Nightly Reading

Both boys read about 1/2 an hour before bedtime each night. Donald is reading a difficult book right now, so he has been reading out loud in the kitchen. Hazel heard him start reading tonight and pulled out her little red chair, grabbed a book, and joined right in.

What was striking was that Donald seemed so unaware that Hazel was right there next to him reading her own book. Beau and I were laughing at Hazel as she yet again has to be doing what the big kids are doing. So cute.

Strange shoes on her feet? Well, those would be my socks she insisted on pulling on over her sandals.

Happy 5th Birthday Bella!

Bella turned FIVE yesterday. Hard to believe our first "child" is now five years old. We were busy with baseball games, so we celebrated today. I don't think Bella minded too much.

Today, we took advantage of a beautiful day to venture into the woods and give Bella a present we knew she would love...A HIKE!!

What a beautiful state we live in. It was quiet, well once we redirected Matt for the 5th time to stop the incessant questions and ENJOY the quiet of the forest. Hazel sang songs to the group, her favorite being "Winkle Winkle Wittle Star." She also jabbered about the various wildflowers she saw and the birds she heard calling.

This is the trail we decided upon.

Setting out on the trail. Gotta love a guy with a strong back! :)

Our Birthday Girl. Doesn't it look like she is smiling?

My four hikers all lined up and heading down the path.

At our turnaround spot, Hazel didn't much appreciate being placed in the forest floor. She wanted to keep on going Daddy!

Fashion Show

Hazel's cousin Mick was nice enough to pass on his clothes for the little boy to arrive in our home in October. Today I started sorting though it and imagining our little guy all dressed up. Well, Hazel had to get involved.

What 20 month old doesn't want to be involved in everything afterall?

Here are a few of the items that she was especially fond of...

She loved the "coat" otherwise known as a robe. She got quite frustrated with me when I attempted to take it off her. "Coat ON Mommy!"

Here are the darling baby shades she found in the clothing, of course those went on as well.

Not sure if your butterfly pants go with your "coat" honey, but what the heck!

I thought this little baby hat she put on looked a lot like a swim cap, especially when she was wearing her "coat."

Hazel loved this train vest. She was "choo chooing" as she helped me put it on her.

I love this pose she struck in the train overall outfit. She LOVED that it had pockets. Hard getting her out of this one later when we all needed to head to town for errands.

I loved this flannel shirt, she did too, but had trouble accessing the check pockets.

What a fun time! Yes, it took me twice as long to sort through things, but at least now I know Hazel has put her stamp of approval on her baby brother's duds.

Thanks Mick (and your mommy and daddy) for passing along all these great clothes for our little guy.

What a good dog...

Jay was the kindest dog you could ever meet. He was a gift from my brother and I to my parents during Christmas of 2000. Jay was the gift my mom apparently "never thanked us for"...but a gift that gave back to us all in spades.

Jay died today. I just got word a few hours ago and the tears keep coming. He was a great dog. Here are some photo memories of our good boy, "Jay Jay" as Hazel liked to call him....

Eight LONG Years!

Just kidding...Eight great years of marriage we marked today. Beau and I enjoyed the best gift of all when we got to see (via ultrasound) our little guy growing perfectly and moving all over in my uterus! After the ultrasound we headed to a QUIET lunch out just the two of us. We took advantage of Hazel in daycare and the boys in school. It was GREAT.

Tonight the boys put together a very sweet token for our anniversary, and I mean "put together" quite literally. See below their talent and their charming personalities!

Below is a video of our video (therefore poor quality sorry) of baby boy today. You can hear Hazel in the background saying "hi" to baby brother...and then she gives him a smooch on the screen.

Hi there mommy and daddy! (Arm and fingers)

15 ounce baby boy

perfect in profile

Bye for now, no more pictures please!

Bye, bye baby brother...

Here is Hazel being very sweet and singing to her baby brother. I love that when she said, "bye bye baby" she puts my shirt back down. She gives baby brother kisses all the time and just started singing to him a few weeks ago.

We get a peek at baby brother tomorrow as we have another ultrasound. That should be fun!

Fun in the SUNSHINE!

