Little fatties

Our trampoline died this weekend. Kari's knee went through it while she and Grant were jumping and doing flips. She and Grant both had pillows stuffed in their shirts in the front and the back, so she looked extra plump and had extra padding when she fell through. She wasn't hurt. We told her she was just too fat for our trampoline! Turns out 5 years of direct sun and many kids jumping was all the thing could handle. 

The kids had fun with their pillow-stuffed shirts this weekend. After the trampoline incident, all four of them went out in the front yard with their shirts stuffed. Pretty soon their neighbor friends also came out with big t-shirts stuffed with pillows. They had fun rolling on the grass and jumping on each other. They all went to check the mail at the mailboxes around the corner and gave some teenage girls across the street a good laugh. The girls took out their phones to snap a photo of our silly-looking kids, and then the kids, in the funny mood they were, screamed and all took off running back up the street, falling in our grass and laughing. 

It feels like fall!

My favorite season is upon us, and today Grant and I just enjoyed the day at home. The sun was shining, but the morning was cool and crisp. We listened to music of his choice (Veggie Tales, Muppets, Frozen, etc.) while we did housework and made applesauce and "harvest" muffins. He likes having control of the Apple TV remote. :) I went upstairs to put some laundry away, and when I came back down, he had moved the couches to create more space and was dancing away all by himself, cartwheels and hand stands included. Love this little guy! 

First Days of School

Kari, Joel, and Aubrey all had a good first week. Aubrey was happy to see her friend, Makayla, in the desk right next to hers. The district is in the process of hiring another teacher for 2nd/3rd grade, so we'll find out in the next week or so where Aubrey will be for the year. We're hoping she will get to stay where she is with her friend and the teacher we know and like!

Joel seems happy and well-settled into his class. He was excited to start 4th grade. He says the best days are the first day and the last day of school, and the rest in between are just ok. He has his friend, Colby, in his class this year.

Kari's first day was "boring," according to her. She did not like the 6th grade orientation day. Sounds like the school needs to reevaluate the way they are running their program and do a better job of training their student leaders (8th graders). She said they had to listen to a bunch of rules, didn't get to put their stuff away in their lockers, didn't get to go to each of their seven classes, and then spent the whole afternoon playing "dumb" games. She was ready for real school! The rest of the week was better. We have yet to figure out exactly when to leave the house to drop her off. Our routine has been different every day. It's very important that we time it right. :) Middle school anxiety has been high this last week. This week should be easier as she gets into routines. I took a quick photo as she was walking into the school the first day (with her friend, Ellie), and I may have shed a couple tears as I was driving away. It felt like I was throwing my daughter to the wolves. She didn't get eaten, though. She was fine--just bored.

The first-born and last-born are drop-off buddies. I take Joel and Aubrey to school first then come back and take Kari and then Grant. 

Today was Grant's first day. He's going to the same preschool he went to last year but is in the 5-year-old class this time and goes three days a week instead of just two. We were both excited for him to start. Last week was a little rough for him, being left behind while everyone else was at school. He marched right into his class. I gave him a quick hug and kiss, trying not to linger and be that annoying parent, but then as I was walking out the door, I turned around and saw him still standing in the middle of the room, looking like he didn't know what to do. I immediately regretted my hasty departure and wished I'd stayed a little longer to help him get settled at an activity, but it was too late and would have been awkward to go back in. So, I left, feeling guilty, and prayed for his morning as I ran errands. He gave me a big hug when I came to pick him up, and I let him play on the playground. While he was swinging, I asked him if I said goodbye too soon that morning, and he said, "No, it was perfect." :-)

End of Summer

School started this week, and so summer is officially over. No more lazy mornings, water balloon fights, park days, pool times, or frog-catching.

It's hot this week in the 90's, but last week we had a few days that felt like fall. I wrote on FB that you know it's been a hot summer in Oregon when the kids are jumping for joy that it's windy and cold in August (it was 70 degrees).

We had one last fun summer day with Grandpa and Grandma Moffat over Labor Day weekend. They took us up to the Mt Hood Adventure Park, and we got to do all kinds of activities. We rode the ski-lifts up and rode down the alpine slides--9 times! It was sunny but pretty chilly, so the sun felt good. We had quite the day--rock wall climbing, bungee trampolining, mini golfing, tube sliding, water rollers (like a hamster wheel), batting cages, indoor play area, kiddie cars, and more of the alpine slides. We were all good and tired by the end of the day! It sure was fun!

15 Years on August 25th

We watched our wedding video with the kids on our anniversary. Greg and I usually watch it each year around our anniversary, but the kids had never seen it and thought it was funny to see everyone looking so young and the men with so much more hair. :)

I still love our wedding slideshow and ceremony. The words both Dad and Randy shared are just as applicable and meaningful today as they were then. Amazing to look back and see how God has worked in our lives since that day 15 years ago. 

Some anniversaries are "happier" than others. On our tenth anniversary we had a 3-week-old and while thrilled about him, we were exhausted and overwhelmed. Last year's anniversary, I was just coming out of that bout with depression--not a super great year for us. This anniversary was one of those happier ones. Greg and I write letters to each other every year on our anniversary, and this year our letters were almost identical in content. We both were reflecting on God's faithfulness and His blessings in our lives. 

We both also wrote about how excited we are to celebrate this anniversary together in Maui in less than six months. :-) We have a delayed celebration this year, but it's going to be great! 

Weekend in Sisters

We spent a few days in Sisters visiting Ryan and Michelle and their family a couple weeks ago. The kids love their cousins and have a blast whenever they get together, and we all just really enjoyed our time with their family. We hiked to the top of Black Butte one morning. It was gorgeous, and the kids were troopers, as it was quite the uphill climb. The view at the top was amazing, and it was very windy. Going down was a breeze for the kids and a little painful for us adults. We're getting old and so are our knees and hips! Sure was fun, though! 

Cousins

The little boys

Our attempt at Cousin Daylan and Tim's "staresie" (as opposed to a "selfie"--must have a friend and focal point, in this case, Mt. Washington) :)  

Rockaway Beach

I took a whole bunch of photos from our family beach trip to Rockaway--299 to be exact. The weather was great, and I had my camera out a lot. We had a great time together on the beach, in the ocean, on the train, and at the lake. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for helping us make these fun memories.
The kids sure do love the beach!