A NEW PASSION FOR READING....

THIS MORNING I WAS CHANGING HALLE'S SHEETS IN HER CRIB. I BROUGHT HER IN THE ROOM, SINCE SHE CAN MOVE KNOW YOU HAVE TO KEEP TABS ON HER ALL THE TIME. WHILE IN THE ROOM I TURNED AROUND AND TO MY SURPRISE HALLE FOUND HER BOOKS. BABY FACES, SHAPES, AND OPPOSITES WERE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE FLOOR WHILE HER BOTTLE WAS TIPPED OVER AND MOST LIKELY LEAKING. HOW DID SHE DO THIS WITH ME RIGHT THERE? I WAS ONLY TURNED AROUND FOR A SECOND? OH, WELL! IF THIS IS A SYMBOL OF WHATS TO COME, SHE WILL LIKE READING AND BE A SMARTY OTHERWISE, IT IS A SYMBOL OF A MISCHIEVIOUS BABY TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH WHAT SHE CAN. BUT, SHE LOOKS SO CUTE!

HALLE LIKES ALL HER BOOKS~

ENJOYING MAKING A MESS~THAT A GIRL!

HALLE CAUGHT IN ACTION!

FINALLY....THE DARK NIGHT!

FINALLY! LAST NIGHT JARED AND I GOT TO GO SEE THE MOVIE "THE DARK KNIGHT." WHICH WE HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING ANXIOUSLY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I HAVE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF MOVIES LIKE THIS ONE, HOWEVER; TO MY SURPRISE IT WAS AMAZING. I LOVED IT. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ONE OF THE GRANDPARENTS TO BE AVAILABLE TO WATCH HALLE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE HER. GRUMPY AND GRANDMA SO WILLINGLY TOOK HER SO WE COULD GO ON OUR DATE NIGHT. WE HAD AN AMAZING TIME. I ENCOURAGE ALL ADULTS TO GO AND SEE THIS SHOW. YOU WILL NOT BE LET DOWN IN MY OPINION. IT IS QUITE LONG BUT SO GOOD! OUR FRIENDS TREVOR AND BRITTANY WERE GOING TO COME WITH US BUT BRIT HAD A BRIDAL SHOWER SO TREVOR JUST CAME. WHICH WAS FINE. WE STILL HAD A GREAT TIME. THE JOKER, PLAYED BY HEATH LEDGER DID A SUPERB JOB. HE WAS EVIL AND SCARY BUT HE PLAYED THE PART UNREMARKABLY WELL! IT IS SAD THAT THE OVERDOSE TOOK HIS LIFE, HE WAS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE ACTOR AND HE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB! ALSO, BATMAN IS UNDENIABLY ATTRACTIVE WOMEN! IN MY OPINION, 5 STARS AND A MUST-SEE!!

PLAY DATE AND SITTING/STANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS!

THIS TIME AT PLAY DATE THERE WAS ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW OF US, THERE WERE 4 MOMS, AND 8 KIDS-SORRY HAILEY THAT YOU HAD TO WORK-WE MISSED YOU! WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT TIME EVERY WEEK GETTING TOGETHER AND 4 OF THE KIDS WERE ALL BORN IN NOVEMBER AND WE LOVE WATCHING THEM ALL INTERACT-IT IS SO FUN TO SEE THEM ALL BEING LITTLE SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES. WE THROW THE TOYS ALL OVER THE BLANKET AND THE KIDS GO CRAZY. AFTER PLAY GROUP WE RAN SOME ERRANDS AND THEN I CAME HOME TO PUT HALLE DOWN FOR A NAP-I LAID HER IN THE CRIB (LIKE ALWAYS) AND LEFT THE ROOM. I USUALLY HEAR HER MAKING NOISES AND TO MY SURPRISE SHE WAS BEING QUIET SO I HAD TO CHECK OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. SHE ACTUALLY PULLED HERSELF FROM LAYING TO SITTING AND THEN FROM SITTING TO STANDING HOLDING ONTO THE SIDE OF THE CRIB. THEN I CALLED EVERYONE POSSIBLE TO TELL THEM OF MY GOOD NEWS. HOW AMAZING THIS IS FOR A MOMMY. THE LITTLE THINGS MEAN SO MUCH! WE LOVE YOU HALLE KAY! I DON'T WANT HER TO EVEN TRY TO WALK YET, THEN THEY GET INTO EVERYTHING BUT STANDING IS OKAY!

