{Tricycle} Races

Tricycle Races

Who knew that a 30+ year old male and a 3 year old male could challenge each other to a tricycle race... and it would be worth watching?

Last weekend Brad (aka Uncle Brad, but not to be confused with my brother Uncle Brad)
set up a course in the backyard and challenged Jack to a race...

Funniest thing ever... I was doubled over in laughter!
Here is a peak -

Brad about the time he realized that his "seat" wasn't so comfy...

rounding corner 2...

and jack crashing on corner 1... notice the "seat" for Brad... yeah not so comfy.

and here is where as adults we really want to know what kids think...
because I see jack thinking "he thinks he is SO funny..and like totally isn't"
and Brad thinking... "this is a riot and I am whooping up on this kid..."

I don't know, but wow. Made for a great Sabbath afternoon activity!
I am still smiling looking at these photos right now!

Cinnamon Rolls... thank you Pioneer Woman!

So I am addicted to thepioneerwoman.com not only does she have 4 kids... but she loves to cook (and is awesome at it) AND take fabulous photos.

Last Sabbath I thought I would try her cinnamon rolls... 9 pans later my friend Melissa proposed and her hubby told her to go buy the cookbook...

They are THAT good...

anyway, here are some photos of me and the girls making them.

my fabulous kitchen...

the first 1/2 of the dough (I made the night before)

my helpers... and they were good help...

helper #3 not so much help... but the Dora bandaid he needed for his toe sure looked cute...

the roll

the first 3 pans

after rising for a while

frosting those bad boys...
did I mention there is coffee in the icing? (um... YUM!)

me... how exactly did I get in a photo? not sure, but I like it.

So... now you know, the secret is out. Go buy her cookbook and check out her blog... the link is above... and if you are wanting a good read... check out her love story... I am thinking she should write a book... it was that good.

Spring Fever...

Okay we have 24 thundercloud plum trees on the property... and the neighbors have another 15 for good measure...
For about 1 week a year (if we are lucky) these babies are in full bloom... longer if it doesn't rain!

This year they have been in bloom for over a week already and I am loving every minute of it...

this guy... my guy...

I {love} this guy... like over the moon {love} this guy.

18+ years ago we started out as friends... which soon turned into dating... which turned into an engagement after 2 years... and a wedding 4 months later.. 3 years later a daughter... 20 months later another daughter... 2 yrs later another daughter... 20 months another daughter.. (whew I am tired just thinking about that!)
and then add in a few moves... oh and 3+ years after the last kid a boy joined the crew... just to make things interesting (like they weren't already!)

So here we are 15 married years later... and I still think he is the cutest guy in the room... and he makes my heart smile... and darn he smells yummy...

the day after Valentine's...

the day after Valentine's is a great one for those of us (me) who don't get flowers! Because we can walk into Albertson's and buy ourselves a dozen roses for $5.99! It is amazing how the day before they could be $60... and the day after $6... hmmm note to self never get flowers or anything else on Valentine's Day...

I don't even care that I bought them for myself... they are so pretty & they make me happy.

work... and other related items...

Tomorrow is a BIG day for me...

I head back into the workforce, full-time, for 12 weeks.
I am ready... but nervous.

Who knew that 12 years as a SAHM (stay at home mom) & housewife extraordinaire would be worried about leaving her safe haven and venturing out? I mean I really have a full time job already with a hubby, 5 kids, pathfinders, Children's Ministry, & the occasional sub job...

Well it is true, I am nervous, but ready.
Ready to see those 20+ smiling faces everyday, ready to challenge myself to think outside my box... ready to see my Super syd everyday
(even though she cried today because it was her teacher's last day & she doesn't think I ask her enough questions when I sub...) Ready to teach with an awesome faculty & staff... my list could go on and on.

What I will miss is driving the kids to school in my pj's...
checking my emails & facebook over a cup of hot coffee...
cozying with the world's most adorable 3 year old ever....
(don't even try to argue with me on that one!)
Watching spring unfold in my backyard... & being able to play in it.
Bible study weekly with the ladies.
Not having an "official" schedule that I need to worry about.
this list could go on and on as well!

But I know this, I am [thankful]. So thankful for the opportunity to grow in many ways... thankful that there is extra income when we have all these medical bills to pay, thankful that I have supportive family and friends, thankful that Jack will get some boy time while I am working, thankful that it is 12 weeks and not 12 months, thankful for the ability to work. My "thankful" grows each day.

So do this for me if you would... say a prayer for me that God uses me... at home and at school... and for my nerves to subside... so that me and those kids can have a blast together! Thanks!

for tina... teeth, sickness, chicks, & more

Okay so Tina convinced me that it might be time to upgrade my camera...
It only took about 5months of looking until I found the right deal for what I was looking for...

It will likely take me months to learn, but I think in the end it will be worth it.
Now she is bugging me for photos... so here are a few that I have snapped in the last few days.

I have a long way to go.
But I am {excited}!


Jack with his new chick

McKenna after having two teeth extracted... she wasn't feeling too good at this point.

jack throwing a temper tantrum because I was trying to "shoot" him.

chicks... aren't they just adorable? mine is the one with the spotted head... we are very excited about our chicks here in case you couldn't tell! :)

emma after spending the morning throwing up.... someday she will not be happy with me about this...

syd and her new chicky... I tried your trick here T!

friends

can I just kiss this sweet face?

or this one with the Dora band aid on the forehead?

I am feeling lots of kisses coming forth! I can't stand the cuteness!
Anyway, Tina those are for you... lots more to come in the upcoming months.

my em

A few weeks ago Emma and some of her classmates did a special music for Friday Chapel at school.

To hear it... you need to scroll down to projectplaylist and press pause.

My buttons aren't bursting or anything... emma is the one in the middle.

