The other day I was watching Gemma stand by the dishwasher, hand me dishes, and say "Day-doo" as she handed me each one. I suddenly realized that it feels like just yesterday that Hannah was doing that exact thing. It took me a second to come back to reality and remind myself that this was my SECOND daughter doing that same thing. Not only was it a fun moment to realize that kids do lots of things the same way, but I also had to take a breath and remember that I need to cherish each of those moments because they go SO fast!
Every once in awhile, I'll get that sensation of "Are these really my children? Aren't I still just babysitting?" The other day I took Hannah to her swim lessons, and although I didn't think of it at the time, I had this powerful moment last night as I was falling asleep, that I AM THE MOM NOW! You may read that and think, "Ummm...you are just realizing that now?! What about the pregnancy, the labor, the birth, the last four years???" Don't worry--I'm not crazy or anything; I just have to come to terms with it in a brand new way sometimes. I like to think back to the days when I imagined being a mom, staying home with them, and taking them to activities like swim lessons...and now I'm doing it! God is so good to have blessed me with my true heart's desire, and I like to celebrate that every once in awhile. Thanks for joining me in my celebration of mommyhood! :)
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Playing in the mud...yes, I allowed it!
The other night Keith was draining out/cleaning our pool, and the girls were quite interested in the muddy water & sticky mud that was collecting on the grass. After trying (unsuccessfully) to keep them away from it, I realized this was one of those moments to let them be kids. It resulted in a good thirty minutes of entertainment for all of us, some very happy, muddy girls, and a way to keep them busy while Keith did the chore. Here's one pic of Gemma, and I just couldn't keep Hannah still enough to get a good shot! She was too busy going back and forth between the mud, the cloudy pool (gross, I know!), and the hose.
This is what they do at spas, right? So it's gotta be good for you! :)
This is what they do at spas, right? So it's gotta be good for you! :)
The beautiful beach!
Every so often, you get a perfect weather weekend at the beach, and when you do, it is just heavenly! (That's literally how I felt, too, I'm not even exaggerating--that being at the beach, hearing/seeing the ocean, and feeling the sun on my face is a little glimpse of heaven.) This last weekend we took a trip to Seaside, Oregon, and after a week of rainy, cool weather at home, we were praying for a nice weekend. Thank you, Lord, for providing! :)
Friday, the girls & I headed up there with my parents so that we could get an early start on the weekend. (Keith would meet us after work.) Much to our delight, the closer we got to the ocean, the more the clouds moved away. :) We got to our beach house and had lunch, and then we took the short walk down to the beach. Hannah started lounging in the sand the moment we got there, and although Gemma was napping in the Ergo at first, she eventually woke up & played with the sand, too. Both girls really like the sand, and Hannah spent lots of time rolling around, making sand angels, and digging.
Here's Hannah & Grandpa building a sand castle...I wonder who did the majority of that project??
And one of Gemma & Grandma. (By the way, my mom didn't even have to wear her hood on Saturday, and that is really saying something for the weather at the beach if my mom doesn't wear a sweatshirt!)
After awhile, we decided to head back to the house so we could clean up before dinner. We had a yummy dinner at Dooger's (one of our favorites!), and then we walked around town for a bit. By then, Keith was there, so we met him back at the house. The girls went to bed okay, and then we all turned in after watching a movie on TV.
Saturday morning we woke up to clear blue skies and lots of sunshine--no ocean mist! After breakfast, we all headed downtown and spent the obligatory time in the arcade. We decided Hannah was probably still a tad young for most of the games, although she enjoyed this one:
I've always loved playing SkeeBall, so I thought Hannah would want to try that. After watching most of her balls roll right back down the track or having to protect our heads from a flying ball or two, we figured that game may have to wait a year or two. She has good form, though, huh?
Both girls got to go on this ride, and I guess Gemma went on it again after we took Hannah to turn in her tickets. My mom thinks she's going to be the daredevil of the two girls. I guess only time will tell...
Hannah's favorite part of the arcade was definitely getting to turn in her tickets (most of which were won by Grandma & Grandpa) for a prize. She chose the bluest, biggest, brightest candy available, of course, and enjoyed every morsel.
