It's already over! The exciting family wedding has come and gone, and now we have the happy newlyweds living in town here. Here's some photos from the October event that we shared with Dan, Shelle, and all the other Lenssens.
Dwayne was a groomsman (and oh, a HANDSOME one at that, I may add...), I sang my favorite hymn "The Love of God" during the ceremony, Sadie was a gift-taker, Allison was a flowergirl (nope... she didn't make it down the aisle... just as was anticipated...), and Grant was the token child who didn't want to cooperate during photo time (we will "treasure" memories of his cinnamon toast crunch flying everywhere...). All of us had important, traditional roles to play.
The most important part-- Dan and Shelle got hitched! It was a blessed day and we look forward to sharing in their new lives together here in Pullman.
So today I was confused by my 2 year old's pronunciation of a word... is it "Jesus" or "Chainsaw"? We talk about Jesus and read bible stories, and my son thinks Daddy's chainsaw is just the coolest.
I know he's used both words in his new, ever-expanding vocabulary, I just sometimes get the two confused. I'm not crazy-- but I am the mom who's supposed to be able to interpret toddler-language.
So, in the car today with Grant and Allison, I decided that maybe the two could go together. "Maybe Jesus needed a chainsaw... then he could have cut down that cross they put him on..." (I know... it's a strech...)
And my sweet 4-year old's response: "No, Mom! If He cut down His cross, we would still have all our sin!!!"
What an insightful little one, huh? It made me thankful that Jesus didn't have a chainsaw.
I have a two year old. And I know that every day I hear him say things that I tell myself I've gotta remember. But do I write them down? Seldom. I'm changing that right now-- via my blog! Journaling... that's what it's for, WRITE?
At our "traditional" Sunday night dinner tonight, I served up the typical and simple snacks of a yogurt smoothie and our family version of nachos-- chips with cheese, sour cream and salsa. Simple. Easy. Pleasing. Perfect for a Sunday evening.
But the best part of our Sunday night dinner is the way my son says it:
Moosie and Chachos.
Also enjoy the photo of him as a contortionist... silly boy!
October comes with some really fun traditions. As a scrapbooker, it's a little hard to make each year differentiate from the last. But when I think about how much my kids LOVE tradition (like posing for a jack-o-lantern photo making the same face that their pumpkin has), I realize it's just perfect do the same things over and over again. So, here's to tradition... only the beginning of a long exhausting but FUN season of it... and may you all find new and old traditions through your holiday season too. (And it's okay if it's the same thing you did last year.:)
The day has arrived! Any crazy scrapbookers out there will understand my excitement when a package from a scrapbooking celebrity showed up on my porch! CK's Scrapbooker of the Year Elizabeth Kartchner generously offered some free goodies via a contest on her blog and I happened to be the lucky winner. I've patiently waited, and was overjoyed to see the box at my doorstep. And, since I know some of you are wondering what came, I have a photo of the loot that I can't wait to play with. Thanks, Elizabeth... you'll never know how much joy this brought to me!
Glorious Day... part two! I was able to hang out with some of my fellow praise band members from my church last night at a David Crowder Band concert. That band can rock! And wow, are they crazy lookin'! ANYWAY... I had to include a video taken at one of his concerts (not the one I was at, but he did the same gig) to show my brother how David Crowder used a modified "Guitar Hero" game controller to play one of his songs. Pure entertainment from some guys who have great, genuine hearts for God. Enjoy!
"It's raining, it's pouring... the old man is snoring..."
The number of days it's rained here since May can be counted on one hand. As much as we've enjoyed the sun and warmth, we welcome the refreshing rain that's falling today. Our land is so thirsty! And to enjoy the beauty that comes in small droplets of water...
"Let tHem praiSe the LORD for HIs great loVe and for all his wONderFul deEds to theM. For HE saTifiEs the THirsty and filLs the hUngRy with gOod thiNgS." -- Psalms 107: 8-9
And the reference to "the old man is snoring"-- it actually applies! Dwayne went steelhead fishing last night and the photo of his catch was taken at 2 a.m. this morning. So, fish for dinner, then we're off to snooze!
The local aquatic center's last day was labor day, so we convinced Grandpa, Grandma and Dad to join us for a play day. (If any of you know my dad and husband, you'll be as amazed as I was to see them playing in water!!!) It was great weather on our last summer water play day.
