Herring Happenings

Look Who's Two!

2011-12-29T16:44:00.000-05:00

Wow - she's 2 already?!!

One of Addy's favorite songs right now is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. I was holding her on my lap looking at a cake book and she kept pointing to the star cake. So, here's my attempt. She loved it, and that's what matters. :-)

Now, if I can get her trained right, I'll have lots of help around the house. :-)

Kids Christmas Program

2011-12-18T19:26:00.000-05:00

The Christmas program for kids church is always a highlight and this year was Addy's debut! She and Clayton got to participate in the last two songs and joyfully waved their flags. :-)

They also enjoyed the Christmas party the day before and the favorite activity - a snowball fight with gigantic marshmallows!

How cool is Miss Tara, the Children's Director, who plays with the kids?

Clayton wanted to eat them (and did)!

We are FAMILY

2011-11-16T20:24:00.000-05:00

Family: one of God's greatest gifts!

Special thanks to my Indy friend, Liz, for the photo swap! :-)

All B-O-Y

2011-11-16T12:21:00.000-05:00

My nephews, Elijah and Tanner, are hilarious. We did a photo session when they were recently at our house and got quite a few laughs - out of us - not them. :-) Here are some favorites. (Dana - I left these big so you can take them off of here and do what you wish with them.)

Love this one - I think Tanner was a little more than done! :-)

Would praying help you both stay still enough to be in the same picture? Nah... :-)

Such a Little Man

2011-11-07T10:47:00.000-05:00

Reegan is the cutest little 6-month old boy around! Thanks, Ron and Jennee, for letting me photograph him!

He made such a cute little skunk for Halloween!

The Little Lego

2011-11-03T15:39:00.000-04:00

This year we went with DIY costumes - and we all LOVED them! I saw this Lego idea online and knew that's what I wanted to do for Clayton and Addyson. We had fun making them and they had fun wearing them.

Down to the basement for a quick picture before we headed out for a candy-filled night!

Elijah and Tanner (my nephews) were the cutest little pirates!

We had a lot of fun at out Trunk or Treat at the church.

The Loper Kids

2011-10-28T10:43:00.000-04:00

I was absolutely delighted when my cousin, Melissa, stopped by with her kids when they were in town! We had a fun time catching up and did some very impromptu photos of the kids when we went down to the basement. :-) We loved having them here!

Clayton's 3rd Birthday

2011-10-09T23:31:00.000-04:00

Our "little" boy is now 3. I know time flies, but I'm sure the last three have gone faster than the previous ones.

A hug from the birthday boy.

Sooo excited over his balloons and birthday banner (or star spangled banner, as he called it)! :-)

He has requested a hot air balloon cake for weeks.

He celebrated with cousin, Kaley, since she turns 10 on Wednesday. I put a video on facebook of his reaction when he saw his cake for the first time.

His own little wheelbarrow! He was excited (in case you can't see it written all over his face).

He and Addy both love having their cousins here!

Our little blessing!

September Happenings

2011-10-05T16:06:00.000-04:00

September seemed to absolutely fly right by - this is a "snapshot" of our month.

Playground fun on Labor Day!

They loved the teeter totter.

Clayton is usually pretending to be someone else - this day, he was Mary Poppins! He grabbed Addy's purse for his carpet bag, which I thought was pretty clever. :-)

Addy loves to "mother" over all her stuffed animals. She decided to potty train her bear.

Fun with friends at Chick-Fil-A! (they got more excited after they ate)

Everyday messes with a 1 and 2 yr old!

Did I mention messes? Addy is the queen of them, but we have fun living life. :-)

Family Fun Day at church - the kids LOVED it!

face painting . . .

. . . and the finished product. He did not want to mess up his ice cream cone.

bounce house fun with Uncle Cameron

Lauren is such a great helper with Addy.

Fun with cousins: Kaley, Clayton, Allie, and Addy.

Enjoyed our first 3x3 with good friends Joel/Mandy & Nick/Jana. Clayton had to bring his pet grasshopper to show the group. He named is grasshopper Junie B. Jones (seriously). :-)

More fun with cousins - Addy and Allie "talking" on the phone . . .

. . . and now they decided to text each other. :-)

The BIG 35 for Aaron!

We helped him celebrate at Long Horn and they gave him a free dessert.

Clayton helped him eat it and got into it (literally) a little too much! :-)

One more trip to the zoo before those passes expire . . .

All the monkeys are definitely a favorite!

fascinated with the manatee

The absolute funniest sign at the zoo! :-) I love the penguins!

Two of the coolest kids!

Baby Wipes Tubs = Spice Organization!

2011-08-11T14:19:00.000-04:00

As I was trying to find a certain spice this morning for a recipe, I got irritated that I had to move ALL my spices around, still couldn't find it, and then took nearly all of them out of the cabinet still looking for it. There must be a better way!

So, I started thinking . . . and got out my empty tubs of baby wipes (that I hadn't been able to part with, but didn't know why I was keeping them) and set to work.

I wrote the name of the spice on the top using a permanent marker, or used a label for the black lids...

Looking better . . .

But decided to alphabetize them for even quicker retrieval!

Now, if I had done this many moons ago, I would not have 2 ginormous bottles of Parsley, 2 Paprikas, and 2 Cinnamons. :-)

It actually didn't take long, I feel much better, and now I can cook quicker. :-)

Red & Denim

2011-08-09T17:20:00.000-04:00

I had so much fun today taking pictures of the kids. It had been way too long since our last session, and while we were trying, I remembered why. It's really tricky getting two kids to look the same direction, in a proper pose, with half-decent smiles. But, the outcome is certainly worth the effort. I love red and denim together and was so happy with these pictures!

And their reward for doing so good and being patient with me . . . a wagon ride!!!

July Happenings

2011-08-01T18:01:00.000-04:00

Is July over already? It was such a busy, but fun-filled month. We went home to MO for July 4th and had a great time with family.

Adventures in the sheep pen.

Clayton was not one bit scared of the sheep.

Addy and Tanner thought the sheep food was so fun to play with.

Aren't legos more fun with the box on your head?

Khara and Kelsey with their 2 willing babies. :-)

Tanner and Clayton checking out each other's mohawks - Clayton kept asking if he still had his "hawk" later that day.

