School Halloween Costume Parade

This is how I feel after Halloween too!

Crazy Hair Day

Meeting Grandma Berry (in person)!

I'm not quite ready to do a post about our dear nephew Brycen. I just don't have the time to do it justice yet. Although his death was a tragedy, he brought the whole family together, which is quite a feat for a big family like ours. We were finally able to meet Grandma Berry (Josh's grandma) in person. She lives in Oklahoma and I have never had the chance to meet her. She is Josh's only living grandparent and has been so since he was a little boy. She is a faithful card-sender at Christmas and we get to talk to her on the phone every once in a while. After being married 7 years I finally got to meet her! She is so cute. She has that little southern accent and she is sharp as a whip! Although, I do think that Brooke and I overwhelmed her a little bit with our fast-talking, loud conversations, haha! Josh's Aunt Donna came up to from Oklahoma too. The girls absolutely loved meeting her and instantly loved her. She loved them right away too. I think the best memory I have of that whirlwind few days was when we were sitting outside the night before they left. Haylie Jo was getting cold but being the mother I am, I forgot her jacket. Grandma Berry took her coat off and laid it over the both of them and said, "Here honey, you can share with me." Grandma Berry also told Jozlyn about why we have rainbows. It was God's promise to never flood the earth again. I am so grateful we could spend time with Grandma Berry and Aunt Donna, I just wish it were under better circumstances.

(In order from left) Grandma Berry, Jozlyn, Aunt Donna, and Haylie Jo


Josh with his Grandma Berry


Josh, Bill, and Taylor at Brycen's grave

Oh, to be a Kid

Jozlyn has always had quite the imagination and today I learned what has been going on in her pretty little head. I asked her if she wanted me to put a movie on for her while I cleaned and she said, "No, I'll play with my imaginary friend." I asked her what her name was...Sally. She has brown hair that's in two braided pigtails. She wears pants and a long sleeve shirt. Sally plays with Jozlyn when no one else can. She then told me how she daydreams while on the playground at school. She said she was running in Candyland (really the school field) and started getting sleepy from the candy poppies (sounds like Wizard of Oz huh?). She laid down and fell asleep. Her friend Whitney woke her up and she was back on the playground. I don't think I ever had a great imagination and I found myself quietly wishing I could pretend to be somewhere else. Every time I hear about something new in Jozlyn's imaginary world I absolutely am enthralled and ask her to explain all the details. I have vowed to never squash her creativity no matter how old she gets or how weird it is. I love to hear about her little world inside her head and wish I could be there with her. I have to say that nothing beats having a little girly girl like mine. Love you Jozzy Bear!

Haylie Jo gets her 1st haircut!

Yes, I know that it's weird that my 5 1/2 year old has never had a hair cut. You all know how slow blond hair grows and it wasn't until she was 3 that I could do pigtails. About a year ago Josh mentioned cutting Haylie Jo's hair short and I just couldn't do it. She's my baby and her hair finally had grown long enough to do fun stuff with it. I had change of heart. Her hair is really fine and thin and I knew that a cute bob would make it look fuller. So, we did it! We cut off 6 inches. Haylie Jo absolutely loves her new do. She told her Aunt Brooke, "Aunt Brooke, isn't my hair so cute? I knew it would be cute, that's why I cut it. Isn't it cute though?" It definitely fits her. Here are some before and after pics.

Before. Her hair was in a bun for ballet. That is why it looks so full and curly. It normally does not look like that.


After! Doesn't it just suit her?


Haylie Jo and her cute new do!

Eastern Idaho State Fair 2009

We are definitely not a fair family. In the past, Josh and I always skip the fair. Josh hates crowds and after 7 years of marriage, he's starting to rub off on me. This year, Josh's parents Bill and Yvonne asked us to go with them on Labor Day. We reluctantly agreed. It was pretty cold that day and there were swarms and swarms of people, but we had fun anyway. The kids loved seeing the animals. In the petting zoo, there were puppies for sale and the girls each got to hold one. Here are some picture from our day of fun (kinda).

Bill and Yvonne helping the girls feed the goats.


Haylie Jo and Daddy holding a puppy.


Jozlyn holding her puppy (it's windy, can you tell?)


Jozlyn milking the pretend cow.


Haylie Jo tried milking the cow too!