I need opinions!!

I have to decide in the next couple of days how I am going to paint my front door. I am undecided about these two options. Any opinions would be helpful.


I am definitely painting the door black, but I am trying to decide if I paint my sidelights white or...


...black??

What do you all think?

Like Father, Like Son...

I fell in love again with my little boy today! I think it's because he is acting more and more like his daddy. Being away from Matt every week is really hard and when I see noticable traits in Tanner that are so similar to Matt's, it makes me grateful to have a little bit of Matt around when he's gone.


I was playing around with Photoshop with this picture. Here's the original, I'd love opinions, I think it looks kinda fun, but is it too much? Some of the photography websites I visit, this seems to be a popular look, so I thought I would try.


Anyway, back to my Tanner...

Tanner has an amazing memory and doesn't forget a single detail. (Just like daddy). Tanner has a Thomas magnet book that he loves and takes with him EVERYWHERE!! I told him a little story with it one night at bedtime, and now he has to have the train magnets in the exact, and I mean exact, places I put them as I told him the story. On Sunday, we were running out the door to church and Tanner asked Matt to grab Thomas. As he did so, it fell on the floor and the magnets wen all over. Matt quickly picked up the pieces and stuck it in the bag. Tanner would not have it. "Daddy, help me put them where they go. Help me Daddy, pleeeease." He would not let us walk out the door unless they were in their right spots.

Tanner is amazing at figuring things out and is always thinking one step ahead. (Just like daddy). This morning, I was next door at our house meeting with our carpet guy. When I got home, Matt's mom told me this story, we were both amazed. Tanner walked up to Nana and said, "Nana, I have poo-poos." Nana told him that she would change him if he ran downstairs to get a diaper. He was gone for a few minutes and came up carrying a diaper, one wipe, a pair of shorts, and a t-shirt. I know he went downstiars, grabbed a diaper and thought, "I better get a wipe too, Nana will need that." And then realized that he was still in his PJ's and thought, "I better get some clothes to wear for the day." The outfit that he chose just happened to match very nicely and is one that I tell him often is one of my favorites. This is the outfit he chose, and him playing in the rain today...




Tanner is also very neat and tidy and likes to keep his things clean. (Just like daddy) A couple of months ago, Tanner was helping his Nana out in the yard and was digging in the dirt with one of his diggers. It was quite muddy that day so his digger got pretty dirty. He came inside where I was feeding Kate with an entire package of wipes and asked me to open it for him. I opened it and he marched downstairs with it. He had been downstairs for quite a while when he came upstairs with his digger and proudly exclaimed, "All clean mommy." I didn't think much of it, I didn't even know it was dirty. I went downstairs a little while later to change Kate, and all the pieces came together. This is what I found...


And the funniest part was that there was a little bit of mud or dirt on every single one of those wipes. (And that he used nearly an entire box!!)

He also has a very funny sense of humor. (Just like daddy!) You'll have to refer to the video in the next post for an example.

I could go on and on, but I won't. I love you son, you are one of a kind and I am so lucky to be your mommy so I can enjoy you and your darling personality everyday!!

Tanner, what's your name?

Tanner is starting to show such a funny personality. I don't know where these answers came from, but they crack me up! I love how at the very end, he smiles so proudly of his responses. He knows he is being silly. I love, love, LOVE this kid!!

4 Month Stats...

My sweet Baby Kate turned 4 months a few weeks ago. They grow too fast!! At her check-up she weighed 16 pounds 4 ounces (90th percentile). She was 26 inches long (95th percentile). And she was in the 75th percentile for head circumference. (I can't remember the exact measurement, I'll have to go find where I wrote it down).

She is doing awesome! She laughs a lot and smiles even more. She liks to sit up. She babbles all the time. She loves to give slobbery kisses. She'll grab my face and with an open mouth plant one on me. But my most favorite thing she does right now is she'll be sitting in my lap and totally twist her head across my chest so she is looking up towards my face and just smile. She'll do it over and over. It is the cutest thing.

