Cassady and George Tied the Knot 10/19/12

Cassa Tweedle Dee, the youngest my siblings, got married on 10/19/12.

These are a few of her bridals, taken a few weeks before the wedding.

Twinkle Toes

The night before, us girls took her out for a bachelorette party.  Of course we made her dress the part of bride-to-be.

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Let the party begin!

We had dinner at PF Changs, and then went to Anna's house for a fun pinata, gifts, desserts, and girl talk.  Such a fun night!

The next morning, we all headed to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple for the wedding.  The sealing was beautiful, and it was a chance for all of my immediate family to be together in the temple again, which was special in and of itself.

Then, of course, we headed outside with the waiting kiddos and awaited the arrival of the new Mr. and Mrs. George and Cassady Stewart III.

It was a beautiful, sunny October day, and Cooper was all smiles waiting for Aunt Cassady and Uncle George.

Ellie and Aspen were being patient.

Jaisie decided it was as good a time as any for a snack.

It wasn't long before the newlyweds made their debut.

Cooper thought it was cool to be at the temple and that Cassady and George were married in the temple.

We were already getting a little goofy from all the waiting around.

Cassady was a beautiful, beaming bride.

Our immediate family at the temple

All of our family at the temple.

Our traditional sisters photo at the temple

(Chrystal, Cassady, Chelsey, Camyll)

All the girls: Aspen, Anna, Camyll, Cassady, Chelsey, Chrystal, Liz

\After the temple, we headed to Rodizio Grill (Brazilian Steakhouse) for the wedding luncheon.  Dad gave a really sweet toast to the bride and groom.

The food was delicious.

These two hoodlums (big brother Jayson, and his wife Anna) were sitting across from me, and were just as smoochy as the newlyweds.  Too cute.

Later that afternoon/evening we went to the reception at Highland Gardens.  I snapped a few shots of the decor before the party started.

This "Thank You" sign was near the exit.  I just loved the picture--SO Cassady.

Cooper was raiding the after-dinner mints well before the party started.

Tyler was helping sweet little Jaisie stay out of trouble.

Cass was beautiful touching up her makeup before the reception began.

Ah, young love.

Cousins: Ellie (6), Kate (1)

Getting all the grandkids to look at the camera at one time was nearly impossible.

Our family, pre-reception.

Siblings and the newlyweds

Cooper was excited for Cassady's wedding; we'd been talking about it for months, since it meant we got to visit our family in Utah again.

Grandma and Grandpa Christensen

Cooper, Nathan and I

Every Christmas growing up, we'd have a picture with our Mower cousins in front of the fireplace mantle at my parents' house.  This year we were a few months early, and not at the house, but everyone was together--a rarity--so we borrowed the reception center mantle, and lined up oldest to youngest.

Jayson, Chrystal, Bryt, Shelisa, Camyll, Aaron, Chelsey, Austin, Cassady

George and Cass stole a few moments to themselves during their long receiving line.

Then it was time for the real partying to begin.  The kids started dancing early on, and continued all night.

Cousins: Ellie, Cooper, Calvin

Traditional Daddy-Daughter dance...

...turned into a very cute, very non-traditional Daddy-Daughter dance!

None of us could believe Cass convinced Dad to do it,

and not just that he did it, but did it enthusiastically.  Their number was the hit of the party.

Then the new couple had their first dance.

Sweet

Adorable little Kate

Jaisie and Cooper danced the night away.

Some videos of the kids dancing.  At the end of the first video, Tyler does a cute little dance too.

Another little Daddy-Daughter dance (Ellie and Bryt), and you can see Camyll, Jaisie, Jason and Calvin dancing in the background.  So cute.

Soon it was time for tossing the bouquet (no pics of that), and the garter belt.  George was timid at first...

...but then just went for it!

It was truly a night to remember.  We all blew bubbles as the couple made their grand exit.  I just loved Cassady's going away outfit, especially the birdcage hat.  She's always so stylish and cute.

