Shhhh!

The other night The Bigs asked if they could both climb in Maddy's twin bed so she could read to Garrett. Of course that was fine, although we were a little confused why they picked her bed when his is a full size. Anyway, they read for a LONG time, and I finally yelled up to them that it was time to go to sleep. I heard some discussion of where they were going to sleep, could I make Garrett a bed on the floor of Maddy's room ("NO! It is almost 10:00- GET TO BED!"), and ect. Finally all was quiet. When I went to bed a little while later, here is what I found...

How sweet are they? It simply can't get any better than this.

Sweet, Sweet Grace!

Joel and I had the pleasure of meeting Grace Marie yesterday, brand new daughter to our friends Merrick and Hannah. Poor Hannah was on bedrest for THREE WEEKS before Grace arrived, which made her apperance even sweeter.

Joel and Merrick were roommates in college, and we've kept in touch through the years. Hanah and Merrick's first date was the same night as Joel and my 1st date- Hockey Game in Portland. Nine years later...here we are! Grace is their first daughter and she is absolutely gorgeous. Hannah and Merrick seemed completely smitten, (of course!), and had that precious new-parent-exhausted-yet-completely-overjoyed look to them. I have the best memories of Our days in the hospital with teeny tiny brand new babies and so I of course cried on the way home.

So CONGRATS to Hannah, Merrick and Sweet Gracie.

Just Call Me Martha...

Hopefully the thought of me being ANYTHING like Martha didn't make you spit Diet Coke on your computer. Because I am not. I am hopelessly NOT domestic. Well, I am a good mom, so 10 pts in Domestic-ness for me there, but other than that...not so much. I *can* cook, although usually I choose not to. Not crafty. Not so great in the keeping-things-neat-and-tidy department. (Hello, I have 3 of my own children and watch 2 others daily.)

Well, be prepared to be awed. Because yesterday I made raspberry jam. WITH my kids. And, that is NOT all....the raspberries were GROWN in MY YARD! AND- the jam is DELICIOUS! I mean, it is REALLY good! As you can see, we are ALL quite proud of ourselves.






In other Domestic Goddess news...gardening is one domestic thing I do really enjoy. I bought the below daylily 3 years ago when we first moved in to this house. It has NEVER bloomed, and I was sure last year it was L-O-S-T for good. So imagine my happiness when I saw it smiling up at me this afternoon. It had been so long, I forgot what it was even supposed to look like!


Maybe there is hope for me yet, Mom. ;)

Busy Day at the Farm

Today is the last day I am watching Grayson and Molly for the summer, so we all decided to take a field trip to The Farm (where I grew up). It was a GORGEOUS Oregon day and we all had lots of fun. Well, the kids did anyway...I was sweating trying to keep up with walking Molly and (still!) crawling Carter.

First, was the 'train' ride that Papa Vroom Vroom rigged up. They rode it out to the pond.




Next, came the canoe ride. Sweet Grayson got a little nervous because he was pretty sure he saw some stingrays in the weeds. (The weeds on land, that is.) The pond has dried up quite a bit the past few weeks, so it was mostly a 'canoe-turn around' instead of an actual ride around anything, but still fun! They saw tadpoles and dragon flies too!











While Papa and The Bigs enjoyed the pond, Carter, Molly, and I walked over to a patch of daisies for a photo shoot!

































Then everyone joined in....




























The kids also got an excavator demo, a tractor ride, and a 4 wheeler ride! I had 5 VERY tired kids on the ride back home...hence getting so much blogging done this afternoon!

Father's Day Weekend

We celebrated Father's Day mostly on Saturday this year...Joel's dad had to work Sunday. On Saturday (after a fun bbq for Madeline's class), Joel drove the kids up to Kelso to meet up with his parents. I went too, only I flew with my dad in his plane up there! My dad's been a single engine plane (read:small plane) pilot my whole life, but this particular plane he's had for the past 9 or 10 months, and I hadn't taken him up on his offer to give me a ride. Being Father's Day weekend and all, I thought I'd go for it! It was VERY fun! I would say my favorite part was when we were about 100 feet above the Columbia river and going 187 mph. That was pretty cool! A few pics from the flight...

Taking off from McMinnville- those big triangle buildings are the museum that has the Spruce Goose.


Downtown Portland


100 feet above the Columbia river...going 187mph!


and again...100 feet above the Columbia river...going 187


Landing in Kelso


Phew!


