100th Post!!!

Wow, 100 already! I just started in December and I hope all you readers are enjoying this blog as much as I am! I admit to not keeping a journal (at this time in my life anyway), and until I do, this is my weekly "journal". I have many things to do when I finish school next summer and that will all come with time.

Many people do something "big" when they reach their 100th post and some people even give away prizes! However, for my blog, I will incorporate a task that I was asked to do by another fellow blogger which, as you will see, is a trip down memory lane. It should be just as fun and if you don't see pictures below, they will be coming soon, along with a story of time. Check back later.

An Award

I was given this award by Melanie because I always leave her sweet comments (those are her words) on her blog. It is wonderful to be able to keep in touch with people and their families via the blogging version and I am glad for those that read! and with that being said, I am suppose to pass this onto 5 people I care about, and they can then pass it on to 5 others (even if they don't have a blog of their own). I added that part in because not everybody blogs, really!

#1 I send this to Jenny Sorenson for being one of my best friends, and for turning me onto blogging, baking, and much more. Although seeing you has become more infrequent since our moves, we will always be bonded and I will always be "Aunt Rachel".
#2 I send this to JoAnne Hadley for being such an avid reader and a great V.T.! I know you're probably reading right now!
#3 I send this to Alie Thompson for making me laugh out loud when I read her blogs. We haven't been able to get together for awhile but I am still able to feel included in their lives thanks to hilarious narration and pictures.
#4 I send this to Ciara Williams for being such a great tour guide and for helping us get a great start to fun summer. I especially appreciate all the help with directions... My new Thomas Guide may cut down on our phone time-lucky for you! And, you need to start a blog.
#5 I send this to Kristy Braithwaite for being such a good friend to everyone and for the times she's offered to watch Maisey during prenatal visits, temple trips, and peace of mind/date night, etc.
Pass this award on to 5 people you care about!

Look-O-Like

Ok, so I know everyone is getting sick of hearing me say how much the two kids look a like but originally I wanted to do a side-by-side photo and I wasn't sure how to scan and use my photos in blogger. They aren't the same ages in these photos but they are both in the car seat so I thought it was a good opportunity to put them together (as you can see Ryley's cheeks have chunked out, as Maisey's did the bigger she got). It is like de-ja-vu (sp?) every time I look into a smiling or crying face! The rounder their faces get, the more they resemble me.

Bumbo Baby

I had my eye on these funky little seats long before I got pregant. So, when the opportunity arose, we got one. Ryley enjoys watching everything we're doing while he's in it and before long he will be able to use it without the help of dish towels.

The box says 3+ months and we started putting him in it a couple of weeks ago. He is able to hold his head up better and better each day and a couple of minutes in the Bumbo is like baby P.T.

The Winding River

Yesterday, a friend took us to a pool (at Wilson High School) that we had never swam at before. It was SUPER crowded, but nevertheless still a blast for the kids.

Unique characteristics about it were that it had a frog kiddie slide, medium size bigger water slide, and a winding river ( a maze like course that flows throughout the pool).

I was only able to get my feet wet because Ryley doesn't really dig crowds when he is trying to take a relaxing dip. He would rather sleep!

The Fountain of Youth

The entire metro area is surrounded with fountains for the kids to play in. Maisey loves summer in the city for that reason especially. I guess since we were all kids they figure out that filling up a rough concrete square box with untreated water, wasn't the most sanitary idea for kiddie water works (especially for all the toilet trainers). One of our favorite fountains at Jamison Square actually forces water out through a barrier like wall of rocks, stands still for about 10 minutes or less, and then drains. Thank you to the designer behind that idea, he must be a parent!
These pictures are at the fountain across from the Beaverton library. When we go to that one we try to go on Wednesdays so we can score some stuff (especially kettle corn) at the Farmer's Market in the parking lot.

Gym Time

Well, at least someone in this house is using the gym. I know that's not really funny but hey, schools back in session, I'm always functioning on minimal sleep (and that is both a blessing and a mystery), and it's time for constant summer fun in the sun. Ryley love his baby gyms and until now his favorite was the Baby Leap Pad with flashing lights, a mobile, and singing. However, he recently figured out (most likely unintentionally), that his other Baby Einstein one is motion activated and the jungle animals are quite amusing.

Barbie Bliss

For Maisey's birthday she got the Barbie house of her dreams. She absolutely loves Barbies and after Christmas and her birthday, she now has tons! For her birthday we went shopping at Toys "R" Us and we were going to let her spend her birthday money and pick a gift from us. We contemplated buying this exact house but after thinking we thought it was something we should leave up to Santa. Anyway, later that night my sister in-law Carey called and told me her neighbor had one that she would be selling in her garage sale the next morning. So, as you can imagine we moved in on the deal (especially since it was never used and only 6 months old from Christmas '07). What girl wouldn't love this 4 foot, 3 story, neon colored house?

A Mystery

Maisey is finally better after being sick for 8 days! She came down with a high fever Monday afternoon following her birthday and Father's day weekend. We were pretty scared because she started vomiting on Thursday and was sick up until Sunday. The doctor didn't know what was wrong and after inconclusive blood work she had to have a CT scan. Today is Wednesday and after not eating for an entire week she's eating like a bird. But, that's ok, we'll take it. Today as she got dressed she said, "Wow Mom, I got skinny!" She even noticed she lost weight and yesterday she wore a dress that was marked to be packed away, however, now it zips again. We were pretty scared and we are so thankful it isn't/wasn't something terrible! I could not imagine the agony of watching one of my children be hospitalized for extensive treatments if they ever got really sick. It was so difficult to see her in so much pain and there was nothing I could do.

