Birthdays and Other Good Times (part 2)

Great times with Heidi and Gabe

We were so lucky to have a visit from Dave's sister Heidi and her youngest son Gabe a couple weeks ago. (And not just because she made us delicious raspberry shortbread cookies).

"Just the girls" got to spend a fun day shopping, eating out, and going to a movie---all my favorite things!

Claire and Gabe have been great friends since birth.

Here's a painting of them from when they were about 18 months old.

They always have so much fun together.

One morning, Claire asked for hot chocolate so that she and Gabe could "go camping". They had worked really hard on creating this little fire circle in the backyard with firewood and bricks. All the kids had lots of fun spending time with their cousins--it's their favorite thing to do in this world!One night, Claire and Gabe wanted to sleep outside in the clubhouse. Justin was a good big brother and braved the cold night so they wouldn't be alone out there.

Dave and his sisters--I love that they're such great friends!


Thanks Britt, Daniel, Lily and Tate for letting us have Heidi and Gabe for a few days!


Week-long Birthday Celebrations
Between birthday lunches, parties, gifts, phone calls and messages---I've never felt so "celebrated" in my life. Thanks for helping me feel so loved!

Thanks Julie for the DELICIOUS cake!

A triple birthday celebration for me, Dave, and my birthday buddy Andrew. Thanks Launa for including us in this Fabulous party!!!

Why I'm so glad Lauren got a camera for Christmas---I would have missed out on some of these special sister (and cousin) moments....

It's almost as if they like each other----I don't get to see that very much :)

Okay, note to self---shorter posts, not so many pictures, less is more...

New Year's, birthdays, and other Good Times (that's right, part 1)

Happy 2009!

For New Year's Eve, we had a very impromptu little get-together. There was good food, fun friends, karaoke, ping pong, party games, and lots of bubbling beverages. (Diet coke and cider, of course.)

So glad Jake and Rachel were able to spend New Year's with us---and that we learned all about Jake's hidden karaoke skills
We were so happy to have good friends to ring in the New Year with! Thanks for joining us!

The Babysitter---she was GREAT!

Happy Birthday Dave!

I've noticed in friends blogs that---on occasion of their anniversary or their husband's birthday---they will "spotlight" how great their husband is and publicly declare their love. That would be really nice of me to do, wouldn't it? Maybe I'll do that sometime---when he leasts expects it---like on the day he gives me $1000, just for the heck of it or loses his job or something. Just not on his birthday--too cliche. :)

Um, thanks Mom and Dad for....this.....unusual....gift.

We did have fun celebrating his day---out to dinner with Julie and Glenn and then home for cake and presents. What else is there?

A Visit from the Guthries

We're so glad our great Guthrie friends stopped off to see us during thier busy move from North Carolina to Nevada. We've been friends since the good 'ol BYU days and haven't seen them in years---we got to reminisce over the good times (camp outs, backyard BBQ's, etc.) and the bad (kids smearing peanut butter all over our furniture).

Kailee and Lauren (the peanut butter culprits) actually remembered each other---and some of their escapades.

Claire and Jake--meeting for the first time in person.Their visit was too brief but filled with fun---we hope to have an extended visit sometime soon!

More good times....to be continued....

Last Christmas....

Since we're quickly approaching the day when I won't be able to say, "last year with Zach...", I thought I'd share some pictures of last Christmas with Zach.... because he was just so darn cute. I'm so glad I got so many pictures of him last year.

Memories of last year made Christmas tough last month. Miss him.

Thanks Ben and Rachel for taking care of my boy :)

Merry Christmas already! (part two)

Christmas is so over---but Christmas blog posts by procrastinaters have just begun!

So let's move right along to Christmas morning..... (or mid-morning, when everyone finally woke up)

Patiently waiting at the top of the stairs for Dave to charge up all cameras---we always forget that part
Checking out what Santa brought.....


At this point you're really wondering if I've ever heard of Picasa...or slide shows. My question is: how does that help me in the "turn my blog into a book" area? So we'll just have to suffer through this together, okay? :)

More and more pictures......

My sister Rachel and her husband Jake spent some quality time with us over the holidays---and we had fun, fun, fun. I definitely think they liked our dogs more that we do.

Oh so many movies.....

Out for Texas homecookin' at Babes

(although is it really "homecookin" if it's at a restaurant???)Fort Worth Stock Yards


Aubrey and Claire riding ponies with their "naturally" long and curly hair (love that Sam Moon!)

Downtown Dallas for some Texas barbeque and sight-seeing

I think some president was shot here.

Dave and Jake took the kids to the junkyard---I forgot why.

These are my slumdog hundredaires---hee hee.

Stay tuned for New Year's, Dave's birthday, a visit from the Guthries, my birthday, and a visit from Heidi and Gabe......

(do you like these little teasers?)