Can we talk about making the blog private?

Layne isn't allowed to post anything of real importance on here due to his job and now neither is Lewis. Why? Because anyone can access it. I don't know how I feel about absolutely anyone being able to ready what we write and post here. Stephanie, can we go private? We can/could invite the Cornwalls so they could continue to read it, and the Smiths. But it would allow everyone who wanted to post, to do so safely without threat to their job and we wouldn't have to worry about complete strangers reading about our private lives. Just a suggestion.

So Tired

This is Paisley after quiet time has ended! I didn't think that quiet time was supposed to exhaust a child, but hey, she plays hard. At our home Paisley doesn't have to sleep at quiet time she just has to stay in her room. She sometimes has trouble sleeping at night if she has a nap during the day so I don't enforce a nap. Some times she sleeps, sometimes she plays. Today she was playing and when it was time to get her she had just decided she was tired and wanted to lay down. We came downstairs and I had put on a movie for her to watch for a couple minutes while I was putting dinner in the oven and this is what I came downstairs to. I think this is so funny!! Cute girl!

Heavenly Snow

I have been back in Pennsylvania for the last few days and will be here until Tuesday morning. I have loved the weather. Alright perhaps now the wind chill but the snow has been wonderful. Its been snowing off and on the entire time. It hasn't stuck obviously but its so fun to see. Once again its coming down and I could literally just sit in front of the window and watch it the entire day, its very relaxing to me and serene. Snow to me is magical, it makes you want to stop what you are doing and watch it or play in it. If it accumuates enough, the world comes to a stop for a few hours or days and families seems to draw closer as they spend time together. White whispys, or fat chunkies, bring it on, my smile is on and the window blinds open. My day will be brighter as long as it snows.

Thanks, Stef

This post is to thank you, Stefanie, for the nice variety of backgrounds you provide for our blog. I also have the same question that Rebecca had. Do you have any idea what happened to Lewis' post? It was there yesterday and now there are just comments. Very weird.

Just Catching Up

Don't Be Jealous

Hello,

Jennifer and I have been touring the East Coast the past couple of days, and the weather has been great!! Here are a couple of pictures from the Resorts we have stayed in alone the Coast.

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Lewis and I leave this afternoon for Utah. We are headed up to see Lauren and James and I am running a 5 mile race tomorrow. We are excited to see our Utah children and of course the Lamberts (fringe benefit, but one we truly enjoy). We hope all of you have a wonderful Valentines and know that we send hugs and love out to each of you.

Lewis, Tracy and family

Primary Activity

Tonight was Paisley's first primary activity. The theme was PJ'S (which stands for prayer, journal, and scriptures). All the kids wore their pajamas to the activity. It was a blast. I thought I would share a couple of the answers to Paisley's journal questions because they were so very cute.
Birth date: "The day when Jesus brought me to my Mom."
My Parents: "My mom and dad."
Where I live: "at home"
Things I like to do: "Play in sandbox, play with friends, play with mom and dad."
My Pets: "1 dog." (NO we do NOT have a dog!)
When I grow up I will be: "a sister for a baby."

She is the cutest!!! I love her answers so much and can't wait to share this journal with her when she is older and can appreciate the pure innocence of her answers.

At the activity she was also able to paint a prayer rock, which she can bring home on Sunday. She also took a picture with the bishop that she will get for her birthday. For snack they had cereal and juice. It went really well, and Paisley had a blast.

A Beautiful Winter Day

This is probably not the picture you would expect given that it is February 10 and still technically winter, but it is a lovely day outside and we wanted to play. It is in the upper 60's and it feels wonderful. Paisley had a blast getting her bike out for the first time this year. Last year she couldn't use the pedals because she couldn't reach and today she was using them like an old pro. She even figured out how to pedal herself backwards. This cute big 3 year old is sure getting tricky.

Happy Anniversary!

So I am driving down the freeway today realizing that a year ago I was driving down the freeway in San Diego heading to the temple.

