tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12452941715390452072024-03-13T17:18:06.841-07:00Castleberry Report from the NorthSunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-28599411380597221212009-12-06T15:48:00.000-08:002009-12-06T16:04:13.395-08:00HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY, LUCAS!!!!!<br /><br />This year was a monster truck themed bowling party. I don't think any of the kids have actually been bowling before, so this was a lot of fun! Lucas had 4 out of 5 friends attend! Here are some pictures from his party...Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxEeDL2OdI/AAAAAAAAALE/82iPcb-0Nsw/s1600-h/100_2276.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxEeDL2OdI/AAAAAAAAALE/82iPcb-0Nsw/s320/100_2276.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412276135234255314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxEdmFS27I/AAAAAAAAAK8/VYXaAW1npLA/s1600-h/100_2271.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxEdmFS27I/AAAAAAAAAK8/VYXaAW1npLA/s320/100_2271.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412276127422143410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDsuQHk8I/AAAAAAAAAK0/s56D1V2unqA/s1600-h/100_2280.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDsuQHk8I/AAAAAAAAAK0/s56D1V2unqA/s320/100_2280.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412275287801435074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxGUtyTFqI/AAAAAAAAAL8/5mBsPWwcMBc/s1600-h/100_2286.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxGUtyTFqI/AAAAAAAAAL8/5mBsPWwcMBc/s320/100_2286.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412278173894383266" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDsC_wafI/AAAAAAAAAKs/ToSOl1o1w3I/s1600-h/100_2281.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDsC_wafI/AAAAAAAAAKs/ToSOl1o1w3I/s320/100_2281.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412275276190083570" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxEfn-R3-I/AAAAAAAAALc/PfXCbB46GEM/s1600-h/100_2301.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxEfn-R3-I/AAAAAAAAALc/PfXCbB46GEM/s320/100_2301.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412276162289328098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxF84Q3D8I/AAAAAAAAAL0/W2Dbafr6NDI/s1600-h/100_2256.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxF84Q3D8I/AAAAAAAAAL0/W2Dbafr6NDI/s320/100_2256.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412277764390064066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxF8QFusTI/AAAAAAAAALs/DjsICtJGgg8/s1600-h/100_2259.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxF8QFusTI/AAAAAAAAALs/DjsICtJGgg8/s320/100_2259.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412277753605959986" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxEfJVYguI/AAAAAAAAALU/ph2TqvL8yWI/s1600-h/100_2295.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxEfJVYguI/AAAAAAAAALU/ph2TqvL8yWI/s320/100_2295.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412276154064732898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxEehvVBjI/AAAAAAAAALM/NttkzaMt51M/s1600-h/100_2267.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxEehvVBjI/AAAAAAAAALM/NttkzaMt51M/s320/100_2267.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412276143436138034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDruwS_EI/AAAAAAAAAKk/e6m4ZokfUkI/s1600-h/100_2298.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDruwS_EI/AAAAAAAAAKk/e6m4ZokfUkI/s320/100_2298.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412275270756531266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDrafRvQI/AAAAAAAAAKc/lgvzVzzIBZc/s1600-h/100_2307.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDrafRvQI/AAAAAAAAAKc/lgvzVzzIBZc/s320/100_2307.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412275265316437250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDq-rbNWI/AAAAAAAAAKU/lwWwKjgBXaM/s1600-h/100_2255.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDq-rbNWI/AAAAAAAAAKU/lwWwKjgBXaM/s320/100_2255.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412275257851196770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDFauJbxI/AAAAAAAAAKM/LHDpHThyuSE/s1600-h/100_2291.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxDFauJbxI/AAAAAAAAAKM/LHDpHThyuSE/s320/100_2291.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412274612543778578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxFYeLGMtI/AAAAAAAAALk/YmvciW7JvkA/s1600-h/100_2308.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SxxFYeLGMtI/AAAAAAAAALk/YmvciW7JvkA/s320/100_2308.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412277138911277778" /></a>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-60293122679336835302009-11-17T19:05:00.000-08:002009-11-17T20:18:57.749-08:00Alana in the pastOk, so I'm taking this mini iPhoto class these next couple weeks and I made my first slideshow with it. I LOVE iPhoto! Alana is the star of this show, particularly because the folder I was looking at and first tried had a huge number of Alana pics. So I decided to just make it of her. It was fun remembering what she was like just a year and a half ago! She grew so quickly! <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzOETW6mbRaBFOU1iFKlT-gNq4Nl3ofLjAaSz2gXQNesGqvsbtwyLRQIDIrPaU11RPMsFPxU15pX2pg9s0D_A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Family update...James is officially out-processing from the military! He's very excited, while I'm a bit nervous, and Katie will miss seeing her Dad perform in the Army Band, something she's seen him do all her life! So it is the beginning of the end...or the end and a new beginning...hmmm....<br /><br />Katie is still trucking away at school, work, and organized social life. She still LOVES school and is so incredibly independent!<br /><br />Lucas is learning Spanish and knows his numbers up to 15! And he can count a little past 30. He is learning to write better at school and is doing great there! He will be 4 in December and we are already planning his Bday...he wants a bowling party with Monster trucks. Lucas is really excited for it and can't wait for it to come.<br /><br /> Alana is the youngest in her class and is apparently the smartest as well. She knows about half of her letters, can count to 8, knows all her colors and is a joy to be around at daycare. During her parent-teacher conference, Jessica started out with a huge THANK YOU! Alana has a love/hate relationship with another girl in her class...they are either best friends or are having cat fights. Either way, what does this say for a teenage Alana? <br /><br />As for me...I'm surviving...looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks...<br /><br />Until next time ~SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-56701667728542059412009-10-26T21:54:00.000-07:002009-10-27T07:12:53.511-07:00Lucas "reading"Here's Alana in a beautiful dress! What a girl! And then a closeup of her boo-boo above her right eyebrow. She tripped and fell into the edge of the wall at daycare. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SuaHDMb0BYI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/VWRKJlc8k6A/s1600-h/100_2152.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SuaHDMb0BYI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/VWRKJlc8k6A/s320/100_2152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397149692397356418" border="0"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SuaHDWS-PHI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/bvxHt62szTs/s1600-h/100_2141.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SuaHDWS-PHI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/bvxHt62szTs/s320/100_2141.