Elijah and Clayton having fun outside. Nothing says "boys" more than sticks and trees. :-)

Packed up for the long ride home - I think Karson and Elijah wanted to go with us.

Nothing says July 4th like corn on the cob! I needed an updated sisters picture for my sisters frame (our first sisters picture with corn was taken in 2000).

Don't ask me how this happened - I have no idea. Weird things happen when you are on a 10-hour road trip! :-)

Back at home - checking on the garden.

Poor Clayton. . . he got a little carried away while singing Father Abraham and ran right into the corner wall. Ouch!!!! I explained that he had a goose egg on his forehead and it was a little bit cracked like Humpty Dumpty's. He got a little mixed up and told several people at church that he had a "goose crack"! :-)

Enjoying pizza with cousins . . .

while the big boys make corn hole sets! Yes!

Hooray for fresh green beans from our very own garden!!

It's thriving!

And spaghetti sure is good!

Now let's see what August brings.

The Biker Chic

2011-07-06T14:41:00.000-04:00

Our 4th of July was spent traveling home from Missouri (had a GREAT time there that weekend). We took a little break from the 10-hour drive and met Aaron's parents at Cracker Barrel in Indiana. Someone had given them a little surprise for the kids.

Clayton was a little scared of the fireworks going off nearby, so Addy jumped right on the little motorcycle and learned what to do in no time!

The Garden

2011-06-20T16:51:00.000-04:00

We were so excited about planting a garden this year! When you don't have a lot of garden tools, a square-foot garden works great. This is our first attempt at this, so we will see how it goes. Aaron built the boxes and got a lot of ides from this book. The kids thoroughly enjoyed "helping" with the garden and go out to check on it all the time. :-)

Getting it all ready and placed in just the right spot.

Mixing, mixing, and more mixing.

Addy took a break and found a seat just her size. :-)

And more mixing! Clayton loved this part.

Off to the garden center to choose our plants and seeds.

Can't wait to put the seeds in the ground!

The three boxes, looking out from the back door.

We planted tomatoes, peppers, green beans, squash, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, sunflowers (Clayton's request), cantaloupe, and watermelon.

Yes, that's dirt on her mouth. Everything still goes in there. :-)

So willing to help. :-)

And playing in the water was a lot of fun too!

Clayton took his watering job very seriously. He nearly drowned all the tomato and pepper plants. :-)

The next morning . . .

There was one more square that Aaron left for the kids. Clayton wanted to plant sunflowers (thanks to a Winnie the Pooh book we had recently read), so he's proudly holding the seeds.

Planting the sunflower seeds.

That afternoon while eating Popsicles, they went to check on their sunflowers and couldn't understand why they weren't up yet.

Addy brought me several markers; so much for knowing what varieties are planted where. :-)

A celebratory hug! It's growing!!

One day they took juice drinks outside. I looked up and saw this. Clayton knew to sit on the very edge of the box. Addy, however, sat right on top of the lettuce! You can see how her legs are sticking straight out. :-) The funny thing was, I forgot to tell Aaron. He came in and said, "Something's been getting in the garden - the lettuce is all smashed down!" :-)

The crazy rabbits did get the green beans, so Aaron rigged up this to keep them out.

Hooray - it looks promising!!

All 3 boxes again. For some reason, the rabbits only liked that first box, although we have green beans in all 3. Hopefully they will stay away for good!

Summer Fun!

2011-06-08T11:58:00.000-04:00

The kids were sooo excited when I pulled out this little pool. We bought this off season (in December for a steal of a deal), so it's been hidden away until now.

Even though it's small and they don't "swim" in it, it's unbelievable how many calories they are burning away by playing in it. They are eating like crazy and taking really good naps! :-)

A little cold at first!

Took off the barn

Eating lunch and drying off.

It was warmer by the afternoon so Addy finally wanted in.

Back inside to cool off with ice cream cones!

Yum!

Clayton loves ice cream cones, but won't eat the cone. He keeps wanting me to fill it up with ice cream and eats the last bit of it with a spoon (but does NOT want a bowl of ice cream). Addy loves ice cream too, but would also eat a cone dry (with out any ice cream). They are so funny!

Our Indiana Weekend

2011-06-02T11:33:00.000-04:00

We had a great Memorial Day Weekend in Indiana.

Cameron graduated from high school! That was hard to believe. Cameron was only 3 when I first met him. :-)

Very proud of him earning Salutatorian status.

Of course we have to get in our Chinese meal. :-)

Yum!

Clayton and Addy love playing the piano.

Clayton made his debut on Sunday night by singing a solo in church.

A family reunion on Monday finished up our weekend - good times and good fun!

Mr. Tyson

2011-05-06T15:50:00.000-04:00

We were so happy to have Kendall, Leanna, and Tyson with us for Easter weekend. And, I was so happy that I got to take pictures of Tyson (18 months). He is such a little man! It was hard to decide which ones I liked best, but here's a few. . .

He loved this little piano!

Perhaps a future Mozart?

We were almost done when the pictures when Clayton woke up and stumbled out on the porch to see what we were doing. He wanted a picture with Tyson (even though sleepy and hair not fixed). :-) Maybe we should make this an annual event (see this post). :-)

Cookie Time with Kids

2011-05-06T15:31:00.000-04:00

Before breakfast this morning, Clayton asked if we could make cookies! He loves dumping in the ingredients, seeing them fly around in the mixing bowl, and then scooping them out on the cookie sheet. He also loves to crack eggs (eek!) and kept asking me where the eggs went after they were mixed in.

Here's a few photos of our "adventure" and yes, that's what it is. If you've never made cookies with two eager "helpers" that are 1 and 2 years old, you should try it! :-)

I turned for just a second and Clayton turned on the mixer. Addy and the couter got covered in flour!

Fascinated . . .

Scoop time!

So glad I had two of those cookie scoops.

Possibly more went in the mouth than on the tray ?

Addy's mouth was so full of cookie dough . . . no wonder she didn't eat much for lunch. :-)

Enjoying the final product on the front porch. :-)

2 Little Cuties

2011-03-25T07:36:00.000-04:00

I was so happy to be able to take some photos of 2 of my nephews, Elijah and Tanner! They are typical boys, so we only had about 12 minutes to work on some shots before they were DONE! :-)

I think this one surprised Tanner just a bit. His feet slipped out from under him and somehow landed up on the sides. Dana and I were laughing so hard, and he didn't know what was going on!