WOW, Layne and Jen, you have been married for a year! Happy Anniversary to you guys! Jen, we are so happy you are in our family!

We love you both!

Question for Taryn

Hi Taryn,

Now that your dog is a cat, do you want to keep it?  We don't want it regardless.  One tortoise is enough for us.  We just moved her upstairs so she now has her own bedroom.  We think that we will put the guests down in the living room where Chloe used to be. ;)

Our new Cat

We decided sense our cat was cat napped, we would call our (dog) our cat! We had some neighbors across the street that were moving, and Tiger, our cat, disappeared since then. We are really sad, but we hope tiger will have a good life were ever he is. (We aren't sure if they were the ones that took him though) We even called the pound, and they don't have him. We DON'T think he is dead though, otherwise we would have seen a body somewhere near our house. I don't think I mentioned that he has been gone for 12-13 days.

Happy Birthday, Caitlin

Happy Birthday, Caitlin.

I couldn't remember if your birthday was Jan 22nd or Feb 7th, so I picked today! LOL

When I think back on all the memories I have of you, one of my favorite is the Vacation of 1996, when we joined all my family on a huge family reunion visit to Tolovana, near Cannon Beach, Oregon. I particularly remember our walks down the sand back and forth and how pleasant it was. For your birthday, I give you Haystack Rock.



This is a view of Haystack Rock looking from the north, from Ecola State Park, a place we didn't explore.




This is the view from the Tolovana resort. You and I have seen this exact image in real life as we walked up the sand.


Something we didn't know is that this formation, of Haystack Rock and the two smaller ones to the left are collectively known as the Needles.

Haystock Rock came from volcano lava about 17 million years ago. It used to be connected to the mainland, but erosion has left it standing alone. It is 235 feet high and is the thrid highest of such "stacks" in the world.

Several of our favorite things about Haystack Rock are:



These are common cormorants. They're the black birds we saw flying around. The dive into the ocean and catch fish from underwater.


This was our second-most favorite thing, the tufted puffin. They live throughout the North Pacific Ocean and are particularly happy at Haystack Rock. Climbing higher on the rock than the high tide mark is illegal so that bird nests aren't disturbed.


These were our favorite thing: the sea "enemies." Remember how we would touch them gently and they would close, and how many of them were all crammed together and we'd touch them all and they'd close, then open later?

That time was a very fond time for me with many happy memories as we explored Haystack Rock, and the aquarium in Seaside and the big light house in Astoria.

I love you, DAD

Cute Bag!

I have resisted buying things for the baby for a couple of reasons. Number one, for some reason I feel completely lost in the boy department. Number two is I'm hoping some nice friend will through me a shower so I will wait and see what I need after that. Today though, I could not resist. This diaper bag called out to me!! Feel free to click on the picture to get the full experience of all the cute ribbons. I feel like this bag totally screams Stefanie. Thanks Jason for letting me break the rule and get a cute, cute diaper bag! Now I will be totally stylin' with a baby boy.

Happy Birthday, David!

Today is David's ___birthday. We love you, David, and hope you have the BEST birthday EVER!!

Valentine's Enrichment

Tonight was our relief society's midweek enrichment activity. The craft was decorating cupcakes to look like a box of chocolates. I went just planning on socializing but after some peer pressure this cute box of cupcakes is what I came home with. I think they look so adorable and I don't want people to eat them, but Paisley will probably object to that!

Molly Our Dog (she is not new)

Well, this is our dog Molly. She is six years old. Any one want her? My family doesn't want her. I know this post is kind of random, but I am trying to do something on my computer and this is the only way I know how to do it. Here are some picts..........

Bye-Bye Braces!

Yeah! I am finally getting my braces off in about 4-5 months! When we went into the orthodontist's building, we thought I would have another year, but nope! Only a few months. I was hoping they would be off before my birthday, but most likely not. With our Ortho., when you get your braces off, you get a water bottle, full of candy and they sing to you. I can't wait until that day!! ( to eat every thing I want, not limited)!!