Watch out - here comes Hazel!

Hazel had a great time with her family at the park tonight! She is quite the big girl these days, climbing up the steps to the big slide all by herself (mommy's hands right behind her). She zooms down the slide and is ready to go again, and again, and again.

She also has rediscovered a love of the swing. A few months back she was traumatized when Matt thought she would like an UNDERDOG! Ugh. We have done some trauma therapy work on her, and she has come back around to loving the swing. She especially loves riding the big swings with Mommy and Daddy...

Hazel's first time CAMPING!

We were all so generously invited to join our friends, Femeke, Clemens and baby Andrin for a weekend of camping along the North Umpqua River in Oregon. What a beautiful weekend and great company. Here are some pictures from Hazel's first weekend of camping and sleeping in a TENT. She loved it! The boys loved it too, and us grown ups had a pretty good time as well!! Thanks for sharing such a special spot with us Femeke and Clemens! Hope to join you there again in the future. We will bring the smore fixins and hotdogs if Femeke will make her yummy pancakes with fresh cherry jelly again! :)

My family enjoys one of Beau's camping "toys" the inflatable couch.

Hazel and her buddy Andrin

Happy Campers

The couch folds out to a hide-a-bed, the little ones enjoyed crawling all around.

The are OFF!

Hazel's hair reacted enthusiastically to the couch as well!

We took a few lovely hikes - Hazel had a good view. (Note Grizzly Adams was on the trip with us!)

So pretty!

I hope Beau isn't jealous that I spent so much time with this mountain man!

Andrin thinking about taking a nap with his mommy

We had a bit of a tailgate picnic between hikes.

Ready for hike #2, Andrin all set with his papa.

Andrin has the most electric blue eyes! Darling boy!

The boys enjoyed a sit in the frigid river...brrr. That water was crystal clear and was the color of jade.

Andrin was such a fan of cooling his toes...then his legs, and finally he went in for a nice sit in the cold water!

Donald doesn't seem to know what cold feels like!

Beau took Hazel out for a nice perch and view of the river. She loved sitting out there with her Daddy.

Bella was in doggie Heaven!

My two river walkers

I found this lovely rock to perch upon and take in the activity...Hazel joined me and as you can see was having fun as well.

Andrin discovers the rocks in the water.

Hazel impressed Beau and I by how well she adapted to camp life!

Beau enjoys some cool refreshment after a day of activity.

My dirt monster - she LOVED digging in the dirt around camp!

Yesterday, as we packed the car, Hazel let us know she was ready to head for home.

Our little dirt monster hard at work!

Cabin video

I tried uploading this a few weeks ago, and it wouldn't let me...here is a quick video of Hazel enjoying her cabin time! :) She sure had a great view of the fun outside from her Grandma and Grandpa's tent trailer. I loved that it was one place where I could lay down and not be dirty! :) Ahh...cabin life.

Baby brother keeps growing...

At my 33 week appointment this week, I got to take a peek in at baby boy growing to look quite a lot like....HAZEL. I brought the photos home and Beau's immediate comment was "he looks like Hazel." Sure does! As of Monday, he measured approximately 4 lbs 8 oz and was in the 48th percentile. He was moving around so much, which ended up working in our favor as he began the ultrasound with he face smooshed into my spine. However, he moved around and ended up giving us a great peek at his cute little face - complete with chubby cheeks already! The technician said she could see some hair on the back of his head.


The picture quality leaves much to be desired - as our scanner has decided to quit. You can still get an idea of the little man. More pictures to come in about 7 more weeks!! :)

Sweet little hand

Is that a smile I see?


He is peeking out (note the open eye) at us...I'll admit, this one is a tad freaky. Can I say that about my own child?

This is the one where he looks the most like Hazel....

Here is a picture of Hazel just moments after she was born.

BIG Girl Bed!

Another big step for my little girl...she is now sleeping in her very own BIG GIRL BED! She is thrilled. We got the bed put together a few days ago, and just last night tested it out for the night. She did great! I snuggled with her, read a story and then we sang some of her favorite songs. (Those would be, Mr. Moon, ABC's (still), and Jesus Loves Me.) I slipped out of the bed when she was dozing and she slept the rest of the night without a peep.

This morning I went in to take some pictures for the blog of course...and was surprised to see her big brown eyes looking at me. She was still all tucked in, as if she didn't move a muscle all night. She had the biggest smile and I could tell she was rather delighted in her new status... "big girl." She peeled herself out of the bed and then we got our morning under way. Throughout our morning routine, she would zip back to her room and make sure her bed was still there. Oh, and her baby "Andrin" was tucked very nicely into her bed.

