off if you set just one thing down, but we're making it work. It has gorgeous wood floors and beautiful cabinets. The bathroom was remodeled right before we moved in and the shower has pretty tiles in it. There are tons of windows all over that we love to open and feel the breeze come through our home. Our landlords are awesome people, and let us have free access to their hot tub, fire pit, and grill, which we are loving now that it's not snowy anymore. Our neighbors are fantastic. The ward is great. And we really just love it. As the words from my favorite song go....The Love Shack is a little place where we can get together, yeah. Well, except we can't fit more than 4 adults in the place. But we still have couple dinner parties as often as we can. I love having my own place to entertain in!

We moved in last June, after everything had bloomed and this spring has been so gorgeous seeing all of the trees covered in flowers. My favorite is the tree right next to our front porch. It smells fantastic and has beautiful pink blossoms all over it. Anyone know what tree it is just by looking at it? I told Logan we have to get one when we are grown up and have our own house.

Aren't these just gorgeous? They smell so wonderful too! This tree makes me smile everytime I go outside of our little home. It's just the best tree ever. I'm quite attached.

I Love that I Love My Job!

2010-05-02T20:55:00.000-06:00

I seriously have the best job in the world!! This past year I have been teaching at an after school ballroom program at an elementary school in Provo. I've had quite the challanges, from havint 45 students to getting kids ages 6-12 (let me tell you, there's a HUGE mental difference between a 6 year old and a 12 year old, believe me!), and finally my show being changed to a week earlier last minute. I had my handful of frustrations with all of this, but let me tell you.... These kids....all 45 of them...have made it totally worth it. They are the best kids in the world.

I have learned so much about myself as a teacher, as a future mother, and as a person. It's because of these kids that I have started thining about maybe going into elementary education after I am done with my dance degree.

They did two dances at their show...a cha cha to "Play that Funky Music" and a swing to "Ain't Nothin' Wrong with That" and they were so adorable! We had a really great turn out to our show. I was expecting maybe 30 parents and we ended up having over 150 people come to watch, and they all had a great time. After they presented their dances, we did a little bit of social dancing and they were able to dance with their parents, siblings, grandparents, and whoever else came out to support them.

I'm working on figuring out my schedule for next year so hopefully I'll be able to teach here again next year.

March Update

2010-03-31T20:19:00.000-06:00

The most wonderful place on earth, with the most wonderful person on earth, with the most beautiful flowers all over the place.

Logan and I went to Disneyland again this month. And it was fabulous. Beautiful Sunshine, not too hot, not cold at all, and just amazing. We wore our Just Married pins again too, and got congratulated everywhere we went, and had someone offer us our own private boat for It's a Small World. We didn't take it, because the line was full of little kids and we thought it would be totally unfair to them, but it was a cool thought. And, for those of you who watch Bones aka best show ever, we saw Eric Millegan, the guy who plays Zack Addy while in line for Toy Story Mania. My fave character on my fave show in line for my fave ride. How could that have gotten better? Well, other than being able to have gotten his attention and gotten an autograph followed by the Disney worker peeps letting us go on the ride five times in a row without getting off. The weekend was perfect. I so wish we were back there again instead of beating our brains out with school and work. However, countdown to freedom from school is 29 days. Less than a month. Hoorah!

Another big event in March was Autumn had her baby, Bailey Jo. She's the most precious thing ever ever ever. I love having another baby in the family to cuddle and play with. I just love having nieces and nephews. It's so much fun! I'm glad that I will get to be a part of their lives growing up. Gah, I love being an aunt.

Concert week for the UVU Ballroom Teams went great last week. Logan was roped into helping stage manage, film, and usher on different nights. I am so grateful to have such a willing to help husband. It was so sweet having him there and having him take part in pulling together a show we had all been working so hard on. I have the best husband ever.

21st Birthday

2010-03-03T21:50:00.000-07:00

I'm officially a legit adult. No going back now.

Logan had work all day today..in fact, he's still there as I type. So I decided to make my own party. I think I'm gonna have to do this more often!!

I made treats and took them to team. They sang to me and made me do 21 jumping jacks. I thought it was cute.