Hannah also tackled the carousel this year, which she attempted to ride a few times last year during our trip to the beach. She would watch, get in line, and then decide at the last minute that she just couldn't take the plunge. But this year, she did it, and smiled the whole time! (Keith, on the other hand, did not smile the whole time, as he isn't fond of rides. What a good sport, Daddy!)
After the arcade, we headed back to the house to grab a bite of lunch before heading back to the beach. With the gorgeous sunshine overhead, I think we were all itching to get on that sand! The afternoon was wonderful, and--believe it or not, you Oregon Coast visitors--the ocean was WARM! Keith and I did some body surfing two different times that afternoon, and we could not believe how nice the water felt. I thought I was back in Hawaii! (Okay, maybe it wasn't quite that warm, but it was definitely 70-ish, which felt perfect on a warm summer day.) Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of that because 1) our camera ran out of batteries and 2) there's just no good way to bring a camera down to the tide. Either you end up wishing you'd left it back on the blanket because you decide you want to swim, or you feel paranoid that you're going to drop it.
Anyway, that afternoon will last in my memory for a long time, as it was very special & fun. Hannah & Gemma had a ball in the sand with Grandma & Grandpa, and they both squealed with delight as they tried putting their feet in the water. Here they are, enjoying every minute:
Note that Hannah's suit is absolutely COVERED in sand--it is not typically brown. :)
After a while, Grandma & Grandpa kindly brought the girls back to the house to wash them up & let Gemma have a nap, so Keith and I were able to stay down at the beach for a little while longer. It was so nice to read, people watch, and see Keith jumping around like a little boy in the waves. :) He dragged me back in after I was just getting warmed up, but I was glad he did--we had so much fun body surfing & enjoying the water!
Eventually, we reluctantly headed back to the house for dinner. After a delicious BBQ with all the fixin's, we had s'mores over the campfire, and that is always fun! That night everyone went to sleep really quickly, dreaming of the sand & shore, I'm sure. :)
Sunday we woke up to another brilliant, sunny day, and we were sad to think about leaving the coast. We headed to breakfast at the good old Pig n' Pancake, where Uncle Erik met us for the morning. After some pancakes and eggs, we did what would make the most sense: took a trip to the candy store! We stocked up on taffy (of course!) and some other bulk candy, and then we realized it was time to say good-bye to the beach. (Sniff, sniff!) We walked on the prom for one last look at the ocean, and it did not disappoint--so gorgeous! (Again, no picture because my camera was out of batteries. Boo.)
It's funny that every time we leave the beach, we say "We should take more day trips here!" And do we? Well.....no! Maybe this time will be different, though, right? ;)
At any rate, this weekend was SO fun, and the only bummer was that it didn't include my sissy Senia and the rest of the Nelson family. :( I thought of you often, Senia, and we wished you could have been there during the many traditional beach activities. Maybe next year! (Or on one of those one-day trips that we'll be taking so often...)
Friday, the girls & I headed up there with my parents so that we could get an early start on the weekend. (Keith would meet us after work.) Much to our delight, the closer we got to the ocean, the more the clouds moved away. :) We got to our beach house and had lunch, and then we took the short walk down to the beach. Hannah started lounging in the sand the moment we got there, and although Gemma was napping in the Ergo at first, she eventually woke up & played with the sand, too. Both girls really like the sand, and Hannah spent lots of time rolling around, making sand angels, and digging.
Here's Hannah & Grandpa building a sand castle...I wonder who did the majority of that project??
And one of Gemma & Grandma. (By the way, my mom didn't even have to wear her hood on Saturday, and that is really saying something for the weather at the beach if my mom doesn't wear a sweatshirt!)
After awhile, we decided to head back to the house so we could clean up before dinner. We had a yummy dinner at Dooger's (one of our favorites!), and then we walked around town for a bit. By then, Keith was there, so we met him back at the house. The girls went to bed okay, and then we all turned in after watching a movie on TV.
Saturday morning we woke up to clear blue skies and lots of sunshine--no ocean mist! After breakfast, we all headed downtown and spent the obligatory time in the arcade. We decided Hannah was probably still a tad young for most of the games, although she enjoyed this one:
I've always loved playing SkeeBall, so I thought Hannah would want to try that. After watching most of her balls roll right back down the track or having to protect our heads from a flying ball or two, we figured that game may have to wait a year or two. She has good form, though, huh?