We had a great Memorial Day yesterday. We enjoyed the sunshine and company of friends. Julie, Macey and their dog Marley...I mean Murphy...joined Hazel the boys and I for an afternoon at the lake near our house. (Beau had to work.)

Here are some pictures for our afternoon with the masses enjoying the lake and sun.

The boys brought an arsenal of squirt guns (with strict rules of who was NOT available for squirts). Hazel chose her weapon of choice, though she could barely lift it and was quite unaware of it's real purpose. Fine by me!

This was so funny. Murphy was really a dog with a mission here. He swam out to the buoy and tried with all his might to pull the line free. He was at it for a good 5-10 minutes before Matt convinced him to abandon his mission.

Macey all bright in her colorful swimsuit.

Hazel was NOT fond of the cold water on her tootsies. Macey tried to convince her otherwise, but no such luck.

Can you see the tension in those baby thighs, saying get me away from this water!

Macey showed off her inflatable hippo toy. Hazel liked the toy as long as it wasn't near the cold water.

Getting up the courage to hit the cold water.

Macey is so funny!

Macey is such a cutie.

Hazel and Macey loved running along the shore. Come and get me Macey!

Hazel leans into the finish!

So nice to have such a great friend!

Uh oh, someone lost their fishies in the grass. The girls scoped out some fallen goldfish crackers that a fellow lake-goer had left behind. Don't eat THOSE fishies girls!

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Later in the evening, Beau came home and the family sat down to dinner. I gave Hazel a bunch of pickled beets (she loves them so she must be my daughter), and then proceeded to devour them.

The post-dinner look, she really enjoyed her beets, don't you think?

Ta-Da! All clean and enjoying a great bath at the end of a great day!

Michelle and Hazel friends at last!

I just got pictures off my small camera and discovered I never blogged these pictures of Hazel and Michelle!! Michelle came to my brother's wedding and then stayed with us for a night. It was so great to finally see Hazel enjoy the FUN side of Michelle!! :) Hazel was left wanting "more, more more" of everything Michelle did with her. We sure miss her and can't wait until she finishes school in Texas and moves back to Oregon.

Hazel and Michelle - buddies!

The girls enjoy the view.

Hazel discovered a love for dizziness!! "More, more, more!"

Just the three of us.

Hazel takes a ride courtesty of Michelle.



All around the yard they went, Hazel loved it!

Lucky 20's...

Hazel is 20 months (plus change) - a very fun age for us to experience! Her latest favorites are:

• singing "Winkle Winkle Wittle Star"
• singing "ABC's"
• climbing up on the dining room table when she thinks no one is looking
• watching NBA playoffs with her daddy (she doesn't have a choice most nights)
• wearing her sandals, wearing mommy's shoes
• pretties (which are, necklaces, earrings, hair clips, bracelets, watches, etc.)
• coloring
• collecting rocks
• buses (school buses, motorhomes, delivery trucks...all buses to Hazel)

Here is a peek at Hazel at 20 months.....

Hazel got as close as she could to watch daddy's NBA games - short so don't blink - dark too!

She just recently discovered how much fun it is to wear mommy's shoes

Hazel loves watching videos on the computer...she loves videos from our friend's blogs...and she loves videos of herself as well. Here she is watching a video of herself. I love how she says "Hazel" now. For a long time it was "Hazey"...she is getting the "L" in there now. I never want to forget her sweet little 20 month old voice!

Hazel's baby brother is 20 weeks in the oven today! His favorites are:

• Taco Bell
• Costco food court dinners
• afternoon naps
• Hazel singing songs to him
• Hazel kissing him "nigh nigh" before she goes to bed (the portal to him being her mommy's belly button)
• peace and quiet - hard to come by as of late

Here is a peek at baby brother cookin' in the oven at 20 weeks.....

Cathy's pictures from the wedding

Our Aunt Cathy has quite the eye when it comes to taking photos, so I just have to share some of the photos she took of the wedding (and rehearsal). She got some GREAT ones of the wedding ceremony itself (THE KISS) so I of course have to share those for sure!! They aren't in order, so use your imagination.

Thanks for sharing your talent with us all Cathy!

Bonnie's niece, what a little angel.

Stunning!

So happy walking down the aisle

THE KISS!

Hanging out the barn window

Chris and Cathy - great photos Cathy!!