Port Deposit, Maryland

We took a trip to see my cousin Jessica, her husband Bryan and their children Madalyn and Anabelle. Matt had fun taking pictures of the babes and I am sure you will have fun looking at them below.

5 1/2 month old baby Anabelle

Beyond cute.



Carlee had so much fun playing with 4 year old Maddi and all her toys. She took as many baths as she could while we were there since we don't have a tub at home!

Jess and Bryan do search and rescue with their three German Shepherds. We got to go to a training with them out in the woods. It was really cool. After the training for the dogs we did a little training of our own. Their was an agility course just down the way so we, after all confessing how out of shape we are, decided to get a little competition going by doing the course and timing each other. It was super fun....and super tough!

We had a really good time. We got to have a campfire in their back yard and have s'mores. I love campfires...I even love the smell lingering on my coat and cloths afterwards. We owe a humongous thank you to the Cox family for taking such good care of us while we were there and for welcoming us with such short notice! Man, it is good to get away, be outside and be with family!

Hearts and Flowers in February

Daddy's favorite valentine treat




Carlee's valentine breakfast: pink heart pancakes with flax seeds and wheat germ inside and raspberry jam outside


Carlee's valentine

She got to check out her loot in her high chair while she awaited breakfast

Matt randomly bought a bulb at the grocery store about a month ago, planted it and placed it on top of the microwave to get direct sun. We watched that thing grow so tall so quickly and then about three days before Valentines Day it revealed one of it's gorgeous flowers. A few days later we had four of those flowers to marvel at. Then we woke up the day after Valentine's Day and found the whole thing on the floor. It was so sad. Carlee found it and came in our room to try and tell us what she found. We tried to salvage it but the flowers died. Boo hoo but what a beauty it was!

Hairs Cut Part III

Okay, I threw the hair cutting scissors away so I can't do it ever again!

Happy Valentine's Day...in 4 Days!

Thanks for the suckers G-ma! Much:



She's our little chubby cherub:)

Hairs Cut Part II

Look, I was just trying to even up her hair a bit, make it look less scraggly... or something. But it did turn out looking a little bit like you know who...I'm sorry Carlee!!! Whatev.

While I am posting I have something I'd like share. Last night a received a phone call from U.S. Bank in Rexburg, Idaho. It was the most pleasant conversation and left me smiling, inside and out. I felt like I was talking to my Grandma. Seriously. She simply called to tell me that I have a zero balance in my account with them and that it is going to be closing because there has been no activity for a LONG time; she wanted to make sure that was what I wanted. But before she got to that, she told me who she was and sincerely ask me how I was doing. Then she told me why she was calling and then asked if we were still living in New Jersey (not exactly sure how she new that...). Anyway, she mentioned how that is a long ways from "home" and she asked me if I like it. I said, "no, no I really don't." She was concerned and really wanted us to make it back there. She asked about why we are in New Jersey and wished us the best of luck, several times. I truly felt that woman's charity (as in Christlike love). It was incredible considering who it was coming from: a stranger who works at a bank in Idaho, yet I could feel her sincere love for mankind I guess. She really wanted the very best for us even though she doesn't even know us and will never talk to me again. The truth is if I had gotten a call from a bank in New Jersey for the same purpose...well, lets just say, the feeling would have been much different. I just thought this was incredible and it makes me want to live in a small town in the West again someday even more!

Hairs Cut

Julee got out the scissors again... she is obsessed with cutting hair.



I am not sure if I like this look for Carlee

Check Up

Danilyn had a check up today and she weighed in at almost 16 lbs at 3 months old (4 months on the 12th). She is just over 23 inches long. Her weight is in the 97th percentile! Her head is in the 75th to 95th percentile. Her length is the 50th the 75th. At least I think that is what the doctor said...she spewed out so many facts so fast I am having a hard time remembering everything she said. But she did say she is a big girl with a big head. To compare, Carlee wasn't 16 lbs until she was about 8 months old. Wowzers.
Dani at 1 week old.

Danilyn at 15 weeks. Double the weight!

If you all haven't seen the movie "Jump" or the movie "Flipped" you ought to because they were both good.




For those of you with restless youngsters stuck inside because of the cold, try making some salt dough to entertain them for a while. It kinda makes a mess when they play with it but it dries and sweeps/wipes up easy and is just as easy to make really quickly. Here is the recipe (I cut it in half):

2 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
Slowly add 3/4 cup water and 1/2 T. oil
Mix and knead for five minutes.
Add food coloring if desired.
Store in an airtight container.