Both girls got to go on this ride, and I guess Gemma went on it again after we took Hannah to turn in her tickets. My mom thinks she's going to be the daredevil of the two girls. I guess only time will tell...
Hannah's favorite part of the arcade was definitely getting to turn in her tickets (most of which were won by Grandma & Grandpa) for a prize. She chose the bluest, biggest, brightest candy available, of course, and enjoyed every morsel.
Hannah also tackled the carousel this year, which she attempted to ride a few times last year during our trip to the beach. She would watch, get in line, and then decide at the last minute that she just couldn't take the plunge. But this year, she did it, and smiled the whole time! (Keith, on the other hand, did not smile the whole time, as he isn't fond of rides. What a good sport, Daddy!)
After the arcade, we headed back to the house to grab a bite of lunch before heading back to the beach. With the gorgeous sunshine overhead, I think we were all itching to get on that sand! The afternoon was wonderful, and--believe it or not, you Oregon Coast visitors--the ocean was WARM! Keith and I did some body surfing two different times that afternoon, and we could not believe how nice the water felt. I thought I was back in Hawaii! (Okay, maybe it wasn't quite that warm, but it was definitely 70-ish, which felt perfect on a warm summer day.) Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of that because 1) our camera ran out of batteries and 2) there's just no good way to bring a camera down to the tide. Either you end up wishing you'd left it back on the blanket because you decide you want to swim, or you feel paranoid that you're going to drop it.
Anyway, that afternoon will last in my memory for a long time, as it was very special & fun. Hannah & Gemma had a ball in the sand with Grandma & Grandpa, and they both squealed with delight as they tried putting their feet in the water. Here they are, enjoying every minute:
Note that Hannah's suit is absolutely COVERED in sand--it is not typically brown. :)
After a while, Grandma & Grandpa kindly brought the girls back to the house to wash them up & let Gemma have a nap, so Keith and I were able to stay down at the beach for a little while longer. It was so nice to read, people watch, and see Keith jumping around like a little boy in the waves. :) He dragged me back in after I was just getting warmed up, but I was glad he did--we had so much fun body surfing & enjoying the water!
Eventually, we reluctantly headed back to the house for dinner. After a delicious BBQ with all the fixin's, we had s'mores over the campfire, and that is always fun! That night everyone went to sleep really quickly, dreaming of the sand & shore, I'm sure. :)
Sunday we woke up to another brilliant, sunny day, and we were sad to think about leaving the coast. We headed to breakfast at the good old Pig n' Pancake, where Uncle Erik met us for the morning. After some pancakes and eggs, we did what would make the most sense: took a trip to the candy store! We stocked up on taffy (of course!) and some other bulk candy, and then we realized it was time to say good-bye to the beach. (Sniff, sniff!) We walked on the prom for one last look at the ocean, and it did not disappoint--so gorgeous! (Again, no picture because my camera was out of batteries. Boo.)
It's funny that every time we leave the beach, we say "We should take more day trips here!" And do we? Well.....no! Maybe this time will be different, though, right? ;)
At any rate, this weekend was SO fun, and the only bummer was that it didn't include my sissy Senia and the rest of the Nelson family. :( I thought of you often, Senia, and we wished you could have been there during the many traditional beach activities. Maybe next year! (Or on one of those one-day trips that we'll be taking so often...)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Our week with Faith
I wanted to post this sooner, but I didn't have our camera for a couple days (we left it at a friend's house), so I couldn't get the pics from the week! Anyway, last week we ended up having a very special house guest for the week--our niece Faith, who is 9 years old. She came home with us while Adam & Julie were on their honeymoon, and it turned out to be a great week for all involved! The drive home was fine, in spite of all three of them being kind of cramped in the back seat, with Faith having the worst spot. :) They seemed to take it okay, though:
Hannah & Faith played really well together, in spite of an occasional disagreement or moment of bullying from Hannah (yes, I said that right--Hannah, the 4-year-old, bullied Faith, the 9-year-old.) ;) I had fun listening in on some of Hannah & Faith's games & make-believe stories, especially the day they decided to play store. It brought back memories of playing Christmas store with Mary & Senia--are you reading this, gals?! :) Here's a pic of their set-up:
The legos in a big square formed their cash register, and I heard Faith asking "Do you have a Fred Meyer credit card? Would you like to open one?" Hannah got the picture and made quite the little cashier, too, asking "Paper or plastic?" :)
The rest of the week we kept busy seeing a few friends, going for a walk to the park, and going grocery shopping (which is an activity all by itself with three kids--after that, I was worn out!) :)
On Thursday, Faith & I took a "big girls only" trip to Ulta to have our hair styled during an event they were having. I intended for Faith to sit & read a book (at her request) during my appointment, but the gal doing my hair said she could handle styling both of us! So we both had a relaxing shampoo & style. Faith even got to sit under the dryer. :)
Faith seemed to really enjoy that afternoon, and it was nice to give her a little break from the younger kiddos.
