Keeping Up With The Jones': January 2009

Tae KwonDo

A very good friend of ours (the one in the forefront of this picture, Greg) goes to this martial arts studio all the time, and is also a teacher there. He invited Brandon and Nolan to go for "Friends and Family" night. Nolan absolutely loved it! They did push ups, sit ups, stretching, kicks, and cardio work.

Nolan doing his kicks with Greg.

Push ups in between kicks.

Master showing Nolan how to do sit ups without your feet or hands touching the ground. It's hard!

Nolan gives a good "Hi-yah!" kick.

Ahhhh.....summer

Last summer...when the grass looked great, the kids were happy, and the sun was shining!!! Warmth.....

Uncle Mack's farm

This was in the summer of '07. We went out to see Uncle Mack on his farm and Madelyn LOVED it!! She is a farm girl at heart! She loved riding on the tractor, loved getting the eggs out of the hen house, and loved feeding the pigs!

Nolan, on the other hand, has a very sensitive nose and the farm life just wasn't for him. As you can see in the pictures with he and Brandon he is covering his nose because he can't stand the smell. That is also what he is doing when it looks like he's burying his head in Brandon's shoulder. I guess he just doesn't have the heart for the farm like Madelyn does...he's our city boy.

Snow fun at Tammie's

We went over to see Tammie and Kyle on Christmas Day last year (2007) and had an absolute blast! Here are some pictures from playing in the snow. Big fun!

4th of July 2007

Another one of my favorite pictures. Sitting under a big tree in downtown Bothell on the 4th of July, waiting for the parade to start. We had a picnic lunch that day. It was H-O-T that day too!!! Whoo wee!!

Sleeping with shades on

Funny story here! This was in the summer of '07. Madelyn was procrastinating going to bed, saying that it was too bright to go to sleep even though her shades were drawn. I kept telling her she needed to go to bed. When I went in and checked on her later that night she was asleep all right...with her sunglasses on!!

This is one of my favorite pictures of all time. Madelyn and her papa. We miss him every day.

Ummm......

I don't actually think there are words for this.

There...that's better....at least we're all (well, 2 of the 3 of us) smiling.

Pre-Christmas Festivities

Every year the kids, my sister, and I all go to my grandmas to decorate Christmas cookies. We do this at Easter too. The kids love it!! This year Brandon came with us and while he was busy relaxing, trying to fall asleep, we were busy working.......well, the kids were busy working...

....Nolan decorating Christmas cookies...serious business here.

I wonder how much frosting actually made it on the cookies?

Madelyn also hard at work decorating Christmas cookies!

And voila! The finished products!

Nolan, enjoying his creation on Christmas Eve

Nolan is eating one of the delicious cookies he decorated.

Christmas Eve photos

Nolan showing off his new jammies from Grandma Olson.

Madelyn and my cousins, Lauren and Bret.

Madelyn is chowin' down on some yummy dinner, in eager anticipation for the opening of gifts!

Pumpkin carving time

Nolan really doesn't like anything that is too "messy" so this really wasn't his favorite thing.

Madelyn, however, dug right in!

Preparation is key!

You never know when the floods might come! Even when you're watching a movie on the couch in your p.j.'s....

Christmas concert at church

Madelyn is in the 2nd full row from the top, 2nd one in on the left, Nolan is first full row on bottom, 2nd one in from left. Madelyn sang her little heart out...Nolan didn't open his mouth once.

More pictures (older)

Madelyn at Bothell Fire Dept. My friend Kirsten works there and Madelyn got to go see what all the firepeeps do.

Madelyn and Bella....best friends

Halloween...2005 (I think)

Some Disneyland photos....

Because I am notoriously bad at sending people updated pictures I am hoping that this will help. :) Here are some older pictures that I have found...as I find them I will upload them.