Good news... barf... good news

So this morning (think 12am)
My little mister wakes up with a high fever and will not go back to his own bed.
So I violate the anti-kids in bed policy to allow the little man to cozy up with me until I could get him to calm down.
Let's just say it wasn't the best night sleep ever...
and he still has his fever.

fast forward to morning...
the 4 girls totally get themselves ready and pack all four lunches... and let me sleep in.
I drive them to school in my pjs and slippers thanking them the whole way! I am so blessed!

I talk to a dear sweet friend.... with GOOD NEWS!!!!! I am so happy with the news that I can't contain it... but I will! :) I am like grinning ear to ear!

Fast forward an hour... I am in the car with a friend dropping my car at Les Schwab's and then stopping by the bank to get some cash... when her son vomits all over himself and his brother... thankfully he turned away from Jack. But I gotta tell you the teller at the drive up was looking at us in dismay as we proceeded to make the deposit while they were sitting back there in that mess... it was pretty bad... I think we have a high tolerance level.

Onto the rest of the good news. I decide to go ahead and purchase the camera I found on craigslist... which requires driving to NE Ptld. My friend offers to drive and we head on. (thinking the throw up was car sickness) but as we pull up to our destination the poor dude starts tossing cookies again... thankfully we had the foresight to bring along a bucket "just in case" (because we surely ended up needing it) I run in and look at the camera... talk with the guy and agree to make the purchase. I am super duper excited & can't wait to start snapping away!

I am not sure how it happened but lots of good news was mixed with barf today...
and somehow I am okay with it...
I just hope that the bug doesn't stop at my house.

[chicks]

We did it...
We stopped at Wilco last week and came home with 6 chicks...
gonna get 4 more on Wednesday...

The kids are SO excited they can hardly stand it.


Jack loves to stand and stare at them... he isn't so big on picking them up yet....
first time, he dropped the chick right on the ground.


emma named her chick "diva" this should surprise me... but for some reason it just makes me smile... I hope it doesn't end up being a rooster!

so here is the story...
Josh isn't big on chickens and isn't thrilled that we are getting them...
he says that the girls and I can take care of them... and since he takes care of the dogs and cats, I think that is a good trade as long as he helps me if I every get desperate! :D

So Friday I say "please come with me to order the chicks...." he agrees and comes along...
We get there and he sees the chicks and he sees a "turken"
Yes a "turken" a turkey-chicken... it lays brown eggs and is the ugliest thing ever...
He wants one...
so we end up going home with 5 chicks... one for each kid and a turken for josh....
he has affectionately called it "Mr. T" although we are hoping "she" is a girl....
Josh is wondering btw.. can a Turken also be called a Churkey? just a thought.

in case you can't find Mr. T.... she is the one with the yellow fro and no neck hair... with a lovely tuft of chest hair.... :D

Life in the NW...

This is the view from our Sabbath afternoon walk... breezy but so beautiful you can't stand it! makes you want to go there with your honey and cozy on the bench drinking hot coffee wrapped in a blanket... super cool thing is that PDX is right across the river so you can see the planes taking off and landing so fun!

The kids running down to play on the beach along the Columbia River.... love the lighting here.

Our fabulous family... what a fun shot this is... and how wonderful to have Mt. Hood snowcapped in the background!

My hubby and I finally getting a photo together.... I think my favorite thing about this is that I totally have 80's bangs... don't you love that they are standing straight up on end? Thank you PNW wind!

the little mister was trucking along on his trike... rode the whole 3 miles while we walked... what a sweetie he is.

Sweet Super Sydney.... just love this girl....

throwing rocks in the water.... it's a boy thing!

and believe it or not.... the flowers are starting to bloom in the NW and I {love} it!

Now I Lay Me

I just had to share.... everynight at worship after prayer we say this
"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
the angels watch me through the night
and keep me safe till morning light"
Jack always feels the need to say it again...
by himself.
I just HAD to record him last night because he sweet little voice
won't always be this sweet and innocent...

Don't you just want to kiss that little face.
I do... wait, I DID!
Love you Jackers!
ps. mute projectplaylist to hear him!

My Monday...

well my day started out crazy... trying to get all the kids together and out the door...
but then I drove over to Jenny's for our weekly bible study (Beth Moore, Psalms of Ascent)
a {blessing}... in honor of Jen's birthday Jasmine bought these adorable cupcakes at Saint Cupcake in Portland... Can anyone say YUMMY? I had the 2 on the upper left (coconut & chocolate with sprinkles)

They were all I thought they would be and more...
The coffee was great...
Study & Prayer, fabulous.
Just what I needed to get me through the next part of my day.

A visit to St. Vincent's for Josh...
Good news though, the hole in his heart is small and fixable!

btw- this hospital is HUGE.... likely the largest I have ever personally been in... it was crazy busy.

After getting him settled in I drove to Costco to see if they had the Wii's back in stock... they didn't :( bummer.
I grabbed a quick bite to eat and then nestled myself down with my bible study in the waiting room until they called me to go see him after his procedure. (TEE)

I people watched and studied and FINALLY got to go back to see my man...
He was chopping at the bit to go...
I am glad that he doesn't do drugs... because he acts different when he is on them...
He was a little cranky with one of the nurses because missed his vein twice...
I was happy to get him out of there asap.... I hope they don't remember he got cranky when we go back next week...
(I did apologize and say "he is not normally like this")

Anyway, we skeedaddled out of there....
stopped to feed my starving hubby and then got the call none of us like to get.

"your daughter is home throwing up... sorry"
My day just got better... not

Now my poor McKenna is home sick with the same yucky stomach virus that Emma had on Friday. I have a very bad feeling about this...
Good thing a got a big dose of my God this morning... I have a feeling He will be carrying me!