Time Flies

So I knew this would happen. I am the worst journal keeper ever. I have been my whole life. I don't know why I thought a blog would be different. Anyway, 2 months have gone and I really haven't written anything. They've been very eventful though so let's review:

On January 20th my sweet little Brookie Bee turned 7! She was so excited to have a Fairy Party. I made her invitations and had a nice little party. (Half the kids we had at Olivia's. It was so much easier.) Of course this party was proceeded by a family party and taking cupcakes to school. Birthdays are no vacation for mom!

Then Casey and I enjoyed a little "alone time". We went Seaside Oregon for the weekend. We were able to use my parents bonus time. We thought it would be really cold and rainy, but rather enjoyed almost 60 degree sunny weather! It was a gorgeous day! We've been trying to spend a little more time together. It was very nice. I think we need to do it more often!

Then I was my Birthday! I'm 31! Woo Hoo! I got 3 Bikes for my Birthday! We started out with the cheapest you can get, because I don't know anything about bikes. But Casey said it "felt" cheap. So he returned it and got a little nicer one. Well a few days later my sister looked at it and asked what size the frame was. Come to find out the frame was for some one that is like 5'3''! That is just a "little" too small for me! I'm like 5'10''! So this time we got the "large" bike. It's so cute! Now I just need to get Olivia off her training wheels and we all could go for some rides! (When asked when she is going to learn to ride w/o training wheels her reply is "um never!" So this could take awhile!)

My sister Heidi was in town for my birthday so all the adults went to dinner at the Portland City Grill. (We had coupons...) It was so yummy! We had fun with Heidi all week! Took the kids to Kids Club, and had "Craft Day" My mom did some fun crafts with all the grand kids and us girls worked on some crafts of our own.

In February Casey took off on his trip to Utah to visit his family. I gave him a ticket for Christmas. Well some how he talked all his high school buddies into coming the same weekend. They all met the first night and stayed at a cabin in Midway. I think he had a blast. Then he spent the rest of the time with his family. He helped his mom paint Laura's room. And had a nice dinner with all the family. All his sibling were in town too. It just worked out that Briggs was in town for his brother-in-laws homecoming, and Melissa flew in too. Casey has a pretty awesome wife to give him such a cool Christmas gift! Even if I do say so myself.

I was able to go on a field trip with Brooklyn's class. We went to Portland to see a play of "Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type" She was so excited! They all got dressed in their nice clothes and we had lunch in the square in downtown. I was excited too, because since I was pregnant last year I was to lazy to go on any field trips, so this was my first! Brooklyn is so sweet, she is always excited to see me when I come to her class and wants to help me and sit by me, instead of her friends. I hope she stays that way and doesn't get a shy about me when she gets older...

For Presidents weekend we went tubing at Mt. Hood. We thought we would get one more trip in for the year. We left early and go some snacks to eat for breakfast. On the first run down Olivia needed my help so I went up to help her. But I could see she was heading towards a dip with trees. So I ran down the hill just in time to throw myself at her as she went over the edge. So there I was laying on my stomach hanging over the edge holding onto Olivia. She probably wouldn't have gotten hurt, just scared, but with Olivia that could ruin the whole trip. Cody was not to excited, we got their just in time for his nap. So most of the day I sat in the car while he slept. While I was gone Brooklyn took a spill and got alittle snow rash on her cheek. So sad. But she still had fun, and thy even found a jump to go on. Then we ended the trip with lunch at the kids favorite fast food joint, Subway.

All the while I've been busy trying learn to use my new camera and take better pictures. I've even had a couple photo shoots! Yay! And I started my own photo blog to put my favorites in!

A "quick" craft

In November I had girls craft night with my mom, sister, and sister in law (Ashley). We made some very cute banners for Christmas. We thought they should be easy, they ended up taking hours!!! But they were so cool they were worth it. We rationalized that we could use the left over supplies to make a Valentines one. So last week Ashley came over in the evening and we got started. We kept saying this should go really fast. Well at 1 in the morning we were done! Maybe we talk to much...anyway, they are sooo cute. If I do say so myself. Ashley, thanks for your help and hanging out!

Cute Cousins

Heidi and her kids came to visit last week! It was so fun to see her again. And it was fun have all the cousins get together and play. We thought since all the cousins were together we should take some pictures. What an ordeal! It was a screamfest! But I think I took enough pictures that we got a couple good ones. I don't think we will be trying this again for awhile.

