Aren't we getting crafty!!

What to do on a weekend that is going to be kind of yucky and kids that are ready to climb the walls?? I know - let's do something messy!! So we decided to make pine cone bird feeders!! It was great fun - although the actual "making" only lasted about 45 min..

We went up to the mountains to get the good pine cones - ok really just an excuse to take a little drive!

The girls wandering around in the woods - it was so wonderful with just a dusting of snow.....

Ashley was very serious about making hers - and she did a wonderful job!

Hailey did a great job until she figured out she could eat the peanut butter...

Pumpkin Festival

This past weekend we decided to go to the pumpkin festival! It was an amazing day - 84 degrees!! (and of course 4 days later I am typing this while it is snowing out!)

The girls dressed up in costumes (from years past) - Ashley was Dorthy and Hailey was a Bee. They had carnival rides, tractor rides, a mini corn maze and lots of pumpkins!

On our 1st ride - Daddy had to go...

And I think he had more fun then the girls!

Their 1st ride all by themselves! They were acting cool - no big deal.

You can just see Hailey's huge smile - she loved it!

Tractor ride....

Remeber the movie "Children of the Corn" - just kidding - but that's what I thought of!

Chipped tooth

We had our 1st chipped tooth in our house (not counting Larry a week before our wedding!)

Ashley and Hailey were chasing each other and sure enough it ended in a crash! But this crash was into the widow sill and a whole lot of tears. Sure enough - Hailey chipped her front tooth! The good thing is that it wasn't big and didn't do much damage. She has a sharp edge but it doesn't hurt. So we will have a post next week about our trip to the dentist!

Race For The Cure - 2009

My Aunt Shari had a great idea for us to do the Race for the Cure in Colorado Springs this year - and I am so glad she did!! It was great fun!

Shari, Brittany, and Baby Peyton all came down to the house the night before. We had a big dinner and they stayed the night. Ashley and I got up with them super early to head out. It was a pretty foggy day which worked out really good for us. The race was at Garden of the Gods which is so amazing anyway - but when you are there for a good cause it really is more amazing!

Ashley was such a trooper - it was early for her but she did great. I pushed her in the stroller and she sat back and enjoyed the ride!

Brittany was fun - she is a good morning person!

Can't wait to do this again next year!

Ashley's 1st Field Trip

Ashley had a field trip with her preschool class - to the Zoo!! It was great fun - Larry took the day off too so the whole family was able to go. I love going to the zoo. It was a perfect day for the weather and Ashley hung out with a buddy from school the whole time - too cute!

This is Hailey trying to smile right before the ride started - then she wanted off!

Big Blue!!

I would like to introduce to you the newest member of our family:

Can I say I LOVE MY TAHOE!!!!

Officially a Toddler!

It is official!!

We switched Hailey from a crib into her Toddler Bed - so of course her age has nothing to do with it - it's all about the bed!

*She has also figured out that she can climb into our bed for the night.....

1st Camping Trip

For the past 4 years Larry has been wanting to go camping and I always have some great excuse - "the kids are too small" "what about middle of the night bottles" "pretending I didn't hear him". Finally our friends Mike and Melissa said let's go! They have 2 little girls as well so I finally decided to suck it up and make it happen.

The girls had so much fun playing together! We had a nice spot with a little stream so of course there was a lot of dirt to be had! The best part of course was the smores - and oh yes they loved the smores!

It was really pretty..

Hailey REALLY enjoyed the smores!

*Catching Up*

I have been a terrible blogger this summer/fall - so I am now officially re-committing myself to become a better blogger!! Obviously I have a lot to catch up on so the next couple posts are me pretending I was on time with what was going on with the kids!

Ashley's 1st day of Preschool

Ashley was such a pro at this preschool stuff this year! She was very excited to start going again. We took Hailey with us this year for Ashley 1st day - she was very sad when we left. This is Ashley's last year of preschool!

Getting ready to go to "Meet your Teacher" day (even though she already knew her teacher)

Leaving the house

So cute!

Saying goodbye!

What Happened to July?

Wow - it's already July 29th!!

What have we been doing??

Honestly - nothing crazy - just enjoying the nice weather and spending lots of time outdoors!

