We Remember...

Justin and I watched a Remembrance Day Commemoration on television today and were really touched at all of the sacrifice that these men and women made for all of us. Really, because of them, we live how we do today and I know they don't get enough credit or thanks. During the program there was music, wreaths placed, poppies worn, and the poem "Flander's Fields" recited. There were several shots of wise wrinkled experienced faces, and young determined ones. That is when it hit me. It really was real. Leaving families. Living, and dying, abroad. A chapter in so many soldiers' lives; for many of them, the last chapter. To all of you, then and now, THANK YOU.

My dad sent out an email with the war heroes of our family and I just wanted to put it up to honor them.

William Crippen - This is my paternal Grandpa (Poppy is what we called him). He was a mortician! He went to the island of Saipan (where my brother in law Harvey's from!) at the end of the war and help recover some of our soldiers who died in the terrible fighting there. My dad still has his Army boots!


Robert Crippen - This is my Uncle, my dad's brother. Nanny dressed Uncle Bob in this uniform during WWII.It was very common to dress your kids in uniforms to honor their dads.

Robert Norris with his mom and dad, Gordon and Maude - This is my grandma's brother. This picture is before he left for Italy. He saw some difficult fighting, and we have letters he sent from Italy. (Nanny also lost a cousin at Salerno in Italy)

Robert Norris again. Isn't he HANDSOME! Love a man in a uniform! :) I remember seeing this picture or another picture and being amazed at his blue eyes!

Donald Sampson - This is my mom's Dad. I never met him. He served in France at the time of D-Day, and was a mechanic who kept the vehicles and boats going. He received the American Theatre Service medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.

Marian Sampson - My mom's Aunt. Aunt Sam served in the Women Marines during WW2 for 2 years and 2 months. She was a radio operator and would translate the Morse code as it would come in. She still knows it today! She served in New York City; Cherry Point, North Carolina; Madison, Wisconsin; Omaha, Nebraska; San Francisco and San Diego. She is an incredible lady. Makes DELICIOUS fudge, knows all about the stars, and can still do headstand. LOVE her spunk.

Here she is with Zachary last year when we saw her at the airport on our way home from Florida. Beautiful!

(This is Zach at the girls age now. WEIRD!)

Bill Sampson and Aunt Sam - Uncle Bill is my mom's uncle, Marian Sampson's brother. He was a gunner at the tail end of the ship. He suffered a war injury when they were attacked between Italy and Africa on what they thought was a 'dry run' and had a metal plate in his head the rest of his life.

Low Talent Show!

Well, we already showed Kara's peek-a-boo talent, so here are Kate and Zach's latest greats.

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Zach caught on to letters really early. It was around his second birthday that we were sitting at a stoplight and he was saying: "C-O-N-D-O-S." Sure enough, there was a Condos for sale sign. He really likes to recognize them and spell them out. It is pretty cute! Especially during a commercial or something, he is just sitting there zoned to the t.v. and out of no where says "I-K-E-A" or something. You go boy!

3 Kids to the Highest Bidder...

So after two weeks of missing church, a week and a half of being quarantined in my sick-house...and counting, not sleeping much at all, being sick myself, and having a clogged milk duct I am offering not one, not two, but ALL of my children to the highest bidder.

Well, at least I was until Zach asked me one question. It went like this:

Zach: "Hey Mommy, what are you doing here?"
Me: "Just going INSANE!"
Zach: "Going insane?"
Me: "Yep."
Zach: "Oh YAY!!! I LOVE insane!"

I laughed. On a day that I didn't think it would be possible, I laughed out loud. Thanks Zachy. Maybe I won't give you kids away. Well, at least not all of you. We'll see how the bids, and the rest of the day goes.

happy hal-LOW-een

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

This Halloween pretty much stunk. Justin was sick with the awesome H1N1 and I just got it that day too. The girls were also coughing. We were supposed to be hanging out with Justin's parents and having Talia's baby blessing, but everyone was sick, so the blessing was cancelled and the parents didn't come.This was the first Halloween I didn't have the energy to do our traditional Spooky Supper. Boo. I didn't even make Halloween colored jello jigglers like I planned to. Boo again. All we really did do is hang out, take pictures, and bust out some awesome jack-o-lanterns just before it got dark. Just have to wait until next year. Stupid Swine Flu.

This shot made me laugh SO HARD when I first saw it. I can just hear the country music in the background. Our little clogger. :) Zach loves to march around the house in his boots Auntie Leslie found for us. Awesome.

LOVE his tough guy stance here.