Lip Sync 2008!

A new Christmas tradition we started doing is a family Lip Sync. (A family we know has been doing this and Casey thought it would be fun for us.) Anyway, this is our third year and each family films a lip sync and we watch them on Christmas eve. This is our 2008 contribution.

P.S. I am a REALLY bad actress/BIG nerd! Just so you know that I am aware.

Snow Days!

What a wild week! The news kept reporting an "Artic Blast" and I was getting so tired of hearing about it! We were just having little snow flurries, no big deal. They canceled our stake Christmas Devotional, and the kids didn't have school on Wednesday. I thought everyone was overreacting!

On Thursday I was able to go to Brooklyn's school and help with her Winterfest.

Then Brooklyn's school was canceled on Friday. Olivia's preschool was not. So, since Olivia goes to pm preschool we had time to head over to the neighborhood park and go tubing. I thought we had better take advantage of the snow because it would probably be gone the next day. And of course afterward we enjoyed a nice cup of hot chocolate with peppermint icecream!

After tubing Casey met me at Olivia's school to see her Christmas presentation. She was so excited to be the Shepherd girl. She got to wear the "rainbow" hat. She looked so cute.

Friday we celebrated Callie's Birthday at the restaurant Beaches. It was so fun! The snow was falling and the Christmas boats were going by on the Columbia river.


Saturday night there was freezing rain, which put a layer of ice on top of the snow. Brooklyn started picking it up so that she could get to the snow to build a snowman.



Saturday it snowed even more and so the whole family went tubing. It is so much more fun when you don't have to drive an hour just to get to the snow!

Sunday church was canceled. So we worked on our annual Christmas lip sync video over at my parents.

Today is Monday and it is continuing to snow. Casey went in to work anyway and took the suburban, so I am home bound...Then his office called and said they are closing today. So he tried to catch a bus home and they are running an hour late. He's been standing outside for an hour waiting. I called my parents to go get him, so now he's on his way home.

So, I was wrong. This really is an "Artic Blast"! Wild fun!

Mom's Birthday

Gingerbread House Village

My mom's birthday is in December, so she always has a Gingerbread House birthday party. The kids have really started to look forward to this. Brooklyn has been telling me her plans for her house for weeks now. While I helped Nathan make his I looked at him and he had his arm up over his face and was using the other hand to stick candy in his mouth. He was trying to be sneaky. (I think he is used to the apple turkeys at the Baldwin's when you aren't allowed to eat the candy until everyone is done.) I had to tell him it's alright to eat the candy, he didn't have to hide. After we were all done my mom had two houses left that none had decorated and Olivia quickly asked if she could take them home to decorate. Mom put the candy in a bag and Livvy decorated them first thing the next morning. So now I have a complete gingerbread village.

Festival of Trees

Bear HospitalSanta's Workshop

Painted Faces

One of our Christmas traditions is Portland's Festival of Trees. Casey's office always does a tree for it so the office can take their families for free. We have been going for 7 years now. One of the highlights is the Teddy Bear Hospital. The kids get a teddy bear and they take it to the "hospital" where they tell the doctors their bear's name and what happened to it. Then is gets a check up and bandaged. The kids love looking at their bears from all the years. The girls love to do all the crafts,get their face painted, watch the dancers, and drink hot chocolate. Nathan loves the toy trains and looking at the toys under the trees.

We were there.

Christmas Rush

My Christmas card. Mele Kalikimaka.

Christmas Bell are Ringing!
All Aboard!


So, we're back from Utah, and it feels like we were gone a month. When we went to Utah, Thanksgiving hadn't even happened, and now it feels like Christmas is tomorrow.
On Friday the 5th we had our ward party. It was a Polar Express theme. So cute! The kids wore their pajamas and we had pancakes and hot chocolate. Then the Primary kids sang Christmas bells. After that I ran Brooklyn over to her school for "1st Grade Fun Night". They were doing crafts and sing alongs and stuff until 10:00 at night. She was so excited, she LOVES crafts. I took advantage of the time to make Christmas cards on the computer and Casey ran to the store. Well, when I finally looked at the clock I realized it was10:05! I felt sick! I had forgotten my precious sweet daughter! I raced over to the school, and she was the last kid there, with the teachers. So sad! She wasn't worried though, she actually liked being last and had a blast. Nonetheless, I am going to have to get myself an alarm watch so I don't forget things like this again! Especially if I want that "Mother of the Year Award"! Ha, ha.

