Random Photos

This was Ella's hair one morning when she woke up. There were three spikes of hair sticking out. You can't quite see the third. It was so cute!
Here she is later that day - we still had the main hair spike going. She has no hair on the front of her head. I decided that I could do a comb-forward (not comb-over) and it would look like she had more hair. She really looks like a baldy with the bow on the top!

We got Madelyn some PINK cowboy boots. She LOVES them. Here she is riding her horse Pinto. Now she just needs a real cowboy hat and she'll be set!

The future Texas Rodeo Queen with her admiring brother and sister looking on!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.......(Jacob said he was folding his arms like at Church)

Ella was napping, but here she is all dressed up for church. Isn't she CUTE?!!

In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there......

We got the kids their own tree this year. As kids, we always had our own tree in the basement that we could do whatever we wanted to with. Thought I needed to pass along that tradition to our kids. They LOVED decorating it.

Happy BARFgiving

It was a rough Thanksgiving this year. Madelyn, Ella and I all had the flu - the real yucky kind. Barry stayed home and did big time dad duty! It took Madelyn almost a week to get over it all. Ella and I were better a little faster. Glad that is done for the year.

We did finally have our turkey dinner on the weekend and it was GOOD! Not sure if it was really good - or if we were just so happy to be well that it tasted extra yummy. My turkey rivaled Martha Stewarts, could have been on the cover of a magazine I tell ya!

Barry carving the beautiful beast!
I carefully followed the directions on the cranberry sauce can and 'slucked' the cranberries out - whole and complete. I set that little puppy on a plate on the table (I was quite proud it came out so complete) When it was time to eat, Jacob came to the table and gasped and said, "Are we having roast can for supper?" I thought Barry and I were going to die laughing! It was great. Came to find out - Jacob LOVES cranberry sauce. We had to encourage him to eat other things besides the cranberries!

MY 3 Frogs!! (OK - OUR 3 Frogs)

Anyone who knows me and my love of frogs, knew that I couldn't pass up this costume. And of course all my children have to wear it!

Our 1st frog - Halloween of 2004 Our 2nd Frog - Halloween of 2006.
Our 3rd frog - Halloween 2008.
Will there be anymore frogs.......?

This is not an announcement of any kind, I just like to scare Barry every once in awhile!

I'm sure you are wondering.....

You're wondering - who fixed your computer right??!! It was ME! I am a genius - let's just leave it at that!

More pictures.......

My matchy girls. I don't know why but I don't have many matchy matchy dresses. But these were just too cute to pass up. Aren't they cute?! And getting so big. It appears Madelyn has a little boyfriend in nursery class.....hmmmm. The nursery leader told me they always have to sit by eachother and they play together all the time. I told the leader that she had to keep an eye on them for me. She laughed and said - you thought you had a couple more years before you had to worry didn't you?!

My BFF got to come visit!! Aren't I lucky?! I am not sure how much of a vacation it was for her - left her 2 kids at home to come visit my 3! But I loved it. It was so nice to have someone to talk about everything with - being a mom, the struggles, the joys, recipes, our husbands, our callings, etc etc. THANKS for coming Steph and thanks for sending her Steve!!

Here are some pictures!!

Here is UNCLE GREEEEE! Isn't he cute and such a good uncle!!

The annual carving o' the pumpkins. The kids and I got all the guts out earlier in the day and dad and the kids did the faces when he got home from work. Barry was having LOTS of fun!!!


You've got to have the front step picture with the pumpkins!! They were so excited! Somedays I wish I was still excited over the little things - no wonder the scriptures tell us to be like a little child.

On our way to the community party! We couldn't walk fast enough to keep up with you two!

Halloween

I know, I know - it is almost Thanksgiving - where are the Halloween pictures. Well, just keep asking yourself that. I am finally ready to post them and we are having a little computer trauma. Like sledgehammer kind of trauma. I think I will have to call one of my geeks, I mean brothers to find out what is wrong. Just picture in your mind as you read and as soon as I figure out what is wrong, I will post the pictures to go along with these posts.

Halloween - We had a great night. Our community had a little party and then the ward did Trunk-or-treat. Jacob did NOT want to go. He said Trunk-or-treat was no fun, but we lured him there and he loved it!!!! He said that was his favorite part of the night.



We had ourselves a very handsome builder, not Bob and not Manny - just a builder. A beautiful princess - need we say more and an adorable frog. Fun was had by all.



Barry decided that for next years trunk-or-treat he is going to take the motorcycle and pass out the candy from his saddlebags. I think we will be the most favorite 'trunk'.

ENRICHMENT IDEAS - I need them!!

So.....I got a church calling. Then before I was even sustained, they called and asked if they could switch it - I wanted to say NO, but I didn't. So I am the new Home, Family and Personal Enrichment Leader. Yahoo! So now I need your ideas - what have you done that you liked, loved, hated, etc. Classes, crafts, food - what makes you want to go?? I would love all ideas - if you don't want to post them here - e-mail me!!

Thanks everyone - I love ya! amy =)

These are the days of our lives.....

We've had some fun times lately!!! So here is my short synopsis of them - the fun times!!


Here we are at the pumpkin patch for Jacob's school. It was quite the fun place. We don't get out that much, but from what I've seen and read there are these places EVERYWHERE! They had those blow up bouncer things, animals, hayride, tons of places to run and explore - it was a fun day. And it was actually a little chilly - thus the children in the jackets. It was the first time we had to wear coats.That is Jacob and Madelyn waaaaay up there. I want to buy one of these for the backyard. It is the best energy using, tire the kids out thing I've even seen!