We had been hoping for better weather during the week so that the girls could play in the pool, and although that didn't really happen, Friday was nice enough that they decided to take the plunge into the ice-cold hose water. I was content sitting outside the pool. :)
Friday night--our last night together--we decided to do something special, so we went to Sheridan's for dessert. It was so yummy, and we had fun being together with Keith, too, since he'd missed out on most of our fun during the week!
Overall, it was a great week, and it was fun to have a third girl around the house. I told one of my friends that someday I definitely wouldn't mind having a third baby--even if that baby came out as a 9-year-old! :) (My mother-in-law says that every baby should come with an older sibling.)
Hannah & Faith played really well together, in spite of an occasional disagreement or moment of bullying from Hannah (yes, I said that right--Hannah, the 4-year-old, bullied Faith, the 9-year-old.) ;) I had fun listening in on some of Hannah & Faith's games & make-believe stories, especially the day they decided to play store. It brought back memories of playing Christmas store with Mary & Senia--are you reading this, gals?! :) Here's a pic of their set-up:
The legos in a big square formed their cash register, and I heard Faith asking "Do you have a Fred Meyer credit card? Would you like to open one?" Hannah got the picture and made quite the little cashier, too, asking "Paper or plastic?" :)
The rest of the week we kept busy seeing a few friends, going for a walk to the park, and going grocery shopping (which is an activity all by itself with three kids--after that, I was worn out!) :)
On Thursday, Faith & I took a "big girls only" trip to Ulta to have our hair styled during an event they were having. I intended for Faith to sit & read a book (at her request) during my appointment, but the gal doing my hair said she could handle styling both of us! So we both had a relaxing shampoo & style. Faith even got to sit under the dryer. :)
Faith seemed to really enjoy that afternoon, and it was nice to give her a little break from the younger kiddos.
We had been hoping for better weather during the week so that the girls could play in the pool, and although that didn't really happen, Friday was nice enough that they decided to take the plunge into the ice-cold hose water. I was content sitting outside the pool. :)
Friday night--our last night together--we decided to do something special, so we went to Sheridan's for dessert. It was so yummy, and we had fun being together with Keith, too, since he'd missed out on most of our fun during the week!
Overall, it was a great week, and it was fun to have a third girl around the house. I told one of my friends that someday I definitely wouldn't mind having a third baby--even if that baby came out as a 9-year-old! :) (My mother-in-law says that every baby should come with an older sibling.)
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Gemma's walking update
Gemma is getting so much more comfortable with walking now! I wish I could upload a video of her progress, as she's doing a great job. She seems to have figured out that walking is more fun/faster than crawling, so often she'll start at a place where she can stand up, & then she'll go from there. (She hasn't quite figured out how to get up on her own from the floor, but I know that will come.)
She keeps her hands up as she walks, which is super cute, as it is the epitome of a child learning to walk. :) She can even turn and clap while walking! She gets a big smile on her face when she gets up to start walking towards us, and she often says "Hiiiii" when coming into a room.
