Horseback ride with Grandma

I love everything about these pictures...Grandpa still throwing the kids up on the back, just using a modified approach, Grandma's reassuring hand on Megan's leg (which I vividly remember as a young girl being so comforting and reassuring) the denim jacket that Marianne embroidered for Jordan (my brother) when he was a little boy.  I'm sure they sang "Horsie, horsie, on your way".... 

 

Budding Musicians

Megan has officially started piano lessons and Jordan has begun his new adventure playing the cello.  Hearing these little kiddos practicing makes my mommy heart so happy.  I'm excited to see and hear where this goes and the amazing music that is going to come out of these kids. 

 

 

Baby Pics

When your baby turns into an oompa loompa and everyone thinks it so hilarious...especially the oompa loompa.

Megan's Brfday

Megan had a blast turning 6 this year.  She headed off to school with her special "brfday" crown she made and I showed up at lunch with cupcakes for her class and a happy meal.  For dinner, we had the Richard's family over for a swimming party and cake and presents. She said it was the best day ever.  We love our sweet and spunky Miss Megan to pieces and have treasured every moment of the six years she has been in this world...well, maybe not EVERY moment, but most of them... 

 

Mother's Day

Mother's day began with a delicious breakfast in bed and love notes from the kids.  After church we headed to my mom's house for dinner.  Uncle Mike was in town for business and it was fun to spend time with him since we hadn't seen him since Marianne's passing.  My favorite part of the day was watching him push my kids on the swing.  It almost felt like having my sister there, like he was there in her stead...how we miss her.

 

I have a newly painted, beautiful, creamy yellow wall in my kitchen and my creative juices have been flowing trying to find something perfect to go there. I've been looking at wall quilts on Pinterest and just couldn't find the perfect thing. I decided to finally get out the fabric I got from Marianne when she passed away to see if anything would work. I've been avoiding going through it for some reason...makes me too sad, I guess. To my surprise, the perfect quilt is practically all made, it just needs to be put together. As I was looking through all the fabric, wondering what she had intended to use for the borders, out fell a piece of paper in her handwriting, indicating exactly what fabric she wanted to use. At this point, I completely lost it and Megan said, "Mommy, are you going to bear your testimony about this at church?"....which then made me laugh. It's like my sister made this for me, time to get out her sewing machine she left to me and finish what she started...

Spring Break at the Oregon Coast

We had a blast over spring break spending the week with my family at the Oregon Coast.  The kids had fun running in the freezing-cold ocean with their swimsuits and coats on, hanging out with their cousins, watching Frozen about a billion times, going on hikes, exploring the tide pools, going to the park, going to the local pool, miniature golfing and doing crafts. I rarely saw them during the day, mainly when they needed something to eat is when they would come find me.  I spent most of the time inside caring for Austin, but managed to get out for a few excursions. Andrew was able to get away from work responsibilities to join us for the last couple of days.  We all went to the Oregon Zoo on the way home and had fun all riding in a school bus together from the overflow parking to the zoo.  The trip was such a blast that we've decided that doing this every other year just isn't enough so we've already got the place booked for spring break next year....can't wait.  I love my family and making such fun memories I know my kids will cherish for years to come.