Going on a blogging break

Hello friends and blog readers!

This will be my last entry for a while. I hope to be back to blogging in a few weeks or so, but I can't say exactly when. Blogging is something I love and I've made so many connections with all of ya, I hate to leave, however I feel inspired to do so, for now. (I will still check my favorite blogs from time to time!)

The beginning of summer is somewhat like the start of a new year for me. I have so many goals on my to-do list, including:

Finish our playroom

Work on crafty projects

Make Jam

Lose 10 pounds

Do more spontaneous outings with my kids

Sew

Catch up scrapbooks

Just to name a few.

To put myself in a somewhat vulnerable spot here, I also have been really struggling with migraine headaches. It is nothing new to me. I have been getting then since I was about 14. Lately they have been very difficult and I don't know why, but I feel like the Lord is going to teach me something through all of this. I would so appreciate your prayers!! I need a little time to focus on myself, my family, my schedule, and most important, my Lord. Today I was pretty broken and found myself looking up verse after verse for encouragement. So I'll leave you with a few promises from God's word that spoke to me. And a picture that Will took :)

HAPPY SUMMER!!

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God." ~Isaiah 43:1b-3a

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." ~Ezekiel 36: 25 & 26

Let is draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ~Hebrews 10:22

Tom-boy or girly girl?

There are many who look at Anna and peg her a tom-boy. And they would be partly right. She has two older brothers to keep up with, and all. She loves to join in on their wrestling matches. And she scurries up the rock wall at the park with the rest of them. She is not shy about picking up live spiders and worms and coming to show me. The other day she fell off Will's bike and was crying a little. I asked her if she was ok and she sucked it up and said "yaaaa". A few minutes later as she was happily back to playing I noticed blood and saw that she had cut her chin a little. So, yes, in some ways she is most definitely a tom-boy.

But on the other hand I have never seen a tom-boy get this excited about playing dress up in a fancy dress. Or wanting to wear dresses everyday. Or putting on lipstick and painting her nails. And then there's her babies. She's been into babies for a long time now and most recently her play has centered around me being the baby and her being the mommy. Several time a day she'll come to me and say,

"Mommy, let's play baby. You be baby. I be mommy. You say waaahh-waaahh."

I am happy to oblige and be the baby while she takes care of me. She brings me pacifiers and blankets and gives me lots of hugs, pats and kisses. She sings songs to me and says things like "it's ok, baby" and "close you eyes baby, go to sleep"

In fact almost any object can fulfill the role of mommy and baby in Anna's world. For example:

Knife (mommy) and spoon (baby)

Big bottle of nail polish (mommy) and small bottle of nail polish (baby)

Big carrot stick (mommy) and small carrot stick (baby)

And and exemplified in the pictures below, even cars can be used to play mommy and baby. In this instance the big orange car was the mommy and the smaller orange car that looked like the "mommy" car was the baby. So, at first glance you might look at this child and call her a tom-boy. But with the loving care she gives those cars, I'd have to disagree!

Settling into summer

Some OMSI pics.....

Well, it's been two weeks since Will and Craig got out of school and we are starting to settle into summer. The kids are staying up later, and sleeping in a little more, and I am loving these relaxed mornings without having to get the three out the door by 7:45. Craig is keeping busy with lots of odd jobs before he starts painting houses in July and the last three days he did some work for my Aunt Linda in Portland. Tuesday evening my aunt welcomed the kids and I and we all headed up to see Daddy and have a slumber party. Wednesday morning I took the kids to OMSI and we had such a fun day. I was a little nervous doing something so spontaneous by myself with the kiddos, but they did great. They would have been pleased with just driving around Portland looking at all of the tall buildings and the beautiful riverfront, so OMSI was a big treat. The dinosaur exhibit is really neat, but the majority of our time was spent in the science playground where the boys played in these chipmunk costumes for about an hour! Anna favorites were the sand pit the water toys. We could have easily spent all day there, but Anna was melting around 1:00 so we headed back home.