The following weekend I got to enjoy my annual scrapbooking weekend--so relaxing (no cooking!) and productive (I did 40+ scrapbook pages!!!) It's one of my favorite weekends of the year-- and is crazy fun w/ all those scrappy women!
And we ushered in the football season by attending the last official Vandal vs. Coug Battle of the Palouse. I'm sad that we won't get to have this freindly rivalry each year anymore, but we did enjoy the game and the comments about our "blended" Vandal/Coug family! (We won't mention the final score...)
And equal air time to Allison who started preschool at Footprints a week after public school started. She was so excited to go do craft projects with friends and I was so glad to see the new preschool open its doors. Joyous day!
Wow! Sadie's in first grade already! We got to meet her teacher Mrs. Thompson (who is on maternity leave for the first 8 weeks of school) and her substitute, Mrs. Boone. And she found common ground right away with her sub teacher--Mrs. Boone's first name is SADIE!
I had a harder time w/ Sadie away all day than I expected. I guess it's the next of many steps toward independence for my kiddos. Snif, snif.
We had a great time visiting friends and family in Lynden... and I wanted to share a couple photos from our week long visit/vacation. You'll see kids at the NW Washington Fair, at the Million Smiles Park with their cousins, and eating watermelon at Boulevard Park in Bellingham. What fun!
Mac Powell, lead singer of rockin' christian band THIRD DAY flashed a big cheesy smile for me at the NW Washington fair concert on Thurs., Aug. 16. Couldn't help but share it... pretty CHEESY! Great concert--I've been so blessed by their ministry.
"Waaahhh!!!" (Not a child crying... this time it was MOM.)
Bad day yesterday... involving my sweet son Grant, a red Sharpie marker and my furniture...
Yep. Mom was gone for 5 minutes (blowdrying my hair and rushing through the chore because of the hot weather... ugh) and Grant chose that time to work on his art skills.
Should I just be thankful he chose my accent color of red?
He didn't just throw together a little something. It was a PICASSO. And big. Starting from the kitchen "junk drawer" where he discovered the marker (hint: all of you check your drawers NOW and move those markers!) He began decorating the kitchen cabinets countertop and refrigerator... then all around the kitchen island to the living room wall... over to the coffee tables... mom's favorite chair... the antique chest... window sill and curtains... couch... dining chair... sofa table... antique bible...
And then mom discovered him.
And it was ugly.
Thanks be to God that my tendancies for anger didn't erupt, but tears did flow. Long and hard. After hugging my kids because they cried with me and assuring them it was just STUFF, I called my dear husband who had the presence of mind and sense of humor to say "take pictures for the scrapbook".
So, enjoy. I guess. And learn from my mistakes. And love your kids. Even when you're inches away from locking them into a small room for life.
(P.S. Thanks to the great products Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and Oxy-Clean, my home is restored to a faint shade of Sharpie Red.)
It's official! There's a ROCK! (And a beautiful one at that!) Uncle Dan proposed to Shelle last night on Kamiak Butte-- so we're getting used to the idea of having an "Aunt Shelle" now.
We're so happy for Dan and Shelle-- after all, we met Shelle at our church here in Pullman and introduced her to Dan over a year ago. Now she'll be family!
They'll be apart now for awhile before the wedding (although the 400 miles separating them have been travelled frequently!) so it inspired me to make a scrapbook page for them. We did some engagement photos in the wheat this morning and then they said their goodbyes. This layout is for you, Shelle!
This was the big event for our summer-- visiting the Oregon Coast! We packed our stuff and headed over to Lincoln City for an extra long weekend.
We were blessed with great weather (I never knew a person could get nice enough weather to wear swimsuits on the beach at the Oregon coast!) while at home in Pullman the mercury rose to over 100 for our time away.
Three nights were spent at the Sea Gypsy in Lincoln City, and a half day at Tillamook for the cheese factory and Cape Meares lighthouse... then East to Multnomah Falls and the Bonneville Fish Hatchery, and an overnight stay at the Dalles before heading home yesterday.
Here were our favorite events: Sadie loved being buried in the sand, Allison loved finding shells, Grant could have shoveled sand all day, Angela liked shopping at the outlets, and Dwayne really enjoyed just having free time with all of us.
