Lovin' Life

Hood Canal 2011

2011-08-07T23:53:00.000-07:00

In July we took our annual family vacation to Hood Canal. It was a great week of swimming, kayaking, BBQ'ing, smore'ing and all around fun. McKinley turned two!
Snuggle time

Are we having fun yet?

Vroom!

Loving this!

Safety first

I'll have s'more!

King of the hill

Ready for an adventure!

The p.j. princess is on her throne

The whole family

I Love Boys

2011-04-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

As I got into my van, I was rewarded with this beautiful dandelion duct taped to my steering wheel. My sweet Jackson was sitting in the back with a huge smile one his face. I think my smile was bigger though. Precious boy. Made my day.

Picasso at the Seattle Art Museum

2011-03-20T22:17:00.000-07:00

The Picasso exhibit was on display at the Seattle Art Museum and going to see it was all Kennedy wanted for Christmas. So under the tree she found a family membership and could hardly wait to get started using it.
Great modern art greeted us as we walked in. She was immediately taken in by the cars hanging from the ceiling in the lobby.

While we weren't allowed to take photos in the Picasso exhibit, it was okay in the rest of the museum. Here are some of our favorites:

Kennedy liked this still life because rather than being a perfect display of fruit and flowers, it depicted a table in disarray, as though a feast was over and it was time to get started cleaning up.

We took a photo of this one because Kennedy was interested in trying this technique at home by creating a painting and then leaving it out in the rain for a while.

The title of this one was Mother. I might look a little like this to my children when I have one nerve left and they are standing on it.

This was a fun one of children playing with bubbles. Kennedy enjoyed seeing children from a different time period enjoying the same childlike activities that she does.

Did you know that Seattle Art Museum has an Andy Warhol? Kennedy recognized it right a way.

We were walking down the hallway, when Kennedy looked into the gallery and saw this painting. She commented that it looked like a Jackson Pollock. I told her that it wasn't likely, but we could go check it out anyway. Sure enough, it was a Jackson Pollock original. I didn't know that the S.A.M. had one of those either.

We took a lunch break at the market and then stopped by the Hammering Man outside the museum on the way back in.

It was a great day with my daughter. Her perspective on art is fun and fresh. I love that she appreciates so many different artistic mediums. We are both looking forward to our next visit back to the Museum.

Christmas 2010

2011-02-19T19:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve was spent at Grammy and Papa's house. We all congregated for brunch and then enjoyed a nice day together.

Papa showed the girls some of the photo ornaments with their pictures on them.

Uncle T. read a Christmas story to the children.

Ava and Junie showed off their favorite ornaments.

Christmas morning the boys were up bright and early,

checking out their stockings and ready for the excitement to begin.

The three older children took turns reading the Christmas story

from the book of Luke before they began opening their stockings.

McKi

Jack-O

Mikey

Hairby

Kiki

My mom, little brother, aunt and cousin came by later in the morning.

Branden and Mikey

Aunt Cyndi and Cousin Kelly

Christmas evening we went to Ompa and Oma's house to celebrate.

I enjoyed a walk with the four older children down the country road.

Check out the root structure on this tree stump!

Back yard trampoline fun

Angie's family

Harrison and Mikey kept Uncle Jeff busy with scratch art.

So nice of Karsten to share his new Buz Lightyear bike with Mikey.

It was a great Christmas. I loved seeing all of the extended family and and watching the children play with their cousins. We are blessed to have family in the area.

Michael & Jackson's Carousel Party

2011-02-10T13:05:00.000-08:00

Since Christmas is sandwiched between Michael (December 23) and Jackson's (December 26th) birthdays, it is much easier to celebrate at a different time. We had a super-fun morning at the local carousel where we rented the place for a couple of hours.

In lieu of gifts, the boys asked guest who were interested to give money to help the children who live and work in the dump in Ecuador. They were so excited to raise $303.60 to help!

We had plenty of donuts, coffee, and cocoa to keep us warm and full.

Santa stopped by for a visit. He handed out peppermint lollipops to the children and stayed for photos.

There were lots of laughs and giggles as the children took full advantage of two hours worth of free carousel rides. Though many might have been feeling ill by the end, only one actually tossed his donuts.

We had a great time celebrating our boys with family and friends. Thank you to all who came and enjoyed the festivities with us. And a big thank you for the donations that were given to help the children who live in the dump. It was precious to see our boys get excited about

giving their birthday presents to help other children.

Santa Photos 2010

2011-02-09T22:51:00.000-08:00

The Santa photo this year was fun. We went to see good 'ol Clause after church one Sunday, since the kiddos were already looking pretty dapper.

We had the older children ready and then added McKinley at the last minute. She wasn't too happy about our plan.

It worked better to have Santa sneak up behind her.

Our little sugar plums.

Seattle Marathon Father/Daughter Team

2011-01-15T22:17:00.000-08:00

I used to think that people who ran marathons were superheros. Now I know they are just regular people with a 26.2 mile dream.

On November 28th I had the privilege of running the full Seattle Marathon with my dad. It was a memorable experience that I will always treasure.

We crossed the finish line at a chip time of 4:37:32.

Here is our wonderful cheer squad who showed up at various spots along the route.

My favorite moment in the race was near the end. As we crested our last hill toward the finish line, my oldest son, Jack, joined us on the course and ran along side us for a ways; three generations running side-by-side. I wish I had a photo to share.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to have run a marathon with my father, thankful for my family for putting up with all of my training, for a healthy body, and for our God who gave us the strength to push ourselves to complete 26.2 miles.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T09:39:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was a little less conventional than usual. We didn't go to Grandma's house. We weren't surrounded by extended family and lots of commotion. But we were surrounded by our cozy little family and lots of love.

It had snowed a couple days before Thanksgiving. Ken was stuck at work the first night and wasn't able to come home. Since we live on a hill, we weren't able to get out either. So on Thanksgiving morning, Ken made the call that we would stay put. Thankfully we had a small turkey that we were able to defrost and enough potatoes and other items to put together a nice Thanksgiving dinner.

Thankful for the snow

The two big kids helped peel potatoes.

Harrison made the mulled cider.

Dad deep fried the turkey for our feast.

We gathered around our table for a simple feast and a time of giving thanks to our good God and His wonderful gifts.

Whew! It's Been Four Months!

2010-11-24T23:28:00.000-08:00

My wonderful husband bought me a new camera last year. I really like it. The only problem is that it takes up a lot of space on the computer. I am so low tech, I don't know how to move things around to make more room on the hard drive. So I rely on having someone else coming over to help out with it. Every time. That's why it's been four months since the last post.

Here are a few snapshots of what has been going on in our family in the past four months...

We had a great vacation in Idaho.

Good times at the annual family vacation in Hood Canal with Ken's family

Ran the Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon with my dad

Kennedy and Jackson started school in the fall. Harrison is homeschooling and Mikey recently started preschool.

My dear friend, Tamara, came out to visit with her family.

Our annual trip to the pumpkin patch was a bit too late in the evening. Many of our photos are in the dark.
Harrison marked his sixth birthday with a Green Eggs and Ham party.

My grandparents celebrated their 60th anniversary

Happy Birthday Anniversary

2010-08-17T22:02:00.000-07:00

Our sweet McKinley Rose turned one last month. We started out her morning with a healthy birthday muffin that big sister made especially for her.

The children were attending VBS that week, so after we picked them up from "Adventure Camp" we met Daddy at McDonald's for a small lunch celebration for our little McNugget.

Happy Birthday, Sweetie Pie! We love you!

Later that evening, Cousin Kelly came by to watch the kiddos so that we could celebrate our 14th anniversary. We had a nice ride up to Alki on the motorcycle where we enjoyed a delicious Mexican dinner at Cactus Bar and Grill. Then we watched the sunset over the Puget Sound while sipping our iced Starbucks coffee.

