{10}

On June 29th Chad and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary.

We went to Seaside while Uncle Adam and Aunt Carey kept the kids.

The only other time we have been away together overnight occurred just a couple months back; they also had the kids then. We greatly appreciate it too!

We haven't left our kids in the past for several reasons, one being the eldest was a terrible sleeper until recently when the night terrors stopped.

As much as we have assured people they sleep well, and that Ryley is a fine sleeper (in hopes to farm them out), he proved us wrong last night. We left the coast earlier than expected to come home because he was VOMITING! Apparently, he wouldn't eat, he wouldn't go to sleep, and once he did, it didn't last long because he got sick. Fortunately, he is on the mend now!

In the meantime, Chad and I had a great time. We went antiqueing, swimming, ate, walked it off on the beach, and just relaxed.

Taken from the 8th floor where we stayed.

Our studio.

My favorite part of Seaside- the swings on the beach.

We forgot our kites, darn it. I have loved kites since I was a small child and I want to take my family to the kite festival someday when we have a little more time, if that ever happens!

Ok, I said no sleeping in and I meant it. But, we should have slept past 7 because we have tired eyes in this picture!

It's funny how time passes when you aren't running around with kids. Although we didn't have an agenda, when I would check the time it seemed it was moving slower than ever. 1  hour honestly felt like 3! We had a great time without a dull momment, and don't get me wrong, I was thankful for the slower pace, it was just unusual.

Do you know the feeling?

Us

 We celebrated with the kids at The Cheesecake Factory before leaving.

Recently I realized what a good team Chad and I are. With a lot of sacrifice we are able to make a things work around here. I look forward to all the growth we will make together in the future.

My friend was talking about this quote the other day and how self-serving it is. Thinking like this may very well be why I will always have a job as a Marriage and Family Therapist! Despite the fact it might make me successful, I would rather that not be the case.

When I read this quote it made me think about marriage. In the past there have been times when I've actually asked myself how my relationship "serves" me. I have also thought about moments when my growth has been stunted rather than developed. During those times I came to realize I was prideful. In order for me to be happy I needed to humble myself and look at things differently, because really, I was the only one who could change my outlook.

Marriage can be a real struggle. I don't think it is being married on it's own that makes it hard, but being committed to work on things rather than walk away. And parenting, oh, that is where our differences once surfaced. But, we work on it, EVERDAY. We are happy, supportive, we are growing, and it is still hard. Recently at church a speaker said, "It's all worth it and someday we will see." A kind but desperate woman next to me chuckled and under her breath and slightly in my ear she said, "Is it? I really don't think it is." I said to her, "I have to believe it is or there are times I wouldn't be able to go on."

 Fortunately, I am married to a very kind, patient, and forgiving man. He constantly reminds me to be meek and humble, probably more frequently than I even realize. He is a wonderful father. He does so much for me, for the children, and for the house... I should be ashamed to ever ask for more. Oh, the things he teaches me and the love I have for him!

I look forward to eternity with him and the rest of our family!

{Dancer}

The BIG NEWS is that Maisey made the competition team she auditioned for.

She is SO happy!!! As of this time she is registered for 8 classes, BUT, Chad and I would like to knock out at least one, likely musical theatre (dancing while lip syncing).

She will perform all around Portland at concerts in the park (3 in Aug), PSU half-time performances (2), the Washington County Fair (Aug.), tree lighting ceremonies (2 I believe), others I am forgettng, and the competitions of course!!! Her competition teams will be for hip hop, another team for jazz, and tap (assuming they keep it since she was the one who made the team possible due to low numbers).

Maisey started gymnastics at 2 and dance when the studio added it.
At 3 she began with Colombia Gorge Dance Academy and had a recitals there that year.
Next, we moved to Portland and she has danced with New Vision Dance for the last 5 years.
That is 7 years of dance in her 9 years! She is giving up Girl Scouts, soccer, basketball, activity days, and piano (which she gave up 2 years ago, and she was great!), for this passion.   

Last weeks costumes- Spring recital 2012

As if things weren't busy enough with school (all of us), work, gymnastics and soccer (Ry), and all the stuff in the middle, right?

Wish us luck!

{Hannah & Bostynn LeKay Clow}

The shower location

***

We were out of town yet again this weekend, the 2nd of 4 Sunday's we will miss in our new ward. BUT, the occassion was something that couldn't be missed, especially since I was the host!