PEAS AND CARROTS~

I SIMPLY COULD NOT HELP BUT TAKE THIS PIX. HALLE IS GETTING SO INDEPENDENT ALREADY AND LIKES TO FEED HERSELF. MY SISTER GAVE THESE TO MY NEPHEW AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS BRILLANT SO WE ATTEMPTED IT WITH HALLE. THEY ARE THE PEAS AND CARROTS IN A CAN AND THE CARROTS ARE JUST LITTLE SQUARES. SHE LOVED THEM! SHE MADE SUCH A MESS AND HAD THEM IN EVERY CRACK (LITERALLY) BUT SHE COULD FEED HERSELF AND THAT WAS ENJOYABLE FOR HER AND I. WOOHOO! YOU ARE GETTING SO BIG HALLE KAY!~

GO HALLE! WHAT A BIG GIRL FEEDING YOURSELF!

SHE LOVES HER PEAS AND CARROTS!

24TH OF JULY PARADE!

POCATELLO ALWAYS HAS A GOOD SIZE CELEBRATION FOR THE 24TH OF JULY. THIS YEAR THERE WAS A PARADE, PRETTY BIG ONE TOO. GRUMPY WAS IN THE PARADE FOR THE STAKE PRESIDENCY ON AN ATV. PAPA AND NANA WERE DRIVING THERE WARD FLOAT! THEN THERE WAS FOOD, BANDS, ETC. IN THE PARK FOR THE AFTERNOON. IT WAS SO HOT AT THE PARADE THAT WE ENJOYED IT AND THEN WENT HOME TO PUT HALLE DOWN FOR A NAP SO WE DIDN'T GET TO ATTEND THE FESTIVITIES. THEN, LATER IN THE DAY WE WENT TO LAURA'S BABY SHOWER AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME THERE TOO!

MIKE, ANGELA AND MADISON ENJOYING THE PARADE!

AUNTIE BOO AND HALLE IN THE SHADE PLAYING!

GRAMA BERNT AND HALLE HANGING OUT AND IT GOT SO HOT GRAMA BERNT TOOK HER IN L & K AND MISSED THE REST OF THE PARADE!~WE LOVE YOU!

JARED AND I ENJOYING THE PARADE!

MIKEY'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

THIS PAST SATURDAY WAS MIKEY'S BIRTHDAY! HE IS USUALLY IN FLORIDA FOR IT SO WE USUALLY DON'T GET TO SEE HIM. THIS YEAR HE JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN TOWN ALONG WITH MOST OF THE OTHER SLED TEAM MEMBERS AND WE HAD A TRASH CAN DINNER AT CENTENNIAL PARK WITH TONS OF CATCHING UP! WE THEN CAME TO OUR HOME AND THE HUSBAND'S AND WIVES PLAYED ROCK BAND UNTIL ABOUT 230 A.M. TROOPERS! WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKEY~

MIKEY AND JARED MIXING UP THE HOMEMADE ROOTBEER!

KEELIE AND CASEY JUST HANGING OUT~SO EXCITED FOR A PICTURE.

THIS WAS SO CUTE! THESE 3 WERE ALL BORN IN NOVEMBER.. BEST BUDDIES! L TO R:

HALLE:11/15/07

MAYA:11/28/07

LILY:11/30/07

TREVOR CATCHING SOME RAYS!

JORDAN AND MAYA AND MIKEY IN THE BACKGROUND!

SWIMMING AT ROSS PARK!

JARED AND I DON'T WORK ON FRIDAYS SO THIS PAST FRIDAY WE TOOK HALLE SWIMMING AT ROSS PARK. WE FIGURED SHE WOULD LOVE IT SINCE SHE LOVES THE TUB, SHE LOVES HER POOL AT HOME, AND SHE LOVED THE ONE IN ST. GEORGE A WHILE BACK. SHE LOVED IT~IT WAS HOT SO WE DIDN'T STAY LONG DUE TO HALLE'S WHITE SKIN, WE DIDN'T WANT HER TO BURN BUT WE DID HAVE A TON OF FUN!

HALLE JUST CHILLIN' AND READY TO GO SWIMMING!
PAPA AND HALLE IN THE KIDS POOL!
DRYING OFF BEFORE WE LEFT, OH SO FUN!

JEN'S BABY SHOWER!

