70 years

Today is the day and it's a really big deal! We appreciate Grandpa Jack and Grandma Blanche's committment to each other and their family for 70 years. We wish them a happy anniversary. And we hope to be so lucky...

This peace and quiet is freaking me out a little, Mom!

4:30 AM

...and still smiling! We said goodbye to the kiddos as they headed to Palm Springs where they have been enjoying the sun with grandparents, uncles and cousins. We miss them! As I signed Ryker out of school last week (he'll return for just one day before spring break), I tried to excuse myself but ended up admitting that I'm a lame mom and begging forgiveness instead. "No, Mom." Ryker assured me. "You're actually pretty cool." :)

Both children love Piper equally, but where Em has been extremely helpful Ryker has been, well, not so helpful. He does like to inform me when Pipes is hungry though. "Mom!" he'll yell. "It's time to milk your baby!"

Em likes to talk about the time when she will have her own baby. And because Ryan has already determined that neither of his girls will date before they're 25, I tell her it will be a long time from now. And only after Mommy picks a man for her to marry! "You mean my prince." she says.

Piper just smiles. Move over, Sis. There's another princess in this house.

In an effort to get in shape for a couple of upcoming ski days, we hiked Badger. Ryker's friend, Cavan, joined us and we are really proud of them both. They kept good attitudes the whole way up. And I was terrified that they were going to careen over a cliff edge on the way down. The highlight of our adventure was when Cavan thoughtfully shared his skittles with us. And if you think Cavan and Ryker let even one skittle go to waste, you'd be wrong. Dirt just adds minerals to a nutritive snack. :)

heart day

The kids helped with setting the table and dipping strawberries for Daddy's Valentine's Day dinner. He wanted tacos but, for the life of me, I couldn't come up with a way to make tacos sexy. Tacos just don't go with sparkling grape juice, candle light and strawberries. It must have been a good meal though - Ryan fell asleep long before Baby Piper. ;) The kiddos owe Grandparents and Greats big thankful hugs for all the Valentine goodies!

Laura Ring Photography

I've determined that it is impossible to get a good picture of three children, especially when one is a 6 year old boy. A house heated to 85 degrees didn't help, I suppose, but we couldn't have a goose-pimply naked newborn. Thanks, Laura! (Find her on facebook!) More pictures of Piper coming soon. She doesn't look anything like this anymore. Sob!

a hazard of learning to read...

Emerson is convinced that the bubble bath is actually lotion and it is not doing her skin any favors. I try to tell her otherwise, that it is actually bubble bath. She looks really close at the label and says, "Nope. Because there isn't any f." When I inquire as to what that means, I get a scowl. And with all the attitude a three and a half year old can muster, she says "bubble bafffffffff." I'm such an idiot. :):):)

old news...

Piper Elly
born 12.17.10
7lbs 3oz and 20 inches
of preciousness!





We love her so much!!!

The holidays were lovely and we are glad so much of our family was able to meet Piper Elly. I did another pathetic job of documenting the holiday. I had forgotten how many hours of each day are spent feeding a newborn! We enjoyed Christmas Eve at Doug and Jill's home - Santa had all kinds of room to land his sleigh and delighted seven of the eight kiddos in attendance with gifts. Ryker was pretty disgusted that Santa hadn't gotten the memo regarding Piper's birth and as a result, Santa had to do some scrambling to make sure there were a few gifts in Piper's stocking the following morning. Thank goodness for instant messaging! Christmas morning we cozied up in our home and later, Marlene whipped up a delicious Christmas supper. We enjoyed visitors from the Schimdt, Thompson, Tippett, VanBatavia, VanNortwick, Hewitt and Good families - all had to travel and we love them for it! Before we knew it, we were ringing in the New Year (sometime around 10 o'clock). Best wishes to all for 2011!











I have oodles of pictures of family loving on Piper and not much else. Ah well - she will look at her baby book and know that she was loved from the very beginning!












I love the last picture of Emerson - she was sad to learn her cousins from Dallas would be boarding an airplane and flying home to Dallas the following day. Campbell and Caroline are really special to us all!