Then we went and saw the real live Thomas. The kids LOVED it of course. It was in South East Texas and it was beautiful, the people were a little thick accented - it was an experience!
They even had a little petting zoo there. Every time Madelyn turned around this little goat was right next to her. It kept scaring her. Barry and I were laughing soooo hard. You can see her giving it the 'eye'.


Uncle Greg is here for a visit and we are LOVING it and HIM! (Still need to get a picture to insert here!) We did the funnest thing today. We went to Texas Motor Speedway and took the tour. For EIGHT whole dollars we got to tour the whole stadium, see a luxury suite, go on Victory Lane and WE GOT TO DO A COUPLE LAPS ON THE ACTUAL TRACK! It was a hoot!!! The kids were laughing their heads off. We went about 80 miles per hour (no, we didn't get to drive - the tour girl did! She did awesome) I could NOT imagine driving at close to 200 mph. It was fun fun fun! I actually would like to go back again already.......hmmmm
There is a race here next Sunday - so here is Victory Lane.

The start/finish line is right behind the kids.


The pictures just don't do the track justice. It is a 24 degree incline for the corners. It felt like the van we were in was going to tip over.

This is Pit Row. Jacob loves #43 and he said - if I worked for #43, I'd have to jump over that wall and work on his car.
You can still see the peel-out circles from past winners. This was the view from one of the suites. Pretty nice - only $100,000 per year and you have to own it for 3 years. Anyone want to go in and buy one with us??

HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian family and friends! We love and MISS you all!!!

Ella's new habbit

Ella has recently started a new habbit, as seen in the photograph.

She loves to suck on her arm. She uses the other hand to pull the favorite arm over to be able to suck to her hearts content. This morning she was sleeping in so late, so I tip-toed into her room and there she was laying in her bed, wide awake and sucking on her arm. I have such a well behaved baby, instead of crying when she wants to be nursed she quietly sucks on her arm. It really is cute!!

General Conference at HOME!!

See us - don't we look happy?! It is us at home on Sunday morning watching General Conference in our PJ's and loving every moment of it. This is the 1st time in years, we've had conference on our TV.

Here are the kids chowing down on our 'treats'.

I did love conference as usual. Sunday morning President Monson's talk was perfect. We were sitting in our living room scattered with toys and an overflowing laundry basket and knowing that one day we were going to miss these little fingerprint leaving children, so we need to enjoy every single day!

To FLU SHOT or not to FLU SHOT?

That is my question?? What are all of your opinions about the flu shot for kids? Do you get one each year? Why or why not? I can't decide how I feel about them. AND do they really work?

Ella is EIGHT months old!

Here is our little 8 month old Ella! Boy does time fly when you're having fun. Her first top tooth FINALLY broke through the skin. She sure has been having a hard time with those top two teeth.

She is so funny. I really wish I could explain her little sense of humor she has - but it one of those, you've got to see it. She loves music. When you put a song on with a beat, she starts jamming out to the music by rocking back and forth. Tonight she was even humming along. Too cute!

THE BATHROOMS GOT TILED

Here are some before and after shots of the bathroom. Our master bath had carpet in it (YUCK) and the other two had good ole line-o. It is all gone, replaced with our beautiful tile.









This is the nasty carpet. Although it doesn't look too bad in the picture!






The after shot, just of our master. It looks so nice.

I am still alive!

And I can even lift my arms. Tonight it is a bit of a struggle to move my legs though. We did legs tonight! It is a good hurt though. I am going on week two with the trainer. It is still great. I do love it and the kids still like the kids play area. So what more could I want?! Except to have lost 100 pounds already! One day I will have fabulous before and after pictures to post! Just you wait!

Now I can barely lift my arms....

OK - I can feel the burn, real bad. Today was day two with the trainer. I am hurting a little, sure wish we had a hot tub! I feel good though. Glad I am actually doing something for myself.

Also - so far, no call for Barry to go to Houston. I am happy about that. I am sure he is a little sad -he is all about adventure and excitement!! Too bad he is married to his not adventuring wife -ME!!

Kids are calling - got to go!

The damage we 'sustained' from Hurricane Ike....

That's right - you are looking at it. Our damage.....





NONE! It was a rainy day with a little gusty wind. THANK GOODNESS! We stocked up on gas, water, food, batteries etc etc. But I did tell Barry that I was leaving town if the power went out and I had no air conditioning. You know I have to have some standards.

Thanks for all the concern from everyone!

Where is Ella??

We had Ella sitting on the couch playing when she suddenly started disappearing. She was slowly sinking in the couch behind Barry. She is a doll!!

Jacob's #5 Birthday

Happy Birthday big buddy! We sure love our Jacob and love love love the boy he is!

He had a great birthday with some new Texas friends. He even got a call from his best friend in Winnipeg, Dawson.

Jacob's first day of School 2008

Here is the clan on the way to Jacob's first day of preschool. His third year of preschool mind you, but he loves it non-the-less. He missed the cut off for school by four days!

Day two of blogging.....

I got some pictures so we can look cooler, like all of you!

Here is Miss Madelyn in her halloween costume. I know it's a bit early, but we had to get it. She was looking at herself in the mirror and said, "I am a princess and I live in a castle." It was great!

I caved to the pressure......My first BLOG!!

Hello to all my newly faithful blogger buddies. I have enjoyed reading your blogs and can stand it no longer, we had to have one.

So here we go. I am at the computer with no pictures at it so this first one will be real boring.