Winter Wonderland

Well, if you're going to have sub-freezing temperatures, it's always best to have a white blanket of snow with the cold to make it pretty, right? We've had lots of cold temperatures this winter, and thankfully have had snow to go with it. Here's a pic of my mom, the girls and I sledding yesterday. We've also had some good cuddle time on the couch (currently in the middle of reading Charlotte's Web) for as long as I can convince my children to remain in my arms. They're growing up already... Wintery snowy joy to you all!

Go Cougs!

How about those Cougs?

We got to take in a second basketball game this season-- and have chosen the most exciting ones to attend! We got to see them defeat Gonzaga, and this last weekend we were there when they beat Arizona. The kids had so much fun... even after overtime and therefore past bedtime. Go Cougs!

(And for those concerned fellow Vandal Alums of mine... just know I generally wear Vandal gear underneath any Coug garment that happens to be on me so the most important team is closest to my heart! :)

My brother got married!

Well, it happened. The last of the 4 Sawyer siblings got hitched! We are so happy to welcome "already-adopted" Aunt Brittany into the fam. It was a great wedding celebration with lots of fun memories-- Flower girl Allison grinning with mom (after a period of not wanting her photo taken... arrgh...), the happy bride and groom, the Lenssens at the church, Sadie cuttin' a rug at the reception (jammies were easier to dance in than the flowergirl dress), and Angela with her sisters Julie and Suzanne (Ang and Julie were guestbook attendants, Suz was a bridesmaid). For more great photos of the wedding, follow the link on my page to Mark and Brit's blog. What a great celebration!

Blessed Holidays

What a nice holiday season! We got to spend a lot of quality time with our parents and siblings' families laughing, playing games, playing with kids, eating too much, remembering the past, and especially remembering the birth of Christ.

Enjoy the photos of Grant and his new Tonka truck, the entire Sawyer clan, Dwayne and his mom reading an emotional "remembrance" poem of his Dad, Allison posing with an ornament, Angela with Lyndsey and Shelle, and Sadie making lemonade on Christmas day.

Now we look forward to the year 2007 and what it may bring!

Christmas is Coming!

As we look back over the year of 2006, we think of many BLESSINGS.

Three happy, healthy, children bouncing around our big busy home in Pullman. What BLESSINGS.

Dwayne's job being stable and relationships with his "clients" growing... and my ability to still be at home full time. We're BLESSED.

The last visits we had with grandparents Martin and Lurline Jensen, and Dad Byron Lenssen. Before they went on to heaven we were BLESSED to spend some really good times with them this year on Easter and Labor Day Weekend.

BLESSED are the memories we made with family and friends this year. Many of these memories were caught on film... and we're so glad to have shared part of those via our blog this year! Keep visiting to see what we're up to in the future.

Blessings to you this CHRISTmas season. Happy Birthday to Jesus!

The Lenssens

(Photo notes: Allison decorating the annual gingerbread house... FUN! Grant and Dad "tree hunting", The three kids in the foot-deep snow while picking out our christmas tree (sadly, the snow is all gone now), and Sadie busy at two different Kids Choir performances-- one at the Downtown Pullman Tree Lighting, and one of her solo at her christmas program "Operation Christmas Child" at our church. )

October in Pullman

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Ecc. 3:1

What an October! So many changes, and not just the color of the leaves.

We got to spend Labor Day weekend with most of Dwayne's family at Ross Point Baptist Camp and Silverwood. What a fun weekend of time together making memories! And a blessing to have a last visit with Dwayne's dad, Byron. He passed away on Oct. 9 after battling cancer for a year and a half. We know he's in heaven and much better off, but we miss him so much already.

Both Sadie and Grant had birthdays this month... my kids are growing up!!! They've all been so sweet and cute in such different ways. I hope you enjoy the photos of them as they grow. Grant and Allison are playing "drums" with my pots and pans in the kitchen, Sadie is showing off her first tooth lost, and Sadie took a picture of me and my sisters Julie and Suzanne at Riverfront Park recently. And, like most one year olds, Grant really enjoyed his chocolate cake!