4th of July - We actually took our 1st road trip (it sounds like we never go anywhere! We do - just normally no where farther then an hours drive) Hailey is usually not a happy car rider - but I had lots to bribe her with! Larry decided that we needed some "real" fireworks, so off to Wyoming we went! It was actually really fun. We made several stops and just made a day of it. The girls did great! Ashley was super excited about getting fireworks - I think just because Larry was excited, she truly didn't know what she was getting herself into. She did help carry some of the fireworks in the store though. The good part is that we have had rain almost every night so there was no fire danger. For the actual 4th of July we went down the street to a friends house. It didn't start off very well - we had a huge hail storm come thru! By the time we were done eating and had some beverages the weather had cleared and the fireworks began (yes they took a trip to Wyoming as well!) Hailey ended up falling asleep in my lap, but it was a great time. We still have fireworks left though!!

The girls all ready to go....

Hailey getting ready for fireworks - not sure if she likes them this year!

Everyone is doing well!

Ashley is riding her bike really well now - she usually walks it down hills. She really enjoys running around outside. We have the jump-o-lene still out and she is finding new ways to jump in - usually from the top of the slide! With all of the rain usually in the evening, it has been challenging keeping her in her own bed. She is going to be starting a new dance class and also her final year of preschool next month - she keeps asking if its coming. Soon enough!

Hailey is really starting to put her words together now. I do a lot of translating for Larry - but she is getting a lot better. She also likes to run around outside in the evenings - but she usually is the first to want to go in. Laying on the couch and watching a movie before bed makes her pretty darn happy! She is still a mommas girl - which I don't mind one bit!

Larry is busy just trying to keep up with things. His job is super busy but he is doing great. He just got a call from the president of the company telling him what a great job he is doing - Yahoo!! He did his motorcycle class - it went great - the instructor encouraged him to become an instructor! He has his motorcycle license now, so he is going out on the bike more and more.

My job is going well. Just never have enough time in the day to do everything I want. I had a little bit of a health scare but it turned out to be nothing - VERY happy about that!! Larry bought me a bunch of gear for the motorcycle and we went on our first ride last weekend. At first I thought there was no way I would do it - but by the time we got home I was having fun. We are supposed to go out again this weekend. Thinking of re-painting out living room (I'm sure Larry is tired of looking at all the paint samples hanging up!) Just happy to be able to be outside as much as possible! The garden is coming along great - just keep hoping the hail skips our house! The girls love going out to look at it with me. Ashley has become a pro at cleaning off the veggies when I pull them. I love it!!

Hailey's 2nd Birthday!!

My baby is turning 2!!!

I cannot even believe it is possible that she is 2 years old (technically not until Tuesday but it might as well be today!) We had her birthday party this weekend and she did such a great job! I think she was a little overwhelmed - she jumped into Juella's arms when she got there! The house was decorated in "The Backyardigan's" - we even had the character balloons that were bigger then her. Our backyard looked like a mini carnival - we had over sized horseshoes, a Giant Basketball, and of course the famous Jump-o-lene!!

Coming downstairs when she woke up from her nap - little surprised (especially when Larry and Ashley jumped out and yelled "Surprise")


The basketball court


Baby Peyton holding on to Larry

I was so worried about us singing "Happy Birthday" to her - at other parties Hailey did not enjoy everyone singing. Now I'm thinking it may just be our singing because she sure liked it at her party!! She sat there all by herself - even knew to blow out the candles and clapped when we were done. She is such a big girl now!!

Blowing out her candles

Yummy cake!


Ashley really wanting to help her.

more presents..


Her own bike! We went for a ride with her helmet later that night! It has a handle for the parent to steer and help push. She likes steering like a maniac and laughing when I try to keep her from crashing - good thing we got the helmet!

Dance Time

Ashley had her 1st Dance recital! She did a great job - it was a lot to learn but she handled it very well. I was a little nervous if she would even go onto the stage - but again she amazed me and didn't even hesitate! Hailey was excited to see her on the stage too. We are so proud of her!

Larry had the camera and didn't focus very well but it's ok - we took video too - just didn't want to kill the computer by loading it all up!

She walked out with no problems!


We bought her flowers when she was done - she is a star!

Working at the Car Wash!!

Larry wanted to wash his motorcycle and of course the girls wanted to help! Water, soap, outside - what's not to love!! Except they like to wash the driveway with the brush and then use it! I saw the horror in Larry's face when that thought crossed his mind. So we decided Daddy would wash his own motorcycle and Ashley and Hailey would wash their jeep (you know the expensive vehicle just sitting in the garage that both of them are too afraid to ride!)