A few more pictures

I meant to find this one this summer after seeing the video of Claire in the pool. Claire is definitely her Daddy's child....and don't blame me.....blame Papa! Joseph was between 16 and 18 months here. He had no fear and even went off a high dive with his daddy.



Here are a few more when he was just a little older....not very much older.

My Squishy Face Boy

What do you think? Does he look like his Daddy?(I don't know how to get them side by side.)


Please notice the too tight paper shirt. They finally realized they
needed to get him a bigger shirt.
So I have been meaning to dig out some pictures of Joseph so we can compare "squishy faces". Here are a few.

My Super Men

We took a quick trip to St. Louis (Edwardsville, IL) to see Joseph, Katie, Claire and new baby Caleb. We stopped at a rest stop in Metropolis. Daniel came running out telling me to get my camera (couldn't imagine why). In the end Rick and Daniel took pictures of each other. They were cute....it was in the middle of the night, I think around 2am or something.

Recycled

I have tons of things I should blog about....lots of fun things from the summer, especially 2 new babies, Zoe and Caleb....but not today.

I had a long list of projects this summer and didn't get to most of them....but this week I was able to check one off the list. I needed a new bag for preschool to take our First Aid kit, etc. out to the playground.

I couldn't find a picture of the original apron - but I turned it into a bag. My class is the Busy Bees, and I had been wearing this apron at work, but it wasn't working for me. I left the cute pockets on, used the straps from the apron for the handles, put some different gingham to line it and put a pocket on the interior made from the bodice of the apron.

I was pleased...what do you think?

Summer Fun

Rick and Daniel left for a week of Boy Scout Camp on July 4th. I spent the evening with some of my favorite people to watch the fire works. The Bell family met some friends and let me tag along.

We are having a great summer. I have worked one week and will work another one starting tomorrow. We have been going to the pool a couple times a week, Daniel is playing golf some every week - with that picking up to several days a week. I have been walking everyday with my 70 something neighbor and even though it is still very hot at 7:00 am, it still does a body (and mind) good!

I have been cleaning out and have only scratched the surface - or I should say not even began to scratch the surface. I sold a bunch of fabric on Craigs List and then Laura and I went to Ikea one day and I got some cool things. I have more pictures to post another day.

Spring Break

Rick took a day off and we went camping at Jordan Lake near Raleigh for one night and two days. The weather was perfect. Laura and the children joined us for a day. It was very relaxing just being outside. The boys did a little of unsuccessful fishing and Daniel rode his new bike a lot. I rode mine some and we even have a picture of Papa(Rick) riding. One of the children, and I can't remember which now, said Papa rode better because he "wiggled" when he rode.

More birthday

Family and friends came for our party and it was fun. Laura and Jason always do a party up just right! Rick did this amazing "cake" for me. He took a vegetable steamer for the grill, turned it upside down and then taped some of my favorite candies all over it. It was very creative. I think he said it "came to him in a dream".

Catching Up!

Slacker is my name when it comes to blogging. I seem to spend too much time in front of the computer for various other reasons..so sitting down to blog just doesn't happen. But several milestones were missed and need to be noted. Laura had a party for Rick and I as we celebrated new decades for our birthday. It is official, Laura put up a sign to prove it....we are both older than dirt now.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to one and all. I enjoy Valentine's Day even though most don't. We had fun at preschool decorating bags and singing songs about hearts and valentines. Two year olds don't "get it" but still think it is lots of fun. I have asked the 3 "boys" in my house to give me a "hug a day" all week. We will see how they do!

Snow 2010

Laura was in much need of "fresh air" so she went out and shoveled her driveway. Daniel came to help, he had already done two others that day.


Three Fridays in a row it has snowed and even Daniel said this week...."I'm tired of the snow." When Joseph and Katie were here at Christmas and we had that big snow, we didn't get a snowman made, so after much whining (on my part), Daniel talked me into going out and helping him make one. I also did some sledding down the side hill in our yard. There wasn't anyone but Daniel to notice my effort...which was just as well. It surely wasn't very graceful. The snow has been pretty and I have enjoyed some forced time at home, but I am ready for warm weather and sunshine. I got caught up on some projects, made 3 cute reversible jumpers for the girls and am continuing my d-junking efforts around the house. It is a slow and steady job but hopefully by the end of 2010 it will look better around here.

Children's Museum

Sierra being a dog.

Where's Paige?

Sierra's on a Dig.

In Winston Salem we have a great Children's Museum. We made a trip there while Claire and company were here.

Christmas 2009

I am delinquent in posting about our fun Christmas. We almost had everyone home and were sad Jill couldn't join us. We so enjoyed our time with Joseph, Katie and Claire. In December I asked the family to send me their wish lists for me to compile and send back out to everyone. On Daniel's list he wanted snow and to go skiing while JW and family were here. It started snowing on Friday afternoon before Rick was to go to Raleigh to pick up our BYU crew. Their plane was late and the drive home that normally took 1 hr and 15 took 2 1/2. They made it safely. Daniel was so excited that Joseph and Katie brought the snow (they had his name this year). Joseph played outside throwing snowballs, sledding and cleaning off the neighbor's driveway. After Christmas the kids all went skiing (except Katie, who was under the weather). I saw a paper Daniel wrote after Christmas for school and he said it was the "BEST DAY EVER". I regrettably didn't have anyone take a picture of all of us. I got a new Camera for Christmas so I can take pictures again. Thanks L & J! Daniel and I also each got bikes. He has been anxious for us to go on a big ride, but I can't make it up the hill going around the block. It will take some time and the weather isn't cooperating. Some of our Christmas activities: FREEZING ride through the Festival Lights, Christmas at Grandmama and Deda's with the Smith's, the kids had a sibling game night, the married kids went to Grandmama and Deda's for dinner, the kids went skiing, breakfast with the Brewer side of the family, and a trip to the Children's Museum. I cooked a lot and we all ate a lot and just had a grand time. My favorite part was watching all the grandkids playing together. The Bells loved playing with Claire.

More pictures

Laura Pictures

Our first family picture

Laura loves her Daddy!
I was clueless didn't think to provide her with real dress up clothes.