Baby Hiccups

The Nana and the Papa

2012-02-15T15:06:00.001-07:00

We were so blessed to have Nana Debbie and Papa Gary in town over Piper's fifth birthday and then some. We were creative geniuses with our artsy nana: sewing, knitting, planning children's church curriculum, etc. And it's a good thing nana landed in FL safely today, because I honestly, couldn't keep up that pace for much longer. I'm exhausted! Miss you already!

Crazy Cooking with Nana!

And then the big five:

Rainbow cakes in canning jars.

Be Mine, Valentine!

2012-02-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

Daddy and his Valentines.

Piper's 5 and all that!

2012-01-27T10:35:00.002-07:00

"Girl, look at that [outfit]! When I walk on by..." Such a sweet, creative "Punky" and we are so blessed by her: sweetness, little mommy-ing, and words. Lots and lots of words. Happy 5 Sweet Pea!

Despite the Cold

2012-01-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

We needed some outside play today despite the cold! Burrrr.

You Say It's Your Birthday!

2012-01-16T22:35:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Aunt Amanda! We love you!

Maddie's 9 Months

2012-01-14T11:49:00.001-07:00

She is ALMOST crawling, but she still has no teeth. Zero. I had a dream the other night that the dentist took an x-ray and there were NO teeth in her gums either. I should be glad because I'm still nursing, but what are they waiting for!? :) 9 months have flown by!

Let the Purging Begin!

2012-01-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

3 darling girls and 1 ridiculous Tupperware cabinet to organize.

A Great Start to the New Year

2012-01-12T19:56:00.002-07:00

May God bless you richly this year!

2011-12-25T19:56:00.001-07:00

A Very, Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T21:55:00.002-07:00

Christmas Eve

The Excitement is Mounting

2011-12-24T08:44:00.001-07:00

It may be a white Christmas after all!

Your Boots, Aunt Amanda!

2011-12-21T20:33:00.001-07:00

You'll be glad to know Aunt Amanda, we're getting plenty of use out of these boots!

2011-12-14T11:47:00.001-07:00

Maddie Lion: 8 months

We are so blessed by our little Lion and couldn't imagine not having her.

2011-12-12T13:43:00.001-07:00

Smile Train

As parents, John and I had a really tender moment when Piper practically moved us to tears. The girls have been going through my magazines and cutting pictures out of things they like or want for Christmas. Piper came up to me after she found this picture with little tears in her eyes. She didn't say anything, but looked desperately at me for an explanation. Afterward, she put the picture down and ran off for her piggy bank. She collected $5 worth of quarters to help this beautiful baby get surgery. It's moments like these when you understand why Jesus tells us, "unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Precious Piper.

Christmas Cookie Exchange with Aunt Jess

2011-12-10T16:12:00.001-07:00

Party Prep! My entire kitchen and nook was covered with Double Chocolate Linzer Cookies (with a Dark Chocolate Raspberry filling).

Of course we have to taste test. Yum. Notice they're at the little table. Mine was covered in cookies!!

Turtles. Thanks Nana Bethie for this yummy recipe!

Picking up Aunt Jess from the airport.

Chocolate Peppermint Martinis and champagne.

Some of the delicious treats included Cocunut Pecan Shortbread Cookies with Caramel filling, Chocolate Peppermint Thumprints, Peanut Butter Chocolate "Struw" balls, Coconut Macaroons, Frosted Sugar Cookies, Cranberry Pecan Bars. Of course I forgot to take a picture of my girlfriends and myself dressed up. Typical. As you can see, John's going to win some major points with his boss when his cookie tray is delivered Monday. Can you say pay raise? :)

Christmas with Aunt J. Maddie's first ornament. Jess always buys the girls an ornament. But they're a little bummed they have to wait til Christmas day to open the big gifts.

Saying goodbye to Aunt Jessica. We had such a nice time!! You're a lifesaver. You've done it all including being an aunt. "Now you can die!" in the words of Piper. xo

Puffs

2011-12-05T15:16:00.001-07:00

Feeding herself banana flavored Puffs today!