"Hey Cowgirl. What? Oh those stitches...my last bull ride. It's nothin' sugar."

Funniest moment of the day...I already feel like an animal when I feed the girls. My pillow even says "Feeding time at the Zoo." What's that supposed to mean anyway? Well, I guess this proves it...too weird to post? Sorry! But it was SO funny!
(we tried to be decent!)

Zach loved his pumpkin pie...as he called it. He carried it all over with him. Here he is cuddling with it watching cartoons.

Our carnivorous pig...
Young MacDonald was wondering why the egg counts had been down lately...
Kamry was nice enough to make us supper. This was Jason dropping it off. He scared Zach so bad. Zach just stood there and trembled. HA! I think he knew it was Jason and was just trying to figure it out. That mask fits him too well. AH! Spooky enough for us!

Pumpkin time!

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And they're finished! Zach's is on the left. The girl's is in the middle. And our Frankenstein's Monster is on the right!
I have a thing where I pick the "probably unwanted" items. The ones that are unique and might get left behind. I did it a few years ago when I got to pick our family Christmas tree. I picked the short crooked one. it was cute in it's own way, right Mom? This year I saw the two headed one and had to have it...plus, it was the last one in the box that wasn't rotting yet. It literally had 2 heads, at least 2 bulges. I thought it was fitting for our family. Twins!
The Dazzling Duo frolicking in our pumpkin patch.
The Three Musketeers
Some Pig. :)

Not to be out done by her sister, the cow rises.

Another awesome pose by Zach. Too Funny not to post!
"I'n so happy!"
(this one's for you Kamry) :)


"Drum, drum, drum!"

Young MacDonald and his farm animals.

Love the bum side! You can't really see it in this pic, but Kara has the cutest cow's tail and Kate has a curly-Q piggy tail.

Zach with his Jack-O-Lantern. Awesome freckles! Wish I could have found him a farmer's hat, but at this point, I just didn't feel like it!

Halloween 2009:

Young MacDonald and his farm...including the Swine Flu x 2 (or 3 or 4?)

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While Trick-or-Treating I guess. We didn't get to go with him. Tear. :(

Zach and Avery, his neighborhood girlfriend. He loves her!!! (And her toy trains...)
Zach is one month younger than Avery.
Avery's little sister Anna with the girls. The girls are 1 month older than Anna.
"Mom! I've got Candy!"
Sharing already. :) Or maybe "Hey sis, I can't open it. Can you?"

Ooooo....
Tradition
AHHHH!
Justin wins. Some 6 year old did tell him once that his head looked like Frankenstein. Well, this proves him right! I wish I could send him this picture.

THE END!!

Cuts and Haircuts

Zach and I both got hair cuts this week. He looks SO old! What Zach got that I didn't was stitches. Yep. He is 2 1/2 years old and he has gotten stitches twice already. Poor guy. Yep, we were standing in line for the beloved Swine Flu Immunization (for the second time) and he was playing and tripped into the rock wall. He got a pretty big gash in his forehead, so we got out of line...again...and went to the Medicentre to get stitches. He got 2...probably should have had 3, but he was going nuts. It was THE WORST holding him down while he got them. I thought I was strong. HE is strong. Sorry Zachy!! At least our hair looks good! :) Plus, you'll look tough with your scar above your eye when you are older.

Nice shot, eh? The steri strip is covering part of it, but you get the gruesome gist. :)

Zach modeling his stitches. He just looks long and lean and old to me here. My baby boy is growing up!

An attempt at a smile after stitches...and a nap. Nice bed head.

BEFORE...

AND AFTER! How do you like my new do?! I like it! She cut out a lot of the bulk at the bottom and gave me lotsa layers to mighten it all up and give a better shape. I also got a bit of a swoopy bang. I wish I could do it like my hair stylist did it!

It can be straight...

or curly!

Easy, easy...just wash and scrunch. Anyone have any favorite curling products they'd like to mention? Mine is okay, but if there is a great one I love to hear it!

10 MONTHS!

10 MONTHS!! What?! I really can't believe how this year has flown. Crazy. The girls are growing and are so much fun. There most recent trick is dancing. We turn on some music and they get groovin'. So cute.

Kate showing off her teeth. She has 2 with a 3rd coming in on the bottom. She is SO cute and happy and just funny. She puts up with Zach wrestling with her. I think she'll take him soon. SHe is taking steps, can climb the stairs to the top, and will be walking before we know it.
Kara Beara is such a silly sweetie. She was being SO CUTE during this photo shoot, it was hard to pick just one. She is starting to stand on her own and is so proud of herself whenever she does it. She LOVES Zach and laughs at him all the time...except when he knocks her down. She is very sensitive. :)
My attempt at getting one with them together...


