Baby Step #2

One of the other goals that I wanted to accomplish before my baby arrives is to finish 2 baby blankets for my new baby. I can now check it off my list. Kimball's Grandma used to crochet the edges of flannel blankets for each of my new babies. They have become some of my children's favorite blankets. They are just the right thickness and so soft & cuddly. I never took the time to have her teach me how to crochet. As she was declining in health, I realized that she wouldn't always be around to crochet blankets for the remainder of my children. By the time I thought to ask her to teach me, her hands were too feeble. So, I taught myself with the help of a little crochet book how to crochet the edge of a blanket. Although I am not very good at it and I only know a few simple designs, I can at least carry on the tradition and have some special blankets for the remainder of my children. I make them in memory of her.

This is one of my favorite pictures of her.

These are the two blankets that I made for our new baby.

New Puppy

When Sarah & Heather were little we bought two German short hair pointer puppies. They were full of energy and the girls loved them. They were great family pets because they were good with children. We recently had to put our last dog to sleep. We have been without a dog for several months. Yesterday we went to the pound to look. There were several adorable puppies to choose from. We brought home this one. He is an English pointer. We know that he will have boundless energy but the kids are enjoying every minute with him. (Some of my children have boundless energy.) Hopefully our yard will survive his puppyhood.

Baby step # 1

With only 8 weeks left before the newest member of our family arrives, I have been busy trying to accomplish some of my "baby step" goals. I always feel as though my life will be coming to a stand-still and so I try to get things done that are important so that I can slow down and focus on my baby when she arrives. So here is my first baby step: To finish Eli's eye-spy quilt. Eli has been so excited for me to finish his quilt. He has been very patient. The back is made of Wall-e fleece and the front is made of various pieces of material that reflect things that Eli likes, such as Thomas the tank & Mickey mouse.

Marching Band

Sarah started playing the alto sax in 6th grade. When she moved to the junior high, she quit playing partly because she didn't like the teacher. Last year, a friend of hers convinced her to pick her sax back up and start playing. She worked hard over the summer and joined the marching band for her Senior year. She has made a lot of friendships and she loves playing at the games and hanging out with her fellow band-mates. It has been a great experience for her. Sometimes when your parent's tell you not to quit because you will miss out on alot of fun...they are right!

Her high school's marching band is quite small because they have lost many students since their high school has been split twice because of the 2 new high schools that have been built in the last 2 years.

Sarah in the middle, playing her sax.


Sarah is in the second row marching onto the field.

Eli's 4th Birthday

While we were camping we celebrated Eli's 4th birthday. We went to a local bakery and they made a Mickey Mouse cake for him.

Eli told us that when he turned four, he would "use the potty and eat meat." Well, he is now potty-trained. As for the meat, he is now informing us that he will try meat when he is five. Eli is a very picky eater and will not even try a taste of any meat because he thinks he won't like it.

Cannon Beach cont.

A few more pictures at the beach. It was a cold and windy day. I only wish the weather was a little warmer so that we could have stayed and played longer.

Heather & Collin found a little trickle of warm water to play in.

Angelina all smiles!

Sarah, Angelina, & myself getting a little wet in front of Haystack Rock.


Joe had fun playing in the waves. Each time a wave rolled in, you didn't know just how far it would wash ashore. It was too hard to predict. So Joe loved seeing just how wet he could get.