M~N~M

On to Idaho!!!

2009-10-10T20:24:00.000-07:00

After Utah we all headed to my parent's house in Twin Falls, Idaho. It was fun going with people who had never been there before because we got to show them all the sites that we generally just overlook. We, or at least I, had a great time with them all. I know my parents did too! It was interesting having only one bathroom with 12 people, 9 of which were girls, but we seemed to manage just fine.

This is Tabi, Toni and I down at Centennial Park...looking at the Perrine bridge and the Snake river.
Tori being the ham that she is when in front of a camera!
Tabi and Tim...oooh, aren't the sweet?!?
After looking at the bridge from below, we went and walked across it! It was great. It is REALLY high up there...I believe it is one of the tallest bridges above water (or something like that!) On the left is a public golf course and on the right is the private one.
Don't ask me why, but this is what Morgan does when the sun is in her eyes!! I understand the hand up top, just not sure about the one on the bottom...maybe for a bright reflection off the ground?!?! It was fun walking across the bridge because it shakes as the big trucks/diesels drive across. The kids, Nick and Tim included, had fun getting rocks and throwing them into the water to see if they would make a splash. It took a LONG time for them to actually hit...half the time you would want to look away thinking it didn't do anything, and then a few seconds later it would finally hit!These are the crazy base jumpers that jump off the bridge! We actually got to watch one of them do it while we were there! A lot of people come to do this on the Perrine bridge because it's one of the only places where it is legal.

This is where we watched the guy jump...at first it looked like he was going to land in the water, but he managed to land on the strip of ground instead...bummer!
So these are the Shoshone Falls that are USUALLY a major tourist stop in Twin. Unfortunately they aren't going right now...because of the drought and the dam and all of that. The picture below shows what they look like when the water is really flowing. They are beautiful...I wish they would have been going so the Hogues could actually see them-guess they'll just have to come back again!
Since the adults and older kids were going to be going to a haunted house that the younger kids couldn't go to, we decided to take them one afternoon to the bounce house and let them have fun and go crazy...which they did! They seemed to have a blast...and it was really nice because we were the only ones in there and didn't have to worry about anyone else getting in the way!
Taegan in the ball pit...

followed by Tylee in the ball pit!
They had fun pushing all the balls up to right under the slides so that they got covered when they slid into them.
Morgan flying through the air...it looks like Tori just took her out and sent her flying, but really she's just jumping...I think!?!
Morgan giving the camera, and me, kisses through the net!
Why can she never look at the camera when I want her too??

The slide was by far Morgan's favorite thing at the place...I think she went on it a hundred times!!
And once Tim got there it was one of his favorites as well!

Overall we had a great time! I wish I would have gotten more pictures of us all...maybe next time. I don't have any pictures of the totally awesome, totally freaky haunted house that we went to, but it was probably the highlight of the trip! And don't believe what Tabi tells you about me and getting freaked out...she WAY over exaggerates;)

Utah here we come!

2009-10-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of October we had the chance to go to Utah with the Hogues for General Conference. We had an amazing time and felt so fortunate that Tim got us tickets and invited us so long ago. It is so great to have such great friends! Not only did we go to Utah, from there we all travel to Idaho and stayed with my parents for a week...I loved it(despite only having one bathroom for everyone)!! But that's another blog...this one is about Utah! Before we left, Nick and Tim had been joking that there would be no bathroom stops along the way because they wanted to get there as fast as possible. They said put the younger girls in pull-ups and the rest of us could use depends...NASTY!! Of course they were joking...or at least Nick was. Tim was apparently serious because this is what he was wearing when we pulled up to load the truck...

The day after we got there...we all did the tourist thing. We toured the museums and Temple Square and watch the movie...all that good stuff. Tommie was worried that she wasn't going to be able to go because of her neck surgery, but she was a trooper and did awesome! Morgan especially loved her walker, and I have to admit it was nice having her on that and not running around breaking priceless memorabilia!
This is one of my favorite statues on Temple Square...I would put one in my yard but it might be a little too big!
The Harbucks got to come to Utah with us too...which was awesome! We all had a great time...and of course had to do the "picture in front of the temple" picture-such tourists!
Here are the Hogues...it was a little chilly at this point-I think Tylee was freezing!
I gave Toni my camera, and I should have checked them before we left! Sorry Nick!! I'm hoping Tabi has better ones on her camera...
Here are all the girls...you can tell which one is mine by looking for the really white skin! (At least she got one thing from her mom;)

Seaworld!!