Happy Anniversary, Babe. Here's to watching many more sunsets together. Cheers!

My Little Sister's Wedding

2010-07-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

I snagged this photo from the photographer's website: http://clanegesselphotography.blogspot.com/

Kayce is so beautiful. The photo reminds me of the front of an album cover.

They met the first day of their freshmen year in college. He majored in physics and she majored in business. They graduated a year ago and have been working toward their teaching credentials. He loves ultimate frisbee. She loves coffee and shopping. They both love cooking together, kids, the great outdoors, and the YMCA.

Last weekend they tied the knot. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception filled with tears of joy and laughter. We all wish them the best as they begin their new life together as husband and wife.

I love this photo.

The bridesmaid dresses were unique.

They could be tied ten different ways depending on one's body-type, mood, or style.

My dad bravely walked his youngest daughter down the aisle.

Husband and wife!

I love this idea! They had a photo booth at the reception for the guests. A book was nearby for the photos to be glued into and a message to be written along with it.First dance

Father-daughter dance

My beautiful cousins

Gram with her newest great-grand baby, Eveyn.

Dad and his girls

Another father-daughter dance

My grandparents will be celebrating their 60th anniversary in October. They've done a good job of paving the way for the rest of us.

My brother, Kris with his wife and their youngest daughter.

I wish I had recorded the entire song, but unfortunately I only got the last bit. Kayce's friend and maid of honor, Katie, wrote the lyrics for the bride and groom and sang the song as her toast to them.

Happy 3rd Birthday Karsten!

2010-07-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

My precious nephew turned three recently and we gathered at his home last weekend to celebrate. He had a garbage truck themed party- perfect for a preschooler!

The children were glad for a place to cool down from the heat. They had fun playing in the shark pool that my mom blew up with her lungs alone. It took a while, but the children were thankful.

Karsty was thrilled with the tool box his parents gave him.

Big boy. Proud parents.

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

We had a mellow 4th of July around here. I like mellow these days. Ken worked the day shift (great for the 4th of July) so I took the children to church and surprised them with a visit to a local park afterward. The weather was overcast, so swimming was a cold adventure for my boys.

Kennedy tried juggling at one of the booths. I was impressed that she picked it up so easily.

Jack and Harrison raced up and down the hills during the xylophone concert.

We returned home for Mikey's nap. Kiki put the finishing touches on our patriotic treat.
The results of our 1st annual Independence Day Coloring Contest. The winners received Tic Tacs for their prizes.

From our front porch, the children watched the fireworks show in the eastern sky.

Jackson's Half Birthday

2010-07-01T22:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are counting, we are half way to Christmas. I know because two of my sons celebrate birthdays on both sides of the holiday. Michael's birthday is the day before Christmas Eve and Jackson's is the day after Christmas. Jack's half B-D happened to fall on the same day as the Rock N Roll Half Marathon, but that didn't keep us from celebrating.

After we arrived home, I took the children to the library, only to find out that a festival was taking place right across the street. The children and I had fun visiting the booths, listening to music, and making tiny origami baskets. Sorry, no photos.

When we arrived home, my super-fun husband jumped in the car and we went on a geo-caching adventure. Our new GPS had arrived in the mail and he was ready to use it. We plugged in the coordinates for a local geo cache and off we went to find our bootie. Unfortunately, we marched along in the sun, looking under bushes, behind trees, around fire hydrants, but did not find the geo cache. This was our second unsuccessful attempt at this new (for us) activity. We tried on Father's Day with the GPS we gave Dad, but in the pouring rain, we were not able to find that cache either.

We were disappointed but not discouraged. Now we are even more determined to find the geo-cache on our next attempt.

We arrived home and celebrated our precious Jack with his choice of ice cream cones with sprinkles. At least we didn't have to go searching for those!

Eleven Months Old!

2010-06-30T22:13:00.000-07:00

McKinley turned 11 months old on the 20th. I keep wondering where the last year went. I remember waiting in slow motion for her to be born. But then once she arrived, someone pushed the fast-forward button. And somehow we ended up here at eleven months. I wish I could set life on pause for a while and just enjoy her as she is at this fun stage of life. Ten months was a busy time for our little McNugget. You may recall that on the first day of her 10th month, Mickey learned to crawl. And since then, she has accomplished so much more.

waving

pointing
clapping
playing peek-a-boo

getting around in a baby walker
pulling herself up in her crib and elsewhere
sitting in the front seat of a grocery cart

She continues to be a wonderfully mild-mannered baby with a gigantic toothless grin. We are wondering if month eleven will bring a tooth or two.

We decided to get her started on some real "solids," regardless. She has enjoyed eating toast, banana chunks, and "Mick-a-roni" and cheese.

These show another first; McKinley's first time playing out on the grass. I love the final photo as she looks up to Daddy for reassurance while she leans on his strong frame. Precious moments, indeed.

Priceless

2010-06-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of my favorite days. Ever. I ran the 2010 Seattle Rock 'N Roll Half Marathon with my dad and did we ever ROCK it. Our goal was a ten minute mile with a finishing time of 2:10. Instead, we finished at 2:03 with a 9.25 min. mile. Yep, we are basically ROCK STARS!

Ken caught up with us around mile 3 and 7 as well as at the finish line. Here we are passing through Seward Park.

Just crossed the finish line.

My little sister, Kayce, made this sign for us. She stopped by the finish line to root us on before heading off to pick up her wedding dress with a couple of her bridesmaids.
Love the bling!
My dad raised money for the National Cancer Society for his spot in the race. We both ran in honor of my great aunt who has been diagnosed with cancer. The red ribbons bear her name.

My cousin, Kelly ROCKED the race, too. We are a lot alike. After a lifetime of being a non-athlete, she decided in her adult life to make a healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating and fitness, a priority. For me it didn't happen until I entered my 30's. Kelly made the change in her 20's. She has gone down four sizes since her lifestyle change. I am so proud of her!

Who gives us our strength? That's right, the Lord God Almighty.
We had some fantastic support along the race route and at the finish line. Here Kelly is with her siblings at the finish line. They made the signs for us.

My sister and Gram were there to cheer us on, too! Angie has been one of my biggest supporters in all my events. She is a ROCK STAR in my book ,too!What would I do without my wonderful hubby to support me?
Three proud athletes. One great time!

My Facebook status Saturday night:

Registration Fee: $75.00

Rock N Roll T-shirt: $30.00 (thanks, Dad!)

Blister resistant socks: $12.00

Babysitter: $75.00

Crossing the finish line with my dad:

PRICELESS!

Summer Piano Recital

2010-06-24T21:43:00.000-07:00

Kennedy just wrapped up her third year of piano lessons with the Summer Recital this week. She played two songs and did a nice job on each.

Hoe-Down by Catherine Rollin

Kennedy and Emily did a wonderful job playing the duet, Morning has Broken. Unfortunately, my digital camera's card reader was full, so the original duet was not recorded. After the recital was over and the socializing had begun (and I had deleted a large number of photos), the girls played it again so that I could record it. Please forgive the background noise.

We are thankful for Kennedy's patient and talented piano teacher, Mrs. S.

Mikey's 3 1/2 Birthday

2010-06-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

Today was Michael's half birthday. We started out the day with an attempt at berry picking. We arrived only to find out that the farm stand was open selling berries, but because of the recent rain, the U-Pick patch was closed. So we purchased a 1/2 flat of raspberries and strawberries and set off. We happened upon a park that is located on the same road as the berry farm. I never knew it existed. We stopped and took some time to enjoy God's creation.

