Baby Jackson

My sister Mel had her baby this morning. Baby Jackson made a scary entrance into the world, but I think all is well now. He was in the NICU for a few hours but is with his mommy and daddy now. Melly is a trooper. Can't wait to hold this little guy. Welcome to the family Jackson, you look like your daddy :)

Jackson Keith

7 lbs. 15 oz

22 1/2 in. long

(1/2 inch could be due to his cone head, poor little guy)

Sit Down Son---Please!!

While we were at my parents over Christmas, Logan discovered how to stand. He did a few times there, and a little bit when we got home, but over the past week he has really mastered it. He walks along the side of the couch and anything else he can find. He loves to push the little stool around the kitchen. He is still a little unsteady on his feet at times and has already banged his head on pretty much everything, bed frames, furniture, the floor etc. I don't know how to prevent this without keeping him caged in the jumper or saucer all day long, so I guess the bruises begin. We had to move down the mattress in his crib too, he is getting so big. Unfortunately I don't think walking is to far off from here. I love to see him growing and getting so excited about moving everywhere, but I don't like seeing him get hurt and I really don't love all of the mobility. He will be 8 months old this week......why does it go by so much faster when they are NoT growing inside of YoU?

Standing in his bed before we moved it down

Please sit back down son!!

It's Cookie Time!!

I can't believe it is already time to sell Girl Scout Cookies. It seems like it should be closer to spring, but once the cookies get here and the selling is all finished spring will be right around the corner, so that is good!! The kinds are all pretty much the same, they did add a new flavor this year Dulce de Leche (caramel) Bailey tired them at her last meeting and said they were SOOOOOOOO good. So take that for what its worth. Let me know if you are interested. You can order now and pay when they are delivered, which should be the end of February. They are $3.71 a box.

Christmas Break Fun at Grandmas

Here are a few of the photos that capture how we spent some of our time in Utah. The kids LOVE being at grandma's, and I think we are finally through what Ryan calls the "detox" stage. This is the stage that the kids have to go through when they get home from grandma's or anywhere when the rules have been laxed. The detox stage is worth it, I love that they are making such fun memories with their grandparents, cousins, and aunts & uncles.

Jenn and Mel gave the girls Twister, they had never played it before. They loved it, Ellie said she didn't have to follow all of the rules since she is too small to reach. I agree. Playing with Uncle Spencer is always a treat, he loves to get right it your space :)

Grandma has been doing some remodeling, which was actually kind of fun for the kids. No furniture means lots of rooms to run and plenty of places to get out sleeping bags for a movie.


Drew and Logan had the same jammies.... you know that is picture worthy!

Spencer is infamous for his snow creations. The kids love playing in the snow with him, he always builds them forts and in this case a prince and princess castle. It makes playing in the snow entertaining and quite awesome.


Grandma and Pops gave the girls and Easy Bake Oven this year. They are very excite about it. Ellie is especially excited to have her own apron and hat. She does want to be a cooker when she grows up!

The girls also got the movie Hairspray from their aunts. I know not the most age appropriate show, but they love the music. I was obsessed with Grease when I was a kid, so I guess I only have myself to blame. Anyway, I only let them watch it every once in awhile, but Bailey thought she was pretty funny in recreating Tracy pretending she is a bride with toilet paper. I agree it was very funny Bay.

We also went and saw Bedtime Stories, did an Ikea run, and few other fun stores. There was also lots of gaming, plenty of football and good food. I was also able to see my good friend Leslie, who lives in Paris, I was still in town for her baby shower. It was great catching up with her and some of my other friends from my college days. Congrats Dave & Les!!

We had a great break. I am still trying to get things back in order after being gone so long and all the craziness of traveling and the holiday. But its January.....what else do I have to do.

Ready for Spring anyone???

Jack In The Box & Swimming on Christmas WHaT??

