Friday, June 6, 2025

March 2025

March
It always feels like we've survived the winter when we get to March.  We get a few more days without rain and the kids are all just so excited to get back outside although many of the days are still pretty cold.
Maddie

Aubrey

Hazel has been asking Brandon to read the Bible with her at night which is really sweet.

Dr. Seuss Day!
They're the cutest!!!

The first daffodils of Spring are always so welcomed and adored.
Aubrey

Maddie


We've started falling trees in preparation for some landscaping and a new back patio.

A shower for Auntie Amanda and Baby Grace





Amanda is so sweet to the girls.  They literally gave her literally zero personal space during the shower and she seemed not at all bothered.  She's the best and they just adore her.

Mission Trips
Every year our high schoolers attend a mission trip the week before Spring Break.  For Sadie's first trip she stayed in Salem which wasn't her first choice but I was really proud of her for embracing the experience.  The team spent a day in downtown Salem and a day in Portland walking the streets and asking people if they could pray for them.  They also visited a Jewish synagogue and had a chance to hear a little about what they believe and to begin processing the similarities and differences of another faith in comparison to Christianity.  I can only imagine how far out of their comfort zone this pushed them but they did it and walked away pretty excited about the experience.  They were challenged in the best ways by the YWAM staff during this trip to life their lives in service to Christ.

Attending the trip with her where her good friends Sailor, Felicity, Bella, Wesley, and Kaleb.

While she was gone we took turns taking care of Cori.

We ran into Coastal to look for a graduation outfit for Wyatt and these too are a hoot.
They of course couldn't resist the stuffies.

And this they really wanted to buy for Mrs. Metzger.

Next in the month of March was the Talent Show.
The kids always want to be in the talent show and I never know what to have them do.  So when the cheer coach offered to do a cheer with any girls interested I thought perfect!

The talent show was Friday afternoon, same time as Sadie needed to be picked up from YWAM, and just hours before we were headed up to Caldera Sprints to enjoy the first part of Spring Break with the family.  As I raced out the door to drop of the dog at the kennel and grab Subway to eat in the car on the way to Caldera, I got a call from the middle school principle to say Wyatt had taken a shot to the junk that brought him to tears in front of his entire class.  Oh Boy!!  Then I got home to find Sadie a puddle of tears because she'd broken my backpack on the way home from the mission trip and "had been crying ever since."  Translated she was exhausted from not sleeping on her mission trip.  This is life as we currently live it.  So lets squeeze all the kids into the suburban and drive 3 hours to sleep, not in their own beds, but in a bunk room with cousins.  Solid plan I think...

We returned from Caldera on Monday evening and Wyatt headed out Tuesday morning to Bandon, Oregon with his friend Lucah and his family.

We found some time to get to the park with the girls 




On Saturday Brandon's friend Kevin came over and helped us fall the remaining trees in the back.

Oh and Zoey has a thing for Orbeez beads apparently.  The girls keep leaving them out and she's eaten her weight in them.  At the point I took this picture we were not sure she was going to survive her most recent bad life choice.  Wyatt came home to a very lethargic dog which he was so sad about.  However, she has survived this crisis and lives to make her next poor choice.

Cooper and May

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Spring Break

Spring Break

The Kaufmans invited us to join them up in Caldera for spring break this year as it was their year to use the house.  There ended up being snow which was fun and aside from the Moss Family, Uncle Caleb, and Uncle Andy everyone ended up being able to make it.  We headed out Friday night just a few hours after Sadie got home from her mission trip which was kinda crazy but hey that's kinda just what we do.

Never a shortage of fun being had.  This trip included playing in the snow, swimming, and a cousins talent show from which the dads were disqualified.


Daddy made a friend this trip. :)

Aubrey

Daddy and Baby Jo






Enjoying some hot coco.

And makeup with Auntie Amanda


And bracelets with Auntie Kendra

And crocheting with Grammy.

Uncle Brian and Ollie built a pretty creative snowman.

Swimming at The Cove is always a trip highlight for the kids.


Because we didn't have the entire group some of the kids got a room which they thought was pretty fun.  Uncle Brian hooked up the x-box in the boys room which they loved.

Hadley, Aubrey, and Ellie-Jo



Sledding
What to say about sledding...We're glad we all survived.  It was kind of a disaster as we had kids wiping out everywhere but we made it home with just a bloody lip and I think the kids will only remember the fun.

We though she was out cold but she wasn't.  It was just a dramatic crash. 

Tommy



Walking around the neighborhood and playing at the park are also always highlights.





Hope all these cousins remain this close for many many years to come.

Talent Show

Monday, June 2, 2025

February 2025

 
Baby Yoda and AristoKitty are their new favorites

Happy Birthday Great Grandpa

Wrapping up Eagles Cheer 

Psalm 150 Challenge
Wyatt's history teacher Mr. Safeels challenged the Jr. High class early this year to read a Psalm a day and journal about it.  On the 150th day the first person in line with their journal won $150.  So after school kids raced to the meeting spot and waited from afterschool until 9:00 p.m. when the winner was announced.  It was suppose to be midnight but it was really cold and we're expecting snow so they called it a bit early.  Anyway this all took place the night of Hazel's birthday so needless to say Wyatt wasn't first in line because he was at home for a birthday dinner but we were really proud of him for completing the challenge.  Such a fun wat to motivate these kids to get into the Word!



We love our wood stove!!

And it's cold outside...
This might be our biggest snowman ever.




Valentines Day!
It's our tradition to make fondue on Valentines Day with the kids.  This year Harper got to join us.



Game Day at Grammy's House

Tommy found a new chess partner.

Just two sassy little sisters.

April Things

O.M.S.I I got to join Evie's class on a field trip to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.  Afterwards we meet up with Daddy at Co...