Home & Garden Show

2011-03-15T00:55:00.000-04:00

A couple of weekends ago we went downtown to the Home and Garden Show and thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the sights! We got lots of ideas for our home and garden (that we can do after we make our first million)! Ha ha!!

Contrary to their expressions, they really were excited to go.

Pretty flowers were everywhere.

Addy sportin' her new pink John Deere sweatshirt. :-)

Once Clayton was out of the stroller for a break . . .

. . . he didn't want back in. :-(

Clayton sure learned what tulips were that day!

I loved this orange color!

Hmm . this was different . . . jury is still out.

Clayton loved the mascot. . .

. . . but was afraid of this giant ant! :-)

Yep, it's way past nap time - they were very ready to go home!

Captain Clayton

2011-02-25T12:55:00.000-05:00

Clayton absolutely loves the little captain suit he got for Christmas. He "parades" around the house in it, so it was quite a challenge to get him still enough for any great pictures. But, here are a few attempts. :-)

Brother and Sisterly love . . . for now. :-)

Spring Fever!

2011-02-23T23:45:00.000-05:00

We have Spring Fever in a really bad way! I was so thankful for the warmer weather that we had last week and the kids LOVED being able to go outside! I knew it wouldn't last (even snowed a little yesterday), but we loved it while it was here!

We love our front porch, oh yes we do!

Our first stroller ride of the year. They hadn't been in there 5 minutes when Addy discovered she could reach her hand through the middle to get to Clayton. This could make for some interesting stroller rides. :-)

Come on Spring!!

The house is open! :-)

Clayton loves to shut the door and Addy loves to open it.

In this little video clip, watch how Addy considers going in through the window since Clayton is holding the door! :-) Oh my! Some days I feel like I need to wear black and white stripes and carry a whistle! :-)

Englund Girls

2011-02-21T14:56:00.000-05:00

My nieces = cuteness!

Emme, Allie, and Kaley on the rare occasion that they all 3 have matching dresses!

This little girl is a ham!

LOVED this picture of her bright eyes! :-)

Fun in the Jungle!

2011-02-19T22:51:00.000-05:00

One of Clayton's favorite books right now is the Jungle Book. He often runs through the jungle (aka the house), wants me to call him Mowgli, and says we're not going to the man village. So, I was delighted when I saw that the Children's Theatre was putting on the Jungle Book! I'm not sure who was more excited - Clayton or me! We only had to get 2 tickets since they don't start charging for kids until they are 3 (how nice!).

A great view (for $7 tickets)!

Clayton started crying so hard when it was over. He wanted to see Mowgli again. :-(

Hi Monkey!

Addy got an elephant mask. But, since she wouldn't put it on . . .

I did for her! :-)

Cousins

2011-02-03T11:54:00.000-05:00

It was so good to meet up with my dear cousins, Rachelle Himelick and Christy Lindahl, last week. We had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs catching up during our 2-hour lunch. Christy has a brand new baby and I was so delighted to get to meet her!

We were quite the crew at Chic-Fil-a. The restaurant wasn't too busy and they didn't mind our 2-hour lunch at all. :-)

Christy and little Lake.

Cousins!

(and Addyson since she wouldn't let me put her down)

All our children (tired out after their play-land adventures).

Since I was in Indy for school picture retake day at UBC, I had them stop by the school for some quick shots . . .

Becca, Sam, Kaylynn, and Sarah

Lake Arria at 17 days old

What a darling little baby!

Christmas Memories

2011-01-19T14:06:00.000-05:00

Wow! Christmas 2010 is already gone! It's hard to believe Christmas is over, and then again it feels like a long time ago. :-) Here are a few pictures of our 3 Christmas (the condensed version, since I've tried to post these 4 times now)!

Christmas: Part 1 - Home at our House

Two anxious kiddos, ready for presents!

Yeah for cars! Every boy needs lots of 'em!

And yeah for clothes - every girl needs lots of 'em! :-) Especially a cute t-shirt with a camera on it (wish I could find one like this for me!). :-)

When Clayton opened this, he said, "Ballgame!"

Clayton sitting at the picnic table that we got for both of them.

It's so funny what they choose for a favorite gift. Clayton loved this little push broom and insisted on sleeping with it - no kidding! I kept hearing it bang against the wall as he turned over during the night. :-)

Christmas: Part 2 - Englund Christmas in Missouri

The girl cousins loved helping make peanut butter balls - and we all loved helping eat them up!

The boy cousins were fascinated with electronic games and the beeping from Catch Phrase.

We sure love playing games as a family - Acquire is the all-time favorite!

Happy Addy! I am so glad her hair is long enough for curlers!

Emme and Clayton would be happy for Khara to read them books all day long!

Clayton and Kaden helping chop pecans using the "magic grinder"!

Daddy's sheep sign that I made for him.

Did I mention we love playing games?!

(We really do have more chairs, Mark.)

Christmas: Part 3 - Herring Christmas in Indiana

Clayton was so excited to see all the packages when he got up.

Hooray - a tape measure! This was one of his favorites!

He loves pretending - Cowboy Clayton here. . .

. . . and Astronaut here. He would run around saying, "Fly me to the moon!"

Addy wanted a turn with the cowboy hat. :-)

Addy (still in her PJ's) - so excited over the nativity set.

So blessed . . . !

Look Who's One!

2011-01-07T07:07:00.000-05:00

Wow! Where did the first year go? It's so hard to believe Addyson is already one!

We celebrated her first birthday twice. The first time with Aaron's parents - here she is with her own piece of a birthday cake they bought her.

She really got into it - literally!

The next celebration was actually on her birthday, December 21. I made her a doll cake. Clayton was so fascinated with this cake and kept wanting to touch it. I actually had to hide it until we were ready to eat it, because he kept trying to get it.

Addyson liked her cake too - she kept waving at the doll.

A close up of the cake that I forgot to take until after I had cut a slice. :-)

Ready for my present!

Oh wow!

(By the way, I am in love with online shopping! Awesome discounts, delivered right to your door!)

Ready to ride!

The first of many rides around the circle with her faithful pusher - Clayton!