Olivia's Family Night

Olivia has always loved to to be in charge. And to be responsible for a stack of papers. As soon as she could talk she would be carrying around old receipts saying "my papers, my papers."

Well one day I gave her an old Friend magazine to color or do whatever with. She told me she would like to use it to prepare a family night lesson. I told her to go for it, and let her do what she wanted. I didn't know what to expect.

All week she was carrying around this bucket that had her "family night lesson" in it. I didn't think she was really going to remember, but when Monday came around she had it all ready to go before Casey even got home.

She then sat us all down and had us take turns picking a piece of paper out of the bucket. (She had picked out pictures that represented primary songs she knew, for example a picture of a little girl getting baptized for "When Jesus was baptized, down in the river Jordan..." her favorite song.) She had carefully colored and cut each picture and knew exactly what song went with it. Then she lead us in the song using a spoon to conduct. She was so excited. And I was so impressed.

It was a good night to be a mom!

Brooklyn followed her lead and prepared a lesson the next week. ( I don't think Casey or I will have to prepare a lesson for awhile.)

Utah Holiday

Olivia and her cousins creating their turkeys.

Nathan's Batturkey Apple


This Thanksgiving we traveled to Utah to be with Casey's family. We were a little reluctant, for fear of the weather, but the mild weather held out and we made the trip. (With studded snow tires, courtesy of my parents. Thank you! Just in case.) On the way we were able to stop and see my grandparents and were treated to my grandma Manship's famous sourdough pancakes in the morning. My picky kids love them! They are so awesome to let us crash there for the night. It brings back memories of when I made the trip with my parents, seems like it was just yesterday. I wish we could stay longer and visit, but our time is always short and my kids are always wild.


So we made it to Utah on Wednesday night and the girls were so excited that they got to do their Apple Turkeys with all their cousins! This is a Baldwin tradition that they have done forever, and our kids seriously love it. I mean who wouldn't? You've got apples and never ending candy, how could you go wrong! Brooklyn was very concerned that Grandma Baldwin didn't announce a winner. So she asked her who won. (Grandma told Brooklyn it was her, of course.)


Thursday was Thanksgiving and we ALL ate at the Baldwin's house. By ALL I mean all I mean all 39 of us! It was a PACKED house! And it was so fun! Every one of Casey's siblings were there, with their kids. Plus Casey's grandma Baldwin. The food was extra good because this is the first year in quite awhile Casey and I didn't have any kids on our lap, or have to spoon feed anyone. We actually got to sit down and eat and visit! Crazy! Then later took family pictures of course. No smiles, no pie.


The next day I had the chance to go on a photo shoot with my sister-in-law and pick her brain about photography/photoshop. I am so glad I went! She also gave me some great tips for photoshop that will save me hours! Then we did some lite shopping while we were in Salt Lake. (I hope I didn't tire her out too much) But mostly it was just fun to hang out with her. We don't get to see each other very often.

That night Casey wanted all the cousins to play dodge ball at the Church. As soon as we got there Nathan threw up all over the car! GROSS, GROSS! I went home and took care of that, then later that night Brooklyn threw up! (This is becoming a bad Utah tradition for my kids!) The next day we just kind of hung out at the house and played the wii. That night all the guys went to a Jazz game. Casey got a kick out of Easton trying to find the "free prize" at the bottom of the popcorn bag.

The next morning we headed up to see Heidi and Ryan. Nathan had be looking forward to going to "Cohen's house" all week. He was so excited to see Cohen's transformers! They were so cute showing each other their pajamas.

Nathan "You Mario?"

Cohen "Yeah, you transformers?"

N "Yeth, optimsprime"

C "Oh.....I have Mario."

Then Cohen gives Nathan a big hug, Nathan thinks for a moment then decides to hug back, and Cohen kisses him on the cheek. Pretty stinkin cute! Way better than the beating they gave each other this summer!

We drove home early the next morning.
Pretty fun trip. Minus the barfing, of course.