The Jesperson Family

Sunday, September 27, 2009

6 was too many...

About a week before Andersen was born, Matt went out of town for work. It was then that I realized that I would NOT be able to handle our 4th child when the baby came, especially when Matt would have to travel for work. I told Matt that we needed to make a change.

We sat down with the kids and told them that with a new baby coming mommy's and daddy's responsibilities would increase. We explained how Tapio was one responsibility that we were worried about, that with the baby's needs, and Tanner's needs, and Kate's needs, that he might be forgotten. Of course they weren't too happy, so we asked them if we should get rid of Kate instead? They both said, no, no! Then we asked if we should get rid of Tanner? Again, no, no.

So, it was agreed that we would sell Tapio to a family who could give him a lot of attention and somewhere where he would not be forgotten. Within a few days, we found a perfect home for him. I bet he doesn't even miss us. We will miss you Tapio, you were a fun dog, we just got you at the wrong time. 10 years from now would have worked much better.

Oh, but Matt did promise the kids a replacement pet. Meet the new "Tapio:"

Tanner loves that this pet can sleep right next to him in bed.

Ahhh, everyone (ESPECIALLY me) is happy! =)

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Andersen James Jesperson...

He's here...

Andersen James Jesperson

(Andersen after my Mother's family heritage and James after Matt's Grandpa Jesperson)

Born September 17, 2009

Weighing 6 pounds 15.5 ounces (7 pounds)

18 1/2 inches long

He is so cute and has us all smitten!

More pictures and labor story to come...

Sunday, September 6, 2009

BYU (14) - Oklahoma (13): WE WERE THERE!

This was easily the most intense, exciting sporting event I have ever been too. The teams, the implications, the stunning venue, and the multiple emotional swings from heartbreak to elation, combined for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Summer Climbing

This summer has been one of the best. Thanks to phenomenal climbing buddies and the best wife on earth! Here's a short summary of photos from recent climbs in Wyoming. More pics and good stories on my Mountain Album Website.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

New Tannerisms and Kate-isms!!

Enjoy! These two keep me laughing all the time!

Jonny and Leah get married!!!

Yesterday Jonny, Matt's brother got married to the most wonderful girl, Leah. We love her so much and are so grateful she is now part of our family. Matt's other brother, Ryan, got married about 4 months ago, and his wife Becky is also awesome!! I couldn't be more excited for the new sister-in-law's I'm lucky to have.

But back to yesterday...lovely day, didn't start out so lovely with it raining, or pouring I should say, but after the ceremony, the rest of the day was just gorgeous. And 70 degrees for the middle of August, we really lucked out! They had their reception in Matt's parent's backyard and was just perfect! (Matt's parents are supposed to be in Mexico right now on their mission, but some boundary changes in the mission have held them back a little bit. But it was sure nice that they were both able to be there).

After the temple ceremony. They got married in the Mt. Timpanogos temple. (My personal favorite, that's where Matt and I were married). I love this picture because Tanner is doing his airplane arms. I love it!

Jonny and Leah, aren't they the most beautiful couple?!!

The Jesperson's, minus Lauren, Matt's sister, who is on a LDS mission in Oakland, CA. And yes, I know I look like I'm about to pop! I feel like it too, less than 6 weeks left...and definitely counting. =)

Kate was on could 9 that she matched "Pretty Princess Leah." She's convinced that she's ready to get married in the temple now because she has a pretty white dress. ( I LOVE this age!!)

Kate loved the little bouquet of flowers that I had, why...because they were just like Leah's of course. I had to many things to worry about, so I didn't have a camera, but I grabbed Matt's grandma's camera and snatched this photo of her. I LOVE it. And the bruise on her head (she got it a week ago when she ran into the corner of the wall in my room) only adds to the personality of this picture. She's definitely my rough and tumble girly girl. =)

This one is blurry because she was twirling, but I love this shot. She seriously thought she was a princess last night. I LOVE it!

Can you believe the brothers would take advantage of their beautiful sister Lauren when she was completely defenseless and unable to defend herself. Of course they wouldn't have been doing this if she was there in person, right guys? You know La would kick your trash! =)

The yard looked so beautiful! I absolutely loved the colors Leah choose, they were just gorgeous in the backyard. Great taste Leah!

Dancing the night away. We really had to try to keep them happy towards the end. When you're used to going to bed at 7:30 every night, you aren't very happy at 9:00, but Matt was amazing at entertaining these two so we could be there for all the festivities...

...But most importantly to keep them up so they could see Jonny and Leah get blasted by the TONS of baby powder we poured down their A/C vents in their car. Talk about the best decorating trick ever, what a great idea Becky!!

Again, Congratulations Jonny and Leah! We sure love you guys!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Epic Duet!

