 Flying With Buzz and Tink Submitted: Nov. 1, 2010 @ 11:32 am by Pamela Daines
Buzz Lightyear and Princess Tinkerbell have been the latest talk around our house. Dakota turned three on October 19th and was delighted to have a "Tinkerbell" themed birthday party. Taylor is already planning his own "Buzz Lightyear" themed birthday party, complete with home-made invitations, for this coming March. Tinkerbell and Buzz Lightyear enjoyed trick-or-treating at the ward trunk-or-treat, bringing home more candy than Mom cared to eat. Our "Buzz" and "Tink" can be seen flying around the house daily, in or out of costume. |
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 Riverfront Park Submitted: Aug. 31, 2010 @ 11:23 am by Pamela Daines
I have fond memories of the first time Bryce introduced me to Riverfront Park in Spokane, WA. I was amazed at the size of the big red wagon, and I loved the goat that ate trash. This summer we had the opportunity to introduce our kids to the exciting things at Riverfront Park. While I thought we were giving them the tour, they proved otherwise by finding so many more things to do and see. They showed me that eating a hot dog and stale bun can be exciting. A carousel ride became a horse race, and although my horse didn't win, he was still very fast. We found an entire park full of kiddie rides and learned that Taylor loves the spinning rides just like his Dad. We discovered THE place to order ice cream, as we ordered and ate the biggest ice cream we have ever seen in our lives. The only disappointment for the kids was the trash goat, which they thought was going to be a REAL goat. Oops. Poor explaining on our part. But after seeing how much newspaper the goat could eat, the kids couldn't get enough of it. We ran out of time before we ran out of things to do. We had a great time with our kids and enjoyed an afternoon of activities where the kids chose, mom and dad followed, and we all got to be kids for the day. |
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 Enjoying the Summer Submitted: Jul. 5, 2010 @ 5:23 am by Pamela Daines
June was great month for our family. We all spent a couple of weekends in Dallas and the kids spent some time at Grandma and Grandpa&aps house without us. We celebrated Kaylee&aps highschool graduation and 18th birthday with her by attending Wicked the musical. Also in Dallas, we tested Grandpa&aps new wakeboarding boat. Taylor and Dakota loved the lake and were even exited to wear their life jackets. They were reluctant, however, to ride the tubes. Taylor enjoyed holding the flag, and Dakota loved going fast in the boat. Bryce tried out wake surfing, and I captured the moments with video and camera. We are looking forward to more water activites and family visits when we vacation to Spokane in August.
June has been a hot month in Texas, but we are staying cool as best we can at the pool, spray park, in the mud, and in the house with the AC running. We are looking forward to our new little one, expected in November. The doctor reports this one will be of the pink variety. |
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 And Baby Makes Five Submitted: May. 24, 2010 @ 9:27 am by Pamela Daines
We have new little one on the way, due Nov. 18th! Gender to be announced in the next few weeks. Taylor wants a boy and Dakota wants a girl. Both are excited about having a new baby in the family, as are Mom and Dad. Mom is over the first trimester sickness and wouldn't know she was pregnant except for the baby belly that is considerably noticeable.
The family is already preparing for the new arrival, especially Dakota. She decided and proved in a weekend that she was finished with diapers. She graduated from the crib into a toddler bed, choosing to share a room with Taylor. Both of them are now trying to convince Mom that the baby should be in their room too.
We have babysat a couple of infants recently, and the kids have thoroughly enjoyed it. They are great helpers and can't wait for the arrival of our new little one! |
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 Congratulations Nate and Mindy! Submitted: May. 3, 2010 @ 9:47 am by Pamela Daines
Congratulations to Nate and Mindy Gill, married May 1st in the Denver, CO temple. We enjoyed a great weekend with family, and are excited to have Nate join the fam.
(Thanks to cousin Randy for the photography - myphotoforyou.net) |
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 Nashville Half Marathon Submitted: Apr. 26, 2010 @ 5:19 pm by Pamela Daines
One week before Nate and Mindy's wedding, the extended Daines Family and most of the Gill family (Mindy's in-laws) met in Nashville, TN for the country Rock & Roll Half Marathon. Mom outfitted the team with matching shirts and accessories to look like a wedding party. We had a great weekend with the family and are already looking for another race. |
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 A Visit from Emily Submitted: Mar. 22, 2010 @ 12:20 pm by Pamela Daines
We love Spring Break because we usually have family visit! Emily came down for most of the week, and we had a great time! Our favorite was the beach. Over a year has passed since our last beach visit, so the kids were thrilled to go. We spent as much time at the beach as we did driving there and back, but it was worth it. The kids loved building a sand castle, burrying Emily in sand, and Emmy even had them jumping over waves by the time we left.
