Trip to Lacey to celebrate a BIG FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!

My how you've grown!

Our little Katelyn Hanna and me last May, and again this weekend on her first birthday, March 12, 2011. Oh how we have enjoyed watching her grow and change and develop into a toddler.

Happy 1st Birthday!

She opened a card from her Grand-mum Casey just after we got there. So cute!

It was definitely a girly weekend. Lots of pink, flowers, birthday balloons, cake, presents, friends and family.

Rowan proudly posed with the birthday girl.

Cherise and her family came from Walla Walla. Lyssa and Logan's good friends the Leritzs were there with their 3 little ones.

Fun party! Even the "big boys" had a little picnic with Katie's new picnic basket. Everyone had fun with the play center and all of her other new toys!

Grampa and Henry doing what technical guys do

Making plans and drawings with Grampa on the new graph paper pad. What a guy!

Our little bike boy

When Lyssa and I came back from a run to Joann Fabrics, we found that Logan and Rowan had gone for a bike ride. Rowie was proudly riding back to the driveway. He rode between two puddles and on up to the garage. I caught the above photo as he was working hard to make the incline up past the cars. Love that boy!

Sunday Lunch

Hayden, Cameron, Har and I went out for lunch with L & L, Rowan and Katie and K & C, and Henry to Panera Bread Co. It was nice to spend some time before K & C headed East and we headed South.

New Wheels!!!! Wahooo!

After lunch we loaded up the little ones and headed back to the house. Here are a tired Rowan and Katie (enjoying her new forward facing carseat) buckled up into their new vehicle.

It's a Subaru Tribeca! Driving it makes me feel like I'm sitting in a cockpit. What a fancy new rig. I think I'm going to have to get a little bit more education to be able to take full advantage of all the bells and whistles.

Thanks for a wonderful weekend guys!

Fall planning and playing with food

Lil night owl

Garrett is going through a new stage of changing his sleeping habits. I'm not adjusting too well to having him have a couple of cat naps during the day and not wanting to go to sleep until after 8 at night. He is trying to work on those two top teeth of his. Perhaps that is causing an upset in his little clock.

He may not be sleeping well but he sure is getting around by scooting and rolling. I came into the living room and found him all the way under the chair. He doesn't look a bit upset by it does he?

Kindergarten Round-Up

This little Miss was super excited tonight to go to Wyatt's school for a special evening. It was the Kindergarten Round-Up at Rock Creek Elementary. It's where kids that are going into Kindergarten in the Fall come and get introduced to the school and a classroom and they get their questions answered.

She got to have Mom and Dad all to herself!

That "Big Day" is coming so fast! She turned 5 in October so she is going to be an older Kindergartener, just like her mom was with her own birthday being in September. Genevieve is very ready to start school. Danika will be starting her official education too, as she should be in Head Start in the Fall as well. Major milestones to be sure.

I know it's not good manners but...

I encouraged the kids to play with their food. Some packages of Cheez-it crackers have fun Scrabble shapes now. Their bedtime snack tonight was peanut butter filled apple halves with Cheez-it crackers and juice. YUMMY!

The above phrase, courtesy of Hayden, is dedicated to Cherise and Alyssa.

I'll sign this post off with Cam's contribution. One of his favorite TV shows.

My next post should have pictures of a big ONE YEAR OLD Katelyn Hanna!!!

March arrives and with it company!

Photo Op

This is the best we could do getting all of the grandkids together for a picture while they were all here this week. I don't know if spur of the moment pictures are going to work anymore. I think some of them need a bit more time to get used to the idea. They are holding still for the most part and we aren't going to get one without someone being silly. So here they are the beginning of March 2011. Ages 6, 5, 3, 3, 18 mos, 11 1/2mos and 8 mos.

Another "fourth" photo

Cherise with her new cute haircut and Hayden her "fourth". Two of our brown eyed kids.

Shopping with helpers

I needed to run to the store for milk and just a few other things and had promised these 3 a treat at the Dollar "Treat".

Thursday morning shopping with the boys at Target.

Sending them off

Logan, Alyssa, Rowan and Katie left early, early Thursday morning headed for Sisters and Gremmy and Goddy.

I'm glad the camera wasn't pointed back at me! :P I was out there in pjs, rain boots and a sweatshirt with my hair a fright!

Friday morning and Cherise and Henry were hitting the road back to Walla Walla. It was great having them all here. Seemed kinda quiet when they all left.

Weekend respite

Har and I had to be out early Saturday morning to drop Krystle off at Joylynn's house. We popped over to Shari's for a breakfast date. They have wifi! We were able to check our email and see the comments on this blog and Har could read up on his technical manuals.

I love his weekend wear. He had a denim jacket in college but it's been years since I've seen it around. I got him this one for Christmas and he pairs it with a hoody. He's been wanting something he can layer for warmth and something durable that he can work on the car and van without worrying about ruining it.

Something about eating at Shari's reminds me of Goldendale and the breakfasts we had around the kitchen table there. Though I don't remember having biscuits and gravy or corned beef hash. Perhaps it's the way Harlan eats his eggs, over medium, breaks the yolk and eats it with a spoon before he takes up his fork to eat the rest. I'm sure there are others that do that also but to me it's a signature method of his.

The Stone

Hayden and I got to go to a performance of "The Stone" at the Alpenrose Dairy Opera House.

We had 4 friends in it. They did an awesome job!

Book worm

Our littlest book worm. All of the kids like books. Garrett rolled under the couch and came out with this one. I set him up on the couch and let him read it. He may be reading "Mama and Me" but his pajamas say "Bananas for Grandma".

I love crafting

Joann Fabrics got new reusable bags. I have a few shopping bags but this one is so ME. I love it! and the sentiment CRAFT CREATE AND CONSERVE.

I guess I'm getting more PC in my old age.

Did you miss us?

Long time - no see

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted. Life hasn't been super eventful. Just the ten of us doing what needs to be done. Plus we've had a few others hanging out with us.

Courtney and Charlie stopped by and had pizza with us on a non-pizza night. They got to spend some time with Henry (and his mom), Katie, Rowan, Lyssa and Logan who are all visiting.

Lyssa spending some time with her "fourth" and being a little goofy. Just in case you ever wonder where these two got their propensity for goofiness.

I had a funny faced pic of Katie to post but loved her little "polka-daughter" top in this one. Rowan is being typical "Rowan". Yup, goofy but wouldn't have it any other way.

More silliness

Did you know it was Dr. Seuss's birthday yesterday? Wyatt's class remembered the good Doctor/author by making hats and making rhymes. The girlies are pretty much always dancing around. They had new shamrock necklaces to celebrate so there was an abundance of dancing!

Newest quilt

This is my reciprocal craft project for a special lady. We traded crafts. I am very late in getting this to her and am happy that I could have it hand delivered.

Hope she likes it.