Viva Las Vegas

We are off to Las Vegas for yet another bowl game! This year we made it more of a girls trip, Ashlee, Dani and I are going down with Grandma Thursday morning then the boys are meeting up with us on Saturday. I am excited but I am sad=( I am leaving Taylor with Mark and my parents. Last year she was only two months old and an angel the whole time (she sleep most of the trip, through the pep rally and the entire football game) , this year different story. She is still an angel but one that likes her bed time, routine and unlike a newborn does not sleep everywhere we go. My mom and dad are leaving for St. George Thursday so they are going to take her down with them and then mom and Tay are staying in St. George instead of going to the game. I am excited to spend time with the girls I just hope I dont get to homesick for Mark and Taylor... atleast I know she is in good hands.

Temple Square

Last week some friends from our ward invited us to ride trax downtown to see the lights. We had a lot of fun and Taylor loved the lights. I was worried about her getting cold but Mark bundled her up so well!! I love seeing the lights, the are done so well its amazing.

A Visit to Santa

On Saturday while the men went golfing, us women went shopping...while we where going through the wonderful clearance at Target Grandma went to scope out Santa at the mall. Of course, he was there and the lady working told my Grandma that would could take a couple pictures ourselves. Because of that (just one 5by7 was like 12.99grr) we went right over. When we got there Dani and I walked her up and sat her on his lap. She just starred at him in with her "oh wow" look, I took one of her looking at him, so cute. Then I begun to try to get her attention, she would look at me really fast but just starred at him. Santa decided to try to help me...not a good idea, he did this by touching her nose. She did not like that a began to "fake" cry, not her real cry but her I am not sure about this cry. Since I did not want to scar her for life I hurried and took the crying picture and went and got her. They funny thing is the second I was right there she was fine. I dont think she was scared of Santa, but she sure did not want him touching her. She did not even have time to tell him what she wanted!!! Most of my pictures with Santa are crying ones so I guess she is trying to carry one the tradition...

P.S. If you go to Dani's blog you can click on the picture and see it big... Its on the side labeled The Girls.

Lights, Camera, ACTION!

On Friday night we went down to the temple to see the lights be turned on. We got there at 5:30 and there was a ceremony that was about 30minutes then they turned them on as we sang 3 songs. Taylor loved looking at the lights, the temple was beautiful and the weather was perfect!

Waiting for the program to start


St. George Temple, Tay and Grandpa

Mark and Tay Jesi and Mark

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year we went to St. George, we had a fun relaxing day! Grandpa and Grandma Sprouse came over for dinner. Dinner was great thanks to Mom and Grandma Sprouse got some yummy pies!!

Taylor playing on with her daddy!

Eating Dinner

Mom getting dinner ready and Dani making Christmas cards!

A Family of Blue

It's been another fun year of football. Not only do I love going down to Provo on Saturdays but I love running into cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends while down there. In our section we have about 12 tickets together but if you look up a couple rows you can usually see my cousins, Kiley and Hayden then look up a little more you can see about 12 more family members!! We are a family that bleeds blue...

Never a Greater Hero

On Friday we went to the last BYU home fireside. It was very good as usual, one of the players Rocky sang a beautiful song "Never a Greater Hero". He has an amazing voice and while he was singing I could not help but think how true the words to the song where. Our Young Women have a Young Women and Excellence this Thursday and our main focus is on Jesus Christ so I have been thinking about him a lot the last few days. Here are the lyrics... If you want to hear it to the right is the song...you just have to go to the bottom and pause my other music. When I heard this the first time I was almost in tears and each time I listen to it I get the same feeling. It is one of my favorite songs now.


