Halloween 2009.

witch season

Gardner Village always does a great job decorating... Audrey looks forward (and now Bethany, too) to going to see the witches. They also had fun feeding the ducks and dressing up for the West Jordan pumpkin walk (which was fun, but it can't beat Logan's). Thanks mom for a fun weekend!

Summer has always been my favorite season. I don't know if it's the long nights, warm weather, flowers or tomatoes from the garden, or just that school is out. I love the magic of pretending and hope it stays for a long time for my girls. I also hope summer holds out a little longer too, at least for my garden. My sister made these cute wants for both girls; they love them! Thanks Em! Here are some pics we took at my mom's last week.

Secret Lake Hike

here is one pic at the lake, I'll post a gallery link later- Laura, you're more than welcome to have any of these you want. Thanks, mom, for putting it all together.

caterpillar dreaming

As a kid, I spent a great deal of time with my grandparents, which was wonderful. They were both retired teachers; my grandfather taught science. He was always doing some project with me. I’d help him formaldehyde insects and pin them up, learning all about thoracic segments, prothorax, etc. to learning about plants and lichen on trees. Apparently, I stopped everyone getting off the bus one day to point out some algae in the gutter. Yes, I am a geek to this day. I wanted Audrey and Bethany to get a little exposure too, so, we looked for an egg, but to no avail. We did find some caterpillars; one I could identify as a monarch, the other maybe a leopard moth? The girls loved watching them eat (about 5 times their own weight every day; I understand why they can do so much damage) and miraculously spin their chrysalis. I thought there was a good chance we’d lose at least one, but the first one was a success. The girls had such a fun time watching them that we’d really like to share this fun with someone else. So, does anyone want a caterpillar? :) We have a wooly bear and another unknown moth, maybe another leopard moth... similar to our first one. So, really, if anyone wants a caterpillar, please let us know! :)

My mom got these old photos to me to scan a while ago. They're of my dad's dad, Frank Pierson. They are a few of the ONLY photos I've ever seen of Frank. So, if anyone Pierson-related wants a copy of one for any purpose (family history, dart board :) etc.) just email me and I'll be happy to send you a decent sized file for your computer or to print (these are web-quality only). I like the top one of the work horses. I can't believe not that long ago, tractors weren't extensively used.

Guess I missed Christmas in July already...

I can't believe it's the END of August....the weather made summer feel like it's been 2 weeks long. I feel like I need to make up for it all this month before it gets cold again. I've taken a few pics of my girls (good for me, I feel like I don't do it often enough usually) but I'm getting excited about doing family pictures for the holidays, too. This was last years photo for Bonnie and Steve (we shot it on a warm day in September or October) It was a lot of fun to do! This year I am dying to dress up a dad as Santa, with mom giving dad a kiss, and the kids in his lap, all in a rocking chair! :)

rainy day mondays always make me smile

We've had the best weather lately.... I love when it rains! I got these cool watering cans for $2 and have wanted to take some pics with the girls in their raincoats... so I got the opportunity to do so this week. It doesn't look rainy, but we all (especially Doug who wasn't under an umbrella) got soaked. It was fun.

The many faces of Emily

I simply adore my sister Emily; she is the sweetest girl. She also looks cute when she makes faces... something that I can't do. She is thinking about going on a mission (we're so excited!) So, Emily, here are 2 to choose from (I can post more, too) but the top is my favorite one, the one on the bottom doesn't have any editing done yet. Double click on the row to see close-up.

July adventures

So Doug had been sick, and we needed to get out of the house, too. He'd also been on gone and staying late for work last month a lot, too. So I rewarded myself by getting out of the house and trying to take a few pics of my girls. I know it's cliche, but they grow up SO fast! Anyway, we're glad we've gotten to play some this summer, with friends (thanks Zuich's and Perry's as well as Anderson's and Barnett's for the 4th) Hopefully we can hit Bear Lake again (don't worry folks, no bears- Audrey makes sure to clarify that EVERY time we go :) ) and have a little bit more of warm weather (what's been up with the 50's in August, anyway?)

"really, mom, this is SO boring... are we almost done?"

Audrey loves to point out the tabernacle every time we drive past it. They also have some fun free concerts in the summer at noon.

A summer evening in Cache Valley.

I (Doug) love where we live. I was sick all last week, and so to stay away from the kids one evening, I went out and shot some pictures. It was peaceful and refreshing. Here are some of my favorites.



Note: You can double click on the slide show, and then click full screen if you want to see these images at a reasonable size.

I have a hard time believing it is almost July... we turned on the ac once for the first time this year and watered our grass the second time since last fall. For the most part, it has been a very nice spring. And although it is finally warming up, my kids still like to parade around in their winter coats and hats. Go figure. :)

maybe

maybe, if you've read Purple, Green & Yellow.....
maybe if the people who know you best think you only like to do "safe" activities...
maybe if you don't mind editing blue off of your kids face in the family photo you'll take tomorrow.....
then maybe it's just good for your soul to paint with your fingers (or mouth or whatever..) every now and then


Audrey couldn't wait to wash her hands (even for a pic) so I turned around for a second and Bethany jumped into the containers....van gogh would have been jealous.


Edible Finger paint.... I always think of the lickable wallpaper from the movie I broke as a kid because I watched it soooo many times.

1 package unsweetened KoolAide (I used black cherry (red), pina (yellow) and a blue kind)
1/4 cup sugar
1 heaping tablespoon clear jel (you can find this at a kitchen store)
3 ounces water.
Mix sugar, KoolAide and clear jel in a bowl, then add the water and blend well. It is thick and dries glossy and pliable.

We're glad to be back home after a week and a half in SL. We put in my mom's sprinkler pipes (next week heads) and got over some very long yucky stomach flu...it took the girls 6 days each to get over it and 2 days at Primary Childrens for an IV for Bethany. The girls had fun, as always, with grandma, uncle Spencer, and "Auntie Em". Bethany especially had fun riding fast on the trike with Emily. I'm very grateful for hospitals and doctors and the times we are all healthy. We're also glad it's summer and for strawberries out of the garden....mmmmm.

I decided with all the extra pipe from the sprinklers it would be fun for the girls to have a playhouse. I bought some fittings (about $20) and 2 king flats from the di ($3 together) and bought a mesh laundry bag from the dollar store that I cut for the window. I know how often I get invited in for a tea party, so I made it extra big. 40 inches by 65? or so and 5'7" at the tallest point. It's tall enough for me to completely stand up inside without hitting my head... and big enough to get a few kids in there and have some room to spare. I traced the shape on the floor onto the sheet, cut it out, and sewed it together, and added some wide seam-binding for around the window and door. You can order a pricey 4-opening fitting, but I just put a few pieces together and it works the same (last pic). I left it unglued so it can be taken apart and stored in little space. I think I'd like to have them help paint it, too, but that's a project for another day.... I love toys that encourage imagination, and with the extra pipe pieces, it was only about $25!