Willow...

Here's a few random pictures of Willow. I love her new owl jammies! I love to watch her eat with utensils too. She's growing up so fast.
(The bruise was from falling off Angie's bed on Friday)

Finally!!!

Angie finally had her baby on Saturday, I couldn't be more thrilled for them!!! Little Samantha Ryan arrived around 4:00 PM and we were happy to visit them in the hospital (Don't worry Ang, I wont post the pictures of you eating, although I was super tempted!) Love you!

My new freezer!!!

We have been needing another freezer for awhile now and I was checking Craigslist like crazy for awhile but no one was calling me back so I gave up for awhile. While I was out yard saling on Friday, I ran into this beauty and got it for a super duper price! I was delighted! I love that we have 2 refrigerators, 1 upright freezer and 2 chest freezers now. But hey, with all the free food I get from coupons, I have to put it somewhere right? Thank you Lord for blessing us again with another amazing deal!

Silly Willow...

Trav carved the kids pumpkins yesterday and Willow was trying to eat part of it last night!

My husband is amazing...

I love Trav with all my heart. He is such a good guy who works so hard all the time. On Saturday, he cut down a bunch of brances from the huge tree in our front yard, the huge tree on the side of the house and half of the HUGE tree in the back yard. He had a dull chainsaw for some of it, but all the brances in the back her cut using a 12 inch hack saw. He worked for hours cutting the brances down so we could haul it all to the dump. I helped of course, but he was pretty tired. It totally opened up our back yard, I'm stunned actually. I should have taken a before picture, but I wasn't thinking. Anyway, I love my sweety!

When kids learn to write their name...

I love it when my kids learn to write their name because they do it everywhere! On the wall, on their toys, on their sheets, on their legs,on pieces of paper and as you can see Grace wrote on the picnic table in the back yard. hey, why not? It's only permanant marker- EVERY.SINGLE. TIME.

Poor Gracie...

Last week (I think Thursday), I was making food for the girls and Grace was running around her tent she had built in the living room, when all of a sudden a heard a terrible thud sound followed by a piercing scream. I looked over just in time to see Grace's forhead cut open and blood beginning to pour out. I grabbed her, picked her up and began appling pressure, but all I could feel was blood dripping from my fingers falling to the ground. I yelled for the kids to grab a towel and my phone and I sat on the floor with Grace. She was crying, I was covered inblood and I was trying to keep it together (I ABSOULTLY CANNOT HANDLE OPEN WOUNDS, AND ALMOST PASS OUT EVERY SINGLE TIME.) I managed to call Trav and tell him to hurry home (it was almost 3:00 and he was already on his way home from work.) I told him that Grace hit her head on the brick fireplace and that i didn't know how bad it was. I couldn't look because i knew I would pass out. He said he would hurry but he was still 20 minutes away. I was trying not to freak out, but I didn't know what to do for that length of time so I called my Mother in law who is a nurse. Right before the phone started ringing, I made the terrible mistake of moving the towel to look at her forehead. My body started tingling, the room started spinning, I could feel my face turn white as a ghost, I started sweating and I could feel myself slipping. Edith answered the phone and I could hardly talk. My tounge was limp and it took me forever to get the words out,but I told her Grace hit her head and there was blood everywhere. I sat there applying pressure to her head, slipping out of unconsiousness. I kept praying: "Please God don't let me pass out, I'll drop her and I don't know how bad it is."
Daisy was crying, Tristin was sick that day and out of it, and I knew we'd be in trouble if I couln't stay awake. I tried singing, but my tounge wouldn't move, I prayed again, but the room was spinning and I was almost out. I felt so helpless to protect my daughter. Edith & Max arrived and I just sat there with my head rested on my arms. She told me to lay down and after 25 minutes I could feel the blood rush back to my body and things normalize again. Trav finally arrived and assessed the damage over his Mom's shoulder. Edith checked her out and said she probably didn't need stitches. She taped her forhead back together, but it bled for a long time. I gave her Tylonal that night, but she acted fine shortly after the ordeal. Edith said I probably suffered more than she did! It was scary! Edith has changed the bandages twice, and said it hasn't closed yet, but the strips are keeping it closed until it heals. I still cannot stomach the idea of looking at it yet, so I haven't. I am just so thankful she is alright.

Goldfish Crackers + a snoty nose= these pictures...