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397149695044631666" border="0"></a><br /><br />Here's Lucas in his costume. He LOVES it and both he and Alana can't wait to go trick-or-treating! They've been "practicing" at home!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SuaHD1Y7nhI/AAAAAAAAAKE/2-RkMoAIV5s/s1600-h/100_2136.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SuaHD1Y7nhI/AAAAAAAAAKE/2-RkMoAIV5s/s320/100_2136.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397149703391125010" border="0"></a><br />So here is Lucas reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear to Alana...very cute! Yes, he's naked...if you were wondering, but it's rather dark, so...<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy6JXp_0b_aUDnBl_XjnFWOyZCdeeKXvPREijaRyvwrbzVDSJL8h80QmNuv7HAdpjPS0rE_Hd8eLLfGeWSBEQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Finally...SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwzNsxY-tdo-nxXy63Cxn5roCPC4oCrpAHoSiFqow3ATua0EjRa4-NoLowq-shRwZxJ_fc1C91eFzn1rh3i' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-87124321196517369172009-09-13T09:48:00.000-07:002009-09-13T10:03:23.448-07:00HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, ALANA!Alana is now 2 years old! September 10th was her actual birthday and we held her birthday party on Sept.12th outside at our house. We kept it small. 2 of our guest could not make it...one child refused to take a nap and was having a meltdown and the other one was sick...the flu is going around up here, so a lot of people are sick! Lucas's friend, Torin, came as well as Little Curt and Renzella, a caregiver with whom Alana bonded with dearly while she was at Open Arms daycare center.<br /><br />A little bit about Alana at 2 years old. She absolutely LOVES her brother! Alana always wants to do whatever Lucas is doing, so it is difficult to pin down exactly what she truly likes from what she likes because of Lucas. She loves to eat, but is NOT a carnviore. If there is one food she could do without, it is meat of any kind. But we get her to at least eat some anyway. Alana loves school and is now with Lucas in the big-kid part of the daycare. Alana only uses her pacifier during naptime and bedtime. She is extremely easy to put down to sleep! :) Alana has always been into clothes. In fact, for awhile, she absolutely refused to put on dresses, but will now put them on with a smile. Many times we bring out something that she will not wear, so she is a bit picky sometimes, especially about pants. Alana is starting to get into barrets and likes that they are pretty. She's getting a bit too big to conquer the dogs like she used to and is almost into 3T clothes!<br /><br />That's it for now...Here are a few pics...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0jThmas1I/AAAAAAAAAI8/tqydtCDR2GU/s1600-h/100_2057.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0jThmas1I/AAAAAAAAAI8/tqydtCDR2GU/s320/100_2057.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380995948121600850" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0jc_p6eMI/AAAAAAAAAJE/7ZWPLE2RNXA/s1600-h/100_2064.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0jc_p6eMI/AAAAAAAAAJE/7ZWPLE2RNXA/s320/100_2064.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380996110808152258" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0jm_QpONI/AAAAAAAAAJM/Dxk2s2DkSvk/s1600-h/100_2089.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0jm_QpONI/AAAAAAAAAJM/Dxk2s2DkSvk/s320/100_2089.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380996282500856018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0js2OJE4I/AAAAAAAAAJU/2Cicnzb8Rrw/s1600-h/100_2097.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0js2OJE4I/AAAAAAAAAJU/2Cicnzb8Rrw/s320/100_2097.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380996383153656706" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0j1B1QQgI/AAAAAAAAAJc/vXNYUUxcmFI/s1600-h/100_2061.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0j1B1QQgI/AAAAAAAAAJc/vXNYUUxcmFI/s320/100_2061.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380996523709448706" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0j_CbQA8I/AAAAAAAAAJk/-eejgiIS97M/s1600-h/100_2095.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0j_CbQA8I/AAAAAAAAAJk/-eejgiIS97M/s320/100_2095.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380996695667508162" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0kJ1HQXNI/AAAAAAAAAJs/HrHZE3GfDcE/s1600-h/100_2093.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/Sq0kJ1HQXNI/AAAAAAAAAJs/HrHZE3GfDcE/s320/100_2093.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380996881072544978" /></a>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-44634875617638575712009-07-17T23:13:00.000-07:002009-07-18T07:03:13.286-07:00Grandma Morgan sings to AlanaThought Grandma Morgan would like to know what went on at the other end of the phone while she sand to Alana...too cute!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy9uU5qC57UnmdVFzlu54eLel1jXwbkTJsWQZR3NgV6VmTCmPooTQ9zfw7_KhoVKuGHOnz8qqXWosFB7oiMYA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-23734383081111410272009-06-23T22:22:00.000-07:002009-06-24T08:51:34.859-07:00Oh, the trials of broken bones...So, June 7th, two days before the nice long 10-day TDY (work trip for those of you who aren't familiar with military terms...) we were having a great dinner with great friends who were leaving for the lower 48 the following weekend for good...Pizzas were baking, conversations were going, kids were laughing and bouncing on the couch...and then...Alana crying. She had bounced right off the couch onto the floor on all fours. So, at first, we thought it was nothing...then as the crying never seemed to stop, James and I wisked Alana away to the ER while our friends spent some quality time with, obviously not us, but with Lucas. We were in and out of the ER with Alana in a quick 3 hours, splinted fractured leg and all, home to say good-night to Lucas who was still a bit upset with us for not giving him kisses, noses, and hugs before we snuck out of the house...pic is below of Alana when returned. She had a very rough evening! Grandpa Morgan did a digital signing of the photo on her splint.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SkG6Oc68VUI/AAAAAAAAAI0/wCcH4UJ2DLc/s1600-h/Alana-pic-signed.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SkG6Oc68VUI/AAAAAAAAAI0/wCcH4UJ2DLc/s320/Alana-pic-signed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350762589737211202" border="0"></a><br /><br />The splint was replaced on June 10th with a lovely pink cast, the color of which was picked out completely by Alana! She was brave and did well that day! Beware...she may get you feeling completely sorry for her in this upcoming video!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwX4HpPx_mHTZQ4o04gNMOOcOGBKtMkxDTG558KS-gD0S7xB48agEOkvPnD9A2eFuIwqK5BStPmXHNX66LD7w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />I spent the first two weeks keeping her off her splint and cast...it wasn't too difficult since it caused her pain to walk on it before. However, she still enjoyed bike rides to the park (shhhhh...don't tell Grandpa Morgan! He'd freak out!) and swinging on the swings (again...don't tell Grandpa Morgan!). At least she was off of her leg, right?!?! Here is Alana having fun on the swings! Believe or not, she could swing just as well with a cast on as with it off! It was only 2 or so weeks ago that Alana was scared to swing and would only swing just a little itty bit! But because Alana wants to do EVERYTHING Lucas does, she kept asking to go "bigger" and "Bigger" and "BIGGER"! <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzmgeb-rtUfHCKenegPBjKK--FDRXwoGzDhEIrchoRlx3-9rG2YVlFCAhxMFZMRcUl5P83_bcgO-j3GsjlZEA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Here's another video...this time Alana is sharing her joy of a cast with our furrier kiddos.