I LOVE her chubby cheeks, I kiss them over and over each day. I love her big adorable grin. I love that she looks like her daddy. I love her curiosity. I feel so blessed to have this darling little girl. I love you Kate!!

We had a photo shoot today, here are some of my favorites...

Soggy Diaper...

I have an uncle who has the funniest jokes and he once told us that the wieght range they put on the diaper package is how many pounds of "stuff" a diaper can hold. I think we hit the limit tonight!























I promise I'm not a neglectful parent, I was sick in bed most of the day with a Miagraine and Matt's younger brother's were watching him. I guess since Tanner wasn't complaining, they never "noticed." We all got a kick out of it, even Tanner.

Popsicles...

Ahh, the good ole' days of summer. I decided to strip Tanner down to his diaper to eat this summer treat, and it was a good thing I did. As you can see it ended up all over him. I think he loved the mess just as much as he did the popsicle.



Tanner isn't one who usually likes to have his picture taken, but this last week, he's loved playing it up for the camera. I told him to act silly, and this is what I got...

"Mom, I'm a scary dinosaur crawling in the grass."


This is my favorite pose, where it came from, I have no idea, but I love it, it is so Tanner!!


Of course this is where the popsicle ended up...




Oh, how I love this boy!!

Third Time's the Charm...

We were finally able to have a succesful boating trip with our friends JR and Andrea. We had so much fun. Matt surfed behind the boat and Tanner even tried a llittle bit. Here is Tanner's recap of his adventure.

Tanner got my sense of adventure, or lack of it, so he isn't so sure about new things. But I am proud of him for trying. Matt almost slipped, but was able to hold on (I have no idea how, in the pictures it looks like for sure the board was going to slip out from underneath him). The did have a small wipe out at the end, but Tanner came home talking about it, so proud that he had tried "surfing." We'll see if he wants to try again next time we go.

Here's Matt working his stuff...







I love the smile on Matt's face. We had such a fun time. Thanks again JR and Andrea!

Daddy's Little Helper...

On Monday, I woke up at 4:30 a.m. to take Matt to the airport for his week of work in AZ. At 6:15 a.m., as I was driving down Center street in Orem, Matt called me and said he had missed his flight (the security lines were outrageous!). He waited at the airport until the next flight was going out three hours later and wasn't able to get on that flight either. Flights to AZ were sold out until later that night so Matt rented a car and headed home so he could at least get some work done in a more cozy environment.

I tried to keep the kids busy, so they wouldn't bother him while he was working, but he wanted them to be around. I guess if I had to be gone all week, I would want to spend as much time with them as possible too. Here Matt is working and holding Kate so I could help Tanner with something (I can't remember what, sad, it was only 2 days ago). What a great daddy! We love you Matt, and are secretly glad you missed your flight so you could spend another day with us!!

(Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Cox for the picture)

New Climb Posted - 7/21/07 - South Ridge, Mt. Superior, Utah

Trip Report from an awesome climb with Matt, Marcus, Jr, and Grizz.

A Name and a Blessing...

Today was a very special day! We were able to bless our daughter, Kate Lyn Jesperson. Matt was able to bless her, while my father, Matt's father, Matt's brother Ryan, and Matt's Grandpa Cox were all a part of the circle. It was a beautiful blessing for a beautiful girl. Later I'll post the fiasco with her blessing dress...thanks Ashley for letting us use Livy's dress, it fit perfectly and was a beautiful back-up.


My beautiful family...I am so blessed to have 2 healthy children and a wonderful husband!




I am so grateful my parents were able to come share this special day with us. They came all the way from Dallas, TX.









My wonderful in-laws.













The proud parents and grandparents. I am so grateful that Kate has such wonderful grandparents who have left such a wonderful legacy and example for her and her older brother to follow. Love you!

Tagged...

