The kids on their "Mama's" Birthday

Here are a couple pics of the kids in their thoughtful mode.












Here they are being industrious. Making a cake for their Mama.

Proud of the results.

Anticipating the opening of the presents they got her.

Heading home to see Jess (Daddy).
It looked to be a pretty nice birthday.

Happy 26th Birthday Joylynn!

Here is a photo journey of Joylynn's 25th year.

With a smiley Genevieve Oct 2007

Doing double duty... Mommy and Aunty , Nov 2007.

Christmas 2007 with Gramma.

December 2007 at the R-fam residence.








March 2008 with her little ones.

June with Jess and Danika

July pool fun with Genevieve (above) and Danika (below)

August at church with a crawling Danika.

The "big" sister at Cherise's wedding Aug 2008

Church with her injured leg up. The word searches and work pages aren't just for the kids.

2008 Birthday dinner with Jess and Dad and Mom.

Have a happy birthday and many many more.
We love you LPSM.

More weekend pictures

One of the reasons for Kiel and Cherise's trip to Portland was to spend some of their gift cards at Target and to pick up a few items at IKEA. It was the first time that Courtney, Hayden and Cameron went there. Har, Alyssa, Rowan and I have been to our IKEA before. Cherise had been to one up in Seattle. It was Kiel's introduction to the big box store. It is pretty impressive if you like Scandinavian designs.

They checked things out online ahead of time so they knew exactly what they were wanting to purchase.

I failed to put this adorable picture of Simon up on the last post. He and his mom and dad came over for Krystle's get together.

The following pictures were taken today at church.

Uncle Rylan enjoying interacting with Rowan.

Wyatt and Genevieve having some quiet play before church is dismissed.

Danika loves to be held and there are always willing arms.
If Bob and Lalita didn't have a great church already I'd love to have all of the grandkiddos in the nursery at Generations Church. We had 4 of them in there today. All eight of our kids were in attendance as well. We are very blessed.

Bon voyage and Adieu

Since Cherise and Kiel were in town for a wedding,
Alyssa and Rowan came down too and we planned a little get together to wish Krystle well in her adventure in the United States Navy.


She had already gotten her long hair cut, bleached and dyed pink a couple of weeks ago. I got ahold of it and trimmed it up. And she looks adorable if I do say so myself.

Aunty Cherise and Rowan went on a grand adventure too. To the mall.

Those kissin' cousins start pretty early.

Wyatt and Aunty Courtney have muscles.

My favorite place to be with some of my favorite people to be with.

Zoo Views

We took the morning to do some nature walking and take a peek at the newest zoo resident.

There are always cool places to take a rest.

Our boys. At the sheep pen.

Look who dropped by to come home with us.

Not the most attractive view of the little guy... but there he is.

September!!! One of my favorite months

Fall is my second favorite season. Winter being my first. Lalita blogged about the wonderful change in the weather that comes with the change of the seasons. Don't the fall leaves look beautiful reflected in the windows of the building across the street?

Something about the cool nights and brisk early mornings give me a new lease on life that the hot days of summer seemed to deplete with each night that refused to cool down to a sleepable temperature.

The fall humidity is usually rain or mist or fog. I love the rainy winters too. I think perhaps it has a lot to do with my personality and my bent to want all of my children snuggled and safe. Summer has them all wanting to run out and be out and do things that keep them away from home.

Fall starts the season of settling back into a routine of school, hot meals and shorter days that invite you to sit with a book, hot drink and perhaps a handcraft item. Cozy days are here again.