Our Semi-Annual Popcorn Party

This weekend was the semi-annual General Conference for our church. We have the opportunity to learn from the leaders of the church during four 2-hour conference sessions broadcast worldwide on TV and over the Internet.

In our family we have several traditions that make this weekend extra special:

1. Project Day - During the Saturday sessions, I like to work on a craft or sewing project as I listen. This year, the boys sat on the couch doodling in their notebooks and worked on some art projects at the kitchen table.

2. Kids' Conference Packets - These are a must! This year, my sister-in-law passed on the link to the best packets ever at www.sugardoodle.net What I loved about them is the variety of activities. There is a separate packet for big kids/small kids/preschool-age kids. The kids loved it! And I loved that they were listening as they were working on gospel-related worksheets and craft projects. I will be printing these out again in the Spring. Hopefully they'll update the packets again by then.

3. Waffle Breakfast - While Travis was growing up, his family always had a "Waffle Sunday" with all the fixings. We do the same now and the boys sure look forward to it. :)

4. Popcorn Party - During the Sunday afternoon session, we set out a picnic blanket on the floor in front of the TV. Then we munch on popcorn and sip orange juice as we listen to the speakers.

Take me out to the ball game!

This Fal, Travis and I played with a bunch of our friends on a co-ed softball team in Hillsboro's City League. Travis was the team coach/manager this year and did a great job. We won 2nd place in our division. Justin is proudly displaying our trophy in his bedroom. We're already looking forward to playing next season!

Allie

Allie is 13 months old.

Allie is 13 Months Old Today!

Allie had her first haircut today. I trimmed her bangs because they were getting so long. Now she looks like a little toddler to me. She grew up in that 10 minutes it took me to cut her hair! Where is my baby?

Here are her latest favorite things:

+ Giggles when we give each other Eskimo kisses.

+ Loves to watch Baby Signing Time. She knows lots of signs now and it is SO NICE to know what she is thinking about and what she wants/needs when she doesn't say the actual words yet. Her favorites are "baby", "sun", "dog", "more", "all done", "sleep", "milk", "Dad", and "wet".

+ She is starting to try to repeat what I say when I prompt her...say "this".

+ Today (of all days) she started shaking her head "no". For now, it really is adorable!

+ Has taken a few steps by herself. She's a super-cruisin' babes.

+ Always stops climbing half-way up the stairs to wave at anyone in the kitchen and family room.

+ Calls "Go, go, go!" and does the sign...All.Day.Long.

+ Loves to go walk with me out to meet the school bus and "the boys". Justin, Tyler and the neighbor kids "ooh" and "ahh" at Allie and give her leaves to hold and wave around. She gets so much attention, no wonder she loves this school bus thing.

+ Took a bite out of the wall the other day. Bit right through the drywall and swallowed it. And this coming from a girl who refuses to eat bananas and pears.

+ She's got her own little groove. She dances to any music and instead of bouncing to it like her brothers did, she grooves side to side to the beat. She has better moves than I do! Ha ha! I wish you could see it!

Yes, you know its true, oooh, oooh, oooh-oooh, I love you!

Happy Birthday Allie Mai!

Our sweet babes is 1 year old today!

You know she is our third child, because we partied by taking Justin and Tyler to get their eyes checked in time for school. They both need glasses so we picked out some frames. Tyler is so excited, but Justin isn't so convinced it will be a good thing. I think they both look handsome in their new glasses.

We did have a little family party after dinner. The boys picked out a party hat and bib for our cutie-pie birthday girl. She hated her banana "ice cream". She made some pretty funny cringing faces.

Allie is growing up so fast! She is our big girl doing so many big things:

• She often says "Go!" with sign language. Especially after she hears us say that word in our normal conversations.
• Always wants to climb up the stairs and stop half-way up to look at herself in the hall mirror.
• Walks along with her walker. She is getting faster now and can stop without losing her balance.
• Always talks with her hands now that we have been teaching her sign language.
• Signs "sleep" when she is tired. "more" and "all done" at mealtime.
• She takes the quickest little steps when she walks barefoot on the grass.
• She loves the BIG neighbor dogs, but does NOT love a cold dog nose on her bare foot.
• We always have to go stand in the garage to wave goodbye to Travis & the boys when they leave to go somewhere. She squeals and flaps her arms and legs when we get to go along, too.
• Allie loves to talk on the speaker phone when anyone calls.

Here is a month-by-month stroll down memory lane:

First Day:

6 Days Old:

1 Month:

2 Months:

3 Months:

4 Months:

5 Months:

6 Months:

7 Months:

8 Months:

9 Months:

10 Months:

11 Months:

12 Months:

This has been a wonderful year of smiles, kisses, cuddles and baby bliss. We love you Missy Lou!

Flag

This was Tyler's creation for a Lego contest. He's crossing his fingers and toes that he wins a prize. I'm just proud of him for taking the initiative to go for it on his own. Way to go, Ty Guy!

Intel Zoo Day

The company Travis works for, Intel, sponsored a zoo day today for families. We had a great time at the dinosaur exhibit, chowing down at the BBQ, putting together crafts and checking out the zoo animals. They even gave out zoo animal hats for us to wear! Did I say I love Intel? Cause I do.

Buddies

11 Months Old

Allie is 11 months old today. Every day with her has been a joy. Here are some of her favorite things to do these days:

1. Today I held her hands while she was standing and she walked 10 tiny steps before sitting back down.
2. She likes to lick everything. Including the walls and the dishwasher door.
3. Allie can sign "more", "all done" and "hat". She saw herself today in the mirror and noticed the bow on her head. She immediately signed "hat". Adorable. She has her own version of signing "baby" with one bent arm rocking off to the side of her body.



4. She says what sounds like "Hi Dad!" when Travis comes into the house. She says "Mom" and "Ta" (Tyler) and "Ju" (Justin).
5. She gets the biggest giggle and smile on her face when Justin "saves" her from the play pen or her crib.



We are loving our sweet babes!

Superhero Cat

This morning, Travis and I heard loud scraping and a crash like someone was climbing up onto our roof. He ran outside to look and found a cat with a bird in it's mouth. We totally laughed out loud. A cat just jumped onto our rooftop from the top of our fence and caught a bird. Then jumped 15 feet back down to the grass. It then ran across the street with it's treasure. Amazing! I tell ya, no more loitering birds in our yard! I wonder if he'll chase the racoons away from trying to get into the vents under our house? Here kitty kitty...