Baseball

Carter at short, Miggy at second

Watching 13 year olds play baseball is pretty awesome. 

Carter

Ev at first, Leo pitching

 Merit and Migs

Merit pitching

Love this team

Willem played in Pullman today. Moses Lake won!! 

Merit in Moses Lake, they lost both games but fought hard.

The chicken memories really started years ago

a long time ago, my dear friend Kristen sent met he book The Chicken Sisters

I love this book. It is about 3 chickens, all sisters - reminded me of me, Lesha and Tasha.

I may love this book even more now that I have chickens.

 While taking a trip down memory lane and visiting Boardman during spring break, we had dinner at the Riverfront. Now called something different. River Grill maybe... anyway when we lived there it was the only "fancy" restaurant in town. We dined there with out of town guests often. But back to chickens, because somehow most of my stories lead back to chickens. When we lived there, a co-worker of Vance's said that he would like to give us some chickens. We had a coop that was there when we bought the house. We told him sure. Mind you, back them I didn't search chicken health on pinterest or subscribe to Hobby Farms. He brought us 12! They were roosters, 12 roosters. Early morning wake up calls cannot be ignored with 12 roosters. My mother in law Adie came when Merit was born and she drove to the Riverfront one night and a rooster had hid under her vehicle. She pulled into the parking lot and a rooster hopped out from under her car! They were not "pets" like today's chickens. And if I remember right, that rooster never came back to our house.

This kid. 

We typically have fun everywhere we go. Even enjoying patio furniture displays at WalMart and sipping on pretend wine.

We love cooling off in the creek! 

I LOVE how this girl explores!

sweetness, cuteness, places to go ----------- Boardman, OR

Joys in April

I have some amazing aunts! 

Many of these seeds are already planted and in the greenhouse, Hazel helped me! Thank you Aunt Meredith!

My Aunt Joan is so talented! 

And this looks so cute in my kitchen!! 

Thanks Joanie!

 Carly's bridal shower was lovely. Painting canvases and visiting with fun ladies... it was great! Celebrating Carly felt really good.

And the venue! I love The Jameson Event Center.

spoons in cute containers with plants or succulents is so fun! I have been metal stamping on some too, but I wish I were better at this! ...  thrift store finds

 I am going to make a bunting out of these fabrics! It will hopefully be at the Redeemed Treasures sale.

 so will these...

These little, hmmm not sure what it is! It has served as a tea light holders, mini vase, storage for buttons or loose change. They will be at Marianne's Redeemed Treasures fundraiser! My friend Marianne and her family have taken a leap of faith and will bring a Chinese orphan here to Moses Lake for three weeks this summer. The hope and prayer is that Dougie may be introduced to his forever family here. Planning this fundraiser has been a joy! Supporting Marianne in this has been wonderful.

youngest and oldest... while camping in Boardman

The baseball fields, our second home

Merit played center field

--did a bit of pitching too

Dirt Brothers in Yakima, 10u in Selah -- We were running.

Willem participated in a Math is Cool tournament in Wenatchee Friday night. Competing in math is a sport too, I quickly discovered. And Math is Cool parents get just as "into it" as baseball parents. I am a decent, quiet spectator. I encourage. But when the ump makes a "bad" call or a kid messes something up, nothing really rises up inside of me. Sure I get excited about a great hit or a double play but I lack the passion some of these parents have. I don't know if I should be a little more intense. I will say this, my laid back nature helps me when Oren has three dirty diapers in one game, Hazel has asked for a pretzel and cheese from the concessions (even though I packed PLENTY of snacks) and Oren's favorite place to play is in the dirt. No dust in the teeth this weekend. No wind. The weather was BEAUTIFUL. I love baseball.

Meek

buddies

 Holden

 Carter

 Willem

 Maddox

 Merit on 3rd

Willem at the plate

Spring break highlights and more from Boardman

Spring break highlights via my iphone

The kids had early release the Friday before spring break. 

We headed to Carl's Jr for lunch. Oh the ANTICIPATION of a week of FUN, outdoor play, no school, no homework, no early mornings... we could all feel the anticipation.

And then onto Doolittle Park!

Spring break meant more time for chicken fun

On Wednesday we loaded up the camper and headed to Boardman, OR Wanting a trip down memory lane. We had not been there in 12 years! 

When Vance applied for the job in Boardman, we lived in a beautiful house here in Moses Lake and I had just graduated from college. Vance was working nights, driving truck, I was substitute teaching and LOVING it! Vance got the job! We toured the tiny town, pit stop really, Boardman, OR.  I can't really remember what we thought. I think we knew it would be an adventure and we were both up for that. I drove to Lynden the first weekend of March, 2001. I showed my mom pictures of Boardman. That weekend we threw a bridal shower for Kim. My cousin Nathan's wife to be. I went to church at Wiser Lake Chapel that Sunday with my mom. The wonderful pastor there, Rev. Hitchcock, had married us and I enjoyed the opportunity to hear Bert preach and see Bert and Jane. My mom and I went to TJ Maxx then went for a walk that afternoon. I drove home - to Moses Lake - Sunday evening. I had no idea that would be the last time I would see my mom. So, we were in the process of a big job change for Vance, a move, selling a house, buying a house, leaving friends. - When I type this out I am so reminded that if we take one day at a time, placing TRUST in God, we get through it. Thinking of it as a bigger picture feels really daunting but day by day we did it and there were A LOT of memories made in Boardman, OR. 

We had TONS of visitors there. Many made a six hour trek to get there! Both of my sisters were married that summer. The summer after we moved to Boardman, the summer after our mom passed away.

So, back to the TIME in Boardman. Matt moved to Walla Walla while we lived in Boardman. He visited most weekends. The sound of his big dodge pulling up was heavenly! I cooked and baked more in that tiny kitchen than I ever did in our big Moses Lake kitchen. I made more banana bread than most people make in a lifetime. I sent Matt back to his apartment with little care packages each weekend.

We watched a lot of Mariner games in Boardman and we listened to a lot of music. We looked forward to visitors and Vance and I got to know each other pretty well there. He liked his job, I taught as a substitute and loved it. It was time well spent.

Merit was born in Hermiston, OR! He was the best gift we received while living in Boardman. 

Boardman was good. It was lonely at times. Our visitors were treasures. I missed my mom so much while we were there, my heart ached. Having so much time with Merit there while living a "quiet life" was good. We lived out in the country. We flood irrigated! We got pygmy goats - Kris, Mindy, Abby, Carly and Kelcy delivered them! Someone had mentioned to Vance's cousin Duane that we were on the lookout for pygmies and I think we had them 2 weeks later! 

Going back there with 4 kids felt strange and good. We loved sharing that place with the kids! And the campground there was beautiful! Right on the river! With a trail leading the the big hotel and restaurant.

C and D's Burger Joint! the BEST burgers!

We had dinner at the Riverfront! 

My Bday was Thursday. We also came home from Boardman that afternoon. 

Friday the kids and I enjoyed ice cream and a latte in town and just all around fun. 

Red Door Cafe

I enjoyed having spring break be primarily a "stay cation" but adding a short camping trip. 

It was a terrific week.