What a joy to have a daughter!!

Clayton the Angel

2010-12-19T16:08:00.000-05:00

Clayton was really impacted by the GBS Christmas Program. His favorite part was the angels and the tuba. Quite the combination! :-) So, we've been re-inacting several parts and making up a lot as we go along. The first thing he asked for was angel wings. He's been singing "Gloria, Gloria" and running all through the house. Aaron tried to get him to expand his 2-word song by adding "Gloria in excelsis Deo" (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest") - and yes, I had to google that to figure out how to spell it!

Garner Family

2010-12-13T12:16:00.000-05:00

My friend, Debbie, and her children came over for a photo shoot. We had the best time talking and laughing and letting Adley and Clayton play together. Here's a few from the session:

Adley is fascinated with her new baby brother.

Sweet baby Lincoln. It breaks my heart that his father has yet to see him in person. His father is fighting for us overseas.

Little Santa Baby. :-)

Clayton had been napping (thus the bed hair), but quickly woke up when he realized his friend, Adley, was here. :-) Adley and Clayton are only a few weeks apart.

Snow Fun

2010-12-07T18:16:00.000-05:00

I was so excited to see SNOW on Saturday morning. My philosophy: If it's gonna be cold - then let's have snow.

However, I did have an outdoor photo session planned with our great friends Craig and Tonya. So we talked and decided, why not go ahead anyway? :-)

So glad they didn't mind braving the cold and the snow! Even little Shane was a trooper!

On a side note . . .

I was trying so hard to make sure my kids would be warm and bundled up (since we were all going out in the cold together) that I put double layers on them, even had hats and gloves out. We put them in their car seats with a blanket each and after we got to the park I realized I had left their warm winter coats AT HOME! Eek! So, the Lambeth's graciously let Addy wear Shane's coat (since he was in the picture) and Clayton was content to run around for extra warmth. I'm glad I had them in double layers! :-)

Thanksgiving Fun

2010-12-02T09:20:00.000-05:00

We had a lot of fun in Indiana over Thanksgiving this year. . .

Clayton and Addyson enjoying the cool little kids table!

Yes, she's nearly one, but this was her first Thanksgiving.

The first snow of the season - we all rushed outside to check it out (without coats!).

Caris showing Clayton some tricks with his slinky.

Eating Chinese - one of our favorites!

The owner of this restaurant loves children. She came to our table and took Addyson back to the kitchen to show the other girls. :-)

Checking out the Colts merchandise.

Even Addy sported a hat (for a few seconds).

Clayton found Cameron's little graduation gown from Kindergarten and was playing with it.

Thankful for my family!

Praying Hands

2010-12-02T09:07:00.000-05:00

Most of my photography includes faces - I love taking pictures of people! However, when Helen Reiff asked me to photograph her husband's praying hands with his Bible I said, "Of course!"

I love this photo and know his children will treasure this print.

Crystal + Anthony = married

2010-11-24T18:39:00.000-05:00

What a JOY to photograph this lovely wedding! Crystal & Anthony were so much fun to work with!

Absolutely gorgeous flowers!!

LOVE this shot!

My favorite part of the ceremony was when the entire wedding party joined in singing The Lord's Prayer together . . . chills!

Balloons have got to be my favorite - loved the fall colors!

Riding in style! Anthony surprised Crystal with this.

And what a classy reception with awesome music!

What a happy couple!

The Bishop Family

2010-11-19T00:52:00.000-05:00

Nothing is more fun than photographing a family - I just love family pictures!

I told Kelsey's parents that "moving" pictures make great pictures - it simply shows what stage of life they are in. I love how these turned out!

Thanks, Jackie and Bradley!

A Dash to NC

2010-11-18T02:05:00.000-05:00

We made a quick dash to North Carolina last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed our stay with Kendall and Leanna!

Clayton loved being with Tyson! It was warm enough to be on the front porch for just a little bit.

We really enjoyed the Gaither Homecoming concert on Saturday. The Isaac's are pictured here.

I thought this was so funny - this lady nearly had her phone stuck right in David Phelp's face trying to get a close picture!

The cutest little shark!

Clayton had just gotten up from a nap and was just sitting with his arm around Tyson. :-)

The kiddos . . . and yes, I'm about to drop Clayton.

Poor Tyson, he got lots of hugs from Clayton.

And Addyson couldn't leave him alone either. She kept touching him and patting him. I hope he recovered from our stay. :-)

So glad that NC still has Krispy Kreme stores! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, these!!!

All good things must come to an end.

Half-A-Dozen Englunds

2010-11-09T17:48:00.000-05:00

I love taking pictures - and it's even more fun when you are related to the people and can tell them exactly what to do! :-) These 6 are my nieces and nephews (Jeff and Vicki's children).

Drew

Caleb

Kaley

Camen

Emme

Allie

And since Allie is the baby - she got 2 pictures posted!

Quack, Quack

2010-11-03T09:07:00.000-04:00

We had so much fun last Wednesday night at our church's Trunk or Treat. Clayton and Addyson were both ducks.

Even a few adults dressed up!

Mandy was quite the angel giving out her candy.

Little Liam the Lion

Jake and Madi as the Amish couple

Clayton's first time to roast marshmallows!

Little Samuel as Kermit the Frog

A good time was had by all!

Addyson's Dedication

2010-10-29T16:27:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday we had Addyson dedicated. We were so happy to have Aaron's parents and Cameron here for the weekend as well as Jeff & Vicki and their children at church and for Sunday dinner.

Very blessed and thankful for our little girl.

Clayton sure was "cheesin" it up!

Addy with her first rose.

We got so tickled when she tried to get up and her other shoe was stuck to her leg!

The Herring grandparents and Uncle Cameron

Now that she is dedicated, she has been an angel all week (Ha - yeah, right!)

There's no place like home

2010-10-22T15:58:00.000-04:00

We sure enjoyed our quick trip to Missouri last weekend. It's always great to go home!

We stopped at a hotel on our way out and I thought Addy sitting in the middle of this huge bed was hilarious!

Clayton sure enjoyed being read to by Khara and Kelsey!

The Burley Bunch after church on Sunday morning.

Clayton and Karson checking out the brussel sprouts in Jana's garden.

These boys sure had a good time together.

