Christmas Cookies

It was Maile's 1st time making cookies and she loved helping her Momma in the kitchen! It was trying at times because she was eating the flour and licking the spoon and messing up the dough. I guess thats what makes it a learning experience for her! (luckily we were the only ones eating the cookies!) Everyday she pulls a chair up to the counter and asks.."cookies?" I just might have a Rachel Ray on my hands! Here are some classic shots...enjoy...and Merry Christmas!

My sweet little family

I'm not sure if there are even words that can express how I feel when I look at this picture. Is it love? Is it joy? Is it pride? Is it unexplainable? Why yes...it is. The other day as I uploaded these photos I just sat and stared at this one. This is my family...my love...my devotion. I think I need to be pinched or socked in the arm or something because it all doesn't seem real. I could have never predicted this for myself and never dreamed it would be this good. I have been given a gift that I will hold close to my heart and cherish and protect. Its definatly not a job to be taken lightly and I am so thankful each and everyday for the blessings that I have been given.

What a blessing,,

Thanksgiving means family...and family means a ton of people when you are talking about the Sipes clan!! It was a busy busy weekend filled with food, fun, and family. It was wonderful to see everyone and spend time with family that we don't get to see nearly enough. For us it worked out perfect because we were able to have the baby blessed while they were all here! Uncle Russell was able to once again bless one of our babies. It really means the world to us...Thank you Uncle Russ...we LOVE you! Here are just a few that were taken.

Rainy Days...

Just a few pics that I had to post of Maile girl. These are a few photos that I took of Maile on her first official rainy day! She LOVED the rain and was soaked from head to toe by the time she came in the house. Daddy let her stomp through the puddles and make a huge mess. She didn't want to leave the front walkway..she didn't realize that it was raining out in the driveway too..lol. It was a thrill to watch her discover nature.

Welcome to our world Sawyer!

Just a few pics...because I know that Auntie Marcie is dying to see him :-)

Richard Sawyer Sipes

11/13/08

8lbs 3oz

20 1/4 inches

Pumpkins!!

Yesterday we went to Avila Valley Barn to take some pictures of the kiddos with the pumpkins. We did this last year and had some pretty great results and this year was no different. Wait...it was different. Maile was a year older and MUCH more interested in everything else BUT taking a picture! I was pretty impressed that I was able to get some cute ones of her..she was being rather difficult. Tanner is Mr. Camera man so of course I ended up with some priceless ones of him. They loved all the pumpkins. As we were pulling in Tanner said..."Hey Auntie...last year I wore my costume here!!" I have no clue how he remembered that...but he was right. Maile found a little pumpkin that she loved (she's holding it in the photo's) and so before we left I had Tanner pick out a pumpkin too. He picked up one and I said..."Is that your pumpkin" and he said..."No Auntie....its a pumpkin for the baby in your belly!" I thought that was the sweetest thing...and had to buy the pumpkin for baby boy. Tanner then went on to add that..."I like the bigger pumpkins!" :-) So..needless to say each child left with their own little pumpkin..including baby boy in my belly.

ok...1 more thing...Maile loves the paw print on Tanner's shirt...she keeps saying.."A CLUE...A CLUE!" too funny!

cousin time!

We've been working here and there in our backyard and this weekend Maile had two of her cousins over to play. They ADORED the pile of dirt in the backyard and spent a few hours climbing up and down and having the greatest time. It was too funny to watch them spend time together. Here are some shots of their afternoon...

















Tanner and Camden on the pile o dirt!














eating some ravioli's together















and some popsicles...




















and last but not least....my little messy faced...smiley Maile girl!!
:-)

the costume and the quad

I have to hide Maile's Halloween costume from her because she loves it so much. Yesterday I was holding her and I opened her closet to grab her a pair of shoes and suuuree enough she saw it and was sooo thrilled that I had to let her put the jacket on. She headed straight outdoors to show Daddy how cute she was and to hop on her quad. She rode around forever all dressed up It was the cutest thing (almost as cute as the naked quad day) Enjoy!

She pretends she is flying...thats why her arms are back.




















I just adore my cheesy cheeseball!!

a few hot days...

this past week we had a couple hot ones. Maile loves to be outside and is thrilled to play in the water. I took a couple shots of her having a good time in the warm California sun! She is getting sooo big its crazy!! I can't believe that in about 1 month she will be a big sister!! yikees!!

ok...per Marcie's request..

Well Marcie...I think you are the only one that even checks our blog...and since you wanted to see my prego bod...here ya go! This was taken with my cell phone about 2 weeks ago...so I can promise you I am bigger but I need to take some more pics!

Momma with baby boy at 7.5 months

nakey butt

I couldn't resist! Maile got a little motorized quad on Friday and as I was getting her stripped down and ready for her bath she ran out the front door for one more ride on the quad...it was too cute not to capture and share!

shaving cream fun

So...it was a nice day last weekend and we decided to use some of Daddy's shaving cream to play in! I had NO CLUE that my little girl wouldn't want to play in it. I put some on her hands and she totally wasn't into making a mess. Now...this is from a girl that loves to play in the mud, eat dirt, rocks and dog food. She didn't want much to do with the shaving cream. On the other hand....Tanner had a BLAST...it was fun to watch him go nuts with the shaving cream and since we were outside it only took a garden hose for clean up! whew! Anyway....good times.

Potty Time

Well..we've been slowly introducing the concept of Potty time to Maile. Occasionally we will set her on the potty for a trial run..with no luck. We even let her come in and visit with us when we are going. The other night Richard calls to me "Babe...come here quick...and grab your camera" And this is what we found....

the funnies part is she is reading "how to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk" UPSIDE DOWN! haha! what a nut! We love her so!!

Ohh how we missed him...

Last week was the first time that Richard had been gone for a week and man...was it tough. I know that Daddy missed his baby...but as you can tell by the photo's...she missed her Daddy too. The day he came home she wouldn't let him out of her sight...even when he needed to get rest from driving all night to get home...there she was. We love our Daddy soooo much!! (next time we are going with!!)

Jamboree

Richard went to Arizona last week to go to the Outlaw Jamboree with his brother Russ. They spent 3 days and over 300 miles on quads exploring the trails in Eager, Arizona. They had an amazing time together. They were in thunderstorms, hailed on, soaked to their core, and even took a tumble. All in all it was a wonderful vacation for two of the hardest working men that I know. I'm so glad that they got to spend the time together just enjoying each other and their surroundings. Here are a few of my favorite pics....

Richard and Russ..and their dirty quads.

This is my favorite..they look so...rugged.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to Russ, Marcie and family for taking such good care of Richard while he was away from us and for creating amazing memories for him! We love you guys!!

Pic of the day

My Little Dirt Devil

A little dirt never hurt....

As I've mentioned...Maile loves dirt. Daddy loves being a big kid. Dirt and kids go well together. Hence the following pictures....The land across the street from us is being developed...and what a fun filled afternoon it made for the Sipes Family. Yes...she was a MESS...but man she had a good time!!