Look What My Piper Just Wrote!

2011-12-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

M.O.M!!!! Makes my heart happy!

Happy Birthday Nana Bethie!

2011-11-30T10:07:00.001-07:00

We love you so much and can't wait to celebrate with you in December! Travel home safely! Love, your girls

Guess who's sitting now! 7 1/2 months

2011-11-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

Sunday After Church

2011-11-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

Piper's Puppet Show

2011-11-26T20:08:00.001-07:00

It all began with a mom and a tiger...

Thanksgiving: So Much to be Thankful For

2011-11-25T10:34:00.003-07:00

We have so much to be thankful for this past year! Pops came to GJ to join us for Thanksgiving this year, which we spent with our good friends-- whom we are so blessed by-- and their family on Reeder Mesa. There were 35 adults, 8 kids, 3 babies, 2 turkeys, a bird hunt for the boys, an amazing dessert buffet, trampolines and horses for the kids, and a bluegrass jam session to boot! It was a great day for all.

Reading with Pops

2011-11-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

The Princess and the Pea

2011-11-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

Princess Tallie is sure she has outgrown her naps like her big sis Piper. So I've given her a shot at "quiet times" this week reading books. I think we have found a good compromise, don't you? :)

Little House on the Prairie kinda day

2011-11-21T09:42:00.001-07:00

Our boiler wasn't lit when we woke this morning... to a brisk 65 in the baby room. We're heating the house and our tootsies by fire til our plumber can get here. We also made our pancake mix from scratch today to top off our Little House on the Prairie morning!

Princess Tallie and her crafty gems

2011-11-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

We glue them to everything!

Snowy Colorado Weekend

2011-11-13T20:30:00.002-07:00

We went to our friends' cabin this weekend on the Uncompahgre Plateau, where there was plenty of snow and no electricity. The girls loved using lanterns and head lamps at night and we enjoyed a chance to unplug. Crazy to think we were living on the beach 3 weeks ago when all around us are snowy Colorado mountains.

Prunes!

2011-11-13T16:58:00.001-07:00

Corduroy Appreciation Day

2011-11-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

There are many things to be thankful for today along with the fantastic invention of corduroy! We are thankful for the veterans who have served our country and fought for our dear freedoms, Pops and Uncle Cameron to name two. And we are especially thankful to celebrate Pop's birthday today! We wish we could share a slice of cake with you today and hug you in person. Happy birthday! We love you!

A little Excer-saucing!

2011-11-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

Pineapple on the Head

2011-11-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

The girls have been yelling "pineapple on the head" while holding pillows over their heads and laughing hysterically this morning. Goofballs.

Piper's Surprise

2011-11-04T09:40:00.000-06:00

Somehow I slept in this morning while Piper set the table, opened new cereal boxes, poured milk in all the bowls and cups, spilled and cleaned up her mess. After it was all done, she came to get me with a "good morning, mama!" and made me close my eyes and yelled "surprise!" when I got down to the breakfast table. She is so cute! "I just love to do kindnesses for you mama!" She was a little bummed it's not Saturday and daddy's not home to eat his bowl's worth though.

Maddie's Rolling

2011-11-01T16:32:00.000-06:00

Our planted pot is on the move now that she has figured out how to roll from her belly to her back and onto her belly again. Note to self: baby proof AGAIN.

Halloween Cupcakes

2011-10-31T11:05:00.001-06:00

The Finished Product

2011-10-27T23:46:00.000-06:00

Carving Pumpkins

2011-10-27T19:28:00.000-06:00

First Fire of the Season

2011-10-27T19:08:00.000-06:00

Next up: carving pumpkins.

Home again! Fall is in full swing.

2011-10-27T10:17:00.000-06:00

Our first morning home the girls woke at 5:30 am (since we've been on eastern time for the last month) and dug out their winter coats, hats and gloves to enjoy the fall leaves in a nippy 35 degrees. We were surprised to find jalepenos and tomatoes still growing in the garden. It's good to be home!

