Spring Break - Snow, Sun and Fun!

We went to Sunriver Oregon for half of Blake's spring break. We used by boss's condo which had three master suites. The first morning we woke up to snow! Everyone knows I don't like snow but outside our window was a great photo op so I made the kids come outside to take a picture. (Don't feel too bad for them - it was already melting and was completely gone withint 2 hours. But I got a very cute picture out of it!

We did a lot of shopping, a lot of eating, and a lot of hanging out as a family - our type of vacation!

tayson enjoying the snow

Kamri being a cheeseball

only on vacation to we allow our children to suck on giant rings of sugar (btw - this ended up on tayson and kamri's hair)

an old fashioned candy shop with jaw breakers the size of your fist!

the kids content and happy to watch a little tv together

Poor Tayson - of course, right as we were packing to leave and were actually loading stuff in the vehicle, Tayson took a fall off a wall he was jumping on (I think trying to act like a super hero). I had already wiped away most of the bloody nose but isn't this the saddest face you've ever seen?

On the way there I had seen a scenic look out of a huge gorge. So on the way back I made Bryce stop so we could all look. What was I thinking? The view was very cool, but I was nervous the whole time. I was holding Kamri with a death grip. Bryce was holding Tayson but it was making me about have a heart attack. And then when I had had enough, the boys wanted to keep throwing rocks into the gorge to see if they could hit the water. Even Blake was making me nervous. These boys will be the death of me...

On a different note, prior to us leaving for Sunriver, Bryce's aunt and uncle were in town and stayed at a hotel that had an indoor pool. Here is Kamri in her cute swimming suit, enjoying the water!

Ode to the Last Three Months of My life

So, for the last 3 months I buried my head in work to prepare for my first civil trial. Then I tried a two week trial in Yakima. Then I came back to deal with all of my work that piled up during the two week trial. This is my explaination on why I have not blogged for 3 months. I was even so embarrased for not blogging for so long, that at some point I stopped looking at other blogs, somewhat of a punishment for my neglectfulness (is that a word?). Anyway, here is what the world missed:

March of Dimes Gourmet Gala: I am on the board of March of Dimes and got the opportunity to attend this year's Gourmet Gala. It is great food (and wine, of which Bryce and I did not partake), great entertainment, and a chance for people to bid on items they want and the money goes to a great cause. Next year, I am bringing my camera in to take pictures of the table, food, and beautiful people. BTW - I love any opportunity I have after high school to put on a formal dress. (Dont' forget - March of Times Walk for Babies is coming up April 25!)

Kamri and her Hair: A lot of my friends say to me that she has some much hair and that their baby girl was bald for so long. Well, this beautiful long hair is also a curse. It is so long that it gets in her eyes if I don't put it in pig tails, a pony tail (which only recently started to look cute and not make her look like a sumo wrestler), or put a barette in. However, only I do that - Bryce is not so good at doing a little girl's hair. Pre-hair do.


Problem No 2: EVERY Time Kamri goes to sleep, she rubs her head back and forth on the sheet. And this is the result, EVERY Time. Not just every morning - EVERY TIME she goes down for a nap. I already have to use "No Tangle" spray. This child already has the toughest head due to having to comb out the rats nest everyday.

But once we do get it out and put her hair into pig tails, she is adorable!

Sorry if this gets old, but I love having a girl! I wanted one when I had Blake, I wanted one when I had Tayson, and it is the only thing that got me through my horrid pregancy!

She's such a happy girl. I love when she gets REALLY happy, her left eye squints.

I love headbands, bows, and hair clips! And I love little bitty baby jeans.

And I love when she wakes up from her naps with a sweaty, matted hair mess!

She is just learning to pull herself up on things. Today she actually pulled herself up on a pole - do we have a pole dancer already?? She is almost about to crawl too. Gets on her hands and knees but doesn't really get very far. Turns in a lot of circles though.

My Tayson: He is a clown. So sweet, all the time. Hopefully this lasts, but he says "I love you" more than any person I know. He has even been known to say it while on the toliet, mid-wipe.

Here he is in full soccer gear. These were Blake's first soccer cleats!

I have never known a child to dress up in costumes more than this kid. And he doesn't just dress up, he becomes that hero. He requires us to call him by the superhero name and will not answer to Tayson. He is our little weirdo!

One of his favorites - Batman. The shirt is actually his PJs, the mask has been worn by just about every guest that comes to the house, and the gloves seem to turn him into a vigilante Dark Knight.

I was always concerned Tayson would digress after Kamri was born, but I guess I should just be happy this is all he did. Here is our little man baby in Kamri's walker. Why he piled all his toys on the tray, I have no idea. But he was quite proud of himself.