THEN...we met up with the Gibsons for a (freezing cold) picnic in the park and feeding of the ducks. Later we had coffee and pie to get warmed up. Then my dad flew home, and we spent the night at the Gibsons.





The next day Joel and Jenell took our Bigs on an adventure in the woods! I did not bring appropriate 'Adventure in the Rain' clothes, so that is why Joel is carrying barefoot Garrett. We had to improvise. Fun times were had by all!

Ode to Joel

Happy Father's Day, to my sweet Husband.

When you found out you were going to be a Daddy, you never flinched. You never looked back, or had a second thought. You dove in with both feet, and I thank you. You always seem to know when I can't do it one more second, and you step into frustrating situations with patience and grace. My very favorite thing is to glance at you when Maddy is dancing, or Garrett is doing his artwork, or Carter is chasing down a ball, and I see the sparkle in your eye as you watch your babes, or hear your genuine belly laugh. I love how much you love them.

You are the fun one. The one who buys 'good' cereal, and lets our Bigs play just one more turn before bed. You are the one who plays soccer past dusk, even when your allergies are killing you.

When I was pregnant and horizontal and throwing up constantly, you'd come home with dinner, and then take them on walks while I layed still and savored the quiet. When Garrett was on his way you called my mom the second I asked you to, even though we'd previously agreed that we would go it alone that time.

And when Sara died, you stayed up all night long with me and held me while I sobbed, and listened to hours of stories that had nothing to do with you.

Thank you for supporting me in getting my master's degree. All those classes and late nights and papers that I had to write. You'd pick up the kids, feed them, and tuck them in without a complaint. Remember that one night I had parent teacher conferences so late like 3 days in a row. I was tired and sad to be missing you all. When I came home, you'd hidden like 100 teeny post its all over the house with little sweet sayings on them. That was 3 or 4 years ago, and sometimes I still find them.

Last August I called you and said that I couldn't do it anymore. I didn't want to go back to teaching the next week. AT. ALL. And you knew I couldn't, and even though it put that much more weight on your shoulders, you told me we would figure it out. Several months later when I declared that I would love it if my one year off turned into an indefinate amount of time being at home, you said that you loved me being at home and again, we would figure it out. Thank you for that. And thank you for understanding why the house isn't always tidy, the laundry isn't always done, and dinner isn't always steaming on the table when you walk in.

I love you because you are an amazing dad, a fun dad, and a patient dad. But also because you adore me and make up for all my weaknesses. There are approximately eleventy-one more things I adore about you, but Carter is crying, Garrett wants to computer, and you will be home any minute...with take out because I again didn't get dinner made. I love you!

Here and There

Not much to report in the past week, we've all been sick the past 2 weeks- no fun. I think everyone is starting to come around now though. Here are a few pictures of the past few weeks I thought I'd share...


Garrett and "Big" Grandma catching a few winks after Maddy's recital.


Miss Maddy playing dress up...today's character was Ariel, the Little Mermaid. I love Maddy's great imagination, it never stops!

Carter, reading, rocking, and showing off.


Brothers in the tub. I love how proud Carter looks to be a big boy in the tub with Garrett. They just adore each other!

Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious!

That is how I feel about my lovely daughter and her performance in yesterday's dance recital! It was so much fun to watch her- she has so much grace and confidence, and most importantly, you can tell she is having a blast while doing it. Two of her best buddies were also gorgeous dancing princesses with her- so fun to watch all three of them together!



Maddy had quite the cheering section there. My Aunt Marian and cousin Berkley came over from Idaho- they did Maddy's hair since they've done 11 or 12 recitals! My Aunt Bec, also from Idaho flew over for the big weekend, and Joel's Mom, Grandma, Sister, and our nephew also came from Washington. And of course, my parents who both live in the area. We feel so blessed to have so many people to love and support our kids!

Joel, 'Grandma Nita', and Madeline

Great Grandma, Jenell and sleepy Dakota stirke a pose with Sis.

'Papa Vroom Vroom' enjoys the performance- on his birthday!

Maddy loved 'Bissy' being there!

Glittery Gerber's from Nana Pam.

Aunt Minnie and Auntie Bec thought a trophy would make a good prop! Maddy just rolled her eyes.

After the show Maddy changed and got flowers from us, and some picked out by Daddy. I love this picture of them!

Meanwhile....Garrett was such a good audience member...but enough is enough!


"Isn't she lovely..."

Days like these are some of my favorites as a mom!