He's Here!

Blizzard starts. Expecting 6-12 inches of snow. 100-foot driveway. No snowplow. I'm expecting...2 days past my due date. Induction scheduled for the morning.

Fortunately I didn't go into labor during the blizzard, but even after parking our car at the end of the driveway it took us two hours to dig out of the snow the next morning to go to the hospital. So on Dec. 20th, our little Deacon Alexander Daines was born weighing 7 lbs 8 oz and measuring 19.5 inches long. Delivery was fast, Deacon was healthy, and he came in time to execute our Christmas plans: Grandma's house in Dallas. The kids adore him and he feels like he's always been part of our family.

First Snow

We finally had it! Snow! Taylor was the first one out in it...dressed himself in snow gear and surprised us by shoveling the driveway before church.

By the time we came home from church most of the snow had melted, but Camryn still had fun going outside and throwing snowballs with what was left. (This is her latest camera face.  Don't tell her to smile when you take a picture, otherwise she closes her eyes, although she still does smile.) 

Birthday Girl

Two years already. Can't believe how the time flies. 

Our sweet Camryn had three days of birthdays. Having her presents wrapped and waiting on the mantle before her birthday were just too much for the bigger kids, so they insisted we open her presents early.

She loved her Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, and Tigger stuffed animals, as well as her other presents. 

Our State Fair is a Great State Fair

Bryce and the girls had a great time at the state fair. Our first time going since moving to Iowa!  Maybe next year we'll put the fair on the calendar a little sooner so we can all go. :) 

Our Super Hero

He loves to climb trees, door frames, and have super powers.

We rented the movie a couple of weeks ago and since then Camryn has loved Spiderman.  We don’t know if she realizes it’s Taylor under the mask, but either way she still loves to give Spiderman hugs. 

Technology

What do you get when your video camera and cell phone permanently die and you can't find the charger for your battery camera?  No new posts!  Anyway, despite my bad luck with technology the last couple of  weeks, here are some updates thanks to Bryce's phone.  

Happy Halloween

Captain America, Nemo, and our pirate. 

Reality

Our girl is a climber and a crib won’t contain her.  After she mastered climbing out in 5 seconds, we decided it was time to accept reality and take the railing off.  Good timing on her part, with the baby coming in a few weeks.  She is also rooming with Dakota.  Two-minutes of tears crying for Dakota was all it took for these girls to become rooming buddies.  They love sharing a room, and especially coming down the stairs together in the morning.   

Birthday Girl

 The kids love to open birthday presents the minute they wake up.  I can’t believe five years have come and gone. 

Dakota decided on pumpkin bars for her cake, and insisted we make them the second Taylor left for school…before breakfast.  So after a breakfast of pumpkin bars, we headed to the shoe store, the library to get her own library card, and had a fun-filled day of Dakota’s favorite things.     

Olympics in Des Moines

We thought Dakota would enjoy seeing some of the best gymnasts in the world for her birthday.  We got a babysitter for Camryn and took the older two to see the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastic Champions.  Although Dakota's favorite part of the show was the MC wearing a diaper and role-playing a baby, I think overall she enjoyed watching the Olympians. 

Taylor was excited to watch the men's team, and Bryce and I definitely enjoyed seeing the men's routines on rings, floor, and high bar. Unfortunately only three members of the Girls Fab Five participated, but it was great to see the Olympians in action in our own home-town of Des Moines...and just in time for Dakota's birthday.

Fall

 Fall is my favorite time of year.  The weather is crisp, leaves change color, and the kids love to jump in all the leaves.  We love having seasons, and I hope falls stays a long time before the winter cold comes.  

Memorable Moments

Some of our day-to-day happenings that have brought smiles and laughter into our home, as the kids are always coming up with something new. 

Taylor’s homework assignments (still to be completed) coming home as paper airplanes…I guess he has no problem keeping himself entertained on the bus ride home.

Taylor’s backpack makes for a great game of peek-a-boo

Camryn’s self-imposed timeouts: Backing herself into a corner, barricading herself in with a chair, and adamantly stating with a mean frown, “Mean mom!”

Dakota’s angry eye, or rather eyebrow, that only she and her father are capable of doing.

Our nurturing Camryn girl who always has her animals with her. They sleep, eat, and play just like the rest of us, and we especially laugh when they get timeouts. 

When did they grow up?

Dakota started her first day of preschool yesterday.  She was so excited and loved every minute of it.  

Camryn also loved being part of Dakota's first day of school.

  

Back to School

He is in first grade now...and gone for a full day. He seems to like it though. The bus picks him off and drops him off at our driveway. He loves recess, PE, and the library. And we miss him while he's gone, but it's fun to see him grow up.

Gramma Camp

Some of my favorite shots from Gramma Camp on Day One.

Gramma Camp Days 2 and 3: Pirates, cousins, treasure hunts, stories, water games, pool time, and more.

And Spokane isn't Spokane without the lake.

Camryn in the sand?  I couldn't believe it.  This was definitely was a first.  Self-initiated, no screaming, and actually loving it.  

Blueberry Flavor

A little boy to even things out...due Dec. 18th.  We are excited!  Feel free to share name suggestions.
  

Birthday Fun

Bryce really is amazing. My birthday dinner was too beautiful to go without a picture. Bacon wrapped filet mignon, topped with a broiled crusted blue-cheese, served with the best mashed potatoes I have had in my life (sauteed mushroom garlic), bruschetta, and personal-size lemon meringue pies.  (Placemats courtesy of Taylor and Dakota the platters.)  A fun birthday dinner.

Gourmet Dinner

My family has a tradition of a five-course gourmet dinner cooking challenge. Each couple/group is assigned a course, and all chefs are judged on taste and presentation. We had never made sushi before, and I was pretty confident my youngest siblings hadn't tried it, so we decided it was worth a try. Either they'd love it or hate it, and we took our chances.

Appetizer: Bryce and Pam

Dish: Sushi, sashimi, shrimp & vegetable tempura

Salad: Nicole and Torr

Dish: Cobb Salad Wraps

Soup: Mom and Dad

Dish: Cantaloupe Ginger Soup

Main Dish: Katelyn, Matthew, and Travis

Dish: Beef Teriyaki

Dessert: Bryan and Cat

Dish: White Chocolate Mousse

AND THE WINNERS....

For taste...Sushi!  Everyone loved it.  Even my mom (and myself) who didn't previously like sushi.

Winners for presentation - dessert!  Bryan and Cat served their dish in a milk and white chocolate bowl they made using balloons.  Their dish required using a different kitchen, chilling their dessert for hours, and their stories about exploding balloons were hilarious.