Counting My Blessings, Two by Two

Allison Waldron, Natalie's cousin, took all of these photos one afternoon when we all were at Sutton's house for a party. Thanks, Allison, for using your photography skills on these sweet little boys.

So precious



So close



So, there's two?

So little

So tired

So cozy

So sleepy

So proud

So tiny

Call Me Crazy

I may be a little bit off my rocker, but one of the things I most enjoy about driving to work early in the morning  is viewing the beautiful sky.  It makes me happy.  I usually am on the streets pretty much by myself, so it feels like God made this beautiful world just for me to enjoy.  The other day when I was on my way to school, I saw this beautiful red sky on the east side of town.  It was breathtaking, so I had to pull over and take a quick snapshot.  This picture actually doesn't show how beautiful the east side of the valley really was that morning.  Sometimes I grumble that I am up before most people, but on a day like the one shown in the picture, I don't mind at all.

Family Fun

While everyone was in Las Vegas after the Sutton/Galler party and the baby shower, we had a couple of days for family fun. One night we went over to Ellsworths and enjoyed a bonfire and hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner. On another occasion we went to the Bellagio Hotel on The Strip and enjoyed the atrium and water shower. On our last day together we went to the Lied Discovery Children's Museum and bowling at the Red Rock Hotel. It was a fun few days, and hopefully everyone went home thinking their Las Vegas vacation was fabulous.

Enjoying the lights from Las Vegas and the warmth
of the bonfire at Ellsworths

So fun to be outside and being together

The atrium at the Bellagio was decorated
for the Chinese New Year

It's hard to look at the camera when there's so much
great stuff to look at behind you!

Daughters and granddaughters
enjoying the beauty of
the atrium at the Bellagio

Melanie, Natalie, and Cali

Cali posing like the figure behind her

Ashton and Natalie at the Bellagio

Cali, Julie and Jace at the Bellagio

Outside the Bellagio during the water show

The grandchildren were excited to see these
favorite cartoon characters on the sidewalk in front
of the Bellagio

Chad, Dane, Kyra, Skye, and Heather

Jace, Julie, Melanie, Cali, and Ashton

We walked over to the Cosmopolitan and
discovered this rather interesting
shoe.  The kids could hardly wait
their turn to get in it.

This fancy horse was inside the foyer of
the Bellagio.  Jace was very interested in it.

Off to the museum

Inside the museum were many exhibits for a hands-on
experience.  Everyone seemed happy and thrilled
to be there.

Thomas was especially good with this
bubble contraption.

The girls all made bracelets in the craft room.

Heather, Kyra, Natalie, Ben, and Weston
at the museum after the girls
put on a little show on the stage by these bleachers

Heather requested a lunch trip to In 'N Out since
there isn't one of these restaurants in Missouri.

Grandpa, Kyra, Ashton and Skye at the
Red Rock Hotel for bowling

Heather, Melanie, Kyra, Ashton and Thomas

Ashton and Kyra waiting their turn to bowl

Bowling was a lot of fun!

Come what may, the twin boys eat every three hours,
no matter what!

Celebrating Weston and Ben's Birth

Late Friday night Chad flew in from St. Louis after his day's work ended.  He arrived just in time for our next big activity.  On Saturday, January 14th, we officially welcomed Weston and Ben into our family. Although Natalie said she didn't want a baby shower, we fudged a little and planned a small one anyway. Everyone pitched in making the overall production of the party less daunting.

Melanie prepared much of the food.  Heather helped with decorations and the games.  Julie also helped with the games, and she made brownie cupcakes and a diaper cake.  Dad did most of the grocery shopping, and I was in charge of decorations, favors, and organizing the party behind the scenes. Thanks to all for helping me make the party a huge success.  Many hands definitely make light work.

The table looked adorable thanks to Julie.
The children were so excited about the party.
They could hardly wait for Natalie and
her family to arrive.

Finally it was time to "PARTY" as the
guests of honor arrived

Here we are waiting to eat lunch, play games, and
open presents.

Linda took this picture so I could be in one too.

The banner is too cute

Kicking back and enjoying the
festivities man-style

Can Skye stick the pacifier in the right place on the baby?

Heather planned a fun game where each of the
children tossed the frisbee onto the carpet.  They
got to keep whatever candy the frisbee landed on.

Julie planned this fun game.  Here's
Dane trying his luck at getting that
pacifier on the baby.

Cali had fun with Aunt Julie's game as well.

Grandma GG loves her grandchildren.

Yummy food thanks to Melanie's culinary abilities

Looks like a lot of presents to me

Kyra loved her new baby cousins.  She's just like me;
I want to hold one of the twins every minute.