Half Birthday Boy

Me and my boys

We enjoyed some scrumptious strawberry shortcake for Mikey's half-birthday treat.

A First and a Last

2010-06-19T01:06:00.000-07:00

First time I have ever gone running into the midnight hour. Last "long run" in my training until the Rock 'N Roll half marathon.

We will be celebrating Father's Day on Saturday and I didn't want to have to try to fit in a ten mile run in the midst of it. So after the little ones were all tucked in and the Father's Day gifts wrapped, I jumped on the treadmill around 11:00 PM. Finished around 12:40 AM. I feel good. Sweaty and stinky. But good.

Only one week until my dad and I run the race together. I am really looking forward to it. The last time I ran 13.1 miles was the summer of 2007 when I raced my half iron man. That was two children ago. My purpose in registering for this race was simply that I needed a goal; something to work toward in my quest to start exercising again. It worked. In March I ran 63.26 miles, 83.18 miles in April, and 100.19 miles in May. I have already reached my goal. Now racing with my dad will just be the cherry on the sundae.

Low Tide at Alki

2010-06-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

Monday was a perfect day to be at the beach. It was the lowest tide of the year at -3.4 and the only sunny day of the entire week.

Sand castles

Wave jumping

The water in the tide pools was warm and great for frolicking.
Ta Da!

It was a perfect day with my precious children.

Swimming Lessons

2010-06-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

My children have taken swimming lessons from the YMCA off and on for years. Though they enjoyed them and had fun, I wasn't very impressed with their progress. This year we decided to try something new. The children are enrolled in the AMG swim school. They have been taking lessons twice a week for two months and we have seen marked improvement. The last two Saturdays in a row both Kennedy and Jackson passed the swim test at the Y which allowed them to use the water slide and the big pool without me having to be in the water with them. It is a satisfying feeling knowing that they are safer and more confident in the water.

Preschool Graduation

2010-06-13T01:10:00.000-07:00

Our little Harrison graduated from preschool recently. We are very excited for him as he heads into the big kindergarten world next year.Class of 2023It was fun co-teaching his class this year. The children are so bright and ready to learn. Way to go, Bear!

Gram's 79th Birthday Tea

2010-06-11T22:53:00.000-07:00

To celebrate my Gram's 79th birthday, my sister and I took her to the Secret Garden in Sumner for a Victorian tea. McKinley joined us for a tip-top time.

On the steps of the Secret Garden

Our sweet little Rosebud

National Donut Day 2010

2010-06-10T17:00:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 4 was the big day. We stopped by our local Krispy Kreme for some tasty treats to celebrate this national occasion.

Donuts make us smile!

Let the Games Begin...

Here is a link to last year's donut celebrating fun: http://wuvbugs.blogspot.com/2009/06/national-doughnut-day.html

Sock Hop

2010-05-22T23:09:00.000-07:00

Ken and Kennedy had a special time at our church's annual Father Daughter Sock Hop last night. They both dressed in 50's era attire and had a blast rockin' the night away.

Fonzerelli with the lovely girl at his side

At the soda fountain

Rockin' around the clock
Vrrrmmmmmmmm!

It was dreamy. When they returned Dad could hardly wait to take his dancing shoes off. Kennedy stayed awake and told me stories about the evening. They brought home a dozen chocolate cupcakes that Kennedy won at the cake walk and a list of their ten favorite activities that they do together. More importantly, they brought home a night full of special memories with just the two of them.

10 on the 20

2010-05-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

Our little Mick turned ten months old yesterday, the 20th. She did not want to hold still for the camera. I did all I could to snap the photos as fast as possible before she tried to get away.

McKinley is growing like a little flower. She is eating up to two jars of baby food at each meal and loves to feed herself Cheerios and any other little thing she can get in her mouth. So far, I have dug out a pebble and small piece of bark.

Today she learned to crawl forward for the first time! Mickey has been very close to crawling for a while but it wasn't until today that she finally put the pieces together. I Guess its time to baby-proof the house and get a gate for those stairs!

Grammy-Cam video of the Month:

Hair Cuts

2010-05-13T23:35:00.000-07:00

Before

During After

Roman Studies

2010-05-12T23:05:00.000-07:00

We've been studying ancient Rome for the last several weeks. The children have enjoyed learning about the Roman roads and aqueducts as well as the gladiators, strong army, and famous people.
The Roman centurions practiced marching and making the "tortoise shell" to protect themselves from enemy fire.

Kennedy researched the Roman baths and shared the information with her class at our homeschool co-op.

Jackson enjoyed learning about Julius Caesar and telling his peers about the Ides of March.

May Day!

2010-05-11T22:39:00.000-07:00

I woke up on May 1st to the sound of the front door slamming shut. Looking at the clock across from my bed, it read, 7:45 AM. I got to sleep in! But who was going outside already? I crossed the hall to pick up McKinley who was making her sweet noises in the crib. As we headed down the hall, my precious older four children were moving toward me bearing hand-picked flowers. Jack even made me a little tube with an I love you note stuck to it.

"Happy May Day!" they exclaimed.

I grabbed my camera and took some photos.

I love being a mom!

Science Fair Projects

2010-05-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

Kennedy and Jackson participated in their first science fair recently. Kennedy asked the question, "What are ants most attracted to?" She saturated small squares of bread with sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and water (control) substances and laid them out on our counter for three hour time segments to see which one the ants would be most attracted to. Her hypothesis proved to be correct, when most of the ants were found on the bread soaked in sugar water. She performed this experiment five times and graphed her results with the ants that were found on the bread.

Here she is giving her presentation to one of the science fair judges.

Jackson collected bugs for his part of the science fair. He was especially proud of the beautiful dragonfly that Aunt Becky donated in the name of science.

Both children were given a pencil for participation. It was a great experience and I am thankful for the opportunity for them to have had a chance to do it.

9 Months Old!

2010-05-03T00:05:00.000-07:00

Yep, another month! Our little Mickey, as we lovingly call her, turned nine months old on the 20th. She has grown so much over the past month in all that she has learned to do.

Since last month she has learned to roll over from her back to her tummy and back again, scoot backward, pivot 360 degrees on her tummy, sit up from a laying down position, wave bye-bye, and feed herself finger foods.

McKinley continues to be a happy little girl who lights up when her daddy enters the room and when her brothers do silly dances for her. She is adored by all of us.

Grammy-Cam Video of the Month:

Adoption Celebrations!

2010-05-01T22:57:00.001-07:00

April 21, 2010 Harrison prayed to accept Jesus into his heart to be his Savior! It wasn't until the next day that we found out about it though.

I heard Kennedy from the other room, "Go tell Mom! Go tell Mom!"

It wasn't even 9 A.M. yet, and they are already tattling, I thought.

"Mom! Yesterday I turned into a Christian!" Harrison blurted out with excitement.

"What? How did that happen?" I was caught off guard.

Harrison told about how he had prayed during story time the night before at AWANA. He professed his belief in Jesus dying on the cross and raising again and asked Jesus to forgive him of his sins and be the Lord of his life. A prayer that's both so simple and yet profound.

Jesus said this, "Unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. And whoever humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3-4).

I think a lot of times it is easier for a child to understand spiritual truth than for an adult to do so because grown-ups try to rationalize truth with their limited thinking. True, genuine, child-like faith is what Christ wants from all of us.

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13

So last week we celebrated Harrison's adoption into the family of God and Michael's one year adoption into our family. We had dinner and ice cream at Grammy and Papa's house to commemorate both joyous occasions.

EASTER 2010

2010-04-23T22:04:00.000-07:00

We dyed our spring eggs a few days before Easter.

I always love this stinky tradition.

It is much less messy to have one or two children do it at a time.