I AM SUCH A DUD! I LEFT MY CAMERA HOME FOR THIS IMPORTANT LITTLE DAY AND I WILL TRULY REGRET IT FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG. JARED AND I ARE GOOD FRIENDS WITH MIKE AND JEN HIGBEE AND WE USE TO HANG OUT EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT TOGETHER, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND THEY WERE SO GOOD TO US AND OUR LITTLE HALLE. IN MAY THEY MOVED TO BOISE WHERE MIKE WOULD FINISH PHARMACY AND JEN WOULD SOON BE A STAY AT HOME MOTHER. I DECIDED SINCE THEY WOULD BE UP THIS WEEKEND TO THROW JEN A BABY SHOWER/BRUNCH BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT AGAIN. WE HAD IT AT ARDATH JOHNSON'S(86 YR OLD SPITFIRE) ON HER SHADED PATIO. BLANCHE DAVIS, ETHEL CLARK, RENAE BERNT, ALMA OLSEN, HEATHER JENKS, AMBER SAYRE, JENNY(?)AND HER DAUGHTER, BRITTANY DUDLEY, ARDATH, JEN AND I WERE THERE. WE HAD A FABULOUS BRUNCH OF HOMEMADE CHICKEN SALAD-SO YUMMY! THEN MELONS CUT UP AND ROLLS THEN TOPPED IT OFF WITH A WONDERFUL CAKE(COURTESY OF WAL-MART) AND ICE CREAM. WE THEN MOVED ON TO THE FAVORITE PART OF OPENING GIFTS. THIS WHOLE THING WAS A SURPRISE FOR JEN AND SHE HAD NO IDEA UNTIL SHE GOT THERE, MANY TIMES MIKE OR I COULD HAVE SLIPPED BUT WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T. I THINK ALL-IN-ALL THERE WAS A GREAT TURNOUT AND IT WAS SO GOOD TO SOMETHING NICE FOR JEN! I HOPE SHE ENJOYED HERSELF, AND KNOWS HOW MUCH SHE IS LOVED AND MISSED. WE ALSO CAN'T WAIT TO MEET BABY HIGGY IN NOVEMBER! WE LOVE YOU JEN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELA!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELA! LAST NIGHT MIKE HAD A SURPRISE PARTY FOR HER WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT HER PARENTS HOUSE, WE HAD A GREAT TIME. DINNER WAS HOMEMADE GYROS-WHICH I HAD NEVER TASTED A REAL ONE, SO YUMMY! THEN WE HAD THIS SINFULLY SCRUMPTIOUS DESSERT THAT MIKES MOM MADE WITH BROWNIES, CHERRY ICE CREAM AND CHOCOLATE GONOCHE! SO GOOD! ALL OF THEN PLAYED A GAME MUCH LIKE GUITAR HERO BUT THERE ARE TWO GUITARISTS, A DRUMMER, AND A SINGER! WE ALL HAD A FUN TIME ROCKIN OUT! HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY ANGELA, WE LOVE YOU!

THIS IS ANGELA AND LILY WITH HALLE AND I AND ONE OF HER NEPHEWS.

THIS IS THE GIRLS ROCKIN'! BRITTANY AND I ON GUITAR, BECKY ON THE DRUMS AND ANGELA SINGING~WE ROCKED GIRLS!

THIS IS THE BOYS ROCKIN' IT~JARED ON DRUMS, PAUL (MIKE'S DAD) AND MIKE ON GUITARS, AND TREVOR SINGING! GO TREVOR, LOVE THE BANDANA! AS MENNEAR WATCHED ON! THEY ACTUALLY DID REALLY GOOD!

TWINS!

THIS IS LILY AND HALLE, LIKE I SAID IN A PRIOR POST-THEY ARE THE BEST OF BUDDIES! IT IS TOO BAD THEY LIVE IN FLORIDA. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY MOVE BACK THERE WILL BE TONS OF FUN. FOR RIGHT NOW, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUMMER AND XMAS VISITS. IT WAS SO FUNNY~THE OTHER NIGHT EVERYONE CAME OVER TO WATCH "BATMAN BEGINS", AND TO OUR SURPRISE, THEY WERE IN THE SAME ONESIE! WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF THAT? ANGELA AND I HAVE THE SAME TASTE I GUESS, GO MOMS!!

LOOK HOW HAPPY THESE TWO ARE-SO CUTE! WE WILL MISS YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE!