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxsbEHv43qQd5kPd1i6JaKPGRHZWpstwZG4Kb9lG-V3cLXx-F0yRYw7AfL_YL0H5c1f1SqLPQSSM_CajJdNKw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />So, case settled...Alana is doing wonderfully. We can't keep her off the cast now and it has become a part of her. She has worked her magic and learned to live with it. She can basically do everything except take a bath, go swimming or play in the rain, or walk up and down the stairs (although she has already tried...). She will be out of her pink pretty and into a walking cast on the 8th of July. SO glad it will be off before our trip to Oregon!SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-48544247603776425972009-05-31T12:11:00.000-07:002009-05-31T19:21:46.163-07:00First Camping TripWe took Lucas and Alana on their first camping trip! At Rose Hip Campground along the Chena River. The kids had a GREAT time! Alana is such a little explorer and Lucas had no problem finding a multitude of things to do that scared the living daylight out of us; luckily, we found ourselves home the next day having all survived. Lucas loved walking through the brush, with Alana shortly behind him. They jumped off benches, dug in the sand, walked in the water and roasted hotdogs! It was a great time! With a little drizzle and sunshine mixed in between. Unfortunately, it got a bit too cold during the night and we booked it on out of there around 4am! Must go b/c Alana has found me with the computer...<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4f5459774f4467774e773d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: First Camping Trip" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4f5459774f4467774e773d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a></td></tr></table>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-86871598217851925972009-04-13T13:11:00.000-07:002009-04-13T13:53:47.088-07:00Easter festivities...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOliqtuP3I/AAAAAAAAAIs/jUW0bsb_hCg/s1600-h/043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOliqtuP3I/AAAAAAAAAIs/jUW0bsb_hCg/s320/043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324281199482257266" /></a><br />Another Easter down...the fun is over and on to another week. Festivities commenced when littles one arrived Saturday evening for dinner, egg dying and the much anticipated egg hunt! Kids ran around screaming in delight, eating...or not eating...dinner because of hunger or excitement. Lucas's friend Alejo and Torin attended as well as Curt who is Alana's age. Alana kept up with the bigger ones while Curt observed, as he hadn't been to visit in quite awhile. <br /><br />This was my first Easter-egg dye with a bunch of little ones. We cleared the floor, covered it with newspapers and sat the kids down around 5 plastic tupperwares for the eggs. They all eagerly sat and waited patiently while trying their best to put rubber bands around the eggs awaiting me to get the colored water ready. Each got their turn at putting food coloring into the water and each had plenty of eggs to put in as well. Because they were toddlers, one solid color with white lines from the rubber bands weren't good enough...they had to take them from the green to the yellow to the blue to the yellow to the orange to the red...until the red spilled...then there were only 4. Anyway, the eggs turned out totally awesome, almost like dinosaur egg colors. Very earthy and hippie! (see above) Here are a few pics of the event...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOiW0cIAsI/AAAAAAAAAH8/0Ddhi9LnfTg/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOiW0cIAsI/AAAAAAAAAH8/0Ddhi9LnfTg/s320/010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324277697399489218" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOiLniixXI/AAAAAAAAAH0/UE2CXlEypW0/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOiLniixXI/AAAAAAAAAH0/UE2CXlEypW0/s320/007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324277504958186866" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOh-QhMYpI/AAAAAAAAAHs/_odF9ZLK4oE/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOh-QhMYpI/AAAAAAAAAHs/_odF9ZLK4oE/s320/008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324277275440210578" /></a><br /><br />And here is the egg hunt...a little story behind the incredible amount of eggs we "hid"...we were at Walmart a couple weekends ago and just hanging out in the toy section when Niki and her son, Torin, ran into us. Not 5 minutes later did someone come over the announcements stating that there would be an egg hunt in the infant section in 5 minutes. "Well" we thought, "Guess we are doing an egg hunt today". So we grabbed each kid a basket and off we went...needless to say, each kid, to include Alana, completely filled their basket with eggs and had an absolute blast. So home the eggs went. I'm sure there are eggs buried in the snow that we'll find when everything finally melts! And so...on to the egg hunt photos!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOlLdWz19I/AAAAAAAAAIk/1jSEmKn8WJ4/s1600-h/027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOlLdWz19I/AAAAAAAAAIk/1jSEmKn8WJ4/s320/027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324280800759502802" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOk9ClXplI/AAAAAAAAAIc/gr16TxoYx-Y/s1600-h/025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOk9ClXplI/AAAAAAAAAIc/gr16TxoYx-Y/s320/025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324280553054643794" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOkwDlTYtI/AAAAAAAAAIU/acgk_PjqvtQ/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOkwDlTYtI/AAAAAAAAAIU/acgk_PjqvtQ/s320/024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324280329984500434" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOjw_7n64I/AAAAAAAAAIM/cz5TyAlYTjA/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOjw_7n64I/AAAAAAAAAIM/cz5TyAlYTjA/s320/023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324279246672620418" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOjkojNBUI/AAAAAAAAAIE/jjV2jGciMBw/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SeOjkojNBUI/AAAAAAAAAIE/jjV2jGciMBw/s320/019.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324279034237748546" /></a>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-1457324329543982072009-04-04T13:44:00.000-07:002009-04-04T13:53:30.298-07:00Florida TripA wonderful trip to Florida happened last month to visit James' family and to take Katie on a Disney World trip. She has been such a great daughter and wonderful big sister! We thought she deserved it after all the attention we've given to Lucas and Alana the past few years! He are some pics and videos for the trip...We had a family get-together, playground time, great day at the beach, and a dinner out with the older neices and Katie! Some Disney World, etc, pics/videos will follow along with some of Lucas and Alana at SeaWorld. I hope you enjoy the update!<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4f4455794e5445784f413d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: Castleberry Family Times" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4f4455794e5445784f413d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4f4455794e4467334d673d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: The Jacksonville Zoo!" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4f4455794e4467334d673d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a></td></tr></table>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-58441559552597096112009-02-21T22:31:00.000-08:002009-02-21T22:38:16.700-08:00So Cute!