Days before Easter, we had a fun little egg hunt with our friends at their home. The children enjoyed scrambling around the yard looking for the small plastic treasures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LyoSSCeayA

Easter morning we awoke to a surprise scattering of plastic eggs in our front lawn. It is the third year of our anonymous egg donation. We truly don't know who is behind this fun surprise. Inside each egg is money for the children to keep. They had a great time running about, trying to collect the most eggs.This is our most recent family photo. It was taken on Easter at Grammy and Papa's house.

Three Generations

Happy Birthday Kennedy!

2010-04-05T19:54:00.000-07:00

Our big girl turned nine. She is growing up and we are thankful for the beautiful young lady that she is becoming both on the inside and out.She wanted to go to the Seattle Aquarium on her birthday. Since we have been studying plants and animals in our science class, it was fun combining her celebration with a little hands-on learning.

Kennedy wanted to try tie-dying. She had her friend, Erica over to try it with her.

When she woke up in the morning, this bike was waiting in her room. Kennedy had been wanting a bike with hand-breaks and a kickstand. She was able to take it out on a five mile ride just a few days later. She did great!

Special Delivery

2010-03-22T22:46:00.000-07:00

There was a knock at the door. I answered it to find my precious Harrison holding a muddy coffee mug filled with beautiful flowers. I ran to get my camera to capture the moment. My reaction must have inspired all of the boys because soon I had several mugs full of dandelions lining my kitchen window.

Eight Months Old!

2010-03-21T21:08:00.001-07:00

Our little Wonder Land Munchkin Bug is growing up. At eight months old she is eating three meals of baby food a day... sort of. She is kinda picky about what she chooses to open her mouth and let in. Mickey will open wide for pears and close tightly for all things green. She is getting ready to crawl by getting herself up on all four limbs and rocking back and forth. And tonight she began saying, "Dadadadadadadadadad!"

McKinley continues to be a bright and shining blessing in all of our lives. Her precious smile and squeaky noises fill our hearts with joy. She is truly a gift from our Creator of which we are so very grateful.

Insects and Bugs Oh My!

2010-03-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

We are three weeks into our study of plants and animals. To kick off the unit, I purchased bug boxes for the children and sent them outside to see what they could find.

So far we have collected one spider, one stink bug, three little beetles, six ants, one cricket, one potato bug, and we had a really cool fuzzy bee but now it's gone. They found a lot of worms but we aren't keping those. We will be gluing the bugs onto a foam board and placing it into a box for Jackson's spring science project. So if you are in the area and find some cool bugs in your window sill or out in the yard, we would appreciate it if you would donate them to our collection if you think about it!

Hape Sat Patrix Daee!

2010-03-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

Harrison made this decoration and taped it to the window. It says, "Hape Sat Patrix Daee." Pretty good for my little pre-K boy!

We started out the day with a stack of green pancakes. I usually make my green flapjacks with spinach, but my greens were looking kind of slimy today so we used food coloring instead. For an afternoon treat we enjoyed a refreshing glass of green lemonade. Actually, it was just going to be pink lemonade, but Harrison suggested we make it green. So we dumped it back into the blender and added half a box of lime jello. Very sugary, but fun to drink.

I also added some chunks of corned beef to the macaroni and cheese at lunch . No one really appreciated that though. Maybe I should have made the noodles green instead.

Daddy's 38th

2010-03-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

We recently celebrated Ken's birthday. He awoke to the lovely banner painted by his children and Scandinavian Breakfast in the oven. We sent him on a scavenger hunt to find his birthday surprise. At each location a clue was found taped to a different kind of BBQ sauce or marinade. The final clue lead him to the computer where he viewed the website with the barbecue/smoker class that he we are sending him to attend.

He wanted to spend his day at home with little fanfair. So that's what we did. He grilled some amazing burgers for the family. Mmmm! And we had a scrumptious rhubarb pie ala mode for desert. Oh, and the children gave him a couple new blueberry plants for the front yard.

It was a low-key day; just like he wanted. Glad he enjoys being home with the family so much. We love you, Dad!

She's Seven Months Old Now!

2010-02-27T18:56:00.000-08:00

McKinley turned seven months old on the 20th. She is such a precious part of our family and we're all loving watching her grow.

In the last month she has reached more milestones:

1) Eating "solids" (why are they called that when you can drink them through a straw?)

2) Holding her own bottle

3) Playing with her toys in the exersaucer

4) Sitting unsupported for longer lengths of time

**And in the last few days, she has just begun saying, "Mamamamamama!"

More February Fun

2010-02-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

My mom came for a visit last weekend. She spent time watching Karsten for Angie and a day with our family. We were glad she was here to celebrate her birthday as well.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

National Pancake Week

2010-02-20T06:34:00.000-08:00

It's National Pancake Week February 14-20. Enjoy some flapjacks with someone you love.

Here is my favorite recipe:

Apple Pie Pancakes

Dump a can or two of apple pie filling into your pancake batter. Pour, flip, enjoy!

Her First Basket!

2010-02-18T06:37:00.000-08:00

Last week was Kennedy's 4th basketball game of the season.

It was the last few seconds of the game. Kennedy got the ball. Shot it. Swoosh! Two points! The crowd went wild.

I was so carried away in the moment that I only got her head and arm in the photo of her first score. But you can see her pride as she looked over to us just moments after the swoosh and the shot clock went off.

We celebrated our little athlete's accomplishment at Red Robin after the game.

I love how the hostess put our party of seven in the far back corner of the restaurant next to a family with four young boys and F A R away from the other customers. Cracks me up.

Upward Basketball

2010-02-07T08:19:00.000-08:00

Kennedy is playing Upward basketball at our church. Not only is she learning the basic skills and rules involved in the sport, but she's memorizing Bible verses and and having a fantastic time. It has been amazing watching the girls' confidence and knowledge of the game grow each week. Already we have seen great improvement since the first game. Though I went to college in Indiana, arguably the basketball capital of the nation, I have never enjoyed watching the sport as much as I have these last few weeks. Three games into the season and five more to go!

Big Boy Underwear!

2010-01-29T21:09:00.000-08:00

Mikey is sporting something new these days and chances are you won't notice at first glance. But the puffy diaper-bottom is gone and in its place, under his pants, he is wearing them...BIG BOY UNDERWEAR!He worked hard to earn them. In addition to earning a Pez every time he went potty in the toilet, Mikey also placed a sticker on his potty chart. When it was finally full, we went to Target where he picked out his first packages of big boy undies.

He proudly chose packages of superhero and Sesame Street unders.
Kennedy helped place them all out on the couch before he decided which ones he would wear.
Today marks the second day of wearing them- even out in public. He has had a couple of accidents, but each time he apologized to Cookie Monster and Elmo for going potty on them.

Karate Kids

2010-01-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

The three older children were given karate lessons for Christmas. This week marked their third week taking the class.

I am impressed with the academy's approach to teaching the children. Emphasis is placed on being a good listener, paying attention and practicing self control. What parent wouldn't want extra help teaching those traits to their kids!

Visiting the Museum of Glass

2010-01-22T21:55:00.000-08:00

While studying the Phoenicians in our history lessons, we learned that they were the first glass makers to blow glass. All around the Mediterranean Sea people were glad to pay the Phoenicians for their glass wares.

We visited the Museum of Glass to check out glassblowing first hand. Entrance is free the third Thursday of each month, so we took the older three to enhance their studies and broaden their appreciation for this ancient art.The walkway outside the museum is full of amazing glass eye candy art. We were mesmerized by the beautiful glass ceiling as we passed under it.

The children had fun picking their favorite pieces in the encased outdoor display.