She's also expanding on her vocabulary, which is so fun to hear. She now says "Ah Yuhn" (all done), "Pee Boo" (peek-a-boo), "Joo" (juice), and "Uh", which depending on the situation can either mean up or out. ;) She says baby, which sometimes comes out "Bobby", and now when she says "Bye bye," it sounds kind of similar "Buh-bee." Only a mom would know the difference, right? :) She is really catching on receptively, too, as my mom pointed out yesterday. (For example, mom asked her if she was ready to put her shoes on and Gemma put her foot out.)
It's so fun to hear & see her becoming this little toddler, and I am enjoying watching her & Hannah as they learn how to play & have fun together.
She keeps her hands up as she walks, which is super cute, as it is the epitome of a child learning to walk. :) She can even turn and clap while walking! She gets a big smile on her face when she gets up to start walking towards us, and she often says "Hiiiii" when coming into a room.
She's also expanding on her vocabulary, which is so fun to hear. She now says "Ah Yuhn" (all done), "Pee Boo" (peek-a-boo), "Joo" (juice), and "Uh", which depending on the situation can either mean up or out. ;) She says baby, which sometimes comes out "Bobby", and now when she says "Bye bye," it sounds kind of similar "Buh-bee." Only a mom would know the difference, right? :) She is really catching on receptively, too, as my mom pointed out yesterday. (For example, mom asked her if she was ready to put her shoes on and Gemma put her foot out.)
It's so fun to hear & see her becoming this little toddler, and I am enjoying watching her & Hannah as they learn how to play & have fun together.
Hannah's flower girl experience!
On July 9th, Hannah got to make her debut as a flower girl in Uncle Adam & Aunt Julie's wedding. It was really exciting for her, and she practiced with Daddy the week before the wedding. We knew her dress was purple, but we hadn't seen it in person, so Hannah was thrilled with it when she saw it! (Pics below...) During the rehearsal, Hannah was a little distracted by butterflies, the river, and everything else going around her, so it was a task trying to get her to focus on directions for the next day. (We were up in North Central WA at Great-Grandma Lois' house for the wedding, so there was lots to look at!) I tried to remember various friends' advice about kids in weddings, which mostly centered around: "If they do it, great; if they don't, it's okay!" :) For a controller/planner like me, that was really challenging to accept.
On the day of the wedding, Hannah was super excited about her job. She kept asking to get her dress on, and I kept directing her to the microwave clock to check the time. She'd say "It's still a one, mommy!" (I told her that when the first number changed to a 2, she could put her dress on. I figured the less time she had the dress on, the smaller the risk of dress disaster before the actual event.) Once we got the dress on, it was time for hair, and although Cousin Monica attempted to put her hair in a braid (which looked adorable), after wrestling with Hannah to leave it in & threatening to chop off her hair if she didn't cooperate (okay, that may have been a little harsh, but this was important, people!) we compromised with pigtails.
I think the result was cute & little-girlish, while still being pretty.
The rest of the afternoon went really well, considering Hannah is a very busy, precocious 4-year-old! In spite of being a flight risk, (no worries with the bride, but the flower girl had other things to do!) Hannah walked down the aisle at the right time and pleasantly smiled to all the guests. As she passed by me as I was wildly motioning for her to actually THROW the flower petals, she explained that she didn't want to toss those beautiful flowers on the ground. Well. What can you do?? So I sent her on her way, as the guests snickered in the background. She got through the ceremony by going back & forth between various relatives in the audience, me, and the bridal party up front. Fortunately, I don't think Adam & Julie minded, as they were focused completely on each other on this special day. :)
Hannah participated in the photos throughout the afternoon, and I also got some cute shots of her playing & frolicking in her dress.
Gemma did well during the wedding, too, only squealing every once in a while & spending the rest of the time digging in the grass in front of us. :)
The weekend was lots of fun, with plenty of time to hang out with the family, swim in the city pool, and browse around the shops. We stayed in a neat house right on the river with Keith's parents, Noah, and Mary, and that was a great place to rest each day. Here's Gemma having a blast in the fountains at the pool:
On the day of the wedding, Hannah was super excited about her job. She kept asking to get her dress on, and I kept directing her to the microwave clock to check the time. She'd say "It's still a one, mommy!" (I told her that when the first number changed to a 2, she could put her dress on. I figured the less time she had the dress on, the smaller the risk of dress disaster before the actual event.) Once we got the dress on, it was time for hair, and although Cousin Monica attempted to put her hair in a braid (which looked adorable), after wrestling with Hannah to leave it in & threatening to chop off her hair if she didn't cooperate (okay, that may have been a little harsh, but this was important, people!) we compromised with pigtails.
