PLAY

Play 

I love when we can be home and they can JUST PLAY.

It has REALLY warmed up here today. It is a wet mess playland outside! 

Today has been one of those great days of play. 

Princess dresses, princess shoes, horses and horse trailers... the good stuff.

Drinking coffee, keeping up on the laundry (almost) and listening to music... and watching these sweethearts loving one another and playing. These are the days.

Oren in the bath... a little update

Last week we had a S*No*W Day which made for a fun long weekend! 
We needed it, Thursday night was spent doing lots of homework with the boys and everyone was a little burnt out. A snow day, sledding, hanging out together and lunch from Woody's on Friday was just what this group needed! 
Saturday we took off for Wenatchee for a basketball tournament. It was fun. Papa Stan, Gramma Adie, Abby and Luke joined our group too. It was a good weekend! 
Today has been productive. I finished two assignments for the Ed class I am taking. The instructor is helpful and is allowing me to really make this course fit this stage of my life. I don't have to be in the classroom to complete it, I can do a lot of the work with my kids. The course is called Healthy Body. There are great poems, charts, graphing assignments and literature through this course. I am able to focus more on healthy eating and this has been rewarding. We're making more smoothies, eating lots more spinach and introducing some new vegetables. I sneak zucchini in brownies and have found lots of uses for flax. :) The course introduced me to some "five senses" and healthy body songs and poems that I am doing with Hazel and Oren. It has been a good learning experience. Finding the time to do it - things like typing up papers -  proves to be challenging, but it is working out.

Look at this cutie in the bath! 

I love this tub.

I especially love a baby in this tub. :) 

Time flies

Time FLIES! 

It really goes quickly!

Every now and then I take a few minutes to look at old pics...

I can't believe Oren is 8 months old already. 

He is so happy and cute! Reminds me of both of his big bros. :) 

Dogs grow quickly too :) 

This Nellie is a keeper.

Legoland! A little version of Willem, Lane and Vance! 

I love this one.

Vance, Rudy and Willem

These two are developing quite the friendship... it started early on. 

Oren, newborn, in the hospital. Little face, big binkie, sweetheart! He hasn't lost the chubby cheeks.

I am so thankful to be a stay at home mom. This time is going by quickly and I am thankful I get to soak it up! Thanking God for these blessings...

GO SEAHAWKS!!

Kai, Lane and Merit! 

With Seahawk sweatshirts from Uncle Matt and Uncle Phil

Oh! Vance and Merit are two of the biggest Seahawks fans I know!

They have been supporting them from day one and would LOVE to see a SuperBowl win! :) 

Willem is now taking more of an interest in football too... so today is going to be fun! 

In Seattle before a big game! 

The boys insisted on helping Hazel become a hawks fan at a very young age. ;)

Go Seahawks!

Grandma Dorothy

Heaven now has a little more laughter and love. A fashionable, wise, wonderful person entered those

gates Sunday evening. She was welcomed by her parents, several siblings, husband, daughter in law, great grandson... The reunion must be wonderful! 

My grandma Dorothy was smart, witty and had a great sense of humor. 

She was a character.

She was someone who really loved her FAMILY. 

She invested LOTS of time in her family. 

Grandma Dorothy and her great grandchildren! 

This was taken at Berthusen Park, celebrating her 90th birthday.

I remember when Grandma Dorothy held Merit for the first time! 

The day Merit was born, Grandma Dorothy became a great grandmother and then in the years to come, MANY more great grandchildren were born. 

January has been exhausting. Lesha's difibrillator procedure that had to be repeated was heavy. 

A tiring time, especially for Lesha. Saying lots of heart prayers... Lesha is brave and a trooper! 

She is doing lots better now.

Grandma Dorothy went to the hospital last week. She was surrounded by family. 

Natasha and I are the only grandchildren that don't live in or close to Lynden. So, Grandma has all six of her children there, sons in law and daughters in law, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed her family so much and was always surrounded by them.

Today...
I am looking through some old pictures. Remembering Grandma Dorothy. I am soaking up these wee ones and the washer and dryer are going non stop.
Later today we will celebrate Willem's birthday in his classroom. He requested Dominoes! Carrying several pizzas, juice boxes, Oren and getting Hazel into the classroom should be entertaining.
On Sesame Street this morning, the letter of the day was the letter O. This was rather exciting, because of Oren Paul. ;) Hazel sang along with some of the tunes with her microphone, a bulb syringe, in a hand me down outfit from Maddie which is great because they are cute but even more importantly they are from MADDIE.

We went to a basketball tournament for Merit in Wenatchee over the weekend. It was fun! I love watching Merit play. He is competitive and works so hard. Willem loves hanging with Merit's friends and Willem and Hazel had buddies to run around with and visit with during all of the games. Oren is a pretty cute fan.

There is a lot of good, even on the heavy days. And soaking up the small stuff, well, that is what I love to do.

Happy Birthday Willem

Seriously cute.

Such a sweetheart.

Love for life. 

A JOY!

The boy who loves an Alaska adventure, camping or any outdoor fun...

Happy Birthday Willem Vance!!

Adventure Seeker, kind hearted, sweet boy!!

We love you so much! 

A bitter sweet day today. We love celebrating Willem, but last night my Grandma Dorothy passed away.

Heaven is now her home. 

She lived a long, great life. 

She always had family near her and was so good to her family.

She was a character and will be greatly missed. 

Death is never easy

But I am very thankful Grandma Dorothy lived a long, full life.

A little update...

Whew. I am kind of behind on a lot of things.

Time to make some lists and cross some things off I guess.

Lesha is recovering. She has very limited use of her left arm. I hope and pray that her recovery goes great and that she has a good appt. on Friday. Last week was heavy. 

I would love a weekend with my brothers and sisters. We are kind of spread out and all pretty busy. This summer we'll make it happen. 

I sure enjoyed this morning! Celebrating a friend who turned 40 today! Good, nourishing conversation, a great play date for Hazel and snuggles for Oren. Ohhhhh and GREAT food! 

This Guy.

I am so in love. 

We all are! 

A frosty morning walk feels good

My walking partner, Nellie, is pretty sweet and always up for an adventure.

I have to keep moving. Exercise seems good for my mood and my brain. 

Oren's babble is also good therapy. 

Tonight the kids and I are just hanging out. It feels good. Pizza, a movie, cheese its, a little reading... :)