It is nice being home for Christmas but it also leaves you wanting to hang out with others too. We usually head down to Utah on Christmas Day to spend some time with my family. This was the plan for this year too, we did have a later start than normal due to our late night and late rising. We also heard that the I-84 to Utah may be closed, no one knew for sure. We kept checking the weather and at times it was open and at other times it was closed. We thought we would just leave and hopefully be able to get through. It was sunny here and the roads were clear, and the roads were great through Mountain Home and then to Twin Falls. Once we got past Twin our luck changed. The storm was there the roads were really slick and there were signs saying that the 84 was definitely closed. We didn't want to turn around the kids were getting excited to see grandma and getting sick of being in the car it took us quite awhile to get to Burley from Twin. Ryan has family in Burley but the roads were awful it would have taken at least another hour or two to get to Oakely where his Dad lives, and his sister's family had been sick, plus we had just stayed there and I am sure she had just recovered from having us all trash her place. We decided to check out the availability at the new Fairfield Inn in Burley, it is made by Marriott, quite the claim to fame in Burley. They did have some rooms when got there, but they got more full has the night went on. They gave us a really great rate so we decided to stay. We ran over to Julie's to get swimming suits and then headed back to get Christmas dinner at Jack in the Box, yeah seriously Jack in the Box. It was the only thing open and we were just dang happy that it was. We were starving. While it is not normally my first choice in the food area, it tasted fabulous. It was SO SO incredibly cold that night Ryan and I got brain freezes just unloading the car, I didn't have gloves on and my hands were seriously chapped and red in like 2 minutes. Ryan said he hadn't felt it that cold in his whole time growing up there. Once we finally thawed out the kids went swimming, played in the hot tub, played the plug in video games that we brought and watched Disney Channel all night. They were so happy! The continental breakfast was awesome, I was able to hit the treadmill, the road was still closed so I thought why not, it really ended up being a lot of fun and worth the money to stay. A lady coming from Utah went through before the road was officially closed and said it was absolutely horrible, it took them 5 hours to travel a regular 1 1/2 hour trip, so we made a good decision in staying. The 84 stayed closed for a few more days but they did open the 86 heading to Pocatello so we were able to go that way. The road was slick and slow but we did finally make it to my parents house 24 hours after we left home. Christmas memories to always remember!!

Chicken Terakiyi Bowl is pretty tasty

Christmas dinner clean up was a breeze

Swimming and hot tubing was so much fun

Kids just relaxing watching Hannah Montana and Zack and Cody, a luxury I don't always let them indulge in. Look at those smiles :)

Christmas Day 2008

Christmas morning was great once it going. The kids and I didn't wake up until about 8:30. Probably because Bailey was up half the night throwing up and Logan didn't feel to great either. I think I saw every hour of the night on Christmas Eve. Good thing Santa came during one of the few sleep sessions. Once everyone got up Bailey was feeling much better and the kids were very excited to see what Santa had left them. They must have been pretty good kids this year!!

Logan loved to eat the paper and suck on the York Peppermint Patties. He did like playing with his new little tools, farm, and his football . It is fun to get some boy stuff in the house.

Ellie asked Santa for a Webkinz, she was very excited about her new friend. She named her Frosty. Ellie also loved her My Little Pony named Pinkie Pie and her new doll Dressy Daisy. Bailey and Ellie have had tons of fun with their new cash register, they have wanted one for a while.

The girls gave each other these cute beanies. Bailey LOVEs Littlest Pet Shop she most excited about these from Santa because it had a frog in it, she has been wanting a frog for a long time. She also got a new frog Webkinz, she named him Ribbit and a new Raggedy Ann doll to go along with her Raggedy Andy doll.

Quick story: A couple years ago we went to New York with some of our good friends, we were shopping at FAO Schwartz looking for something unique to bring home for the kids. I thought a Raggedy Ann doll would be fun, not something everybody plays with anymore etc. They had one in a box so it would be easy to get home with. Once we got home and had it open I noticed it was Raggedy Andy, not much I could do about it then. She didn't notice and was only 4 1/2 and couldn't read that it said Andy on it. She did ask me a few times why she was wearing pants.... I just said I didn't know. Well, about 6 months ago she was playing with it and finally realized that it was Andy and not Ann. So, now thanks to Santa she has both and mom in all of her ditziness has been rescued. She loves both of them too! Thanks Santa!!

The morning and afternoon was great. The evening got a little adventurous. Stayed Tuned!

And yes you did have to wear a puffy vest to be part of our family on Christmas :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS