Kindergarten

Check out this adorable Kindergartner! Yes, Moses has started Kindergarten. He has school every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30-3:30. So far he really loves it. He comes home with so many stories about all the fun things they do in Kindergarten. Yet as much as he loves it, he still worries about what he might be missing at home. And sometimes on school days he doesn't feel like he has had enough time to play with his own things. He is already worried about going to first grade because then he'll "have to go to school EVERY day and I'll never get to play with my trick tracks!" And I did find him crying once when he realized that in grade 13 (a.k.a. college) he doesn't even get to come home at night! He said he would miss me way too much, so of course I promised him that as long as he wanted to he would always be welcome to live in the same house as me. I hope that promise doesn't backfire on me. Please, Moses, decide to move out onto your own before the age of 45!

Fisrt Ever Ponytail!

So after an entire year of willing her hair to grow - I can finally force Berlyn's hair into a ponytail. I am still so amazed that she has been so bald - Moses and Kael had SO MUCH hair. Now all I can think about is pigtails...

Not a zero anymore!

The boys have been saying Berlyn is zero for a year now. And now they can finally say she's one. 

Looking at pictures of Berlyn as a little baby now, I can hardly believe she was ever that small. Was her head always flopping over like that? It is amazing how much babies can change in a year. We have enjoyed every minute of the last year with Berlyn. She loves music and does the funniest dance moves. She loves to play hot wheels and wrestle with her brothers. She likes to be held and cuddled. She loves necklaces and having her hair played with, and she LOVVVVVES shoes! She says , "uh-oh", "hello", "dad", "hi, Dad", "high five", and "eeee" whenever the boys try to take her toys. She also signs milk - but isn't really into signing and usually looks at me like I'm crazy whenever I sign to her. She started really walking on her birthday and her hair is now long enough to put in a little ponytail.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

 

She didn't actually like the cake much - but she ate up the frosting!

She loved opening presents. It was a little tricky for her to do by herself - thankfully she had two older brothers who were willing to help out. She loved her presents, although she didn't get to play with them for the first few weeks because her brothers were monopolizing them. I've discovered that baby toys, big kid toys, girl toys, boy toys - it doesn't matter what they are as long as they are new toys! 

Cutest Kids EVER!

End of the Summer at Tie Lake

Well, just as summer was ending, only days before school started. We went to Tie Lake to spend a week with Scott's family. It was, as always, an amazing trip. The weather was beautiful. The lake was relaxing. And the company was fantastic!

 

 

Scott stacking rocks. You gotta love the hat. It takes a real man to wear a hat like that! 

While at the lake, we each try to plan an activity. This year, we brought some PVC pipe and mini-marshmallows for marshmallow dart guns. We did target practice, then turned the kids loose on teams for a marshmallow war!

 

Berlyn was dirty and homeless looking most of the week. I don't think a day went by where she didn't have food spilled down her shirt. But she didn't really care! She was so happy to spend all that time outside near or in the water! 

 

 

We made both boys try knee-boarding. They did great! Moses was a litle mad about it at first, but then he was glad he went.  

Part of the Tie Lake experience is the turtle hunting. They only caught one turtle the whole week, but they spent everyday improving the amazing, temporary home for all the turtles they planned on catching.

 

Berlyn's first steps

Berlyn isn't quite a walker - but she has started taking steps. It's so fun to watch her grow!
(Click here to watch the video on YouTube)

So Tired....

Whew - that vacation was fun and now we need a vacation from our vacation! But there is no rest for the weary! We have swimming lessons all next week and then we are off to Tie Lake with Scott's family. I know, we have it really rough. I love summer for all the fun things we get to do.

The Portland Temple

While we were in Portland we wanted to take the kids to the temple where Scott and I were married. The temple was closed for cleaning, so we couldn't go through the gates. But we could show our children the temple and tell them about that day 9 years ago when our family began.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the seventy said in April 2009 General Conference, "Understanding the eternal nature of the temple will draw you to your family; understanding the eternal nature of the family will draw you to the temple." I believe this to be true. I love my family so much and am so grateful the Lord gave us temples. And through temples, the gift of eternal families. 

More Cousin Time

After our time at the beach we went North to Tigard to visit my brother in his new house. While in the Portland area, we went to two different children's museums,OMSI and the Portland Children's Museum, with the kids and their cousins.

OMSI was first...

Moses holding a leaf bug and Moses and Scott ready to take off in the rocket.

Putting together a food rainbow. 

Then we went to the Children's Museum in the afternoon...

Cleaning the teeth of a crocodile at the dentist station. Both Girls showing off their face painting!

 Moses and Kael enjoying the water room.

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Isn't Learning Fun! (I know this picture is blurry, but they were all in it. Should have used the flash - next time!)

Cousins are the best!

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Rish, BLUE FISH

The boys got to go fishing in the ocean with Grandpa. They fished off the rocks. While they were hiking to their fishing spot, Scott slipped and fell, somersaulting down a steep hill. Luckily his tumble ended in a creek bed and not a big cliff or sharp rocks, and although he was scraped and bruised there were no serious injuries. The boys each caught two fish and Moses found a starfish on the expedition.

 Someone is excited to go fishing!

 We ate the fresh caught seafood for dinner and some of it was indeed BLUE!!

Fun times at the playground near our cabin.

 
These motion shots are so hard to do. I took like 25 of them and this is the only one even close to turning out!