We went to this little restaurant in Nevada called White Grill. It was delicious and just like the food that Dana, Jana, and I used to serve while waitressing. I wanted to take more pictures, but they were packed and I didn't want to seem too crazy.

We got our food to go and headed to a park to eat so Mark could join us on his lunch break. Just look at all those suzies - the portions are very generous!

And look what UPS delivered! :-)

Back at Jana's house, Clayton and Karson "patiently" waiting for the school bus to see Khara and Kelsey.

"Pure delight" is how I would define Clayton's reaction when they finally arrived. He loves his cousins!

Off to revival that night for our last night there.

It went way too fast. It always does.

1 + 1 = Loads of Fun

2010-10-12T15:55:00.000-04:00

Clayton turned 2 last Saturday and we had so much fun on his birthday!

Balloons always make celebrations extra special!

His favorite meal is spaghetti! So of course, on his birthday we had spaghetti.

Here, he is enjoying it with cousin, Camen.

His cousins were standing by in case he needed help opening his present. :-)

He LOVES this playhut tunnel/tent thing we got him!

He and Camen would go through the tunnels and just laugh and laugh!

He loved his cake! (I was relieved that he actually knew it was a cake, a snake, and the number 2!) :-)

The icing was his favorite part, of course!

Even Addyson loves going through these tunnels!

Here's a little video of him opening his present . . .

The Crater Family

2010-09-30T09:04:00.000-04:00

The cutest and sweetest family . . .

Katrin is a senior this year, so we did a few individual shots of her.

The New Wheels!

2010-09-30T09:01:00.000-04:00

I am so delighted to have another vehicle and soooo delighted that we were able to get a minivan! We saved for this for a long time and it was definitely worth the wait!

I love the deep storage - my double stroller fits perfectly with plenty of room to spare.

I love how easy it is to get the kids in and out!

Fun at the Zoo!

2010-09-23T22:19:00.000-04:00

We had so much fun at the zoo last Saturday! I can't believe I have lived in Cincy for so many years and just now experienced the fantastic zoo! Clayton had a ball and has literally talked about the zoo every day since. His favorite animal is the "cheeto" (also known as the cheetah!). :-)

Yes, he wanted to pet the snake! Eeek!

The cutest little train that we definitely plan to ride next time.

Waiting for the cheetah show. . .

So glad we all have passes!

Clayton loves his cousin Kaley!

Feeding the birds was definitely a highlight . . .

until Aaron got bit!

(see funny video of this on facebook)

They loved Drew!

Addyson was having a good time too!

Emme and Clayton = partners in crime.

Clayton loved the goats and sheep in the petting zoo.

Oops - he wanted to hug a sheep, but got the wrong end! :-)

Tuckered out!

The end!

Crystal & Anthony

2010-09-16T10:24:00.005-04:00

I love taking engagement pictures - and Anthony and Crystal were a ball of fun to photograph! Here are a few favorites!

Monroe - Nat'l Night Out

2010-08-18T13:43:00.006-04:00

An old post - I found in "drafts" that I had never posted...

We really enjoyed Monroe's National Night Out! Clayton was fascinated with the police cars, fire trucks, ambulance, and all the other displays. Who can beat hot dogs, snow cones, balloons, suckers, bouncy house, bottled water - all for FREE!

The little fireman clutching his gorilla that he just won. :-)

The SWAT team demo was also really neat to see!

Our IN Weekend +

2010-07-30T09:57:00.006-04:00

We went to Indiana last weekend to celebrate Grandma Young's 87th birthday!

Clayton with cousin Yardley - he loves her!

Clayton sure enjoyed "helping" Papaw in his flower garden!

I'm not sure the flowers will ever be the same!

Addyson has graduated to the high chair (this one used to be her Daddy's!). :-)

Cameron was very happy to shed his tie after church and Clayton was very happy to wear it for him.

Addyson won't be wearing this dress again - it's getting too small.

Back home again - Clayton wanted a snack before bed.

He ate the whole cucumber just like a candy bar!

Addy must have had a hard nap - the hair was all over the place! :-)

Clayton sure enjoys "mowing" the lawn.

Addyson scoots all over the place now. Only problem is she can only go backwards. So, we often have to rescue her when she gets her legs stuck under the couch! :-)

Random stuff . . .

2010-07-22T10:22:00.003-04:00

Random stuff . . .

Curious George is now the new baby. Clayton put him in the Bumbo seat and then proceeded to wipe his mouth. :-) He has had George in the swing, the jumperoo, the highchair, and everywhere else Addy sits. :-)

Clayton loves to swing right along with Addy. He discovered he can sit on the bar right next to her and they both can swing at the same time. Only problem - I'm not sure the swing was made to hold both of them (around 45 pounds)!

Addyson - all ready for another night of VBS!

Happy brother and sister!

5:30 AM - Clayton woke up for the day at this unearthly hour.

6:30 AM - He ate his first breakfast.

7:45 AM - Addyson got up with us.

8:30 AM - He ate his second breakfast and fell asleep in his booster seat while I was feeding Addyson!

Not all fun and games . . .

2010-07-16T08:41:00.006-04:00

It's not always easy getting pictures of the kids. :-)

When I was trying to get Addy's 6-month pictures, Clayton kept grabbing her hat and putting it on his head.

This is what he did when I asked him to go get his own hat.

So, it's not all fun and games when I'm trying to photograph the kids . . . Thankfully, they do cooperate every now and then. :-)

The Little Lady

2010-07-14T12:08:00.003-04:00

These are Addyson's 6-month pictures - it's so hard to believe she's already half a year old!

The Busy Month of June

2010-07-07T09:19:00.010-04:00

The month of June absolutely flew by! Here's a few pictures of the June happenings (in a strange order since blogger will no longer let me copy and paste - ??).

Clayton "helping" Daddy lower the seat on his new little bike.

Clayton was thrilled with his new little bike that he refers to as "cycle bike."

A dear lady at my inlaws church found this for Clayton at a garage sale. So nice!

The little cowgirl at Cracker Barrel.

While in Missouri, we "tried" to get all 8 babies (that were 2 and under) in a denim diaper picture. The mothers had lots of laughs; the fathers - not so much. :-)

Jana won a House Party sponsored by Febreze. It was a ton of fun getting all these free Febreze products!!

