Thankful.

So, we got to enjoy Thanksgiving in Lynden! It was so fun to hang out with cousins and have a grand time there.

I think the highlight of the trip was the chance to go rollerskating-- a first for my three kids. It's just as fun as I remember!

We also spent a night in Lynnwood w/ the Tiegs family which was a blast, too. We got to babysit little Kylie while Mya got a date night with mom and dad. We had a great time!

Halloween

And, an obligitory photo from everyone's* favorite holiday. Sadie is Velma from Scooby Doo, Allison is Frankie Stein (Frankenstine's daughter), and Grant is IronMan. Uh huh.

*It's actually one of my least favorite. But it's so commercilized that my kids would totally miss the chance to dress up and eat lots of candy. So, here's the obligitory photo. Mostly because my kids are so cute. There's an awful lot of things I'm willing to do for these three angels.

Birthdays!

October is birthday month. Two-thirds of our kids were born in October. Here's some photos of their celebrations for 11 years and 6 years!

Men At Work

We had road construction on our street this summer. It started on April 11 when the crumbling pavement heaved and showed signs of a broken pipe. We called the city and they posted 4 construction cones around the area.

As we found out, they were in no hurry to get the work done. But because my son was fully entertained by any construction activity on our street, I didn't complain. Street workers were my son's source of summer "fun".

We took photos as events progressed, and Grant loved every minute of it. The last of the equipment and construction workers left our street on October 20... more than 6 months from when they started. :)

The day the road was completed, the kids celebrated by riding their bikes and scooters on the smooth pavement. I was just happy to drive on an unobstructed street-- and was thankful for the hours of time my son enjoyed watching.

My little entrepreneurs.

My kids are inventive. Check out their ideas for "stores" to have at home at the end of summer:

 Allison took her business the furthest... she set up shop and served anyone who was willing to get decorated! :)

 Just her luck-- the Davis girls stopped by and were happy to be her customers!

Sweet L. looked even more lovely after Allison's work!

Time Marches On.

First, a pic from one of the first months we lived in Pullman.

One of the first of countless visits to Sunnyside park for a picnic.

I remember the feelings I had during that time. A bit unknown. A bit lonely. What was this new life in Pullman going to be? Will this season in life with preschool/toddler girls stay the same day in and day out? How will we find ways to connect with new people and build friendships???

 And now, a recent photo from this September. Over 7 years later.

A picnic in the same spot at Sunnyside. Add in one crazy boy and two girls who have grown to be lovely young ladies.
And such a different season in life. This was our last picnic in my season of being a stay at home mom. I was feeling emotional that day.
Thankful.
Reminiscent.
Amazed at how fast it changed. When I wondered if it ever would change.

That span between the first photo and the second photo was a tremendously revealing time for me. God was (and is still) so very faithful. And even when I didn't want to admit that God's plan was best, I can finally admit He was right.
Thanks be to God!

Kylie Genevieve is born!!!

Shortly after school started, the arrival of a new cousin gave us a reason to celebrate! Sweet Mya (who many of you prayed for a couple years back-- she's doing great!) now has a baby sister, Kylie!

Rather than travelling to the west side to visit her, my sister and family made the trip over to see us. The late harvest was a draw for their chance to let Mya enjoy her first wheat harvest.

I also got the chance to take some photos of Kylie. She was just old enough to be a little squirly (not within the first 10 days of "sleeping through anything"), but we got a few good shots!

It was so great to have family together and celebrate a new baby!

First Day of School!

Wow. I'm really behind. :) Hope you enjoy events from months past anyway... (I promised I'd post for you, Sue!!! :)

This is our most "centralized" year. All three kids go to the same school each morning. This will be the one and only year in our 3 kid educational careers where they'll all be together. Sunnyside is the place to be!

We started a fun tradition that the kids hold up the number of fingers to represent what grade they are in on the first day of school. Don't they all look adorable?

Grant's first day of kindergarten, and Sadie's first day of her last elementary school year! Boo hoo! Good thing Mom had a job to go to so that I didn't have time to feel sad.