Sunday, January 4, 2009

Right Down My Alley...

A trip to Wisconsin just wouldn't have been authentic without a trip to the bowling alley. We know how to party.
Here's Mads and Chlo bowling up a storm. The lights were low, the music was loud, and Chloe had some serious dance moves.
These ladies were animals.
The men represented as well. My dad didn't even use the bumpers :)
This was Rex's first bowling extravaganza. He loved it purely because it involved balls.
He would have tried it on his own if we would have let him.
Everyone bowled a pretty good score (thank you bumpers) and a good time was had by all.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

How to Spell Trouble...

We just got back from celebrating Christmas in Wisconsin. We had the whole family together for our last big party before my parents leave for a mission in January. The cousins all had a great time together and I wanted to get a picture of all of them before we went our separate ways. I knew it would be far from flawless and I had to laugh as I browsed through them. Here's one of the funniest shots. I labeled all the kids. There are now 11 and a half (the half is not picture here :) I love these kids!!!
...More Christmas pics to follow in the next post.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Mr. Independent

Meet my little Mr. Independent. Yes, that's right - Rex can now do everything all by himself (or so he thinks). He is as stubborn as his parents (yikes!) and is figuring out how to everything on his own.
He likes to clean out his own ears.
He even tries to clean out his own little nose.
He can drive himself around (thanks grandma).
He can plan his own meals. (Fruit snacks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, that is.)
His daddy has taught him how to rinse his own hair in the bathtub.
He hates is when we actually have to turn the water off.
Now....if only I could teach him how to change his own diaper.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Cheri's Big Give

Every year Oprah does a show called "Oprah's Big Give." She rounds up her favorite items and everyone in the audience gets one of each item. Well, I'm not quite that loaded, but I've compiled a fun list of things I would buy everyone if had her finances. Here's what I think every woman needs:

1) Caramel Pecan Silk Supreme Pie. This is heaven in one bite. If you live out west you can get it a Village Inn and if you live in the midwest you can get it at Baker's Square. This pie rocks my world.

2) an ipod and stereo. Sometimes I forget how much happier music makes me. I turn on the tunes and life is great. Even Rex requests that I turn on the music. He loves it, too.

3) a pink girly bike. When I ride mine I feel like a kid again.
4) a dyson. You've seen the ads. You've wondered about them. I'm here to tell you they are all that and more. You will vacuum your house with it and be disguisted. This vacuum really sucks! (in a good way, of course)
5) a nikon camera. I'm in love with my D40. Photography is my new obsession. I love being able to capture the little moments I love.
6) My sister introduced me to these this year. There are two things I absolutely hate doing around the house - cleaning the shower and the crock pot. Well, no more! These sweet little baggies leave no mess behind. Oh yeah!
7) No, that is not me or anyone I know in the next picture. I believe everyone should own a sleeper - baby and adult alike. I have one. I avoid answering the door when I wear it, but it's the most comfortable, warm piece of clothing in existence. Get one!

8) My mom introduced me to Pledge Multi-surface this year. It has a nice scent and you don't have to switch between a million types of cleaners. Good stuff.
9) Michael Jackson, the Collection. Yes, he's a weirdo, but he's also a musical genius. I love jamming to his music. Now...if I could only do the moon walk.
10) a storage ottoman. There are toys everywhere and someone is coming over in two mintues...ahhhhh! This sweet thing hides the mess and gives you a place to put your feet up.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Family Photos

I have been teaching piano lessons to these two girls and their neighbor/friend for a few years now. They are practically family and they let me snap some photos for their Christmas card.



Here's the whole family. You can see where the girls get their beautiful red hair from.
This is Bryn. She dances, blogs, and loves anything purple.


While Mason doesn't study piano, he does has some serious art skills.

Syd can read any book in less than a day and remembers EVERYTHING.


Here are their wonderful parents.

Thanks, Wynders for coming over and for being so fun and for rescuing me when I get locked out :) You guys are great!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Let It Snow!

Well, after over a month of Rex looking out the window and chanting, "snow? snow?" we finally got some snow the other day. Cass snapped some cute pics while I dragged the boys around on a sled, but first, here's the spectator section.
The boys loved it.
Everytime we stopped Rex would say, "more? more?"
Here's a little cousin love for you.
Rex has been dying to go out again, but it takes like 20 minutes just to get him suited up in all his snow gear.
Sorry for the posting delay. We've had some internet problems, but I think we're good to go now.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The New Yard

Well, unpacking is definitely a work in progress. I thought it would go faster, but I also thought my morning sickness would be gone by now. Anyhow, here's a preview of our new yard. This is why we bought the house. Jeff has always wanted a cool yard and this yard is a little boy's dream. So, here is a tour courtesy of little Rex.
Rex loves this rocking chair on the porch. He sits and rocks for quite a while. I ask him if he's ready to get down and he just shakes his head and says, "uh-uh!"
When it's a little cold out, Rex is willing to wear a hat. I take advantage of that whenever I can because I love hats on him.
This is the view when you walk out the back door. It's terraced and at the top (by that fence) is a little firepit.
There are these cool, rustic steps up to the firepit. There's a lot of natural landscape, with big boulders and scrub oaks filling in the hills.
Here's Rex sitting on one of the log benches up at the firepit.
There's a little playground in the bottom corner of the yard. It needs a coat of something, but we'll work on that in the spring. Rex thinks it's really cool to swing on the big boy swing.
Well, that's the tour for now.