2009-09-22T15:20:00.000-07:00

We ended Kayla's and Owen's trip to California with a trip to Seaworld. I was SO excited because I have never been and really have been wanting to go. We had a great time. It wasn't crowded at all, the kids were great...it was just a super-fun day. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more, the kids or the adults, but either way it was well worth the money!

We started off at the sea lions, and this one cracked me up because he/she (I don't know the difference!) was sitting on the bottom, just relaxing and watching everything that was going on.

Then we went to the sharks...which I think was Owen's favorite. Him and papa had been talking about them before they came, and he was SO excited to see them, and didn't understand why we wouldn't let him get in the water with them! Call me crazy, but even if he could swim I just didn't think it was the smartest idea...Morgan and Owen loved being able to get up close to the fish and touch the glass...there were some really awesome and beautiful fish in the different exhibits.

My favorite, of course, was the Shamu show. It was so amazing!! When I was little I always wanted to be a marine biologist, and after going to this show I had to ask myself why I didn't pursue it?!? But a funny story...before the show started, as those of you who have been there know, they were showing a movie/preview thing on the big screen in front of us. We were sitting on an aisle seat, watching the show, when the people around us are laughing and I think someone tapped Kayla on the shoulder. We look over, and Owen , who was standing in the aisle before the show started, decided he needed to pee and had pulled down his pants and was getting ready to go RIGHT THERE, in front of everyone, on the stairs where everyone walks. Kayla, of course, was super embarrassed and grabs him, and his pants, and bolts out the back way to take him to the bathroom. It was absolutely hilarious!! I'm just glad it wasn't Morgan:)
Morgan loved the stingrays, especially when they started splashing her! I thought she would be freaked out by them and wouldn't touch them, but she loved putting her hands in there and rubbing them as they swam by. We didn't feed them, because truthfully it freaked us out a little bit, but they were really neat to pet and watch.
They both loved watching the dolphins swim right in front of them, and again we had to explain to Owen that he couldn't just jump in and swim with them, even though he tried!!

Owen loved the Polar bear caves, but Morgan was a little freaked out by the growling sound effects that they had playing through them. She wouldn't go through them without a death grip on my hand!
Morgan's favorite movie right now is Happy Feet, so naturally her favorite exhibit was the penguins. She kept tap dancing like they do in the movie and wanted to know why they weren't dancing too!
I'm not sure how many times we were asked if Morgan and Owen were twins, and then when we said no they would usually ask if Kayla and I were twins! I used to get mad that people couldn't see that I was eight years older than her, but now it's starting to be not such a bad thing!!
I don't think we were in the car for more than 5 minutes before these two just passed out! It was a long day for all of us, and they both did so well. Morgan absolutely loved having her cousin out here and keeps asking for him. She even still calls her car seat "Owen's seat" and is waiting for him to come back and use it again!!

As a souvenir we got the kids matching Shamu jammies and slippers. They were hilarious together when we put them on them....and absolutely adorable. They really are best buds. I was worried how they would do since we don't get to see them very often, but they were great and I am so happy that Morgan has such a good friend, regardless of the distance.
~A perfect ending to a perfect day~

They FINALLY make it!

2009-09-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

So FINALLY, after hours of headaches and frustration and tears and delays and everything else that went wrong, Kayla and Owen make to LA!! It was so nice to see them finally in California!! Their luggage had come hours before they did so I already had it loaded in the car, so we just got to hug and be glad they were safe and then jump in the car and head home. We get to the car, take off, start talking and everything is going well. We were all so excited that everything had worked out, me especially, that it wasn't until we were in the middle of no-where-land, out of cell service, at least 30 miles away from a gas station, that the gas light comes on and I realize we are going to run out of gas. Seriously, after the day we had had, it would have just been the icing on the cake! It's the middle of the night, we can't call anyone, the only cars we see are an occasional semi, and we just know that we are screwed. Nick is working in Inyokern, but I don't know if we're going to make it even to cell reception to call him. Kayla says we could start a small grass fire because his engine would be the one to respond, and even if they didn't have a tank of gas with them, at least they would know we were stranded and could get us help. By now we are laughing uncontrollably, because for me it was either that or cry. We somehow, after lots of prayers and luck, make it into Inyokern. I know that there is a gas station just past Nick's work, and it was a big down-hill, so we put it in neutral for as long as we can and coast to the gas station...only to find out that it doesn't pump gas all through the night! I had finally gotten ahold of Nick, and I'm somewhere between his station and Ridgecrest. I tell him I'm going to try and make it to Ridgecrest, but if he doesn't hear from me in a few minutes to come and find us, when out of nowhere a second gas station appears that I have never noticed before...and the pumps worked!! If it wasn't so nasty and covered in germs and who knows what else I would have kissed the pump, but I didn't, i just was very greatful...which I explained to the sheriff's officer who pulled in after us to make sure everything was OK! All in all, we got home extremely late, but we were safe and happy to be there, and the kids had a blast...starting early the next morning!