GETTING INTO MISCHIEF!

HALLE KAY IS NOW GETTING INTO EVERYTHING AND WE CAN'T GET MAD ALL WE CAN DO IS LAUGH AND TELL HER "NO, WE DON'T DO THAT!" WE HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING SO SHE KNOWS SHE CAN'T DO THAT BUT LAUGH WHERE SHE CAN'T HERE US BECAUSE WHAT SHE DOES IS SO ADORABLE!

THIS IS THE DAY AFTER THE RELAY, I WAS EXHAUSTED AND JARED HAPPENED TO BE OUT WORKING IN THE YARD. I WONDERED HOW FAR SHE WOULD GO, AND APPARENTLY ALL THE WAY.. WIPES, DIAPERS, TIPPING OVER THE BASKET, BABY POWDER EVERYWHERE, YOU NAME IT! I WAS TO TIRED TO STOP HER AND SHE WASN'T HURTING ANYTHING!
THIS IS RIGHT AFTER A BAD FACE FROM CHEWING ON THE WET WIPES HOWEVER, SHE CONTINUED TO DO IT! SHE LOOKS AT ME LIKE "AM I IN TROUBLE?" WHAT A LITTLE SMIRK ON HER FACE! BUT, IT JUST MELTS ME.
SHE HAS LEARNED IF SHE PULLS DOWN THE BUMPER IN HER CRIB SHE CAN SEE HER ROOM, SMART GIRL! SHE HAPPENED TO LOOK AT ME AND CHEESE RIGHT AT THE PERFECT TIME! HOW CUTE IS THAT?
YOU JUST HAVE TO LAUGH! SHE MAKES OUR DAY!(EVERYDAY!)

RELAY FOR LIFE! GO RED RUBIES!

