Springtime in the Northwest!!

I love how this picture makes it look like these are our daffodils but I must give credit where credit is due, they are Warner and LeAnn's. But I LOVE them.

These are only two of the bushes LeAnn and I pass every morning on our walk, which is in the pitch dark again thanks to day light savings time but hey, it's still light out now and it's 7:30 pm so I'm not complaining. It gets better and better from now until the end of May. I feel like a huge burden has been lifted. Spring...a tender mercy!!

Quick recap of a wonderful week

Warner and LeAnn came over and took some adorable photos of the kids, just look at those faces. Caleb didn't feel well but he tried to be happy.

The reason for the whole visit was the wedding of Em's life long friend, Colleen Millegan to Jason

Hiebenthal. Isn't she beautiful? We were blessed with two sunny days so the boys could play outside.

The kids loved playing with their cousins and got along really well.

We made good use of the Mitchell's tramp

I love this picture of Carly showing her teeth and she does this little pose all the time between crawling and sitting. She makes some really cute faces wrinkling up her nose at you if she doesn't really know you, she adjusted to all of us quickly though and is a very happy baby at 7 months.

It was so great to spend time getting to know her. She looks a lot like Emily did in this particular picture.

We sure appreciated everyone making the trip, Jill for driving all that way alone with the boys and I was amazed at how Emily got through security at the airport with two kids, backpacks, a stroller, car seat, etc and Marc and family coming down for the day on Saturday. Such fun and just the winter break we needed.

ZHU ZHU and ZOO Pets

Do you know about ZHU ZHU pets? I didn't until Kylie and Karmen brought theirs to share last week. I guess they were all the rage at Christmas time but I didn't hear about them and I think they are adorable, for rodents that is. I decided to get one for Kellen and Caleb since we were going to visit and they were a big hit. Kellen got right to work making a cage for his out of a shoe box, putting toy food in and a water dish and Caleb copied everything Kellen did and they slept right by their bed. It was great fun, their names are Brian and Alex.

We had a great day at the Portland Zoo and at Kellen's basket ball game, he was the MVP for sure. All the animals were out enjoying the sunshine and the elephants but on a great show. The baby's name is Sam and the boys love going back to see how much he has grown from time to time. We love you guys and thanks so much for the fun visit.

Steve, I hope you can forgive me but I think Easton, Joseph and Justin really need a ZHU ZHU pet.

love those blogs

I just have to say how much I love having time to check blogs, e mails and face book and that there is such a thing. I know there are a lot of other really important things I need to be doing but I just feel better when I check in on the blogs. I wish they would have been around when our children were little so I could have been able to post photos to share with my parents who were so far away. We had the occasional phone call (and by the way, long distance was expensive then) and a family letter that eventually made it around to all my brothers and sisters homes to keep us updated, that was about it.

It brought me tons of joy just now to see the smiling faces of our children and grandchildren as well as all the great photos and news from friends and family. Keep posting because I love it!!

Another wonderful Christmas!

Caleb with his new guitar...adorable.

Beautiful Carly Ranee came for a short but very sweet visit.

Jenni trying out my gift from Bruce, a Cricket! I'm so excited.Michael LOVED his new bananagram game, we also played a lot of Scrabble, Scrabble Slam, and other games.

Kellen and Caleb were so much fun to watch and play with. We went to the Chipmunk movie and they were glued to it the entire time.

Jenni makes the best gingerbread cookies and Michael was very creative in his designs, I especially liked the prison mate outfit.

It feels like December goes by quicker than any other month. First you are consumed with preparing for Christmas and then the actual Holidays just fly by, it feels like it didn't really happen. We had a wonderful time and are so grateful for the time with family and friends. We loved the concerts, food, parties and all the activities that make December so special. We loved being in contact with all our family and friends, thank you all so much for the gifts, phone calls, cards and your love.

Emily was a good sport and went with us to the Ugly Sweater party, I think Dad should have won.

Zoo Lights at the Portland Zoo, thanks to Connie and Marc! Freezing cold but awesome.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Thanksgiving

I know it is almost Christmas but I wanted to say what a great Thanksgiving we had and how grateful I am for that as well as all our many blessings. It was Mitchell's turn to host this year and wouldn't you know it there were only five Mitchells and twenty Jolleys but they were brave and has us all over and it was beautiful and delicious. We missed all who weren't there so much but wondered what we would do if we were lucky enough to have everyone at once. We would have to use both houses, I guess.

Such adorable helpers. Taryn built this great fort for the boys to play in and Kellen loved pulling carrots.

Wii had fun

Go Mel!!

Bella in training to make homemade tortillas

Blogger has not been working well for me but I will try again. I had a short but great visit with the Sorensens. The train ride was uneventful compared to other years, it was really full so I wasn't able to stretch out at all or get any of my perks but the people I sat by were great and I did sleep so that was good. The trip from Klamath Falls to Oakridge on the way home was absolutely gorgeous with freshly fallen snow all over the trees and mountains, I just sat back and marveled at it all the way.

We enjoyed playing Rock Band on the Wii and lots of board games, Melanie, Bethany and I went to see New Moon and loved it. Bethany is crazy, to say it mildly, about Jacob and I am still an Edward fan. Mel and Andy cooked up a storm and all the food was delicious, sorry Em and Jen, I was thinking about you as we were eating home make tortillas.

Thanks so much for having me guys, next time I need to sleep longer at your house than I do on the train though:) I have more pictures I wanted to share but I'm giving up on getting it to work.