This one was Kennedy's fav.This giant structure reminds me of those fancy rock candy stir sticks that can be dissolved in coffee. There was a team of three artists working on this piece of glass. The rod that the orange glass is attached to is actually a pipe through which the artists blow air in order to stretch out the glass. Our children were very interested as they watched the process. This was the only place inside the museum where cameras were allowed.

The other exhibit that the children enjoyed was one in which children drew creatures on paper and the winning designs were turned into glass art. Harrison especially enjoyed hearing the descriptions that the children gave of their own designs. Bacon Boy, Pizza Cat and a fish sitting on a banana riding a skateboard were among their favorites.

I loved the lighting outside the Museum of History as we passed by on our way back to the van.

The children had a great time and we were very pleased with their interest in the art and the process. We are all looking forward to another visit.

Our Little McKinley is Six Months Old!

2010-01-21T22:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday marked Mickey's half-year birthday. I am amazed at how quickly the time has gone by. This last month she has gotten stronger and is able to sit up on her own for longer periods of time before tumbling over. She continues to be a happy little girl and such a delight to us all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOx1eri7c18

So glad I was able to capture her screechy-squeal on video. It helped that big brother was making silly faces for her.

Before and After

2010-01-16T23:14:00.000-08:00

Before

After

Before

After

Our Christmas Cabin

2010-01-15T23:09:00.000-08:00

This year among Ken's family we decided not to exchange gifts. Instead, each family chipped in to rent a lodge up at Mt. Rainier. It was snowing up at Paradise and the children were enjoying their first snowy experience of the year ... until Mikey took off his mittens and began crying about his hands being too cold, Harrison refused to wear his snow suit and his jeans got too wet, , and McKinley was upset by the cold air on her little cheeks.

Grammy and Papa took the younger three to the visitor center to warm up while the two older kiddos had a chance to try out their new sleds. In the above video Jack sleds down first and then Ken gives Kennedy a push down the hill.
All of the family gathered at the Dancing Bear Lodge when they finished in the snow.

The dining room was big enough to accommodate all 22 of us!The three little boy cousinsThe girl cousins enjoyed snuggling together in the morning.

Everyone loves Aunt Becky's cinnamon rolls.

Good times. Fun memories. Hopefully we will do it again next year.

Visiting With My Mom

2010-01-14T20:44:00.000-08:00

My mom came for an after-Christmas-celebration from the other side of the mountains. My aunt and sister's family joined us for a scrumptious dinner and some more gift-giving.The grandkidsAunt Cyndi and McKinley The kiddos opened gifts from Gramma Karen.

While my mom was visiting we spent an afternoon at the Children's Museum. Harrison and Mikey paired off and explored together while my mom took Jack and Kennedy ice skating.

No photos of the ice skating experience. When we met back up with Gramma and the big kids they were already taking off their skates. But I love the above photo of the children with an ice sculpture that was outside the rink.

Here's another good photo. We are glad for the nice visit with Gramma Karen and will look forward to seeing her again in the spring when the mountain passes are more drivable.

Capturing Christmas Day 2009

2010-01-09T10:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning the children awoke to lights, gifts, the scent of cinnamon rolls and a tea ring, and a letter from Santa.It was addressed to Harrison, thanking him for the cinnamon roll and reminding him to tell his brothers not to shine their flashlights in anyone's eyes. The stockings were stuffed and waiting to be opened.

MickeyMikey Hare-BJack-OKikiThis year we decided that in place of big gifts, the children would receive experiences. The three oldest children were surprised to open Karate gi's and find out that they were going to begin Karate lessons in the new year. J and K were given art lessons and all the children received a gift certificate for a local bouncy house.
Dad's big gift from all of us was a pair of cowboy boots. I love that he wasn't expecting it. I think he's worn the boots every day since he got them. I rarely nail it on the head, so I've been very pleased with his satisfaction over our gift.I didn't plan on purchasing gifts for the children other than their stocking stuffers and experiences. But when I was at the western store, I thought that it would be neat if the children had cowboy boots, too. I caved.

My lovable red necks.

We went to my grandpa and grandma's home for a celebration with the extended family. Here are the Christmas birthdays; December 21, 23, 25 & 26.

McKinley's first Christmas. What a delightful child.

It was a nice Christmas with family. I enjoyed the company, delicious foods, sparkles, and carols. Something was missing though. Throughout the month of December we had focused on Jesus as the reason for Christmas. We read the account of His birth from the Bible as well as from many children's story books. We played with our manger scene and placed the crown of thorns on top of our tree. We sang, "happy birthday to Jesus" as we ate peppermint ice cream and appreciated the Sunday school crafts that our children made in preparation for Christmas. But when Christmas morning actually came, we got caught up in the lights, stockings, treats, etc. We didn't pause to give Jesus His place in the day. I regret that. When our celebrating was over and most of the children were tucked all snug in their beds, I snuggled up in my bed with Kennedy and we took turns reading from the book of Luke about the first Christmas Day.

Capturing Christmas Eve 2009

2010-01-07T20:51:00.000-08:00

We spent Christmas Eve at Grammy and Papa's house. Playing the new Wii was a big crowd gatherer.

Grammy and Papa spent much of their dating days at the local tennis courts, so it was fun watching them do it Wii style.

Each child enjoyed opening their stocking filled by Grammy. She always includes fun treats and gifts for the children.

The most exciting gift for the boys this year was a digital timer of their very own. They like to set them to go off, pretending that a stink bomb is going to explode once the timer beeps.

I remember when her stocking was almost as big as she was.

Aunt Becky helped Junie discover that her new baby even has the ability to cry! It's a great gift to help prep her for the baby sister that is due to arrive in March.
Someone should hide that container of Legos next time the little ones come over.

We are thankful that Ken's folks and siblings live close enough that we can get together for special celebrations. It is truly a blessing.

December Birthdays

2010-01-03T18:04:00.000-08:00

*December 23 * Mikey's Birthday*

Mikey turned three on December 23. He woke up to the birthday sign that Kennedy made for him on the white board.

French toast was his special birthday breakfast. We had a little party for him at McDonald's. He loved it.

An eggnog cupcake for a special boy!

He chose to have cereal for his birthday dinner and afterward he opened a few birthday gifts from us.

*December 26*Jackson's Birthday*

Kiki made this poster for Jack.
We celebrated at a Japanese steak house. Grammy and Papa joined us.
We had a great chef who had six years of experience. Jack and Mikey were a little unsure of the fire and noise at first, but they eventually warmed up to it.

Before bed, Jackson opened his gifts from us. He was excited about his new rock tumbler. Little did we realize that it takes four to six weeks to turn rocks into semi-precious gem stones. One week down, three to five to go!

*December 20*McKinley's 5 Month Birthday*

McKinley is growing and learning. This month she:

1) discovered her feet

2) can hold her own bottle

3) is reaching for objects

4) began making loud, screeching, adorable noises

Kennedy's Christmas Piano Recital

2009-12-22T23:00:00.000-08:00

Kennedy played well at her Christmas recital Tuesday night. We are so pleased with her progress over the last year and a half. Kennedy She truly enjoys the piano and has a great teacher. Here she is with two of her friends, Emily & Elizabeth, waiting for the recital to begin.

Silent Night by Franz Gruber

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YotpB27LWzs

French Carol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd5S6s56SsM

Kennedy's first duet was with her friend, Emily. They played The French Carol. I was so happy to see how they were able to pick right back up after the little mistake. The girls did such a wonderful job. We are proud of them.

Nutcracker and Ice Skating

2009-12-19T13:02:00.000-08:00

I took Jackson and Kennedy to see the Nutcracker. Kennedy loves the ballet. It was our fifth consecutive year seeing it together. Jack had been asking for a couple years if he could go, so this year I decided he was ready. He was very polite during the production and only once did the lady in front of him turn around and ask him to keep his feet off her chair. But when it was all over, he said that he didn't care if he ever saw it again.