And BLAKE: I realized as I was sorting through family pictures for the last 3 months, that I didn't have one picture of Blake. Teenagers are very illusive. They are like wild animals, hard to keep them contained long enough to get a photo off. Blake won a 3 on 3 basketball tournament on Saturday. Then by Sunday morning he was flat on his back sick and is still a little under the weather. The only reason I was able to snap this picture is because he is not running on all cycliners and oddly agreed to let me take a picture of him, even when he knew the sole purpose as to put it on my blog.

This he perked up and was a good sport for me. Thanks Blakey!

Now that I have updated my blog, I solemnly swear to keep it more updated. Now, I can go view other people's blogs and not have to feel like a stalkeratzzi! PEACE

Holiday - Part Uno

Merry Christmas! So i'm a little late. We had a lot to do. We had 4 Christmas parties, 3 different family Christmas', and 2 Christmas dresses (for Kamri of course). As you can see, Kamri's hair fits into pig tails now! How cute.

Group shot and Tayson the Model

This is the odd tradition that Bryce's dad's side does. The Wagar Santa Duck. It is a full grown man in a duck suit, complete with voice alteration, and (wait for it), ORANGE TIGHTS! I love the Wagars!

This is short and sweet because I am too tired these days to fully inform the blogging world about our entire holiday break. So, stay tooned...next episode: The Friends we saw and Places we Visited.

Follow up - ugly.christmas.sweater.party

Compare:

Cousin Eddie - Nat'l Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Ryan S - Attorney at Law

Why I Love Bryce...

I am not a sappy person. Bryce and I are not the type of couple who cuddle and kiss in public, or say nice things to each other in the presence of others, for that matter. But here is one reason I love being married to Bryce:

I NEVER HAVE TO PLAY IN THE

SNOW WITH MY KIDS AGAIN
Anyone who knows me, or talks to me long enough during the winter months, knows I HATE being cold. Back before Bryce came along I would go outside with Blake and let him play in the snow like a good parent. I would help him build a snowman and teach him how to do snow angels. Now, I never have to do a snow angel again!! Bryce is like a big kid when it snows out. He gets the kids dressed all warm and then sleds or 4 wheels with them for hours. Occassionally, I go out too. But it is usually only once a winter. Today was not my day.

Here is the picture I took of Tayson yesterday, from inside the house, because I didn't want to go out in the cold to take the picture. Notice it is fuzzy from the glare of the window!

SWITCH GEARS:

Here is another snapshot from Sunday. Looks like an ordinary picture of a little boy in his Sunday best. But look a little closer. His socks have eyes!

He was so proud of himself that he got his socks and shoes on all by himself. I have grown so much as a parent (sigh). When Blake was this age I would have demanded that he change into some nice respectable white socks. But not now. Tayson's sense of accomplishment was much more important than making sure he had matching socks. So, I let him wear them to church. I wonder if anyone besides me noticed????

MEOW!

HALLOWEEN SOCKS ROCK

ugly.christmas.sweater.party.

Catie and Rod threw a raging 2nd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. It was even bigger than last year. Being the only sober people there (except for prego Andrea) it was my job to memorialize the event. Here are the highlights.

Of course, the most important part, for me anyway. The food. Catie did a wonderful job artfully displaying all the food she purchased from Costco. Costco really makes throwing a party easy.

How did someone catch me eating this. Maybe it was because I was eating one of these cookies every half an hour. Elisa said they were from the "cookie Nazi" in Prosser. I need that lady's name and address.

PARADE OF SWEATERS

Our hosts: Rod and Catie Harkins

Me and Bryce: Thanks for the Christmas sweatshirts Bonnie.

Heather (Czebotar) and Roy

L-R: Andrea Clare, Jenny Johnson, Catie Harkins, Elisa Riley, ME

Steve and Kristi McKinnon: Steve wins second place in my heart. It was not that his sweater was that ugly, but the horrible part was that it was a woman's sweater vest 2 sizes too small for him.

MY FAVORITE OF THE NIGHT: Cousin Eddie (if you don't know that that is a reference from and you still don't get it after the picture, then I am very sad for you)

Well played Ryan. Well played.

Only Catie is cute enough to get away with Christmas pigtails.

THE SLOW AND STEADY DECLINE OF ROD

Happy Rod

Tired Rod

Sleepy Rod

Good night Rod

Dirtiest Trick Play

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSnew1PIYqk

Can someone please tell me how to load videos directly on to my blog page. It takes away from the effect of the video when you have to go to it through the link, don't you think?

Anyway, I saw this video and think it is absolutely hilarious. Since it involves football I showed it to Blake and Bryce and they were not as impressed. Bryce's boring response was that they were teaching kids how to do dirty tricks. Whatever Mr. Rogers. If a team would have done that against Blake's football team I would have laughed my butt off. Cudos to the deviant who thought of this trick play.