<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4e7a67304e6a55784d673d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox postcard: " src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4e7a67304e6a55784d673d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own postcard - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/postcards" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox postcard</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Had to post these tonight! I hope Alana and Lucas play this well most of the time in their lives! <br /><br />Lucas had swimming lessons this morning and did wonderfully! He really, really wants to swims, even after a few times going under. He's definitely ready for the next level! And Alana is her own person and testing the limits. Lucas and Alana were in the tub this evening and she knocked Lucas's cars off the side of the tub. After telling her it would be time to get out if she did it again, she then <em></em>did it again!<em></em> So, out we went, up went the gate to keep her out of the bathroom and to eat dinner we went. After some hamburger and ketchup in the hair, we were back to the tub only to find out she was a bit (okay, a lot!) too fast for mommy and into the tub she went, shoes, socks, and...lucky for us she was a diaper girl at the time!<br /><br />Sometimes Lucas will get up before Alana, turn the light on, and him and Alana will play for awhile. It is the cutest thing and James actually got it on tape! Go Honey!SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-34985888501131202132009-02-20T22:00:00.000-08:002009-02-20T22:06:51.178-08:00The Latest...<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4e7a677a4d4449784f513d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: Castleberry latest..." src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4e7a677a4d4449784f513d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Hello All! Only a week and a half until we leave for the warm weather of Florida! Very exciting! We have planned a vacation with just James, Katie and I to go to Disney world, Epcot, and Hollywood studios while the littlest grandkids visit their Castleberry Grandparents. Hopefully they will have fun...I know we will! I am looking forward to meeting my newest neices (one is over 3 years old!) and nephew born last spring. Time sure flies.<br /><br />Up here, weather is warmer, days are longer...my favorite time of year up here. We can finally see the light, with summer right around the corner. Ice carvings are happenin' and the Ice Art park and slides will be open next week. Fun, fun, fun! Trip to Florida, Visit from my parents shortly after that :)<br /><br />Must be off...I'm surprised I had enough time to write all the above! Until next time~SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-70365261545896998572009-01-18T09:44:00.000-08:002009-01-18T13:28:17.058-08:00So, Alaska officially turns 50 this year! The fireworks celebration was held last night and was wonderful! That had intended to have it last weekend, but put it off because it was -40. Yesterday was a balmy 30 degrees ABOVE zero! We viewed the fireworks with some of Lucas's friends and their parents. Alejo's mom, Ellen, brought popcorn, which Lucas spent half the time eating. Alana loved the fireworks and wasn't scared...she oohed and aaaahhhed with Daddy. Katie enjoyed them as well! <br /><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><br /><TBODY><br /><TR><br /><TD><A href="http://smilebox.com/play/4e7a457a4d6a59304e413d3d0d0a&campaign=blog_playback_link&blogview=true" target=_blank><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" height=303 alt="Click to play Happy 50th Bday, Alaska!" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4e7a457a4d6a59304e413d3d0d0a.jpg" width=386></A></TD></TR><br /><TR><br /><TD><A href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target=_blank><IMG style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" height=46 alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" width=386></A></TD></TR><br /><TR><br /><TD align=middle><A href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows" target=_blank>Make a Smilebox slideshow</A></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Katie is currently selling Girl Scout Cookies. This is the first year we are not reminding her or being involved in any way except for when she asks us to be and so far she has sold 119 boxes!!! Her goal this year is 130 boxes, which is more than she has sold any other year and she is doing it all on her own! It has been very cool to watch her grow with this and take the initiative! Here is a little video of Lucas and Alejo...it's pretty cute.<br /><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-cb3872f4a0cba5e1 height=266 width=320 contentId="cb3872f4a0cba5e1"></OBJECT><br />Here's a cute video of Alana and Daddy singing the itsy bitsy spider...she wasn't as into it as she usually is, but at least I got something on video! And for some reason I couldn't get the video to load up normal (although I saved it right-side up), so please just tilt your head to the left for best effect. Until next time...adios!<br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-cb0301faa6fb982f height=266 width=320 contentId="cb0301faa6fb982f"></OBJECT>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-52649745634506338322009-01-13T22:01:00.001-08:002009-01-18T08:16:22.507-08:00Our newest addition to the family....Blond, blue-eyed and cute as a button! He's extremely curious, adventurous, and loves his water bowl! We welcome him with open arms into the Castleberry family! (technical difficulties finally subsided!) <OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-ba9889f0f9d9cd17 height=266 width=320 contentId="ba9889f0f9d9cd17"></OBJECT><br /><br />Lucas and his colorforms Silly Face that he made...he was SO proud! <A onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SW2DF7jLCyI/AAAAAAAAAGs/CpeLZgzKb1Y/s1600-h/100_0430.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291029275138001698 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SW2DF7jLCyI/AAAAAAAAAGs/CpeLZgzKb1Y/s320/100_0430.jpg" border=0></A> Alana, the moviestar... <A onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SW2DR_yfNWI/AAAAAAAAAG0/TaclhSy-grI/s1600-h/100_0451.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291029482434409826 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SW2DR_yfNWI/AAAAAAAAAG0/TaclhSy-grI/s320/100_0451.jpg" border=0></A> <A onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SW2EMtm_FSI/AAAAAAAAAG8/s6IA903TUUw/s1600-h/100_0450.