The Home Stretch

On Monday I started back to school... Luckily, I had some electives and this summer term is ALL online. In the fall and most likely the remainder of the year, I will have to go to campus for each class but I am SO happy that I don't have to make that drive during rush hour traffic for evening classes. The more time at home the better. I can always find something to worry about and right now it is the fact that each class is only 4 weeks long! Bummer. I prefer the 12 week courses but at least I'm knocking them down and this is my last year-for awhile anyway.

Father's Day

For Father's Day we went to visit family that we hadn't seen for sometime. We were honoring our father's as well as my two cousins who just graduated college. It was great seeing my little cousins who are only 4 1/2 and soon to be 3- Maisey really enjoyed their company.
Chad loved his Father's Day gift: a CTR ring.

We love our "Daddy" because he is so caring and fun.

The Family + A Friend Party

I bought a Costco cake and I thought we would let Maisey personalize it by taking a trip to the cake deco store... Good idea? Yeah, but don't do it unless you're making the cake. The decorations ended up costing more than the cake and although it was 'Build-a-Bear', we pretty much could have stuffed a real bear to put on the thing!
Cousins Colby, Ruby, Eliot, and Peyton.
Maisey and Opa with Sage and Daddy in the back.
Maisey and her buddy Sage.
Colby, Peyton, Ruby, and Uncle Adam on the Frog Hop.

Making it Fun!

On Maisey's birthday she pleasantly awoke to streamers and balloons scattered throughout the hall and living room.

She wanted her new favorite breakfast: strawberry cream cheese bake. The cream cheese is sandwiched between the bread.

Maisey's sleepover girls. Cousins Ruby 10 (left) and Peyton 7 (right).

Pink dyed heart pancakes. Everything was Pinkalicious and if you know a girl that loves pink, you've got to buy the book. That book was such a hit it was a theme party a year or two back for playgroup.

Playing Professional

Most every one knows I love to bake, but not everybody knows I'm a 'wanna-be" cake decorator. I just like to fool around at home and I have no real chance at ever being a professional; I am slow, messy, and did I mention MESSY! For those who were interested as I talked about Maisey's cake this year, here are some from last year too!

As you can see this ballerina cake was longer than Maisey. We had no idea how to transport it to the pool party we were having so we wrapped huge Rubbemaid lids in cheap tablecloths... Where you see the gap in the torso we later filled in with pink cotton candy to make a 3D tutu. The legs are frosted twinkies. Just to give you an idea as to how big this thing really was, the head and arms alone are a 9 x 13", the torso is something like a 10 x 15".

This horse cake was also a big hit at another end of the school year birthday party. It is sad but nowadays you can't make homeade treats for school- unless you live in Hood River I guess.

My grandma made this one for her family party in Eugene.
I made this cake really quickly, and I mean really quickly- hence the lack of color and detail on the duvet. This was for a last minute slumber party this year with her cousins and they could hardly care what it looked like. The cake is a bed and where it is raised are strawberry swiss rolls for body contour, marshmellow pillows, and Nilla Wafer faces.

Birthday Dedication on Growing Up

The pictures on top are in order from youngest to oldest in each of the next three posts.

Feeding the ducks in Libby Baby clothing which I loved to splurge on and custom order for her.

Last July during our moving mess, which I was able to crop out.

Pre-school field trip to the pumpkin patch and this year without 10+ inches of her long curly hair!

Easter this past March.

Ok, so it's obvious I'm not computer savy and if I had more time I would figure out how to make a slideshow. However, now is not the time for blog discovery. Check back Monday and you can re-live our weekend birthday celebration.

Maisey Continued

18 mos. and fooling around with the idea of modeling. Her 2nd baby contest. She didn't win but she did win one at 5 wks.

2nd Birthday with an Elmo theme at Our Children's Play Place.

Oktoberfest in Eugene.

The fetish for dressing up begins.

My Big 5 Year Old!!!

Today Maisey turns 5! Time has gone by so quick and the last 5 years have been so fun. Every day I am thankful for the two beautiful children that have been given to me. We are so lucky and so blessed to be parents and it is impossible to imagine how our lives would be without these sweet little ones!

The day she was born.

Hanging in the car seat at the zoo.

My favorite overalls (they have light blue cuffs and Ryley will be able to wear them soon although I am not sure how because they are 3-6 months and she is clearly walking). I bought them when we didn't know what we were having and they are definitely versatile.

2nd trip to the pumpkin patch.

Clone

Here is a picture of Maisey when she was about 4 weeks old. Every time I look at Ryley (especially when he is in his car seat), I think of Maisey. I cannot find the exact picture of when Ryley was this age and in this same position because I think I deleted it, but the two look so much alike. If you can't remember him at this age the April blogs show him before his cheeks filled out

Old Times

When I was a kid we use to go out to Pietro's pizza in the neighboring town of Springfield where we could play on toys and ride an old carousel. Well now the "toys" are all quarter sucking video games but the carousel still lives on. Now Maisey gets to enjoy the same fun I once did... Aside from this fire red motorcycle.

A New Chapter

We spent this past weekend in Eugene honoring my brother Chase. We attended his High School Graduation, visited with family from out of town, and celebrated Sunday with an open house and family barbecue.

My brother has had a band (Trapped in a Minivan) for six or so years and you can check them out on My Space and purchase their CD and other memorabilia. He is very musical (plays every instrument and sings vocals) and he is attending college in the fall for musical engineering. Obviously, after having a band that has continued to grow for so many years he is well known in the school district and around town where he plays his gigs. For the ceremony he was asked to write and record a class song which was distributed to each senior. * I tried posting it but I think it was too long to upload.

I am so glad he is attending college close to home because Maisey (along with everyone else in the family) would be so sad if we didn't get to see him often. It is times like this that you appreciate those things which are sometimes taken for granted, like family.