Can't get out of the Christmas Dress!

Kara looked so Beautiful in the Christmas Dress from Aunt Shirley we had to wear it in January too! Kara would beg to wear this dress everyday - and she did for many days! Each time she made a promise to her mommy to never eat or go outside in it. (It was her Mom's favorite too!)She kept her promise, the dress is still in perfect condition. Do you think she could still wear it in spring?

Kara and Trevor off to Church. Jan 2009

Happy Birthday Sheryl!

Sheryl turned 29 on Jan. 2nd but is still in denial of being that old!!
Her calling in church with the Primary kids keeps her "Forever Young"... and she IS the 5th child, so can you REALLY trust that her parents kept accurate record. She believes she probably around 23 or so.

Happy 2nd Birthday Trevor! Dec.19, 2008.

We celebrated Trevor's 2nd Birthday on Friday night December 19, 2008. His lastest craze is playing with balls. Whether tossing, kicking, throwing or rolling, he could play ball all day. So I decided to take his obsession and make it his theme for his birthday party. Grandma Stout baked the round ball cake, and decorated the green "grass" cake and Sheryl decorated the different ball cakes. We found matching balloons, plates, cups, and napkins, and even small littls soft sports balls to put on the table that became his play toys. We had lots of fun with Patti & Jim and Emily, along with Grandma and Grandpa from Utah (Sheryl's side) that came. (Others were snowed in and couldn't make it -- tis the season!) He got a Curious George stuffed animal and matching book, and dinosaur jammies from Grandma and Papa in Idaho, a firetruck from the Jim&Patti and Emily, a ball and glove from Auntie Colleen and Uncle Shawn, books from Aunt Julie & Fam, a snow saucer from Mom and Dad, and a bowling set, a shake and go truck, and a book from Utah Grandma and Papa. Thank you all!

I just can't believe my baby is 2yrs old!

When he blew out his candle he did it, first try, from quite a little distance. We had to light it again and make him do it twice so we could get the picture.

His vocabulary is increasing daily. He can say "Taint tu" , and "Me?" and "ballie" and "yeah"really clearly. When he first saw his cake he said, "BALLIE! Ballie!! . . ."Me??" I replied, "Yep, the ball cake is for you Trevor", and he got so excited yelling "ballie, Me, ballie ME!" He was very good at smiling for the camera with his presents, especially if you told him not to smile. We sure love our little 2yr old boy!

Trick-or-Treat!

Meet Tinkerbell (Kara), with her friend Peter Pan (Trevor)! Don't get these guys mixed up with the Disney Characters, in this team, Tinker bell is the main feature, with Peter Pan as her side kick! Kara kept saying, "I'm tinkerbell, I'm Peter Pan's friend . . .I'm Trevor's friend!" This year I did something I never had before. I made a Halloween costume! Since the Halloween budget was low, and I couldn't find a Peter pan one in the stores anyway, I made Trevor's costume! Jeff cut out a cardboard sword (which Trevor LOVED! He won't let go of it!), we tied rope around him, and the outfit was complete! He wouldn't wear a hat anyway, so I decided to bypass the trouble of making one! We had fun trick-or-treating this year . . .though Trevor went silent at every door, he new to open his bag up when they opened their door!

Carving Pumpkins!

We had fun with the kids carving pumpkins this year! Kara thought the inside of the pumpkins were "yucky" and didn't want to get her girlie hand messy. Trevor on the otherhand had the opposite opinion, and wasn't affraid to stick his hand right in! Oh his first experience feeling the inside of a pumpkin and gooping up his fingers, he got a big grin and said, "WHOA!" It was pretty hilarious!

Pacific Ocean Boat Tour! Oregon Coast Vacation

Kara and Trevor sitting in the captain seat, drivin' our boat! Watch out for icebergs!
July 29, 2008. Newport, Oregon. Marine Discover Tours.

Hey Trevor, are your fingers froze yet from the Pacific Ocean Wind!? Look at the Newport Bridge! July 29, 2008 - out at sea - Newport Oregon.

"Hey, is this the stearing wheel?" Trevor having fun on the boat tour! (above)

Crabbing in Newport Bay on our boat tour. Jeff thinks it cool, Kara's not so sure.
July 29, 2008. Newport, Oregon.

Pacific Ocean Time!!