SO, A COUPLE BLOGS DOWN I EXPLAINED THAT I WOULD SOON BE PARTICIPATING IN THE ANNUAL RELAY FOR LIFE HERE IN POCATELLO AND I WAS ON A TEAM CALLED THE RED RUBIES WHICH WENT ALONG GREAT WITH THE THEME "THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOPE." THIS BEING MY 1ST YEAR PARTICIPATING I DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. I GOT THERE WITH MY MOM AND SISTER WHO WERE ALSO ON MY TEAM AT ABOUT 5:00 IN THE EVENING LAST NIGHT-IT TOOK PLACE AT DAVIS FIELD, ISU'S TRACK! WHEN WE SHOWED UP ALTHOUGH THE EVENT DIDN'T START UNTIL 6 THERE WAS A TON OF PEOPLE THERE DOING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING: SETTING UP TENTS, DECORATING THEIR CAMP SPOTS, SIMPLY WALKING AND WAITING, SETTING UP THE STAGE AND SILENT AUCTION, EATING, YOU NAME IT. IT WAS A VERY WARM DAY 87 DEGREES, AT LEAST IT WAS NOT AS HOT AS IT HAD BEEN....AND WE WERE ALL HOPING FOR A COOL DOWN BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO WALK LONG IN THAT HEAT WITHOUT STOPPING FOR WATER! IT ALL STARTED OUT WITH AN OPENING CEREMONY WHICH INCLUDED INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EVENT AND ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD LAST ALL NIGHT AND THEN MULTIPLE CANCER SURVIVOR SPEAKERS, SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND A PRAYER TO BE WITH US. THE FIRST THING AFTER THAT WAS THE SURVIVOR WALK. ALL THE SURVIVORS WORE PURPLE SHIRTS SO THEY STUCK OUT AND THEY WALKED UNDER THE BALLOON ARCH AND AROUND THE TRACK WITH US CHEERING FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS, FRIENDS, ETC. ANYBODY THAT WAS WITH THEM. AS WE WATCHED THESE PEOPLE WALK, WHEEL IN THEIR WHEELCHAIRS, RUN, DANCE, ETC. IT WAS HARD NOT TO BECOME EMOTIONAL. THERE ARE OH SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS DISEASE AND THOSE PEOPLE WERE PROOF THAT SOMETIMES YOU CAN DEFY ODDS AND OVERCOME IT..THAT WAS A GREAT WAY TO START! AFTER THAT WE WALKED AND WALKED AND WALKED. THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE ONE PERSON FROM YOUR TEAM ON THE TRACK BUT AT FIRST WE WERE ALL MOTIVATED AND EXCITED SO WE WERE ALL OUT THERE. PRETTY SOON, THEY INTRODUCED ALL THE TEAMS ONE BY ONE, HAD TRICK OR TREATING AT EACH TENT, HAD MANY DIFFERENT LOCAL BANDS PLAYING ON THE STAGE, HAD GAMES GOING ON, ETC....IT WAS SO GREAT. ABOUT 9 MANY OF THE ONLOOKERS WERE LEAVING AND WE DID LIGHTING OF THE LUMINARIAS. THESE WERE SOLD TO ANYBODY THAT WANTED TO DECORATE ONE FOR SOMEONE THEY HAVE LOST TO THIS DISEASE. THEY WERE ALL DECORATED AND SOME HAD PIX, POEMS, AND MEMORIES ON THEM AND THAT WAS A TEAR JERKER. AS THEY WERE LIT, THE WHOLE FIELD WAS TO BE QUIET WHILE THEIR NAMES WERE READ AND WE WALKED A COUPLE LAPS ON THE FIELD WHILE ONE LADY SANG "SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW", AND A MAN SANG ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SONG. THIS IS WHEN IT SET IN...WHAT WE WERE REALLY THERE FOR. MY MOM, SIS, AND I INTERLOCKED ARMS THROUGHOUT THE LIGHTING AND THERE WERE TEARS BEING SHED BY JUST ABOUT EVERYONE IN THE PLACE. THEN FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT ACTIVITIES, SILENT AUCTION, RAFFLES AND OTHER THINGS TOOK PLACE FOR THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT WERE NOT WALKING TO PARTICIPATE IN. LITTLE DID WE KNOW IN JULY THE TEMPERATURE THAT NIGHT WOULD GET DOWN TO 47 DEGREES. IT WAS STINKING COLD, WE WALKED TO KEEP WARM. WE TRIED TO KEEP POSITIVE BUT WHEN YOU MIX BEING TIRED WITH FREEZING TEMPS AND 3 IN THE MORNING, IT WAS HARD. AT MIDNIGHT, THE CHARLEY'S ANGELS FROM THE BAR (DRAG QUEENS) PERFORMED AND IT WAS AMAZINGLY FUNNY AND THE ACTIVITIES KEPT GOING...FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD AROUND THE TENTS FOR CANDY, DRAG QUEEN DRESSING LIKE THE CHARACTERS IN THE WIZARD OF OZ, LIVE MUSIC, IT WENT ON AND ON. OUR TEAM ENDED UP BEING SMALLER THAN EXPECTED..WE STARTED WITH 11, 3 LEFT ABOUT 10 AND ONE LEFT FOR A FAMILY EMERGENCY! THAT LEFT 7 OF US FOR THE WHOLE NIGHT BUT TO STAY WARM WE HAD TO WALK SO WE WERE BOUND TO TAKE IT ON. ABOUT 430 IT WAS TO MUCH TO HANDLE SO MOM, NIKI, AND I ENDED UP GOING HOME, CAN I JUST SAY ALONG WITH OUR CAPT PAULINE AND US 3, WE WALKED ALMOST THE WHOLE TIME. IT ENDED AT 800 SO WE DIDN'T FEEL TO BAD ABOUT LEAVING AT 5 AM. WE LISTENED TO MANY PEOPLE'S STORIES WITH CANCER..FROM HAIR CUTTING PARTIES TO TAKING SAUSAGE BALLS TO THE CANCER CENTER WHEN THEY WENT FOR TREATMENT. THEY TOUCHED US SO DEEP.THIS YEAR THERE WERE 105 TEAMS WITH AT LEAST 10 ON A TEAM, THAT'S UP QUITE A BIT FROM LAST YR THEY SAID. IT CONTINUES TO GROW AND FOR SUCH A GREAT CAUSE. THERE WERE LIVES CHANGED, MONEY RAISED, AND LOVE FELT ALL OVER THAT FIELD LAST NIGHT, WE ARE ALL FIGHTING FOR THE SAME OUTCOME, GET RID OF CANCER! I WILL NEVER LOOK AT CANCER AS DEATH, BUT AS A FIGHT TO OVERCOME. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT WAS SO FUN AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER! HERE ARE SOME PIX TO ENJOY...