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291030491166610722 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SW2EMtm_FSI/AAAAAAAAAG8/s6IA903TUUw/s320/100_0450.jpg" border=0></A>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-66313103904011943802009-01-04T13:09:00.000-08:002009-01-04T13:29:01.060-08:00Lesson learned...So, Christmas presents were late for the parents...my parents, that is, and I try my hardest to find a box they will all fit in. Not too big, not too small, something nice and cozy. The box I wanted was the one sent with presents from my parents to us, the one we used to put all the torn-off wrapping paper into on Christmas day, the one hubby promptly took to the dump the day after Christmas. The post office doesn't have a box the size <em>I</em> want. Neither does Fred Meyer, but I get this bright idea to put everything into a large tote container, one I believe my parents will get a use out of instead of something to be trashed once they've unpacked it. And I think to myself that in the log run I am saving money...why it should cost less to send one box then a bunch of little ones. <br /><br />I proudly take my tote home, meticulously load up everything into my tote while my hubby laughs at me and how particular I can be. I carefully wrap it in brown paper only to find out a much easier and better way to do it at the post office...just wrap tape around it and send it as is...only I'm apparently too smart and make things so incredibly difficult that I can't think of something as simple, quick, and easy as just putting tape around it. Not only that, but the size of it ended up costing me $10 extra to ship it. Instead of waste more time and have the presents arrive even later than they already are, I decided to send it as it was worth the money not to have to take another 2 hours going home, repacking everything in smaller boxes, driving back to the post office in minus 40 degree weather, standing in line for 40 minutes all over again just to save $10. <br /><br />So, lesson learned. Smaller and more is better in the eyes of the post office. Hopefully, you'll learn from my lesson instead of having to learn it the harder, but more fun, way!SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-5750877621924791522009-01-01T23:03:00.000-08:002009-01-01T23:11:03.633-08:00Lucas ~ 3 years old December 7thFinally, pics from Lucas's 3rd birthday party. Lucas has gotten WAY too many presents this month. I think we are going to instill a new rule...ok, we ARE INSTILLING a new rule right now. One present per person is allowed and no more! From his friends, he got moon sand (VERY cool, by the way!), Percy train, fish puzzle, Thomas toolbox, and dinosaurs. From his extended family, he got a medium sized monster truck, clothes, more train stuff, a dance pad, puzzles, etc. I can't seem to go on, which is the reason for the new found rule. Enjoy the "scrapbook" I've put together for you. On the last page, there is a little "happy b-day video"...very cute! A note on the cake...it was completely allergy-free (well, not completely...the black frosting for decor was not Lucas-friendly, as we would call it, but the majority was!) and tasted VERY good! I would even go back for seconds if I didn't have to set an example for the little ones! Unfortunately, Lucas couldn't have part of the face like he wanted due to the black frosting :( HAPPY BIRTHDAY,LUCAS! WE LOVE YOU!<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4e6a67794f4459334d413d3d0d0a&campaign=blog_playback_link&blogview=true" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play Birthday Boy!" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4e6a67794f4459334d413d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a></td></tr></table>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-7250366037994166822008-12-25T10:55:00.000-08:002008-12-25T11:25:56.045-08:00Merry Christmas!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SVPXVfkjptI/AAAAAAAAAGM/9ZDzCK3p6dI/s1600-h/christmas08.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SVPXVfkjptI/AAAAAAAAAGM/9ZDzCK3p6dI/s320/christmas08.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283803552087779026" /></a>Hope everyone is having a wonderful day...My lucky parents are in Mexico right now, so I am trying my best to keep in touch with them and everyone else at the same time. Hope you are having a great time! Christmas so far has been an adventure! It began with Alana waking up at 1am, then both little ones waking up around 3am, Lucas waking up again at 3:30 and us bribing him to stay in his room if he gets his Christmas lights back. Then both little ones getting up around 7am (not bad...) and hearing Lucas scream to keep the lights off when James turns on the dining room light. It didn't help when Lucas attempted to turn off the light, but couln't quite reach it yet, which frustrated him even more. Needless to say, it was a picture perfect start to Christmas Day, but it's beginning to get quite a bit better since Lucas is filling his tummy with red, green and white pancakes! Unfortunately, between Lucas's mood swings this morning and trying to get Alana to open presents, we took absolutey NO pictures! Unbelieveable! James did get some video footage and we'll try to take some pics throughout the day.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SVPb-9TQbII/AAAAAAAAAGk/d69PloPNtFg/s1600-h/18dec08+Alana2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SVPb-9TQbII/AAAAAAAAAGk/d69PloPNtFg/s320/18dec08+Alana2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283808662489427074" /></a><br />Alana's favorite present is the learning cell phone that we got for Lucas (which he hasn't even taken a second look at!) as well as the blanket I made her. Very cute. <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SVPbpRc_T-I/AAAAAAAAAGU/Ja8FVHyOU-0/s1600-h/14dec08+Santa+%26+Lucas.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SVPbpRc_T-I/AAAAAAAAAGU/Ja8FVHyOU-0/s320/14dec08+Santa+%26+Lucas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283808289941835746" /></a><br />Lucas's favorite present at first was the Thomas train barn that Grandma and Grandpa Castleberry got for him...after about 30 minutes he suddenly packed it up madly, insisted he didn't want it anymore and put it on the counter where it is still sitting. Right now, his favorites are the medium-sized lego blocks James got for him as well as the bath boat that Grandma and Grandpa Castleberry got for Alana. We are lucky a lot of these toys can be enjoyed by both kids! <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SVPbzqx0-qI/AAAAAAAAAGc/zmfV-wVxtoc/s1600-h/14dec08+Katie+%26+Santa.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SVPbzqx0-qI/AAAAAAAAAGc/zmfV-wVxtoc/s320/14dec08+Katie+%26+Santa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283808468538817186" /></a><br />Katie's favorite present is a star wars comic pack with a couple figures as well as the many toe socks she recieved from both us and Dan and Becky (my parents). Also, part of Christmas this year is James and I taking Katie to Disney World in March, which we are combining with a visit to James' parents and other family members. Lucas and Alana will get to spend 3 fun-filled days with Grandma and Grandpa Castleberry while the 3 of us are enjoying a little vacation to Disney World, MGM Studios and Epcot. The day before we leave, we will all be visiting Sea World (we get in free!!! Military rocks!) and enjoy some of the sights and sounds for a few hours or however long the little ones can manage to hang in there.<br /><br />This year, the Morgan family (i.e. mom, dad, kerri, sunny, james, katie) decided to draw names and make a present for the person we drew. Dad made James these BEAUTIFUL poor-boy sticks! Dad, you are amazing! Dad should definitely start a poor-boy stick-making business! I'll be happy to join in and make some as well :) Mom made me some great cards for me to use! The maker is always more critical than the gift-reciever and I LOVE them! I think they are great, Mom! She also made me a cute pair of earrings. Katie is still waiting to recieve hers (hint, hint, hint). But I can't exactly talk because Dad and Mom won't recieve theirs until they return from Mexico...