When cousins come to play!!!!

This weekend, our nieces came and stayed for the night. The kids thought that they had died and gone to heaven. They played dress up, zombie (don't ask me to explain that game), Barbie's, Star Wars, Polly pockets, babies, house, outside, and more things that I can't remember at this time. The point is they played and played and had a great time. Now that Tricia and Darren are closer we will be having many more play dates!! Yeah.

Hannah dressed Bailey up in Madalyn's baptism dress and made her look like a bride. Bailey loved every minute of it.

Princess Bailey!

Paige was so excited when she saw Bailey in the baptism dress that as soon as Bailey took it off, it was on Paige. Natalie took an undershirt of Madalyn's and created a dress also. Don't they look great.

Hannah stayed home with Tricia and I while Taylor and Madalyn babysat a family in our ward. I painted Hannah's nails and highlighted Tricia's hair. Very fun!!

Natalie and Paige played for hours. They did such a good job with each other. Here they are lining up their princess dolls and pretending that they are going to a dance. By the way, this outfit that Paige had on was #4 or #5 of outfits during the day.

Madalyn's 2nd Track Meet

I forget how 6th graders feel about having their pictures taken in front of their peers by their parents of all people. I grabbed the camera and Madalyn said, "Mom please not now". I said, "stand there and let me take your picture with the kids." She was not very happy. Matt looked at me and said, "honey, hello she is a middle schooler she doesn't like us acting like this". Anyway, I ignored her and took the picture. This picture was the result of my simple request.

The whole gang excluding me and the baby.

Waiting in line for her time to throw the shot put.

Paige wanting water very bad. Thank heavens that I had some in my purse. I didn't know that Matt had taken this picture but I thought I would put it in the blog so that you all could see how cute Paige's backside is!!!!

Look at this beautiful shot putter!!

Making her third attempt.

Time to measure it.

Oh Yeah!!! She got her PR. 17ft. 10in.

All of the sudden Matt and I start laughing because we both said, "wait PR doesn't stand for personal best. That would be PB." In this picture Matt is laughing and Madalyn and Carter don't think that it is as funny as we do. Then all of the sudden we realize that PR means personal record. At least we hope!

WAY TO GO MADALYN!!!

Sunriver Resort

This week, Matt and I went to Sunriver for a work related conference. We asked Mom and Dad if they would come and be with the children while we went together to Central Oregon. I am having the baby in 2 months and Matt and I don't get to be together very much due to Matt's work schedule and our busy lives, so I was so grateful when Mom and Dad came and spent 5 days with the kids. They are the best grandparents a girl could ever ask for. Matt and I left late after work during the week and we checked in late to Sunriver Resort. We felt like little newlyweds again. Matt spent the next 3 days in classes and I relaxed working on my talk for Sunday, sharing time, reading books, traveling to Bend, taking Matt's road bike to the shop for a free tune-up, a maternity massage, walking on the treadmill, eating at fun little food shops and watching TV. When Matt would come home from all of the classes we would either go eat, go to Bend, go to the fitness center or just hang out and talk. It was a little strange for me to not have the responsibility of our children. I have to admit that I felt guilt for being way to lazy. One thing that I did which was way out of the ordinary was going and getting a maternity massage. I talked to the masseuse the entire time because it made the situation a little more comfortable. I had no idea that I hurt in the areas that I did. We had a very wonderful time together. Thank you Mom and Dad for taking the kids so that we could have this time together before the baby arrives. We love you!!!!

Matt reading a magazine that they had in our room.

This was our cozy little suite. Rm 121!! King size bed, with the best pillows ever.

We had a fireplace that kept us warm in the evenings. It was very cold at night. Matt actually woke up early on Friday morning and rode his bike for 1 hour. He saw snow on the sides of the road and enjoyed the cold air hitting his lungs.

The Newlyweds trying to hold a huge camera and take a picture of the lovely couple. Not such a good picture!!

On the last day, I told Matt that we hadn't taken any pictures of our trip, so I grabbed the camera and he is trying to act serious but he actually looks angry. He wasn't though.

Thank heavens for the lovely fire. We were right next to Mt. Bachelor. Beautiful place!!

Family Journal 2009

I am so excited to tell everyone that I made all of our blogs from 2009 into a book. My sister in law Ashlee came to Boring on Easter weekend and she took me to the website that she had made a book of her blog. I was so excited because my main purpose for doing a blog was to turn it into a family journal for the kids to read now and later in life. It was very simple to put everything together. You go to blurb.com and they will download your entire blog for you to create the book. It came to a total of 172 pages. I can't tell you all how happy it makes me to have this done and feel so accomplished. Thanks Ash, for helping me make all of the important steps online to create it. If you are reading this post, get inspired and make all of your posts on your blog into a book. You can do it!!!

Our beautiful BOOK!!!

The edge of our book!!!