I think the result was cute & little-girlish, while still being pretty.
The rest of the afternoon went really well, considering Hannah is a very busy, precocious 4-year-old! In spite of being a flight risk, (no worries with the bride, but the flower girl had other things to do!) Hannah walked down the aisle at the right time and pleasantly smiled to all the guests. As she passed by me as I was wildly motioning for her to actually THROW the flower petals, she explained that she didn't want to toss those beautiful flowers on the ground. Well. What can you do?? So I sent her on her way, as the guests snickered in the background. She got through the ceremony by going back & forth between various relatives in the audience, me, and the bridal party up front. Fortunately, I don't think Adam & Julie minded, as they were focused completely on each other on this special day. :)
Hannah participated in the photos throughout the afternoon, and I also got some cute shots of her playing & frolicking in her dress.
Gemma did well during the wedding, too, only squealing every once in a while & spending the rest of the time digging in the grass in front of us. :)
The weekend was lots of fun, with plenty of time to hang out with the family, swim in the city pool, and browse around the shops. We stayed in a neat house right on the river with Keith's parents, Noah, and Mary, and that was a great place to rest each day. Here's Gemma having a blast in the fountains at the pool:
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Keith graduated!
Last Thursday night, Keith and I went to his LEA graduation ceremony. It was a proud moment for both of us, and it was a good feeling to know he has finished his apprenticeship program.
The event was different than any other graduation I'd been to, especially since it was a catered dinner at a hotel! We sat at a table with one of his co-workers, and three of his bosses also came to the graduation, which I thought was a very nice gesture. It was fun to meet them and hear them talk so positively about my man. :)
We enjoyed a delicious dinner and some very yummy desserts, and then the ceremony began. Amidst some jokes about electrical stuff, the graduates each received a certificate and then the whole class stood together to take a picture. (This must have been reminiscent of Keith's Washtucna graduation, which had only a few less people than this one. :)
So, after three years of night classes, 6000 hours of job training, and four different jobs, Keith is now a licensed low-voltage electrical Journeyman for the state of Oregon. He'll also take the WA test at the end of the month, and I'm sure he'll do really well with that. Anyway, just wanted to share the excitement! Here's a picture of the proud graduate, too.
The event was different than any other graduation I'd been to, especially since it was a catered dinner at a hotel! We sat at a table with one of his co-workers, and three of his bosses also came to the graduation, which I thought was a very nice gesture. It was fun to meet them and hear them talk so positively about my man. :)
We enjoyed a delicious dinner and some very yummy desserts, and then the ceremony began. Amidst some jokes about electrical stuff, the graduates each received a certificate and then the whole class stood together to take a picture. (This must have been reminiscent of Keith's Washtucna graduation, which had only a few less people than this one. :)
So, after three years of night classes, 6000 hours of job training, and four different jobs, Keith is now a licensed low-voltage electrical Journeyman for the state of Oregon. He'll also take the WA test at the end of the month, and I'm sure he'll do really well with that. Anyway, just wanted to share the excitement! Here's a picture of the proud graduate, too.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
4th of July!
We had a great day this year--lots of time outside, some rest in the afternoon, and then a super fun potluck & fireworks display at our friends' house.
The girls were dressed in their "daytime" outfits until right before we left, so as not to get anything on their matching-shirts/jean-capri outfits before heading to the potluck. Ironically, even with all that planning, Hannah still had an accident just before we left, so she & Gemma weren't completely identical (see picture below.) Oh well...
Gemma still had to wear one of her other festive dresses, since I want to make good use of all the adorable clothes we have from friends & family.
I love this one!!
For lunch we met up with friends from out of town for a picnic & playtime at the park. No pictures from that, but we had a really great time and enjoyed seeing all the kids playing together. We also realized how different boys & girls are (as if there was ever any doubt) because we watched their two boys wrestle & engage in a fist fight for a good fifteen minutes, while the girls just continued to play nicely on the playground. Hannah stood by and watched for a bit, at times trying to intercede by pulling on one of the boys' shirts. It didn't really work, and we suggested that she stay out of harm's way by giving them a wider radius.