I have the BEST husband in the entire world!! Matt took the kids this weekend so I could go down to Las Vegas with some of my friends to go to The David Archuleta concert. We got the VIP tickets which were so worth every penny! Before the concert, they had a VIP meet and greet where we were able to go into this small room and have an intimate acoustical performance from David. It was incredible. There were only like 100 people there. So cool!! We were also able to get our pictures taken with him. And even though I wasn't thrilled to get a picture 7 1/2 months pregnant where my face looks super chubby (especially in this not very good picture of me), it's pretty cool that I will be able to have this to put in my scrap book!

But that's not even the best part...they had a raffle where they chose 3 people from the audience to come up to the front to ask David a question. I was one of the 3 chosen. So when I got up there, I asked him if I could sing with him. He said yes! We sang part of his beautiful song, "To Be With You." Here's a recording of it. The first minute or so we are just chatting, then he starts singing, sings part of the first verse and I come in with the harmony part for the chorus. It was seriously one of the COOLEST experiences of my life. I loved every minute of it!! I SANG WITH DAVID ARCHULETA!!!!!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Independence Day 2009!

Here's Tanner and Kate in their patriotic attire wishing everyone a very Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone had a great weekend. We had a very fun, but long day on Saturday. Here's the rundown:

6:00 a.m. - Woke the kids up to go see the hot air balloons. (didn't actually get out of the car, just drove by and let the kids watch from the car, they were happy with that).

7:00 a.m. - Went to the parade route and hung out with family while waiting for parade to start.

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Provo parade!! The kids had a blast! They loved the balloons, the dinosaur float, the army trucks, the motorcycles, and Kate especially liked the beauty queen floats, or the "princesses" as she would say.

12:00 p.m. - quick lunch

12:30p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Family nap! Even Tanner fell asleep. It was very nice!

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Swimming with cousins

5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Family BBQ!! So much yummy food! I love having SO many great cooks in the family!

9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Our very own fireworks show with our cousins. It's so fun to be able to do your own fireworks in Utah. In Texas, it was illegal, so I never experienced that growing up. Tanner and Kate loved it, especially the sparklers that they could hold all on their very own.

10:00 p.m. - Fireworks watching party at our good friends house. We could see Stadium of Fire from her front yard. Very cool! Again, tons of yummy food, but my poor pregnant belly was stuffed, so I didn't eat too much.

11:00 p.m. - Everyone in bed fast asleep, especially mom. =)

Here are a few pictures of when the kids were swimming and I actually remembered to pull my camera out. I hope my brain comes back after the baby is born, because I sure feel "air-head-ish" these days.

This is what Kate called her "Shamu pose." (We went to Sea World last week when we were in San Diego).

Kate cracks me up! Her mannerisms, her giant vocabulary, and how she puts the two together can keep my laughing for hours. Tanner was too busy swimming and jumping off the diving board with his cousins to pose for any pictures. At least I got him in a couple.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Orem Summerfest Carnival

We went to Orem Summerfest Friday night with our friends the Freestones. It's the first time I've ever been, the first time Matt ever remembers going (even though his parents told him that they've gone before), and of course the first time for the kids. It was a BLAST!!! The kids were grinning from ear to ear all night. This is definitely going to be a yearly tradition. (And maybe we'll work up to going to the parade and fireworks show too.)

Friday, June 12, 2009

The Finals

Yesterday I was working in Phoenix. I took an afternoon flight to Orlando. Ate dinner and went to the game. Slept at Spencer's pad for 3 hours. And now I'm back at the airport! Was it worth it? 100%! While I'm waiting for the plane to arrive, I thought I'd take some time to post pics and rub it in to my brothers...I was at the Finals! Spencer was kind enough to spot me a ticket and drive me around with only one requirement...I had to represent the Howard jersey. With pleasure, baby! With pleasure.

I got this far onto the court and I got that "just try me sucka" look from the security guy. He was size of an elephant, so I left well enough alone.

The ESPN boys, with my favorite being Mike Wilbon. Tanner and Kate will know him as "daddy's PTI show".

The TNT boys. Marc Jackson giving the love to the camera.

Magic warming up. Howard hit a shot from past half court. Pretty cool.

Lakers, with Kobe on the right.

Claudia (Spencer's girlfriend) and I stowed away in some floor seats through the introduction until the opening buzzer. She gave a high-five to Chris Brown (I told Claudia she should have asked for a shiner like Rhianna, just to prove it), we were near Carlos Boozer, and Chris Tucker (the Rush Hour guy) was next to us. Then two guys showed up to claim their seats. They didn't speak English well and looked like suave, drug-cartel kingpins, so I relinquished my pre-game seat warming service without question. Our real seats were still great and provided an awesome experience. The arena was buzzing with energy; it was a blast. Too bad the Magic lost in overtime. Spencer and I soothed the disappointment with some Stake & Shake. Thanks Spence! That was once in a lifetime.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Magic...

