Levi deciding what color of candy he gets for success potty training.
It's been two steps forward and three steps back.

Emme showing us her Mickey Mouse pancake. She said she wanted

Superwoman but I said Mickey was all I could handle.

This was cute. When I came home from the mall she was napping upstairs

in the spare room with a bag of marshmallows beside her. Snack perhaps?

While Chad and Bridge were taking infant pictures, we went

outdoors for some fresh air. The kids and I were both antsy.

He didn't want to look forward because it was sort of high for him.

Emme giving advice on the best way to go down.

Photography by Kam

Bridgette's good friend, Kam, has taken pictures of all three of their
children.

Kam is a gifted artist who is highly talented.

She knows just how to capture the moment

Newborn photography shots are done no later than 2 wks.

Not only does she capture the moment but she knows how to work

well with toddlers and big sisters. Patience and steady nerves is what

I saw displayed. She is a professional and does excellent work.

Kam's Photography at 6 Days Old

Claire's Sip and See Shower

Jennifer, Candee, Sarah, and Andrea

Christy and Candee

Heather Marie, Heather, and April

Delicious chocolate mousse with a fresh mint leaf made by the hostess

Missie Johnson

A beautiful spring table setting with shortbread, pink cupcakes

and mousse. Thank you Missie for hosting this lovely shower.

Peggy's Come and Gone...That was Quick

Here we are saying goodbye after Peggy spending the weekend with us.

Bridgette and Peggy making shortbread for the shower.

Peggy giving Claire her first sponge bath.

A little sumpin sumpin I whipped up in the kitchen. Chocolate

peanut butter torte with Reese's Peanut Butter Cup topping.

Not low-cal for sure.

Peggy was a big help and Emme and Levi loved her. She bought them

each a surprise at the thrift store in Meridian. A portable Barbie house and

Levi a portable garage for his cars.

What a Wonderful Life....but very busy...

This is the quilt I made for Bridgette's birthday on display.
I just finished the binding as my first project.

Emme and Grace Johnson playing princesses.

Levi put his own underwear on backwards. So cute.

Precision work by chefs in training.

Emme loved rolling the dough around in her hands.

Levi prefers taste testing the pepperoni.

The Many Faces of Baby Claire

Here she is smiling, yawning, sleeping and content. Everything is going well, Levi is getting potty trained, Emme is learning all about the example she needs to set as the oldest being a great helper. We've had visitors daily including, Kelly, Jessica and Travis Custer and Baby Kaelan, Kam, Missy and children, and Natalie and children (Bridgette's neighbor). Sunday is the "Sip and See Shower" for Bridgette.

Today we went down to the dairy to look at the cows and then to the library. Later on we made homemade pizza. It's been a little windy and overcast, so we've been indoors. Yesterday we went to the pet store and to JoAnn's for our outing. Tomorrow, more friends are coming over for a visit. Claire is somewhat mixed up on days and nights, but Bridgette and Chad are handling the change favorably.

Peggy is coming for the weekend and we are anxious for her arrival. She arrives Thursday evening late and then will leave early Sunday morning. It's an eight hour drive from Portland.

Claire Elisabeth and the Phillips Family

Here she is at 48 hrs. old. Mother and baby are getting along nicely as well as Father, sister and brother. She is absolutely precious and pink with beautiful dark hair. Seems content to sleep, eat and look around at the light when awake. Will more pictures later...

"Lord thank you for the precious children

you've entrusted to our care. Grant us the

grace to be faithful to pray for them and

never get too busy to come to You

with their needs and our needs.

I pray for the wisdom to know what's important

in this season and for your love to cover all I say and do.

In Jesus" name. Amen."

Shugs #7

Bridgette and Chad gave birth to our beautiful granddaughter, Claire Elisabeth, last night at 10:52 pm. She weighed 8 lbs, 11 ounces and is a healthy beautiful little girl! This is our 4th granddaughter and 7th grandchild! We are so blessed.

I'm here in Boise now, just 10 hours shy of the birth, but just in time to help with everything else! Be on the lookout for more pictures to come!

Fur Rendevous 2009

Everybody that's somebody wears a fur hat during the Rendevous. Seriously, we saw alot of fur coats, hats, boots, and mittens at the Fur Rondy. Check out the beautiful hats these folks are wearing. What I have always thought was interesting is that the amusement rides are very popular even with cold temperatures. Kids don't feel cold I guess. It's big business.

Rondy...Rendevous, COME ON!!!!!

The Fur Rendevous was a great way to get out and see all the sights. The sun was out shining gloriously and Bernie actually found a sweet parking place on Second Ave. This made walking a breeze to the fur auction. Wolf pelts started at $400, fox $250, beaver and ermine were $200 I think. We saw the snow sculptures which were not half-melted like in some years. The one where I'm posing is a palm tree and the other is the squirrel off the movie "Ice Age". The last snow sculpture pictured is when the brought Jesus to Pilate and they crowd yelled "Crucify Him". There was a cross too, but I don't have the full shot. It was very moving. Actually Bernie remembers making as many as 130 snow cubes when the Guard handled that years ago. This year there were maybe 25, if that. But they were all artisticly sculpted by various groups, and far better than we could have done! We ended the day by having dinner at the Glacier Brewhouse which was so fine. For excellent pictures on the start of the Iditarod Rce see Chris and Dori's blog. Dori has captured some fantastic photos.