Even the kids were super excited that they finally made it!!

It wasn't my doing or my fault, the boy just loved Morgan's shoes!!

We got in some Rockband while they were here...go Owen!
Owen LOVED Morgan's 4-wheeler and was even gentleman enough to give his cousin a ride!
They kept zipping themselves up into the inside pocket of one of my suitcases...I don't know why but they were laughing and having a blast!

Santa Monica Pier

2009-09-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

So I am WAY behind on my blogs and am trying to catch up...so this should be dated September 16th and not November 5th! Anyway, this is Morgan's first trip to the beach. Totally not planned, didn't have a swimsuit or anything, but after an absolutely HORRIBLE experience with the airline companies (which I won't go into because I would rant for about 2 hours and no one would want to read it!) I was stuck in LA for 10 hours with Morgan waiting for Kayla and Owen to get there. Instead of sitting at the airport, I decided to drive down to Santa Monica and take Morgan to the beach/pier. She absolutely LOVED it! She wanted in the water so bad (which is why in some pictures you'll see that I have a death-grip on her arm and the angle is weird because the camera is down by my side and I'm just snapping pictures and hoping she is in them!). Nick and I definitely need to plan a day trip when we can take her and spend the day and actually get in the water.

She loved the sand between her toes and loved to see her footprints and handprints as she walked...but loved it even more when the waves came up and got her wet and washed them all away!
So while we were playing in the waves, one of the seagulls came and stole her bag of chips~it was hilarious how mad she was when she saw it-and she was absolutely determined to get them back! She chased them all over, threw sand at them, and eventually got the bird to drop the bag-and she ran and got it before they could come back!!
This is the guilty seagull...if Morgan could have kicked him she would have!
Don't worry, I made her throw it away once she got it back!!
After the water and seagull fiasco, I decided we'd go walk to pier and ride some of the rides. Morgan had a blast...she was quiet upset that I wouldn't let her do more. I wasn't sure how I was going to do on the ferris wheel, but I made the sacrifice and did it for Morgan because I knew she would love it...which she did. I usually get really sick on rides like these, but thankfully this time I didn't! I think I was concentrating so hard on making Morgan sit and not letting her fall into the ocean below that I didn't have time to think about how my stomach was feeling!!
This is the view we had from the ride..absolutely beautiful!
Although the reason we ended up at the beach was horrible, we had a great time. Morgan had a permanent smile on her face, and I can't wait to go back again with Nick so we can all enjoy it for the entire day!

Morgan & my makeup...

2009-09-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

So this is what happens when I leave my makeup within reach of Morgan (OK, it was on the floor in front of the mirror where I had been getting ready, but she can get it off the counter too!). She loves to watch me get ready and play with the makeup brushes, and apparently she's been watching closely enough to know that the mascara goes on the eyes! The only reason both eyes aren't done is because I noticed it was suspiciously quiet in the house, which almost always means she's into something she isn't supposed to be into, and I found her in my bedroom doing this! I had to laugh, she's such a ham about it and comes running to me with the mascara (knowing she was busted!!) and says, "look mommy...pretty eyes like you!" What could I do but laugh and take a picture?!?

Grandma's 83rd Birthday

2009-09-04T13:38:00.001-07:00

August is a busy month for birthdays on the Young side...actually this was a September 3rd birthday, but close enough, right? We took grandma Pat to the steak house for dinner (delicious!) and then got some quality pictures after. She is such a ham...both of them actually! But Morgan really does love her Great Grandma...enough to do a flip in the restaurant as soon as she sees her!

A span of 81 years...beautiful isn't it? Happy Birthday Grandma Pat!

Patience & Popsicles

2009-09-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I get this wild hair (no pun intended;) to try my patience and do something cute with Morgan's hair. It's not that I don't know how, it's that I can only get her to sit for so long. So the other day, before we went to dinner for Grandma Pat's birthday, I decided to give it a try. It turned out super cute...and we only went through a few or six popsicles! A note to the viewer...if any of you suffer from OCD (Tabi!!) or anything similar...don't look too closely-the lines aren't straight and there are definite mistakes. Just look and enjoy-don't judge!

