Little Star

We had our annual community Christmas dinner on Wednesday. Grayson and some other kids in the community had a little singing performance that they've been rehearsing for a couple weeks. Grayson did great and he actually sung pretty loud...especially when the sung into the microphone. When he sang Rudolph into the microphone, I got a little choked up and almost teared up! I totally felt like my mom!

Tonight, Grayson had his school Christmas program...and he did really well again! The 3 year old class did a cute song about wrapping themselves up and mailing themselves. They also did another song about Jesus where Grayson was jumping up and down and dancing during the rockin' out parts...and then would go back to singing and doing the hand motions at just the right parts. So cute!

Little stars - Isabella and Grayson

*ps...make sure you check the other posts I just added as well!

Decorating the tree

Grayson and I finally got the tree decorated the other day. Its a highland Noble from the mountain area near Packwood. Its kind of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree...but its still pretty and I love it! It was nice that I didn't have to put as many lights on it this year...and couldn't use all the ball ornaments.

Clinic Party 2009: Ugly Christmas Sweaters

Our annual vet clinic party was this past Saturday. The theme was 'Ugly Christmas Sweaters'. Of course, I went over-the-top with it all and did the whole outfit. When I was looking for these sweaters, I saw on eBay that some of them were going for $200! So, I scoured every Goodwill in Thurston County and Spanaway along with several other thrift stores in the area. I'll be selling some of these and hope to make bank on them!

I took some of the sweaters and embellished them with more tacky items. I ended up making Heath's reindeer sweater from scratch. My sweater (costume more or less) won 1st prize! Apparently, they are getting something made for the winner that has to be worn at work. Hmmm....

(click on the collages to enlarge)

R.I.P. Cedar

I just got some really, really sad news about my dear dog 'cousin', Cedar. I just found out tonight by dad that he had just been diagnosed with a pretty aggressive form of cancer that had spread to his lungs. Shortly after I found this out, I learned that they had to put him to sleep because the cancer had gotten worse and he was having trouble breathing despite chemotherapy efforts. Its very shocking because he is pretty young.

Cedar had the privilege of joining the Boyle family when he was a wee pup. He turned into a ginormous, goofy Golden Retriever that had quite a personality. He was very mellow mannered and reminded me a lot of the Golden I grew up with. He really just wanted to love you and be loved back. Such a sweet guy!

As I write this I get flooded with tears because its so very sad and sudden. We will miss that guy!

A few random photos

This is Rune (Debbie and Gary's dog) sleeping in Grayson's little tent in his room. She went in here on her own the first time she stayed with us. Grayson wanted her to sleep in his room...so this is where she ended up. Its so darn cute. I tell her, "Rune, go get in your tent"...and in she goes. She stayed with us for a week over Thanksgiving...and she kinda gets spoiled! She pretty much goes wherever we go...including the coffeeshop, Liquid Soul (where dogs are welcome). I saw these great Christmas dog sweaters that I wanted to get her the other day, but they didn't have her size. I don't take my dogs all over the place because they just get crazy and think I'm taking them for a run or a swim. They just get way too excited. Rune is a little more mellow.

This kind of shows my "new" hair a bit...but this makes it look like its red all over. Its kind of striped like a candy cane...with red and copper. I told my hairdresser, Jen that its very festive. Anyway, I think it looks better in person.

Grayson cracked me up the other day when he came out in these. I told him to go get some new undies...he came out from his room and was looking at me with a sneaky little smile (I couldn't see these at first)...so, I asked him what he was doing...and he runs in with these. Whats funny about this is these are the shorts from his "build-a-bear"! I couldn't believe they fit him. Grayson and I both just died laughing...especially when I pointed out to him that there is a hole in the back for his tail!

Veteran's Day photo shoot

We had another beautiful (but cold) sunny day on Veteran's Day...so, we decided to head over to dad's field and barn for a little family photo shoot. The pictures didn't turn out as well as I had hoped, but they are still pretty good. Rune (Gary and Debbie's dog) has been staying with us while they are in Wyoming, so she got her picture taken also.

Grayson and I took advantage of a beautiful sunny day a couple weeks ago and took a walk to the park. He has been really loving the swing and wants to be pushed all day long..."higher Mama, higher!"

Happy Fall!

Halloween: Rockstar Style

Grayson decided this year that he wanted to be a "rocking-out-guy" for Halloween. I was pretty surprised that he wore the wig as much as he did. He dressed up for school also and everyone loved his costume. Heath and I decided to go with Wayne's World. I thought it would be an easy costume, but I had a tough time getting some of the key costume elements. I ended up having to make my own hat which was quite a chore...but it turned out pretty cool. I had a tough time finding Garth's glasses as well and finally found them (last pair) at Michelle's costume shop. This costume shop is totally out of the way and in a neighborhood, but its a great store...they have tons of costumes, wigs, accessories and also rent costumes as well.

We did some studying for our roles by watching 'School of Rock' and 'Wayne's World'. Grayson was really good at playing the Rockstar role and would rock out on his guitar and sing "I wanna rock and roll all night, and party every day!"

Rocking out with God-papa Tony

Gotta love this!



Wayne's World...Wayne's World...party time...excellent!

Posing with Kim's kids: Fallon, Riley and Morgan

I love that kid!

Dressed up and ready for Harvest party at school

We stopped by The Hadleys for a bit and rocked out for them

Gnome, Rockstar and Witch

Schilter's pumpkin patch

The kids went on their first official preschool field trip this past thursday to Schilter's pumpkin farm. We lucked out with decent weather...no rain!

Hay maze



Cute little calf...he was so still (I was wondering if they sedated all these animals)



Sleeping piggies

Two little cuties

It looked like he was squeezing the life out of this little bunny!

Tractor hay ride to the pumpkin patch

Grayson and his good buddies, Isabella and Quillan

Grayson and Miss Bella (this is what he calls her)


Best buddies! Isabella leaned in on this picture all by herself...it was so cute!