well hello!

It has been forever since I have blogged. I dont know what my deal is but I just seem to be dreading it. I love to have documentation though so I have decided that I am goign to try to blog everyday during Lent to get back into the habit. I know the girls will enjoy looking back on these memories and I will too so here it goes

So much has happened in the months since I have blogged last so a very quick picture catch up with very vague descriptions.

In October we decided to head west to California because ticket prices were just so cheap. We spent $39 each way for 3 of us, stayed with my cousin Cindy and just hung out. We had a great time and it was nice to just get away! while we were there we took family pictures on the beach. they turned out great and here is a quick shot

Upon returning our Hadley Jean was baptized into our Church. Her godparents are our friends Jon and Christina Weber.

Louie and the rest of the Madrid Tigers made it to the dome again to the state semifinal game. Unfortunately they lost but we have loved watching Louie play all these years and he has now signed to play for the Grandview Vikings next year. We (I) am an incredibly proud big sister!

Hadley had a matching outfit as well :) they also used these as their Halloween costumes

On Thanksgiving my sister Sadie announced she is having another baby. We announced with both girls that we were expecting at Thanksgiving so it was kind of neat to continue that tradition although I will admit I am very thnakful that is was not me who was pregnant this time! (I dont have a pic for this)

We had a great first Christmas with our Haddie. The girls got tons of presents and despite the weather we made it to all of our family functions. I love holidays and spending time with our families!

In January we welcomed another nephew into our family. Corbin Joel Furness came out a boy much to Maggie and I's surprise! We just knew he was a girl but I guess we thought Hadley was a boy too so it shows how good we are at the guessing game ;) The girls love him and Hadley is very interested in his binkie! We have now gotten to babysit 2 times and we love having him around! This Valentines Day Nick proposed to Maggie and now we are looking forward to a wedding!


And lastly we have adopted a new dog into our life. I have been wanting a dog since we lost Blue but with kids I was not looking forward to potty training one. Someone we know was getting rid of their dog because their cat was not to happy about sharing the space with a dog. We went and picked up Maggie changed her name to Maddie and welcomed her into our home and hearts. She is a great dog, loves the kids, and is 100% potty trained! The chunky monkey is the picture is quite cute as well. I wonder who her mom is! :)

And because I now have a 7 month old and a 2 1/2 year old and they are so stinkin cute here is a recent pic :)

Deal's Orchard

My friends Lindsey Lana, and Susan decided to have a girl's day with the kids. We packed into the cars and headed to Deal's Orchard in Jefferson. Although it was kind of windy we had fun.

we found these bean bag toss pumpkins but the girls decided to put their faces in the holes. It was very cute!

Ellie loved the wiggle cars. She hopped right on and ran it like she had been driving for years. She also talked about how she ccan drive now for a long time after.

We also stopped at the corn box to play and like her mom she was a bit skeptical. She didnt want to step and sit in that corn. I do not blame her at all. the thought of touching it made me queazy. She eventually did get in but it was not really her favorite of the day!

We went on a hay rack ride and poor Hadley was in the moby wrap and there was no getting around the sun in her eyes. I took this picture by holding in front of me and I laughed when I saw the outcome. Look at those cheeks! Also note the slobber all over her face. She is like this ALL the time! We think she is working on some teeth but we really dont know because Ellie was never this way and she never got a single tooth until she was almost 15 months old!

On the hay rack ride. Ellie was a little nervous (surprise surprise) so she hopped on Lindsey's lap. the other girls had a blast and were fearless. Could Ellie really be any more like her mommy? LOL

The girls hanging out in the teepee. Note ellies hands. This has got to be genetic thing in our family. Bring on excitement or nervousness and the hands go right to the chin. My cousin annie still does this and so we all laughed when I captured the moment on camera!

All in all it was a great day and we hope to do it again next year!

pumpkin picking

Jayce, Jess, and Ellie going to look at the horses. I thought it was cute.

and this is how Hadley spent her first year picking pumpkins :) It was cold enough to bring out the snowsuit!

Abbie was helping ellie and she insisted on carrying the pumpkin. Abbie is still talking about how strong ellie is :)

Wow I need to get caught up.

This year my cousin Abbie called and told us her grandpa in law grew pumpkins in his garden and he wanted all the kids to come get their choice of pumpkins. so we bundled up in the 40 degree weather and went to pick our pumpkins. Ellie insisted on carrying her own pumpkin. Jess also had the camera so a lot of pictures were not good cause he captured too many of this mommy in sweats and a hoodie :)

too cute

ellie sometimes tries to hard to smile :) pretty good smile for someone with an unknown double ear infection huh!

I took some photos today trying to get a good one to use for a baptism invite. they turned out great but this is my favorite and the one I used

and here is the invite

been awhile

i know it has been a awhile and I have a lot to share but I just uploaded pics and had to share these I took the other day. they are very candid but I love how they turned out! And you must all admit I do have some of the cutest little girls ever ;)

Hadley's turn in the dress

My mom's great grandma made her a dress when she was a baby and it has survived. We put Ellie in it in 2007 on my mom's birthday and it fit perfectly. Well since Hadley was born at the same time (let alone the same day) it fits her on my mom's birthdya this year (which is today!)
This dress is 50 years old and Hadley and my mom had a photo shoot today.

and here was ellie back in 2007

Mom is Fifty!

Saturday my mom had a party for her fiftieth bday. All five of us kids got together and bought her a new grill. While we were at teh football game on Friday night Steve set it up and hid it in the barn. Saturday afternoon we all went out and while Sadie distracted my mom in the garage while theboys loaded it up in the back of the truck and hurried it across the yard and on the deck. After passing it a few times and all of us trying to get her to look at it she noticed it and this is her expression

and her checking it out!and all of us (minus Nick)

her party was great and tons of people came. Here is my mom, Kelly, and Brad. They all are older than their parents were when they passed away. WE consider that a huge blessing!

My mom and a few of her friends!