Making His home with the lowly,
spending His days with the poor
Bringing hope to their hearts,
giving Man a new start with His cure
But not all would receive of His offerings, some even planned his deceit
But he wouldn’t forsake those whose lives he might save so he refused to leave

Never a better hero,
never a truer man
Hoping to save us by taking His pain in His hand
Never a greater compassion,
never a wasted day
Not one regret,
true to the end

There was never a better way oohh…

He knew His life would be shortened,
but never murmured a word of complaint Cos He had in mind a much greater design And it helped Him through the pain
He gave man power to take Him,
knowing His death would bring life
And there was no surprise,
there was love in His eyes –
when He died…

Never a better hero,
never a truer man
Hoping to save us by taking His pain in His hand
Never a greater compassion,
never a wasted day
Not one regret,
true to the end
There was never a better way
All that He did follow and live

There was never a better way … ooh…

Weekend of Chaos

This last weekend and even into the beginging of the weekend has been crazy. Friday we had Halloween, Saturday Taylor's birthday party then the BYU game. On Sunday we were able to go to church and relax, Monday we left for Wendover and Tuesday we got home and tried to wind down... Its now Thursday and life is back to normal so I am able to post our weekend... ENJOY!

The Last ohh-rah

Mark is DONE with the Marines and I could not be happier! His last drill was the Marine Ball, this is when they celebrate the Marines Birthday. This year is their 233rd Birthday!! It was on Monday in Wendover and the Rainbow Hotel and Casino. Ben and Malory(brother and sister-in-laws) came cause Ben was the DJ, Malory watched her two kids plus Taylor in the hotel room!! I am glad she was there and willing to take on such a task. At one point I went up to check on things and Taylor and Ethan were taking turns crying! Since this was Mark's last drill he decided to be in the ceremony doing sword detail... I think that is what it is called. The ceremony was long, the guest of honor was only supposed to talk for 10 minutes but he went on and on for just about an hour, meanwhile Mark and a lot of other Marines are stanidng at attention. After that we ate, then dancing started. In the past we have had a blast dancing with Mark's friends but none of them where there. Mark did not want to dance so finally I decided to just dance without him... I was the only one on the stage!! That was until a whole bunch of drunk ladies came over. During one line dance they kept telling me I was off... yet I was the only sober one. I finally got annoyed and went and sat down. Mark and Ben where laughing because none of them where together and they were all holding drinks. What a night...

Taylor's 1st Birthday Party!

We had Taylor's Birthday Party on Saturday with all our extended families! It turned out great, we planned it at noon, kinda dumb being that she takes her nap at 1... but we wanted to be done by 4 to watch the football game!! It worked out perfect thanks to Aunt Dani who got Taylor to take a nap before the Party started!! When everyone got there we ate, then did presents. She did such a good job at opening them and she got GREAT presents!! Then we did cake! We call her Taybug so I wanted to make a ladybug cake. I made a mini one for her to eat and then made a bigger one for everyone. They worked out so well. Thanks for everyone for coming and for your support.

Halloween

This year Mark and I did not really plan our costumes until the night before Halloween. I had already gotten Taylor's ready way before had but did not have much time to think about our costumes. With Vance and Kristy having there Halloween party I really wanted to dress up. I told Mark that we should be Pirates and he came up with great ideas. We gathered most of our costume from home! We had fun getting dressed up, I cant wait tell next year when Tay will be old enough to go trick or treating!!

Tay in her Costume!

A Pumpkin and 2 Pirates

A witch, pumkin and 2 Pirates

Dani, Taylor and Jesi

I am also posting some pics of her last year... She was so small!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2008!!!

Taylor is a pumpkin princess...my mom bought this costume last year at the same time we bought her other pumkpin costume. I was questioning doing sort of the same thing two years in a row but it is so cute I thought Who cares!!! This morning we got up and went to IFC and show everyone our costume. Here she is with Aunt Dani...

THRILLER!

On Monday night Dani, Malory and I went to Thriller. We had a lot of fun just us girls. Thriller was good, amazing dancers, I was not a huge fan of some of the in between vidoes and all that but for the most part we had a ton of fun!! It made me think of being back in high school and getting ready for concerts, and being on stage. Some of my best memories!! I hope Malory had fun cause that was her Birthday present from Mark and I.

