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Showing posts from 2016

Old Memories

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He's always lived to cook! This was from 2005. 

Snow Days!

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When we get snow in Western Oregon, it's quite an event. and if it's enough to actually DO something with, well, don't waste it!     

Christmas vacation!

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An Oldie but a Goodie..

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When hanging onto a bridesmaid's dress from when one was nineteen suddenly makes sense... Just a little hemming and a hoop-skirt from IKEA.... Reminds me of "Shall We Dance?"

Hawaii or Bust!

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The obligatory fuzzy lava picture. The viewing at night was exceptional while we were there, or so we were told. To celebrate our fifteenth anniversary some more  we went to Hawaii in November right before Thanksgiving! It was much anticipated - we planned who would have the kids about 11 months ahead of time and I kept a countdown on my whiteboard for at least 25 days ahead of time.. But at last the arrangements were made, the kids were transferred, the bags were packed and we were on the plane! We flew to Honolulu and caught a smaller plan to the Big Island, flying into Hilo on the east side. We enjoyed our stay at the Volcano House for two nights, right in the Volcano National Park, then traveled to the Kona side and stayed at a resort on the Kohala Coast for 4 nights. The volcano is on the rainy side of the island. We felt right at home! It didn't rain the whole time, though, and we enjoyed a 5 mile hike down into a caldera and up the other side. Micha

Phinehas' First Soccer Season

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We figured it was time that something was about  Phinehas... Usually he is the forgotten child - not one of the "big boys", not one of "the girls," not exactly the middle child, but he might as well be because the middle child was also the first girl, which is sort of its own special spot. Anyway, he wanted to play soccer, so here he is: Stopping the ball! The hazards of soccer watching in Oregon.. Smiling for his professional picture! He wasn't exactly a soccer star, but he was the fastest kid on the team. It's possible that he was extremely proud of this fact.... and if you should happen to refer to him as "The Flash," he would beam in a quite un-Phinehas-like fashion.

Ezra turns 11!

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For his 11th birthday Ezra with Judah and his two friends John and Paul went to see Pete's Dragon. This picture has nothing to do with that, but it is a picture of Ezra 3 days after his birthday, so at least it's timely. :-) Ezra is our most thoughtful child, generous to others, especially little kids, and often grateful and appreciative of other people's efforts on his behalf. He's a delight.

Elena Turns Four!

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Our baby turned four this summer! Hard to believe she's so old! Since Phinehas went off to school full time, it seemed like she might need something else to do while her siblings were all gone every morning, so she goes to preschool one day a week and gets to do preschool crafts, songs, and learning somewhere else (where somebody else cleans up). She loves doing "Circle Time" with Mommy, too, though it seems like less of a circle, and more of a line. (two points, get it?) We love her bunches and she is very well taken care of by her big siblings. It's possible that she's a little spoiled, but probably not too badly. Unlike some of her siblings, she seems to entertain herself quietly quite easily and when we are home together in the mornings I have to stop and make myself do things with her, because she's not very demanding. Would've been a perfect youngest sibling in a homeschooling scenario, I imagine. *sigh* One of her siblings taught her how to write h

Sunriver or Bust!

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We arranged a weekend vacation with Michael's family and my parents to Sunriver, OR, August 5-8, 2016. We rented two vacation homes within easy walking distance and the cousins ate junk food and had pine cone wars and threw the football and frisbee. On Saturday we made a few expeditions, notably to the Lava River Cave and the SHARC rec center. On Monday, we tried out the activities at the Village on our way out of town. Nobody got hurt and nobody got sick, and our family had a great time! I'm starting to really get into this whole "vacation" thing.  I did an acceptable job packing the kids and the other stuff, but completely flubbed my own packing - I forgot my swimming suit and other essentials! I had to go buy some clothes, including a swimming suit that wasn't really what I wanted and was "highway robbery" expensive - after all, what you gonna do when you're at a resort with a cool water center and you're half an hour away from a Target,

Crazy House - July!

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Dressed up for church and smiling, "for Grandma." What's better than a living doll to dress up? Monica undertook this project. After a hike at Oneonta Gorge we celebrated surviving with ice cream. Our traveling companion, Jonathan Shaw, bought the "large."  Monica settled for a "small." Reading together on those chilly July mornings. Apparently this is what "spies" wear... my grandma's costume jewelry helps. I'm not sure why there was so much dress up this month! Summer time reading - what ails me and how to fix it! Some good thoughts, but no fast solutions. Darn. ;-) We introduced the kids to Chariots of Fire to mixed reviews - but even they couldn't resist the music..