Tillamook!!

 

We visited the cheese factory in Tillamook and bought some amazing CHEESE!! We also had ice cream and chocolate fudge, all made from the milk from local cows!! YUMMY!!!

Cleaning up!!

Sarah and her cousin decided they wanted to clean ALL the dishes from the play kitchen so they lined them all up on the slip & slide!!

 

 

 

More Waterslide Fun!!

 

 

 

 

Oregon Update....

I posted some pictures of our adventures here...I have a some pictures I took at the "coast" that I haven't downloaded yet. Maybe tomorrow?? Tomorrow we are venturing into downtown Portland to check out their Science Museum (the one thing all the kids agreed they would be sad if we didn't go do...) and then dinner at Tim's sister's house. Then we head for home, and work, and the last dog days of summer!!! For those of you who have followed my travels through becoming a teacher and had heard I was rejoicing because this is the first year I wouldn't have to move rooms?? Guess what?!?!?! Yes...indeed...I have to move rooms...again...sigh...I sure hope they don't expect me to do much more than pack seeing as I have a walking boot on my foot from two torn ligaments I got when I fell from a stage at WORK...ah, well, it wouldn't be my life if it wasn't unpredictable!!!

I'm off to bed, I have five little girls sleeping in the front room that I'm sure will be up with the sun!! (one last cousin sleep over!!)

Just Enough Grace

I got an email the today from a friend needing a title for her upcoming devotional book. It got me thinking. What do I think of, what comes to mind when I think of Heather? The thoughts and memories are numerous but what came to mind today is "Grace." Four children grace to be exact.

Let me explain.

As moms of many (we have eight kids between us) we get lots of comments, especially when we travel together...from the outburst emitted by a dear little old lady, "STOP THE BREEDING" to the sweet comment from the couple sitting next to us at lunch, "Your children are such a blessing, they are so well behaved!"

Far and away, however, the most common comment we get is "I don't know how you do it. I could never ___________." That blank gets filled in with many things. I could never homeschool. I could never teach. I could never get them all to piano and soccer and AWANA. I could never deal with four children.

I once heard Heather respond to that comment in a way that has never quite left me. She said it simply. God doesn't give us "fourth baby" grace until we have that fourth baby. Or fifth. Or sixth. God gives us the grace we need to deal with whatever our situation is at the moment.

God gives us just enough grace to deal with whatever it is we face right now, but yesterday we could never imagine being able to handle. He gives us just enough grace to deal with an alcoholic father, just enough grace to raise a special needs child, just enough grace to look cancer in the face, just enough grace to survive an unexpected job loss. Just enough.

God gives us just enough grace to remind us He is with us, always. He gives us just enough grace to let us never forget He is sovereign. He is good, all the time. He gives us just enough.

And that's enough.


Thanks, Heather, for being like a sister to me and for always being a light that points me in the right direction.

When did my babies GROW UP?!?!?

When Heather and I first met the girls were 2.5 years old. Toddling around, getting into things, getting underfoot. The boys were 1.5yr and 9 mo!! It seems like only yesterday. I can still picture in my head the day we sat in my living room while the girls played in the bedroom.

Then I BLINKED!!

This is what happened.

I know it happened, but WHEN did it happen??? More importantly, who gave them permission to grow so fast??

It sure wasn't me!!

 

 

 

 

The Princesses!!

 

 

 

Florida...Here we come!!!

We were blessed with being able to manage a trip to Florida (finally!!) to visit our best friends who moved there a little over a year ago!

Here are my weary travelers scarfing down a "Chick-fil-a" picnic in the airport in Atlanta. I was very glad we didn't have to brave the train and change terminals during our layover!!

 

The three little puppies snuggled up together...We got in at midnight on Wednesday, and when we put my two girls down H. was already asleep in her bed. When we went in sometime much later, her bed was made and she was on the floor next to them.

 

Here are the three princesses after their royal treatment at the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique!!

 

 

Here is the only group picture that we have so far...We are at Krispy Kreme somewhere down in tourist land near Disney...

 

The reason we don't have more group shots is because the boys are being less than cooperative about having their picture taken...

 

This little man is LOVIN' the "goduts" though...no worries there!!

 

 

Spring in Phoenix...

People who think that it is always brown and uninteresting in the desert have never been to Phoenix in the spring. Especially a spring after a particularly wet winter. The flowers are just beginning to come out, but the weather is beautiful and everything is GREEN!! Here are a few shots I got (I didn't realize there was a fingerprint on the lens until later so a few have a big smudge in the middle, but you can still see how pretty they are!!)

 

 

 

 

Not to be outdone....

The little girls got haircuts too, and they're going to be SO MUCH easier to take care of!! Especially my littlest bear!!

 

 

 

 

Where did she get the wavy hair??

 

Once again overheard at my house....

You know...I'm really beginning to wonder about my children's hygiene!! I trained them better than this, I SWEAR I did!!

Mom: Wow, you really need to brush your teeth when we get home, they're really dirty...

DD: I know...that's because I lost my toothbrush at my friend's house (the sleepover was TWO weeks ago!! EWWWWWWWW!!)

Mom: So you haven't brushed your teeth in two weeks?

DD: Well, I used my finger and toothpaste...

Mom: So, do you think if that happens again you could just let me know and I'll buy you a new toothbrush?

DD: Okay.


I'm so grossed out I can't even describe it!! I can't stand not brushing my teeth twice a day much less TWO WEEKS!!! Needless to say, I bought two toothbrushes at the store so we'd have a spare...

Just in case....

Non-stop laughter!!

Oh, if I could only bottle the energy!! I'd be rich!! I love the hair!! She's gonna be a star someday (and then maybe she will be able to afford a hairdresser!!)