Nothing says summer like playing with the garden hose!

So much for the bib! Clayton really got into his yogurt this day.

Addy had her first swing ride at 5 months. She loved it!

Aaron graduated from UC with his Bachelors in Information Technology. We are SO GLAD he is done with school!!

Clayton loved Aaron's hat and didn't even want to take it off when we got in the car. This is how he fell asleep.

Happy Addy!

Addyson sportin' the new dress from her Great Grandma Herring.

A very unsure Clayton at the Butterfly Show at Eden Park.

Happy Father's Day!

Clayton loves pulling Addyson around in the wagon. I follow close behind, ready to take over when we get to the hill. :-)

My Canning Debut

2010-06-04T20:54:00.014-04:00

Ever heard of HouseParty.com? If not, you should go there pronto and sign up to host a house party. It's the coolest thing! I recently was selected to host a house party sponsored by Ball. Have I ever canned before? Nooo, but I have watched my mother a few times when I was little. Maybe that's why they chose me - so I could learn how. :-) Anyway, we had the house party on Memorial Day and had great fun. We had to make salsa and pepper jelly. Thank you, Ball!!

Sooo excited when the 25-pound party prize package showed up at my door.

I promptly unloaded all the goodies. Yes, that is a huge canner that I get to keep! There were awesome coupons and a nice reuseable shopping bag for everybody.

All the ingredients - ready and waiting!

Kelsey and Kaley were in charge of the garlic (I think they were more excited about wearing the gloves).

All gathering round the cool flip chart with step by step instructions.

Khara was in charge of stirring the salsa.

Jana let Mark sample some of the fresh salsa.

Yum - this recipe is a keeper!

Drew was a good supervisor!

Stirring the pepper jelly!

And of course, laughin' and talkin' in the process.

Funneling the goodness into jars!

Mark and Vicki tightening the jars!

The finished product - pepper jelly (that really tastes much better than it sounds).

Jana taking the salsa jars coming out of the water bath canner.

I'm definitely going to be doing this again. Canning is a lot easier than I thought it was and will be so good with fresh produce. :-)

The Little Red House

2010-06-03T20:17:00.006-04:00

I was so excited to find this little red house at a garage sale. I wanted to get it, but was hesitant since I had no clue how I would get it home. A very kind lady that lived next door to the garage sale had her husband bring it to our house in his truck! Wow - how nice! Clayton absolutely LOVES it and wants to be in it nearly all the time.

He was very proud of the little flower he took out there and put on his table.

Addy and I were watching from these chairs. He decided to climb up in one and give her some kind of instruction.

He convinced Aaron to "come in, please."

Clayton definitely has gotten such good use out of this little house already - it's been worth every dime! :-)

Mother's Day Weekend

2010-05-24T18:25:00.007-04:00

We went to Indiana for Mother's Day weekend and had a great time!

Clayton experienced ketchup for the first time at Red Robin - he loved it!!

It was so loud at Red Robin, that I was trying to shield Addy's ears from the noise - it was really that loud. We could hardly have a conversation at our table.

The 4 generations picture!

We were so glad Aunt Cindy, Uncle Hugh, and Grandma Herring were able to come by so they could meet Addyson for the first time.

Clayton thought it was pretty cool to be able to hold pencils behind his ears.

Mother's Day Sunday

The whole Herring clan!

My two treasures!

This video clip is of Clayton eating ketchup. He really only uses the french fries to lick the ketchup. (You can also hear how loud the restaurant is!)

Baby Allie

2010-05-13T22:20:00.004-04:00

Congrats to my brother and sister-in-law on the birth of their baby girl, Allie Kay Englund. She is a darling! I love taking newborn pictures - here she is at 11 days old.

MO Trip #1

2010-05-10T16:57:00.004-04:00

At the end of March, we took a weekend trip to Missouri. Addyson had never been "home" and I wanted her to go before she got too grown up.

I love the trampoline probably just as much as the kids do. Now, Clayton points to our neighbors trampoline and says, "jump, jump." :-(

The King and Queens of Burger King!

We went out to the lamb barn and I didn't know this lamb was jumping like this until I put my pictures on the computer! :-)

Clayton loves animals and was so fascinated with all the sheep.

Vernon Time

2010-05-10T16:40:00.002-04:00

I was so excited to finally be able to meet my newest nephew, Tanner, a few weeks ago. And, of course, a new baby means new pictures! :-) Elijah wasn't quite as excited about the pictures as I was, but we managed to get a few.

Dana, Phil, Tanner, and Elijah

Tanner Mark Vernon at 2 months old

Senior Time!

2010-05-06T12:22:00.003-04:00

Seniors are so fun to photograph and Amber was no exception! We went to a cemetery for her outdoor photo session and enjoyed the beautiful flowers, trees, and cool buildings. Here's a few favorites:

Rocking Sheep

2010-03-24T15:37:00.019-04:00

I LOVE consignment sales, yard sales, garage sales, etc. and have gone to 3 kids consignment sales in the last 2 weeks: Mason, Florence, and West Chester. It was very interesting to see how the sales were conducted, the items that were there, and the volume of people that showed up. I got to the West Chester sale at 7:50 AM (it opened at 8), and there were over 600 people in line - no kidding! So much for being there early! But, I still snagged some bargains and especially loved this rocking sheep that I found for only $5. Clayton absolutely loves it! In fact, I had to hide it on Sunday morning because he wanted to play with it instead of get ready for church.

He drags the sheep to where I am in the house. We were getting ready to eat supper and he thought the sheep should be fed too!

Saturday morning when he got on it for the first time.

He loves this toy I found there too. He pushes it all over the house and it makes music. He's also wearing the cool yellow rubber boots I found. These will be great for the muddy outdoors!

Addyson at 2 months

2010-03-03T15:09:00.003-05:00

I can't believe Addyson is already 2 months old! I managed to get these pictures done while Clayton was napping. I haven't attempted a photo with them both together - makes me nervous just thinking about it - but I want to try it soon. She did great with her photo session and was happy as a bee!