A few years ago, Kennedy and I started going ice skating after seeing the Nutcracker. It has been a neat way to top off our day. Jackson was thrilled to join in the tradition. It was his first time on the ice and he did an amazing job. He fell continually, but every time, he got right back up and tried it again. I loved his determination and perseverance.

Kennedy enjoyed herself, too. She is growing up though and did not want to hold my hand while skating this year.

We finished off our time with some peppermint hot chocolate and a visit to the model train inside the Seattle Center House. It was a lovely day with my precious children.

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

2009-12-16T22:54:00.000-08:00

Right after Thanksgiving I took the children to Nordstrom for the 9th annual Santa photo.

Jack and Harrison wrote letters and read them to Mr. Clause. Both boys are asking for a flashlight for Christmas. McKinley's first Santa photo.

Jack looks so grown up to me.

Cousin Karsten came too. He had the peek-a-book photo taken.

Please note that this photo was taken before Mikey's candy-cane-in-the-hair trick.

Here is the YMCA Santa.

Our little McNugget's 2nd time on St. Nick's lap.

Tonight Kennedy said she wanted to draw a picture of Santa, Rudolph, and Frosty kneeling down to worship Jesus in the manger. I'll post if she allows me. I think it is a great idea.

Why Our Two-Year-Old is Not Allowed to Eat Candy Canes Anymore This Christmas

2009-12-15T18:59:00.000-08:00

Elfy Fun

2009-12-14T20:49:00.001-08:00

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/9PWQ8bZSXWezu7UW?cmpid=ey_fb_self

Click on the above site for some laughs. Just wait and the clip will play on its own.

Enjoy!

Family Collage

2009-12-13T21:32:00.000-08:00

This is what I spend too many hours working on last night when I should have been sleeping. Most of the photos were taken by our friend, Leah. It is a pretty good representation of our family this year. I scanned them as one photo and sent it off to Costco to have our Christmas cards made out of it. Tomorrow I'll pick it up and see how it turned out.

We are so thankful for our family. It has been a wild ride these past several months, but I know that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

P.S. If you double-click on the image above, you can see it magnified.

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-27T14:16:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Thanksgiving early with my side of the family a few weeks ago at my grandma and grandpa's home. So yesterday we spent the day with Ken's family. Here is the entire crew: two grandparents, their four children with spouses, and twelve grandchildren.

"Mikey no yike mashed potatoes," he said on the way to Grammy's and Papa's. I thought it was funny that he was already thinking ahead about the holiday meal. Notice we didn't make him eat any.

Sweet little girly cousins

When we came home, we put together our annual gingerbread houses. The boys worked on one together and the girls (mostly Kennedy) did our own.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T09:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a little Thanksgiving art for you to enjoy...

Kennedy made name cards out of this picture for the grand feast at Grammy and Papa's.

Harrison's cyclops turkey.

Mikey's version of a turkey.

We praise God for our many blessings and give Him thanks today.

Psalm 95:1-6

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.
For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.
In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him.
The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

2009-2010 School Pictures

2009-11-25T21:23:00.000-08:00

Nothing quite shows a child's growth like the annual school photo. It marks the year and freezes the child in time. We just received our school photo packets this week and thought we would share them.McKinley

3 months at the time of the photo

Nursery

Michael

2 years

Nursery

Harrison

5 years

Pre-K

Jackson

6 years

1st grade

Kennedy
8 years
3rd grade

While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.

~Angela Schwindt

Daddy Daughter Date

2009-11-22T21:36:00.000-08:00

Kennedy loves going out on dates with her daddy. Last weekend they dressed up and went out to sushi and shopping.

Kennedy returned looking like a beautiful snow princess with all of the accessories Dad picked out with her. I love that they could spend the special time together making memories and having fun.

Ken enjoys taking the boys to the hardware store and wrestling around on the floor with them, but it is neat to see a different side of him when he takes his daughter out for some special one-on-one time.

She's Four Months Old!

2009-11-21T18:13:00.000-08:00

Mickey's four month birthday was yesterday. We had her healthy check-up and all looks well. She's in the 75th percentile for weight, height, and head circumference. She is smiling a lot and just learned to roll over. McKinley is genuinely amused by her siblings and extremely tolerant of their poking, prodding, and "loving" gestures.

I love that profile!

The big kids are cheering McKinley on as she attempts to roll over.

Here is this month's Grammy-Cam video (narrated by Kennedy).

Enjoy!

Our Halloween Crew 2009

2009-11-13T21:43:00.000-08:00

Mikey donned the bumblebee costume, Harrison was Spiderman, Kennedy was fire, our little punkin' was McKinley and Jack sported police officer attire. They dressed up and met their other cousins at Grammy and Papa's house for dinner before heading to church for a harvest party.

Our Great Punkin'

2009-10-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

Fall Photos

2009-10-30T23:12:00.001-07:00

We have been enjoying the fall. The pumpkins, leaves, weather, and longer school hours have all been reminders that our wonderful summer is over.

Grandma Karen came last weekend for a visit. It was nice to spend some time with her before the snow falls in the mountains and makes it trickier for us to see her.

Grandma was impressed by Jackson's improvement in reading.

When I was a kid, we would have had to rake the back yard for almost an hour to get a leaf pile this big. Now days, it just takes a leaf blower and a few minutes.

...and even less time than that to mess it up!

I love it!

Kennedy took this picture as "evidence" when she came to let us know what Jackson was up to.

Junior Hoopsters

2009-10-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

For the last five weeks Jackson has been attending Junior Hoopsters, a basketball skills class through our local community center. It has been fun watching him learn to dribble and shoot the ball with other kiddos his age.

Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game.

~ Michael Jordan

See Me Grow

2009-10-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

1 month

2 months ( I couldn't find Freckles, the dog)

3 months

This is especially for the grandmas.

A Pumpkin Parable

2009-10-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin.

God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.

He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff - including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc.

Next He carves you a new smiling face.

Then He puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

Punkins' at the Patch

2009-10-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

We took our little Pumpkins to the local patch. It is one of my favorite markers of fall.

We had a great time. Jack always likes to bring his sword to whack the vines. This year he gave a soggy pumpkin a good smack and it ended up splattering its juices all over Mikey. Good thing he was a good sport! We ended our time with a stop at the Kettle Corn booth to purchase a bag of crunchy goodness.

2009

2008

2007

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever."
Psalm 107:1

Why Did the Turtle Cross the Road?

2009-10-08T22:57:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why the turtle crossed the road, but my husband almost ran over it. So he pulled over, picked it up, and brought it home. The kiddos were really interested in seeing the turtle up close and watching it move. .

We made some calls, but no one was interested in taking in a turtle. So we drove him to the little stream at the bottom of our hill and set him free. Hopefully, the turtle won't try crossing the road again.

Five!

2009-10-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

My sweet Harrison turned five last week. Where did the time go? It seems like we just brought him home from the hospital in the bear outfit that was too big for my little new born. Like I just returned from Europe with him; my little 10 month old traveler. Like he was just cheerfully carrying his "bakeyball yunch box," as he called it.

And now he is a big five. A year ago he was the youngest in our family, and appropriately nick-named my Baby Bear. Now he has two little siblings and finds himself as the middle child. His amiable personality, sweet spirit, and ability to forgive quickly are just a few of the traits that I love about my precious little Bear.My little super hero liked the banner that was waiting for him in the morning.At his request, we had French toast and chocolate-banana milk for breakfast. Lunch was spent at The Rock pizza place where he enjoyed a gooey peanut butter and jelly pizza.

