Viva Las Vegas

Zane just returned from a week long trip to Las Vegas for the International Builders Show. His company, Urbane Homes, was nominated for two awards through EVHA and won silver in both of those categories. They didn't win People's Choice, but thanks to everyone who voted. Check out the link to see their awards and their competition! The entire week was spent making contacts and finding new information to improve their houses. When I talked to Zane each day, I think it was the happiest I have heard him in a long time when it comes to work. It was a very successful and exciting trip. I, on the other hand, got to have my mom fly out for the week to babysit me. When we realized that I couldn't go out with him, he called my mom and asked her to come for the week. I don't think she realized that it would be 20 degrees here while it was in the high eighties in San Diego, but she was still happy to come. We had a great time crafting, making chocolate molten cakes, and playing with the kids. We did other things, but those were the highlights. I even knitted a heart shaped pot holder with a lot of help and encouragement from my mom. I realized what a great friend I have in my mom and am so thankful for any time I get to spend with her. We were all happy to have Zane home on Saturday. I am glad that he doesn't travel for his job because it is so much nicer to have him here.

Happy 2nd Mallory

The baby is growing up. I love this girl and didn't know that we needed a girl in our family. I am glad someone else did. So, Happy Birthday to the Dora loving, Diego watching, gum chewing (and swallowing), chair falling, funny girl.

The Perfect Amount of Snow

It's all we needed to sled down our driveway at 8:30 in the morning. The kids made the fun last for many hours. Mallory and I even sled down and it was great. The boys tried to build another snow fortress, but gave up after awhile realizing that there just wasn't that much snow. It was mostly gone by the late afternoon, but it was fun while it lasted. I couldn't get girl to come in even though she had been it for 2 hours. I am glad to see it leave...for now.

The Dry Spell Has Ended

After too many years of not having a family picture taken, the dry spell has ended. And, there is a flood my friends and boy, are we happy about it. My dear friend, Melissa, took our photos in November for our Christmas picture and I love them. We just went to a historic cemetery (exciting, huh?) close to our first house here in Kentucky. She did such a great job and especially did great at keeping up with Gage and Mallory. Trevor was getting over the flu, but was still a great sport about the whole thing. Then, we went to San Diego after Christmas and Tanya offered to take our family pictures for my birthday. That is the kind of birthday present I am talking about. She has been assisting a photographer for the last 4 or 5 months and is getting so good. She had the routine down and got my kids laughing and smiling. And, the lighting was amazing. So, in the end, we are extremely blessed with this many great photos of the kids and I cannot wait to fill my house with all of them. Tanya's are the first set with the golden hue and Melissa's are the second where we are all wearing red and blue!

P.S. - the photographer that Tanya works for, melaniesmithphotography, is traveling across the US this summer and is looking for interesting places to stop and perhaps photograph. And, she is setting up photography sessions with families is the places she stops as well. Check out Tanya's blog for more info.

Wicked

So when a friend asks if you are interested in getting tickets for the musical "Wicked" you never answer no. But, it sure does give you a long time to wait and look forward to it when tickets are purchased five months in advance. We finally got to see "Wicked" last Friday and after listening to music for almost a year, it was so great to see how it all went together. Even Zane liked it! The Jacksons came from Lexington and some brave young women babysat all nine of our children here at our house. We met the Mortensons and O'Briens at the theatre. It was a nice outing with friends and did our best to talk during intermission and on the drive to and from downtown. The musical was so good that I am trying to figure out how I can see it again before it leaves Louisville at the first February.

Meeting Cache

We finally met our nephew/cousin Cache when we were in San Diego. He is my sister Jennilee's 3 month old baby. He is such a great baby that Gage really took a liking to. He would rub the baby's head each time he walked by him. We all loved holding him and getting to know the cute guy.

Seaport Village

On the day before we left for home, Caitlin came over and we were able to go to Seaport Village on the wharf in San Diego along with my mom. We stopped at In-n-Out on the way down to eat just one last time and of course got shakes at Beef-N-Bun on the way home. It was so nice to spend time with each of my brothers and sisters.

Hiking Torrey Pines on New Years Day

What do I miss about San Diego besides my family? The beach. When we went on a family hike of Torrey Pines on New Years Day I realized it even more. It was so beautiful. When we were at a lookout point looking over the ocean I said to my mom, "We're coming here for a month this summer." Okay, I don't know if that will happen, but a girl can dream. Kory, Erika and Zellie came down from Long Beach to spend the day with us as well and that was so much fun seeing Zellie and Gage getting along, hanging out. It was a gorgeous day and after hiking around we went down to the beach. Trevor and Boston collected seashells, Gage built a sand castle and Mallory fell in the water. As soon as she fell in and began to cry, we stripped her down, wrapped her up and headed home. Even though it was a warm day, the water was freezing!