Happy Birthday to Jen........

We just saw her this last weekend and it made me think of how much I am missing her and her boy. Jen was the first one of Justin's sisters I met and she immediately made me feel at ease and welcomed. Her sense of humor helps out a lot I think but she is just so fun and easy going that it's really hard for her to not like people. I wish I had that trait. ;) So even if she didn't like me in the beginning I sure didn't know it. Here are a few things about Jen that I love:She is always quoting a movie to go along with the occasion....of course making everyone laugh in the process.She always had a good candy stash in her huge purse......all of the kids know where to look to find it.

• She is a wonderful aunt to her nieces, from the beginning she has spoiled them all rotten.
• She buys the cutest outfits for the girls. (and Jackson)
• She does fabulous hair!!!! Thanks Jen.
• She has the cutest earring collection.
• She is one of the funniest people I know.
• She is a very family oriented person and loves to always include everyone.
• She loves good food and likes to make fun new dishes.
• She is a very dedicated wife.
• She is a wonderful Mom.
• She is extremely intelligent.
• She loves to read and goes through books like crazy.
• She has been the one in the family to keep up with all of the medical "stuff" that is going on and keeps us all informed, I don't think she knows what a blessing that has been.
• She loves to do fun things.....the kids love that she is the "fun" aunt that always buys tokens for the video games. :)
• She is a very hard worker.
• She is very caring and sympethetic.
• She hates her food to touch on her plate, and has a particular way to eat things......hmmmm

I really could go on and on about her fun little quirks but I think those who know her know that she is a wonderful person that we are so lucky to have. Thank you Jen for being one of my very best friends, you are a huge part of my life and I love you so much. It's been amazing to watch you with Jackson and see what a wonderful Mom you are. I hope you had a special day, it was fun to be able to spend it with you. :)

Kindergarten orientation

Here is my little kindergartner. She seemed so little in that big school next to all of those big kids. I can't believe she is almost in school. We met her two teacher prospects for next year and they both seem very nice. One looks like she is maybe 10. I forget that teachers can be young, I certainly never had a 24 year old teacher. Grace had a really good time though, she got to paint a picture and have story time and sing a song. They have a class garden that they plant together. The classrooms are very big and the school is great, we have heard nothing but great things. I think we are ready to let her go next year......though when September comes I may change my mind. ;)
Doesn't she look so little??????

The great playground that she can't WAIT for.

Grace in her favorite subject.....art.

Playing cube blocks.
Story time......she was still feeling shy, can you tell?

Here is the teacher of one class, Miss. Giller...she is very nice.

So we had a fun time, then we took Grace to lunch with just Daddy and me and she thought that was pretty cool. She is so much fun and so full of potential, I just pray that she uses it to the fullest. She gave me a Mothers Day card the other day out of the blue and I took pictures of it because I wanted to remember the things she does out of kindness when she is not asked to. It's now two weeks after the day and she is still making me cards and telling me I am "the best Mamma ever" and giving me big hugs. It will give me something to look back on when she is a teenager and make me smile. :)
To Mom from Grace:
Here is a picture of me,(if only my hair were that full and beautiful), and a daisy.(my favorites)

Parks

In this town there is never a lack of great parks; but they have really outdone themselves this time. This park that just opened up is called:



I think they have one sort of like this in Coeur d alene, it is an incredible park. It is in a little Dutch town called Lynden which is about 20 min for us but so worth it. The girls had such a great time it's almost overwhelming all the stuff to do. The pictures I got I realized afterward were not that great because my camera was on the wrong setting and they were blurry, this is a few that did turn out.

This is a big tower that leads to the slide, it's pretty scary and the little ones had no fear.

There is even a climbing wall and gymnastics stuff, it was very cool. We give this one an A+++ and will definately be back. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WENDY

Today is Wendy's (my sister in law) birthday and I decided I would make a list of some things that I love about her.....