As always, Emily is a great help around the house. She is a great preschool teacher and even taught a couple of days so I could complete my long runs. We also organized the kids' closets and learned we lack talent at installing curtain rods. She and the kids had fun playing everyday, whether it was kitchen, playdoh, coloring, or the park. We were so sad to see her go and hope she comes to visit again! |
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 Happy Birthday Taylor Submitted: Mar. 7, 2010 @ 12:03 pm by Pamela
Taylor turned four years old in March and we were lucky enough to have Grandma, Grandpa Kaylee, Emily, and Jacob come to Houston celebrate. The festivities began with the traditional green cake, ice cream, and presents, and ended with a train ride to the famous Houston Rodeo. The kids loved the petting zoo which featured lamas, reindeer, pigs, hens, and head-butting goats. Grandpa was lucky enough to even be a recipient of some head butts, and Jake's shirt received a couple of nibbles from the goats.
Taylor surprised us all by asking to go on a LONG slide at the carnival. Jake and Emmy also slid down, but Taylor went all by himself and showed us he is big and can do big things. Happy Birthday Taylor! |
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 Congratulations Bryce! Submitted: Feb. 8, 2010 @ 11:51 am by Pamela Daines
Congratulations to Bryce for winning the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics. This travel grant, awarded from the Genetics Society of America, is given to young geneticists to attend national and international meetings. Bryce will use the award to attend the 51st Drosophila Research Conference in Washington DC. Way to go Bryce! |
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 An Early Bird (well duck) Submitted: Jan. 27, 2010 @ 11:35 am by Emily Daines
Jacob and I (Emily) got 12 duck eggs for Christmas. After the first week we were left with 7. The others were clear (unfertilized eggs). It was the highlight and # 1 present ever (well in my eyes anyway). The ducks were due to hatch Saturday January 9th but to my surprise on Tuesday, the last time i went to flip them, I was startled. I was paralyzed like a rat at the glaring eyes of a snake. I heard a peep. (You&apre probably thinking I&apm crazy but really I&apm not. I was just befuddled.) My book says soon after the first pip or peep you&apre soon to have a duckling, but they weren&apt supposed to come until Saturday. Well this fell through my head and i summoned mom. We watched the egg shake and raddle and even crack. By morning we would have a duck. Morning came but little progress. I was forced against my will (if I have one), to go to school. In my return all but one egg was cracked. That first peeper had not made progress though, so I was a little worried. Then at 4:26 a little duckling shoved through its shell and tried to walk (quiet clumsy on his feet). We named him Dancer. 4:28 - within the minute two little ducklings we call twins arrived, Cami and Dallas (every time we take one out and it peeps the other also peeps in the cage). Cami hatched first and then with help by Cami, Dallas hatched also. (It seems as if they help the other eggs by pecking at it them.) Then 6:26 the last call, or Cali appeared. It had been trying since 4:00 the day before. All the others figured it out, but Cali needed some extra time. He/she is the smallest.. Soon after settling the newborns in a box, we headed to bed. .To our surprise when we woke up, we saw a duck, the first Pekin, Noel. She is the strongest one, but the thing is that she left her egg as if it had not been cracked. It was amazing. (Some one&aps an over achiever - hear that little ducks?) That day there were ice storms so school was a delayed start. Jake went to school on time but I stayed home to watch the last egg hatch. At 10:16 Snowflake arrived, the last duck.
When the ducks were one week old I took them swimming in a tray that you put paint in. I put Noel in first to see the reaction and when she was fine I asked my mom to come watch her while a grabbed another. As I walked back to get one, I heard a peep and a thud and then little footsteps behind me. Noel followed me to the box and patiently waited while I got another, then followed me back. She did this each time and will now follow me all over the house. Thank you Bryce and Pam. I couldn&apt think of a better gift. I have all ways wanted a farm and I&apm almost there, sort of (1 dog, 2 turtles, 1 fish, and six ducks, and the neighbors have horses). I love them and cant wait to make a colorful world in our pond. |
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 Cough in Your Elbow Submitted: Dec. 4, 2009 @ 1:20 pm by Bryce Daines
With the recent family sickness, many family members developed a cough. Taylor has become the sanitation police. Taylor&aps obligatory reminder accompanies nearly every cough: (Cough, cough) &quDad, cough in your elbow, like this” with a demonstration of the appropriate technique. We teach our kids, and then they teach us. |
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