Swinging the Hammer

Did I tell you all that the kids are remodeling our master bath for us?

Well, they are helping out anyway. Rylan and Alaina really love to swing the hammer.

Cowgirls

Alaina, Emily and Lila were all invited to their friend Jansi's birthday party a couple of weeks ago. Jansi's daddy works with horses so each of the party goers had a chance to ride Montana (the horse pictured). This isn't the first time the girls have rode horses and they were so excited to get to ride again.

Yee haw!

Emily's Spring Soccer Season

Emily just finished up her spring soccer season. The picture below shows her scoring a goal in her last game. She was quite excited about that. She learned a lot this year and had a great time doing it.

This is the 2010 Springers team. Yes, Springers as in Spring salmon, which are pink in color. That's what you get when you live on the Columbia River. It's fishing country!

GO! GO! GO! SPRINGERS!!!

Knitting Lessons

We are learning to knit! Most of Emily's friends have learned because one of the elementary teachers has taught some of her students how. Emily never had the chance to learn and was excited when I told her I was going to get her yarn and knitting needles for her birthday.

I talked to Mom and asked if she would be willing to come and work on knitting with us after school a couple of days during the week. She agreed so part of Emily's birthday present was knitting lessons. So far we have had a couple of sessions and we seem to be getting the basics down. Except for me. I always seem to end up with some funny loop hanging off my rows of stitches. When I have mastered it I am going to try and make something. Emily wants to make a scarf for her Daddy. I think that has something to do with the Little House on the Prairie episode we saw where Laura knitted a scarf for Pa. The only problem is the yarn Emily is using right now is mint green. I told her Daddy probably wouldn't wear a scarf that color.

Cannon Beach Field Trip

Alaina's class went to Cannon Beach for their field trip this year. We went last Thursday with a weather forecast and clouds that looked like rain. I am pleased to report we didn't get a drop of rain the whole time we were there!
Alaina got to hold a hermit crab. It felt funny on her hands.
The volunteer biologists pointed out some birds nesting on Haystack Rock. We even saw a puffin up there.
I went along as a chaperon and Ryan was the bus driver for the trip so we had a nice little getaway with our middle daughter to the beach.

Hard Worker

Rylan has his own shovel and he really uses it! He'll spend hours outside digging and moving dirt around.
It's a good thing we have a big yard because he would have a smaller one all dug up by now.

Happy 9th Emily!

Our oldest girl is 9! Can you believe it?
She celebrated with a slumber party with a few friends.
I think she rather enjoyed her day in the spotlight.

And now we shall see what adventures her 10th year will bring . . .

Happy Birthday Emily! We love you so much.