Kara and Daddy at Nye Beach in Newport, Oregon.
July 28, 2008 Cold WATER! (above)

By the time we got to the beach, Trevor had had Enough!
Daddy and Trevor, Newport Oregon. (above)

"Can we get on the boat yet?" Kara waiting patiently to get on our Marine Discover tour boat!
Newport, Oregon. July 29, 2008.

Sheryl, Kara and Trevor headed out to sea. Wahoo for the Pacific! Newport, Oregon. (above)

Here's the family out at sea! It's not the same weather as Utah! That's for sure!
Newport, Oregon. July 29, 2008.

The beach was really close to our hotel and we couldn't wait to get there. We had some really fun play time with the kids, creating memories we'll never forget. Like freezing our feet off seconds after walking into the water. That was fun. Trevor slept through half of it, but finally woke up to join the family beach bonding time in the artic waters.
We went on a Marine Discover Tour the next day, to go "whale watching" , and lighthouse viewing. Well, we saw one lighthouse, and no whales. But we caught a couple glimpse of some dolphins! That was quite cool. We also went crabbing while on the boat! We caught and held some pretty cool crabs! It was awesome to sail underneath the beautiful Newport bridge! It was a very windy, and rainy(big surprise) so the Pacific Ocean wasn't showing it's soft side. This upset the stomachs of the girls of the family. The seasick girls sat down at the back of the boat, hoping not to leave the Pacific with a personal souvenir of themselves, while the boys "walked" (or really stubbled the best they could) across the boat laughing all the way. Trevor thought all the rocking was hilarious, he and his daddy were cracking up. Sheryl and Kara didn't think it was so funny. Luckily we made it back to solid ground before either of us tossed our cookies. Next time . . . lots of dramamine!

Oregon Coast HERE WE COME!

For our family vacation this year we took a trip to the Oregon Coast! July 27th - 30th 2008. We had a lot of fun and wore out the kids! (They are now very sick of the car.) We drove across the northern border of Oregon and Sheryl got to look across the Columbia River to her home state! We stopped at an outlook point to have a look at the beautiful Columbia. Our first experience of entering the Northwest was the WIND! Trevor thought it was hilarious! He had a pretty good hair style in the wind!(pictured above). Our next destination was the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, OR. Who knew Newport as so BEAUTIFUL!? It was amazing. Trevor got to speak face to face from one crabby little man to another (pictured)Hee! Hee! They also had an underwater walk through tunnel. The fish, and sharks swim all around you while you walk through their world! We also saw Sea Lions, Otters, Gelly fish, and Sea Horse. There was a touch tank, and Kara touched star fish and sea anemane.(Way to go Kara!) The Auarium also had a play area for kids with animal statues to climb on. This is where Kara had her "Turtle Time" (pictured). By the end the kids were exhausted(the way us parents usually like them), and were completely a wreck - which they are demonstrating in the picture we took with the Oregon Coast Aquarium sign as we were walking out. (Experience has taught us to always get this picture on the way IN . . .when they are still happy.)

Fun Times in IDAHO! July 3rd - 9th 2008

We had lots of fun at with the family in Idaho! We celebrated the 4th picking cherries! We sure had alot of fun with all of you! We hope to come again next year for the cherry pickin' season! The kids loved it too! Fireworks were fun that night with Terri and Dusty! Thank you! Jeff drove home with our dog Sadie on Sunday and the kids and Sheryl flew home Thursday, July 9th. While there Kara and Trevor enjoyed fun times with their cousins! We went to the beach, some fun parks, and Chuck-E-Cheeses. Thank you all for spending so much fun times with us! We miss you already!

The pictures above are of Trevor (18mo.) at a park in Idaho; Trevor (pink bucket) with cousin Sam at the beach, Kara(age 3yrs) picking Cherries on July 4th; Wrapped in towels after swimming - Kara(bottom right) and Trevor (top right) at beach in Idaho with cousins Taylor(bottom left) and Dani (top left).

Happy Birthday JEFF!

Jeff turned 28yrs old on July 8, 2008. On the day of his birthday he came home to an empty house! Sheryl and the kids were still in Idaho enjoying time with the relatives! Not being a big party man anyway, he was just as happy celebrating it the following Saturday (after our return) at the lake with family. The Stouts came too! Jeff got a little fishing time, but spent more time "fishing for birds" with Grandma Stout and Kara! It was lots of fun! Happy Birthday Jeff!