I am enjoying every minute of summertime. It's already going by way too fast!

Soaking them in

The evening we returned from our trip we played outside with the kiddos and just soaked them in. The kind of "soaking in" that comes after being away from them for 4 days. Will and Dad were shooting hoops, Wyatt and Anna were cheering them on, and I sat on the grass with my camera feeling so very blessed.

woo hoo, hoopster! It's been almost 10 years since college ball and he's still got it in him :)
Time out for loves from the cheerleader, Anna!
Craig was continuously making up bball game scenarios that sounded something like this:
2 down with 10 seconds to go!
Ahhhh...fouled him!
He's on the line!
Okay it's all tied up, now!
Button to Button, goes up for the lay-in!
Ahhh....overtime!

And on it would go until they "won". Then it started over again.

Will couldn't get enough. I loved watching those two having so much fun together.
Then there's Wyatt who was easily distracted by the trail and begged Papa to go with him on a walk for wildflowers.

And here's the beautiful bouquet he picked. (He really wanted me to take a picture.)
And my girl, looking so carefree running in the sunshine.
My love for Craig grew the moment he became a dad. I love him not only as a husband, but also as daddy to our kiddos. He is the perfect daddy for our family and I know the kiddos would have to agree!

Yes, I am truly blessed.

Happy Father's Day, sweetie!

I'm ba-ack!

We've been gone all week on a little anniversary trip. Ama and Papa kept the kiddos and Craig and I got away for three nights. The first two were spent at a Lodge on the McKenzie River. Below are a couple pictures of the walled in gardens there.

Because of the rain, we didn't get to do the hiking that we'd planned. But we did venture out to see a couple nearby waterfalls. The one below is Sahalie Falls.

We had a great time together, shopped in Sisters, took a couple dips in the hot springs at the Lodge, watched three movies and ate out. Our second night we watched the Laker/Celtic game (go Celtics!!!) with our "hippie" friend in a little sports bar in the middle of nowhere. It was pretty fun.
This waterfall is called Koosah Falls. Picture courtesy the self timer :)
The last day we drove into Bend, did some more shopping, went the the beautiful Drake park, and then checked into our B&B. By the time we got there I was really tired and really missing my kids. But this B&B was beautiful and totally elegant. The thickest towels I'd ever seen, a towel warmer, snacks and refreshments in our room, a big screen TV (Craig was so happy about that!), down comforter, a quiet patio with a pond and little waterfall, and the innkeeper even surprised us with chocolate covered strawberries in our room after we got back from dinner. It was definitely the icing on the cake and a great way to end our vacation. Here we are before heading out to dinner that evening.
We enjoyed the scenery on the way home (to GP) and were welcomed my Ama, Papa and the kiddos who, I think, had an equally amazing time. Ama was so gracious to willingly take care of them while in the midst of her kitchen remodel. Both Will and Wyatt had a special day where they got to choose their meals, they all went to the park and the pet store as well as many other fun activities. It's always a good time at A & P's.

We returned late Friday night and are glad to be home!

First Grade is Finished

I am so ready for summer, so why is it that when I write that it brings a lump to my throat?

Maybe because of this:

The three enjoying donuts at the Safeway Starbucks this morning before school. The Barista surprised them with strawberry smoothies! She is so nice. If you are local, you know who I'm talking about :)

Is it really the last day of school allready??

Or maybe that lump in my throat is because of this:

One the THE GREATEST teachers (and friends) ever, Mrs. W. She loves our family like her own and goes above and beyond for all her students. We were so blessed to have her this year.

Can it really be over??

Yes, it is. And I better get used to the idea!

I just have to say that I am amazed by all the growth I've seen in Will this year. He has especially enjoyed learning to read. In fact when I asked him what he liked best about Mrs. W. he said, "she teaches us to read, and I love reading!" Ahhhh, a boy after my heart. The highlight of this past week was getting him his very own library card. He is so excited to use it to check out his own books this summer and continue reading.

Last day of school! Hoorah! Hooray!