Salmon adventures

Marin's class has been doing an in-depth study of salmon. They even have live salmon eggs in their classroom, and have been watching them grow into fry! Her class took a field trip to Tillamook Forest Center to learn more about them, and even got to release some fry into the river. Every time I go into volunteer, her teacher has me doing some amazing art thing that involves the salmon study. As a person who is inherently not creative, I am in awe of these projects, especially when you multiply a teacher's idea by 30 students. So amazing!

 

So one weekend recently we took several trips around the area to watch the salmon spawning, release more fry and go on some outdoor adventures. Kyle and the kids went back to Tillamook Forest Center, and then we all went out to Multnomah Falls and Bonneville Fish Hatchery. It was so amazing to watch nature do its thing :) God sure created some amazing creatures!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then, the grand finale... Marin's class "release party" to let THEIR little salmon fry go (the ones they have been raising from eggs)... It was exciting, emotional saying goodbye, and so special to be a part of setting these little creatures on their life path. Did you know that salmon return to spawn to the place of their birth? So this spot at the Tualatin river, 7 years from now, will see these same fish back from the ocean, to end their circle of life. God is AMAZING!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Tree Hunt 2013

My new favorite tree farm: Loch Lolly... Complete with trees (check), live reindeer, sweet & kind Santa, free treats & drinks, awesome inexpensive ornament shop (our tradition: kids pick out a new one there each year), super nice people and lots of terrain for hiking around. And, despite that we were forced to get our tree on a day calling for rain, it was perfectly dry and balmy. I am thanking Jesus for this perfect day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Santa guy is freaking me out.

 

Happy Thanksgiving 2013

I love the idea of the Thankful Tree :) People on Pinterest like to make things fancy, but I am not a fancy girl! So... we hunted around outside for some bare tree branches, the girls cut out a large pile of little tags (from lined paper, did I mention we are not fancy) and we got to prepping our hearts for thankfulness. Each person could take a tag anytime they wanted, during November, write the thing they were thankful for (or have someone help them for the little boys), and tie it to our tree. This tree is not a feast for the eyes, but truly a feast for all our hearts as we would read and re-read what the tags said all month long.

 

I decided to record all the tags, because it just meant so much to me! Thankfulness can change your life, yo.

 

Dad: my special & fun family, my job, my family loves the great outdoors, my smokin' hot wife

 

Mom: Max's cuddles, Marin's smile, Marcus' toothy grin, Maria our housecleaner, my husband, my healthy body, sleep, forgiveness, the softness of baby skin, my kids' amazing Daddy, great teachers, Madeline's encouragement,

 

Marin: my friends, my home, Marcus' tricks, my parents, Thanksgiving, nature, my yard, Madeline's love, God & sleep, Marcus' laughing, the world, my precious siblings, Mom's forgiveness, my name, my family, Marcus' screaming, Max's love, my bed, Marcus' love 

 

Madeline: love, sleep, turkey, the tooth fairy, Mom & Dad, Mom, Thanksgiving, Max's love, God's love, God, my bed, Mom's encouragement, my home, my name, Mom's sweetness, Marcus,  forgiveness, Dad's love, God's creation, Mommy's help, singing, the world

 

Max: my home & family, my preschool, my friends, songs about everything

 

Marcus: Dad's lap :)

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 

 

Max's train ride with Nana

The four-year-old tradition continues! Nana took Max on his first train ride for the day, to celebrate turning 4 :) He had a great time, and loved being with Nana's friend (and her cat), and all the sights along the way. Thank you for such a special day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family Pics - fall 2013

My new friend Pearl surprised me one day recently by generously offering to take pictures (free of charge) of our family at the park. I love them!! Sweet family I have. Sweet friends I have :) PS: Marcus is a stinker in all pictures at all times :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanging with the boys

We go to Auntie's house to be fussed and fawned by all the girl cousins, sisters, Nanas, mothers and aunties... And who do we want to be with the most? Uncle Damon and the pup Harley.

 

It's a man's world :) At least according to Marcus...

 

 

 

Happy Haircut Day Marcus!

Before: wild like a dandelion on a windy summer day

 

 

After: still wild at heart (just a little more tame on the outside) 

 

 

School pictures

I like this new, brave world I live in... Digital school pics?!?!? Brilliant. I don't have to buy a "package" with a million of the wrong size too many. I just buy the digital picture and print at Costco. Done.

 

Mr. Handsome is in 4 year old preschool. Loving it (don't ask him though, or he will tell you his woes of being fed graham crackers every day, one of the many tall tales of preschool.)

 

Miss Independence Madeline is in 1st grade. Rocking her stylish world every morning of her life with a precisely planned outfit.

 

Miss Big Girl Marin is in 2nd grade. Wearing her hear "down" now (waaaah! no more cute hair bows for Mom to style, but it does look awfully pretty down!)

 

Disney on Ice

Kyle won us a set of four tickets to see Disney on Ice! He made a special request for one extra ticket, and so we ended up with all FIVE of us able to go! Soooo exciting... Especially for three little kids who have not yet been to Disneyland. All their favorite characters, and pretty great seats. SO. MUCH. FUN!!! (Babylove at home with a sitter)... :)

 

 

The only pic of all 5 of us... Ha ha, not winning any photography awards today :)

 

 

 

 

 

A day in the life...

Madeline: "on stage" singing with Kyle on guitar

the rest: a pig pile :)

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Halloween, North Pole Style...

If you recall, last Halloween the kids topped the sweetness charts by choosing to be the Holy Family for Halloween. Seriously, hard to ever ever ever beat that. And we shall not ever have a tiny baby boy again to play baby Jesus, so that special moment will never be topped.

 

This year, the kids banded together and decided to AGAIN go with a Christmas theme. This time, Santa and company and won out, so feast your eyes on the cutest set of Christmas characters you have ever seen. Ever Ever Ever. I apparently am TOTALLY enamored with my kids and their costume choices. HO HO HO, Happy Halloween!!!

 

Max: Santa Claus (who refused to wear his perfectly groomed beard, cripes...)

Marin: Mrs Claus

Marcus: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Madeline: Elf

 

 

Dad: himself

Mom: nerdy girl with pumpkin ears (we are super creative)

 

 

 

 

Rudolph getting a ride with Uncle Jordan while we trick-or-treat  :)

 

 

Max's preschool costume party:

 

 

 

 

 

My four most precious pumpkins :) What treasures they each are!! And they still let me do matching clothes!!