Happy 7th birthday Hayden!

Yesterday, was Hayden's 7th birthday and so we took him to Chuck E Cheese. Boy, did we have fun! The kids used all of the tokens that we bought and played every game possible. Hayden asked me to make a Pokemon cake so I whipped some awesome fudge frosting and then put 3 pokemon figures on it, as soon as Mom arrived at the house I said, "please help me with this cake". (I can make jewelry with creativity, but ask me to make a cake and I freeze.) Anyway, Mom saved the cake and made life grand. We love our Hayden, he has always brought us so much joy. He was born with a huge smile on his face and he is like that today. Happy Birthday son!! Hayden with his cake.

Can you see Chuck E Cheese in the background? Paige wanted to see him but only at a distance.

Hayden and I with his fudge cake!!

Mom and Dad, we love you guys for everything that you do for us!! Thank you.

Hayden blowing out the candles.

Paige enjoying a straw. Thank heavens for straws, they have occupied our childrens time while at restraunts many many times over.

Skiing with Matt

It is 9:50 p.m. and Matt just got home with the 3 oldest kids. During the month of February, Matt's school goes up to ski bowl. Matt chaperone's (so he says (ha!ha!)), and the kids are lucky enough to go with him and build on their skiing skills. Tonight, was the last night for Matt to take the kids to ski bowl. To make this night a night to remember, he told them that before going in for dinner they had to go down the lower ski bowl. Madalyn and Carter resisted and then agreed. Hayden became fearless and Matt had to go after him to make sure he was safe!!! All in all it was a huge success. Way to go my little padawa's. Madalyn, Carter, Matt and Hayden!

Matt and Hayden on the chair lift.

Madalyn looking cool!!

BROTHERS!

Let it SNOW!

This morning the kids and I woke up to snow on the ground. I know that to some of you this level of snow is laughable, but any amount of snow is exciting to me. The sun is now coming out and the ground is clearing up. Enjoy it while it lasts!!

Happy Pre-Birthday Hayden!!

This weekend we went to Eugene and spent time with family. We celebrated Hayden's 7th birthday with his cousins. Mom and Aunt Tricia did an amazing job with the cake and decorations. It was a pirate theme and Darren and Tricia set up a treasure hunt. Mom bought a bunch of gifts and the kids found it at the end of the hunt. Tricia did a fantastic job on the cake and the kids had a ball. Hayden's official birthday is this coming Friday, but in our family we like to drag out birthdays as long as possible. So, this weekend we will do another fun party. Happy pre-birthday buddy!! Hayden blowing out the candles

Hayden making a wish! We wonder what it was?????

Look at that cake. Very nice work Tricia. Thanks Mom and Tricia for making this so nice!!

Madalyn, Taylor, Mom, Katelyn, Carter, Hayden, Hannah, Paige, Natalie (the back of their heads), and Bailey doing the twist.

All of the grandkids after finding their treasures.

Cub Scouts!

Last night we had our Blue and Gold dinner at the church. Carter just turned 9 and so he is officially a Bear (if any of you don't know what I am talking about, don't worry you will be called to cub scouts soon enough). These are all of my boys. After the dinner the boys thanked their parents for all that they do for them by making bird boxes and giving them out last night. It was nice to have the night over and now we are moving on to the Pinewood Derby. Wish us all luck!!

Bailey writing her name.

Our sweet Bailey is 4 years old and I am wanting her to learn all sorts of things before she heads to Kindergarten. So, we have been practicing her name almost everyday for the last week. I was so proud of her yesterday when she wrote it very nicely. So here she is with her proud piece of work. Good job B!

Tubing Trip to Mt. Hood

We have had a great weekend. First, we went to the monster truck show and then on Sunday my brother Matt and his family came over and stayed the night with us. Last year we went tubing down a hill right next to Mt. Hood, so we are making it a tradition to do the same thing every year. We got up early today and heading up Hwy 26. We sled for an hour and then came back down and Matt had set up the parking lot with all that amenities that we needed. We ate a great lunch and then half of the crew went back up the hill and sled for another hour. Thanks for coming Matt and Carda! Matt brought camping chairs, a stove, food and made life really nice at the parking lot where we went tubing.

Matt who set up his little cooking area and fed all of us.

Yummy food for lunch (warm chili and hot dogs).

Madalyn looking fantastic.

Hayden deciding to eat in the car because it was so cold.

Carter eating his chili dog and he did come for seconds!

Bailey and Matt going on the tube.