Uncle Dave reminded me that past beaches have produced messages in the sand... we had nothing to share this time around! Guess we'll have to go back again and get a message saying "We're Done!"
I have 188 photos that I really like, but have reluctantly narrowed them down to share a few with you.
If you had 6 extra hours each day, what would you do with it??? I know I'd spend a portion (or likely all) of it SCRAPBOOKING! And with my recent discoveries of various digital techniques, I'm ready for hours of fun at the computer. Here's a sample of what I've been playing with... enjoy! (And for anyone interested, visit ScrapGirls.com for some great info on digital scrapbooking!)
What a great weekend! Thanks to the Holling family who let us enjoy their lakefront property and boat!
We spent the weekend with Grandpa and Grandma Sawyer, Aunt Julie and Uncle Rob, and Aunt Suz and Uncle Jake. (Missed you Uncle Mark and Aunt Brittany! We'll have to go again with YOU!)
Playing in the sand, eating smores, horseshoes, water skiing, fishing (including Sadie's first fish)... what could be better! We're up for another trip there anytime.
Uhhh... saw these signs on the front of the Palouse Empire "Mall" in MOSCOW, ID... really? We're getting real stores to shop at??? Seriously?!?
Those of us who live here are giddy with excitement... and only those of you who have lived in the Moscow/Pullman area would understand. :) Here, it's news to write home about!
Now I've got another good reason for you to come visit us-- we can go shopping!
I don't. Well, at least not in this state of being... peaceful, quiet, still...
His face is familiar-- he's often identified as a "mini-me" of his daddy. Also resembles me a bit... mostly at times like this when he's peaceful, quiet and still... (heh, heh, heh)
19 months old is a BUSY age. And he's a boy. Those of you who have experienced this know. (Or, if you're my friend Becky you know 3 identical times over!!! How DO you do it????) And those who haven't experienced it, but may someday... fair warning! You laugh a lot, but get exasperated a lot too. Just in the last 24 hours, Grant has:
pulled a full coffee cup from the counter onto the carpet and his shoes
explored the science of floating objects in the toilet (from pinecones to plastic food)
pushed his toy lawnmower across the street (unsupervised)
applied chapstick to his forehead and partially eaten the remaining portion
turned living room furniture upside down and arranged on a different side of the room
driven his hot wheels bike through three rooms of the house (including navigating stairs) and crash landed in the living room
dumped sand over his and his sisters' heads
while naked preparing for the bath (after the sand incident) I heard his sister yell "Who pooped on the carpet?!?"
precariously tipped a framed photo on the wall
dumped a bowl of mandarin oranges on the floor and fingerpainted with the juice
pushed his lawnmower across the street (unsupervised) AGAIN
thrown laundry over the banister
turned all electric viewing devices on.. and off... and on... and off... then on again
You get the gist. And I'm not complaining--I love being a mom. I never know what's coming next! I don't recognize him sleeping because when he's asleep, SO AM I!!! I crash... as hard as he does.
I did find a video that more accurately depicts my son's personality:
After my restful night (he sleeps WELL), I awoke this morning to my 4 year old Allison yelling... "MAAAAWMMMM!!! Grant is in TRUUUUBULLLL!" In my half asleep state I have enough sanity to know the potential disaster behind the situation... "What is it, Allison?" I frantically reply.
She shakes her head..."This time it's REALLY bad."
We had a nice Mothers Day... my mom wanted to use my children to plant her garden (anyone up on the most recent child labor laws???). As you can see in the pictures, the kids love it. They each have green thumbs and a little "farmer" at heart. (ummm... except me... what happened???)
I'm sure that if you're a parent you have laughed as you watch your child try to get a tight shirt over their head and the way it contorts their face... I finally caught it on video so in later years I can look back and laugh...
This one has me laughing till I cry already! Hope you enjoy it too. Simple things!
Great news! Our church voted today to implement a new faith-based preschool in our church. What a great ministry for our community.
I've been involved in the planning and promotion-- came up with the name and logo and am now on to PR, website, etc. It's so fun to be using my skills in christian service.
So, if you know any 3-5 year old kids who would like to attend an evangelical christian preschool in Pullman, give me a shout!
It's already over! The exciting family wedding has come and gone, and now we have the happy newlyweds living in town here. Here's some photos from the October event that we shared with Dan, Shelle, and all the other Lenssens.
