Excited for Christmas!
In search of the perfect tree
Such a busy boy . . . Will enjoying the freedom to roam at Emily's 4th grade field trip to a nearby ranch.
We had such a fun Thanksgiving with my sister Jennifer and her family who came from Dallas. Somehow we ended up with 8 pies -- one per kid. We enjoyed pie with every meal for days!
Jane turns 5! The older girls made various banners for Jane's birthday and tacked them up throughout the house. This was Abby's portrait of Jane.
Jane loves bright colors and is a colorful girl. She said that she wanted a "colorful" party this year. It's our off-year for parties, but I just so happened to be hosting playgroup the week of her birthday and one only turns five once . . . She loved her "birthday celebration".
We've enjoyed biking the big girls to school on milder days this fall. Will and Jane love the trailer. Will says "arf, arf" to every passing dog on the trail and Jane -- with her need for speed -- most often calls out, "Faster!"
Halloween
In early October, Mark and I got away for the weekend and visited Oregon. So wonderful to get away together, and see great friends and new places. We enjoyed visiting Multnomah Falls near Portland, connecting with Sam and Abby Behunin and their family, driving down the spectacular Oregon coast, visiting Mark's cousin and his family in Corvallis, and cheering BYU on in a win over Oregon State. It was great to again be amongst a sea of cougar fans!
Multnomeh Falls
Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach
Go Cougars!
Mark with his Uncle Brent, cousin Mike and Mike's son, Alec
Will is 90% about balls and Daddy ("Da-yee" -- in the most adoring voice known to man), 8% about his sisters and cars and trucks ("Vroom, vroom"), and 2% about Mommy and food (I'll take whatever I can get :)). He still loves to have something in each hand and loves to shoot the basketball in his Little Tykes hoop. He loved sitting with Daddy and reading stories with him when, as a treat to all, Mommy and Will were able to join Mark downtown for lunch.
Abby turns 7! Can this tall, beautiful, sweet girl be my Abby baby?! Abby is our peacemaker and a wonderful little nurturer. She is such a loving, steady, beautiful little soul!
Birthday buddies -- same age, same day.
Field Day 2011 -- Go Red Thunder!
Many who have known us through the years are familiar with our little tan Geo Prism. It is the car we've had since our first year of marriage. It was our only car until we had Jane and could no longer fit all of the carseats in the car. We have loved this little car (167K miles, 16 years old, 12 years as a part of our family). It's seen us through so many fond memories and exciting family adventures.
Such a busy boy . . . Will enjoying the freedom to roam at Emily's 4th grade field trip to a nearby ranch.
We had such a fun Thanksgiving with my sister Jennifer and her family who came from Dallas. Somehow we ended up with 8 pies -- one per kid. We enjoyed pie with every meal for days!
Jane turns 5! The older girls made various banners for Jane's birthday and tacked them up throughout the house. This was Abby's portrait of Jane.
Jane loves bright colors and is a colorful girl. She said that she wanted a "colorful" party this year. It's our off-year for parties, but I just so happened to be hosting playgroup the week of her birthday and one only turns five once . . . She loved her "birthday celebration".
We've enjoyed biking the big girls to school on milder days this fall. Will and Jane love the trailer. Will says "arf, arf" to every passing dog on the trail and Jane -- with her need for speed -- most often calls out, "Faster!"
Halloween
In early October, Mark and I got away for the weekend and visited Oregon. So wonderful to get away together, and see great friends and new places. We enjoyed visiting Multnomah Falls near Portland, connecting with Sam and Abby Behunin and their family, driving down the spectacular Oregon coast, visiting Mark's cousin and his family in Corvallis, and cheering BYU on in a win over Oregon State. It was great to again be amongst a sea of cougar fans!
Multnomeh Falls
Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach
Go Cougars!
Mark with his Uncle Brent, cousin Mike and Mike's son, Alec
Will is 90% about balls and Daddy ("Da-yee" -- in the most adoring voice known to man), 8% about his sisters and cars and trucks ("Vroom, vroom"), and 2% about Mommy and food (I'll take whatever I can get :)). He still loves to have something in each hand and loves to shoot the basketball in his Little Tykes hoop. He loved sitting with Daddy and reading stories with him when, as a treat to all, Mommy and Will were able to join Mark downtown for lunch.
Abby turns 7! Can this tall, beautiful, sweet girl be my Abby baby?! Abby is our peacemaker and a wonderful little nurturer. She is such a loving, steady, beautiful little soul!
Birthday buddies -- same age, same day.
Field Day 2011 -- Go Red Thunder!
Many who have known us through the years are familiar with our little tan Geo Prism. It is the car we've had since our first year of marriage. It was our only car until we had Jane and could no longer fit all of the carseats in the car. We have loved this little car (167K miles, 16 years old, 12 years as a part of our family). It's seen us through so many fond memories and exciting family adventures.
In October, Mark, leaving for a business day trip, parked our good old faithful car at the airport. He arrived home in the evening to find that it had disappeared along with his golf clubs in the trunk and $75 in the glove compartment that he had meant to use to buy Emily a new bike on Craigs List. After four hours in the pouring rain with the police and parking attendants, it was determined that someone had, indeed, seen something worth stealing in our little car. We waited throughout the weekend, hoping for some word, but with Mark needing transportation, put the gears in motion to get a replacement car (as if our little car could ever be replaced in our hearts! Sniff.). Five days later, we received a certified notice in the mail saying that they had found our car. Mark went to pick it up and not only was it completely intact, albeit completely out of gas, but the golf clubs and cash were still there, and the thief had left his backpack containing all of his personal information in the car as well. We were so happy to be able to say a proper goodbye (and all felt a twinge at letting it go), and sold the car to a man who was thrilled to get it.
On a Sunday walk along the bayou
Will lending some support as the girls wait for the bus on the first day of first and fourth grades.
Emily proudly showing off the cookie dough from her first self-made batch of cookies (oatmeal chocolate chip)
Balls? check. Cars? check. Binky? check. Some of Will's favorite things make it palatable for him to be pulled around in a pink doll stroller by his sisters.
On a Sunday walk along the bayou
Will lending some support as the girls wait for the bus on the first day of first and fourth grades.
Emily proudly showing off the cookie dough from her first self-made batch of cookies (oatmeal chocolate chip)
Balls? check. Cars? check. Binky? check. Some of Will's favorite things make it palatable for him to be pulled around in a pink doll stroller by his sisters.
