New Hair Styles...H & H Salon, Inc.

Since the time my girls were little, probably 4 or 5, they have loved to style hair. Really, anyone who would let them touch their head they would work on them. My mom loves it. I tolerate it on occasion--only because I have so much junk in my hair it hurts me to have them try and brush it out. It really hurts! This may be just a tad too personal for me but I would have felt bad posting just pictures of my mom on here. She's going to kill me anyways--I should have done it...


Any votes for this one?? This was one of the "good" ones...those of you that see me on a regular basis know I don't look this bad...my mom actually liked the bangs down in front. They're pretty crooked from my last chop to save money :-)

I'm sorry mom, I couldn't resist! Just think of the memories you are building with the girls...

Beautiful, but it makes her look way too old...There were many more that could have been posted. I'll be nice. If anyone wants their hair re-styled, call H & H Salon!

Nana's Visit...Pam's mom if you can't tell...

My mom just came for a visit last week. We always have a great time when she is here. Shopping, shopping, shopping--I strongly dislike it. For some reason it makes me really tired. It would be better if Papa could come, too. (For a visit...not shopping.) He is a pastor so it's very hard for him to get away. At least if he looks at the blog he can see part of what went on. Mom has made a few fleece blankets for the girls for Christmas over the years. She thought it would be fun if they learned to make them this year. It really was easy. She was counting on taking the blankets home, wrapping them, and putting them under the tree until Christmas. Well, the girls didn't know that part. It didn't happen. If you have ever wrapped yourself in one of those blankets it's hard to unwrap--they are just way too cozy. I wish I would have gotten a picture of the girls sleeping with their blankets--they have 2 or 3 piled on their beds at one time. We don't use the heat upstairs and they prefer that.

Nana and Hannah measuring and cutting.

Matching the pieces--part of the fun is picking the kind of fleece you want. So many designs to choose from...

Hannah tying.

One of the yorkies that never leaves Mom alone--they are her babies and it shows. This is Kokoa.

Heather measuring...something.

Kokoa on the left. Bear on the right.

Kokoa would lay down right in front of her and not move and Bear would crawl under her legs just waiting for attention--like they don't get enough!!

Heather working on hers. Caley was at work so no pictures of her working on hers--that's what happens when you grow up and get a job!

Pretty Creative...

This reminds me of the times when my kids were much younger and they would recieve a new toy for their birthday or Christmas. What did they do? They wanted the box more than anything and didn't play with the toy in its intended way. Here Hannah and Heather are building a "city" with all the different card games we have. They do play the games as intended but it's also fun to see how creative they can be with random stuff.

Their city was much larger but by the time I got the camera for another shot the dog ruined some of it.

Looks like someone took a bite out of this picture. Strange!

Dutch Blitz-i-tis and other wacky games...

One of the reasons I love fall so much is how it brings our family inside. We experience game "spurts" in the fall and winter, especially when it starts getting so dark outside. We love playing Dutch Blitz--it's very competitive and fast paced and we can spend too much time playing. Shortly after this picture was taken, I developed Dutch Blitz-i-tis--this means I'm getting too old to sit on the floor for long periods of time in this position without developing some sort of back ailment. For the time being, I'm taking a break from this game while my back heals. I really did injure my back almost 2 weeks ago and this probably added to it. Looks like we'll be moving to the kitchen table...

Look at the intensity!! I guess ya had to be here!

This is an example, one of many, how my kids play with games in the way they aren't intended. Hannah and Heather are using Dominoes to build towers and then see who could blow the other's over the quickest. Easily entertained...Of course, I thought I had the order figured out so start at the bottom.

By the time these pictures were taken, they were so lightheaded they were ready to be done.

They should really have a decent lung capacity since they are swimmers, but it's hard to blow and laugh at the same time.

They figured out they couldn't blow all the way across the table...

A Week With Westly...

This past week we had the pleasure of watching Westly because his regular daycare provider was on vacation, I think. The girls and I enjoyed him so much. The only time he cried was when he was tired, hungry, or poopy! Other than that, he smiled the whole time. What is it about babies anyway...we started calling him AJ (Ashley Junior). He looks so much like her and I discovered that's where he gets his smile--she smiles all the time, too. I've already missed holding him this week and listening to him jabber and crinkle the liner in his bottle as he's feeding...I offered to watch him again so Paul and Ashley could go on a date, but Ashley said I'd have to fight both sets of grandparents for him.

Caley trying her hand at another photo session...

I used to think that we should keep having babies so the older kids could experience caring for babies, but when would we stop that... and then we discovered babysitting opportunities and serving in the nursery. That pretty much has taken care of that!

Definitely loved by the girls...

Helping Caley with her math...

Cute and very smart...5 months old and flipping pages on his board books and pretty much holding his own bottle...did my kids do that?

Standing up between the girls...I guess I don't remember my girls doing this so early.

Beautiful baby boy...

We are finally done...well, almost...

This house has been a huge project over the course of the last few months. I am thankful we are finished with the majority of it for now. There are still little things to do--those are the hardest to complete because they are so small nobody would even know they exist except Russ and me. Picture the front door in vintage red and the grass healthy and growing and all the shutters up and touch-up done and..., and..., and...

Babysitting Cambria Steiner--Oct 2008

Anna took Dan out to dinner for his birthday and we had the wonderful opportunity to watch Cambria for the evening. Caley and Hannah had to babysit so Heather had her all to herself most of the night. I wish I could learn how to put these in order...oh, well. I couldn't decide which pictures to post so I posted most of them...Thanks Dan and Anna!



I remember my girls at this age, constant drooling and everything goes in the mouth, including the dog's leash...
Stinky diaper!! I was later informed, by Anna, that Cambria doesn't poop that often. That explains a near blow-out at 9 months old...Heather had nothing to do with this one! We had just changed her diaper, too...
Heather's favorite time of the night--putting Cambria to sleep in her lap.
Isn't she precious? Sure makes me want another...I'll wait for grandbabies though...

Caley working with the camera again--I'm not sure but I think they stuffed the blankie in her mouth to help sop up the slobber...
Hmmmm--Dan or Anna's????
Hannah--what a goof!
Sure looks like Micah...
Very sweet..sure made Heather's night!
The rest are Caley's pictures...
One of our favorites...
Another favorite...
This one makes me just want to smooch her chubby, little cheeks...
We had a great time and yes, Anna we would gladly do it again. Next time bring Micah and Josiah, too!