I love this picture!! If you saw her birthday picture, it actually looks a lot like that. I just love her blue eyes!Not too shabby...all in a day's work!

Bowling

2009-09-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday the Tuckers invited us to go bowling with them and some friends. We, the adults, had a blast...even though I'm not good at all...but so did the girls. They were running around, chasing each other, playing with the arcade games, picking on Kent...you know, typical girls being loud and silly and goofy!

We are in so much trouble when these girls get older...talk about attitude and independence!

Gardening with Grandma

2009-09-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

Morgan is always a big helper...even when you don't ask for it! She loves to be right in the middle of whatever is going on...there is no way she's going to let anyone forget that she's around! Here she took over Grandma's watering. Personally I think she was just wanting to get wet, but Grandma said she did very well and let her do all of the big flower pots. She loved it, and of course, got wet...but she's really hard to say "no" to, and there really was not point. She doesn't melt when she gets wet...and she was full of smiles!

I promise that I really do fix her hair, but there is just no controlling the curls...or the wind...they get out and go everywhere...and I love them so I just let them go! I always loved orphan Annie...Morgan looks like she would fit the role quite well if we just color the hair red, don't you think?

Riding the Wheel

2009-09-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

This is why I love those quiet, peaceful, sleeping moments! Morgan is always on the go, and she'll try anything for a laugh. This is one of the crazy moments when I am just reassured that she truly is her father's daughter. We were at Tabi's house, and for those of you who don't know, her mom Tommie recently had surgery on her neck and is staying with them until she gets better. She has to use a wheelchair...which Morgan has found to be quite fun-whether it's set up or not. We were all sitting around talking, Tabi's girls were running around getting ready for soccer, Taegan was doing homework, and we look over and Morgan was doing this...

We pulled it out into the middle of the room so Tommie could see what she was doing. She was doing this completely on her own the first time...the way it was tilted must have been enough to get her started. It was so funny...especially when she got off and was so dizzy she couldn't stand! She is seriously hilarious...I love her!

Sleepy-head

2009-09-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know we all love our kids more than we could ever explain, but I don't think there is a mother out there who would argue that it isn't just a little more peaceful when our angels fall asleep! They are so sweet and cute and quiet!! Morgan cracks me up because she falls asleep in some of the funniest positions. Here are just a couple that I snapped lately.

It was a long day for all of us...she fell asleep with Daddy tickling her stomach (she so gets that from me...I love my back and stomach being tickled, and now she asks for you to do it all the time!!)

So precious!

Can't quite remember what we had been doing this day, but it was obviously exhausting...I'll have to remember so I can do it more often!

Some new decorations...

2009-09-04T11:28:00.001-07:00

When we were out in Arizona, we went to the AWESOME home decor store called Kirkland's (and no, it's not connected to Costco). Nick was very nice about letting me get some new things for the house (he was being very generous and really couldn't say a whole lot considering all the bullets he had been buying while we were there)! Terrie came over a few days later and helped me hang the new things and rearrange some of the stuff I already had. Here is how it turned out when we finally finished!

I love this thing...you can't tell in this picture, but some pop out more than others, giving it some extra depth. And I know...I need some more flowers in the other vase, but they were out when I went to get the ones I wanted so I have to wait!
This just cracked me up...Morgan kept getting in front of me as I was going around taking pictures, and she was taking pictures of me! She kept saying "say cheeeeeez" as she followed me around, so she pops up in a bunch of the pictures! Made me laugh...This is the living room...obviously. I should have opened the curtains, but it was hot and too bright. Use your imaginations!This is the clock Nick got me a while ago...it used to be above the fireplace, but now it's above the couch by the door. I still look above the fireplace to see what time it is...drives me nuts!This picture is a little blurry, but I didn't feel like redoing it! Terrie got me these four pictures for my birthday, and I stole the mirror out of my bedroom (can you steal from youself when it's still in your own house?).This is just another one of Morgan taking a picture of me. Although, for those of you who have seen my bedroom, we did move the dresser...HEAVY! This is one of the walls in my bedroom...possibly my favorite. Every morning when I wake up, I see this big picture of Morgan and it just makes me grin! I've had the saying on the wall since Christmas but just put it up. I absolutely LOVE it...it's like a sticker that you "scratch" onto the wall. Think I'm going to have to get some more...and take 8 months to decide where to put them!I got all of these at Kirkland's too. It's all above our bed and I love them. However, I was the one that hung them, and they are all heavy metal, so I really hope we don't have a big earthquake during the night because I SO do not promise that they'll stay!