Guess where Matt is tonight...

My brother Spencer works for the Orlando Magic. They get hooked up with two free tickets to each playoff game and he was nice, SUPER nice, enough to call Matt and invite him out to Game 4. It was an offer he couldn't refuse. I am so excited for him to be there. I hope he has an amazing time! And thank you Spence!!

GO MAGIC!!!

Archive Tannerisms...

"Mom, what's for dinner?" We are having blueberry muffins and omelets. "Omelets? Do I like omelets?"

"Mom, come look at the puzzle I just did. You are going to think it's amazing!"

Tanner, please stop picking your nose. "Mom I can't, I pick my nose before I go to bed and wipe it on my bed so the booger monster can come and get it. He only eats boogers, not people, so I'm not afraid of the booger monster." Oh really, where do you put them. "I'll show you..." And sure enough, there were boogers wiped on his mattress. I have NO idea where this came from.

"Mom, have you heard the news, spring is almost here!"

I asked Tanner what we should name our new baby brother and he has said multiple times, "Cookie Joy."

I had to set the timer a few days ago for Tanner to come eat breakfast. When the timer went off, this was our conversation...

(Me): Tanner, the timer went off, please come eat breakfast.

(Tanner): "Ughhhh, I want to kill it."

(Me): Kill what?

(Tanner): I want to kill the timer!

**When I asked him where he had heard the word "kill" he reminded me that the day before I was running around the house saying I had to kill the spiders because I don't like them. This makes this conversation all the more funny to me!

(Tanner): "Mommy, can I go play outside."

(Me): Not today Tanner, it is so, so windy outside. you'll blow away!

(Tanner): "Mom, (in a really annoyed voice) I won't blow away, I'm not a balloon."

(Me): Tanner, if you don't eat your dinner, I'm going to take you home to bed.

(Tanner): "If you put me in bed, I'll jump up, run out the door, and just come back to Nana's."

(Me): Then I'll just have to lock the doors.

(Tanner): "You'll lock Nana's doors too?"

(Me): Yep.

(Tanner): "No, don't say those words."

(While changing his diaper) "Mom, is my poop white?" No Tanner, why would you think your poop was white? "Oh, because I was eating the snow."

(To a friend of mine who visited the nursery a few weeks ago) "Did you know I am the only 3 year old in here!" (Poor Tanner, turned 3 in Feb, will be in nursery until the end of the year).

"Mom, I'll say the prayer...In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen." (He knows how to say a whole prayer, I think he just wanted to eat).

"Mom, we sure say a lot of prayers!"

(Kate crying...) "Kate stop being so sassy!" (Kate still crying...) "Kate, stop being sassy! I mean it! I'm serious!"

Last week the snow finally melted off our front lawn and I told Tanner I was so excited because spring was coming and it was going to get warmer and we'd be able to play outside. Saturday, it snowed really lightly, and Sunday morning, I hear Tanner in his room sadly exclaiming, "Oh no mommy, spring has already gone!"

"Mom, could we go to Old McDonald's?" You mean McDonald's? "Yes, McDonald's, and get some chicken nuggets?" Tanner, we have chicken nuggets here at home. "Whatever!" (I actually asked him to repeat himself, I could not believe that this was his response, I was laughing so hard).

(After jumping off the couch and hurting his ankle) "Mom, I need some goldfish." "You do?" "Yes, the goldfish will go into my tummy and go down to my ankle and make it feel better."

"Kate, you are frustrating me!

"Mom, when I wake up, will I be 3?" Yes Tanner, tomorrow is your birthday. "Am I going to turn 3 in my bed?" Yes, I guess you will.

Today, Matt asked Tanner if he turned 3 in his bed. His response, "Yeah I did, well wait, (pause), no I turned 3 in your bed." (Yes, Tanner still comes into our bed EVERY night, at least he thought that through)

Tanner do you feel older? "No mom, I'm still little, I'm just 3."

"Mom, you got these on ebay didn't you?"

"Mom, I Love You! You're my big red dog!" Thanks Tanner. (Watch Clifford?)

Looking at pictures from Cabo)..."Mommy, I'm naked!" Tanner, you aren't naked, you are just in your swimming suit with out a shirt. "No, look, you can see my two nipples, I'm naked!"

Tanner knows that when we cross the street, he has to hold my hand. One day I was holding Kate and carrying groceries, so my hands were full. I told Tanner to grab my purse and hold onto while we crossed the road. He said, "Oh that's okay mom, I'll hold my own hand!" And he did, he grabbed his hand and walked across the street!

Tanner stop picking your nose. "I can't mom." Why? "Because, my boogers are quite expensive, people want to buy them."Tanner's new favorite food is "Mommy's very yucky smoothie." (I make a protein shake some mornings and one morning Tanner asked if he could have some. I told him he didn't want any because it was mommy's very yucky smoothie. He still wanted to try it, so I gave him a sip...he LOVED it! Now he asks for "Mommy's very yucky smoothie" a few times times a day).