I couldn't resist taking these pictures of Willow and her snoty nose. It was just too funny that she had goldfish crackers stuck it it. Yes, I know, SO gross.

When the stomach flu hits...

The past 2 1/2 weeks have been filled with major vomiting. Oh the joy of Motherhood! Daisy got it first and was out for 4 straight days, then Grace got it for 8 days and couldn't stop throwing up for a week solid. We almost took her into the ER the night before we left for Montana, but didn't. She spent the trip throwing up in the van and toilets across Montana and had terrible stomach pains. (We still don't know what it was but she was crying for a week, it was terrible.) She got better, and then last week Tristin came down with the flu and spent the entire night throwing up as well. The rest have us have been sparred, except for some nasty colds that Trav & I both decided to catch! Oh, how I love Lysol!!! I just adore the flu season!

G-ma B's 100th b-day party in May. Our last family photo with her...

Here we are back in May at G-ma's 100th b-day party.

Goodbye G-ma B...

I'm so glad we were able to see G-ma B in May for her 100th b-day. We will miss you!

Day # 1 Montana trip...

Trav's G-ma passed away on October 2nd, so we prepared for another trip to Conrad Montana to attend the funeral.We left Tuesday morning at 9:30 AM and drove 440 miles to Dillon the first day. We were so glad to be there in May for her 100th birthday party, to see her, visit with her and get pictures, we will cherish those photos of the 4 generations. She lived a wonderful, long life and was such an example to all of us. She will be greatly missed.
We had a really nice trip, but like always were tired and ready to be home. We drove 1,430 miles total and are thankful our van got us there and back safely!

Day # 2 Montana trip...

The kids LOVED staying in hotels for 4 nights. It was kind of nice not to worry about cleaning, making beds or doing laundry. They loved going swimming, watching TV until super late, and they even got to jump on the beds! Imagine that!

Day # 3 Montana trip...

G-ma's funeral went really well. The flowers were beautiful, Max did a terrific job reading the eulogy, the kids were well behaved, G-ma looked beautiful and peaceful, the food was nice and the graveside service was respectful and touching. It was a sunny day with very little wind and everything went well. It was really nice to be there and have a chance to say goodbye to a wonderful woman. She will be missed.

Day # 3 Montana trip...

After the funeral and before dinner, we took the kids to the park to play for a hour. They needed to get out and run after being in the car for 2 days and a funeral for a few hours.

Day # 4 of Montana trip...

On day # 4, we were getting gas in Conrad and Trav ran into Gary's parents! He was SOO happy to see them and we visited with them for awhile before getting on the road. When we were there in May, we stopped by to see them, but they weren't home, so seeing them the other day was great for Trav. He and Gary (their son)were best friends growing up and Jo & Bill were like Trav's other parents. It was great to finally meet them- they were delightful people.

Day # 5 of Montana trip...

These are all pictures of us on our way home yesterday. We stopped at Craters of the Moon and went into their visitor center for awhile to stretch. We were all really tired and ready to be home.

Willow and her cupcake...

Here she is eating her birthday cupcake. Sorry, no candles with a 1 year old!

Willow's party...

I'm late getting these up, but we had a nice party last Sunday after Confrence. What else do you do for a 1 year old? I just love getting together with friends and family. Happy Birthday sweet girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLOW!!!

My baby girl turned 1 today!!! I couldn't love her more if I tried. I had no idea there was so much love inside of my body capable of being evenly distributed to 4 kids. I love them all so much for similar reasons and in totally different ways. At 1,Willow is walking all over the place, has 6 teeth, loves suckers, is still nursing, sleeps in her crib most of the time, dances to the theme song from The Office, claps when you say: "Yeah!", gives kisses most of the time when you ask for one, hugs and pats your back at the same time (one of my favorite things!)Smiles and laughs all the time, loves her brother & sisters, loves to feed herself, climbs up anything she can, is 18 pounds, loves to pull her socks off, loves to pull flowers out of her hair & makes me glad to be a Mom.
Happy Birthday Willow!
We will have her party in a few days with family & friends, so more pictures to come!

Angie's baby shower!

I love this girl! I'm so glad she let me throw her a shower too. Everyone helped bring food, which was a huge help, and it turned out great. it always amazes me how many people we can fit in my little house. At one point I counted 17 adults, plus lots of little kids. She received lots of diapers and super cute outfits! Yeah for another baby entering the world! Love you Angie!