<br /><br />Today, we are looking forward to ending the day with a Christmas Calzone/Pizza evening with some friends here at the house. We made homemade Calzones/Pizzas last year and we liked it so much that we've decided we are going to make it a family tradition!SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-7219931722321284752008-12-24T10:23:00.000-08:002008-12-25T16:17:32.671-08:00Alana UpdateSo....I didn't really keep my promise of keeping up the blog very well...obviously. What can I say? So, here are a couple videos of the two little ones. The video of Alana in the snow is TOO CUTE! She loves to be outside walking around. This was taken of our first time in the snow with her at about 0 degrees. It was fun and Alana really enjoyed it. <br /><br />Alana in the Snow<br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-c0f7e05445857ba3 height=266 width=320 contentId="c0f7e05445857ba3"></OBJECT><br /><br />Alana is now in her crib in Lucas's room, i.e. their room. She goes to bed SO easily now...she has some milk at bedtime and once she is done we put her in her crib with some music and leave the room, door shut behind us! How different it was with Lucas...He always HAD to be rocked to sleep...She does still get up about once per night to have more milk, but goes right back to bed after that. Sometimes Lucas and Alana wake up and talk to each other...so cute! We'll go in after a few minutes and Lucas will yell out with the biggest smile "We are talkin' Mommy [Daddy]!"<br /><br />Below is a video of Lucas and Alana sliding on the slide we have downstairs...one of James' band buddies gave us that and it saved us last winter! And it is saving us again this winter! Lucas and Alana love to climb and slide on it every few days or so...so nice when it's dark out most of the time we are home with them. During the weekends when it gets light out in the middle of the day, Lucas will tell us it's time to go shopping because it is light out...very funny.<br /><br />Lucas and Alana sliding on the slide<br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-d8738c1d95eacab8 height=266 width=320 contentId="d8738c1d95eacab8"></OBJECT><br /><br />So we are trying a new strategy with Lucas...every time I get on the phone with my mom she always gets to hear of Lucas's latest whining or yelling or hitting or screaming fit or...you get the picture...So I've finally picked up a book. At the beginning I thought I was at least doing some things right...well, according to the Love and Logic books, I sort of was...there was more I was doing not right, though. So we've put some of the ideas into action last night and this morning and so far, so good! For example, Lucas decided to whine and wipe his peaches off the plate I put them on onto the table and insisted on wanting to put them on a pink plate rather than the blue plate I asked him to put it on. I instantly scooped him up stating (with lots of empathy) that it was so sad that he would have to have some room time and not get to eat lunch yet. So I put him in his room not saying another word and stood outside his door for about 15 minutes before he calmed down. I then opened his door (yes, he did try to come out but I just held the door shut...), gave him a big hug, told him I loved him and asked if he was ready to eat at the table (earlier he insisted on eating in the living room). I said nothing more, no lectures, nothing. Lucas came calmly out of the room, immediately picked up his peaches and put them onto the blue plate and proceeded to eat his lunch without another incident!!! I was absolutely shocked, pleasantly surprised, and very pleased.<br /><br />Bull moose we had right outside our house the other night! It actually walked within an arms-length away while he was standing in the doorway with the cameras!!! Scary, but so cool!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SVLYuMuXpdI/AAAAAAAAAGE/l_xF--4ePkg/s1600-h/bullmoose1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SVLYuMuXpdI/AAAAAAAAAGE/l_xF--4ePkg/s320/bullmoose1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283523601060308434" /></a><br /><br />We'll be putting a video of Katie's latest main part in her Christmas play shortly. She did great on her Math final ALL ON HER OWN! Without any help she got an A on her math final! We were amazed and she was pleased. Overall, she got 3 A's and 3 B's and we'll be going to a report card movie during the break. She always enjoys those. <br /><br />More to come...Lucas's b-day pics..he is 3 years old! And more miscellaneous pics as well. Love to all!SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-37293795730665602102008-11-19T14:26:00.000-08:002008-11-19T14:56:05.077-08:00November UpdateSo, it's been awhile...a bit hectic and crazy again...trying to pay off those bills we accrued during the past year with me in school! I've taking a rather good paying position after school for 2 hours M-Th with an elementary after school program! I work with 2nd and 3rd graders helping them with homework. I got my first hug yesterday afternoon from a kid named Elijah! That has been a good change from high school...instead of getting the worst sub award on a daily basis (someone in high school is BOUND to hate you at some point during the day!), I get smiles and hugs. So that has been fun.<br /><br />We are currently in the process of letting Alana cry it out at night. She's done really well! Last night was her 2nd night sleeping completely through. The night before I actually got up and rocked her for a bit in the living room. Lucas has been in our room (since they share a room...) so that he can sleep through Alana's crying (which only occurs sometimes and not for very long). Before, he would be in his room while she cried and would yell "Stop crying Alana!" On his more understanding days, he might say "It's ok Alana, it's ok...". We should be able to move Lucas back in there this coming weekend.<br /><br />Other Alana updates...she <br />-likes climbing on chairs now<br />-uses chairs/step-stools to get to something higher<br />-brings books to us to read with her<br />-will get dressed willingly if she thinks the clothes we have for her are "pretty"<br />-will run from us if she doesn't want to wear what we've chosen<br />-will choose pajamas to wear if given two choices<br />-njoys wearing regular shoes<br />-sleeps mostly through the night for over 10 hours at a time<br />-is almost on just one nap per day<br /><br />Lucas is still working on potty training. He'll keep his underwear dry if he has them on, but as soon as he gets a pull-up on, it's all over and he doesn't go on the potty chair. He still won't poop in his potty chair and comes to us to say "Can you turn the light on in my bedroom so that I can poop?" He says it SO sweetly and it is SO funny when he does! He'll go into his room, shut the door and come out about 30 minutes later...If Alana is in there, he insists on going downstairs for that time alone.<br /><br />Lucas...<br />-LOVES reading books!<br />-can put a 35 piece puzzle together by himself<br />-can put a 60 piece puzzle together with help (he LOVES puzzles!)<br />-would eat oatmeal every meal of the day if we let him<br />-still loves gatorade like nobody's business<br />-Loves to run and run and run and run and run and run and run...get the picture?<br />-loves play-doh and legos<br /><br />Katie is still working away at school. She's in drama this winter again and is excited about the play coming up in December. They've got drama practice pretty much every afternoon, so we barely get to see her except for the weekends! She is really looking forward to Thanksgiving and making pumpkin pie!<br /><br />I'll put pictures up next time around, as well as 7 strange things about me...I've been tagged by Brianna. I, too, informed by hubby that I was rather normal and he just laughed really loud...so I guess that means I'm not "that" normal. One of my strangenesses I must take a picture of because words cannot explain it very well...so, until next time!SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-21344707635982428912008-11-02T10:42:00.000-08:002008-11-02T10:56:03.178-08:00Happy Halloween!This year Katie was "Lucy" from the Charlie Brown comics, Lucas was a train engineer, and Alana was a pirate. Alana was supposed to have a pirate hat on, but her head was actually TOO big for the hat! We took Lucas and Alana to the UAF Museum where they had different activities for the kids. Lucas was fascinated with the butterfly house that had live butterflies flying around. Alana loved just running everywhere! Katie had two parties to go to. One at Access Alaska where she worked last summer and one at her friend, Lexi's, house in the evening. She had a really good time. No trick-or-treating this year. Since Lucas can't really eat any of the candy and Alana is not old enough, we figured we could save that for the next year.