Clayton at 16 months

2010-03-03T15:03:00.002-05:00

Clayton is getting a little harder to photograph because he won't stay still! :-) You should have seen me trying to get these pictures (or maybe not). I would throw sweetarts on the backdrop and he would run get them, and I would try to snap away. He also loves to climb, so I put a box under the backdrop and let him explore that for a while. Next time, we're waiting until Aaron gets home. He's a 2-man job!

Bumbo Time!

2010-03-03T12:29:00.006-05:00

We pulled out the Bumbo seat for Addyson this weekend. She loved it! And Clayton loved it too. He kept wanting to sit in it. Only problem with him was he would get stuck once he was down and had a hard time getting out. :-)

Our Chinese meal of Cashew Chicken and Teriyaki Chicken - yum!

I always have a hard time judging how much rice to fix - yep, we had plenty!!

This video was when Clayton saw Addyson in the Bumbo seat for the first time. We thought it was so funny that he kept saying, "Hi, Baby."

This and That

2010-02-23T17:29:00.008-05:00

Addyson all dressed for church. I just love this outfit (thanks, Jana!).

Clayton having one of our favorite snacks - popcorn and juice! This snack is our traditional Sunday afternoon snack. (No, I normally do not have him eating in his high chair with a white sweater and a white turtleneck, but it was nearly time to leave and popcorn shouldn't hurt too much.) :-)

We have had a LOT of snow recently!

Right after we paid this guy to clear our driveway, it started snowing again!

The snow is pretty, but I'm ready for Spring!

Clayton is really wanting to use a spoon to eat, which is great - except for the fact, that he's not that great at making his mouth, yet. He'll learn soon enough! :-)

I got him this balloon for Valentine's Day (a chocolate covered strawberry balloon). He would hardly let it out of his sight and had to hold it while he ate breakfast the next morning.

Venture to the Mall

2010-02-23T12:59:00.005-05:00

We tried it and we survived. We took the kids to the mall last week. I'm still waiting on a double stroller, so we probably looked pretty interesting going through the mall with Aaron and I both pushing a stroller.

Clayton went crazy when he saw all these cool things to ride on. He didn't want to leave. :-) I have a video clip, but it won't load properly on here (I've tried 3 times now), so maybe I'll put it on Facebook.

Waving at the "crowd"!

Randomness

2010-02-08T19:44:00.003-05:00

A random picture update -

Addyson looked so grown up in the dress she wore for church yesterday morning. (Don't ask me why I took the picture BEFORE I combed her hair.)

Clayton was NOT happy about the Colts loss last night. :-)

Addyson, on the other hand, was oblivious to Aaron's team's performance and was smiling away. This was the first time for her to wear a jean skirt (thanks, Jennee) and I just love the little boots (thanks, Jenn)!

I am so thankful that Clayton is finally well. After he was so sick, he broke out with this terrible rash from his antibiotic. I felt so sorry for him.

With our big snow on Saturday, Aaron took Clayton outside for a few minutes. I had Clayton so bundled up he could hardly move. :-)

Fun times!

A snowball!

Addyson after her bath in her little pink bunny robe.

Clayton adores his sister and sometimes doesn't understand how to be gentle (he kissed her and we found a little tooth mark on her forehead). Eeek!

IN trip

2010-02-08T18:59:00.006-05:00

We recently went to Indiana to do the school pictures retake day for UBC. On our way back, we surprised Grandma Young (Aaron's maternal grandmother) and stopped by to see her. She was so happy we came by!

Clayton loved playing with her cane. :-)

This was Addyson's first trip out of state.

Cameron shared his watch with Clayton.

Clayton loves walking in everyone's shoes - he was stuck once he put Cameron's on.

A musician in training!

Our Living Doll

2010-01-21T23:46:00.003-05:00

A month ago today our lives were forever changed when Addyson entered our world. It seems like she was just born, and yet, it seems like she's always been here.

What a privilege to have a daughter.

2 week old Addyson

2010-01-09T23:08:00.006-05:00

It's hard to believe Addyson is already 2 weeks old! This photo session wasn't real successful, but here's one keeper. I plan to try again next week and this time I'll start earlier in the day and wait until Clayton is napping. :-)

Christmas Memories

2010-01-03T21:51:00.006-05:00

We had such a good Christmas this year. With the birth of Addyson, we obviously stayed home and Aaron's parents came to our house.

Here's Addyson with her little "My 1st Christmas" socks from her Great Grandma Herring.

Now a family of four!

Our little Miss Santa!

The presents are ready and waiting.

This is how Addyson spent most of her first Christmas - sleeping!

We opened her gifts for her - I thought this outfit was absolutely adorable!

Clayton thinks anything with a hook is supposed to go on the tree. He added my new flip flops and a belt to the tree since they both had hooks. :-)

The sign says it all!

Content on Grandma's shoulder.

We got Clayton a little tricycle - he loved it!

Taking a ride in his new wagon from his grandparents!

Our Little Drummer Boy

2010-01-02T20:17:00.015-05:00

We celebrated the Young family Christmas (Aaron's mom's side) on New Years Day. Aaron and I decided to go at the last minute (I think I was getting cabin fever). So, we started getting ready and 2 hours later (yep, everything is MUCH harder with two kids), we were on our way. :-)

Clayton loved their animals - they had 2 cats and 2 dogs.

Fascinated with the presents!

Meeting 11-day old Addyson.

This was such a cool nativity set - Clayton loved it being his size.

They had the neatest music room, complete with all kinds of different instruments. Clayton loved it in here when everybody was making music. Here are a couple video clips when he decided to get in on the action.

Herring #4

2009-12-24T21:06:00.008-05:00

One more picture before heading off to the hospital.

And she has arrived!

Addyson Diane Herring, 7 lbs, 13 oz, 20 inches long.

Baby girl makes Herring #4!

Couldn't be happier!

Announcing her arrival!

Check out all that hair!!

At home - content on the couch!

The video clip below is Clayton's reaction when we first came home from the hospital. He was so fascinated with Addyson and kept laughing and wanting to touch her. I think I'm going to have my hands full with these two! :-) (Disregard the beeping - it was the timer on the stove.)

The Debut of Baby Jesus

2009-12-18T14:52:00.012-05:00

Clayton made his debut on stage last night as Baby Jesus at the Aldersgate Christian Academy (GBS) Christmas program. I had no idea how he would behave, but he actually did really well. I think he was in awe of everything he was seeing. Unfortunately, I couldn't see him, because I was behind the stage so I could take him in between times when he didn't need to be out there. But, Aaron kept me updated by texts and of course I could hear.