So, our experiences this month just call us to remind you all that life is short... enjoy the people in your life while you can and at every milestone you pass. People are precious. Blessings!

WOW! Summer is over...

We last left you with great anticipation for Aunt Suz and Uncle Jake's wedding on July 1-- what a fun family event! A blessed day! We just don't have many photos in digital format, so here's just one to give you an idea. If you're interested, I'll let you know what Suzanne's blog is so you can see more details.

After the "let down" of the wedding, we moved on to other summer activities. We had our house painted (No more peachy-beige!), went swimming a lot, went to/volunteered at Vacation Bible School, frequented our parks, visited family and friends in Lynden for the NW Washington Fair, "helped" my family with wheat harvest (Grant's first ride on the combine-- he was all grins), Angela worked for a month at Cartridge World in outside sales to help out friends who just opened the business, and geared back up for the start of school... KINDERGARTEN FOR SADIE! She's been at Sunnyside Elementary each morning for a week and a half now, and really enjoys her time in Mrs. Emerson's class there. So far, recess is her favorite. Imagine that.

Hope you all had as eventful and joyful a summer as we had! Keep in touch. I like to receive photos just as much as I like to send them!

Return again soon to hear about our Labor Day weekend vacation with Dwayne's family. It was a great time. I'm just waiting for my "old school" 35mm photos to be developed and put on disk so I can update the blog again... talk to you soon!

Late Spring= Early Summer on the Palouse

Since UI/WSU get out in May, it becomes SUMMER here early! We were busy with swim lessons and preschool graduation. Also, finally began to return to the parks in nice warm weather. The kids love it. For Memorial Day weekend, our highlight was welcoming AUNT SUZ home from Saipan! That also formally began the countdown to her wedding to Uncle Jake on July 1... photos from that celebration to come!

Grant is 6 months old!

What a handsome and sweet baby boy! Just turned 6 months old and is cuter than ever. Time is flying by, so I'm trying to cherish these days. He's such a blessing!

The Girls

Allison was sent to a "time out" on the stairs, and was so tired, fell asleep right there! Sadie LOVES to pick flowers, so recently had the opportunity to clean out Grandpa and Grandma's yard of dandelions, and got a whole bunch, for sure.


A few days ago, Allison asked where Dad was. I told her "At work". She said, "Oh, he's planting seeds for the Cowboys?" Interesting perception. Sadie is prepping for her preschool graduation ceremony where they're doing a skit. The skit is about a farmer who plants some wheat seeds-- one doesn't survive the heat of the sun, another is eaten by a bird, and yet another is choked by weeds. Each child has a part in the play drawn out of a hat, and guess what Sadie plays? She's the WEED. So ironic for the daughter of a Wilbur Ellis employee. :)

Easter in Lynden

We had so much fun in Lynden visiting family for Easter! The girls had fun wearing the fancy dresses Grandma Sue got for them and they loved the easter egg hunts with their cousins Austin, Travis and Holly!

Easter Eggs

Decorating eggs... and Allison dropped and cracked hers, obviously pretty bummed!

New swing set!

Well, in between raindrops and YES, SNOWFLAKES this morning (no, it's not an April Fools joke... we really had snow) Dwayne finished, with help from the girls, the swing set! Before it got too yucky outside they had a chance to try it out for a few minutes.

Y'all are invited to come and play with us!

Day to Day events

I know... my day to day events are so thrilling! My excitement of the week is that Grant is starting solid foods. Little stinker. I told him he couldn't grow up, and he's just not listening.

Sadie did a great picture today of her and Dwayne next to a John Deere tractor. She's such a sweet 5 year old!

Sadie with BUTCH THE COUG!!! 

Looking at bugs, etc. with magnifying glasses at the Family Fair recently 

Grant loves his big sisters (except when they put him in a doll bed)