A Short Visit

We had exactly 35.5 hours to visit family and friends in Lynden. 18 of those hours were spent sleeping.

That left NOT MUCH TIME to fit in all the people we really wanted to see! But we took a good stab at it. Here's some highlights!

BIRTHDAY PARTY for Holly! We had so much fun seeing a bunch of family at my niece's celebration. Beautiful weather contributed to a fantastic BBQ and active gathering in their beautiful back yard. The group watching the Mentos/Diet Coke experiment...


Happy birthday last week to sweet Kenzie-girl too!


Opening the gifts.


A rockin' game of volleyball with the kids' height badminton net!

We also got to visit Million Smiles Park with Brent and Teresa (thanks for joining us, guys) and a bit of time with the Schoutens too. The kids had so much fun playing with frogs and going on the slip and slide. Oh the joy!





We CAN'T WAIT to go back again soon!

Prayers for Sweet Pea

We are asking for your prayers.

Sweet Mya (Julie and Rob's daughter, Angela's niece) has been treated for a heart murmur since birth last August. Just when they thought that the murmur was correcting itself, they have found out that the condition has actually worsened a bit.

This will likely require open heart surgery. On a little girl who won't even be a year old.

We will all find out more in two weeks when they sedate her to get a detailed echo cardiogram. I'll post updates, but you can get the most details on the Tiegs family blog.

Put this sweet girl, her heart and her family on your prayer list!

Counting Down the Days

Only about 10 more days until we get to see Uncle Mark and Aunt Brittany! They're returning from Saipan and so we're going to celebrate and gather together in Seattle next weekend. The kids are so excited to see so many of their family members (including cousins).

We've been counting down with a paper chain. It's become significantly shorter... the end is in sight!See you soon M&B! Yippee!

Ribbons, naps and noodles.

Yep. Random. That's what I've got.

Updates on the "what's up" in the Lenssen household. And photos to go along with it.

S-BUG:

A couple of my favorite photos from the piano recital, and her with her AWANA ribbon for completing her Hiker book. Go, girl!

A-GATOR:

She was trying to fly-- on the swing with a blanket for a cape, sweet red curls flying through the air on a sunny day. I caught some good shots.
Then she discovered a new way to eat chicken noodle soup, and you get to "enjoy" it with her via our video footage.


G-MAN:

Still seems like he could use a nap some days, but then we change our minds when he's up later than we are on the night after a nap! This particular day I was helping the girls with their homework, and it was pleasantly (yet mysteriously) quiet on the boy front... couldn't find him anywhere... we all got shoes on to go on a neighborhood search when I happened to spy him under the church pew we have SOUND ASLEEP. Why did he pick to sleep there? Well, it's because he had sneaked a chocolate chip cookie and was hiding under the bench to eat it when he got too tired to come back out and play. SOOO funny.

And, he has this cute habit when he's pointing to something he cocks his head to the side and closes one eye to focus on his visual better. I tell ya, the boy is A-dorable.

So, there you have it. The current events list at our house. What's up with you?

Springtime Piano Recital

Once again, Sadie did a lovely job at her piano recital. She and 26 other students performed yesterday afternoon.

Since none of you got to see it live, I'm posting the video here for those who are interested. You'll have to press pause on my playlist at the side of my blog to avoid conflicting audio.

Thanks to Miss Christina, her teacher, for another year of fabulous teaching.
And Sadie, stop growing up!

A First for Allison

She lost her first tooth! She was so excited to experience this rite of passage to becoming a "big girl". #2 will follow soon!

Easter in Pullman

Better late than never, right? It feels like it was just yesterday anyway...

A few photos from our Easter holiday here on the Palouse:Sadie girl happy to show off the just-colored eggs.

Allison overjoyed with the kind of candy she found in an egg.

While prepping Easter dinner, I realized I hadn't heard from Grant in awhile... sure enough he and his chocolate bunny were sharing some quality time while hiding behind the couch.

A lovely enough day to walk barefoot outside... an Easter blessing!
He is risen indeed!

He is Risen!

We celebrate today the gift of grace that God gave to us through his son, Jesus. He endured death and was resurrected save us from our sin. May you know this and come to know HIM as your savior.

What a blessed day with family and friends!

Spring Break

To me, Spring Break tends to come at the wrong time of year. Being from a family in agriculture, my dad (and now my hubby) was always busy in the fields during our week off of school in March.

Since this year's weather has been "different" (a.k.a. "absolutely miserable"), we got an unexpected blessing from it. Snow on the ground = no workin' in the dirt! My dad and my husband were free to take time off.