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ31qaaIUwI/AAAAAAAAAEU/WugMC4Evblk/s1600-h/pumpkins.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ31qaaIUwI/AAAAAAAAAEU/WugMC4Evblk/s320/pumpkins.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264133648458208002" /></a><br />A picture of Katie and her friend, Lexie.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ31jUjOt5I/AAAAAAAAAEM/scOWe6kIOxY/s1600-h/Katie+and+Lexie+costumes.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ31jUjOt5I/AAAAAAAAAEM/scOWe6kIOxY/s320/Katie+and+Lexie+costumes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264133526626678674" /></a> <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ32d_yxVEI/AAAAAAAAAFE/OBuKxTa_Sqs/s1600-h/Lucas+engineer.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ32d_yxVEI/AAAAAAAAAFE/OBuKxTa_Sqs/s320/Lucas+engineer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264134534666998850" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ32HgWsb1I/AAAAAAAAAE0/ZOXL-YX3eMU/s1600-h/Daddy+%26+Alana+pirate.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ32HgWsb1I/AAAAAAAAAE0/ZOXL-YX3eMU/s320/Daddy+%26+Alana+pirate.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264134148270616402" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ32AH-yvzI/AAAAAAAAAEs/MOh-3CWnnvE/s1600-h/mommy+and+kids+in+costumes.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ32AH-yvzI/AAAAAAAAAEs/MOh-3CWnnvE/s320/mommy+and+kids+in+costumes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264134021468831538" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ316Hy4EaI/AAAAAAAAAEk/JnEEz48bhsk/s1600-h/lucas+engineer+closeup.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ316Hy4EaI/AAAAAAAAAEk/JnEEz48bhsk/s320/lucas+engineer+closeup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264133918339633570" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ31y1Y7TlI/AAAAAAAAAEc/_JNEOignPCo/s1600-h/Alana+pirate.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQ31y1Y7TlI/AAAAAAAAAEc/_JNEOignPCo/s320/Alana+pirate.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264133793139871314" /></a>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-28201555460591571732008-10-26T22:46:00.001-07:002008-10-26T23:07:30.616-07:00Katie's Bowling<A href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQVWmCM_RdI/AAAAAAAAAEE/1jHY1ZTKJls/s1600-h/oct08+katie+bowling+team.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261706951078659538 style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQVWmCM_RdI/AAAAAAAAAEE/1jHY1ZTKJls/s320/oct08+katie+bowling+team.jpg" border=0></A> <br />Katie had her Special Olympics local bowling competition this weekend. She bowled a total of 9 games and her scores were: 84, 90, 112, 85, 85, 78, 82, 120, and 87! Go Katie. This is the first year that Katie has bowled over 100 and she is very excited about it. Katie has bowled over 100 quite a few other times this season as well. We may need to actually get her a heavier ball next year...Katie got two 1st place awards and one 2nd place award. The picture is of Katie and her team mates...she is such a little poser! <br /><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-370e9f9f470cd2f9 height=266 width=320 contentId="370e9f9f470cd2f9"></OBJECT><br /><br />p.s. Lucas spent most of the day in dry underwear! Go Lucas!SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-35660044851172489182008-10-25T09:27:00.000-07:002008-10-25T10:02:46.140-07:00So, below is a video of the two littles one taking a bath. Too cute! They played so well together...Alana idolizes her big brother, but Lucas doesn't always return the admiration. He's mostly concerned with being first...First to take a bite, first to get into the van, first down the stairs, first, first, first! So this morning during breakfast I told him "it doesn't work that way" and he repeated that phrase over and over again. Hmmm.<br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-758d51694ee34d7a height=266 width=320 contentId="758d51694ee34d7a"></OBJECT>So Lucas has started to train us on a new routine of his while dropping him off at daycare. James decided to drop off Lucas, then drop off Alana on the other side, then come back and put all of Lucas's stuff (now that it's winter...) into his cubby. When he entered Lucas's side of the building, Lucas was at the top of the stairs crying his head off with huge tears running down his face. When he saw Daddy, he said "You didn't scoot me!". Turns out that not only do we have to give him #1) his oatmeal #2) kisses #3) hugs (big hugs) and #4) noses, but also #5 scoot him on his little stool towards the table, even if it is little just a nudge! He really is so cute and pityful at the same time!<br /><br /><br />Here are some pics of the week. Cute one of Lucas, Alana, and the Bears. This was very cute because Lucas went to give Alana the little bear many times! He was being very sweet. <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQNN6489SEI/AAAAAAAAAD0/4W8gVd7gunI/s1600-h/lucas+alana+bears.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQNN6489SEI/AAAAAAAAAD0/4W8gVd7gunI/s320/lucas+alana+bears.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261134463814682690" /></a><br />Katie is in her Lucy costume that I made her this year. Had NO pattern and it turned out really good! All we need to get now is blue socks and she'll be set to go! They are having dress-up day at the high school on Wednesday and then there are a couple of Halloween parties she'll get to go to on Halloween. She is VERY excited...has always LOVED halloween! Katie also performed her first high school play last night, which was called "Just Another High School Play". She has thoroughly enjoyed drama club this year and loves acting (of course!). James taped it, so it will be on the next family DVD we send out...hopefully around Christmas time.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQNNyeV13eI/AAAAAAAAADs/cxDFITe_Zws/s1600-h/katie+lucy.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQNNyeV13eI/AAAAAAAAADs/cxDFITe_Zws/s320/katie+lucy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261134319232343522" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is a regular look for Lucas in the mornings. He loves this blanket I gave him. It was a blanket made by my mentor and the classes last year for me. He likes to wrap himself in it, sit in the rocking chair and drink his gatorade.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQNNk-ln6gI/AAAAAAAAADk/8O6qui5dCE8/s1600-h/lucas+turtle.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQNNk-ln6gI/AAAAAAAAADk/8O6qui5dCE8/s320/lucas+turtle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261134087370304002" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This morning Alana got on the chair and laid back on Eliza and her bear. It was very cute! And isn't she cute in her Halloween outfit that Great Grandma bought her? She looks SO good in bold colors. Love it!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQNNTNOoEfI/AAAAAAAAADc/qTaTvuuRu3Q/s1600-h/25oct08+01Alana+%26+Eliza.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQNNTNOoEfI/AAAAAAAAADc/qTaTvuuRu3Q/s320/25oct08+01Alana+%26+Eliza.