Harrison was excited to get this super hero shirt, along with a Spiderman costume and Spidey pajamas. The next day we made a stop at Krispy Kreme on our way to the Children's Museum.

I don't think you can ever outgrow painting...

...or playing with clay.

Here is our crew with Super Hero Dad at the International Fountain just outside the museum.

More Egyptian Fun

2009-09-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more projects that we have worked on while studying Ancient Egypt.1. Paper pyramids with facts about them on each of the four sides

2. Clay Sphinxes

3. Small scale mummies

The children also made King Khufu's Great Pyramid out of sugar cubes & frosting and set up a small scale version of its location in Giza.

Here's a closer look.

A Lesson in Mummification

2009-09-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

We are studying the ancient Egyptians. Last week the children learned about the mummification process. And what better way to find out about it, than to mummify your little brother (a.k.a. King Harris the Pharaoh).

First, the body was washed with wine and spices by professional embalmers; it was then rinsed with water from the Nile. After the body had been washed, all of the parts that might decay were removed.

The first organ to be removed was the brain. The embalmers used a long hook to smash the brain and pull it out through the nose!

The removed internal organs (lungs and liver pictured above) were packed in natron (salt), before being wrapped in linen. Earlier mummies were buried alongside their dehydrated organs, which were stored in solid wood or stone jars.

The next step was to restore the body to as lifelike state as possible. It was stuffed with dry materials such as sawdust, leaves, and fur to fill the cavity and make the preserved corpse regain the shape it had in life.

After forty days the body, now completely dry and shrunken, was washed with water from the Nile. Oil and fragrant spices were then added both inside and out to keep the skin soft and elastic.

The nose was plugged with wax (we imporvised with crayons).

Make-up was applied.

Hundreds of yards of linen were used to wrap the body, and each toe and finger was wrapped separatley. Charms, amulets, and inscribed pieces of papyrus were placed between each layer of bandage. Egyptians believed that these charms had magical properties that would protect and bring luck to the body.

Then a painted portrait mask was placed over the mummy's head so that dead person's soul (Ka) could recognize its owner. The priests used special instruments to touch different parts of the mummy's face. The Egyptians believed that the mummy would not be able to eat, see, hear, or move in the afterlife if this ceremony did not take place.

It was an interesting history lesson for our family. The ancient Egyptians believed that all of this had to happen in order for the pharaoh to live again in the afterlife. As Christians, we know that everyone has an afterlife. Whether a king or a slave, it is our decision to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus that will determine where we will spend it.

Sunshine and Love

2009-09-24T20:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my dear friend, Kelly, came over with her beautiful Mabel. It will be wonderful to see our little girls chase butterflies and play dolls together as the two of them grow.

Little girls fill our lives with sunshine... and our hearts with love.

Two Months OId!

2009-09-21T21:38:00.001-07:00

I can't help but look at the photo below and smile. Our sweet McKinley Rose turned two months old on the 20th. Already she is smiling and beginning to coo. She is adored and dearly loved by our entire family.

I keep forgetting that if I turn my camera in video mode, it doesn't automatically correct itself. Tilt your head to enjoy those involuntary movements and sweet two-month-old sounds.

Faux-hawks

2009-09-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

Doin' the Puyallup

2009-09-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

Ken took off early from work this week so we could take the family to the fair.
Milking Mabel in her stable has always been a favorite activity for our children. Though Kennedy and Jackson seem to have moved beyond this yearly visit to her stall, Mikey and Harrison were very excited for the experience.

Ken and I took turns carrying McKinley in our respective pouches.

Though it was a very warm day, that didn't stop Jack from donning the junior fire fighter coat.

This was Harrison's first midway ride, unless we count our traditional Christmas/birthday carousel rides. He loved it.

Jack was thrilled to be tall enough ride the roller coaster by himself!

Our little kiddos loved visiting the kids. Some of the pens even had miniature play toys for the young goats.

The three oldest children were tall enough to go on the farris wheel. Dad was happy to accompany them. Thankfully they were all able to fit on the same seat.

Another fair tradition...scones!

The children are still talking about the cool 3-D movie we watched on the human brain. But they never told us what it smells like. Any guesses?

We finished our fair experience with a tour through World Vision's African exhibit. The children loved the hands-on activities. Dad enjoyed the drums.

I think this was my favorite year of "Doing the Puyallyp" yet.

Iron Girls

2009-09-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Gram and I participated in our third annual Iron Girl 5k in Seattle.

This year McKinley joined us and made it a three generation experience.

I don't know the exact number of participants, but as you can see, this event sure does draw a lot of girl power.

Gram came in second place for her age group, finishing just under an hour.

The woman with Gram is 80 years old. She was the oldest participant in the race and the only one in her age group.

McKinley's first race! I bet she was the youngest participant.

I feel so honored to participate in such a fun event with my 78-year-old grandmother. I hope I am doing 5 k's with my granddaughter and great-granddaughter when I am her age. She is truly young and spunky at heart. I admire her for so many reasons.

After the race we went to our respective homes and got ready for my cousin's wedding. Katherine and Stuart were married at a lovely park in Seattle with an incredible view of the city and Mt. Rainier. It was beautiful.

September Celebrations

2009-09-16T23:04:00.000-07:00

Last week we began the new school year. We are off to a slow start, but I am sure we will eventually work out the kinks.

It is our family tradition to make and eat caramel apples on the first day of school.

Another first day of school treat was that Ompa stopped by. It was his birthday, so we shared some of our home made doughnuts with him.

D-Night

2009-09-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

My fun husband has been full of great ideas lately. Tonight was no exception. It was homemade doughnut night. Grammy and Kennedy made the dough after piano practice this evening. When Ken got home, he rolled it out and cut the pieces before frying them. The children enjoyed shaking the doughnuts in paper bags filled with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and powdered sugar. We even dipped some in chocolate frosting and covered them with sprinkles. It was a deep frying, artery clogging, sweet time together.

Camping!

2009-09-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

Ken surprised the children last week and set up the tent in the backyard for a stay-cation camping trip.

We roasted marshmallows over the fire pit in the yard and made s'moreos (marshmallows inside Oreo cookies). Ken played the guitar around the campfire and ended the night with stories by flashlight in the tent. Then we came inside, tucked the kids in their beds, and went to sleep. Now that's how to camp with four children and a newborn baby!

Blueberry Heaven

2009-08-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

"This is blueberry heaven!"

That's what Harrison kept saying as we walked through the aisles of blueberry bushes at the Bybee Farms U-Pick patch yesterday.

This was our second time coming to the farm with Gram to pick the juicy fruit. A couple years ago when we visited, the berries were so ripe, juicy, and plentiful that we didn't even have to walk up the rows to hunt for big clusters of berries. I think we stayed in one place the whole time and filled our buckets (at least the adults did, anyway). This year we must have arrived a little late in the season. The berries were still delicious, but not quite as plentiful.

The location is absolutely perfect. It is up in the mountains, just at the foot of Mt. Si.

We came home and had blueberry banana pancakes for dinner and for breakfast today the children enjoyed blueberries on their cereal. I'm hunting for more great blueberry recipes if anyone has some they want to share.

Yes, Jesus Loves Me

2009-08-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

Does it get any sweeter than this?

Happy Birthday to Me

2009-08-26T08:40:00.001-07:00

Thirty-six and loving it. I had a great birthday this week.

My hubby made raspberry pancakes and sausages to start off the day. Photo courtesy of Kennedy.We took the clan to the Railway Days Festival in the mountains. Kennedy & Harrison elected to spend their own money on making and racing these banana cars.

Oops! I forgot that I shouldn't turn the camera sideways in video mode. But this clip gives you an idea of the banana racing fun.
My handsome hubby took me out for a nice dinner on Alki. We are thankful for Cousin Kelly & Grammy & Papa taking care of the kiddos.