Later in the evening, we went to our friends, the Telegins, and they hosted a wonderful potluck. The evening passed by in a blur as we enjoyed some delicious food (all deliciously potluck-y and American, i.e. macaroni & cheese, brats, burgers, salads, chips, salsa, guacamole, hot dishes, etc., etc. And that's not even including the desserts!!) and great fellowship with such sweet, fun families.
Here are the girls in their matching (close enough) outfits:
The fireworks that we got to watch last night were great, and I'm sure people would pay money to see some of the good ones we saw for free! :) (Shh...don't tell them or they might charge us next year... ;) I didn't even bother taking any pictures of the nighttime activities, since our camera has not been cooperating with night shots. Hannah really enjoyed it all, though, and she loved hanging out with all the big girls from the various families that were there. (Hannah & Gemma were the youngest kids there, but they did just fine, as there was no lack of attention for either of them!) At one point I heard the older girls saying "Sit on my lap, Hannah!" "Sit under my blanket!" Here's Hannah with some of the girls:
Everything was just so much fun, and it was great to hang out with these wonderful families from church. We feel very blessed to have them as friends, and we'll look forward to next year!
The girls were dressed in their "daytime" outfits until right before we left, so as not to get anything on their matching-shirts/jean-capri outfits before heading to the potluck. Ironically, even with all that planning, Hannah still had an accident just before we left, so she & Gemma weren't completely identical (see picture below.) Oh well...
Gemma still had to wear one of her other festive dresses, since I want to make good use of all the adorable clothes we have from friends & family.
I love this one!!
For lunch we met up with friends from out of town for a picnic & playtime at the park. No pictures from that, but we had a really great time and enjoyed seeing all the kids playing together. We also realized how different boys & girls are (as if there was ever any doubt) because we watched their two boys wrestle & engage in a fist fight for a good fifteen minutes, while the girls just continued to play nicely on the playground. Hannah stood by and watched for a bit, at times trying to intercede by pulling on one of the boys' shirts. It didn't really work, and we suggested that she stay out of harm's way by giving them a wider radius.
Later in the evening, we went to our friends, the Telegins, and they hosted a wonderful potluck. The evening passed by in a blur as we enjoyed some delicious food (all deliciously potluck-y and American, i.e. macaroni & cheese, brats, burgers, salads, chips, salsa, guacamole, hot dishes, etc., etc. And that's not even including the desserts!!) and great fellowship with such sweet, fun families.
Here are the girls in their matching (close enough) outfits:
The fireworks that we got to watch last night were great, and I'm sure people would pay money to see some of the good ones we saw for free! :) (Shh...don't tell them or they might charge us next year... ;) I didn't even bother taking any pictures of the nighttime activities, since our camera has not been cooperating with night shots. Hannah really enjoyed it all, though, and she loved hanging out with all the big girls from the various families that were there. (Hannah & Gemma were the youngest kids there, but they did just fine, as there was no lack of attention for either of them!) At one point I heard the older girls saying "Sit on my lap, Hannah!" "Sit under my blanket!" Here's Hannah with some of the girls:
Everything was just so much fun, and it was great to hang out with these wonderful families from church. We feel very blessed to have them as friends, and we'll look forward to next year!
Dancin' the night away
On Saturday night Keith & I went out with Melissa, Chanda & Garrett for Melissa's big 29th birthday celebration. (And yes, it is her real 29th birthday!) Per Melissa's request, we went to Bushwhacker's, which is actually named "Bushwhacker's Dance Hall and Saloon." They have an hour group lesson before the dance floor kind of "opens up" for the night, and it was so much fun! We learned country swing, and it was good exercise, too. Keith and I hadn't ever taken a dance lesson together before, and it was such a neat thing to do as a couple. We are going back as soon as we can, because we got to observe some other dances that would be fun to learn.
The rest of the time was spent practicing our new country swing moves (complete with spins!) and trying out some of the line dances. All of us seemed to catch on okay, and it was just good to do something where we were hanging out & enjoying each other, while still getting some exercise!