Goodbye Florida

2011-10-21T17:32:00.000-06:00

Princess Tallie and my little Lion

2011-10-16T14:07:00.001-06:00

Tallie can't say Madeline, it always comes out Maddie-lion, so we've started calling her just that. Lion.

Southern Sunday

2011-10-16T13:54:00.000-06:00

Nana Debbie and the girls before church today.

Romantic Boardwalk

2011-10-14T19:27:00.000-06:00

Had the privilege to witness this romantic engagement tonight at sunset on the boardwalk! Sigh. Btw, she said yes!

Another Great Day at the Beach

2011-10-14T17:03:00.000-06:00

A Little Glimpse of Maddie's Personality

2011-10-13T19:36:00.000-06:00

Sand Castles

2011-10-11T22:50:00.000-06:00

I won't eat dog biscuits anymore

2011-10-11T18:49:00.000-06:00

Bungee Piper

2011-10-09T15:43:00.000-06:00

Bungee Tallie

2011-10-09T15:42:00.001-06:00

GJ: Good Clean Fun

2011-10-08T17:34:00.000-06:00

Taken this afternoon in the desert of GJ on our way to go shoot. You had to be there to really appreciate this caveman activity. Great fun.

Maddie's First Food: Rice Cereal

2011-10-07T09:18:00.000-06:00

Not so sure about this thing called food, but she actually swallowed a few bites. Go girl!

Piper's After

2011-10-06T19:11:00.002-06:00

Piper's Haircut

2011-10-06T19:11:00.001-06:00

Piper's Before

2011-10-06T19:09:00.000-06:00

FL: Poolside

2011-10-03T19:32:00.000-06:00

Adults Night Out

2011-10-02T16:38:00.001-06:00

Thanks to Nana Debbie and Papa Gary, we were able to enjoy an evening out--adults only. We had a great meal and then enjoyed a nightcap with friends at the "Haughty Heron" cigar and wine bar.

FL: Family Night on the Beach

2011-10-02T16:33:00.001-06:00

A great night of s'mores, a campfire, and running around the beach under the stars.

FL: Camp Grandma, Pirate Edition

2011-09-30T16:41:00.000-06:00

FL: The Culture

2011-09-29T06:13:00.003-06:00

Not sure what to make of this, other than to say we're doing our best to learn/enjoy the culture.

FL: Apalachicola

2011-09-28T11:56:00.000-06:00

Blackened shrimp, fried green beans, aligator burger, raw oysters on the half shell, and a whole slew of cajun hot sauces. And beer. Great day.

FL: Enjoying the beach

2011-09-26T22:27:00.001-06:00

F or B: Mexico Beach! We've arrived

2011-09-26T17:12:00.000-06:00

F or B: The last leg, Part 2

2011-09-26T14:05:00.004-06:00

We crossed the FL State line with a sleeping car. But now that we can see ocean along the highway for most the remainder of the drive, it's getting harder to contain our excitement. Plus, we put on our swimsuits at the last stop in Mobile so we can hit the beach as soon as we arrive. Woohoo!

F or B: The last leg

2011-09-26T13:45:00.003-06:00

John's got the iPod rocking, coffee in hand, and sunflower seeds to keep him going during the last 3 hours of our 1900 mile trek. We crossed the Florida State line 30 minutes ago. 3 and half hours to go!

F or B: Ocean Spotted! Mobile, AL

2011-09-26T11:41:00.000-06:00

F or B: The Watermelon Patch on our way to Mobile, AL

2011-09-26T10:30:00.001-06:00

F or B: Central Mississippi

2011-09-26T09:31:00.000-06:00

F or B: Overnight in Mississippi

2011-09-26T08:41:00.000-06:00

F or B: Sunset Near Mississippi

2011-09-25T18:02:00.000-06:00

F or B: Go Tigers

2011-09-25T17:18:00.000-06:00

Taken in-- you guessed it-- Monroe, Louisiana.

