Long Beach

We've had an exciting week! Last Friday night Ryan's cousin Dan brought a group of kids up from his church in Boise to do some work on our church building as a service project. We enjoyed lots of "cousin time" with Dan, Rebekah, and their kids Josiah, Ella, and Vani. We weren't sure exactly how to label our kids relation to their kids - is that second cousins? Ryan's uncle and aunt, Mel and Elaine came to join us on Sunday morning for church. We had 3 Pastor Franks in the morning service! Mel was my pastor for several years when I was in college so it was great to hear him preach again. After service we took the whole crowd out to Long Beach because people from Idaho don't get to see the ocean very often.

There's something about digging in the sand . . . just gotta do it! Ella was very brave - she stripped down to her bathing suit and ran out into the waves. Here she is being buried in the sand by Emily and Alaina in hopes that she will get warm again.

The whole group enjoyed roasting hot dogs and s'mores at our smoky campfire.

We were so blessed by our time with this group!

My Ballerinas

Both Emily and Alaina took ballet classes this year.  Last Friday was their big recital where they took part in a production of "The 15 Princesses".  Emily's class had the part of "river" and Alaina's class was "forest".  They were both so excited the night of the performance and nervous too.  

This is Emily with her friend, Ellie . . . and Alaina with her friend, Megan.  This picture was taken after the performance with the flowers they received.  My ballerinas . . .

Memorial Day Fun!

We took a drive Monday across the ferry and into Oregon.  We found a neat little county park called Camp Wilkerson that we will have to remember the next time we get to go camping.   We enjoyed a picnic lunch and had fun running around the large field covered in little daisies.  God granted us beautiful weather and we enjoyed our day in the sun. 

 Rylan picking flowers . . . . awwwwww . . .what a cute boy! 

A boy and his dog

a rousing game of baseball

 Alaina going for the home run!

Heavy hitter!

Emily is talented.  She can blow bubbles with her gum and hit the ball at the same time!

Alaina loving Lucy

A Trip to the Ranch

Alaina had a very exciting day last Friday.  Her best friend Jansi's Grandma and Grandpa have a horse ranch in Longview and they invited all the kindergartners out for a day of horse riding, roping, and games.   Ryan was the bus driver for the day and Lila, Rylan and I drove out with some friends so we could join in on the fun too!

 That's Lila, Alaina, Jansi and Taylor hanging out in the playhouse. 

 Alaina and Jansi riding with the rodeo queen.  

Alaina trotting with Jansi's mom leading her horse.

That's Rylan riding with Jansi's daddy.  Lila rode with me so I don't have a picture of that.

My Chefs

Introducing the talented . . . 
Chef Rylan
 and Chef Lila

Off to prepare his next tasty dish . . .

Happy Birthday Emily!

Emily's 8th birthday kind of snuck up on us!  How can it be halfway thru May already?  Em was gone most of the day at school (there should be an extra school holiday for kid's birthdays don't ya think?) but when she came home with her friend, Aleona, we took her in to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner and some fun.  We stopped at the park on the way home since it was such a beautiful evening.  The kids kicked off their shoes to run and roll around in the grass.  It is so fun to watch them have fun!    Emily Joy, we love you and look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with you! 

Lucy

We added a new member to our family yesterday.  We've been looking for a puppy for the past several months and we finally took the big step and brought one home yesterday.  Lucy is half St. Bernard and half Mastiff and she is 8 weeks old.  She will be a big girl one day so we are going to do our best to train her well now when she is small.  The kids are besides themselves with excitement.  They have a puppy they can call their own!