Youngest three grands... 2 amigas & 1 amigo

The Party Girl

 Little Evie is plumb tuckered out from celebrating her Great-uncle Scott's birthday. 

Vacations can be tiring! Today they went swimming in Lake Superior.

I can't wait to see some pictures.

Kel?

The Party Pooper

This was Garrett yesterday.  I was busy with something and he was watching Rugrats with the big kids. I didn't realize that it was this close to nap time, until I walked in to see him sprawled on the end of the couch. He was sound asleep! I don't know why he had a sock on his hand.

The quicker picker upper
Bounty has nothing on Anabelle lately. She can pick up stuff like a pro. These two cell phone pictures were taken about 5 minutes apart. She went from getting into wipes at the end of the hall to getting a bottle out of the bottom drawer in the kitchen.
I think Cherise is going to have to get a new pair of running shoe when this little girl starts walking! 

Pieces of heart

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." Elizabeth Stone

If the above quote is correct, my heart is traveling all over the U.S. at this time. I know I made the decision to send Hayden to Virginia and Michigan. I'm trying really hard not to wish myself there too.

We've been keeping in touch

 Alyssa sent this picture of Katie with her Uncle "Haydee".  She's saying "Me room" meaning there is room for her on the chair with him. I'm glad that Rowan and Katie remember him.  And that he's getting to know Evie too.

One of my favorite text messages

After seeing a sign like this, as they crossed the Ohio/Michigan border, Hayden sent me a text message that said, 

"We just passed a sign that said 'Welcome to Pure Michigan'...We're now in the mother land."

Hope he sends me pictures of "Mother" (Lake) Superior when he gets there.

Cell phone update photo

Crossing the Mighty Mac between the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. It was Alyssa and Hayden's first time crossing that bridge. The land straight ahead in the picture is the U.P. the true mother-land.

Aunty Kara's cell phone picture

Kara took a picture of Kate and Evie on Kelly's porch this morning. I love that they're getting to spend a couple of weeks being loved on by all of those Yooper relatives. 

More of my heart will be in the Copper Country this weekend as Cherise and family arrive there.

Keep up the picture taking.  Get some of Muumuu with her "little loves".

Not missin' the bugs

This winged creature looks pretty harmless, but the bugs are the one thing that I don't miss about Michigan. They can keep their mosquitoes and biting flies. I'll keep my open windows without screens here in Oregon.

Lunch and the Pumpkin Patch

Leisurely Lunch

 I surprised Harlan by arranging to have our friends Tom and Kim meet us for lunch after church.  We went to our closest McMenamin's on 15th and Broadway.  The restaurant is on the second floor of the building and has the nicest patio overlooking 15th Ave and Weidler. It was breezy and an ideal temperature.  A perfect place to chat over lunch. We weren't there quite 2 hours and decided to head over to Gustav's for dessert.  The food at both restaurants was wonderful but the company was better. It is great to be able to  spend time with friends who know us so well. 

Lots of laughs. Time well spent. It was like medicine for the soul.

Cart full of cuteness

 I took these three shopping with me today.

Out to Sauvie Island

 Last time I was out there with Cherise, Henry and Anabelle we didn't get to go into the Animal Barn.

Since we weren't going to be picking berries today I let the kids run around for a bit. 

 My favorite animal was the rabbit. But the other furry critters were pretty cool too. But for some reason the kids were fascinated with the young turkeys.  They are really not very attractive at this stage.  They actually look rather mangy.

Did you know?

 If Wyatt was here he'd have read these chicken facts.

Corn Maze in the making

 When Cherise and I were there a few weeks ago this was a dirt field. We wondered why they hadn't planted it for the corn maze.  I guess they plant a little later than we thought.  The corn plants are about 4-5 in tall.  I'm sure they will be tall enough in time for the September opening of the maze. 

Farm machinery

This picnic area is such a draw for the kids, because of the tractor and other machinery. Garrett was barely able to climb over the log that was separating the parking lot from the picnic tables. He wanted his turn to drive the tractor though.

 Put him up on the seat and had a hard time getting him to give anyone else a turn. They all got to drive and then we went into the market and picked up what we were there for in the first place.