"Dang it, I don't want to eat my breakfast, I want to play with my toys."

Tanner, look at this cute costume with the tutu (we were looking at friends blogs). "Do they toot mommy?"

Tanner, you're a good boy, it's just time to go to bed. "Noooo, I'm a bad boy. I'm a very bad boy." A few minutes later..."I'm a very very sad boy."

To Uncle Cole on the phone..."No, I'm not going trick-or-treating, I wouldn't go to bed, and mommy said I would be in trouble if I didn't go to bed, so now I'm in trouble."

I was talking to a friend about Kate's labor and mentioned when my water broke. Tanner came over to me, and asked, "Mommy, were you sad? When your water broke, were you sad?"

Hey Tanner who are you talking to? (Holding a pretend phone up to his ear) "Oh mom, I'm talking to bulldozer." Oh yeah, what's he doing? "He's bulldozing."

(At Preschool)What shape is this flag? (Tanner)"It's a rectangle, just like the BYU flag, GO BYU!!"

"Hey mom, look over there, that cactus is broken. We need some tape so we can fix it."

While we were saying prayers, Tanner whispered, "Daddy, bless the Mickey Mouse Playhouse Concert." Arms were folded and he still had his eyes closed, he's pretty excited about the concert this week, lol!

"Kate, don't touch that, it's dangerous."Mom, I can't, I'm busy."

"Mommy, what's this?" It's a fly swatter. "Oh, what do you do with it?" You kill bugs. "I want to kill bugs." Ok, you can go outside and see if you can find any bugs to kill. (A few minutes later...)"Hey bugs, come here, I want to kill you."

Last week, Tanner started to call Matt's Dad "Papa John." Cute huh!

"Mommy, where are Grandma and Grandpa? Tanner, they went back to Texas. Noooo, Texas is too far away, can't they go to Arizona?"

"Grandma and Grandpa are you going back to Texas? Okay, Tanner go too, I'll get my shoes."

"Woah Mom, that was a big one. (Talking about the size of the poo-poos in his diaper-is this a sign I should be potty training?)."

"Kate, use your little boy voice, please"

"Okay Mommy, let's get to it." (This was Tanner's response when I told him what our plans were for the day).

"I smell poo-poos. Tanner did you go poo-poo. (Laughing) No, I just tooted."

"Mommy, I have a hungry-ache."

"Tanner are you tired? No, I am happy!"

"Mommy, can you draw me a bulldozer? Tanner, I don't know how. "Mommy, can you draw me a digger? Tanner, I don't know how to draw one of those either. Oh come on Mommy, will you please try."

"Mommy, my diaper is full."

"Mommy, be careful!" I was putting dishes away, and this was his response to hearing the dishes banging.

We were sitting in Sacrament meeting and Tanner looked up Matt's nose and audibly asked, "Daddy, where are you're big boogers?

"Tanner, what sound does the letter "R" make. (After a brief pause) "Arghhhh Matey." (We were going over ABC's and the way they sound and he was doing a really good job, so when I got to "R" and this was his response, it caught me completely off gaurd, I was laughing so hard)

Hey Nick, get off your computer and come over here and eat. One, two, three...(I wonder where he got that from?)

Tanner, would you like PB toast or Mighty Bites for Breakfast? "No Mom, I want to be sassy."

"Kate is cute. Mom and Dad are awesome. And Tanner is soooooo handsome!"

Archive Kate-isms

"I'm a pretty one."

(Matt) Are you?

"Yes, I'm a pretty little girl."

"I'm going to go get married in the temple mom."

(Mary) Who are you going to marry Kate?

"Tanner."

(Mary) I'm sorry honey, you can't marry your brother.

"Oh, well then I am going to marry these beautiful flowers."

(Mary) You can't marry the flowers either Kate.

"Why?"

(Mary) Well, flowers don't last forever, someday you'll find a boy that you can marry in the temple forever.

"Oh, okay."

Kate, would you like some lunch? "No, but thank you though."

"Mom these flowers are so beautiful, can I sleep with them in my bed tonight?"

I asked Kate what we should name our new baby brother and without hesitation she responded, "Sister."

(After getting Kate dressed in pink for the day) "Look at me, I'm pinkerella!"

(After Tanner threw a fit) "Mom, Tanner is frustrated."

"Mommy, Tanner is being a very bad boy."

(During the Sacrament) "Mom can I have a book?" Not until after the sacrament, during the sacrament, we think about Jesus. "Can I have a book about Jesus?"

"Mom, why are you giving the counter a blessing?" (She was watching me make bread, and I was shaping the loaves and this was her question to me when she saw me putting oil on the counter)