There were two really funny moments. One line from an actor said, "Look Mary, Baby Jesus is sleepy." However, at that time he was flailing his arms and legs and having a good time. Not at all sleepy! :-) The second time was when an actor said, "And now, Herod wants to kill him!" As soon as she got the words out of her mouth, Clayton pointed right at her and started crying hard! The timing couldn't have been better. And the crowed roared with laughter. :-)

I was so relieved that he did good and was also glad when it was over.

Running off some steam downstairs before it starts.

Poor Mary had her hands full, but she did such a good job with him. I think he was wanting down here. :-)

Taking a picture after the program of the actors.

The actors with the director, Kristin Foster. Clayton spotted me taking a picture, thus the "I'm done with all this" face.

I wanted to get a close up picture of Clayton with Mary, but, he was DONE!!

I think he was ready to see me again.

One more picture before we change his clothes.

Baby Time

2009-12-07T14:48:00.005-05:00

We had such a good time in Missouri for Thanksgiving! One of the fun things I got to do was take pictures of everybody. I won't post the family ones since several are using them for Christmas cards, but here are a few additional fun shots we did just for kicks.

The four partners in crime: Elijah (Dana/Phil's), Karson (Mark/Jana's), Clayton (ours), and Emme (Jeff/Vicki's).

Just getting all the babies in the same picture was an experience in itself!

And now Tyson joins in on the fun

(Kendall & Leanna's new baby at 4 weeks 0ld).

The KKK: Kaley, Khara, and Kelsey! :-)

Mickey Mouse

2009-11-01T14:10:00.015-05:00

We had a lot of fun this weekend with Mickey Mouse, aka Clayton. He didn't mind his costume at all and even left his hood up the whole time.

Deerfield Town Center had trick or treating on Friday night. It was so neat to see all the other children in costumes and just stroll around the shops.

They even had a small petting zoo!

Clayton was fascinated by the tall man on stilts that was juggling.

Clayton's first piece of candy was some Smarties. He loves Smarties and he clutched them the whole night - would not even put them in his pail!

Then on Saturday night we stopped over at Jeff/Vicki's. Here's Mikey Mouse and the Little Bumble Bee (aka Emme).

Clayton's First Haircut!

2009-10-24T14:55:00.007-04:00

Today was the big day - Clayton got his very first haircut!! His hair was so long I was afraid they might charge me extra. :-) We went to Cookie Cutters and they were so nice. He got a little certificate that says "First Haircut" on it with a little bag that has some locks of his hair in it and has a place for his picture. He was a little unsure at first, but did really good sitting pretty still. He sure looks like a different boy now!

Sickness has struck!

2009-10-20T16:43:00.007-04:00

The little man is sick. I hate to see him not feeling well. When he woke up the other day, this is what his hair looked like. I did have to chuckle. I was so looking forward to his first haircut last week (since he's now one), but of course we have to wait until he's actually well enough to go out.

It's amazing what you do for your child when he's sick. He wanted to ride in the bed of his dump truck and it's getting much harder for me to lean over and push him around the house. So, Aaron rigged up this handy-dandy way for me to pull him around without having to bend over! :-) Clayton LOVES riding around like this and doesn't want us to stop. (I think this boy needs a wagon for Christmas!)

This is for Aunt Cindy: While I was waiting for the video to load, I had to look at some old pictures of when Clayton first "played" with his dump truck. This is when he was only a month old!

First Birthday!

2009-10-15T19:08:00.013-04:00

Clayton got to celebrate his first birthday twice!

The first celebration was in Indiana at Aaron's parent's house.

Yeah . . . a Colts ice cream cake!!

Time for presents!

Clayton was delighted with the little barn from his grandparents!

My favorite picture!

The second celebration was here in Ohio. It was so nice to have my siblings here (thanks to GBS Homecoming - and we missed you Kendall & Leanna).

My first attempt at a birthday cake!
(too bad Marianne B. lives too far away, now!). :-)

Kaley's birthday is 3 days after Clayton's, so they celebrated together.

Enjoying the chocolate ice cream!

All his cousins were just as interested in the presents as he was!

Caught the end of Kaley's.

Jiggin' at Old Fashioned Day

2009-10-15T16:46:00.004-04:00

Clayton loves music and he certainly demonstrated this for us at Old Fashioned Day at UBC a few Saturdays ago.

It was pretty cold, so we did our best to make sure Clayton stayed warm.

It was so good to see my cousin, Rachelle.

Sarah (Rachelle's youngest girl) and Clayton enjoyed playing together.

Going inside to warm up!

The end of a long day.

The Little Monkey

2009-09-29T20:25:00.002-04:00

Clayton recently discovered his monkey house shoes. He usually just carries them around and plays with them like a toy. I tried putting them on his feet yesterday and he loved them!

Homearama!

2009-09-28T16:15:00.013-04:00

I love going to Homearama and we always enjoy seeing the new homes with Mark and Kristin. This year the homes were "scaled back" a bit and cost around $700,000 - $850,000 instead of over a million. Still way out of my league, but it's still neat to see how people decorate.

We started off by meeting for supper at this really cool restaurant called Mimi's Cafe. They have great food and since it was our first time there they gave us a box of huge muffins to take home with us. What a nice touch!

The chicken pot pie that Kristin and Aaron had was soooo good! Wish I could make this at home.

I had salmon with asparagus and so did Mark. Clayton sure enjoyed the mashed potatoes!

This was the neatest thing. These music notes were filled with scraps of sheet music. It looked so amazing. This was actually in a bathroom and there was an old saxophone in the corner of the shower!

The cribs for these twins were so pretty. And I just loved the names and sayings on the wall above the beds.

How cool would this be for a game room in your basement!

I thought this was a neat idea! This was in the entry way off the garage.

And what neat pictures for a laundry room!

I loved this gigantic fork and spoon on the wall of a kitchen.

Wouldn't an outdoor fireplace like this be cool?

This shower had a remote control so you could turn it on to warm up before you ever got out of bed!!

These were only a few of the many pictures I took. Some really neat stuff and some really strange stuff. :-) But, we had a lot of fun.