Company...

We've had a lot of company at our house lately and we've loved it!

 I posted a few pictures from KayLynn's visit...
I have a TON more from a visit we made to a sheep farm.
That needs a post of it's own so it will be next.

First of all though...photos of Sydney and Kallie getting their hair cut. Many of you have already seen these. I'm so happy they did it, much easier to fix in the morning (and less straggly hair for mom to look at).

Sydney Rae- after

 Kallie before...

Kallie after.

We actually had some little flowers bloom in our mostly-dead yard.

I was so excited I made everyone come out and look!

We had so much fun with Andrea and family for a few days at the end of Spring Break. KayLynn left in the morning and Andrea came that night and Dan decided to rip out a bunch of old brick and an old propane stove in between. Nothing like a house entirely covered in a layer of dust to make you feel ready for company to come. The weather wasn't very cooperative for the Mangum family. We tried to go to the park once, but we got snowed on and came home and had hot cocoa. I didn't get many pictures because we mostly hung out at home, but we played games, ate, watched movies, ate some more, the boys went shooting, etc... This picture was right as they were heading home and we were heading to church.
Love my sister...

Next we got to have Grandpa Lanny, Grandma Sherry and cousin Jourdyn come for a visit to celebrate Avery's b-day with us.

Avery's cakes (small enough to smash)! I was trying to copy "Nothing Bundt Cakes"- if you can't buy them you've got to make them right?!? Her reaction was hilarious :)

She wouldn't touch the cake at first, she just leaned forward and took bites and licks.

Then she decided it was ok to dig in...

She loves it!

Bath time for a happy baby on a sugar high!

The next morning, off to church.  Nice to have an extra kid in our teeny-tiny Primary.

Monday morning we toured some of the old buildings in Eureka including the courthouse.  Lanny said "all rise for the honorable Lanny Tom".  I wonder what crime Sherry was being convicted of? :)

Avery making sure Dan doesn't have any cavities...

We also went exploring in the mountains a bit.  Some of the old mining sites are pretty interesting.

These bags are at an old abandoned ore mine.  Looks like one day (many decades ago) it was open, then the next it wasn't. 

I love my Chinese husband who doesn't like sun in his eyes :)

I didn't know it before, but Jourdyn loves to collect rocks.  She and Grandma had as many as they could hold.

She is definitely one cute rock collector that's for sure...too bad Kallie and Sydney had to go to school :(

Proof I was there too.

Grandma Sherry was so sweet and brought Kallie a dozen roses since she is turning 12 this week.  Kallie was thrilled and has hung them up to dry so she can save them.  I am so mad at myself...I said (at least 5 times), let's get a picture of you and Grandma with your flowers.  And I didn't.  Why do I do things like that?  Here is a picture of one of the flowers as a poor substitute.

I must say my two cents...this new Blogger format is making me crazy.  This post took me forever!  Let me decide where I want my journaling.  Please don't decide for me.  Please don't delete pictures when I hit enter.  Please just keep things the same...they were working fine for me.  Ok, I'm done.

One year ago...

One year ago today....right about this same time, I was being checked into the hospital.
34 weeks pregnant and the baby needed to come.
3lbs 3 ozs, 16" long...healthy as could be.

The nurses kept saying, "If you were bigger you could go home today."

Happy Birthday to my sweet, sweet little Avery Faith.
Our family is happier because of you.
You make us smile every single day and we're so glad Heavenly Father sent you to us!

I know this is kind of an odd picture to post, but I think you can see how tiny 3 lbs is in the way the doctor is holding her.

And today...
18 lbs (didn't get the length before naptime, darn).

Happy, smiley, busy, sweet as can be!!

Sometimes there are no words to say just how much love you can feel for someone!!!

Easter 2012

Before I get to Easter pictures,
I need to post a few random ones of #3 just for fun!

Playing Peak-a-boo behind a Pink Plate (remember the ABC book)

It's a good thing my girls have a dad...mom's don't do this sort of thing (this mom anyway).

No explanation needed...

My girls are so excited because they have this whole next week off school for Spring Break.
KayLynn and girls were going to come visit, but when they realized it was Easter they decided not to. Until they got a new-to-them mini van so the whole family could come.

Sadly enough...last night KayLynn started not feeling well and by 9pm she had a fever of over 103! Poor KayLynn sewed and sewed last week to make Easter dresses for herself and her girls and ended up being home in bed :( She seems to be feeling a little better tonight so hopefully the rest of the visit will go a little smoother.
Is it just us, or does someone always seem to get sick when traveling??

About a week and a half ago I emailed my friend Amanda to see if she had time to make "matching" skirts for my girls. I know I'm crazy, but I tried to find something that matched or coordinated in sizes all the way from baby to young lady and had no luck. Amanda may have wanted to strangle me a few times, but this morning when they found a surprise new skirt I hope her efforts were not in vain. They looked so dang cute in their matching skirts, shirts and hair flowers! Thanks Amanda...I owe you big time!!!
(PS are we still friends?? :)

Cute girls (had to get this for KayLynn who was down in bed).

Too bad Avery looks a little out of it in this one...
she was ready for a nap!

Dave was nice enough to hide Easter eggs outside for the girls.
I loved this picture because I thought Kallie's action shot was pretty cool...
and because you get such a good glimpse of our lovely backyard.

Easter dinner: turkey, rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad and lemon coconut cupcakes.
You know...the typical 3 1/2 hrs in the kitchen and 13.5 mins at the table.
Dan and I wanted to be in the picture too :)

Fun ending to a fun day!

(PS: one day that paint color will be gone, I'm learning patience.)

April Fools Update...

I wish I had remembered that today was April Fool's Day...
I would have thought of something really funny to do.
But I didn't.

Last week was a Parent's Lunch at school.
So fun and actually yummy food.
The school lunches are one of the girls favorite things about school in Eureka,
all homemade and actually on a TRAY! So cool.

Avery's first time licking a beater.
Don't worry, it's just frosting (no raw eggs).

I thought this was so funny...
Peaches waiting for any delicious morsel of food to fall from the sky.
Manna from Heaven :)

First Cheetos

I think she likes them!!

Thursday was Kallie and Sydney's dance recitals at the Opera House.

Kallie took a Hip Hop Class.

Sydney took a clogging and ballet class.

Sticking your tongue out helps you concentrate on your shuffle steps.

Our new tradition (as of today),
cinnamon rolls for breakfast on conference Sunday.

I'm sure you're waiting on pins and needles for a house update.
Let me tell you we've been working hard. We're getting close.
The girls are dying to sleep in their new room.
Patience...