When it was time to go this morning, Hazel made one last trip to her room and declared to me she had to "hug bed!" She rushed up to her bed and fell upon the covers, giving them a big squeeze. She came back to me, and quickly declared she also had to "kiss bed!" She ran back over and planted one on her covers. She turned and had a big smile and seemed at that point ready to leave her precious bed for the day. What a silly girl!

A few days ago she tried out the covers and thought the sheep on her bed were in fact "noodles."

Here is my sleepy girl this morning when I came in to wake her. Note her baby Andrin sleeping so soundly at her side.

Hugs for Andrin before she got up.

Whispering Pines 2009

Our annual trip to the Jordan Family Cabin - Whispering Pines - occurred last week! It is always a week full of FOOD, FAMILY and lots of FUN!


This year, we had all of that - and also we had a lovely stomach virus that struck!! Ugh!! It started with innocent (not so much) little Hazel, and then traveled to Beau, then to my mother-in-law, next to Matt, and then to my father-in-law. I was one of the lucky ones who avoided the illness. I think having a bun in the oven must have protected me? Whatever it was, I am thankful!! Sure didn't look like fun!


Here are some photos from our week in the Sierra Nevada's of California. It is impossible to capture in photos what this place means to my entire family, but at least you can get a glimpse...

Hazel was sick the entire drive to the cabin - split into two days. I got good at recognizing when she was going to be sick and getting the lovely barf bag positioned quickly at her mouth. Here she is taking a bath in the hotel bathroom - tight squeeze!

See the weary look in her eyes...Beau was rather sick this night as well. Don't want to go through that again!!

On our second day of the trip to the cabin, she was feeling good enough to "play" with the barf bag (clean and sanitized between use).

Here is Beau taking Hazel for a walk around Lake Alpine - it was a COOL day and shortly after this was taken we were hit with a hail storm.

Hazel loved this bridge, especially when her daddy made her a tunnel.

With Grandma Roberta

Hazel loved walking hand in hand with Grandma and Aunt Jill.

Jill and Nana enjoying some sunshine on a big chunk of granite.

After a big day of play, Hazel took great naps at the cabin.

Hazel took advantage of the early days of our trip - when the sun decided to SHINE!

Cousin Kelsey was a great support as she ventured into the shallow creek pool.

Beau was still under-the-weather this day, can't you tell? Poor guy!!

Bella LOVES the cabin!

My little ham eating some snacks near the creek.

Just me and my girl. Thanks mom for taking pictures of me on the trip!

In the creek there is a perfect natural bench us three enjoyed - Me, Hazel and Kelsey. Ladies of leisure on vacation!

Grandma Roberta came prepared with one of Hazel's favorites - bagels and cream cheese!

A little girl who loves her bagels and cream cheese!

Hazel and I with look-a-like tummies. I chose to leave on my pants though! :)

She loved dipping her bare bum in the cold water.

Relaxing in the creek with my girl.

Hazel with her Nana cooling in the creek...brrrr.

Cousin Mick arrived on Monday and Hazel was instantly enamored! I keep hearing all about Mick - Hazel looks forward to seeing her cousin Mick again!

Hazel and her Grandpa Bruce.

Kelsey, Jessica and goofy Uncle Jeff

Great Grandpa Roland - we were so happy when he and Great Grandma arrived on Monday!

Extended family arrived on Tuesday and we had quite the gathering. Hazel enjoyed the attention!

Great Grandpa and his sisters, Patty and Bobbi.

Hazel took over one of Bella's favorite lounge spots.

Bella waited her out and when Hazel moved - she took right over!

My dad, Bruce and Beau enjoy an amazing vista!

Roberta, Bruce and dad take in the fresh air and beautiful scenery. Wow!

Hazel and Mick clowning around in the camper - their special place to play!!

What a happy guy - we sure wish we lived closer to cousin Mick (and Kelsey and Chris).

The traditional sink bath at the cabin. I was bathed here when I was Hazel's size, as was my father and his siblings...Hazel's brother will be next in 2010!

My two fisted bather.

Hazel loved baths from Aunt Jill - especially playing afterwards with all her special lotions and potions! :)

Hazel cozied up to Matt for this cute picture! What cheese-balls!

A family shot - just before Bruce and Roberta headed out on the road.

Hazel doesn't know how special it is to vacation with BOTH SETS of her grandparents! Special memories we are so thankful for...

Jill and Kelsey's doggie, Kirby, had a similar hairstyle to Hazel!

Balancing Rock - a family tradition. Matt was promised big bucks if he were able to push the rock over - good thing he didn't suceed as I would be short a husband right about now!

Did it move? Surely not! We will try to push this rock over again next year. See you in 2010 Whispering Pines...Miss you!!