More Zoo

Those that were glad that they would not see anymore zoo pictures when our zoo membership was up in June, sorry, but we are excited that my brother and sister-n-law gave us a zoo membership for our family's birthdays. Thank you Anne and Darryl (and Alice)!  We went to the zoo September 18th.  Chris went with us as well, which is always a treat for us girls.  Here are some moments of our trip...

Red Butte Gardens

When we first moved to Utah, Chris took me to Red Butte Gardens for our first Utah date (See April 2009 "Red Butte in Salt Lake City, Utah" post). We had a good time, but not worth the money we spent, especially coming from Oregon with all the beautiful (free) gardens. A couple of weeks ago, Red Butte Gardens had a free entry day and thought it might be a fun family outing. There was much more to see in September then April.  Beautiful.  We had a great time...

Skate Night

Last night was PTA Skate Night for the girl's school.  PTA member got in free.  Thankfully it wasn't busy when we were there until we were ready to leave.  The girls had a blast...

Emma got to skate with two of her friends.

Two More Trees

Earlier this month my friend Christy told us about trees that were on clearance (Thanks Christy). We went the next day and purchased a plum and apricot tree for around $7 each. Including our apple tree we planted this spring (see post in May, titled "Our Apple Tree"), we now have our three fruit trees in the backyard.

Madi has adopted the apricot tree and has told Chris that she will keep the fallen fruit picked up.

Both girls worked alongside their daddy picking up rocks and supplying anything he needed. He ran into some stubborn rocks that wouldn't come out until he hammered them out.

Emma standing proudly by her tree. The plum tree is nearest to the apple tree so she can take care of them.  I might have to show the girls this blog when they are dragging their feet out to pick up the fallen fruit from the trees to remind them their promise to Daddy.

The Best Birthday

I have to say, I had the best birthday.  I have been alive for 33 years, so I don't quit remember every single one, but this one was a good one. I felt so loved. I got more cards, e-mails, calls/texts [through Chris] then I ever have. I even got a call from the youth group singing to me (we were in Oregon).  And got to be with family.  I also got my mom's peach pie. Yummmm! She made it on two separate occasions so I could have a half at each setting to equal a whole.  I was pampered with a pedicure from my sister-n-law provided by my parent-n-laws.  And many more wonderful treats that I could list, but I will stop here for now....

At my birthday party...

Auntie Anne and Madi enjoying the cake.

Emma is looking in between Dad and I and Alice is looking at my dad. Still cute picture.

Madi was all giggles with poping Lances mouth over and over and over and over again.

So on top of all the special attention, Chris surprised me with an overnight trip to the Oregon coast.  It had been over two years since we have stepped onto the beach and I was missing it.  We got to go twice as the next week we went with my family (which wasn't planned yet).  He spoiled me.  He bought me my favorite drink (Carmel Cold Rush), which we can only buy in Oregon, unless Chris makes it.  He bought me sea foam which I love, we ate at two of our favorite restaurant on the coast, and we had a beautiful view of the ocean from our room.   We also went to the outlet mall and walked on the beach.

My Handsome Man in Yachats, Oregon.  Yachats  is where we stayed our first week of our honeymoon almost 14 years ago.

One of my favorite spots at the coast is at the Adobe, where we stayed.  The beach is mad up of many tiny rock,shells, and wood.  If you didn't notice, this is my hand, not Chris' (smile).  I love running my hands through the many shells and rocks finding ones to keep for the girls.

As we were walking in Old Florence, Chris spotted our neighbors we had in Oregon.  Crazy we saw them at the coast.  It was good to see them.  

My Handsome Man in Florence, Oregon

Friends

It's been a challenge to see everyone we want to see when we visit Oregon.  This time was extra challenging due to girls being at camp the first week we were there and extended family coming through town the next week.  So we kept the knowledge of us coming quiet.  We had plans to see most everyone church and at a picnic.  Well that diddn't work out well, since the girls got lice (story to come) and some of our friends I thought would be at the picnic weren't there, but we did get to see some friends and had three other park trips with friends....  

Sabina, Jackie, Nicole, Me

Jackie, Nicole (high school friends) and their families came down from Portland to have a picnic lunch with us.  About 30 minutes before we were leaving to meet them, I discovered lice crawling in Madi's hair.  My loving husband sent me to see my friends as he stayed to combat the lice.  Although they were sad they couldn't see the rest of my family we had a good time.

