It's been a crazy busy month!

The month of June has just flone by! It has been a very busy month for us. Here is just a quick peek into what we've been doing!

Stratton graduated from New Hope preschool. He was the only kid out of about 50 that walked in without his graduation cap on. When I asked him after the program why he chose not to wear his cap he told me that he didn't want to because it would mess up his hair. Can't argue with that! I did convince him to put it on for just a minute so I could take a picture. Done with preschool...bring on kindergarten!

Cas and Presley finished up their school year also. They both had really good teachers and classes this year. It was tough to say good-bye. Presley came home from school on the last day in tears because she didn't want it to be over. Cas wasn't in tears, but she'll miss her class also. However, as you can see from the picture above, they have been able to move on and are enjoying the summer!

Stratton had a birthday...shout hooray! He was so excited to turn FIVE! All he wanted for his birthday was a Nintendo DS like his sisters. It was a good day for him. DS, gift cards, money and an Oreo ice cream cake. Not too bad.

We love this kid! He is growing up way too fast.

This month I had a birthday too...plus Jeff and I celebrated our 13th anniversary. It has been a good month full of endings, beginnings and lots of cake! :)

Shave and a haircut...two bits!

A few days ago Stratton went to the dentist for a check-up and chose this fake mustache as his "prize". I tried to convince him to get a bouncy ball or a sticky hand, but he was not going to change his mind. It was a mustache that he wanted. He would put it on and take it off and then tell us that he had shaved! That mustache went on and off and on and off until all of the stickiness disappeared. Once that happened, he decided to through it away and was very sad. That gray mustache was sure fun while it lasted!

A few weeks ago Presley started thinking that she may want to cut her hair. She has had long hair forever. She thought about it and thought about it and finally decided to make the big move.

Before...

Getting ready...

Lookin' a bit nervous...

But it turned out very cute!

2009 Piano Recital

It's that time of the year...the time when we get to go listen to the girls play in their two hour long piano recital. I love listening to my kids, but it just gets soooo long listening to everyone else! However, Cascia and Presley did a wonderful job on their pieces this year. Presley has only been taking lessons since September and has learned so much. She loves being able to play the piano and sing at the same time. This was Cascia's fifth year of lessons and she was challenged this year by participating in the Oregon State Syllabus program. She had to test in front of a judge which was a new experience for her. I am so glad that both Cas and Presley enjoy playing the piano. It fills our home with music which is really nice!

Blue Bombers on three...

This was Presley's first year playing "competitive" volleyball and also my first year being her coach. She did a great job this season and improved a lot. It was so much fun spending time with her and also being able to help the girls learn the game a little bit better. Go Blue Bombers!

Bring on the Sun!

The weather here in Oregon has been unseasonably warm and sunny...knock on wood. The Memorial Day weekend was no exception so we headed outside to soak up some rays, enjoy the scenery and spend some time together! We took the kids hiking about 45 minutes away from our house. We found this trail by accident a couple of years ago and we are so glad that we did because it is simply gorgeous. It runs along the Roaring River and isn't an easy trail to hike but the kids loved it and did a fantastic job navigating up, over and around.

It isn't always a treat to live in Oregon, but when we are able to get out and enjoy scenery like this then we realize what a gorgeous place we live in.

If there is water and rocks, Stratton will find both and have a ton of fun seeing how big he can make the splash!


Cas decided that Jeff and I needed a picture taken, too!

Stratton and Presley striking a pose

Three of the cutiest kids around!