Dax and Winter Carnival

Yesterday I got to go to Salem to spend time with my aunt Lori and cousins, Julia and Cori...and of course, Cori's son, Dax! Lucky boy...he got to go shopping with us! He is so cute and fun to play with. Grandma Lori put a nylon sock on his head in the shoe store. He didn't like that too much!

Nice hat, eh?

Flying on grandma's lap. I am really having a hard time calling Lori that (grandma). She's not old enough for that!

Dax at lunch. Right before this he was slurping up noodles. The noodles were so long he would have to take a break and take a big breath before he continued to work on the noodle. Too cute. And, yes, Dax was the highlight of the day, so I don't have pictures of all of us together. Just him! We did find some great shopping deals though, just don't tell Nyle!


We also went to Winter Carnival on Saturday at Hoodoo. It was beautiful weather and we had a blast. We missed Mr. Incredible this year, but as you will see, others made up for his absence. The McLoughlin family came again this year to celebrate with us...it was great!

Katie McLoughlin

Jed & Louis

The man taking the place of Mr. Incredible this year! Nice hat!

A bunch of our youth were a part of the pie eating contest. This is Mandi, Mackenzie, Brooks and Jeremiah. My neice, Mackenzie took the prize for this group!

Sydney and Hallie McLoughlin...they are inseperable whenever they get together!

Nyle even participated in the pie-eating contest. He did not win and was very disappointed. He just got to smell the pudding for the rest of the day. Yuck!

This is Ethan Morgan with pudding all over his face. He and Nyle had a strategy that didn't quite work, but they gave it a shot anyway. It was: Put as much pie on your face as possible and then you won't have to eat as much.

Rick & Dianne and Vonnie came too!

Syd thought she would tie a balloon to her helmet for the day. It was a fun idea, but she took it off before the first run because it drove her crazy!

Nyle and Tracy Hendrikson. She works there, so she is all dressed up as a ring leader.

This is Tracy Foteff, our neighbor. She is all dressed up & looking beautiful too...there was a bunch of them in prom dresses! Only at Hoodoo!

The pictures I promised...

First of all, how cute is she? How about that yellow couch too? Nice!

See, mom, I've always looked up to you!

You are still so cute here, mom! I love the little wreath pin you are wearing! You are such a fun mom! We did such cool things like enter cooking programs through the newpaper, and singing silly sings. You made us cute dresses and clothes for our dolls! I wish my kids had a mom like that! Maybe you could just move here and do those things with my kids too. Although, I don't think the boys would appreciate doll clothes! Love ya!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

I was trying to post some sweet old pictures, but couldn't scan them into my new computer...they will come later!

Today is my mom's birthday! I love you, mom! You are amazing! I hope you know how much I look up to you. You are a fabulous mom and grandma. I hope you have a great day!

You Rock!

My next house...

I think I will go with a white kitchen.

Isn't this dining room great?
I like the exposed plumbing & sinks in this bathroom

and this neat sunroom with windows to the ceiling!

If I were a bath person...I would like this too!

What I've been up to...

Nyle celebrated his birthday last week too. I made his favorite, german chocolate cake, and it was one of the best ever. This is the only lame picture I got! Oh well, happy birthday honey, I love you!
I finally finished this bag that I started. It is the first one I've made with a pattern?! It turned out pretty good. I really want to try clothes now. Hopefully I will keep you updated on that.

The inside liner is in a different fabric and has a few pockets. Syd saw that it was done and offered to load it up with all my stuff for me! Silly girl. I think I will use this one for church.

Sydney's Actual Birthday!

Wake up Sleepy Head...get out of MY bed!

Sydney has been waiting patiently for a blanket like the ones I used to make...well, here it is!

She has been walking all around the house with it draped around her!

Some earrings!

And a shirt that says Birthday Girl...the more attention she gets that day, the better!

Notice the whole family in (my) bed still?

It was a great day. I delivered fudgecicles to her class that afternoon, followed by going to the mountain and bringing lots of cupcakes for everyone. Birthdays can be a lot of work!

Sydney's BIG DAY!

Sydney has been planning this day for years! We promised her that when she turned 8 she could get her ears pierced. Her friend Makenna turns 8 a week before Syd, so we combined the day with Makenna and her mom, Lonnie. The girls spent Friday night together and then we all joined up in the morning. They even wore matching outfits! It was so fun! We went out to eat at Pastini's first (girl's choice), Yummy!

The girl's shared a birthday cake. Lonnie & I hardly tasted it! I think they enjoyed it!


Then, while we were waiting for their turn to get their ears pierced, we went shopping. The girls wanted to try clothes on for fun...it was so cute!

Here are some of the outfits...nice poses girls!

The time has come, and Makenna wanted to go first.

So, my brave little girl looked at me after Makenna got hers done and said..."I don't think I can do this mommy." I thought she would be really brave, but it turns out watching Makenna did her in. She was crying and shaking before she ever sat down. We worked through it though, thank heavens! She would have been so sad later if she had chickened out!

I held her hands through the whole thing.

Sweet little face. Poor thing!

She did it!!! After it was done, she looked at me and told me it really hurt...with crocodile tears rolling down her face!


The "after" shots. Syd was worried about her ears turning red, but her eyes turned more red then her ears!

Later, when Lonnie and I were trying something on in Ann Taylor Loft ($3.66 items that we couldn't pass up!!!), the girls said, "if this is a dream, I don't ever want to wake up!" Too cute. It was a great day!!! We will make it a tradition every year...minus the piercing! Thanks for making it so fun Lonnie and Makenna! We love you guys!