THIS IS PAULINE, OUR TEAM CAPT. AND THE GIRL I WORK WITH! SHE DID SUCH A GREAT JOB IN PUTTING OUR TEAM TOGETHER, SETTING UP FUNDRAISING EVENTS, GOING TO MEETINGS, ETC. THANKS PAULINE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND REALIZE HOW MUCH TIME OF YOURS IT TOOK! WE APPRECIATE IT!

SINCE WE WERE THE RED RUBIES, WE GOT SOCKS TO GO ALONG WITH IT SINCE WE COULDN'T GET RED SHOES AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW MADE US SHIRTS WITH OUR NAME AND THE RUBY SLIPPERS FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ, THEY EVEN SAID THAT INSIDE OF THEM. GO TROY! WE LOVE OUR SHIRTS AND APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT YOU PUT INTO MAKING THEM FOR ALL OF US!

JARED AND HALLE CAME FOR A BIT AND DID A LAP FOR THE CAUSE AND THEN HE TOOK HER HOME AND BATHED HERE, GOT HER TO SLEEP AND TOOK CARE OF HER ALL NIGHT. ALSO, SATURDAY HE TOOK CARE OF HER SO I COULD GET SOME SLEEPING IN. THANKS JARED FOR HELPING ME OUT SO I COULD PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO SO BAD. ALSO, THANKS L & K FOR THE DONATION FOR MY REGISTRATION!THIS IS OUR TEAM-RED RUBIES! POP THE COLLAR! L TO R: IN BACK: MOM, LAURA, MELISSA, KATRINA AND JANFRONT:NIKI, PAULINE, AND I.SOME PEOPLE WERE NOT AROUND FOR THE PICTURE, DARNIT~

HERE WE ARE AGAIN JUST HANGING IN FRONT OF THE TENT WAITING FOR IT TO BEGIN!

THE SURVIVORS! IN A SMALL COMMUNITY IT IS AMAZING THIS MANY PEOPLE EVEN HAVE THE DISEASE, AND THIS ISN'T PROBABLY EVEN 1/8 OF THEM.

THIS IS THE SURVIVOR WALK, GO SURVIVORS-YOU GIVE OTHER'S HOPE!THIS IS ME AND LAURA HENDERSON. SHE IS THE DENTAL ASSISTANT AT MY DENTISTS AND HER HUBBY IS THE ONE THAT WORKS WITH JARED. SHE WAS ON A TEAM FOR HER DENTAL OFFICE AND SO WE GOT TO HANGOUT FOR A BIT. IT WAS SO FUN! SHE IS A TROOPER FOR BEING 8 MONTHS PREGO AND DOING IT-WHAT A GIRL!

OH WHAT A NIGHT!

TONIGHT, BRAD AND LAURA HENDERSON (JARED'S PARTNER AT WORK AND HIS WIFE) CAME OVER FOR DINNER. WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME! JARED AND BRAD COOKED CHICKEN PARMESAN IN THE DUTCH OVEN ALONG WITH APPLE COBBLER WHILE LAURA AND I TALKED ABOUT HER BABY THAT SHE WILL BE HAVING IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS. IT WAS SO FUN! WE HAVE BEEN WANTING TO HAVE THEM OVER FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE INVITED US OVER AWHILE AGO BUT FOR SOME REASON WE COULDN'T GO AND SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS OUR TURN NOW. THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE AND SO FUN TO HANGOUT WITH. WE TALKED ABOUT LABOR AND MANY OTHER THINGS AND IT MADE ME RELIVE THOSE TIMES WHEN I WAS HAVING HALLE. THEY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE OUTSTANDING PARENTS PRETTY SOON. HER SHOWER IS COMING UP AND THAT MEANS IT IS ABOUT DEBUT TIME, WOW! IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS GONE SO FAST...PROBABLY NOT TO YOU LAURA AND BRAD! I KNOW THAT FEELING! CAN'T WAIT TO MEET THE LITTLE GIRL AND BEST OF LUCK IN THE COMING WEEKS! WE LOVE YA!

PLAY GROUP!

