Happy Birthday Brennan!

Brennan had his seventh birthday this year and received a new kitty, whom he named after a girl at school he was friends with - "Alyssa."

Looks like it's party hat time!

Looks like Bella's struggling with her party hat!

Cruise on the Portland Spirit

A picture Hubby took of me while we were on the "Portland Spirit," going down the Willamette River through Portland. We won tickets through work or on the radio or something to take this little dinner cruise, which we later were told by our friends was nicknamed "The Booze Cruise." So we got there, and yeah, it pretty much lived up to its name.

This must be where Harrison gets his "cock your head to the side for pictures" thing he's been doing since at least last year (2007).

Hubby's turn for pictures! We can't believe how much hair he had.

It was a cloudy evening, but still beautiful. A fun trip.

Summer 1999

Brennan looking very handsome in kindergarten class.

Brennan and Bella playing in House #1's backyard with my friend Shelly K.'s two oldest, Brooke and Grant. Shelly's husband Tom joined the Church a few years after they were married, and they came to Portland to be sealed in the temple. We went to their sealing, which was very touching. Many, many happy tears that day.

Harrison's Blessing

Harrison was given a name (Harrison William) and a blessing in early August 1999. We chose his name while expecting Bella in Logan - somehow we knew our next one would be a boy and that would be his name. It was the easiest name-choosing experience of all our kids.

He wore the blessing outfit I made for Brennan when he was born. Carter wore it too. It's a little tuxedo pattern with a Peter Pan collar and a big ribbon tied under the collar. I made it out of satin and the boys wore little matching satin shoes.

We had a family dinner afterward. Here are Ernie, me holding Harrison, Neenaw, Gran, Dad and Melanie, in the kitchen of our first house. It was great to have everyone come for Harrison's big day.

Neenaw, Gran and Mel

Neenaw and Gran

Brennan and Bella (in back) with some of the neighbor kids.

Jen & Matt's Wedding

July 1999, Jen and Matt's wedding: The S's and new W's

Jen & Matt lookin' jolly

My little babies

Hubby looking ever so manly with his Snugli - I look like a tired new mom

Bella, Becky holding Harrison, Brennan - what a difference eight years makes!

Neenaw, Hubby and Harrison

Back when there were only five of us... Harrison was not quite two months old. Of course I felt fat because I had just had a baby, but I look at this picture now and think, what was I thinking? I looked great! Probably because I'm sitting down and wearing black. I look MAHVELOUS!

Brennan and Bella, under one of the big trees in the atrium. I love that place - such a smart idea for our rainy weather and the brides and grooms who want their picture taken at the temple, without getting splashed with raindrops.

Father's Day Primary Activity

We had a "Dress Like Dad" relay race at this activity. Obviously we didn't use Hubby's slacks. These kids are all in high school or middle school now.

Bella in her "man outfit"

On to some harmless chalkboard activity

Doing the "new baby pass-off"

Look at those chubby cheeks - and he's using one of those awesome Grandma Timothy flannel blankets. She died before most of our kids were born, but she worked hard on those blankets before they came and we're grateful we still have a little piece of Grandma hanging around.

Pa, Grandma & Kristy's Visit

Grannie bought an awesome tent and Velcro tunnels for the kids this spring. They loved it.

Pa, Brennan and Bella trying out the view from the mesh window.

Brennan

Bella

Some action shots outside: I was still recovering from the C-section, which was particularly painful this time, so I don't know how it happened that everyone went outside and played baseball in their pajamas on the front lawn. But there you have it.





Now Kristy gets in on the act

Then Brennan

Our new little Harrison, just a few weeks old

Kristy's birthday is May 25 and she turned 34 this year. We had a little birthday party for her. I didn't bake my usual layer cake since I was still feeling cruddy, but we did make the chocolate sour cream frosting... mmmmm.











Hi there. It's 12:30 in the afternoon and I'm sitting here in my husband's plaid nightshirt with my white serrated Tupperware knife. Wanna fight about it?

Our visit also included a trip to Portland's Rose Test Gardens. It was a gorgeous day. Here are Kristy, Grandma, Pa, Bella and Brennan.

Kristy and the kids

At the Temple

John received his endowment in the Portland temple. We drove down from Vancouver to see the fam. Harrison was three weeks old.

I love this one of Gran and Neenaw holding Harrison in the temple.

Harrison Shows Up

Harrison was our first born-on-time baby. Brennan was 2 1/2 weeks late, Bella was two weeks late - exactly two weeks because we scheduled a C-section just in case I didn't go into labor, and I didn't - and with Harrison, we thought, "Forget it! We're having a kid on his due date, for once!"

Last few minutes of being two-kid parents

Let's operate!

Grannie joined us in the operating room

Fresh from the womb, covered in "cheese." Since the first two kids were born so late, this was our first experience with a "cheesy" baby. Mom's first words to him were, "Hello, Bob!" Immediately it was easy to see he was a carbon-copy of Hubby and Pa. A few years later, I brought Harrison and baby Carter to visit Hubby at his office. The receptionist had never seen us before, but she took one look at Harrison, picked up the phone and called Hubby down to the front desk. "I'm looking at your twin," she said.

Being weighed and measured

First inspection - they had me covered in blankets because that wonderful spinal anesthetic (seriously, I looked forward to it because it was so nice to be NUMB after hurting all those months) always made me so cold. The nurses would wrap me in toasty-warm blankets... ahhhh.

Grannie gets a tearful look at Harrison

Meeting Aunt Mel for the first time

First bath - not so sure about this...

Ahhhhh. He was such a good, calm, easy baby. He slept through the night his first night home. Not any other night after that, but...

The three kids

... with Mom

Hangin' out with Daddy

Being dressed for his first picture

Look how tiny he is in that car seat! Welcome to the world, Little Bear!