Updates #1

Sorry I'm WAY behind on updates. Here is Easter. JJ is growing out of his train phase and moving on to LEGOS. In JJ's easter basket he got legos to test how he would do with them. He did great. Dad loves that. I don't know who has more fun.

Making easter eggs

The neighbor hood hunt. Just a couple of neighbors. Everybody brings 12 eggs for each kid. It's relaxed and the little ones don't have to fight for survival.

One of our neighbors even dresses up like the Easter bunny.

We went over to mom and dad's for easter dinner to find the missionaries that live in the basement had dressed up as Easter Pirates. They san a song then led the kids on a treat hunt through the house.

It was very entertaining.

Charley was a little freaked out by the whole thing.

Charley is getting so big. She is now to the point where she thinks she is one of the big kids and she can do all the things that they can. She is climbing on everything and wanting to participate in everything and eat everything even though she still only has eight teeth. Yesterday she reached for a yogurt can only to dump it on her face.

This is one of those moments when you think am I being a bad mom? Instead of comforting my sad yogurt covered child I am running for my camera. hmmm...

Charley is constantly climbing! up on chairs tables and the cat house!

CHARLEY GOES TO NURSERY NEXT WEEK!!!!!! HAPPY DAY!

We successfully took family pictures!!!! After sifting through many many many pictures to find one where the kids were cooperating these are the best ones:)

We made a decision
Dave's employer El Paso oil and gas is closing their Denver office. We were given the choice to follow the company and move to Huston or to find a new job here in Denver. It has been an interesting week weighing the options but we have decided to try and find a new job here in Denver. All prayers are appreciated. And if anyone knows of a geotech job let us know:)

We took a short trip over to Utah. We got to show Angelina BYU and temple square and got to hang out with Dave's sister and my siblings. It was nice



Charley loved it when Hailey sprayed water into her mouth. It was really cute.

Jensen got to hang out with his buddy Sammy. They rocked it with their transformers.

Playing cranium with my family

On temple square

There is a new Disney show Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Its a pretty cute show. So we dressed up like pirates today. Lily has a little pouch full of pixie dust just like the girl pirate.

It was mom's birthday yesterday. I printed pictures of all the brothers and sisters and modge poged them onto tiles. It turned out pretty good. The kids has A LOT of creative input into the horse cake we made for mom. Happy Birthday MOM

Cabin Fever
We are going a little crazy being stuck in the house. SNOW I HATE YOU. I feel like a muppet in one of my favorite movies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHNJPsCDSqo&feature=related

Pics of us going crazy-Lily found a bubble wrap bag and it became a dress. Just so you know It started out with her totally naked underneath. We made her put underwear on to take the picture.


Organized Jensen with his trains
We got an apple peeler/ core extractor. If you don't have one you should run and get one they are AWESOME fun and we are eating a TON more apples.

We also got a fry daddy. We experiment with lots of fun things to fry up.

Why does Pneumonia start with a P?

This week had been pretty terrible. Dave and I both had pneumonia with a side of the flu, I had a side of ear infection and he had a chest infection. He stayed home sick and we took shifts of sleeping and being lumps on the couch while we kind of controlled the kids. The kids don't have it yet so pray for us the kids stay healthy.

January catch up
One of our exchange students moved next door. Our two teenage "only child" exchange students have decided they can be better friends with a little space. We are sad to see her go. It is crazy after just a few months in our house how much she felt like family. We are glad Angelina is still her she is a big blessing. This is Marti up on the table cutting out a pattern of a sweater vest she sewed for a friend. Angelina and I went to my friend Emily's Twilight party. I felt a little dumb not knowing any of the answers to the games but it was fun to get out and watch a movie with girls.

On the first Snow day of this school year we bundled the the kids up and went sledding.

The best thing to do as a family activity in the middle of winter- We reserved a racquetball court over at the rec center and played kickball and just generally had fun throwing/kicking and passing balls.

Don has a wedding reception here in Colorado so we got to hang out with my grandparents, Don and Austin( who goes into the Marines in April)

Barrand family Christmas photo

80's Christmas

Hat's off to Celeste for combining all of our growing families into one great looking photo. You may notice the beautiful cabbage patch doll is a new addition. She just got married to Hulk Hogan in November. Welcome to the fam Leslie!