Happy Day of Birth to Emily!

Although Emily was born closer to the first day of spring, I liked this picture of a couple of years ago on our trek to the Peter Grubb hut! Emily is always fun to have around. She has a tenderness about her that I love. Can't believe my baby is 23! So glad you are a part of lives. We love you.

Happy Birthday Brooke!!

Happy Birthday Brooke!
We are so lucky you are part of this family.
You are a great big sister, and you are so much fun to be around. You are beautiful, smart, caring and you are always up for a good time.
You always have good advice, and you're easy to talk to-
but most importantly...
you make the most delicious treats!!! :)

We love Brooke!

Hawaii cont. . . .

Day 4 at the beach - we did this alot!
Yeah, I know - tough life!
Beautiful flora - hibiscus. Looks like sherbert

Another day in paradise
We had some rain, and beautiful rainbows!

Ahhhh . . . Hawaii!

A strolll on Wakiki Beach after dinner at Dukes!
One of the sunsets we got. Notice turtle and tracks!
Birthday dinner for Jodi and Jamie
Nice little swim hole at Chun's cove.
More turtles- about 3' diameter

Funny

I saw this on Pinterest and it made me laugh....

Anyone Have A Time Machine?

I am finally posting our girls trip pictures, that bad thing is it makes me want to rewind time and do it all over again really badly! It was such a fun week. Haley and Parker definently stole the show with their cuteness.

Parker loved the ride on the cable car. What didn't that boy love?

Too bad I didn't get a picture of Ricky Mitchell. Was that his name? I still think about him :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I loved the tradition growing up of finding a big heart sugar cookie- decorated just for me!- on my pillow on Valentine's Day. (which is reason #7892 why we have the best mom ever) So we continue this in our house. They're not quite as big as the ones mom made us, but they are just as wonderful to find on your pillow! The other clever thing mom did that I loved was using up frosting in between graham crackers for a yummy lunch treat. My girls LOVE these!

I'm just now beginning to realize that if I have to be a mom who "does it all", I'll go crazy (well, MORE crazy than I am now). So I made this after-dinner chore wheel. With some paint, paper, and mod-podge, it was a lot of fun to make, and even more important, it got my craft-ninja girls to think it's super awesome and they love spinning it and helping out after dinner. And I don't have to do it all! Even though they're little, when everyone helps it makes a big difference! (and no, we don't make Haley do her chores- we're picking up her slack now, but we're already planning ahead for when she can carry her own weight!)

I made a dinner Rod hated. Well, strongly disliked. Tofu burgers. Even with delicious grilled mushrooms, and bacon to boot, he hates tofu. And really, it's not bad. Grilled and smothered with bbq sauce, it's pretty yummy I think!

A few Sundays ago, I realized Haley is outgrowing this dress and that made me VERY sad so I had to take some pictures! This dress was a present from Jenny Foley when I had Caitlin and it's been my very favorite baby girl dress ever since then!! So I'm more than a little sad that it has to go back in the box for a long time...or maybe forever! =( (Not sad enough to go have another baby right this minute, though....)

Haley is the happiest baby. She's into this tongue-clicking thing right now that's pretty darn cute.