Stettsen drew a bride and groom on the windshield of the newlyweds' car.  Too cute!

Such a fun wedding!!  Thank you, Cass and George for getting married so we could all party.

Congratulations!!

Family Photo Shoot 2012

The day before Cassady's wedding, all the family was together, something that hadn't happened in about 6 years!  So we jumped on the opportunity to have a family photo shoot.

In between shots, the kids kept themselves busy exploring the field we were in.

Jaisie (1) and Tyler (9)

I just can't resist this cutie!

Apparently Jaisie was hungry or teething, as she chewed on her mom's necklace.

The photos (taken by Naoma Stewart) turned out AWESOME!!!

I only have a few from what the photographer has shared online, but here they are.

Mom and all the girls...(L to R)

Camyll, Chrystal, Mom, Chelsey, Cassady

Liz, Anna

All the grandkids (L to R)

Tyler (9), Alex (17), Aspen (15)

Calvin (3), Kate (21 months), Jaisie (16 months), Ellie (6), Cooper (3)

Grammie, Papa, and all the grandchildren

ALL the Alan Christensen family

Kate, Liz, Bryt, Ellie (front), Aspen, Alex, Tyler, Anna, Jayson, Mom (Terry-front), Nathan, Dad (Alan-front), Cooper (front), Chrystal, Calvin, Jason, Jaisie, Camyll, George, Cassady, Stettsen, Chelsey

In 6 years we added 6 new family members between weddings and births.  Crazy!

Our immediate family

Chrystal, Camyll, Jayson, Mom, Dad, Bryt, Cassady, Chelsey

Can't wait to see how the rest of the pics turned out!

Cousins at He-Haws Farm

One day during our Utah trip, Cooper's cousin, Calvin, had his regular preschool, but they were going to a local farm/ pumpkin patch, and Cooper was invited to join the group for the field trip.

All the kids lined up for a photo (Cal 5th from L in gray, Cooper very R end).

Calvin was ready to have some fun

Coop enjoyed the giant hay bale tunnels, but was too scared to go on the big white slide.

Calvin, however, braved the big while slide on a burlap sack, and loved it.

There were lots of things for the kids to climb on, 

and lots of slides.

Here goes Cal on the black corrugated plastic tunnel slide.  This was Coop's favorite.

Cooper's MOST favorite part were the tractors...small ones to pedal, 

and big ones to pretend to drive.  He was sure to point out to me that this one is a Johnny Popper John Deere, a fact he's learned from watching all those John Deere videos.

Our little sheep (Coop) and pig (Cal)

The kids also loved all the animals in the petting zoo.  We got to get right in the pen with them.  Coop had fun tormenting the goats by chasing them all over the pen.

Jaisie was with us too, and was adorable as ever in her over-sized coat checking out the piglets.

There were two new litters of pigs, both about two weeks old.  So cute!

More goats

After the petting zoo, the kids got to play in a big pit of deer corn, so much more fun than a sandbox!

Then it was on to a hayride.  Coop is covering his ears in this photo because he thinks the tractor is too loud.  The kid and loud noises just don't mix.

Then it was on to the pumpkin patch, through the corn maze, to pick out some little pumpkins to take home.

Thanks for inviting us along, Auntie Camyll--it was SO much fun!!

Dancing with Aunt Cassady

One of the first few nights we were in Utah, Cooper and Aunt Cassady had a little dance session in the living room at Grammie's house.  Good times. :)

Miscellaneous Moments from Our Fall Trip to Utah

From October 12th to November 1st this year Cooper and I were in Utah visiting family and hanging out.  We arrived a week before the wedding of my youngest sister, Cassady, so I could attend her temple endowment.  I am so lucky to be a stay-at-home mom right now with a preschool-age child, and can go for long visits.  Plane fare is the same regardless of how long we stay, so at this point in our lives, I try to take advantage of long visits.  We have been so fortunate this year to visit our family in Utah three times (twice for weddings, and once just because)!  A big thank you to Dad for letting us use Skymiles for all those visits, which would otherwise be impossible.