Aunt Becky and her fam. stopped by with a pan of her scrumptious homemade cinnamon rolls. We ate them later in place of a b-day cake.

It was a perfect birthday. I am so thankful to God for a healthy family, wonderful husband, and free country. We are truly blessed.

Slippin' and a Slidin'

2009-08-24T07:32:00.000-07:00

We are still taking advantage of the warm summer weather. We found this Slip-N-Slide on clearance from Target recently and finally had a chance to put it to good use.

Who do you think was having the most fun?

Happy One Month Birthday, McKinley!

2009-08-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

She's healthy and beautiful. We are all in love with this precious gift from God. And she's one month old today.

Another little Daddy's Girl.

How We Beat the Heat

2009-08-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

The hottest day recorded in Seattle's history was set last week; 103 degrees! And it was in the 90's for several days after that. Most of the folks out here were melting. Since Ken had the time off, we decided to head out to the ocean to get some relief from the heat. It was in the low 70's out there. Cool and refreshing.

Ken showed the kids how to skim board.

McKinley's first vacation

The kids loved swimming in the hotel pool.

We met up with Uncle Dan, Aunt Heidi, and cousins Ava and Anders on our last day at the ocean. They were trying to get away from the heat as well. We hung out with them at their camp site and the beach before heading back to the Seattle heat.

She's Our Happy Anniversary Baby

2009-07-25T20:16:00.000-07:00

It was early in the morning on our 13th anniversary. I woke up, unable to sleep and made my way to the kitchen with good intentions of starting a batch of blueberry muffins. Instead, I was distracted by the computer. At exactly 6:08 AM, I began having contractions that were uncomfortable and different from the ones I had been experiencing the days before. I began timing them and they were consistently 8 minutes apart and getting stronger. I woke Ken up, showered, got the children dressed and loaded in the van, and we were off to the hospital where Ken's dad met us to take charge of the children for the day.

I was happy to be greeted by my doctor at the check-in desk at 7:15 AM. I was checked and admitted to my room. This turned out to be my longest and most painful delivery. It wasn't until 10:20 that I was ready to push. And at 10:29, she was born. Perfect. Pink. Healthy. Beautiful.

We were surprised by her head of dark brown hair. I think we were both expecting another blond girl. She really is her own little person and doesn't look too much like any of her siblings.

Ken and I celebrated our anniversary that night with McKinley in the hospital room. He went and picked up take-out from a local mexican restaurant. Candles were not permitted in our room, and it wasn't exactly romantic, but it was a perfect way to celebrate our 13th anniversary with the best gift that we could ever have imagined.

McKinley Rose ~ Five days old

"Thanks be to God

for His indescribable gift!"

2 Corinthians 9:15

Our Little Rose Bud

2009-07-21T23:57:00.000-07:00

Announcing:

McKinley Rose

July 20, 2009

10:29 A.M.

8 lb 14.7 oz

18.5 in.

Still Pregnant

2009-07-19T18:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are past our due date and still pregnant. Friday we went to the YMCA and I walked laps around the gym, Saturday we took the children to the lake, and today after church, we had several people over for lunch. I feel good. I should be thankful. I am, but....come on Baby, we want to meet you!

Still Waiting

2009-07-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

Today is our daughter's due date. We went for a long walk at the beach. I ate grilled jalapenos for two days in a row. I tried the English wives's tale today and ate a fresh pineapple. Still no contractions. No discomfort. I am feeling good. My husband has already begun his FMLA time off and no baby yet. Any words of wisdom or advice? Aside from drinking caster oil, I am open.

Ken walked along with the two older children while they rode their bikes and I pushed the two younger boys in the double stroller.

Will this be our last prego photo at the beach?

Waiting...

2009-07-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

We decided that we are going to cancel the induction for tomorrow since there is no medical need for it. Our other children came naturally, so we will try to wait patiently for God's perfect timing for this child as well.

Counting Down...Continued

2009-07-11T05:24:00.000-07:00

We started this countdown chart 95 days ago. Kennedy and Jackson have been taking turns marking the days until little sister's due date. As you can see, we are getting closer. I am scheduled to be induced on Tuesday, July 14 if our daughter doesn't come on her own before that. We will keep you updated...

Babymoon!

2009-07-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Ken's fantastic brother and sister-in-law watched our four children for us for a couple of days so that we could enjoy a babymoon/anniversary get-away. It was so refreshing to be alone with my hubby as we prepare for our fifth child's arrival. We stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel in the heart of downtown Seattle.

It was so nice walking around the Market without a stroller. We enjoyed coffee with a chocolate crissant, fresh raspberries, and admired the works of local artists.

The flowers at Pike Place are incredibly inexpensive and beautiful.

Meanwhile...

Our children were at home having a blast with Cousins Ava and Anders. Aunt Heidi kept them busy painting rocks for tick-tack-toe, planting corn, making bird feeders, putting on puppet shows, and tackling Uncle Dan, just to name a few of the events.

We truly appreciate the extremely generous gift that Heidi and Dan gave us. It was beyond wonderful to have time alone with my husband for a couple days, knowing that our children were in loving and capable hands. We returned refreshed and ready to be parents of five children. Now, if our daughter would just make her debut, we can find out just how much fun it is going to be!

Celebrating Michael

2009-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Micheal's adoption open house was last weekend. It was wonderful to celebrate the newest member of our family with friends and relatives.

We rented this bouncy castle for the day. It was a huge hit with the children...and some of the adults.
Ken set up the zip line for all of the children who wanted a ride.

I'm very thankful to my sister who helped set up for the celebration and clean up afterward. I can hardly put on a party with out her, especially at 38 weeks prego.

Adoption Day!

Celebrating the 4th of July

2009-07-08T06:32:00.000-07:00

In the past I have taken the children to a local lake on the 4th. It is cram packed with food, bouncy toys, booths, games, fun and people. This year, being so close to my due date, I decided to take them the day before and avoid the crowds and chaos. Unfortunately, I left my camera at home. So imagine a beautiful photo of the children swimming in the lake....here.

We started out our morning on the 4th with Independence Day toaster waffles.

When Ken returned home from work, he put one a front yard fireworks show. Thankfully, it doesn't take too much to impress our children.

After dinner, we had red, white, and blue ice cream treats. The children were tucked snugly in bed when the sounds of the big fireworks displays began to go off. Jack and Kennedy came into my room and asked if we could go outside to watch. I'm glad they did. I was feeling like a fuddy-duddy this year. We sat on the front porch and watched the sky for about thirty minutes. We could see three different displays from where we were positioned. I enjoyed the time with my two oldest children. When we returned to the house, I had at least seven new mosquito bites but they were worth it.

Fifth Annual Extended Family Vacation

2009-07-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

We recently returned from Hood Canal where we vacationed with Ken's family. It was so nice to spend time with his parents, brothers & sisters, and their children. All of the children especially enjoyed the time with their cousins. Kayaking with the aunties

Look what I found!

Cousins!

One more time!

Grammy and Papa with their 11 grandchildren

Aunt Heidi and Aunt Becky took some of the children to a local water park on one hot afternoon.

Fishing with Daddy is one of their favorite things to do. This year Jackson caught two fish, Harrison one, Kennedy zero, and Mikey caught a slimy clam.

Ahhhhhhh. A relaxing moment to myself.

Aunt Becky took Kennedy out in the Kayak to show her the ropes.

Smoke bombs!

Cute little corn rows for Ava

Smores by the fire

Totally zonked after several days of fun

Favorite quote of the week:

"All of the houses are in the hood. That's why it's called Hood Canal."

~ Harrison