Hello everyone. Here are some fun pics from our trip to Oregon. Wish I could say I miss Louisiana, but apart from our fabulous friends there, it just isn't so.

Here we took the kids hiking down to Miner's Creek. It is beautiful. Little Aliyah is in the snugglie.


Sandra and Haley down at Harris Beach






Sandra being silly with our cool shades Mom found. The beach seems to bring out the kid in us.











Sandra's friend Michelle met us on the coast for a day. We sure miss her and her family.




Sandra's Mom came to ORegon for 5 days. She was like a kid again on the beach. It was good to see her so happy.




We went to watch the sunset. How beautiful.

Mishonne and 2 cousins Perry and Elise jump the waves at the beach.
The kids have fun at the kite festival.








Mom had never been river rafting so we took her over to Heidi's and went rafting on the Rouge River. We all had a blast and it was a good workout.


Logan and cousin Johnny are best buds. This is at Tide Rock on the Chetco River.








Mishonne and Denton are little fish in the river. The kids also got to go aff a rope swing at the river.









All of the older cousins at the Marks reunion decorated T-shirts and played a war game with nerf guns. How Sweet!!

A Belated Fourth of July!

We want to wish y'all a belated Happy 4th of July from our crew now in Washington. Loren the Birthday Boy turned 36. We had a birthday gathering for him and my brother Chris who turned 18 at my Grandpa Don's home out on Diamond lake. Loren was happy because he got in a mile swim on his special day. Denton is beginning to think it is a Happy Birthday every day since we have 5 of our family members with birthdays within a month and a half. Every time he sees a cake or a candle of any kind he says, "Sing Happy Birthday?"




My Grandpa is getting rid of this old boat and decided it would be a great birthday sign for the Birthday Boys, Loren and Chris.
Here is Aliyah, 3 weeks old now, sporting her 4th of July outfit.

Great Grandma Jody, Aliyah's name sake, gets in a much anticipated love.

Great Grandpa Don gets caught catching some cuddles as well.

Even Grandpa Mike's heart is stollen by little Aliyah.

Logan having some fun with his new snorkel gear in the lake.

Haley gets to ride in the boat with uncle Christopher as driver. It was not a mild ride either. When the boat lifts a foot off the water chomping over the waves it can't be too safe. But the kids thought it was cool.










The highlight of Denton's day was getting to play on the Bobcat.



All the kids love their Opa (G'pa Carl). Logan gives the best hugs.


Haley loves her Grandma Maryann very much. She told my mom she was so excited to be at her house that she did not know which room to go into first.









Sandra got her blue eyes from G'pa Don.


Happy Birthday Daddy! We love you!!

2 Weeks old and I'll cry if I want to!

GET THIS THING OFF OF ME!
Yep, it's true. Aliyah knows how to cry. I have been saying how mild she is and she finally decided to let it rip on her first day of Church. Maybe it was the frilly dress I put on her. Luckily she is back to her sweet self.






Denton insisted that he be in the photo once he saw me taking pictures of Aliyah. Denton loves to help get diapers for Aliyah and tells me when she needs to drink Mommy's milk.


Mishonne wanted to help give Aliyah her first bath since her umbilical cord finally fell off. Aliyah let us know she was not ready to get out of the warm water by peeing on her towel when we lifted her out. Mishonne was not quite expecting this.

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Here is Aliyah wide eyed and bushy tailed at 11 o'clock at night. Aliyah is still a special part of our family. Grandma Marks is here with us now and is much appreciated. She is getting her fill of UNO playing and baby cuddles. We are excited for Aliyah to get cuddles from her other Grandmas too.

One Week Old!

Wow. It is hard to believe Aliyah is a week old allready. She is so sweet and is starting to open her eyes more each day. At first we did not think she had a dimple like the last 3 kids but she sometimes smiles in her sleep and there is a definate dimple in her right cheek. I love the dimples in my kids especially since we never expected to have a child with them. We believe they came from Loren's Grandad who past away when Loren was young.
My sister Nicole got here on Saturday which has been nice. She helps keep the big kids occupied and not jealous of the new baby. She does however manage to sneek in some cuddling time with Aliyah as well. Anyway, here are a few more pics of little Aliyah JodyMarie.

3 DAYS old!

Our little Aliyah turned 3 days old today. We have survived 3 nights with a newborn and we are still smiling. Aliyah definately has her nights and days mixed up so Loren and I take shifts. When she cries at night she just fusses a bit and wants to eat or be held. Good thing we have auntie Nicole coming here on Saturday to help with all the holding. The kids love holding little Aliyah and helping to change and dress her. Now that she is here we can't imagine our family without her.
Mishonne and Haley can't get enough of their new sister

Even Logan likes holding baby Aliyah
. A funny story about Denton seeing me nurse for the first time. I began to feed Aliyah after getting home from the hospital. Denton's eyes got really big and he came over to investigate. Once he saw what was really going on he got a horrified look on his face and yelled, "No, no baby!" I started laughing and told him it was okay and that she is just drinking Mommy's milk. He looked at me with a puzzled expression and promptly went to retrieve his sippy cup and offer Aliyah a drink the more conventional way. He since has not worried about her "method" of getting milk.

It's A Girl!

Well, little Aliyah JodyMarie made her entrance into the world on her own time. Sandra went into labor about 9pm on June 9th. We got to the hospital at 11Pm and she was born at 2:55 am on June 10th. We are very excited to have her part of our family and so far seems to have a very easygoing personality. She does not cry much and if she does it is very mild. Thanks to all of your prayers and support during the difficult pregnancy. We feel very grateful that Heavenly Father watched over Sandra and the baby. We can't wait for you to meet Aliyah in person.

Loren's claim to fame

Hello family. I knew Loren would be too embarrassed to tell you he was interviewed for LSU media, so I am taking it upon myself to tell you. It is a really neat interview and the topic is something that means a lot to Loren. Here is the link to see the actual footage of his interview. http://multimedia.lsu.edu/media/Marks.wmv

Hope all is well for everyone. I am getting huge and uncomfortable, but I suppose that is to be expected. I will miss all of you at the wedding. Please send me photos so I can see what I missed. Loren and I are going to at least go up to the open house in Dallas to meet Tommy's family and so I can see Doris. See you in a few months.