Phil's 24th Birthday

2009-09-04T11:18:00.001-07:00

So this is Phil...Nick's baby brother. "Baby" only in age...he's over 6 ft. a college grad, works as a seasonal firefighter and is getting on full time with the Kern County Fire Department in the next acadamy. Any takers?? Just kidding...sort of. He just turned 24 in August and we went to dinner then back to Terrie's for cake and ice cream. As you can see, he is just as ornery as his big brother...I just wanted a picture of the birthday boy and he was making that as difficult as possible. Happy birthday anyway!

Phil and Nick have the same sense of humor...that's why I get along with him so well!

Morgan really liked Phil's cake too...or at the least the oreos that were on the top!

Arizona Cousins

2009-09-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months, we have go to see our family from Arizona a few times. They (Nick's sister and her family) were here in June, and then we were there in August. These are some of the pictures we got when we were all together...the newer ones are the ones where Isabella's hair finally grew out and is laying down instead of standing straight up!

Grandma Terrie with her two girls...the third granddaughter was born 2 days after we left!
Preston just hanging out...being the cool 13 year old that he is
Isabella(1), Max (3), and Morgan (2) playing with Papa's blanket in his chair.

Preston and Max playing with the keyboards.
Isabella...here she's just standing, but when we were there in August she was walking!
Preston and Jango (Katie and Paddy's dog)

Max and his dog!! (Well, the one out of the toy box anyway)
The three toddlers playing in Grandma's living room.
Morgan got to open a birthday present from her cousins when we were out in Arizona...she was SO excited about her new Dora playground set!

2009-09-03T20:42:00.000-07:00

For Morgan's birthday I was so excited for her birthday present. When we were in Idaho last summer, my parents have quads that we were riding the whole time. The only way I could get Morgan to eat when we were camping was if she was sitting on one of them. So I thought it would be SOO fun to get her a big-wheels quad. I had wanted to get it for her for Christmas, but things happened and we waited too long and we weren't able to get it. I almost missed out again for her birthday, but thankfully it came on time. Tabi and I put it together when Nick was at work, got it all charged up and kept it hidden until her birthday. It was the last present that she got to open...I was so anxious and much more excited than she was. So Nick goes and gets it, brings it out...and Morgan FREAKS! She didn't want it, wouldn't touch it, wouldn't sit on it and DEFINITELY wouldn't ride it. I was so upset. All the other kids were wanting to, but I wanted her to ride it before it got ruined. Days went by, and then weeks, and then a month...and she still wanted nothing to do with it. But FINALLY, one of the first weeks in August, she did it...sort of. She at least rode on it with Tylee, and then Tori. Once she finally did it she loved it. At first she would only ride on the back, but eventually worked her way to the front. But she still wouldn't drive it...only hold on and have the girls drive. Then, the next morning, she woke up and was wanting to ride it again, but the girls weren't there and I'm a little bit, okay a LOT bit, over the weight limit. So I put her on there and was holding on to her, showing her how to do it, and she loved it! The problem is that I had to run beside her and keep her from plowing over my garden and wasn't able to take any pictures! But here are some of the ones I was able to get from the night before when she was with the girls...

A Day at the Park

2009-09-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

Morgan absolutely LOVES the park. Everytime we drive by she asks to go to the slide and swings...and gets very upset when we don't get to. But when it's over 100* outside, the toys get really hot...and there is NO shade on them. She really needs a swing set at home...one more thing to add to Nick's to-do list! These are just some of the pictures I snapped the other day when we were there.

Grandpa's 87th Birthday

2009-08-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

On August 2nd we celebrated Grandpa George's birthday at Nick's mom's house. He turned 87 and is doing AMAZING!! He still golfs, does yard work, drives to Bakersfield for concerts...stuff that people half his age are doing. He is a great man and is so much fun to be around. He is always happy and smiling...we hope we can be as active and outgoing as he is when we reach his age! We love you Grandpa George...Happy Birthday!

Grandpa George with his cake...thankfully it didn't have all 87 candles or else Nick and his brothers would have been put to work!

Aunt Lisa...cutting the cake

Just a cute picture of Morgan at the party...isn't she cute?!?

Katie and Ella (Iabella...Nick's cousin Carson and Ginnie's little girl)
Not all, but a lot of the family. This is Terrie's brother and his family-the grandparents-and Cindy Thill(a family friend)

Our new pool!!