The first few days in Utah, we had lots of fun seeing family.  Aunt Chelsey came over to play with Cooper one day during a break from college.  They had so much fun playing together!

 We've been able to visit my family so much this year, that Cooper is starting to really get to know my side of our family, and develop relationships with them, which makes me so happy.  He now knows the names of all his aunts/uncles (10 of them!), and his 7 cousins, and what parents go with what kids.  It helps that besides just a face in a picture, he now has experiences to relate to each person.  So grateful for this.

The first week or so in Utah we had some beautiful fall weather, and we were able to enjoy Grammie and Papa's backyard.  Cooper loves to swing in the big hammock in the backyard.

 Fall in my parents' backyard means lots of harvest. We had fresh apples the entire duration of our visit, and picked a big bowl full of raspberries like this twice.  Cooper enjoyed learning where some of these foods come from, and picking his own to eat.  The boy loves him some raspberries!

 One day Cooper found some work crew safety clothes lying around from Papa's company.  He was excited to dress up as "a worker guy, " and told us that someday he was going to grow up big and be a worker guy and drive the excavators and backhoes.  Grammie told him that someday when he's a teenager/college age, he can come work on one of Papa's crews.  He thought that was the best idea ever.

My brother-in-law, Stettsen, took this panoramic photo of my parents' side yard, showing the fall foliage (the bright red tree is a Japanese maple), with me playing with my niece, Jaisie.  That part of the backyard is breathtaking just about any time of year.

On Oct. 25th, we experienced Utah's first snow of the season.  It was just a skiff, but enough to make things even more beautiful...

 ...and enough for Cooper to play in for a minute, make and throw a snowball, and learn what snow is.  This was his first time in snow that he remembers (even though the last two winters he's seen snow), so he was ecstatic.

Before Halloween, the Halloween costume bin made its way down from the attic, and it took no time at all for Coop to have fun with the costumes.  I couldn't resist snapping this shot for future blackmail purposes.

The Saturday before Halloween Anna (sis-in-law), Stettsen (bro-in-law), Chelsey (sister), and Liz (sis-in-law) all ran in the Provo Halloween half marathon.  I think this may have been a first for everyone, except our veteran, Liz.  All the runners dressed in Halloween costumes, as is customary for that race.  Anna was a bunny, Stett was The Flash, Chelsey was Super Woman, and Liz was...I dunno, but cute with her pink boa and rainbow skirt!  Congrats to these racers for running 13.1 miles down Provo Canyon and ending in Provo!  Cooper and I were there with my parents at mile marker 13 to cheer them to the end.  

[I think all my other photos from our trip are more "event" oriented, so the rest to come are more in chronological order.]

Cooper is 3!

I know this post is long overdue--almost two months overdue--but we've been out of town, busy, and sick, so better late than never.

I have always posted about Cooper's milestones when he passed a milestone age.  Since he turned three not too long ago, it's time to post about my boy.

Cooper's 3 yr old stats:

     Height: 37-3/4" (50th percentile)

     Weight: 34.6 lbs. (85th percentile) He's a surprisingly heavy, or so I've been told when others pick him      up.  The kid is pure muscle--he's got defined arms, calves, and a six-pack!

     Vision: 20/30

Cooper continues to be a smiley kid.  First thing when he wakes in the morning, he usually wakes me and gives me a kiss on the cheek, pulls back, and smiles close to my face.  He's such a sweetie.

