Our little town claims to be the birth place of Memorial Day. Turns out that another dozen or so towns claim the same thing, but that doesn't stop us from celebrating. Every year there is a parade, craft festival, and carnival. This year Brad's parents came to see us and join in the festivities.

Nick has a very special bond with Grandpa Jeff. I think it's because he loves all the same things Grandpa Jeff loves, and Grandpa Jeff is always happy to include him in his activities. I caught them watching a nature show over the weekend and had to capture the moment. Nick is not what I would call naturally affectionate, which made this moment all the more special.

 Grandma Debbie was so helpful with Cora, and Cora loved her and all the undivided attention!

 My sweet Chase

 Brad is the only person in the world that Nick loves more than Grandpa Jeff! *Side note: Brad 'made' me cut the boys hair a couple of weeks ago, claiming that Nick looked too much like Justin Beiber. :)

 We've officially entered the "fake smile phase" with Chase. Oh, the joys.

 My happy happy girl...

Hope your Memorial Day was enjoyable and that you enjoyed some feet for dessert as well!

Nick's 1st piano recital

Nick's been taking piano lessons for a few months (he's had 9 lessons, to be exact) and had his first recital on Saturday. To ease his nerves we played a duet together. Those of you that know my sweet boy know what a break through it is that he actually performed, in front of real live people! We are so proud of him, not only for performing but for practicing the piano every day and for sticking with it even when he gets frustrated. Here's to many more years of lessons and for instilling a love of music (that's the goal, anyway!)!

Nick's teacher gave him an award for progressing so quickly and for doing beautiful arpeggio's...

 Love this boy!

6 months

There is a reason that the place I live is so beautifully green. It rains here. A.L.O.T. But yesterday it finally stopped, for the first time all week. There was yard work to be done, so I put Cora's sun hat on her and we spent some lovely time outside.

Cora...6 months...5/11/2011

18 lbs, 2 oz (75%)
28 and 3/4 inches long (off the charts)


*Rolls around everywhere, from tummy to back and back to tummy
*Almost sitting up unsupported
*Loves baby toys and binkies and her feet, and everything goes directly in her mouth
*Giggles and laughs, especially at her brothers
*Happy happy happy disposition
*Sleeps okay...waking up once to eat
*Currently dining on breastmilk (supplemented with formula because my body isn't producing enough), green beans, peas, carrots, and brown rice cereal
*Loves books, especially ones with pictures of other babies
*Loves to be sung to, especially "We are a happy family"
*Rarely spits up anymore (hurray!), and the drool has slowed down as well
*I hate to say it, but I think those eyes are not going to stay blue like I had hoped! They're currently a dark blue/gray-ish color
*Is beautiful and wonderful and makes us all so happy! We love this girly to pieces!

 My reasons for blogging this evening are two fold:


#1: Have you seen this documentary yet? Because you must! I'm pretty sure it's at every red box in the country.

#2: I'm looking to put together a killer sacrament meeting bag for my kids. I need your ideas. What's worked really well for you? We've had the same go-to bag for about 2 years now and we desperately need something new. I (read: Katie) am putting together a new photo/gospel book for them tomorrow. I'm also jumping on the file folder game band wagon. I don't want too much stuff, but if you have any great ideas, I'd love to know! 

Okay, I lied. Three-fold. I just can't resist. I'm in Utah spending oodles of long-overdue time with my family. I'm still in awe that Katie and I had baby girls within two months of each other. Just look at how cute they are!

 Frankie and Cora

Cora and Frankie

And because I'm with Katie, you can bank on many wonderful photos and a blog face-lift in the near future! :)

Cousins and Conference are the best

You may or may not remember this post about the cousins my kids have on my side of the family. But I would be remiss if I didn't mention that my kids are lucky enough to have close to same thing on Brad's side too.

This is Ella. She just turned eight. Last weekend we went to "The Motherland" (Brad's affectionate reference for Ohio, in case you forgot), to see her be baptized (awesome) and her baby brother be blessed (also awesome).

After Ella comes Preston. Who would not, for the life of me, smile for my camera. But who is darling. And only 2 weeks older than Nick (Mindy and I had the same due date but she was lucky and went early).

And here's Brennen, who's less than 2 months younger than Chasey boy. And a red head. (jealous).

And finally, meet Griffin. Mindy and Phil's 4th child. About 3 months younger than Cora. Also a red head. (double jealous. you'd think with having it on both sides of the family that at least one of our kids would have red hair, right? wrong.)

And it's a good thing with all the boys running around that these 2 GIRLS have each other.


We love going to OH. The kids play themselves to exhaustion. Not only because of the cousins but because of the S P A C E. We're a little short on that in our little town home. Chase pretty much drives this car around Brad's parents house non-stop.

They make forts and chase Ella and go on hikes and wrestle with anyone that will let them (lucky that they have wonderful aunts, like Miranda).

There's always games involved in these trips. I love this shot of these three grown men begging Ella to sell something or buy something or give them something (I really have no idea. Monopoly -- not my kind of game).

I spent the better part of an hour trying to get a photo of Cora with her feet in her mouth. It's a constant these days, but she always pulls them out when I pull out the camera!

 This weekend has been relaxed and conference filled, which I l.o.v.e. Yesterday I laid on the couch with Cora girl while Brad and the boys "quietly" did legos as we listened. So edified. So refreshed. So inspired.

This morning we made whole wheat banana-flax seed pancakes for our special conference breakfast and enjoyed a wonderful jammie day together. The next month will be family filled and

I C A N ' T W A I T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The prep...

 The feast (corn beef, cabbage, carrots, onions and red potatoes cooked in apple juice, sucanat, and a little bit of mustard all day -- yum (except for the cabbage. I do.not.like.cabbage)...

 The dessert (pistachio chocoalte chip cupakes provided by Jessica, delish)

 The costume choices...

 The prize...

 The guests...

 The treasure hunt...

 The hosts

 Cora slept through the whole thing, so she and I had our own party later. As you can tell, I'm very entertaining...

I made a New Years resolution to make the holidays more fun and memorable for my kids. I failed HORRIBLY on Valentines Day. But I love St.Patrick's day. My mom's best friend, Retta, had a St.Patrick's day party for us and the Anderson's every year that I can remember, complete with the corn beef and treasure hunt. In fact, I think one of the most homesick moments I've ever had in my life was our first St.Patty's day away when I knew they were all together and celebrating without me. I've been wanting to carry on the tradition ever since we moved away, and finally did it this year.

Can't wait for next year...