One of the many pages inside of our book!!

Paige turns 3 on Easter!

This weekend was a very full 2 days. We had Paige's birthday, Easter, General Conference, a swim meet, donkey basketball and Jeff, Ashlee visiting. We had a wonderful time. First off, on Friday, we had Ben and Tyler with us while Jeff and Ashlee went to Michael Buble concert. The kids love having them around and so the evening was full of fun and wild crazy running around. Matt played donkey basketball at school and I went and cheered him on.

On Saturday we woke up and had a breakfast and then Matt headed off to Madalyn's swim meet. We watched the first 45 minutes of General Conference and then Jeff, Ashlee, the kids and I all headed off to the swim meet to cheer Madalyn on. She did very well. She made 3 new personal best times. After the swim meet we hurried home to watch conference and eat lunch. After conference, we ran to the store and Matt and Jeff left for the Priesthood session of conference. I highlighted Ashlee's hair and cut it. When they got home we heard all about how wonderful we were as wives, no I am just kidding. Usually, when our husbands return from Priesthood session, we get all kinds of hugs and kisses. This time we learned about the talks and I can't wait to read one talk all about patience. Jeff and Ashlee packed up and left for Eugene. Matt and I prepared for Easter and wrapped Paige's gifts.

On Sunday, Madalyn and Hayden headed to our room to wake us up and it was only 6:40am. They were very excited about Easter. We had gone to bed so late that we told them to go to bed and get up around 7. Which wasn't that far away. Everyone got up eventually and we wished Paige a Happy Birthday and the kids looked for baskets. We then ate a yummy breakfast and started to watch General Conference. After Conference, we opened gifts with Paige and I worked on making my blog into a bound book. We ate lunch and then all of us watched the 5th session of conference together. We had a great dinner and ate birthday cake together. By this time of the day, I was exhausted and ready to go to bed. We put the kids down and I finished putting together a book from this blog of 2009. It was a wonderful weekend. We loved having Ashlee, Jeff and the boys with us and celebrating Paige's birthday. Good memories.

Princess Paige on her 3rd birthday!

Ben waking Jeff up early on Saturday morning.

Ashlee, Tyler, Madalyn and I making breakfast together.

Bailey and Ben playing games while we watched conference.

Hayden and Carter playing Risk.

We are sitting in the bleachers at Madalyn's swim meet. It is a long process and the kids did a pretty good job being patient. I can't complain.

Madalyn getting ready to start her first race.

Ready, Get set, and GOOOOOOOOO

Madalyn is a good swimmer. She did great.

Jeff, Tyler and Ash in the stands. Thanks for coming and supporting Madalyn.

Ben sitting by Matt in a princess camping chair watching his cousin Madalyn swim.

Madalyn swimming the back stroke.

Watching the second session of conference.

I am not very talented when it comes to birthday cakes but Mom was in Arizona, Tricia was at home and Ashlee was in Eugene. So, I made this Barbie cake for Paige and she loved it. That is success to me!

Her cake and presents.

The kids on Easter morning.

Madalyn searching for her basket.

Paige finding her basket!

Bailey finding her basket in the cupboards.

Hayden found his in the oven!

Carter found his in the laundry room. Now, a side note: maybe you are wondering what is hanging around his neck. This is a blanket that he received from Aunt Dixie when he was born. It is shredded and ragged, but he loves it so much. He now ties it around his neck to have it with him.

All of our children with their baskets.

Paige opening her birthday card from Grandma and Grandpa Morrison. Madalyn read it to her. She loved it. It was Minnie Mouse.

Opening a gift from her brothers.

She got these princess dolls from Madalyn and Bailey (we tell the kids that they gave the kids these gift so that they will feel they have contributed in some way). She loved them.

I had bought them at Disneyland when we were there and couldn't wait to wrap them and have her see them.

Ashlee, Jeff, Ben and Tyler gave her a barbie Princess and the Frog doll.

This was her big gift from Matt and I. It is a 3 wheeler that she calls her bike. Bailey loves to ride it to even though she is too old for it.

Dying eggs!!

Paige and Bailey dying eggs.

Matt got a book called There's a Monster at the end of this book or something like that and he really wanted to read it to the kids while they colored their eggs. Hayden is listening intently.

Madalyn and Carter dying their eggs.

Matt and I dyed one egg each. These are our eggs.

Easter 2010

Watching the last session of General Conference.

Hayden helped Matt peel potatoes and get things ready for dinner.

Can't you see the joy in Carter's face knowing that he is wearing a crown?

Bailey in her princess crown celebrating Paige's birthday!

Matt, Carter and Hayden wearing their birthday crowns.

Matt helping Madalyn put on her crown.

Paige with her birthday cake before we lite the candles.

Paige blowing out her candles. She was getting so close that we thought she was going to start her hair on fire. Madalyn held it back for her while I took pictures.