Jess & Dee

Here are my brother and his girlie friend, Dee. Aren't they a cute couple? They are both going on missions soon. Jesse's papers are in and hers will go in soon.

Graham cracker houses

This is one tradition that has stuck. We have tried to be consistent with traditions, but it seems like we make them then forget what they are the next year. We got the idea from my sister-in-law's family. They recently did theirs, and they area amazing. Check them out.

Nate seriously spent about an hour on his. On the icicles I imagine.

Ok, I know that this flower is HUGE; she doesn't normally wear them this big. But you have no idea how many old ladies loved it when we went the the mall. She got so much attention.

Kid's Time

Medford has this super fun kids play place called Kid's Time. This is something every community needs. We played for 3 hours. We will definitely get a pass when we come back in the spring.

Santa and Family picture

Can't not post the boys with Santa.

Tanner is so amused by my pump. Remember this video?

Dallin singing "I am a Child of God"

I sing this song to Dallin every night. He has it pretty well memorized, however you can't tell from this video. He is pretty hard to understand. So cute!

A few pictures

All the cousins on the Tanner side of the family together.

I love this picture of Dallin. He loves to hold Ashlyn, but only for about 30 seconds then he says "Done."

I took some pictures of my brother and his family I have such cute nephews. It has been so fun for Tanner to be reunited with them. They lived in Rexburg and moved a few months ago.

And some of Ashlyn

Twisted

At church we had a lesson about Elder Uchtdorf's talk "Of Things That Matter Most" that really made me want to change a few things. Here is a quote from the talk.
"We would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most."
The "significant" is my family, and I haven't been treating them that way.
Elder U. said some of the things that matter most are our relationships with our God, our families, our fellowman, and with ourselves. I agree, but I have spent too much time on my relationship with myself. So in an effort to be less self absorbed I played games with the boys one day. I love playing games and chatting with the kids.

I guess in the past I haven't felt like it was productive to just play with the kids. But it is really the best thing I can do with my time for now, even if my house isn't clean and the things on my To Do list get postponed. I plan to simplify many things to take care of the things that matter most. Expect posts about my efforts to simplify.

A little fun and a little drama

My cousin, Chawna, and I went for a walk around a park by her house and the kids were kicking soccer balls into a net, then Dallin started calling "Mom! Mom!" I would just look over, wave and keep walking. We got closer and he was saying "Mom! Stuck!" We walked over and he had his head, arm and legs tangled in the soccer net. It was pretty funny. I'm glad my phone has a decent camera on it so I could capture it.

Something not so funny. Last night Dallin was sitting on the back of a couch at my parents' house and he fell off onto the tile floor behind it. He went limp for about five minutes. We were so scared for those few minutes that he broke his neck. Something happened, we don't know what, but thankfully it passed. It is so amazing how much can fly through your head in just 5 minutes. You wonder if you could take care of a paralyzed child, and what doctor bills would be like, and what his life would be like, and how yours would be changed forever. I instantly thanked God when Dallin started moving his fingers and then his feet.

Similarities

People ask who I think Ashlyn looks like, and I never know what to say. She looks a lot like Dallin in this picture though, and she looks like Tanner when he sleeps. It is in their eyes that they all look different to me.

I know, I have been neglecting my boys lately in blog posts. I will get some pictures of them and tell what they are up to soon.

Ashlyn's blessing

Here is Ashlyn in her beautiful blessing dress. Nate gave her a sweet blessing.

Kay (in the picture below) made this dress from Ashlyn's deceased grandma, Holly's, wedding dress. It will be a special dress in the Spence family. I will pass it to my sister-in-laws on the Spence side that have baby girls. So Mickie is up next.

We forgot to get a picture of all that stood in on the blessing, but here is my dad (on the left) and Nate's dad. Nate's brother, Braden, and my two brothers, Jesse and Paul, were there also. Harvey Bragg and Frank Grant also helped.


Before she was blessed we had a little family home evening lesson and we sang "I am a Child of God". Dallin picked it; it is all of my kids' favorite song. As we sang I held Ashlyn and we looked into each other's eyes and I felt the weight of my responsibility as a parent. It was as if she was pleading with me to be kind, and to lead, guide and walk beside her so she can live with God again. When she looked up at me I felt so much love and desire to be the best mom I can be for all of my kids. It was a really great night.

I am a child of God
And He has sent me here,
Has given me and earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
Lead me,
Guide me
Walk beside me.
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with Him someday.

Quick update

I finally used my mom's camera to get a picture of Ashlyn. She is a month old now. She has been a wonderful baby. I plan to do another fun photo shoot of her on Thanksgiving when I can borrow my uncle's nice camera. She is such a pretty little baby, if I may say so myself. I love her big blue eyes and delicate features.

Nate's dad and brother will be in town for Thanksgiving. We look forward to that. There will be about 35 people at our Thanksgiving dinner and volleyball game. That is my favorite part about being back in Oregon; all my family is here. I wish I liked the city better.

Nate's phone has been broken for about 2 weeks, so if you have tried to call/text him and he hasn't answered, know that is why. We can upgrade and get new phones beginning of December. Also, we don't get good cell phone reception so if I don't answer or respond to your calls or texts, know that I am not avoiding you it is just us living in the boondocks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My excuse

Maybe you've noticed that I haven't been blogging lately. Well, it is because I forgot my camera in Idaho. I am so mad at myself. It is one of my most prized possessions and I can't have it for almost 2 months! I will borrow a camera here and there, but don't expect as many blog posts while we are in Oregon.

A quick update:

• The trip was good. We split it up over two days and stayed at a hotel half way. The kids did great.
  
• Nate seems to be liking his clinical affiliation just fine. I enjoy having him home in the evenings and not thinking about school when we are together.
• Ashlyn is such a pleasant little girl. Not a bad sleeper or eater, not great, but not bad. The boys enjoy her when she is awake, and they don't seem to mind that she consumes so much of my attention. Must be the grandparents and family we are constantly around that help them not feel neglected.
• Oregon is beautiful. I forgot how much I love the fall here. We think we want to end up here when Nate finishes school. Hopefully there will be job opportunities when the time comes.
  

2 photo shoots

Ashlyn

The Campbells