Matt (my brother), Carda and Rachel.

Matt and Paige on Mt. Hood.

Me, Madalyn and Paige up by Mt. Hood

MONSTER Jam Trucks/Happy Valentines Day MATT!

Before I tell you about our day, I want to send out a big Happy Valentine's Day to Matt!

I love you , Honey!!

What a great day! We went into Portland and watched a Monster Truck show. We have been planning this trip for a few months. The kids kept asking us when we were going to go, I thought that this day would never arrive. Yet, it finally did and we had a great time. We along with our friends the Simons rode the tri met to the Rose Garden and then connected with our other friends the Burton's to get a sneak peak at the early showing of the trucks. We walked around the pit area, took pictures, and met the drivers. The kids really wanted to see the Grave Digger. After walking around for 10 minutes they wanted the show to start. Hayden, wondered if this was all we were going to do. I reassured him that after meeting the drivers and trucks the show would begin. That was a hard sale!! When the show began, we put in our ear plugs and cheered for our favorite truck. I personally liked El Toro Loco. It was loud and fun. Go Monster Truck Jam 2009! The kids riding the train to the Rose Garden
Carter and I on the Tri Met. The man next to me asked me how many of these kids were mine. I should have been sarcastic, but I said 5 and had a nice conversation with him. My nephew Jarom was also with us.

In front of the Rose Garden.

The kids in front of the Grave Digger!

The Patriot was a sweet truck too.

My favorite truck (the interpretation is the Crazy Bull).

OBSESSION!

Doug, Kari, me and Matt.

The picture speaks for itself.

Carter enjoying the show!

A New Computer!

Matt got a Wii Fit and a Wii game.
On Saturday, Matt and I went to the store and bought a new computer. Let me tell you, life is so good. Now, I feel so efficient. Yesterday, for Matt's birthday, I was able to download his pictures immediately. I love it!!! Now, I am trying to find reasons to post pictures because I have this new computer. Last night we opened Matt's presents and then went to a Mongolian restaurant with the kids. Not a good idea. The kids did not like picking out their assortment of food and then waiting for it to be cooked (well,except for Hayden). Carter asked me if they just had french fries. Matt was so excited because he loves Mongolian grills and hasn't been to one in years. The sad thing was the price tag!! Matt said that he learned a valuable lesson and that he understands why his parents always went to pizza for their birthdays. So, guess where we are going for my birthday? Pizza!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!!

Today, Matt is a whopping 36 years old. Doesn't he look fantastic? We woke up this morning with snow on the ground and knew that it would be a great day. I had the kids get out of bed at 6:30 to sing Happy Birthday to Matt. They were such good sports. After he left to work, we all got ready and went to the store to buy donuts. We have a tradition of taking donuts to Matt's staff on his birthday. When we got to the school, I had the kids line up and we all sang Happy Birthday in the office. After we finished the song, Matt asked the kids if we were going to do the spanking machine. I looked up at him and then looked over at the secretaries, they were laughing, I said, "no, honey we will do the spanking machine when we get home tonight". I didn't catch on to why everybody was laughing so hard. So, I said out loud to the staff, don't you guys know what the spanking machine is? A staff member said, "obviously you and Matt do, you have 5 children". Then I started to laugh and realized what I had said. The jokes on me I guess!! Happy Birthday Honey! Birthday Boy!

At Matt's office this morning

This morning at 6:30am!

Life at the Newell's

I decided that because I love blogging, I wanted to post some pictures from Christmas and the holiday season. You see, in order for me to get my pictures on to my blog, I have to take my camera to Fred Meyer's unload the pics onto a CD and then come home and get them up on our computer. I have now cleared my camera of all 600+ pictures and it will be a while before I go and get the new pictures onto a CD again. We are hoping to get a new CPU and so I can put my card reader from the camera into the tower and see the pictures immediately. Anyway, enough of an explanation here are some fun winter pictures.

Matt and I celebrated our 14th Anniversary after Christmas.

My amazing sister-in-laws!

The kids at Grandma Newell's house after Christmas with their Aunt's.

Christmas morning!

Matt and the kids made this huge snowman on Christmas Eve, it was huge! It did come to life and walk away about 2 hours later!!

Finding that perfect Christmas tree!

My Dad and I at Christmas time at their home!

Madalyn's 11th birthday party!

Cousins: Hayden, Jarom and Carter at Grandma and Grandpa Morrison's.

Going to the Portland Zoo w/Aunt Jennifer to see Zoo lights!