Trimming the Tree

Grace and Will were very into helping with the ornaments. The lights took forever and Will lost patience. I ended up putting him down for a nap and he awoke to trim the last of the tree. He was thrilled. Still no front curtains, although I did purchase a curtain rod. It's all good. Living in a fish bowl. Once I get curtains it will feel strange to have them closed.

This year Will is old enough to be really excited about Santa and Christmas. We went to our local city's Christmas party. The kids got to go on a hayride, roast marshmallows, eat scones with honeybutter and hot chocolate and make some crafts. We saved seeing Santa for last. When we finally made it to the beginning of the line, at 8pm, they told us it would be another hour wait. We left and the kids were very sad. I told them Santa would be at the mall, and we could write him a letter etc etc. I'd better make a plan and a trip to the mall. Those pics are to come.

Seeing my friend Angie after 19 years-Love her!

I haven't seen Angie in about 19 years. Boy, time goes by fast. I got to see her at her Dad and Cathy's house in Alpine. It was great to catch up with her and the crew. This is Angie and her boyfriend Dave, Ang and I (of course) and Angie and her Dad. Love Him, too! Brad and Cathy have been married for 25 years. Amazing! It was so fun to be with them. Brad always used to say to Angie and I when we were heading out "Wherever you go, there you are!" I cannot tell you how much that supposedly silly statement has stayed with me and is so simple, yet profound.

Chad n Ami's Halloween Party

So, Chad looked strangely cute as Little Bo Peep, his brother Craig came and was amazingly ok with everything and it was great to see him after many years (dark curly hair posing with Chad), Michael and John go disco, everyone came as something sexy and I came as an overstuffed Chicken-I got one vote for my costume as Chicken Little. There were over 50 people at this party, all dressed up. You must expect great costumes at a gay Halloween party. Chad and Ami did a great job.

Halloween 2008

Carving pumpkins, school parade (my friend Katie made her son the Michael Phelps costume, which is so funny), Gracie so proud as a pink poodle at her school parade, and William "Harry Potter" Walton-with Jett "the Hulk" and Corbie prepping for his Nacho Libre ensemble.

Kim's Photog skills

Kim, thanks for the airbrushing, I swear I don't have that many wrinkles.

Gracie as Sassy the Cat

Grandma Betty dropped off a bag of our halloween costumes that we'd left at her house. Gracie promptly found this one, and put it on. A little small don't ya think? The Vans really make the outfit, as well. According to her, she looks just like Sassy (her stuffed cat) that she has been carrying around for about 3 years now. She is showing a tiny maple leaf to me.

Fall Leaves

Princess Party

Gracie went to a birthday party for her friend Maddie. The invitation asked her to dress up like a princess and have clean, curled hair-because they would be getting new hairdos. As I was curling Gracie's hair, I got a phone call. After numerous explanations of how HOT my curling iron gets, and a gentle warning as I left the bathroom to answer the phone, moments later she came into my bedroom crying and had burned her face with the curling iron. I asked her, "Did you learn?" I think she may have. It scabbed up pretty bad over the next week and took a couple of weeks to heal. You can see the beginning of her burn on the last pic.

Gracie is at the kitchen table filling out her birthday card. I bought it from a mentally handicapped man who knocked on our door for 50 cents. He had nicely written "Happy Birthday" on the front in bubble type letters. I knew I would need a birthday card some day.

Gracie and Pyper pose before heading to the party. Gracie's face cracks me up in this pic.

Her new hairdo turned out super cute, I thought. My friend Angie thinks Gracie looks alot like Kelli. I think she may, in some ways.

Jill and Angie's Evening Bike Ride

Angie and I were heading to a neighbors house to see if their lights were still on before I called them. You see my blue tooth in my ear, ready for calling. Angie had a cool headlamp to light our way and we did some tire pumping and off we went. It was actually really fun. The neighbors lights were not on, so there was no phone calling.

Last Winter 2007

The weather has changed, it is definitely fall. Winter will be here in no time. It is hard to believe these pics were almost a year ago.

Take me to the River

Some of my favorite pics of Will

Will loves it when I tie off his balloons and make a "bellybutton" at the top. That is very exciting for him. He loves the river and throwing rocks into the water, it makes him very happy. He is a candy bloodhound. This boy can sniff out candy anywhere. At the parades, he is all about getting every little piece he can. I throw most of it away when he isn't looking, but he is a great gatherer of sweets. He loved the fireworks on the 4th of July-even though he was very tired.

Will Went Potty

Will pooped in the toilet today! Woo Hoo! He hasn't peed yet, but poo, yep. It was very exciting. I bought him a little cars seat to put on top of the toilet seat. It has handles and a smaller seat for his bum to help him feel more secure. I am a little worried about the t.p., he really likes to use it up front. I fear he is going to clog and flood sometime in the near future when left to his own potty devices.

I am so proud of him for telling me and going in the potty. Holy cow, this could be the end of diapers before too long. Go Will-i-am!

Gracie holding baby Phoenix-I like to call her Fifi

Since I am finished having babies, it is fun that my friends are still having some. Gracie and Will LOVE holding baby Phoenix. I like to call her Fifi, only when her dad isn't aroung. He is very unhappy with that version of her name. I hear her mother and siblings calling her that, and I think it'll stick. She is just a little Fifi. Look at how tender Grace is with her. Gracie is so tender and kind and such a truly good hearted and gentle soul, full of life and love and joy. I wonder what Phoenix will be like for my friends, the 5th child and she is a demanding little diva already. Good thing they are such good parents and such a good team.

A Pebble in the Water

My friend Cynthia came over today for a meeting at work and used 2 point Matrix Energetics on me. It is amazing how my body respond's to it and I always feel "better" after she is done working with me. Today she was explaining to me about this two point and how easy it is. She told me to imagine dropping a pebble in the water and letting everything ripple out, at the same time-letting go. So, I am being with that image of dropping my desires and hopes and prayers as pebbles in my water and letting them flow out and me letting go. Maybe this will work with problems, too. This letting go is a nice image and feeling for me.

Kaylee at the Chuck E Cheese

I have no pics of Kaylee on my computer except for this one at work. I wanted to post this picture to have her presence on here. I need more photos of you, Kaylee. I love you honey!