Then my mommy and daddy took me to JCW's for a wonderful Hickory Bacon Burger with fries and the ultimate dipping sauce. I about died and went to heaven. So delicious.

Student body elections are going on this week, so to persuade us to vote for their team they were passing out cotton candy, popcorn, and snow cones. Basically, it was a stinking full blown carnival. All in celebration for my birthday.

I taught my elementary ballroom kids and brought them Blowpops. I remember that those were the top notch suckers when I was younger. What could be better than getting GUM in the middle of your sucker?!? Things haven't changed. Kids love those things!! I love my job. They are the cutest, smartest, nicest, funniest kids around I swear.

My nephew Kyson turned 1 today as well so we all went to Brynn's house for a party for him slash me. I got some really cute shirts and a picture frame and a purse Logan bought in Brazil and gave to Alicia, but she decided to give it to me so I'd have something from Logan's mission. The whole evening was so sweet and I really got to cherish all the random but fun events throughout the day. Very fun birthday.

Now, if Logan could just come home so I could fall asleep, that would be superb!!

Full Steam Ahead

2010-03-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

Whew. Last week was a toughie...sorry for my whine whine whiner blog. But life is oodles better.

Logan and I talked everything through..as of now, we're going to Europe! We decided, yes, it's a LOT, I mean, A LOT of money, but we think if we keep saving our pennies we'll be just fine. Plus, we decided if we don't go now, we probably never will and we'd regret it for the rest of our lives.

We'll be competiting at the Ballroom World Championships in Blackpool, England. We'll be taking our two medlies with us...the standard and latin. I'm in the standard medley and I'm pretty excited to get to work on it.

A medley is a themed 6 miniute long dance that showcases our technique in the 5 standard (or latin) dances...Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, and Quickstep. Our theme for this medley is "French." I haven't heard the finished cut of the music, but think...pixar's ratatouille meets Cinderella's grande ball. That's what it sounds like to me anyway. Our dresses I believe are blue...we got measured for them today. I get my very own customed made dress. That may sound totally lame to anyone else, but I think it's really cool. I've never had a costume made to fit my body specifically!! We have a long, long, long road ahead of us to prepare for this. Really, we should have started preparing for this competition last August, but there was some team dramas and it ultimately didn't get started. I'm frustrated that we haven't put a serious dent in it yet but it'll get there...hopefully. I love our choreographer, Chris, and I have some immense faith in him to pull us together.

As of now, our scheduleythingie is..

May 28--Leave Utah and take a million hour flight to Blackpool, England. We'll have morning rehearsals here every day to get ready for our competition.

June 2--The Standard Medley will compete against several other countries for the world title. It's a big deal. I'm nervous.

June 4--Latin Medley will compete. I'm not as nervous for this part since I'm not in that dance..hee hee.

Either June 1 or 3 we'll be taking a day trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. I'm SOOOO excited to be able to show Logan around where I got to travel to and perform at in 2006 with the Burklyn Youth Ballet. I totally fell in love with Edinburgh. I can't wait to go back just for this day trip. Ha!!

June 5--We'll take a train down to London and stay until June 10. We get to do all the sight seeing, wander around, all that jazz.

June 10--We take the Channel (is that what it is?) from London to Paris.

June 12--Our one year anniversary. In Paris. Heck Yeah.

June 16 or 17--We'll come home, most likely completely exhausted, sick of the other dancers, and ready to crash for the rest of the summer. But I am still so excited to travel! I've never been anywhere else in Europe but Scotland, and Logan's never been at all, so we're very excited to take this adventure together. If you find a money tree...let us know and we'll come prune it for ya to help pay for the trip. Ha ha.

And if any of you have been to any of the places we're going to go to, please e-mail me or comment or call or whatever and tell us where we should go for sure and what we should do and see and where to eat and all that.

Now that we've decided to go for sure, I'm feeling a lot more calm about it. I'm so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven to calm my heart, and a patient beyond reason husband to help me through stressful times. I'm truly a blessed girl.

On other news...on Wednesday I'll be turning 21. I will be able to serve alcohol until my heart's content...except that I'm, thankfully, not a waitress anymore. Logan has work he can't get off, but luckily my nephew and I share birthdays so I'll get to go party hearty with the Spences.

