may 2013: a trip to nana and papa's

In may we decided to make a quick trip down to salem.  our friends' (tif and john) daughter, keira,  was going to be baptized and we really wanted to be there on her special day.  when I said quick trip, I meant really quick.  I think we were in Oregon for less than 24 hours.  but it was so worth it!  the baptism was wonderful, and keira was so excited about this important decision she had made to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  we are so proud of her.

 

after the baptism, and a short nap at the hotel, we went out to nana heidi and papa roy's (tif's parents) house in silverton for a bbq.  there was yummy food, beautiful weather, great company, lot's of puppies (they breed labradoodles) and tractor rides for the kids.  what more could you ask for?! 

 

lauren was quite nervous, I think because of the noise.

keira and boomer riding with papa roy!

brooklin and royle's turn!

lauren and crystal playing with john's juggling gear.

me, crystal and tif!

 

may 2013: preschool graduation!

brooklin had very mixed emotions about graduating from preschool.  she was very excited about going to kindergarten next year, but so so sad to say goodbye to her teachers and friends from preschool.  brooklin has grown so much from the experiences she had at preschool.  I was very nervous sending her (VERY) but I am so glad that I did.  she really needed to have that time to interact with other children and be away from home on her own, away from lauren and I.  I think it will be a lot easier for me to send her off to kindergarten in the fall.  I didn't say EASY, I said easier.  hopefully I won't shed too many tears when that day comes.  :)

getting ready for the graduation program

the wonderful miss Rachel!  what a great teacher!

the graduation program was pretty cute.  the kids sang a few songs and they each were assigned a letter (brooklin was lucky and got two, A & B) in their alphabet poem that they recited.  the church pastor spoke and miss Rachel got quite choked up when she talked about the kids and how much she was going to miss them.  miss Rachel, who began teaching at the school last year, took on the head teacher position when mrs. Sharon had to have knee surgery and then ended up retiring early.  we all miss mrs. Sharon but Rachel did an excellent job stepping up and taking the lead.  she had a couple teachers come in and help including ms. lynnata, who was there for about 3 months, and then miss ann came in to close out the year.  

 

another one of brooklin's teachers, ms. lynnata.

two preschool graduates ready to take on kindergarten!

 I am so grateful to the wonderful teachers brooklin had at preschool.  they were amazing and I could tell they really loved the children.  it takes a special kind of person to not only teach children, but to truly LOVE teaching children.  I admire them and the qualities they possess.  thank you to all of those who are helping to shape and mold my children into the wonderful, responsible and respectful adults I hope they will be one day.  I appreciate your positive influences.     

april 2013: birch bay

our first trip to the beach this year!  we had a fabulously warm day towards the end of april and it was just perfect for a bon fire out at birch bay.  we called up our friends, kirt and kristy, and asked them to join us for dinner and s'mores.  it was such a beautiful evening.  the girls didn't want to leave.  brooklin could literally spend all day playing at the beach and not get bored. 

my beach babe!

"please I have a s'more?"

our buds, kirt and kristy

check out that gorgeous sunset!

s'mores face!

 

i'm so in love with where we live!  it is just so breathtakingly beautiful here!

april 2013: feild trip to bakerview nursery

brooklin's last field trip of the school year was to the bakerview nursery.  the kids got to learn about gardening and different plants.  it was pretty fun, especially for brooklin who loves to garden.  too bad we don't own land or we would have a garden of our own.  some day!

 

lauren was kind of a handful during this field trip.  she had no interest in staying with the group.  she just wanted to go off and do her own thing and it was kind of a nightmare.  my patience was definitely tested, and I was a tad embarrassed, but we all survived. 

 

lauren thought these cages were great fun to play in.

and she spent most of the time chasing after this cat.

 

 

 

april 2013: fun with the fuzz 5k

this was our second year running the fun with the fuzz 5k here in Bellingham.  all of the proceeds go to the behind the badge foundation which helps families of fallen police officers.  a really great cause.  and it's super fun!  especially when i get to run with my hubs!  we sprinted across the finish line (yes i finished with a sprint this time) with a time of 26.36.  my best time yet for a 5k.  i blame that on scotty because he had me running faster than my normal, comfortable, pace.  i finished 32/161 for my age in women, 91/649 for all women, and 267/1069 overall.  granted it was a fun run and it wasn't really competitive at all, but i was still impressed with myself.  way to go me!  i'm trying to work my way up to a 15k.  sooner or later i'll get there.  :) 

march 2013: easter sunday

the easter bunny came!  the girls were super amped about all of the candy.  little did i know the dang easter bunny was out to sabotage me and the 7 lbs. i worked so hard to lose.  :)

 

 

 

our favorite easter candies!

new easter dresses for the ladies and a tie for scotty.

 

 i love easter.  not just the awesome candy and the beauty of the earth in the spring, but the chance we have to really focus on the great sacrifice our Savior, Jesus Christ, made for each one of us.  i am truly grateful for the atonement and what it means for me. 

 

march 2013: egg hunt at g'ma and g'pa's

our annual easter egg hunt at my parents' house was extra special this year because our whole family was there.  it was so great!  this was the first time that bonnie and tyler and their kids were able to come and participate.  my favorite time is when my whole family gets together.  i hate it when someone is missing.  it was just such a treat for me, and i'm sure for my parents too.  it was also really fun watching all of the cousins playing together.

 

march 2013: preschool field trip to northwest recycling

brooklin's class went on a field trip to our recycling center here in Bellingham.  it was neat to see what they do with all of the paper, plastic, and glass that they pick up from our homes.  it was quite smelly, but i guess that's to be expected. 

 

paper waiting to be strapped

 i recognized those pallets of paper from my former place of employ.  there were several more, i'd say about 50.  i wonder if that was a big oops or just getting rid of old inventory.  hopefully the latter.

the stapper. 
that's my official name for it, because i can't remember what they called it.



this is what it looks like after it gets strapped.  nice "little" bundles.

all of the preschoolers standing on the scale.

 

check out their combined weight.

 it was kind of funny, as we were walking back i looked down and noticed i was walking on the scale. i quick hurried and jumped off.  i don't need that kind of information advertised. :)

 

 

the bottles smelled the worst!

 

i really wish i could figure out how to get my videos to load because i took some really awesome video of some cars being scrapped.  it was by far the favorite part of the trip.