2009-08-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's not the pool that I really want, but it works for Morgan! And as you can see, Tabi's girls had fun with it too. It's just a tiny thing, but when it's over 100* outside, it doesn't really matter. They all had fun sliding down the slide, splashing each other, pushing each other down the slide...all in good fun, of course! Tori just sat back and watched, but I think she was itching to get in their too!!!

Morgan absolutely LOVES the water...and as you can see she has absolutely no fear. She was like this in her swimming lessons, too! At least in this pool I don't have to get AS wet if I have to jump in after her;)

Short trip to Idaho

2009-08-25T14:11:00.000-07:00

So this summer we got to do a quick trip to Idaho to visit my family...we didn't get to stay as long as we wanted, but I was happy that we got to go at all. Nick's always great about making sure I get to visit my family since they are so far away. I love living here, but I miss all of my family. It would be great for Morgan to grow up with all of her cousins, but at least she gets to visit them and has fun when she does. Here are just a few of the pictures I got while I was there of Morgan playing with all her cousins.

Morgan LOVED the trampoline. First thing in the morning she would go out there and would stay out there as long as we would let her. This is here on the tramp with Katie Sue and Ally Lou! As you can see she always had a smile on her face...she loves her cousins!

These are all of the older girl cousins...Madi(3), Emily(3), Katie(2), Ally(2) and Morgan(2)

Here the kids were having ice cream sundaes at grandma's house. The kids love going to grandma's and papa's because they always get treats! (going clockwise) Morgan, Ally, Katie, Madi, Ethan, Jared and Emily.

Morgan's 2nd Birthday

2009-08-12T20:13:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that my little girl is already 2...time flies! She isn't a baby anymore...she's a little girl with a whole bunch of personality, a great sense of humor, a showboat, and packing a major attitude! Her father and I are in so much trouble;) These first couple pictures are from before her party started. Isn't she beautiful? I still don't know who she looks like...but her father and I absolutely love here, attitude and all! Happy Birthday Morgan:)

Tylee, Payton, Jake, Bria, Weston, Taegan, Morgan Darla, Kent and Elle inside the bounce house. I swear it was 200 degrees in there but they didn't seem to mind. I had to pull Morgan out when the rental people came to pick it up...she didn't want to see it leave! But she slept great after!!

Morgan knows how to do it...a cupcake in each hand and a big bite right out of the cake!

Tabi and I had so much fun making Morgan's cake. I LOVE the fondent frosting!! Not too shabby for our first one;)

Like I said before, she has no problem being the center of attention. I think she had more fun reading her cards then actually opening up her gifts!!

I think Morgan was one of the only ones to eat outside...it was just TOO hot!

Camp Wilderness

2009-08-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

So just after Father's Day, the Hogue's and us went up to the church cabins for a couple of days. We had a blast! We went hiking, played basketball, played games like phase 10 and chubby bunny, ate great food and of course roasted smores! Tim's mom, nieces and nephew came up one day, and then on the last day, Toni's friend Daniel and his mom came and hung out. It was so much fun with them! Morgan was filthy, of course, but that's just all part of the fun of camping. We all keep asking Tim when we get to go again...we can't wait!

Picture shoot

2009-08-12T18:29:00.001-07:00

Just before Father's Day, Tabi and I decided to take the girls and get some pictures that we could maybe give the dads. We went to my In-Law's house, who have a BEAUTIFUL lawn, especially for here in the valley, and had a fun time. Morgan was cooperative for part of it, but by the end she wanted nothing more to do with the camera..pretty typical. These are just some of my favorites...I know there is a lot, but I have TONS more that I refrained from posting! Some are cute, some are serious, and some are just funny...like when Morgan was using Toni as a slide! Poor Toni...;)

Taegan's artwork

2009-08-12T13:28:00.001-07:00

So this is what happens when Tabi and I leave to the store for a few minutes and leave the boys at home with the girls. Taegan found some stickers and decided to use her dad and Nick as her canvas...I think she did quite well. And the boys were a great sport!

Poor Nick can't even see...but at least he's smiling!
Taegan was a little nicer with her dad...at least his eyes aren't covered. I love the yellow sunburst on his nose!
She's so proud of her work...and she took pity on at least one of his eyes! Love the earings!!

The artist with her final projects...great work Taegan!!

Hogue girls' puppet!

2009-08-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

So being the youngest of the girls, Morgan sometimes ends up
being a "puppet"...like when Toni stuffs her in one of Tim's
shirts and fills it with pillows. The look on her face just cracks
me up! This came after Toni had her dressed up in all of her
soccer socks...on her legs and arms.

