I.Heart.Sisters

I love my sister. Most of the time.

Valentine's Cookies

For Valentines day, we decorated cookies..

and it got.. well, messy. :)

and then, there was fun for the big kids too.

Birthday Girl

Allie turned 5!! Hard to believe, but my baby is FIVE!!

And, as requested, we celebrated Hawaiian Style. (In Sunriver, Oregon).

So, first stop was Mavericks Swimming Pool....

Then, back to the Sunriver House for play time... including dressing up!

Then we had a wonderful dinner of Kahlua pork... YUMMY... and opened presents.

Of course, next up was the cake.. this year we splurged on an ice cream cake from Cold Stone. NOt sure what happened to those pictures, though???

Then after cake, since there was not enough sugar consumed, it was time for the pinata... :)

(Pictures to be inserted later.. :) They are on another camera...)

Thanks to the McGregors, Jenkins and Fraser family for celebrating with us!!!

Sunriver

We spent the past week in Sunriver, enjoying beautiful Central Oregon! While there was not as much snow as we prefer, there was more than at home, so the kiddos loved it.

We stayed in a house and had our friends the Jenkins and McGregors join us for part of the trip. We also go to spend time with our friends the Frasers who live in Bend.

It was a great week. We spent lots of time lounging around the house.. Jaya learned to bounce courtesy of Shannon!!

and played games. Check out the board on this game of monopoly... can you guess what color Allie was??

Though it was pretty chilly, we also made sure to get outside in the snow and play.

And there was even some time for sled dogging.. The girls got to go with Kyle and Kendal and Lauren on a ride at Mt. Bachelor with Trail of Dreams..

Allie even got to drive....

We also took the girls ice skating. Allie has been a few times, but this time she decided she didn't need help and she took off. She was quite good, actually, and though she fell a lot, she always got up. It was Shannon's first time, and she thought she didn't need help either... but, well, she did need a little help.

Celebrating at School

The big day is coming.. very soon, our little Allie will be turning 5. And since we will be celebrating her birthday in Sunriver, Oregon, she decided to celebrate today at her school (along with another little boy)...

So, they sang happy birthday and included a wolf howl.... a silly way they celebrate the birthdays...

And then snacks were shared by all...

Really??? A five year old?? How can I make this week last forever... I am not ready to have a five year old daughter... :)

Guess who is Star Student in January????

Each month, during an assembly, Allie's preschool announces who the Star Student is.. Now, mind you, every child will get a turn.. yet, each month, Allie has been so disappointed that she was not star student... Well, this week they had a Pajama Day Assembly....

And guess who is star student...

She was so very proud...

She has been carrying around her certificate and couldn't wait to surprise her dad... who promptly took her out to lunch to celebrate...

It is the little things in life that matter so much.... :)

Random Update

It is January.. which means things have not been that exciting around here.... :) Seriously, though, not a lot going on ... so, here are some random pics...

Playing hide and seek... wearing our glasses Shannon Style....

Playing with Moon Sand.. a Christmas gift...

Fun at Walnut Lanes Bowling Alley in Mac... :)

Christmas Part 2: Christmas Morning and Day

The morning began with the opening of stockings....

Allie showing off her new jammies..

Even mommy got new footie jammies...

And then while Allie and mom were upstairs checking out a new Dora game, Shannon helped Daddy make a birthday coffee cake for breakfast... We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and enjoyed a breakfast before opening more presents...

The big gift had to wait til after Church... then they found the trains...

It was a wonderful Christmas, and we enjoyed an afternoon with a house full of friends and family!!!