We made the most of it and booked a night at a hotel (with a pool, of course) to spend some fun indoor time in Spokane. And, the other indoor dream for kids is always a visit to Chuck E Cheese's. The kids had a blast.






What are you doing for Spring Break?

Let's Get Together

Yeah, yeah, yeah... We'll have lots of fu-un! (Can anyone name the movie?)

Here's some photos from two weekends ago when our family was gathering for the birth of my beautiful new nephew, Trent Daniel Holling. It was so good to be together, and incredible to see our children spend time with one another.

2 Field Trips = 2 Much Fun

Thursday. A fieldtrip with the kindergarten class.

Friday. A fieldtrip with the second grade class.

First to the Post Office (and sadly, a bit of a yawner).

Then to the Art Gallery (great art, just coming from a little more liberal viewpoint than our family happens to see).

Both unique, and both fun in their own ways. I'm so glad I'm able to join my kids in their public school adventures!

Grandpa is a Softie

Any of you who know him will say that it's true.

He folded. Took my son to a "John Deere Days" event and when my son sat on the toy 4 wheeler and looked at Grandpa with his big brown eyes and said he wanted one... my dad folded. He bought it as an investment for all his Grandbabies coming to play at the farm.

So, my kiddos were the first to get and try it out. Needless to say, Grant was thrilled. Total perma-grin. Pretty darn cute, he is.

Back When...

For my family...

Interested in some photos of my mom at age 13 and my dad at age 20? And Grandpa and Grandpa Helm's engagement photo?

I've used some photos in some scrapbook pages that I made recently. You can find them HERE.

Here's a little glimpse of what you'll find!

That Balloon is Gonna Pop!

And I'm gonna be prepared.

Never mind that I'm on a team racing to get the balloon through our legs to the guy at the back of the line who is going to sit on it. They can pass the balloon for me. I don't really get this competitive stuff anyway. Isn't it all just for fun? Who needs winners? Or losers, for that matter. It just doesn't interest me in the least.

I'm here to have fun. And I AM having fun. But I'm also smart enough to know that when that balloon pops, it's going to be loud. And me? I'M gonna be ready.

-- Sadie, AWANA Sparks-A-Rama Team Member

6 Year Old in the House!!!

We have celebrated a week's worth of parties for a curly redhead here... several parties and lots of treats and gifts later, we've created some great memories. It's always fun to celebrate with Aunt Suz whose birthday is the same week.


For a little entertainment, Grandma accompanied Sadie on the keyboard as she practiced a new piano piece. Having family around is the best!

Sadie Jumps for Heart

Yesterday was the big day! Sadie participated in the Jump Rope for Heart, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Kids at her school spent three hours yesterday jumping rope-- talk about some serious calories burned!
The school's PE teacher is SOOOO fantastic... we all just love him. He made the kids really enjoy their time with a variety of games and activities. When it was done, some kids wanted to know if they could do it again today and tomorrow!
She got to have some fun physical activity time with her friends (this is Dami) and even raised $75 for the American Heart Association.

We're so proud of you Sadie! Great work.

Sabbath Rest

Ah, the restful pleasures a Sunday should have...

We put on jammies right after church, and stayed out of the rainy cold weather. My favorite part of the day was our family paper-crafting session... a joy of a scrappin' mom's heart! (Grant concentrates pretty hard with his mouth and tongue...)



I couldn't believe that I had all three kids interested in joining me with crafting. They all generally enjoy doing projects, but not usually at the same time or for an extended period of time. It was so fun to watch them cut (Sadie made some clever thank you cards), glue (note to self: the large bottle of elmers glue should not reach the hands of the three year old...), and glitter (Allison is the GlitzMaster!)with me today.

How was your day of rest?

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday. Two days after my birthday, and two days before valentines day.

Dad's 24th birthday party was interrupted by my Mom's need to head to the hospital to have me. For more than 30 years beyond that birthday party, he's shared his birthday celebrations with his oldest daughter. I've always loved having a birthday so close to my dad's.

And I love having Valentines day so close to today too. I am so thankful for how much my dad loves me and the rest of our family. We're so very lucky to have him! Watching him with my kids is the very best. His love for his grandchildren overflows... you can just watch it bubbling out of his heart. He adores them.

Happy Birthday, Dad. I love you!

A Poopy Promise

We held up our end of the deal. A deal made with our three year old.

The G-man finally pooped in the potty! And, for you parents who understand the overwhelming joy that poop can bring, you'll know that the bribes that got you there must be followed through.

Our promise: He got to ride the 4-wheeler at Grandpa's house if he'd go on the potty.

We all got some joy out of the situation. Hooray for poop!