Birthday Wishes

8 Years....

How could that be?

8 years of fun,

8 years of smiles,

8 years of talking, and walking and running for miles.

8 years of laughs,

8 years of giggles,

8 years of wondering where you got all those wiggles!

(seriously kid, ya never sit still!)

Bethany,

I can't believe how much God blessed us eight years ago when He gave us you. I never expected to love you like I do. You brighten our world in so many ways. We love the person you are becoming and we couldn't be prouder of you. Love God with your whole heart, Baby Girl, and never doubt who He has created you to be. You are beautiful, smart and funny, with the biggest heart of any kid I've ever met. Your dad and I have no doubt you are gonna do great things for the kingdom as long as you are you!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Our 2011 Oregon Vacation ~ Part 9

Okay so I know this post is gonna seem out of place, but we did go to Oregon at the end of June/beginning of July so bear in mind that is the time frame we're at right now.

The kids rather impatiently waiting for the 4th of July parade to begin.

Bethany with her sack of candy.

There's something about the tractors all decorated for the fourth that I love. My be the country side of me!

Elisha showing off his goods.

This guy was firing shots into the air (blanks). Bethany loved it, as she does all things country and cowboy. But I couldn't help but wonder how that noise wasn't spooking the other horses.

I always take a picture of the kids waving at Smokey the Bear. *Sigh* As I look at this picture I am beginning to wonder how many more of these pictures there will be.

The kids took turns driving the mule back to grandma's house. Country dirt roads are the best for this kind of fun!

Later I got a big Happy Birthday wish!

And then we were off to sit and wait for the fireworks show to begin.

Love this shot of her watching the fireworks. I just wish I was a little better with my camera and didn't have her back washed out from the flash.

As usual the fireworks show did not disappoint.

And, as in past years, the kids followed their usual pattern and crashed on the way back home.

My Week in Review ~ Project 365

Well this week there's no real theme, but as we wrap up the last week of summer there's still plenty of water activities, a few of Lynx and some other fun stuff!

Sunday ~ August 21st

I got the kids some new pads for their skateboards and they loved riding without worring about scraped elbows or knees in the event of a spill.

Monday, August 22nd

Lynx learned to climb to the top of the scratching post (funny, this pic looked a lot cuter on the camera).

Tuesday, August 23rd

Another hot day, and so another evening jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler on!

Wednesday, August 24th

He fell asleep with his feet in the air while Bethany was holding him. I thought it was too cute too pass up taking a picture.

Thursday, August 25th

Last day of swimming lessons. The kids did great and both moved up a level. Elisha's confidence in his abilities really soared with this swim class.

Friday, August 26th

Remember our lady bug larvae? Well, now they are full grown pink spotted lady bugs. We turned them loose today. I promised Bethany I would order more so her class can watch them transform.

Saturday, August 27th

Her actual birthday is Monday, but since that is the first day of school, we celebrated today.

More swimming, it's what she requested to do. And she got her Daddy-boat ride, her favorite thing when we are by the water.

Well, I don't know about you but this week flew by! Next week school starts, so we're back to schedules, getting up early, packing lunches, and nights of homework. Good bye summer vacation we will miss you! We made some great memories this year, and some nice relaxing moments. Until we meet again next year...

Our Oregon Vacation ~ Part 8

Every year we like to got swim and tube on the river.

This year though, the water was colder and the current was swifter than usual, all because of the rain. We still had a great time, but it did get crowded, only seemingly minutes after we had arrived (it was probably more like 45 or so).

Bethany always brings me some treasures she wants me to hang onto and photograph.

We made the most of our time there, however brief.

We did some tubing too, but because I was the one with the kids there is no photographic evidence of it. :)

Afterwards, we went to a pizza place where Bethany won these great glasses.

Her brother thought they were great too!

Our 2011 Oregon Vacation ~ Part 7

Sunday found us with family plans for the day so instead of going out to find a church to attend we had our own service in the 5th wheel where we were staying. Below is our re-enactment of David and Goliath.

Guess who wanted to be Goliath? :)

"David, I need you to go and check on your brothers."

"Who will come out and fight me?!"

"Why does this mean Philistine say these things about our God? Why hasn't anyone made him eat his words?"

(Yohn switching roles is now King Saul)

"And just who do you think you are young man?"

"If you are going to fight that giant you need some armor."

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Will no one challenge me?"

"I will fight you!"

"Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks? Where is the real challenger?"

"I'll fight you Goliath! And with God's help I will defeat you!"

And the giant came tumbling down....

The End.

My Week in Review ~ Project 365

This week's 365 unintentionally ended up with a theme too, and that theme is very summer appropriate! WET! With a few of Lynx thrown in for good measure (cuz' I know you'd cry if I didn't share him again this week).

Sunday, August 14th

Once a year our children's church does what they call Aqua Blast! for the kids in which they get wet, wet, wet! and have a blast doing it.

Monday, August 15th

The kids started swimming lessons today. I barely squeaked it in before they start school, but we did it. I wish we could have done them sooner since they did a lot of water activities this summer, but oh well.

Tuesday, August 16th

I bought a Groupon for this Ladybug land and wanted to use it for Bethany's birthday. Well it came today and I guess I wasn't paying attention when I ordered it early that the lady bug larvae came with it. So even though her birthday is still two weeks away she got this today. She loved it!

Wednesday, August 17th

In an attempt to beat the mid-August heat we put a sprinkler on the trampoline and let the kids have at it. They had sooo much fun.

Thursday, August 18th

This is Lynx's favorite toy, and also his favorite place to fall asleep! Silly kitty!

Friday, August 19th

He was playing when I took this picture and I could not get him to go to sleep for the night.

Saturday, August 20th

We visited one of the church's, where our kids did VBS this summer, for a car show. They had their water slide up and going, and even though it was a cool evening, Bethany thoroughly enjoyed herself.

That's it for me! Over and out!