The 2008 Blizzard

Last year at this time we had snow...enough of it to cancel the last week of school. We didn't know it at the time, but that snow would grow and grow and be here for three long weeks! It was fun at first. The kids were happy to have an extra week off of school, glad to be able to sled and make a snowfort. However, snow like that is only fun for a while. Then it turns into stress and worry and boredom. We haven't gotten any snow so far this year and we are just fine with that!



My Dad, Stratton and Jeff shoveling snow in front of our house. This scene happened several times over those three weeks.

We had a really great Thanksgiving this year! We shared it with the Dickey's...our neighbors and family here in Oregon. Let me tell you a little about them. Kevin is the oldest and he is a blast to be around. Lots of laughs! Stephanie is married to Kevin. She makes us laugh too! Kara comes next...she is 14 and my girls love to be around her. Oh, she is also Stratton's girlfriend...according to him. Bryce rounds out their famly. He is 11 and loves to play football. Him and Cas are in the same class at school and at church. Again, according to Stratton, Bryce is his big brother. Our families spend lots of time together and we are so thankful to have them as our friends.

For some reason, I didn't take a single picture of us together on Thanksgiving. Guess I was too busy cooking and then eating! On Friday morning we all packed up and headed out to Cannon Beach to spend the weekend. We stayed in a fantatic beach house, played on the beach, walked around Seaside, ate too much, watched Boise State and then Arizona play football, stayed up late playing games and enjoyed the opportunity to relax a little bit. Here are some of the great photos from the weekend.

Cannon Beach




Us hanging out on the beach...it was a little chilly. Ok, it was a lot chilly but fun to be there.

Presley spent a lot of time combing the beach for shells.

Cas and I spent time taking pictures.

Stratton had fun exploring and digging to China with a huge branch.

He never made it to China.

We spent a while in a fun hat shop in Seaside. The kids (and the adults) had a good time trying on all the different types of hats. Here are the two Captains.

Jeff looks like he should be living in the back woods somewhere!

Cas, Kara and Presley with one of many hats they wore that night.

This is a marble board. Kevin and Stephanie introduced us to this game and now we are addicted. We play it with them a lot. Kevin and Jeff are a team and Stephanie and I are a team. I would like to go on the record and just let everyone know that the girls win over the boys most of the time. We also played a card game over the weekend at the beach and the girls won all three rounds...not to brag or anything! :)

We had our first experience at the Pic'n Pancake while in Cannon Beach. It is a breakfast place that didn't disappoint. The name isn't too appealing but the food was good!

Overall, we had a great time. It's nice to be able to spend some time together as a family, reconnect, relax and recharge!

Halloween 2009

Halloween turned out good this year. No rain, wasn't freezing cold...all good things. The kids had fun and now have their candy stashes replenished. However, I was very disappointed in the lack of Twix candybars in their bags. (Those are my favorites!)

Stratton was a Storm Trooper

Presley was a witch

And Cas was a Vampire.

Soccer, soccer, soccer

Soccer season 2009 is coming to a close so I had better post a few pictures! Stratton played for the first time this year and had a lot of fun. I helped to coach his team which turned out to be better then I thought it would be. Jeff also helped to coach Presley's team so our Saturday's have been full of games.

(Glad that the end is near!)

Stratton's age playes 3-on-3 games...they are really fun to watch!

Presley has moved on up to the bigger fields and bigger goals.

She loves to play defence and does a super great job!

It's about time!

We've waited and waited and finally it happenend! Ryan, Misty, BrookeLyn, Ryson and Kenadi made the treck up to Oregon to visit us. We spent four full days enjoying having them here. The kids played, played, giggled, played a little more and had a ton of fun. Thanks for coming and let's not wait another four years! :) We love you guys.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

A trip on the train and a trip to the park

Jeff's mom recently came for a visit and promised Stratton that while she was here we would go and take a ride on The MAX. The MAX is Portland's lightrail train and it recently extended it's track so now we are much closer to a station. That proximity only made Stratton that much more excited to take a ride. So, off we went. From Clackamas Station to Union Station downtown. It was fun to try something new and expose the kids to a piece of society that we don't see too often.