If it's not one, then it is the other!

This is so funny! This is life. Kate is usually "exploring" Kara. And Kara doesn't love it. I love watching them play together and interact! Today Kara was laughing so hard because Kate was chasing her. It was awesome. I hope they are always good friends.

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Infestation...of Bugs...and Children

So these pictures are from a long time ago...when it was warm enough to hang outside with a t-shirt and sandals on. Tear. Anyway, there were TONS of ladybugs around for a few weeks. Zach LOVED playing with them. "I hold em mommy?" Always, he wanted me to "Put my finger, Mommy." So I would pick it up and put it on. Here he is collecting Ladybugs. I think there were like 8 on his shovel! He liked to bring them into the house and play with them. then we would put them back out with their mommies and daddies. I am guessing that we didn't ALWAYS but them back outside because just a few days ago I found 6 ladybugs on one window. Maybe one had babies?? Why is it that I thought that sort of infestation was okay, but if it was beetles or ants, or flies...YUCK. Just because the ladybugs are cute? Go figure.

What a poser? Who taught him that? I know I don't do that in my pictures. Maybe I ought to start? The black dots on his shovel (and on the ground) are his beloved Ladybugs. "Mommy, walk on the bridge." I don't think he really wants me to do that! :) He loves bridges (overpasses) and constantly asks me if we can go on them. I get so excited when I can say yes because it is our exit and we are headed that direction. He thinks I am the best mom in the world and celebrates by saying, "Yay! We're go-o-ing on the Bri-i- idge!" in his own Zachy staccato.

This kid is super flexible. Here he is helping me with laundry, folding himself in half under a small laundry basket.

Here's Zachary with his friend Robot. I built it for him once and he kept asking for him again and again. Then he would walk around the house like a robot. So, I got a lock for my fridge so Zach can't mess with that anymore, but he still finds a way to get into other things! I had a plate of zucchini bread made up for our neighbors, wrapped in foil, waiting for us to take it to them. Well, I came downstairs from my shower and found foil on the ground and a bite out of each slice of bread! You stinker!
Fun Game! That silly little "Cat Door" down to the basement that Zach goes in and out of has become quite the hang out spot for Kate and Kara and Zach to play. He charges up at them and then slides quickly down the stairs and they laugh and laugh and laugh. It is so cute!

Two cute.

I just thought this was a cute twin moment.

They are fascinated with the TV and LOVE to turn it off while we are watching it.

Dirty face and yucky hair. She gets it all gross and it just sticks out. (I know, she doesn't have much, but she finds what she can!)
Nice Do.

Gross hair! It is so light, you can barely see it, but every morning at breakfast she pulls on it and gets it all goopy. Yuck.
This is so Kara. She puts anything in her mouth and crawls around with it. It could be a wash cloth in the tub (or out), Zach's chicken from his Farm, or here it is a measuring spoon. She is a silly girl.

Yogi herself.

(Kara Beara...Yogi Berra...Yogi.)

I caught Kate with Zach's empty pudding cup and his spoon. She was totally loving it and using the spoon to get it out. You can see the chocolate on her face. So funny!
Caught ya!

Julie and Thanksgiving!!!

AUNTIE JULIE CAME TO TOWN!!!!

Julie was coming to Alberta for a friends wedding and came to Edmonton to hang out with us for a bit! It was so fun to see her (and the new Budding Brinkerhoff!!!) and celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving with her. We are thankful for Julie, and all the rest of our family and friends. ;)

The morning after she came. I picked her up in the early AM and then I am sure the kids woke her up just a few hours later! Sorry Julie! They were just so excited to see you!
Zach with his Thanksgiving spread. Yes, I did the turkey all by myself! This is my 3rd one I think. It is SO WEIRD to me "the mom" in charge of the meal. So strange. I missed my mom's stuffing. I was too lazy to do it, but it is SO GOOD. We had garden mashed potatoes, garden carrots, and garden beans. Happy Harvest!


It wouldn't be a proper holiday without card games! Zach is even in on it now. He LOVES to play Memory. This is a Nemo memory game I found at our beloved Target when we were in the states (Oh, how I miss you, store of red and white). Anyway, he is SO GOOD at it. He has a great memory. I was told that when I was very young, I was extremely good at this game and could often beat adults (probably because they weren't paying attention.) I really wish my 3 year old self could come over and play memory with Zach. I bet I'd win. HA! :)

Kara loved exploring Arnold's wheelchair. :)

Cute cute pic of Auntie Jules and the girls.

