Fashion Shoot

As an end of summer treat my sister and her kids came up for the day.  Her girls wanted to do a fashion shoot, and their camera-happy aunt was tickled to oblige.  They put on about a bazillion outfits, but here are just a few of my favorites:

(This one is actually Anna – and Djeryd dressed her up.  The walkie-talkies are supposed to be guns – in case you were wondering.)

This was my favorite outfit – hands down.  Don’t you love that combo?

This little girl loves the camera.  I have about fifty shots of her with a great smile, perfect eyes, comfortable body position – so easy to photograph. 

Here is a beautiful picture of my sister who patiently styled all the little girls’ hair.

Blue-haired monster baby!!  All the kids thought this was sooooo funny.

Last, but not least, is my ethereally beautiful niece.  I love being an auntie!

Swimming

We did swimming in a two week stretch this summer and I think it worked out much better than the two-days-a-week-for-eight-weeks thing that we usually do.

Item of note:  Annaliese braved the water with nary a problem.  In fact, while doing the rope swing, she let go before her instructor expected and went completely underwater before he grabber her.  She later informed me, with smiles all over her face, that she “drained [drowned] in swimming lessons today!”

Take Me To the Fair

A few weeks ago we wandered on down to the county fair.

Each of the kids chose one ride to go on.  Anna chose the four wheelers.

Djeryd chose hang-gliding.

Erik chose this crazy ride that went up and down and in circles and completely ruined Sean’s appetite for the rest of the night.  (I think Erik’s face is priceless!)

This is my favorite picture of the evening.  Sean’s nice, but casual shirt and jeans paired with beat-up sneakers and, dost mine eyes deceive me?  are those khaki dress socks?

Then we used up the rest of our tickets playing obnoxious games.  Daddy is saving the day here on Anna’s game choice – that ball ramp thing that has to go into circles to get points – think Chuck-e-Cheese’s.

 

Djeryd actually won a prize throwing a dart at a balloon.

We trotted through all of the animal pavilions.  Some smelled like nice, clean wood shavings.  Others –  like the pigs – were horrendous – yuck!  It made me so glad I don’t live on a farm.  This turkey was puffed up and snapping at everyone.  As entertaining as it was, I felt bad for him (I hate the zoo for the same reason).

Last, but not least, I spent my fair money on a nice hot doughboy.  Yum! (And forced Sean to take a picture of me so that five years from now my kids will know I was actually at the fair with them.)

The Vicissitudes of Life

I love the word vicissitudes.  I happened upon it several years ago while researching a project about Oregon pioneers.  It was love at first sound.  I cannot think of a more beautiful word to describe trials and troubles.  I have not blogged in a few weeks due to this wonderful word.  I suffered a rather painful back injury about two weeks ago.  Today is the first day sitting at the computer long enough to write a blog post is not hurting so bad I want to lie down.  In fact, it does not hurt at all.  A miracle!  (Now if I can just bend over my work table to cut out some patterns without that hurting.)  I still have to be extremely careful picking up my baby, but today I actually laid her down in her crib all by myself – another miracle!

I just wanted to publicly express my appreciation to all the people who have brought in meals and sent sweet cards.  My dear friend, Adrienne,  has dropped everything to come give my baby a bath, bring me dinner, and watch Alyx everyday so that I can take my older kids to swimming lessons (I cannot sit and hold my baby on bleachers – nor can I get her in and out of a car (thank you Djeryd!).  And a huge thank you goes out to my sister who gave up a weekend of hiking and camping with her family to come here and take care of me while Sean and the boys were out of town.  She cleaned my bathrooms (they were scary), did all my laundry, washed my dishes, cuddled my sweet baby, and took care of me. 

I love this picture of us because it captures what a wonderful sister she is to me.  There I am blabbing my head off and she is listening so intently and sincerely.  I think the reason I wish I had about 5 sisters is because the one I do have is so incredibly wonderful.  Thank you, Ya;  I love you forever!

HELP – Pass It On: “Just a Note”

Due to life we have been a little remiss in our monthly service projects.  We managed to get our act together last night for a very small service project for August.  I know it may seem insignificant, but I am a big believer in every drop in the bucket being an important drop – no matter the size.  So, without further ado, here is our project:

The kids made a card for someone special to them and then we mailed them this afternoon.  Djeryd chose his primary teacher, Erik chose a set of grandparents, and Anna chose one of her grandmas.  The kids cut and pasted and wrote kind thoughts.

The kiddos marched off to the mailbox with notes in tow.  I am so proud of them for making somebody’s day.

And don’t you just love those cute bubbles? (Alyx’s contribution to our fun).

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Baby Fix

Yum, yum, yum!

Lincoln City

We spent last weekend in Lincoln City.  Here is just a little photo album of our trip.

This is Beach Trip Eve – a rare shot of me with my kids (Djeryd is not in the picture because he was not even the slightest bit interested in hearing stories about princesses).

This is a shot from the deck of our beach house.  At the base of our flight of 70 stairs is Highway 101.  This almost caused cardiac arrest for me with my three littlest ones.  I had NO idea our “parking space” was on the highway.  Freaky.  Not to mention the house was crooked and made me slightly seasick, and Erik fell down part of the stairs once.  Never again to that place.

I did not actually hit the beach.  Sean and the kids did a few times, but I was not fond of mixing a four-month-old with those clear blue skies and all that sand.  Poor me, I had to read and take naps and have time all to myself, while the kids dug for agates and built sandcastles.  ;>

I love this shot of Anna.  We were waiting for the seals to be fed.  I love the light on her hair.

Thankfully, there were “time-out” benches stashed all over the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Isn’t that an adorable bunch of people?

Sean took this gorgeous shot.  Here all this time I thought I just knew how to take good pictures.  Instead it turns out my daughter is just incredibly photogenic.

I think this is my favorite shot of the weekend (I love Anna’s little hands).  We packed up Sunday morning, hit church in Lincoln City and drove straight home (the ward was packed – like triple their normal attendance – there were people all the way from Maryland – it was really cool).  This was at the most beautiful rest stop.  And, let me tell you, we got ALL kinds of looks at this lovely place.  It was a great trip.

In My Shoes

 

 

. . . sigh . . .

Apricot Picnic Skirt

My latest creation:

This is the same skirt pattern I used here.

I tried some different hemming techniques (mostly to avoid the traditional double-roll hem).

I added some button details (which Anna actually cried over while I was sewing them on – she likes them now, though).

 

(I love the spark of blue.)  

And here’s my bragging picture.  Check out this girly-girl – spelling her name all by herself! 

Love that girl.

A Notable Quotable

Anna: (in complete shock, surprise and pride while holding the ketchup bottle ) 

Mom! I opened it without my teeth!

Things I’m Loving

:: summer vacation

:: field trip to the Rose Garden

:: my sweet Mother’s Helper who comes once a week to help me keep my sanity

:: this amazing little boy (please note: he is traveling in the correct direction, just getting there backwards – so Erik)

 

:: sunshine in Oregon – at long last

:: watching my kids play together – every single day

 

:: my most very scrumptious baby – I want to eat you up, Miss Alyx

:: courage to speak muy, muy poquito Spanish to my neighbors

 

:: being at the most glorious place every single month this year, for the first time in years – it changes me, and I am so thankful

Civil War Saturday

After a pancake breakfast and flag raising, we spent the bulk of our Independence Day celebrations in Salem at a Civil War reenactment.  It was seriously cool. 

We saw two battles,

toured the camps,

 

and I drooled over a few dresses. 

I think the kids had fun, too.

It was a really neat experience.  We will definitely be doing it again next year.