Mom and Dad...

Since I was looking through old pictures I thought I would share this one of my Mom and Dad.  I wish I lived a little closer, I wished we saw each other a little more often and I hope they know how much I love them.

This is rare...

All of my siblings in one picture that is not from our childhood years. We have a lot of those (above), matching outfits and everything, but fewer of these(below).

(The old picture is taken a few months after my parents went to Switzerland, hence the lederhosen.)





Lesley, Krisha, me, Kyle, his new wife Jenny, Lauren (just had a baby girl yesterday and I can't wait to see a picture of her), and Nic. This needs to be framed and put on the wall.

A forest day...

Out the back gate and this is where we can be. The long tree sticking out into the water is the "Quiver Pole." Eric said in high school he could make it out to the end, we haven't seen him do it yet. Anyone want to try it?

Sisters...

Sometimes I wonder if my kids ever think of others. Sometimes I worry they are too selfish and forget they have siblings. And then sometimes they surprise me.

Sierra was very excited to get a book she spotted at the book fair. She has been saving her money and didn't even ask me for book money. The night before she was going to buy it I saw her money sitting on the bookshelf next to her bed. I didn't notice the amount. When she got off the bus she said, "Here Allie, I got this for you." And handed Allie a pink book with a sparkly princess and unicorn on the cover.

She also bought her own book but I was so surprised that she thought of her little sister and used her own money ($5) to buy the book. I guess they do think about each other.

It may sound extreme but it made me teary.

The first time...

Eric's first Cyclocross race of the season. We weren't there to see it so this picture is really from last season, but it was wet and he didn't bring rain clothes and froze.
Our first race in September. I ran a 10km and the kids ran the kids race.
Allie's first race that she finished.
First day of school, Allie and I bought some after school balloons for the kids so they could see them as the bus pulled up to the bus stop. We knew it would be a long day for Mason so he needed some smiles.
See, it was a long day. Mason after the first day of 1st grade.
Up and ready by 6:30am, both excited.
Allie's first day of preschool. She was not as excited and cried and clung to my leg when I left her, it's even her 2nd year at the same school!
And sadly, Garrett's first bee sting. Right on his cheek, ouch!

Cheerio!

Forest Wars

This is what the kids created with Eric for the Primary Talent Show, not your normal song and dance right?

5 quarters later...

Another tooth gone, it must be time for first grade. It makes me feel a little teary honestly. Not the tooth so much, but first grade? Yes, teary.

Three days after Christmas...

is the day Allie Noel was born.

We thought it would be fun to have a summer party this year. So Allie is 5, almost.

She got to invite 2 friends to go with us to the "Wings of Winder." A butterfly garden not too far from here. It was a butterfly paradise. Butterflies flying everywhere and so many different species I had never seen. The kids also enjoyed the HUGE snakes and reptiles. I think Allie enjoyed decorating the butterfly cupcakes the most.

Allie is her own person (aren't we all?) She likes to play rough but loves her baby dolls too, she likes a good light saber fight, wrestling, making "soup" with water, rocks and leaves, she loves to talk at home but not in public, she doesn't often wear pants but prefers skirts and dresses, she likes baking, loves playing and helping Garrett, loves to find snails and slugs in the forest and is teaching me a lot about being a Mom. A patient Mom.

Our family wouldn't be our family without Allie.

For you Megan

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Garrett's friend Maria is already reading, we need to catch up.

The walking boy...

Garrett is almost 17 months old. Here are his newest accomplishments:

He is WALKING, he is really walking now. He decided he would give it a try at about 16 months and hasn't stopped since.

He says choo, choo, makes a very good horse sound, dog sounds, Dada, shsss (shoes) and cheese

Notice the pointing in the second picture? I love it when he points at things.

He thinks he can go anywhere the kids go, up the ladder, down the slide, on the grass, in the rocks, down the driveway on a bike (it didn't turn out so well) he really tries to keep up

He loves scrambled eggs, cheerios (once I figure out how to post a video from our new camera you will see what I mean), strawberries, toast, goldfish crackers, cucumbers, pretzels, beans, rice, cheese and chocolate chip cookies

He makes us all laugh with his dancing

I love this stage, 17 months brings a lot of discoveries. I will be sad when this stage is over but Eric reminded me I said that when he was a new baby. The baby years go by too fast, and the kid years seem to fly too. Slow down time, slow down.