Blueberries!

These will be for fresh eating.  I want to get out and pick some for the freezer before they are gone for the season. But it will have to be in the morning before it gets too warm.

I'm not a fan of warm. But I love berries all year long!

B'day & Goldendale detour

Anabelle's birthday

Now that she's one year old, she is ready to play preschool games on her momma's iPhone. Look at that impish smile. She's turning into a real go getter. She and Henry both love playing in the water. She was kicking and kicking and enjoying every moment.

Birthday display

 Cherise displayed Anabelle's newborn picture and her most recent one. The same scale is featured in both of them. Next year she'll probably be standing on it!

Cherise made a yummy cake from scratch. She and Courtney decorated it with fondant and put a #1 on the top.

 Anabelle had a frosting topped muffin as her personal birthday "cake".

Presents and friends

Belle-belle had lots of help opening her presents.  The three kids on the upper left of the photo are 3 of her cousins, the rest are friends from church.  

Grampa, Henry and Anabelle were checking out all of the new toys first thing the next morning. 

Camp out couple

Courtney and Charles had one of the best beds in the house, or should I say outside of the house.  They got to sleep in a tent in the back yard. They said it was great except it got too warm as soon as the sun started hitting it around 6:30 or 7 in the morning. I would have loved to sleep out there hearing the traffic on the highway on the other side of the fence.  Just like being at the ocean ;0)

Waving goodbye

 I just wanted to put her in my bag and take her home with me. She's learning so much every day.  She was waving goodbye to us as we were loading up the van.

Pit stops

We made a couple of stops on our way out of Walla Walla. One to replace a beloved Wii game that had been broken. And the second to pick up icy beverages and treats.

It was a warm one

 I took a picture of the readout in our van as we were climbing the hills above Maryhill on our way up to Goldendale. It was 97 degrees in that part of the Northwest.

 We don't get  to see this beautiful view often enough.  I think it's been two years since we've been to Goldendale. That's not good.

Siblings in spectacles 

It is always so great to spend time with Michael and Naomi. Their place is so wonderfully relaxing. If Harlan had a job that he could do remotely, I bet he'd like to live up the street from these guys.

 Introduction to a bit of Finnish culture

 Charlie had never had a sauna, though I hope he's seen some SISU over the years being a part of this family. 

Naomi heated it up for us and Har and I got to take a sauna first... then it was the kids' turn. 

Charlie thought it was awesome. I think we have a new Finlander in the making.

This sauna project has been a labor of love with it getting finished a bit at a time. There was a tiling work party a few months ago and the walk in shower is done along with the dressing room floor.  It is amazing! Naomi's friend AnnMarie brought some things from Finland for the sauna when she visited. Each little touch adds to the whole experience. 

Wonderful hospitality 

This picture perfect salad was almost too pretty to eat.

We hadn't planned to stay for supper or sauna for that matter but I'm so glad that we did.

One of the main reasons it's so nice to be there is that Michael and Naomi know how to practice Godly hospitality. They are truly happy to see us. We'd know that Jesus lives there, in them, even if you didn't see His name on top the microwave :0)

I had to get a picture of the kids with them before we took off. I hope Courtney and Charlie get up there to visit again soon. Naomi reminded me several times while we were there, that it takes only two hours and two minutes to get there. Indeed it does. 

Thank you so much for letting us stop by and for everything you did to make us feel like we'd come home!

Cutting it close

Pulled into the gas station with only 18 miles til empty.

Made my husband, who is a "fill 'er up when it drops below half tank" kind of guy, a little nervous.

It's good to shake 'em up every once in a while ;0)

We are home and looking forward to all of the kids coming back again.

Happy 1st Birthday!

It's your big day



Did you know that most first birthday t-shirts come in sizes 12 and 18 months? I ended up personalizing a onesie for this birthday girl.

Looking forward to the reenactment


Cherise and her family had professional photos taken a few weeks ago. Among them were Anabelle's official 11 month pictures and some "first birthday" shots.
Hope she has fun celebrating her actual birthday as much as she did in rehearsal :0)

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Location:Walla Walla, WA