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261133782062731762" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQNQo-wOlrI/AAAAAAAAAD8/hG7WOyf9yhw/s1600-h/alana+halloween+outfit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SQNQo-wOlrI/AAAAAAAAAD8/hG7WOyf9yhw/s320/alana+halloween+outfit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261137454669141682" /></a>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-15856980295612143612008-10-12T21:18:00.001-07:002008-10-12T21:23:46.013-07:00Isn't she beautiful?!?!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SPLM86PXeNI/AAAAAAAAADU/_RYQUrvPud8/s1600-h/12oct08+01Katie.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SPLM86PXeNI/AAAAAAAAADU/_RYQUrvPud8/s320/12oct08+01Katie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256489061892716754" /></a><br />We just got Katie's hair cut yesterday and her pics taken today. She went from looking like a kid to looking like a beautiful teenager in minutes! What beautiful curls she has...I'm jealous! Anyway, I took her pic out our back door after we got back today while it was snowing. The snow was awesome today...we got about 4 inches and Lucas and Alana trudged around in the yard for awhile. Alana actually liked it today and didn't cry a bit! Lucas loved it, of course.SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-59134644453156634912008-10-07T22:32:00.000-07:002008-10-07T23:06:39.116-07:00Snow!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxJDqaFEUI/AAAAAAAAAB8/HBZLbvVjb_s/s1600-h/28oct08+01Snowy+tree+shower.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxJDqaFEUI/AAAAAAAAAB8/HBZLbvVjb_s/s320/28oct08+01Snowy+tree+shower.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254655192506634562" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxJLjmsV7I/AAAAAAAAACE/Lail52L-heE/s1600-h/28oct08+02Snowy+tree+shower+aftermath.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxJLjmsV7I/AAAAAAAAACE/Lail52L-heE/s320/28oct08+02Snowy+tree+shower+aftermath.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254655328119445426" /></a><br /><br />Well, it snowed for the first time on Sept.28. I think it's here to stay. Since it was on the weekend, we took advantage of the first snow and played around in it making snow angels and shaking the snow off the trees down on us. Alana did not like her snowgear very much, though.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxKQooXWxI/AAAAAAAAACk/R0xP-Yx4K38/s1600-h/28oct08+03Mommy%26Lucas+snow+angels.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxKQooXWxI/AAAAAAAAACk/R0xP-Yx4K38/s320/28oct08+03Mommy%26Lucas+snow+angels.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254656514879609618" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxMWImUInI/AAAAAAAAACs/h3tknemrKdo/s1600-h/05oct08+04Mommy,Lucas%26Alana.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxMWImUInI/AAAAAAAAACs/h3tknemrKdo/s320/05oct08+04Mommy,Lucas%26Alana.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254658808383545970" /></a> Lucas and I made the yarn octopus that Lucas is holding in the picture. I got the idea from my sister-in-law Brianna and Lucas really enjoyed helping me make it! <br /><br />Lucas is now in full potty-training mode. He didn't do too well tonight. And he picked tonight to poop in his bath...first time ever! He had a horrible day at daycare and I guess he was feeling obstinant the rest of the evening, eh? Needless to say, he only went to the bathroom in his pottychair once tonight and rebelled all other attempts. Normal? We have been using monster trucks as an incentive for his potty-training and so far it works fairly well (except for tonight, of course...). The trucks are well-made and actually last for a toy and Lucas is learning such formidable names such as "Grave Digger" and "Scarlet Bandit". I have been almost fully introduced into the world of monster trucks, downloading u-tube videos of them for Lucas to watch during his spare time. The only thing I think he'd like better is for the trucks we buy him to be bigger and to be able to actually see these things in person! I must say we are raising our son to be a "real man"!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxNdoLUnpI/AAAAAAAAADE/dkdGBqzbSXQ/s1600-h/06oct08+02Lucas+with+monster+trucks.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxNdoLUnpI/AAAAAAAAADE/dkdGBqzbSXQ/s320/06oct08+02Lucas+with+monster+trucks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254660036630978194" /></a><br /><br /><br />Alana enjoys whatever Lucas is playing with...she loves her monster trucks as well. She has started to really show some personality and her likes and dislikes. She will now push something away if she doesn't want it. She is also saying many different words, although most of them aren't really clear yet.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxNyuK8ENI/AAAAAAAAADM/JS11MUNYMik/s1600-h/01oct08+03Alana.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxNyuK8ENI/AAAAAAAAADM/JS11MUNYMik/s320/01oct08+03Alana.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254660399017234642" /></a><br /><br />Katie's play is coming up later this month - "It's just another high school play". And she is doing awesome at bowling! She's gotten above 100 points in seven games so far and is very proud of herself. I think she's starting to actually get an ego on her that we have to deflate every once in awhile. As you can see from the picture, Katie is loves Mickey Mouse! She can't stop thinking about Disney World!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxNLhy8VZI/AAAAAAAAAC8/vEilb6D8unw/s1600-h/05oct08+05Katie+%26+Mickey.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGow4_pAeWg/SOxNLhy8VZI/AAAAAAAAAC8/vEilb6D8unw/s320/05oct08+05Katie+%26+Mickey.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254659725680465298" /></a>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-90807344660012995702008-10-06T22:06:00.000-07:002008-10-06T22:18:23.132-07:00Alana's 1st B-day!Alana is a year old already! She is such a fun little girl to have around. She absolutely loves her big brother, although he may have different feelings about having a little sister...The day was perfect to celebrate her birthday! The leaves were in full color, the sky was clear and we had just a few close friends celebrate her special day with us. I made cupcakes that anyone with one of the most common 8 food allergies could eat and they actually tasted great! We've also found chocolate chips Lucas can have as well, so I put some of those in the cupcakes also. Alana didn't really care for the cake or frosting too much. Guess we should have trained her up right before the party, eh? <br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4e4467344e4455794d513d3d0d0a&campaign=blog_playback_link&blogview=true" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play Alana's First Birthday!" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4e4467344e4455794d513d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a></td></tr></table>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245294171539045207.post-19121797547000900292008-08-31T16:18:00.000-07:002008-08-31T16:19:50.690-07:00Baby Girl Birthday Invite<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4e4451344d4467344e773d3d0d0a&campaign=blog_playback_link&blogview=true" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play b-day invite" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4e4451344d4467344e773d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own greeting - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/ecards" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox greeting</a></td></tr></table>SunnyRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004609065751547164noreply@blogger.com1