ONCE AGAIN, TODAY WAS PLAY GROUP AT ROSS PARK. WE (THE MOMS) HAVE SUCH A GREAT TIME. WE CAN SAY THAT PLAY GROUP IS FOR THE KIDS, HOWEVER; THEY DON'T TALK OR PLAY YET, THEY CAN'T EVEN WALK AROUND TO THEY TOYS. NEVERTHELESS, THEY SEEM TO ENJOY IT TOO. THIS WEEK IT WAS HAILEY DYE AND HER SON AND DAUGHTER AND HALLE AND I AND THE REST IN THE GROUP COULD NOT COME. WE STILL HELD IT THOUGH, EVEN WITH JUST THE TWO OF US. IT IS SO GOOD TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE WITH OTHER ADULT WOMEN AND SOCIALIZE AND IT IS GOOD FOR THE KIDS TO BE OUT OF THE HOUSE AND HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO INTERACT WITH OTHER KIDS, SO ALL-IN-ALL, IT IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR ALL OF US AND WE ALWAYS HAVE A GREAT TIME. HALLE LOVES THE OTHER KIDS AND IS SO HAPPY AROUND THEM (SHE IS HAPPY ALL THE TIME BUT EVEN MORE SO WITH LITTLE PEOPLE) HER AND LOLA ARE ABOUT A WK APART AND ROLL TOGETHER, TALK BABBLES TO EACH OTHER AND SLOBBER ALL OVER EACH OTHERS TOYS AND THAT IS WHAT KEEPS US GOING BACK EVERY WEEK FOR MORE. WE LOVE OUR PLAY DATES!

THE DUDLEY'S

SO TONIGHT, TREVOR AND BRITTANY DUDLEY AND OUR LITTLE CLAN MET AT THE DRIVING RANGE TO HIT A ROUND OF GOLF BALLS(I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT IT WAS OUR FHE.) WHEN I GOT THERE, I TOOK HALLE IN HER CARSEAT AND FOUND A SHADY SPOT TO SIT WHILE JARED WENT AND GOT SOME GOLF BALLS. PRETTY SOON, THE DUDLEY'S CAME. AFTER TELLING US SHE DIDN'T FEEL TOO HOT LAST NIGHT, SHE AND I SAT ON THE BLANKET WITH HALLE WHILE TREV AND JARED HIT SOME BALLS...TO MY SURPRISE, THEY DIDN'T HIT LONG AND LET BRIT AND I HIT SOME WHILE THEY PLAYED WITH HALLE. SCORE! WE GOT A NIGHT OUT, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE THERE WITH US THE GIRLS STILL GOT TO HAVE FUN WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONS. AFTER WE HIT (OR, AS BRIT WOULD SAY, HAD ALOT OF PRACTICE SWINGS...) WE LET THE BOYS COME AND PLAY WHILE WE PLAYED WITH HALLE. AFTERWARDS, WE CAME HOME AND PUT HALLE IN BED. THE DUDLEY'S CAME AND WE HUNG OUT, TALKED, WATCHED TV, AND ENJOYED SHERBET AND HOMEMADE COOKIES... WHAT A FUN NIGHT! I LOVE TREV AND BRIT! THEY WILL BE SUCH GOOD PARENTS JUST BY JUDGING HOW THEY ARE WITH OUR LITTLE BUNDLE. ALSO, AMAZINGLY ENOUGH TREV AND JARED LOVE PLAYING WITH HER, THAT IS WHAT IS SO CUTE! WATCHING TWO GUYS GO GOO-GOO-GAH-GAH OVER SUCH A LITTLE BUNDLE OF JOY! WE LOVE THEM AND ENJOY HAVING THEM AROUND!

THE BERNTS SHIN-DIG!

HERE IS THE FAM HANGING BY THE WATER WATCHING THE KIDS SWIM AND SLIDE...

STEPH AND NAKEY EVA RIGHT AFTER PEEING ON THE SLIDE-HAHA!! GO EVA!

NOTHING LIKE GOOD FUN WITH GOOD COMPANY!

