Finally.....

A post! Finally!!

Well, my reasons for not blogging the last six months are anything but glamorous. My computer mysteriously quit, and somehow my subtle hints went unnoticed.....until I had a complete panic breakdown about my pictures not being backed up and finally it is working again (kind of, but at least enough to access and back up my photos)! Hysterics always work wonders!! Other than that I guess life just took hold, and WOW it has been six months.
So we have been busy doing many of the normal things.

Back to school,


soccer,


pumpkins


Halloween




Thanksgiving.....someone forgot to get a picture!

Christmas






Cousins



Welcoming the New Year

Happy New Years to all

Seaside Suprise

Jared had a conference in Seaside that we decided to tag along to. It was quite the adventure...one small hotel room, three kids, and Jared at class all day!!
Actually, we did enjoy ourselves. Seaside has a great beach, lots and lots of sand....which means the water & waves are far away. I'm a little petrified of sneaker waves, hence wading around in the waves is a little on the anxiety provoking side for me. So, lots of sand is good. And thanks to the wind and drizzle, we pretty much had the beach to ourselves.
And of course the trip was made complete by the hotel swimming pool! Which, my girls would have stayed in all day if I had let them. Sam, thought the pool was too cold...so spent his time in the hot tub.

The suprise was that when we returned home, our house had been painted. Choosing a color was not an easy task....I had choosen four before finding this one - which was painted on someone elses house! I wasn't brave enough to knock on the door, so Jared very nicely stood at the side of their house and compared paint swatches until we found the right one. (Thanks honey) Needless to say, I was a bit nervous how it would all turn out. Thankfully, we returned home to a beautiful color.

The Lakehouse

we love to spend time at the Lakehouse. it is one of those places that you can return to time and again, and it never loses it's magic. i love to watch the morning fog lift off the lake, all is still for just a few moments. even in all the excitement of the day there is a peace that prevails....all is right at the Lakehouse.

perfecting the cannonball

Sam's favorite spot

cool guy

the canoeing experts

yummmm...... potato chips

hot summer day

GR8 2B 8

My little girl has finally reached a long awaited birthday. Hallie has been looking forward to turning eight for a really long time. The last 6 months we have found the following scribbled on countless pieces of paper "it's GR8 2B 8"....code for it's great to be 8. So, it is an understatement to say that she is thrilled to have celebrated her eighth birthday.

I can remember thinking how small and perfect she was when she was born. It has been such a privilege to see her grow. I have an amazing daughter. I love so many things about her....
I love listening to her play me a piano piece that she has just perfected,
I love how she stays up late reading,
I love how she takes care of Sam,
I love to find her and Abbi talking about their day,
I love how she still asks for snuggles,
I love how she is brave enough to enter the school talent show,
I love her imagination,
I love listening her sing,
I love that she is my daughter.

Summer Time

Okay. For those that do check my blog, sorry that it has been a bit, umm .....shall we say, unattended too! Summer hit, and good-bye quiet moments! We have been having lots of fun and taking lots of pictures. My girls' new phrase is, "Get a picture so we can prove that it really happened!" Aren't kids funny? And Sam finally learned how to say "cheese"! He is turning out to be quite a poser (except that he wants to look after every picuture!!)
So, the next few blogs (yes it will probably take more than one) will be devoted to proving that we really have been doing something - other than eating popsicles and lounging in the wading pool!

Last day of School

Party Time!!

Who needs water balloons when you have a hose!

The End

That time of year has come again, when we end all those fun 'school time' activities. I have tried to take advantage of having one less child with me during the day, so that I don't feel like the crazy parent that is constantly counting heads!! Our activites have varied from library story time to swimming lessons (they seem to be dependent on times and Sam's humor for the day:)!). I got brave this year and did a co-op preschool for Abbi. It actually turned out to be wonderful and she had a great time. I will miss having Abbi home, as she is off to Kindergarten this fall....it has been fun seeing her grow up this year.

Abbi showing off her underwater (on top of water?) swimming

Our preschool group

Abby and Abbi

Ballerina's, Ballerina's Everywhere

Abbi finished her dance class with a recital. Jared and I were a little worried that she might decide not to dance once she saw all the people....but she danced beautifully. It was exciting to see our little girl enjoying flittering around the stage. She is currently aspiring to be a ballerina teacher when she grows up!!

Birthday Dad!

We recently celebrated Jared's birthday....in true kid style! Sam got sick earlier in the afternoon, so our grand plans had to be altered a bit. So....Jared got a cake that was barely standing (only by the grace of frosting), the happy birthday song about 10 times (Sam loves to sing the same song over and over), birthday gifts revealed before they were opened, and of course sharing cake and ice cream with a child that had emptied all stomach contents about three hours prior! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Remembering Brooke

Today has been a day of reflection. Many things have changed in my life over the past three years....some big, some little. In all I am thankful for my family and my faith. I tend to keep private my feelings regarding the events that occurred three years ago....perhaps because they are difficult to explain and understand. Despite that, I still enjoy reminiscing through memories of Brooke. Because many of them would take up way to much space, and many of them would seem funny only to the involved parties, I will not go into details. Rather, those of you that knew Brooke....remember a funny story, and those that didn't....go create a funny memory! Most of all remember to smile....to be a friend....to stand for something good.

Good Bye

Last Friday we said good-bye to our Aunt Brenley and Uncle Bryce. They have moved to Helena, Montana. We are very sad to see them leave Oregon. My girls love their Aunt and Uncle. We have lived close to them since the girls were little....hence they have just been a part of normal life. At one point they lived down the stairs from us and I can remember the girls always needing to knock on their door prior to ascending the stairway. Which was probably more than one or four times a day!! Brenley was my angel during and after my last pregnancy. She so kindly would come watch the girls, drive me to the hospital, and I'm sure many other things that I wasn't even aware of. There are many memories, which would take many blogs to get through....so hopefully you get the idea that we will miss them! Although we are sad to see them go, we are excited for their opportunity and know they will do great in Montana. We are looking forward to visiting them in their new home!!