This one is even better. She was laughing uncontrollably at Justin and I trying to get Kate and Kara to look and smile. It worked for Julie...too good!

We love you and miss you Julie! Thanks for coming! And thanks for making another GIRL COUSIN for us to play with!!! :)

Conference Weekend and Harvest Time!!!

I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE!

Really I do. I love listening to all of the General Authorities in the church, making goals on how to become a better person, and being uplifted by the Spirit. Conference weekend is always a special time. And even though we live in Edmonton, we still get in on TV which is awesome since we have so many little likes running around. We tried to schedule nap times around conference times, and it worked rather well. Zach was awake for the morning sessions and was SO captivated by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He was just zoned in on them! I think he is going to be in it some day. :) Anyway, this one was special because Baby Talia was just almost a week old, so Justin's family came up to meet her. We had a great time. It is always fun when Grandma and Grandpa come to town. AND Karen and Dallin. Can't forget them. Zach LOVES them! We do too.

This is how soothing conference can be. And they're out...Karen, Kate, and Grandma.
Kate and Kara loved to climb all over Karen. She is a great Auntie!
Since we had so many people at home we took advantage of the babysitters and harvested our garden. It was dang cold too! The wind was blowing and it was a chilly chilly day. Here are Justin and Zach digging "tomatoes" as Zach would say...They were really potatoes. I will never get over how weird they grow. You just plant one potato and then a few months later dig up 5 more or so! They just grow, underground. So strange to me.

Action shots...digging the hill...

pulling up the plant

And poof! A POTATO is born.

Zach found a few left over corn cobs we hadn't picked off the stalk. He LOVES corn and wanted to eat it so bad. So we let him! I husked (any one else call husking the corn "shucking" it?) it for him and he chowed down! Delicious dirt on the face...yummers.

My little corn eating Eskimo.

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It is FINISHED!!!!

Well, my lovely sister-in-laws Leslie and Kamry inspired me to finally finish the girls room. If Kamry's 1st baby gets a room even before she was born, my girls should have one after 9 months of life. Now they won't be jealous of their cousin. Anyway, Leslie has a vinyl cutting machine and so we were able to cut out dots and names and phrases and make the room so stinking cute! I love it. Thanks so much Kamry and Leslie for your help! Oh, and I have to thank Maren and Alysha for snapping the photos I hung in their room. You guys are da' bomb. :) Enjoy ... I do. As do Kate and Kara I am sure. Now I've got to get on the ball and make Zach's room cuter. Any ideas? I am thinking shades of blue and orange. Maybe sports?? I don't know. Zach's in a big boy bed now, so I finally got to put Kara in a REAL crib instead of the pack and play. YAY!!! What a big boy. He is doing a great job in it. Better than I thought. (knock on wood.)

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Here we begin the tour. You enter the room from the door on the left. The door straight ahead is the closet.
Again, the closet door...Polka dot wall continuing on to Kara's crib...You don't understand how hard it is for a perfectionist worry wart like me to complete a task such as this. It was ALMOST as scary as tie dying at our family reunion. Luckily I had Leslie and Kamry there to help me this time. Kamry especially was always there to give her opinion of dot placement. Phew. I love Kamry for that. Some one's got to speak up. THANK YOU!! :) It made the dotting process take minutes instead of hours.

Leslie found the cute font and flowers for the girl's names. I love it! :)

Kate's wall. The contagious polka dot rash hasn't spread much over here yet.

I was given the wooden joy sign as a Christmas decoration, but liked it so much I wanted to have it out for longer than just Christmas. I think this turned out cute. We just added a vinyl "bundles of" on top of it. These are some of the cute pics that Alysha and Maren took. Now, I thought I was over it, but looking at this picture makes me want to resize Kara's again to match Kate's. Somebody please stop me. Stop the maddness. Or should I really do it?

We are now facing the NE corner of the room. :) That teddy bear was carved by my Great Uncle Roger (I got it wrong in the video...whoops) and hung in my nursery.

Cute little blessing pictures. I LOVE the hand one. They were only about 2 weeks old in these pictures and they were already holding hands. So sweet. And doesn't the statue remind you of hte characters in "The Night Before Christmas"? My mom gave it to me. We have a matching one of a man and woman together that was on the top of our wedding cake. Cute.

And we're back at the door, ready to go out and save who ever that is that is crying out there. I'm coming!!! :)