EVA, EVA, EVA. WHAT A CHARACTER-SHE IS SUCH A DOLL

EVA AND AUNTIE BOO!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE! THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN COMPLETE CHAOS, BUT SO MUCH FUN. IT STARTED LAST SUNDAY WHEN JOHN, STEPHANIE( JARED'S SIS), AND EVA ARRIVED HERE FROM MAINE FOR THE HOLIDAY. WE HUNG OUT WITH THEM FOR AWHILE BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO LEAVE EVA WITH GRUMPY AND GRAMMY AND JUST THE TWO OF THEM GO TO SUN VALLEY FOR A LITTLE GETAWAY...SO THEY LEFT. WE HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY-THEY HAD COME BACK AND NOW, TREG(JARED'S BROTHER) AND ANNIE AND BRIDGET WERE IN TOWN ALSO...PARTY TIME! MY SIS NIKI AND HER FAMILY WOULD BE IN TOWN THE NEXT NIGHT AND WE WOULD HANGOUT WITH MY FAM. THURSDAY NIGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BERNT FAMILY PHOTO SINCE ALL THE SIBLINGS WERE TOGETHER AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2006, THE PHOTOGRAPHER WAS TO SHOW UP AT 8:15...WE WAITED, WAITED, AND WAITED AND TO OUR SURPRISE, SHE DIDN'T SHOW. WELL, SINCE WE WERE ALL READY, KIM TOOK OUR PIX-AND IF I MIGHT ADD, SHE DID A MARVELOUS JOB. THEN JARED BROUGHT HALLE HOME AND PUT HER TO BED AND I STAYED AT THE BERNTS AND DID FIREWORKS AND S'MORES (THANKS JARED FOR LETTING ME TAKE A LITTLE BREAK, I HAD A GREAT TIME.) ON FRIDAY WE WOKE UP REALLY EARLY AND WE WERE OFF TO SODA FOR PANCAKE BREAKFAST IN THE PARK,THE PARADE, AND FUN IN THE PARK AFTERWARDS. WE ALSO RAN INTO GRANDPA BOB AND GRANDMA BETH, AND UNCLE TODD AND AUNT KIM AND LET THEM PLAY WITH THE KIDS AND TALKED FOR A BIT TO CATCH UP. WE THEN WENT TO THE PARADE AND TREVOR AND HALLE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME AND WE GOT ALOT OF CANDY AND THE BEST PART, IT WASN'T HOT, IT WAS ACTUALLY OVERCAST AND JUST RIGHT. AFTER THE PARADE, WE WENT TO THE PARK TO MINGLE...WE RAN INTO 4 OF MY GOOD FRIENDS:HAILI, KRYSTAL, WENDY AND TYLER. WE SAT AND TALKED FOR A BIT AND GOT CAUGHT UP ON THINGS...IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE ALL OF THEM AND SEE THAT THEY ARE DOING WELL. ALSO, SEEING THEIR KIDS WAS AMAZING...THEY ARE SO CUTE AND HAVE WONDERFUL MOMMIES. THEN WE CAME TO POKY AND HAD A PICNIC AT MY PARENTS, THEN WENT UP TO THE BERNTS FOR A SWIM PARTY AND HUNGOUT WITH HIS FAMILY FOR A COUPLE HOURS. THEN ONTO MY PARENTS FOR FIREWORKS AND A BBQ WITH MY STEP FAMILY AND PARENTS. WE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS VERY BUSY WE ARE GLAD WE GOT TO SEE EVERYONE AND SPEND THIS HOLIDAY WITH ALL THOSE WE LOVE...HERE ARE SOME PIX OF OUR 4TH FESTIVITIES!

THIS IS ONE OF THE POOL PARTIES AT THE BERNT'S! SUCH A FUN CONCOCTION!

HERE IS HALLE AND COUSIN EVA, THEY GOT ALONG REALLY WELL!

HALLE, JUST CHILLING IN THE POOL-SHE STAYED IN IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME!

UNCLE TREG TOOK HALLE INTO THE POOL WITH ANNIE AND MARLEY AND THEY HAD A GREAT TIME!

THE HATZENBUEHLER CLAN: IT WAS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS!

JUST GETTING INTO SODA-LOOK AT THAT SCOWL..SHE HAD TO WAKE UP TOO EARLY!

HERE IS HALLE IN HER 4TH GET-UP, SHE LOOKED SO CUTE!

HERE WE ARE JUST GETTING READY TO EAT AT THE BREAKFAST...NOTHING LIKE PANCAKES, SAUSAGE, AND EGGS-STONE COLD! WE KEEP GOING BACK FOR MORE THOUGH!

HALLE ON TOUCAN-THIS WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITES BACK IN THE DAY!

HALLE AND CUZZY TREVY IN THE SWINGS, THEY WERE LOVING IT!

HALLE ENJOYING THE PARADE!

HALLE AND TREVOR ANTICIPATING THE START OF THE PARADE!

HALLE PLAYING WITH AUNT JEN.

SOMETIMES, I THINK THE ADULTS ENJOY THE PARADE MORE THAN THE KIDS....

WE LOVE THIS PARADE AND ANXIOUSLY WAIT FOR IT EVERY YEAR, SAD HUH?