But it isn't always torture...sometimes she just likes to pretend she's as big as they are. In these ones she's trying to hula like Tori. It didn't work quite as well, but it was funny to watch!!!

One of the Hogues

2009-08-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

So other than the blue eyes and pale skin, even Nick's grandma says that Morgan looks more like one of the Hogue girls than like Nick or me. She fits right in...and absolutely loves it. I don't think she would mind being adopted permanently, but I just don't think I can let her go...YET!! (ask me again when she's a teenager and I might change my mind;) It's an intense game of MarioKart...go Morgan!!!

Movie time!! Actually we were hoping they would fall asleep so the adults could play games, but it didn't happen. They were having too much fun with their sleepover in the living room! And going by Morgan's reaction above, it's a serious show!

Name Sake...

2009-08-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

So this is Jacque (a.k.a. Jax), and she's been my best friend since 7th grade! She FINALLY got to come out to California when Nick got baptised. It was awesome having her here...super special. But not only is she my best friend...it's also where Morgan got her name. Her last name is Elkington now, but it used to be Morgan. Aren't they cute??

Swim Lessons

2009-08-05T22:10:00.001-07:00

This was Morgan's second year in swim lessons and she absolutely loved them...again! She's a little fish...she was the only one in her class who would go under the water and everything. She has absolutely no fear...which is both good and bad.

She loved jumping into the pool...and you had better be ready to catch her!

She always had a smile on her face...especially when dad threw her extra high!

Arizona Cousins

2009-08-05T21:55:00.001-07:00

These are 2 of Morgan's cousins from Arizona, Max and Isabella (or Iza). They are Nick's sister Kristen's kids. They also have Preston, but for some reason I don't have any pictures of him...he was always out with his uncles doing boy things! We're getting ready to go to Arizona, and baby number 4 is do shortly. It would be nice to be there for the birth, but I don't think we'll make it. Max is 3 1/2 and is a dwarf. He stands a few inches shorter than Morgan, but is super cute. He's a hilarious kid. Iza will be 1 this month...I think Morgan wanted to adopt her! She wouldn't put her down and was upset when we took her away. Someday she'll be a great big sis!!

Adam's Birthday

2009-08-05T21:06:00.000-07:00

For Adam's 30th birthday, Colleen had a party at their new house and rented a bounce house. Morgan thought that this was totally cool and bounced on it the entire time. She even got some of the adults to come and jump with her!

Hold on Morgan!

Jeez Aunt Katie

She's just a

little girl-don't

knock her down!

Big helper

2009-08-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

So anyone who's been to our house has seen the construction mess we are in. When we moved in, we had a beautiful green front lawn and a new wood fence around the entire back yard. Nick, being Mr. Fix It, took down our new fence and is building a concrete/stucco/rocked fence, and he also tore out the entire lawn and is redoing it. We have a million bunnies up here that were eating the grass, so he wants to make it so they can't get to it. It's going to be beautiful once it's finished, but I am really tired of dirt. I want some grass that Morgan can go outside and play on. And obviously she does too, because she decided to go out with dad one morning on the tractor and tell him how it's supposed to be done!!

Relay 4 Life

2009-08-05T16:53:00.001-07:00

For the last 2 years, our family and the Kern County Fire Department have been participating in Relay For Life. Although it wasn't ONLY for Nick's dad, that is pretty much why we all did it. We had an amazing team, and it is an amazing event. Bakersfield has the largest relay in the world, raising over a million dollars for cancer research. It breaks all of our hearts knowing that we weren't quick enough for Grant, but it's a comfort knowing that we might have been the reason someone else found a cure for their cancer. We love you Grant...you will always be in our hearts and prayers.

These bags are purchased in honor or in memory of someone who is battling, has battled or lost the fight to cancer. At night they line the entire track with hundreds of thousands of these, put a glow stick in them and turn off all of the lights. It is a very touching moment...one that pulls a lot of strangers together.
Morgan was pretty excited about her new toy. It spun around and lit up...and was a little hypnotizing!

Each group that participates in Relay has a team booth set up. People raffle baskets, sell food and knick knacks, shirts, memorabilia...and then all the money raised gets turned in at the end. It's fun to walk around to all the booths and see what they have and buy different things, knowing that your money is going to such an awesome cause. This booth had different cut outs for people to take their pictures with...Morgan thought it was a lot of fun.

When we weren't walking or working in the booth, it was fun to just kick back, eat and visit with all of the people.

