John Is Officially Cooler Than Jill

So Jill got an iphone a few months ago and has been thinking ever since that she is very cool. She is always bragging about how her iphone is way cooler than my lame-o blackberry. She lets the kids play games on her iphone, but she doesn't share much with me, so I've been feeling left out . . . until a couple days ago, that is. That is because I WON A FREE IPAD in a work contest, along with $100, which I used to set up a sweet wi-fi network in our house.

Now Jill is always begging to get to use my ipad. I haven't decided yet how much I will share, but I know the kids will not be playing with it.

Jill is still cool, but she aint got no ipad . . .

My grandkids are Monsters

Birthday party!

I know I am way behind on doing blog posts for our family but being pregnant is a pretty good excuse. Lauren turned 2 years old on September 17. She is one of the sweetest girls around. She loves Elmo, so we did a Elmo themed b-day party. For food we ate BBQ hot dogs, had some fruit and veggies and we even had a big bowl of those yummy goldfish crackers ( To represent Dorothy on Elmo) to eat. For entertainment we sent the kids to the playground. It was a little hotter than I had hoped for a day in September, but all and all we had a good time.


Here are the rainbow cupcakes I made. They were hard work so I had to take a picture of them. I also made one Elmo cupcake for Lauren but forgot to take a picture. :(

A few days before the party Jill took some Birthday pictures of Lauren. Jill has gotten so good at taking pictures. My dad called my sisters and me just to tell me and them, and I quote " That is the cutest picture I have EVER seen!!" I thought that was the cutest thing in the world. I love my dad. Anyways, here are the pictures. Thanks Jill, you are the best!

( The picture my dad was talking about)

I love this one of the girls. Sooo cute!

My beautiful Claire!


She loves me.... what can I say?

Here are a few things about Lauren at this age.

- She still doesn't talk much but she can carry a tune!

-can say: Mommy, Daddy, Co (Claire), Goodnight, eat, Hi, Hello, dy dy (bye- bye), Elmo, stinky, key key (Blankie).

- She gives the best, and I mean BEST, hugs ever. People comment on it all the time. She wraps her arms around your neck and cuddles you. She is so sweet. She also gives pretty good kisses.

- Favorite songs: You are my sunshine, Itsy bitsy spider, Twinkle Twinkle little star, ABC's, I love you, you love me (Barney).

-She folds her arms when it's prayer time and is finally starting to say prayers herself.

-Huge dare devil. Loves to climb and jump. Mark my words, she will be the one to break a bone!

-Sleeps really well. Goes to bed without any problems, even at nap time.

-Still sucks her thumb and goes everywhere with her blankie.

- Is not anywhere near being potty trained.

-big time Mommy's girl.

-All around a very happy child. She is sweet to everyone and loves to give hugs and kisses. Sometimes she gets annoyed with Claire becasue Claire loves her so much and sometimes Lauren just wants space. She is starting to play with Claire better though, and I love the sound of my little girls laughing and playing together. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have a little Lauren in my life. Love her more and more everyday.

I still can't believe she is 2!

Wedding Fun

My best friend Laura got married this weekend in Chicago, she was the maid of honor in my wedding and I'm just so happy for her. My parents came from Michigan to watch Jonah while Dallen and I enjoyed our last kid free weekend for a while! Here are some pics of the event...

I loved my hair! I wanted it done this way for my wedding...but I guess the lady just couldn't get my vision.

The pretty bride...I think there was more dress than their was Laura!

Hair from the front...and a funny facial expression...it was getting late and I was tired...

Baby Norah all dressed up!

Dallen at his finest...

A very happy couple. We were glad we to have a little vacation back in Chicago where it all began for us...

Another Hair Cut

I know that I cut Benson's hair a couple weeks ago but I decided to go ahead and do it a little shorter. His hair was still a little long and was always messy looking. He was also always putting food in his hair. So I thought a shorter hairdo would be a little easier and maybe even cuter. I haven't quite decided what I think of the new haircut. When Reagan walked in and saw it he started laughing. I will admit he does look different with his hair short but I don't think it looks different enough to laugh at him. Now if he had seen Abe after accidentally getting his head shaved I would have understood laughing at that. I will admit I made Abe look a little ridicules. Benson on the other hand still looks cute, he just looks like a different boy. Here are some photos of what he looks like now.

I posted this picture even though it isn't the best one of his hair. I like it because it shows his personality.


Isn't he cute?


It still sticks up even when it is this short.

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Saturday was St. Al's day at the pumpkin patch. Claire was the only available grandchild so she got to have the special day. I think her least favorite part of the day was actually walking in the corn maze. She was a bit afraid of getting lost and she also wanted to pick some corn and take it home for dinner.

Grandpa kept her from getting lost.

She loved the cow train. She rode it a couple of times. I even rode it once. Quite exciting!

This cow was Rusty.

We rode the hay ride which drove around the pumpkin patch so all of the kids would want to pick a pumpkin.
She loved the jumping.

She got to ride the pony "Creme Soda"

Grandma waited in line about 45 minutes for her to ride the ponies which she and grandpa did other things.

She tried to check out all of the pumpkins trying to find the very best one.

She did find the best pumpkin all by herself and could hardly wait to go home and paint it.
It was a good day. We love you Claire!!!!

Broken Eye

These are bad pictures but I thought you would want to know that I am injured. You may send sympathies to me.