Ten days after me, Logan turns 23, and three days after that, we're back in Disneyland celebrating our birthdays together. I can hear Cali calling my name already. "Camille...come to our sunny state full of happiness and wonder and Toy Story Mania and Splash Mountain..."

Dude.

2010-02-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

Life is kicking my trash. And I'm feeling mighty disconnected and I don't know what to do about it. And I HATE that out of control feeling.

I'm so stressed out about paying all that money to go to Blackpool for my ballroom team. Don't get me wrong, I want to go, and it would be a wonderful opportunity, but I'm having a hard time justifying me and Logan spending all of the money we have saved up on a 3 week trip. What if we come home and something happens and we need money and then we don't have it? Or down the road and we want to have a baby but don't have the money for it? Or Dental School coming up...I feel so freaked out that we would come home to like zero money in the bank, just like that. But I don't know how to tell my coach that I really don't feel comfortable going. It's not that we don't have enough for the trip..it's just life after the trip that I'm worried about. I am so scared to go talk to him about what to do. He'll tell me to just go by myself. Or he'll hate me more than he already does. Or he won't put me on team if I decide to do it next year. I'm replaceable. I'm not an amazing dancer, I got a late start in ballroom, I'm not anywhere near being the best on the team, I could be replaced in a heart beat. But I do know I'm a good team memeber, I have been more than willing to help out on this team in any way I could. Just this week I had to jump in and learn an entire dance for a show for the school of the arts at UVU. Not easy, but I did it. I'm so scared to talk to my coach about it. But I just don't really feel like I can go. And that devastates me. And I've been crying about it a lot lately. I hate crying.

And I feel so disconnected from my families. My side of the family is so freaking sick and was last week too so I haven't seen any of them in so long and I miss them. I miss them so freaking much. And Logan's family is so busy I feel like a total pest if I call and ask if I can come see them. Like I'm a huge annoyance and I hate feeling that way and it's probably so not even the case but wow do I feel like a loser about it.

And new dance injury...I think I have a stupid stress fracture in my left foot. It started hurting on Tuesday and it's hurting worse now than it did then, but I don't want to go to a doctor about it because a) I don't have the money to just throw down for an x-ray and b) I would just be told to stop dancing and with concert three weeks away that's not really an option. But oh my heck it hurts. Only when I stand. Or walk. And when my foot is more warm it's not as bad. But if anyone has any advice on how to deal with it...let me know.

And really, I just need to calm the freak down. All this stress...it's getting to me and my stupid loser of an ulcer that I obtained right before Logan and I got married is back with vengance so it kills to eat anything. Great.

Blah, I just needed to get it out. I don't really feel like I have anyone I can talk to and have them understand so I'll fling it into the blogger cyber world and probably all of you think I'm a total freeeeeeeeak but now it's out there. Sorry for the whinefest.

I may or may not be becoming addicted...

2010-02-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

I'm becoming addicted to blogging. Two posts in two days and a new background? Yeah.

I teach dance at an after school ballroom program and I've had a few kids compete this semester. It's been really fun watching them improve in class, as well as hearing about their experiences with competitions. Today was the first day I got to go and watch my students dance! I had two couples compete and they did great! Considering they just started dancing this year and they were competing against those crazy BYU Youth dancers, I was so proud of them. They didn't make call backs, but they stayed on rhythm (most of the time) and they had a lot of fun. Watching them come off the floor with new found excitement for performing for other people and being so proud of what they have been working for was so rewarding for me. I was so nervous before they were about to dance, Logan told me I needed to chill, but I was so happy to watch them. Here's a picture right before they were about to go on. Man, I love my job.

After the comp we got to help with Braxton's birthday party. Favorite quote of the day:

"Knock knock, who's there, rootbeer splashed all over your face. HAHAHAHA!!" Gotta love 5 year old humor.

Also, we got to go to lunch today with Mark and Angie. We went to Purple Turtle and ended up talking and laughing and inhabitting one of their booths for 3 hilarious hours. I'm glad we're getting along this well!!

Reason #739462 I'm the Luckiest Girl in the World

2010-02-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

Enough said, Amen.