Relay 4 Life truly is an amazing thing to be a part of. I strongly encourage anyone wanting to be a part of a life-changing, life-saving cause to either join a team or start one of your own. It doesn't take much, and every penny earned could be the difference in someone's life. We do it for Grant, and there are millions more out there who still need help.

Day Hike

2009-08-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

While Krista and Doug were here Nick took us on a hike, up off the old highway by Democrat. It was beautiful out there...but I think he just wanted to show the boys the salamandors. They were really cool looking, swimming around in the stream. It was a super fun day for all of us, although I swear the hike out, with me carrying Morgan asleep, was twice as long as the way in!!

Doug, Krista, Morgan, Ethan, Madi, Tristan, Nick (I have the camera!!)

The daddy's with their girls (sometimes, like when we're doing super long hikes, I really with that i was a little girl again)

Ethan and Morgan...he's such a great helper with the kids. All of the nieces and nephews love Ethan.

Miss Independent

Hurry up Mom!

We finally reached our goal!!!

Aren't they cool looking? But be careful, they are poisonous to the skin (or something like that...maybe they shoot something as a defense? I was only half paying attention!) and it's illegal to take them (Tristan...hide it)

The big hunt

2009-08-01T11:09:00.001-07:00

This Easter was a lot of fun for my family and me. I got to share it with my sister and her family, and we all shared it with Nick's family. We had a wonderful dinner at Grant and Terrie's house, but before we could eat we had a HUGE egg hunt. I can't remember the exact count, but there were over 100 eggs...and only 4 kids to find them! Nick, Doug and Phil hid them throughout the back yard and then we all went out and watched and helped. Tristan and Ethan were great at helping Madi and Morgan, letting them find the easier ones. Morgan had a lot of fun showing off what she found with all the grandparents...who were all equally proud of her finds!

Easter Morning

2009-08-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

I really can't wait for Morgan to get as excited about the holidays as I do. I had to wake her up just so I could watch her open her Easter basket before I had to leave early for church! I know, it's cute, right?! Try telling Morgan that...all she was excited about was the candy!

Morgan and Madi got matching dresses from the Easter Bunny that they wore to church. And no, I didn't break her nose...she did it herself. She's very graceful and plowed straight into one of the wood support beams on the back of the couch. Way to go, Grace!

These eggs are much tastier than the ones they tried getting me to eat last night ;)

The Easter Bunny either thought Morgan was extra special or is getting very forgetful because he left Morgan 2 baskets this year...one at home and one at Papa and Grandma's!!

Coloring Eggs

2009-08-01T10:05:00.001-07:00

We had a lot of fun coloring eggs this year. I had the most fun just because my sister Krista and her family were here to do it with us. It's a lot more exciting watching a my niece and nephews coloring them and having fun then it is to do it by myself because Morgan's not old enough to realize the fun she could be having!!

I think this was Tristan and his "special" egg...right Tris?!?

Madi really was excited about her pink egg...but she looks a little scared/scary with that smile!

This is Ethan with his camo egg...go E!

Morgan liked cracking the eggs more than she liked coloring them! Uncle Doug thought he was being helpful by keeping her away from the dye...just not sure what he was thinking by giving her an egg. But hey, at least it was hard boiled!

She prefers her eggs scrambled with cheese!

F.Y.I.

2009-07-31T22:12:00.000-07:00

Just so you all know...I've finally started doing my blog, which means I have TONS of stuff to catch up on. Unfortunately, I'm new at this so I'll probably be slow, but at least I'm finally doing it and no one can keep harping on me for not having a blog (JAX!!). Anyway, it'll probably be sporatic and crazy for a while because there are so many different things that I want to add, and I'm just doing it as I come across the pictures and not necessarily in order...so bare with me~I'm trying!

The 4th of July

2009-07-31T16:54:00.000-07:00

For the 4th of July this year, we had a great time watching the fireworks from the Auxilary Dam. They shot the fireworks out over the lake, and we had front-row seats to the action. The church had a big BBQ before the show started; hamburgers, hotdogs, salads, chips, desserts~it was all delicious! I was nervous how Morgan was going to react to all the loud bangs, but she loved it...she kept clapping and asking if she could touch them! And of course there was the excitement of them starting the peninsula on fire, but the firefighters were quick to jump on it before any damage was done (not that there could have been any real damage considering they were surrounded by water and the fire had no place to go)..go KCFD!!

The girls had fun playing in the back of Grandma Tommie's car...Elle, Taegan, Morgan and Tylee