Here are Chanda & Garrett showing off their moves:
I didn't get a pic of Keith & I dancing (so we'll have to go back!), but here is a cute one of Melissa, Keith & I:
On a side note, couples dancing is really a great illustration of a Godly marriage relationship, because just as in scripture, women are told to submit to the man's leadership. While this can be difficult for me in life & on the dance floor, I realized that once I let go of my desire to control our "dance," Keith was able to lead me with so much more grace and ease. At the same time, in order for me to let go, I had to trust that Keith wouldn't lead me in a way that would be harmful or hurtful to me. This is why men are supposed to love their women as Christ loves the church--simply ruling or dictating the relationship for the purpose of holding the power is not going to make a woman feel comfortable, safe or honored. On the contrary, by leading out of love & respect, the marriage--and the dance--can be a beautiful display of the equal give-and-take that is necessary to make the partnership look enjoyable, loving & desirable.
Okay, that's my soap box/metaphorical moment for today. :)
All in all, we had lots of fun & laughs, and we'll have memories to last at least until Melissa's next 29th birthday. ;)
The rest of the time was spent practicing our new country swing moves (complete with spins!) and trying out some of the line dances. All of us seemed to catch on okay, and it was just good to do something where we were hanging out & enjoying each other, while still getting some exercise!
Here are Chanda & Garrett showing off their moves:
I didn't get a pic of Keith & I dancing (so we'll have to go back!), but here is a cute one of Melissa, Keith & I:
On a side note, couples dancing is really a great illustration of a Godly marriage relationship, because just as in scripture, women are told to submit to the man's leadership. While this can be difficult for me in life & on the dance floor, I realized that once I let go of my desire to control our "dance," Keith was able to lead me with so much more grace and ease. At the same time, in order for me to let go, I had to trust that Keith wouldn't lead me in a way that would be harmful or hurtful to me. This is why men are supposed to love their women as Christ loves the church--simply ruling or dictating the relationship for the purpose of holding the power is not going to make a woman feel comfortable, safe or honored. On the contrary, by leading out of love & respect, the marriage--and the dance--can be a beautiful display of the equal give-and-take that is necessary to make the partnership look enjoyable, loving & desirable.
Okay, that's my soap box/metaphorical moment for today. :)
All in all, we had lots of fun & laughs, and we'll have memories to last at least until Melissa's next 29th birthday. ;)
Pre-4th-of-July Party
Friday night my uncle Robert & cousins Ethan, Jonah & Isaac came over (missed you, Aunt Afton!) to light off some fireworks that are illegal in Oregon (which essentially means anything other than sparklers, pop-its and fountains.) The boys had fun playing with Hannah & Buddy in the backyard before it got dark, and then we all headed out front to watch the show. We ended up out there for an hour & a half, and they did a nice job keeping us entertained--both with fireworks and the typical boy antics that seem to accompany lighting anything on fire. Hannah really liked the looks of the sparklers, but she was a bit wary about actually attempting to hold them herself. Finally, after about an hour, she decided to give it a try. She loved holding her "wand," and she was really enthralled with the sparks & flashes. She would have done about 50 more if given the chance!
Uncle Erik also came over to enjoy the fireworks, so it was fun to reminisce with him about many past Fourths, when he & his friend Matt would spend months planning & saving for what fireworks they would buy!
Incidentally, I'm not thrilled about the face Hannah is making, but she's going through a bit of an awkward picture-taking phase where she's either: a) posing like a model with one hip out or b) smiling in a way that does not represent what her smile actually looks like in real life. Anyway, it's fun to get pics of her & Uncle Erik! :)
The evening was definitely a fun time, and we'd love to do it again next year!
Uncle Erik also came over to enjoy the fireworks, so it was fun to reminisce with him about many past Fourths, when he & his friend Matt would spend months planning & saving for what fireworks they would buy!
Incidentally, I'm not thrilled about the face Hannah is making, but she's going through a bit of an awkward picture-taking phase where she's either: a) posing like a model with one hip out or b) smiling in a way that does not represent what her smile actually looks like in real life. Anyway, it's fun to get pics of her & Uncle Erik! :)
The evening was definitely a fun time, and we'd love to do it again next year!
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