Joshua, Madi, Emma

Shanna, Me

My friend, Shanna,  and I hadn't seen each other for three years or so.  We have been keeping in contact with each other's blogs and e-mail.  The girls, Aunt Debra, and I met Shanna and her three boys (girl on the way) at the park for a few hours to play.  It was fun to meet her youngest two in person.  The girls and Joshua had fun on the new play structure.

Madi, Brady, Ellie, Emma

We got to say hello and good-by to our good friends from River Road Baptist Church.  The week after we left Oregon, they moved to Washington.  We had a great time catching up with them.    

"To Know and Understand"

This last Sunday Chris preached.  I have to say it is a must hear.  It will challenge you.  Those of you that claim Christ as you Savior, I have to ask, "Do you read your Bible regularly?"  Chris will challenge you to read your Bible and pray 20 minutes a day.  That is 3% of your week.  I have to admit that I do miss days of reading my Bible and that some days it's a quick reading.  It is so important to read scripture for so many reasons.  Go to www.sonrisebc.org and go to to Media Archives, and click on "To Know and Understand" (9/05/2010).

Oregon Visit With The Brackett's

While we were in Oregon we were able to go to the Scandinavian Festival in Junction City with Dad.  He bought me a frozen cheesecake on a stick, dipped in chocolate.  Yum! 

 In this picture you can see the plastic white chair next to Madi.  That was her chair.  I sat across from her.  We were eating lunch and all of the sudden Madi disappeared.  I jumped up to see if she is okay.  Sure enough she was.  Thankfully she didn't hit her head on the ground.  We all had a laugh after we knew she was okay.

If I remember correctly, this is the first time Alice (my niece) got up on Dad's shoulders.  This was taken right in front of the farmer's market in Eugene.  My plan was to buy blueberries and/or strawberries.  Instead I bought yellow doll watermelon.  It was sweet and juicy.  After the farmers market, we went to Shotgun Creek for a picnic lunch and a dip in the creek.  

We went to Skinner's Butte Park for a picnic.  The girls had fun playing, especially in the water.

This was at the park.  It is an adorable picture of Dad and Alice.

We also got to go to the coast.  It had been over two years since we've been.  A perfect day at the beach, although it was a stinky day.  We went to Haceta Head (about 20 minutes north of Florence, Oregon).   We dug in the sand, searched for treasures, went on a hike, toured the lighthouse, had a picnic, and to top it off had an ice cream treat from Grandpa.  

The night before Darryl, Anne, and Alice got to Springfield, Rusty got terribly sick.  He got a leg infection.  So Mom and Rusty stayed home all three days of our adventures.  Thankfully they were able to get antibiotics in him right away.  

Oregon Visit with the McKinley's

The girls love to bake with Aunt Debra and Grammy.  They made Rice Krispies treats with Grammy and chocolate chip cookies with Aunt Debra.  

One nice thing about visiting Oregon in August is the [free] fresh blackberries.  We got to pick them with Auntie Anne and Uncle Darryl at Anne's parent's house.  Also in Grammy's back yard (see picture above).

The girls, like always, love to hang with Lance (Aunt Debra's boyfriend).  He gave the girls gecko shirts he designed.  Thanks Lance!

Can't get enough reading time in.  

August 14th, we went to Sahalie Falls and Belknap Spring with Grampy and Grammy.  We did some hiking and picnicking.  It's been around three years since we've gone up the McKenzie Hwy.  It was a beautiful day.

  

Last time we went to the secret garden at Belknap Springs, Grammy took a picture of me around this spot with Madi.  She was still in my tummy.  It was fun to take a picture at the same spot 7 years later.  Also to note, our family picture that is displayed on my blog was taken a few feet from this spot in the secret garden.

Grampy treated us to ice cream after our hike was over.  Yum!

The Fence?

On Monday as I was picking up the girls, I saw Emma's face all red and cut. I said, "What in the world did you do?" She replied, "I was being a 4th grader and ran into the fence. I had my coat on backwards and my hood was covering my face." Interesting. I can't imagine how much deeper this cut would've been if her face was not covered up, but on the other hand she probably wouldn't have ran into the fence. The first pictures was taken 4 hours after she ran into the fence. I should have taken a picture right after we got home; it was easier to see the cut. As the day went on her eye was continuing to swell.

God was protecting our girl as this cut didn't go through to her eye. She is still in a little pain, but is healing well.

Roughly four hours after she ran into the fence....

Four days later....

I didn't capture her eye on Tuesday when  it was the most swollen and bruised.  It's looking pretty good in this picture.