F or B: Messin' with Texas

2011-09-25T13:38:00.000-06:00

F or B: Burnt Orange Country

2011-09-25T13:37:00.000-06:00

F or B: Road Warriors

2011-09-25T13:36:00.001-06:00

F or B: Texas

2011-09-25T10:17:00.001-06:00

Everything's bigger in Texas...except Piper's bladder; pulled overt at the state line.

F or B: Boomer Sooner

2011-09-25T09:01:00.001-06:00

University of Oklahoma, next four exits.

F or B: Perry, OK

2011-09-25T07:47:00.000-06:00

Uhhhh. What would you say happened here?

F or B: Runaround

2011-09-24T18:28:00.000-06:00

F or B: Salina, KS

2011-09-24T17:39:00.000-06:00

This photo really needs no description.

F or B: Settled In

2011-09-24T16:05:00.001-06:00

Crafts, coloring, tunes and movies; we're officially settled in to our road rhythm.

F or B: Nap Time

2011-09-24T14:28:00.001-06:00

All quiet on the western (Kansas) front.

F or B: Spider in the Sequoia

2011-09-24T13:47:00.001-06:00

Snakes on a Plane it was not, but Linde just killed a big hairy orange spider on my back, only after it bit Piper twice. Nothin' good happens in Kansas.

F or B: Kansas state line

2011-09-24T13:31:00.001-06:00

We're in Kansas. So we've got that going for us.

F or B: Lunch

2011-09-24T13:30:00.001-06:00

A little kid rite of passage: roadtrip fast food.

F or B: Burlington, CO

2011-09-24T13:10:00.001-06:00

Florida or Bust!

2011-09-24T13:06:00.000-06:00

So the family vacation roadtrip began yesterday from Grand Junction. We hit a friend's wedding in Denver last night on our way through and picked up our partners in crime for the trip, Steve and Amy and their kids. We left Denver this morning and have enjoyed great weather. We'll be blogging from the road so stay tuned.

Our three

2011-09-21T23:24:00.001-06:00

Tonight's Tub

2011-09-20T19:10:00.000-06:00

Miracle Garden

2011-08-02T22:02:00.005-06:00

I personally cannot believe we even have a garden this year (with the new baby and 60 mile an hour winds the day after I planted. Ugh), let alone a zucchini squash the size of Tallie. Miracle Garden!

Some Sweet Summer Shots

2011-07-18T14:03:00.003-06:00

Tallie's Three

2011-06-24T12:31:00.004-06:00

We're still having a little trouble with 3 fingers, but you get the idea-- Tallie's 3!!

Ballet

2011-06-23T08:45:00.001-06:00

The girls' first foray into the land of tutus.

Splash Pad Fun

2011-06-08T21:30:00.002-06:00

Baby Pics

2011-05-18T14:40:00.002-06:00

Gravy Meadows

2011-04-19T15:57:00.001-06:00

It took us a few times listening to Piper explain the story of Easter, pictured here with her 12 plastic eggs of Easter story from pre-school, until we realized that the "gravy meadows" she kept telling us about was actually "up from the grave He rose." Priceless.

Tallie at Home Depot

2011-04-19T09:31:00.000-06:00

Three's Company

2011-04-16T09:12:00.004-06:00

So to answer the question: Who does Madeline look like? Judge below!

Madeline Jean

Natalie Beth

Piper Louise

Madeline Jean

2011-04-15T12:48:00.000-06:00

Snow Caves

2011-04-07T23:00:00.000-06:00

Spring Break 2011 snow caves.

Black and White

2011-03-11T16:56:00.002-07:00

Tallie Dancing

2011-03-05T13:58:00.001-07:00

Piper's 4th Birthday: Princess Party

2011-03-02T00:29:00.008-07:00

No boys were allowed at this party. Need we say more?