I am so glad I have something new to post. I was kind of tired of looking at my "celebrity look-alike" page. I have tons of pictures of our vacation and Kate's blessing to post, but that's just it, there are TONS, so I'll have to widdle through them before I get to posting. But here goes with a little more about me (thanks Ashley)...

4 Jobs I've had...
1. Move-in coordinator at Courtyard Senior Living (Matt was my boss, that was interesting)
2. Assistant Secretary for the VP of Information Technology at BYU
3. Janitor at the JKHB for one semester (it was all that was left and I was desperate for a job, on the upside, it paid good)
4. Office Manager/accountant for a dry cleaners in Dallas

4 Movies I couls watch over and over...
1. She's the Man
2. Just Married
3. Hairspray (never saw the old one, but the new one is awesome!)
4. Any chick-flick, teeny bopper movie

4 Favorite Movies...
Same as above

4 (5) Places I've lived...
1. Phoenix, AZ (3 seperate times)
2. Henderson, NV
3. St. Louis, MO
4. Orem, UT (in between all the above places)
5. Can't leave out my home roots, Garland, TX!!

4 Favorite TV/Reality shows...
1. 24 (although this last season wasn't the best, they better do better next season)
2. American Idol
3. So you think you can Dance
4. What not to Wear

4 of my favorite places I've been...
1. Cabo San Lucas, MX
2. New York City
3. San Francisco, CA
4. Austin, TX

4 Favorite Foods...
1. Any sweet treat
2. Chips and yummy pico de gallo/guacamole
3. "Thai Lettuce Wraps" from Cheesecake Factory
4. Peanut Butter (Ever since my first pregnancy)

4 Websites I check daily...
1. hotmail.com
2. blogs
3. eBay
4. Did I mention blogs...=)

4 Hobbies I enjoy...
1. Cooking / Nutrition
2. Music-singing, playing my flute, teaching Kindermusik
3. Shopping
4. Blogging

4 Friends I tag...
1. Meg
2. H
3. Brynn Naegle
4. Matt Jesperson

My Celebrity Look-alikes...

Saw this on another friends blog and tried it out. It was so fun that I did it with like 3 or 4 different pictures. The celebrity that came up on all of them...Sally Fields. Who would have thought. I'll be excited to see it on some of your blogs in the next little bit.

Happy Birthday America!!

A little late, but better than never...


Our 4th of July here in AZ was really quiet. When it is 117 degrees outside (no exaggeration), there isn't a whole lot you can do outside. No fun parades, no outdoor BBQ's, no festivals or carnivals, it's just too hot to do any of that (thank goodness this is the last 4th in AZ). So, we just took it easy. Matt, Jonny, and Ryan (Matt's brothers) all took Tanner to the "beach" and Kate and I had a little photoshoot and made a patriotic dessert for our indoor BBQ. It was a giant flag sugar cookie. Doesn't this look tastey...











We were debating whether we would even go to fireworks becuase we didn't want to sit outside in the 100+ degree heat with the kids and thousands of other people. It just didn't sound like fun. But then we had a great idea. Our community here in Mesa, Courtyard Towers, is a 14-story tall building right in the middle of town. We thought it might be cool to get up on the roof and watch the fireworks all over the valley. I'm glad we went, because it ended up being the highlight of our day. We saw over 15 firework shows! It was awesome! Tanner loved it and we avoided the crowds and the heat (becuase we didn't have to save a spot anywhere). Although it didn't have the same magic as seeing it right over head, it was pretty cool to say we did it once. I guess if you have to spend the 4th of July in AZ, you might as well do something you'll never get to do again. Here are some pictures that Matt took...





Can you see the show in the background too...awesome!














We have so much to be grateful for, and our country and the freedoms we have are defintley at the top of our list.

It's Finally Done!!!

Matt's climbing trip to Ecuador spawned an idea to recreate his entire mountain website. Now, 6 months later...I have my husband back! But now that it's done I have to admit, it's worth it. It's amazing. Check it out here: Marauders Mountain Album.