Maren is 1 !

I have been so excited to post pictures of Maren 's first birthday and now this (*#@*&@%**&^#) computer is not letting me post any pictures. I am sure that if I spend all day at the computer, I can copy and paste them here, but not being able to add them with the "picture" button is ridiculous. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

On Sunday evening we had supper with Grandma & Grandpa Hardy, Janae, Shelyse and Joseph and enjoyed a birthday celebration with Maren, at their house.
Maren had a rather uneventful birthday today. We had birthday cake with just our immediate family. It was angel food cake with strawberries and cream for our little angel. Devin wanted the candle to be in the middles of the cake but alas, the cake had no middle. I feel a little guilty for not having a nicely decorated cake for her but, I attended an "8 is Great" primary meeting on Sunday evening and brought back one of the two cakes that I had made for it. Because we had a whole cake leftover, I couldn't help but take the easier way out! (I"ll make it up to her on her next birthday.)
Maren loved the lighted candle and really wanted to touch it. She had no comprehension of blowing it out so one of the boys did it for her. Maren was also very possessive of her few presents. Of course all the kids thought that she needed help, so I not sure who really opened her presents. She really defended the card that she received from Grandma Moxley (loved the pink envelope) and disliked sharing the book from Ammon, Seth and Lorrin. (Thanks boys!) Maren also received some new soothers and a darling pink pants and shirt set. For Family Home Evening we all said something that we loved about Maren. She loved the attention.
Maren still has no teeth!!!! Nope not one. I was hoping that she might get a few for her birthday but...........they are still hiding!
So now my baby isn't much of a baby any more. It is hard to see the days pass so quickly, yet we live in exciting times and it has been fun to see Maren grow and change. Maren does so much to keep up with the other kids that sometimes you can only tell that she is little because of her body!

Just also want to wish a Happy Birthday to Aunt Karla. Hope you had a great day. Sorry it is late :0(

Here are some of the effects the cold weather can have in our lives!

Like everyone else, we feel sad that the potatoes and carrots got frozen but we find gratitude in the fact that our home hasn't received damage, our children are safe and we still have healthy bodies. Our family has really been focusing on preparing ourselves for any emergency. This wasn't quite what we were thinking, but we plan to make the best of our situation. Thus the kids enjoyed sorting through the carrots and looking for the most frozen carrot that they could find. The pictures are some of the best ones. (Actually I'm glad that now nobody has to suffer through peeling our miserably scabby potatoes) That is my blessing through the situation.
I'm sure now, that we will appreciate this coming planting season and will likely enjoy planting potatoes this year!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring on Spring! Cassandra wanted to plant radishes today. (We planted "radish seeds" of Faith a couple of weeks ago in Primary and they are getting pretty big. Maybe if we add some more soil to the cups, they might actually amount to something big enough to eat.)
We hope that all can find some measure of peace throughout this unfortunate freezing. It will be fun to hear of who makes the most interesting meals with these two frozen veggies. Send on the recipes!

Stay and Play at the Parent Link Center- January 3, 2007

storytime

under the parachute

painting pictures

criss cross apple sauce- in a line!

pipe cleaner fun

mom and me

Making and Baking yummy cinnamon rolls with the cousins!
January 2,2007

dough rising and rolling dough

spreading butter (with our hands!) and slices from the roll

more rolls ready and sampling a finished one!

rolling out the dough and spreading the butter

adding raisins and cutting slices

cutting off a slice and licking the flour

placing slices on the pan and flour on the nose!

rolling another batch of dough and spreading butter

cutting slices and a pan full ready to rise

Look what we made. They sure are good!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone know what Jeff got for Christmas? Kim got Jeff a new razor. And yes, he used it this week!

Kim and her sister Krista and all the kids went to the Parent Link Center (aka. Family Hub) on Wednesday afternoon, Jan 3, 2007 to play. After the playing they went to Grandma Selman's to make supper. Kim stopped briefly at home to gather a few ingredients and to her surprise she saw that Jeff had shaved off all of his facial hair. Anyway she was super happy and glad that he put the razor to good use. Kim was disappointed to not get a good before picture but... she likes the after picture. Kim then went to Selman's but didn't tell any of the kids about Jeff's new look. Jeff came later for supper (we had it with Grandma) and when Jeff arrived, Cassandra went running to greet Daddy. Well she nearly fell over backward trying to back away from the "stranger" at the door. The look of disbelief/shock/confusion was all over her face and would have been picture perfect-- if we only had the camera!! It took Cassandra several minutes to warm up to Jeff. The other kids came when they heard of Jeff's arrival and all they too could hardly believe that Dad finally shaved. Brandon's comment was that he thought that Dad looked better before he shaved. Jeff said that Dad Hardy nearly fell off of our doorstep when he saw Jeff earlier that afternoon.

The funniest part of the whole incident was later that evening. We were in the process of getting the kids ready for bed here at home when Grandma Hardy (Jeff's mom) stopped by. It was made know that as Jeff started to grow out his facial hair that his family (especially his mom) didn't approve. So, Jeff answered the door and was chatting with his mom for quite some time. I was in the kitchen with the older boys and they kept trying to tell Grandma to notice that Jeff had shaved. I kept shushing them so that we could see how long it would be before she said anything. Well she finally left without saying a thing! We cut up laughing because she didn't even notice! Sorry Mom, but it was funny!

On Thursday evening we went to Rasmussen's for a Hardy family games night. That evening is when Jeff's mom noticed the change! Jeff thinks that either Mom was getting used to the look or that finally OK with the look.

Before and After:


So Lowyn, it is out of sight!

Well here I am after a couple of weeks of hiding. Actually I wasn't hiding, but it sure feels like it. The kids are still out of school due to Christmas holidays but I was ready to send them back on Monday. It has been a hectic few weeks. I thought holidays were supposed to be, you know, Holidays!!!!!! Anyway between the preparation for the holidays, the day itself, and then the company and usual daily matters after Christmas, I have yet to find sufficient time to post. I hope to have something of real interest next week when life should(!!!!) be normal. So for now, just know that I plan to be back!
On ya, Happy New Year 2007!