Adam's Birthday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!