Bubbles!

We were getting ready to eat dinner, and I looked out the window and saw Weston blowing bubbles to Kai.  Eventually Weston joined the dog outside, and it was fun to see them both trying to get the bubbles.  They were almost like siblings fighting over them.  I think Kai and Weston are on about the same level right now - they're pretty good buddies.  Sometimes I wonder if Kai is actually nipping at Weston.  I think she is just trying to lick his face and play with him.

Savannah joined in the bubble fun on another day.  

 She likes wearing hats, particularly backwards.  Is she going to be an athletic girl?  Don't know, but she sure is cute right now!

Diggity-Dog

Savannah has started praying recently.  She likes to say a prayer before naptime too.  So cute.  This time she was praying over her hot dog, which she calls "diggity dogs."  We checked out a Mickey Mouse's Club House video from the library, which has the hot dog dance on there.  That's where she gets diggity dog - "Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog..."  It was so cute the first time she pointed at the hot dogs in the fridge and said, "Diggity dog."  

I tried to get it on video:

my brave firemen

Cub scout Jared

Jared's birthday was back in May, but it was after all the pack meetings were done for the summer.  He finally did his bobcat ceremony in September.  Often, there will be at least 2 boys doing the ceremony at the same time.  Jared was the only one this time, so he got to say the oath, and promise and such by himself.  He did a great job, saying them all without help.  We officially have a Wolf in the house!  (I think by the time Weston does scouts, we should be experts in all this scout stuff.) 

Let there be chocolate cake!

I thought it was time for a new picture of Alex and me (since we were looking nice for church anyway).  Our anniversary is in August and birthdays in September.  We didn't do anything big to celebrate, but we had plenty of cake!  We had cake with Alex's family when we were there in August, and my family had cake for me when I flew to TX in September.  I made a cake for Alex's birthday, and our home teacher from church brought over a HUGE cake the afternoon of my birthday (Alex got off easy...)  The cake was too big for our family to eat, so I decided to get some friends together at the last minute to help us eat the cake.  

 14 years together!  We got married in 2000 - it's easy to remember how many years.  

We celebrated my uncle Doug's birthday too.  Chocolate cake - YUMMY!

My birthday this year was a memorable one.  Luckily we had plenty of sweets on my birthday - we literally had a stinkin' morning, since our dog got sprayed by a skunk just outside our open window.  The whole house smelled bad for a couple of days with the stench.  (We took the cake over to a friend's house to celebrate where it didn't smell!)  

We got to shop for a new cage for the dog that morning, so she could sleep inside again at night, and gave her a special bath.  The day could only get better from there, and it did.

GG's great grandkids

Some pages from GG's book:

Great Grandma's 80th birthday

Amidst Alex's September travels, I was able to sneak away to Texas for a weekend to celebrate my grandma's 80th birthday.  (Thanks to friends who helped watch our kids on Friday before Alex got home and on Saturday during soccer!  I left on Friday afternoon, Alex got home Friday evening, I returned Monday night, and Alex left again Tuesday morning... whew!)

We decided the party theme should be cows & western, considering GG loves cows and where she lives now (the "cowboy capital of the world").  GG grew up raising cattle and she also worked for the National Cattleman's Association.  It seemed only appropriate to make a cow cake for the occasion.  

I got in late Friday night and made the cake at my sister's house that night.  It looked really good when I first made it.  When I looked at it in the morning, one whole side had separated/fallen off.  I tried to prop up the side with rolled up foil as best that I could.  Then we had to transport it in the car for about 45 minutes - longest car ride ever... seems like every time we hit a bump in the road more pieces would fall off the edge.  I had to just take off one side when we got there.  The rest was still in pretty good shape.  Hopefully GG liked it.  I know that Eli loved it!  :)  

My mom and sisters had everything all decorated really cute, with pictures of GG when she was young, pictures of her grandkids and greats, cow balloons, and western stuff.  I toted along a few paper plate cows that the boys made.

One of my September projects was making a book for GG of all of her great grandkids (110 pages=no time for blogging...)  GG has 16 great grandkids!

Most of the kids had to stay home, but Evie got to come with Alison.  Noah and Eli are the lucky ones that live close to GG.  Alison had a super cute cow costume for Evie to wear - cutest little cow ever!

The party was just a small family one, but it turned out just right.  GG's three kids were all there - Doug, my mom, and Gary (along with his wife Quin).  All of my sisters were there (and Audrey's husband Sam) - of my siblings, just missing my brother Mike, who wasn't able to make it (missed you Mike!).  We are grateful that Alex, Daniel, and Micah were able to stay home and watch the kids.  

It was fun to watch Eli conduct "Happy Birthday."  And it was fun to have cake & ice cream for lunch!

                                                                                      Some were all worn out after the party...

We were lucky to make it through the party - GG had to go to the ER in the evening.  Her leg was infected, and she was in a lot of pain.  She was in the hospital the rest of the weekend (and still not at home now).  She has been undergoing chemo treatments and trying to get stronger.  She's a fighter!  I am glad we were able to be there to celebrate - I loved seeing the surprise on her face when I walked in to give her a hug!  She didn't know we were all coming.  Just wish the weekend had ended on a better note, with more time to spend with GG.  It was a tender mercy to be able to celebrate her birthday with her that afternoon.  We love you GG!

I finally got to meet Evelyn (Evie), who was born in March.  She is a pretty smily baby!

Enjoyed my time with family - just wish I could have stayed longer!