Cooper is still obsessed with Curious George.  We record it every day, and then I let him watch it while I shower and get ready.  He'll stay glued to the couch while it's on, which is a relief knowing I can shower in peace and not worry about what mischief he might be getting into.  He would watch Curious George ALL DAY if I let him, and sometimes it's a battle to turn it off.  He loves that little monkey!  On 11/9 I posted on FB: Coop watches Curious George every day while I get ready. Lately whatever George does, Coop reenacts later. A few days ago he was building a telescope (Coop says to me: "Mom, I need to get a box, and scissors, and paper, and a reflection, and boogers, and paint, and glue, and squish it all together to make a telescope, a really BIG telescope!"). Yesterday it was a miniature car wash with my scrub brushes and broom, and today he's building a robot out of Duplos. Apparently it's complete with a body, head, flashing lights, and blows bubbles. Love that something as positive as a healthy imagination is budding while I'm getting ready every day.

Cooper is still terrified of loud noises, including the vacuum, passing trucks, the lawn mower, hair dryers, etc.  He'll go to great lengths to avoid a loud noise, and always covers his ears.  When recently visiting my parents, my mom would make a smoothie every morning in the blender, and Coop would run for cover.  After a few days he got used to it, but always covered his ears, and told me later he didn't like that blender.

My most recent favorite moment was the other night.  Nate was at church for a youth thing, and so Cooper and I had the house to ourselves after dinner.  I decided to play with him, and put aside all the things I needed to do.  We had watched Disney's Pocahontas and Pocahontas II in the days before (teaching him about Indians for Thanksgiving).  There's lots of fighting with swords on boats in the second movie, and so after I'd finished folding laundry, with two empty laundry baskets, I said, "Coop!  Run quick and get us some swords from your toys; We gotta defend our boats (as I jumped in a basket and sat down)!"  His eyes got wide and a smile of delight light up his face, and he dashed to his room to find two swords.  We played swords and boats in the laundry baskets for almost an hour, at which point he ran over to me, threw his arms around my neck, and said, "You're the best Mommy.  You're so nice.  I love you," and kissed me on the cheek.  Said thanks and asked why he thought I was nice, and he said, "Because you play with me."  Such a sweet little moment that reminded me to stop sometimes and just play with him.  I try to do that every day for at least a half hour, and it's usually the best part of my day.

On the flip side, Coop has become quite the Daddy's boy, especially after we were gone to Utah for 3 weeks, during which time Nate joined us 1 week in for only 5 days, so there was a long period of time afterward where we were away from him.  It was the longest Nate and I have been apart since his summer internship in Chicago in 2008.  When we got home, the two of them were nearly inseparable for a week.  Nate had a hard time focusing on work (he works from home), and would find any chance possible to take a break and play with Cooper.  They've gone fishing a few times together at a local pond where Nate knows the landowner.  They often visit the local John Deere store together so Coop can climb on all the tractors.  Nate even took Cooper with him one Wednesday night to youth night at church.  They were making home-made pizzas that night, and Cooper came home all excited to tell me about how someday he's going to be a Scout and a missionary and make pizzas.  Too cute.  I love that Coop and Nate are becoming buddies.

Quotable Cooper of late:

Cooper: "Mom, fish eat fish food, and dogs eat dog food, and lions...they eat all the monsters!"

Me: "Cooper, please don't throw my shoes around. They make marks on the walls."

Coop: "Yes, Mom, I do throw shoes. I'm a guy."

Most creative reason for not eating vegetables at dinner goes to Coop: "I can't, Mom (as he dramatically falls off his chair to the floor). I'm stuck in this mud and can't get up. ("Tries" to get up, and lays back down on belly.) See? I'm just too stuck!"

While I was putting in a load of laundry the other day, Coop built an "indoor slide" consisting of crawl tunnel, hamper, pillows, and blankets. Oh my.  He was actually climbing in the tunnel and "sliding" through it.  What is a mom to do then, but help him reinforce it so it's safer?  That was another fun time.

I sure love this little guy.  The other day my old co-worker asked me if I'd be interested in coming back to work because job was opening up, and my old boss wants me back for it.  It took me about 2.5 seconds to decide, "No way!  My current "boss" might be a little demanding, unpredictable, and makes me work 24/7, but I wouldn't trade my current job for any other in the world."  No place I'd rather be than at home with Cooper.  Love you, Bug!