New Changes...

Friday night Mark had to go a missonary fireside with the YM's. Right before it started he called me and told me the bishop wanted to meet with us when it was over...I did not want to because I new that it could be me getting released!!! Well, it was BUT I got put back in as 1st counsler, I was 2nd before. I am excited for the presidency.
Today we went in for Tay's 1st year appointment. She is still tall and skinny in about 80% in height and just below 50% for weight. We got shots and she was not happy about that, probably cried the hardest she ever has. As I was trying to get her dressed she just keep crying., she is doing much better now that she has had her nap. She is loving her birthday presents, one of them makes a lot of music and she stands at it and dances... its so cute! She started saying bath, Dani and just the other day I asked her if she wanted a Banana and she said it right back to me. I love all the changes but I find myself missing my baby!! It goes so fast.

Its Taylor Grayce's Birthday party...what a holiday!!!

Tay sitting on her present...she did this to almost all of them
Her loving her new outfit.

OH WOW!!!

Birthday Girl!!

We had so much fun on Tay's Birthday...

It was so much fun watching her open her presents

and get excited. She got the most excited over her cards, they

were so cute!!! I cant believe my baby is ONE!

October 2007
October 2008

It is Taylor Grayce's Birthday today... I cant believe how the year has blown by. What a year it has been. She has brought so much joy into our life, I dont know what we did without her. I have loved watching her grow and develop. Looking back on the year many things stand out but the joy is the biggest thing. I remember her doing simple things but they were the things that meant the most. She had a toy attached to her car seat, when you pulled it it played music... I remember when she first started to pull it EVERYTIME we would hear that music Mark and I would look at each other with such joy. Just recently we bought her a new car seat we were so excited as we put it in, I looked at Mark and he was smiling from ear to ear and I noticed myself doing the same thing. Not only have I loved watching her I love watching her and her daddy. What an amazing DAD he is, from the way he plays with her to simply changing a messy diaper he does everything with such love. She sure does love him and DEMANDS his attention...his FULL attention!!! Today we went to lunch with him and when I took her to leave she got so mad at me...when he is around she usually wants to be right next to him. I love to see the bond they have as father daughter... I have always been really close to my dad and love that Tay and Mark are on the same track!!! There are so many of you that play a huge role in her life and I thank you for your love and support. Most of all I am thankful for Taylor and look forward to having her as my daughter...

TAYLOR HAS HERE FIRST TOOTH. Seems pretty simple but she will be one next Thursday. We have been waiting and waiting for one to arrive but were not suprised she had not gotten on yet, I was one when I got my first tooth. On Sunday she crabbed my finger put it in her mouth and there it was I felt it... dont know exactly how long it has been there. It was almost like she took my finger to tell me Mom, I have a tooth!!!

Sandgren Update

Taylor will be one on the 23rd of this month...wow has the last year flown by. Just the last week she has learned some new things, apparently I say OH WOW to Taylor a lot because she now says it to me... she will see something and go OH WOW. The first time she said it I just looked at her it was as clear as day. She has also started throwing her hands doing touchdown whenever we say TOUCHDOWN!! She is also getting very good at giving high fives. Its crazy to me that a year ago she was this little baby that needed so much done for her and now its a year later and she wants to do EVERYTHING by herself. On Saturday she was not eating breakfast very good so I got her fork out the feed her and she through a fit and wanted to fork... we gave it to her and she tried to feed herself. My mom says she had one just like that...ME!!!!

Another bit of good news is that Mark IS ALMOST DONE WITH THE MILITARY, HE GETS OUT IN NOVEMBER!! I could not be more excited...

Another BYU football game...

BYU played Utah State here are some pics of our fun football night...

Dani teaching Tay all about BYU Football
Tay wearing Grandpa's hat Tay and her dad
This is what Tay did most of the game
Reading the Saturday paper...