1. She has a beautiful family with two of the sweetest little girls.
2. Wendy is EXTREMELY talented and I love to see all the fun thing's she comes up with.
3. She is great to talk to when you need reassurance that you're not going crazy (more than likely she will be feeling the same way).....it always seems to be "one of those days" with one of us.
4. She is the only person I know that has herself and kids ready for the day by about 7 am.....without even having to be anywhere. (and that is starting with a three course meal for breakfast)
5. She is the most organized person I have ever met.
6. She has a true understanding of her faith and lives it very well.....that is a rare thing to find these days. (and she takes a lot of teasing for it)
7. She is beautiful from the inside out and doesn't realize it NEARLY enough.
8. She is a great role model for her girls and a wonderful Mom.
9. She is a fabulous cook.......if you like chicken at every meal......he he he he just kidding. (sort of) ;)
10. She is very loyal to her family and friends and is always lending a hand when needed, even when she has better thing's to do.
11. She is always reading magazines and filling us in on the "fun findings".
12. She is always eating fruits and vegetables......but she does have a good candy stash nearby.
13. She is a great listener.
14. She always looks cute.
15. She has that cute short hair cut that everyone sees and wishes their hair could be cute like that.
16. She is a great multi-tasker. (not sure that's even a word)
17. She plays the piano beautifully.
18. She has a good sense of decorating style.
19. She has a very contagious laugh.
20. She has a great personality.

Wendy, I appreciate the friend and sister you are to me and I hope you have a wonderful day. I know that life is hectic right now but hopefully you can find some time for yourself to relax. I am excited to be living closer, I look forward to lots of girl trips and sleepovers. :) Thank you for our talks and all of the love and support you have for us. I love you......Happy Birthday!!!!!

Paul's wedding 2006
Christmas 2006
Her sweet family, Ben, Addison, and Miley, Christmas 2006
March 2007

Rain, fishing, and friends.....

We have been in Bellingham for a year now and are probably just NOW getting used to getting out in the rain and not having it phase us much. It's funny too because on the 'non' rain days (which are few and far between) we get out and don't go back in until we have to. So we are actually seeming to be outside a lot more than in Idaho and all the while taking the dry for granted. I even make my girls go outside when it's pouring telling them to go dig for worms with their umbrellas.....they grumble but I know they will have fun once they get there. :) It is still 64 degrees outside so it's not cold at all. This particular day they wanted to splash in the puddles.....well, there are no real puddles to be had so they made due. It was fun to watch though.

I love the mid jump shot

These sweet faces

On Saturday we went to the fire house of Sudden Valley and they had a big pancake breakfast and all of the trucks and equipment for the girls to see. My girls were too shy to talk to all of the firemen....I thought for sure Grace would be flirting with them already, there were some mighty cute ones. ;)

After the pancakes that were oh so yummy, we headed on down to the annual Sudden Valley fishing derby. Justin was very excited for this and he even had his pole (just in case) because anyone over 14 was not supposed to be fishing. Yeah right, give these men a stocked pond full of trout and a competition for the biggest fish and yes....rules will be broken. :) BUT....we didn't catch any fish and the only ones fishing were Justin and Haylee. She was so cute down there with her barbie pole (actually Graces but she is too busy playing with the boys) and Haylee was very sad that she didn't catch a fish. Her little best friend Eve was there with her the whole time showing Haylee her worms....who knows!

Haylee and Eve, they are so much a like that it's scary, and it's so fun that Haylee has a friend of her own.

Sunday we took the girls to their first Orchestra concert at the Mount Baker Theatre. They were hosting a free family concert just to get kids acquainted with the music I think. Our girls did really well sitting there, it really makes me look forward to things to come that we can start taking them too. We really want them to be exposed to all sorts of thing's and just know that there are so many options out there. Both of the seem to really enjoy lots of different music so far. This summer we'll be trying some concerts with them.

The theatre is beautiful, all of the attention to detail and the wood work is just amazing. We felt very under dresses in just our church clothes. It would be fun to see an opera or something there. Hint, hint Justin. :)

So that was our exciting weekend, it seems I get a blog done just in time for the weekend to come again, I need to get back to more of a daily basis.