Time to make the Bagels...

Incase anyone wondered, we are still in the bread business. Every Friday we bake and bake and bake. Everyone in the family helps out.
Mom does most of the mixing and kneading - what people think of when they hear "you bake at home."
Dad is bagel boiler, and kid watcher, and emergency "I need XXX atthe store." person.
Isaac is extra helpful when it comes to baging the breads, and putting them in the baskets that we use to transport to the market. He is also good at playing outside while the stuff is baking, and eating on the porch for lunch.
Oliver is wonderful at playing near Helen while mom bakes in the morning. He keeps her entertained and happy. He is a wonderful brother. He also is our resident dough tester. Keeps mom on her toes and the dough tasting great!
Helen is a great baby, keeps mom smiling while she bakes, and Oliver busy. Because without Helen, Oliver gets into lots of messes.

Baking day can be a bit trying on the nerves, and a crazy busy day in general, but I love it.

Bananna Fananna Fo Fellon

So we said she smiled and here is the proof! We were at the zoo with the cousins and Grandma Marilyn. As we all watched the hippos dance in the water, Helen had a smile fest! Finally I was fast enough to catch it on the camera.

The cousins and Grandma left this morning. We were sad to see them go, but Life does have to go on. Right. I was forced to start changing Helen's diapers my self, and Isaac keeps calling me Grandma. Soon life will return to normal I am sure.

Also we took some nice pics as they were packing up. I mean why leave when you can procrastinate. Maybe for Helen's baby book I will edit out Ollie in the back, but for now here is the 3 generation photo. This one I look less dead in, and I don't have a crick in my neck.

Helen, Helen, Bo Belen....

This is little Helen over the last couple of days. In fact, the one in the middle is Helen just this morning when she got her Easter basket. We did Easter baskets on Saturday this year because Carol's brother Brian and his family are visiting and they do Saturday Easter baskets. Helen even went to an Easter egg hunt hosted by the University this morning...but I'm afraid it was the boys that did all the egg finding.

Carol is off of milk and Helen is a much happier baby. She is smiling now - and not just because of any gas. She's sleeping for 5 t0 6 hour stretches (at random times of the day).

She's our little joy to have around.

This bottom picture is of Helen and the silver cup that her great grandpa and grandma Ailshie sent.

Validation?

Ran on to this when I stumbled on to the web site of a guy I served a mission with. It also was sooooooooo California. At times I thought they were in the mall in Santa Barbara - minus the free parking...and the friendly guy.

And yes, that is the dude from Bones. I half expected him to start going off on how he loved her mass spec.

1 Baby, 3 weeks of a party!

According to Jason, I only wanted a baby so I could dress her up. Not true. I wanted her so we could have girly parties. She is only 3 weeks old and already we have had a traditional bash (with funny hats and milk shakes).





We have had a tea party with fancy cups and all our best friends.



And we have had a slumber in our jammies party as well.

It us so much fun to have a girl. Now don't get me wrong. I did the same sort of things with the boys too, but it is somehow more fun to do girly parties. What ever will we do next week when she turns one month?!

At the moment she is battling some raging baby acne, but it is no big deal. She still has the loveliest smile I have seen in years.

Four Generations

Carol, her mother Marilyn, and little Helen pose for the camera at Carol's baby shower. I call it four generations since Helen is named after her great grandmother Helen Foley who passed away when Carol was a teenager.

Look Who's Here! Welcome Helen Diane