I love this man!!! What can I say!! He's pretty stinking cute!

I'm figuring this blogging thing out...Thanks Cecilia!!

This week has been a crazy one! Braxton turned 5 and we got to go to his birthday party at Pirate Island. It was so fun to see all the kiddos get so excited over everything! I love all my nieces and nephews so much I always want to scoop them all into my arms and squish them into oblivian. It makes me excited to have kiddos...in a I can totally wait a little longer before actually experiencing it myself kind of way...but even still, they are so adorable, if my kids are half as cute/funny/adorable/spunky as these kids, I'll be mighty pleased.

I was glad to have another family get together with the Spence Clan. I've always heard so many scary things about in-laws and how terrible they are, but I have no idea what everyone was talking about because my in laws totally rock! I love being with them! I feel so blessed to have a good relationship with all of them, after all, they are going to be in my life for a while!! Shout out to the Spence Peeps...thanks for welcoming me into the family!! I love each and every one of you!

School is still kicking our butts. I didn't do so hot on my kinesiology test on the spine, whicj was disappointing because I had studied my guts out for it and still didn't do very well. Logan, on the other hand, is rocking my socks off!! I am so proud of his latest score--97% on his Chemistry 2 test. He'd kill me if he knew I told the blogging world that, but I really am just so proud of him! He's studied so much and it's really paying off! He's such a smart boy. Just another reason I love him!

Tomorrow is the DanceSport festival at UVU...I have four students competing and it'll be my first time watching them! I'm very excited to see how they do, they've been working so hard at practice! I really do have the best job in the whole world. Reason #84938 I'm the Luckiest Girl in the World.

Looking forward to a great weekend ahead of us!

Also...Mother Nature hear my pleas...bring me a warm sunny day for my birthday...you have twelve days to work that into your schedule if possible. If that won't work, make spring break get here faster so Logan and I can possibly escape to California where I can see my other boyfriend, Mickey Mouse. Thank you.

Big Changes

2010-02-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

Team Spence got a whole lot bigger the past month...

...And no I'm not pregnant.

When I was a wee little baby I was adopted to the Belnap family. I am the LUCKIEST girl in the whole world to have my parents as my parents. Plus my sissies rock quite a bit, I'll keep them. Well, my adoption was closed, and when I turned 21 I was supposed to be able to open up my files and learn about my biological parents. I never really thought it would go anywhere, and had already come to terms that I might never know the people who, uh, birthed (?) me, but last November I got a peculiar phone call from Children's Aid Society (my adoption agency) telling me my birthmom had contacted them and was starting her side of the paperwork to be able to open the files and if I wanted to meet her I could start on my paperwork, and also that my birthdad had filed his name with the state with this registry to find me when I turned 21. It was more than a dream come true! I love my family, but it was so amazing that I was going to be able to meet my birthparents and see them face to face and ask them questions and stuff!

We had lots and lots of paperwork and complications happen, but the day before new years eve, I FINALLY got a letter from Carrin, my birthmom. A LOT had happened since I had heard from her last in 1997...she got married and was raising two kids, Geena is 16 and basically my twin, we look a lot a like and act alike and both dance and...yeah, if you knew me when I was 16, then you know how Geena is, and Carrin's other kiddo is Andrew, he's 12 and SUCH A BOY. Skateboarding, biking, crashing, getting dirty, crushing on girls...yeah. He's quieter so it's harder to get to know him, but when he does talk he totally cracks me up. Also, his ears turn red when he's tired. Cute. Hahaha. And then Carrin's hubby is Ray. I call him Pirate Ray, or just Pirate. You see, Carrin and Ray met on a blind date and got married 2 1/2 weeks later. Yes folks, WEEKS. And then I found them on facebook, and Ray has a huge scruffy beard and long, long hair. So, not really knowing Carrin, I dubbed her psychotic, but luckily I kept talking to her...haha, because she's so not psychotic, I promise!! Ray grows his hair out for Locks of Love and right now he's on the grow out phase...so he looks like a pirate...hence the name. And Carrin and Ray are going on 13 happy, happy years and they're basically perfect for each other.

