Spring Break 2009

Okay be prepared for pictures. I'm not sure the best way to put a lot of pictures on here so if anyone knows I'm open for suggestions??? Well it's nice to have a spring break---feel like I'm in High School all over again (minus the raging parties and a week in a bikini, okay I've never done that). School is definitely a lot of work but it's nice to have a whole week to spend together. So for Spring Break we headed to St. Louis for a couple days with some friends. Jackson was in heaven with friends to play with ALL DAY. The weather was beautiful. We spent one day at the St. Louis Zoo (the zoo is free here and it's amazing) and one day at a children's museum called the Magic House. The hotel we stayed in was...memorable. It was one of those hotels you would expect a poor student to stay in. All I'm saying is when we first got there and opened our hotel room door there was a guy laying on the bed in his boxers---oops! He didn't seem to mind. But it was a wonderful trip. We also were able to spend a few days at home as a family. It was hard letting Tyler go back to school. Thanks goodness we have summer to look forward to.

zoo
Olivia and Nash livin' it up baby style in the stroller.

My handsome boy.

The Gorillas. All the animals were super active and out to play.

The hippos were amazing. They just kept swimming around and around. They were a highlight of the zoo.



The Magic House.
Jackson made it all the way to the top. This "tree" started on the main level and then you climb up to the 2nd level.

Jackson loved this. When you played the piano keys bubbles would go through the pipes.

Bubble boy. So much discovery in this place.

They had a great section for the little ones. So even Olivia was able to join in on the fun.

Sweet thing.

Well our stellar hotel did have a swimming pool---the kids loved it.



Smiths---Overalls---Craguns
We will you miss you guys when you move in a few short months.
SPRING BREAK 09 ROCKED!

Happy 1st Birthday Odee!

Happy Birthday to our sweet baby girl!. Olivia turned 1 yesterday (March 20th). Your dad and I can't believe how fast the past year has gone by. It feels like we just brought you home from the hospital. Olivia you have truly lightened our family's life. You are such a sweet happy girl who has a lot of love to give. We love you Odee.

Here are some of the fun things your doing at age one---
*Big big smiles. Always have a smile to give.
*Give hugs while patting our back.
*For some strange reason think you need a binki when it's time to sleep, you suck it a couple times and then spit it out.
*Still think nursing is awesome.
*Favorite food is goldfish.
*Pretend to wash your hair in the tubby.
*Adore your brother Jackson, and he adores you back.
*Stand up on EVERYTHING and love to get into EVERYTHING.
*Sing when you hear music.
*Everything you touch goes directly into your mouth.
*Say Mama and Dada.
*Get excited and crawl as fast as you can when you hear the front door open.
*Love to be outside.
*Love to play patty cake.

We had a small birthday party for Olivia today---a polka dot party! It was strange not having grandparents, aunts and uncles or cousins here to celebrate but thank you to all who called and sent gifts---Olivia was grateful :)

I made a banana cake. Olivia loves bananas.

She was very excited about her cake and candle. I had to hold her back from grabbing it.

Once she had the chance to eat it she wasn't sure what to do.
"Is this really mine?"

"You sure I can eat this?"

"Oh yeah that's good!"

"Best first birthday ever!"


Happy birthday beautiful girl---we love you!

How we've missed you

Oh daddy how we have missed you---you have been so busy. We are so grateful that 2nd quarter is over and now you get to spend ONE WHOLE WEEK at home. We will cherish every moment we have with you. Thank goodness for Spring Break!

Small town = get crafty

So I have always wanted to learn how to sew, I guess there's no better time then now. Tyler got me a sewing machine for Christmas and I have some friends that are excellent sewers, so no excuses. We have started getting together every other week with a new project. Here is my first one---a blanket for Olivia. I also did a pillow case for Jackson but he's already in bed so no pic. Pretty easy projects but I've got to get my straight lines down first.

Last week we made these super cute pin cushions off of Heather Bailey's website. Now this was a bit more challenging for me, but I'm quit happy with it.

And this one I'm super excited about. Okay I didn't sew the guitar. For those of you that have known me for a long time know I use to play this all the time. But for some strange reason stopped about 10 years ago. I didn't even bring my guitar to Kville. My friend is an amazing guitar player and she happened to have an extra one here so I am borrowing it and she is going to teach me her mad skills. Tyler says we have to refer to it as a "jam session". I have been playing around on it the past week and even found my old guitar book with all my music. Most of it has come back to me but I need a lot of practice. It feels really good to play again and now I wonder why I ever stopped.