Stratton was captivated while riding the train. A million questions and lots of pretending happened on this trip.

Portland has water fountains all over the down town area called Benson Bubblers. They are nice when you need a drink but I wish that they bubbled just a little bit higher!

Yep, all four needed a try!

This was where we ended up...Union Station which opened in 1896. It is a very neat train station which Amtrak uses. That's a whole other conversation that Stratton needed to have.

Switching gears a little bit. We headed to the park earlier this week because it was so gorgeous outside. There is a crispness in the air and Fall is certainly here. I love the change of colors, the feel in the air and the sun! I have to soak it up while it lasts because one thing that I know for sure is that it certainly won't last long!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Let the craziness begin.

Cas, Presley and Stratton heading out the door to start another school year. It is an early start to the day this year. We went from starting at 8:45 to 7:45...that is too early! We have had to do some serious adjusting to our summer sleep schedule.

When I asked Presley to stand alone so that I could get a picture of just her, this is what I got. She told me that she likes to pose like this because she looks really cute. I can't argue! (This will be a great picture to use someday to embarrass her!)

A more reserved picture of Presley in her 3rd grade classroom!

Jeff and Stratton at the beginning of Kindergarten. I am in denial that my youngest is now in Kindergarten. He was so excited and didn't even blink an eye at staying at his new school without me. On the other hand, my heart broke just a little bit as I walked out of that classroom.

Friday, September 4, 2009

The end is near.

Jeff works in Tualatin which is about 35 minutes away from where we live. We decided this week that since the weather has been nice, the summer is almost over and there is a fun park close to Jeff's work, we would take a picnic and meet up with him for lunch. The kids had a great time climbing on this huge rope contraption, running around and being able to see their Dad in the middle of the day!

Stratton really loves this park because it has train signs all around it. What more could a boy ask for?

This picture is actually in our back yard. The kids thought that it would be fun to get all three of them on the swing at once. Poor Presley was on the bottom and didn't enjoy staying there for very long. Just long enough to take a picture!

Once a summer we find a Tuesday that is open, grab the neighbors and head to Oaks Park. Oaks Park is a small amusement park that sits next to the Willamette River and the kids love it. (I am good for a few hours once a summer and that's it!) We spend the afternoon watching the kids ride the spinny, upside-down, make you sick rides, eat corndogs and cotton candy, watch a thousand strange people walk by and then call it a day. Pure summer fun!!

Bryce and Stratton on the Scrambler. It was nice this year because I didn't have to go on a single ride with the Stratt-man. He is big enough now that

I can send him along with the older kids and just sit back and watch them all get sick!

* Cas and Kara *

(Yes, this is was taken in August and the girls have on hoodies. Remember...we live in Oregon!)

Ahhh, Presley and Stratton waiting in line together.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Hold on Summer...we're not done yet!

The kids and I made it back from Arizona and brought my mom with us. When we got home, Jeff started two weeks of mandatory vacation. We slipped away for a night at the Scamania Lodge. It was so gorgeous there and it was nice to spend some time together.

We couldn't spend a sunny day at home, so we headed back to Rock Away beach near Tillamook. It was a great day to be at the beach. The sun was out...mostly out...and the kids had a blast playing in the water.

Stratton running away from the freezing water.

Learning to fly the kite.

Presley and Cas having fun together.

The sand head the Presley created.

Stratton giving us a front row pass to the gun show!

Cas hearts the beach!

We also went hiking at Eagle Fern Park. It was gorgeous and only

about 35 minutes from our front door.

We had a picnic, went hiking and played in the creek.

Stratton was very proud to show me where he had "marked his territory"

along the trail that we were hiking. Such a boy!

We're not ready for summer to end. It's been a fun one!

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