Carrin and I e-mailed like crazy for two weeks and met on January 15, 2010. It went so well!! She brought Geena and Andrew, and later we all went to Sizzler for dinner with Pirate (Logan was there too kids). It went better than I could have ever hoped!! This is the whole group (minus the Pirate..I have yet to get a picture with him...I'll work on it)...Logan, Me, Geena, Andrew, and Carrin. See a family resemblance? I think so. Especially with Geena and I...see....

Next big reunion...Not as many pictures this time...but through Carrin I got my birthdad's e-mail address and I got to meet him February 1....His name is Mark, he's married to Angie, she has a daughter named Tatum who is 12 I believe, and an amazing soccer player...and super dooper cute. Angie and Mark are expecting a little girl this summer...which is good because I only have sisters, Logan only has sisters, and with Geena and Tatum thrown in the mix, we might as well just keep the ladies in the family...uh...sorry Andrew, you're severly left out. But I still love ya. Here's a picture of the Mark Meeting....we went to my fave restaurant...Los Hermanos...so yummy!!! And yes, I'm wearing a Los Hermanos shirt. Don't judge.

This is Angie (baby in the oven...not that you can tell...I was scared to ask about her pregnancy because I thought maybe I had made it up in my head because she so doesn't look pregnant at ALLLLL, but yes, I do get another little sister, so hooray), Tatum, Mark, Me, and Logan.

I've decided I have Carrin's eyes and nose, and a femine version of Mark's jaw and smile. It's been a WHOLE STINKING LOT OF FUN getting to know both of them! I'm seeing more of where I come from, my heritage, why I act the way I do, and so on. I've loved it! I can't wait to get to know them better!

I totally suck at blogging. Update of Team Spence

2009-11-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

My sister in laws are all so fantastic at this blogging thing and okay...clearly, with my last post in May, I'm not as fantastic. Ha. Well, so much has happened. Five months ago TODAY Logan and I tied the knot. It was the most amazing day and I could not have asked for more. The morning started off a little hectic with me waking up about two hours late, and my eyes were swollen shut from crying the night before with my daddy (I'm a total daddy's girl and I was sad to be leaving him). I made it to Cailie's house by SOME miracle since I couldn't see, which was followed by a few more miracles...my hair went up awesome, and two ice packs solved the eye issue (okay, remember on Hitch when he eats the fish and his face gets swollen? That's kinda what I looked like). After that, everything went off without a hitch. I was so happy sitting in the temple with Logan knowing that I get to keep him forever, and that FINALLY after a forever long engagement, we had made it to the biggest and best goal of our lives. The month of June was a rainy, rainy month, but June 12 was so sunny and nice and perfectly warm. Our pictures were gorgeous, and I just love looking at them, ahem, all the time. We had a beautiful luncheon in my mother in law's garden, and a super fun Mickey and Minnie mouse themed reception that night.

Logan took me up to Wolf Creek for a weekend away, which was so beautiful and relaxing. My roomie from Burklyn Ballet Theatre flew in all the way from New York to spend the weekend with us, so we also went to the Clark Planetarium and California Pizza Kitchen on Saturday, and then we spent Sunday Morning with them at MoTab's Music and The Spoken Word (where President Monson was also which was totally awesome. I wanted to jump off the balcony and announce to him that I had just been married in the temple 48 hours before), followed by a tour of Temple Square, the Joseph Smith movie, a tour of the Conference Center, and a yummy picnic. Monday we woke up and checked out of our amazing condo (it was at least twice as big as our shoebox apartment), and went to IHOP for a newlywed breakfast. It was a long going joke everytime we had passed it all weekend that it was all Logan wanted foodwise, so he was a happy camper to get his Colorado Omlette. We stopped by and visited my Grandma Belnap, and then returned back to Deana and Bill's home to open all our awesome wedding presents. All in all, it was such a fun weekend.

We moved into the tiniest apartment I think I will ever see in my entire life. The people in our ward call it "The Love Shack" which makes us laugh. It really is so small, that we have to keep living off of love or else we'll go crazy. Haha, just yesterday I went to walk down the hall, only to have Logan accidentally open the bathroom door and nail me in the face, followed by tripping on the bed, and then getting squished between the bedroom and closet doors. I'm telling you, it's a shoebox. But it's creating quite some interesting newlywed memories for us.

The rest of the summer was a whirlwind of work, school, and lots of fun with family. I miss that summer, it was definitely the best I've ever had.

This fall our little family has been all wrapped up in school, work, and dance. Yes, dance. Even Logan. I made the UVU Ballroom Tour Team, and get this, Logan tried out and made the Silver Team! Our concert actually is coming up December 3, 4, 5, and 7. Tickets are 10, with a matainee on the 5th and tickets are 8 for that show. So if anyone wants tickets, let us know. It'll probably be your last chance to see Logan dance, because I think I'm not letting him do team ever again. Haha, well, really only because it's a bigger time commitment than he has, especially with his grueling academic schedule and trying to get ready for applying for dental school. However, even though it's been a bit more stressful than either of us had anticipated, it has been really fun supporting each other through our teams and the performances. Come to think of it, if anyone sees this, next Tuesday November 17, Logan will be performing with his team, as well as competing against other students. It's around 7 at UVU, and it's gonna be fun! Oh, and did I mention it's completely free? Because it is.

Logan's favorite thing to do is to play with his niece and nephews, and on September 29, we got another bundle of joy, Will. He's the cutest, chubbiest, cuddliest baby ever and I love holding him. Logan can't wait until he gets bigger so he can play with him more, and no doubt, chuck him around and make him all hyper. I swear they all have the same age mentally...but it's so cute watching Logan get on their level and play with all the kiddos. He's going to be the best dad. We're not trying or in no way ready to be parents just yet, but we talk about it every once in a while, and Logan gets so excited thinking about having his own kids to play with. Gah, I'm married to the best guy ever.

Every day I'm reminded at how blessed I am to have Logan in my life. He is the best husband I could ever ask for, and I often don't feel like I can come close to deserving him. He is so kind, funny, considerate, loving, and he takes such great care of me. There is never a day that goes by with out him telling me that he loves me as well as showing me in some way. He is such an amazing guy. My family loves him too. Every time I talk to my mom, she always comments on how amazing he is and how lucky I am to have him, which I already know, but it's comforting to know that my family can all see it too.

I can't remember how to get pictures off my camera onto here...this is me calling to Brynn for help. Kaythanks. Super long, but there ya go...update of the lives of Team Spence.

Blogging for Dummies

2009-05-21T15:39:00.000-06:00

Okay...I totally want to make this all cute and fancy-schmancy and stuff...but I need my sister's help...so Brynn...when you see this and laugh at how boring this is, remember how you need to help me in my time of blogging retardedness.

But basically...I want to get this going so I can document the fun-ness of mine and Logan's life. We're getting married in 22 DAYS!!! That's 3 weeks from tomorrow and seriously, I'm so stoked! I just wish it were here already!

Logan and I met at the Orem Institute of Religion on August 28, 2008 and I had the BIGGEST crush on Logan from day one. He had just gotten off his mission, and was a little bit oblivious to girls and still really shy around me. After WEEKS of flirtation, finally Logan caught on and asked me out. Our first official date was September 27, and I've seen him every day since then except two. Haha, as lame as it is, we're pretty proud about it. We got engaged December 11...it was so cute, Logan proposed to me on our last day of institute class in front of everyone. I knew he was proposing soon, but that totally caught me off guard and I bawled like a little baby. I love Logan with all my heart, he's the sweetest thing that's ever happened to me, and I'm the most blessed lady to have won his heart.

Sooo...enough with the sap...Let's see if I can figure this out a little bit...and BRYNN, seriously I need help. Okay thanks.

So we're kind of weird, okay? We like to chill at either of our parents house to spend time with them, eat their food, steal their TV, ya know, the norm, but one day Logan and I got on this Chocolate kick at his parents house, and dipped darn near everything they had in their pantry in melted chocolate chips. Then we got in a chocolate fight. Pretty silly...

Okay. That didn't go so bad...I'll post this now...but really hopefully I won't be so dumb at this later and I'll figure it out and I'll be so happy and blah blah blah.

I've got loads of cute pictures of Logan and I with our niece and nephews...so I'll try to get those on here ASAP!