So just before this baby shower started, while setting up I said, "I am so terrible at taking pictures when I am in charge. Well, that is exactly what happened!

Luckily, my helper Chad took some to make up for my preoccupation.

Not pictured are main courses which included:

Bacon and Egg Frittata

Salsa Egg Frittata

Ham and Cheese Quiche

Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

The food was delish and the crowd was pleased.

 Jason, Hannah's husband and Bostynns dad wanted to make this cute baby melon. 

Alison showed up with these cute biscuits which was an adorable addition to the food I planned.

Lemon poppyseed and lemon blueberry citrus muffins.

 The dining room during set up.

 I finally got to display the decorations I made.

 Elementary school and middle school friends; Hannah, Allison, and Kim.

The others (Liz, Sara, Tiffany, and Melinda) all moved away. At one time we were a big group of crazy girls. Oh, the fun we had all those years!!! They were there in spirit though.

Hannah and I. Her expected due date is about 5 weeks away, 8/2/12.

I am so thrilled she is experiencing the gift of motherhood. I lost touch with most my childhood friends years ago when I got married and had kids. Other than 1 friend, Hannah is my only childhood friend to have  a child. Crazy, being as how I have a daughter who turned 9 last week! People are certainly waiting longer to have children these days, and then there are others like me who can hardly,  and did hardly wait!

Hannah came to the hospital when I had both my kids and I am so excited to meet her daughter.

We are all ready to welcome Bostynn LeKay Clow! 

{Dorothy Maudie Lawrence}

While I was in Idaho on my girls trip my Great Grandma Dorothy passed away.

She was almost 95 which made her passing joyous, as she lost her husband nearly 40 years earlier!

We went to Eugene Father's Day weekend to celebrate her life.

 

The ongoing theme at her memorial was her willingness to plan and serve. As I sat there, I realized I too adopted those habits and all along I didn't hardly know it!

I made these yummy vanilla cupcakes with Paula Deans strawberry cream cheese frosting.

*****

Unfortunately, while we were there, we also attended a funeral for a dear friend of mine. She was the mother to 8 biological children, 4 step children, and many 'strays.' She died at 65 of stomach cancer. She will be greatly missed! Lynn Teran taught me to sew and if I'd only spent more time sewing with her, I could do it by trade! She was a lovely woman and I am glad she is no longer in pain.

{Feliz Cumpleanos}

 Maisey turned 9 and we celebrated with a fiesta theme.

 The theme, pinata and all, came from the fact she wanted taco salads for dinner. I couldn't resist decorating, and thanks to pintrest I made a tissue banner and pom poms.

 These lime colored HUGE cupcakes were a BIG hit- cotton candy icing and all.

Gotta love Pintrest as much as these cute jars filled with limeade!

Skating was 80's theme. When my friends and I decided not to use the theme for a friends birthday, I thought someone ought to! The girls LOVED it, all the neon and pink hair mascara streaks in their hair!

Did you ever get a rose from Skate World? I sure as heck did, and this one I bought just so I could send her a happy birthday over the mic, along with the song dedication, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."

I don't believe these are a youth 3! I guess we will be reordering...

 Though she's never liked toys (rather art, science, cooking, anything hands on), she is still into American Girl Dolls (she calls them collectibles and styles their hair).

 Thanks to uncles Tod's idea, a ballet bar at home.

 Wings and Wave was Maisey's choice for celebration. The above, was my idea.

 Cousin Ruby and Maisey

 Ryley love the water, fortunately in this family.

The inside of out favorite slide. After sliding on a tube, you frop into this swirling vortex and go around a couple times before being sucked down the slide backwards.

Our 9 year old! Happy year spunky Maisey!

{The BEST}

This picture is of Ms. Angal. She is the BEST teacher we have ever had and we were fortunate enough to have her for 2 years! She was always attentive to each child and gave Maisey and amazing experience. We are SO sad we won't have her anymore, but we are so grateful for the time we had with her. Next year she will be teaching part time and leading the school as they become a science based STEM school and so we got her just in time. Best of luck to her in her new responsibilities. She is a blessing and asset to anyone who is privileged to know and work with her.
Just one example of her patience, she had to put up with all my grandiose "room parent" party ideas!

{Bridging}

 Today Maisey "bridged up" from a Brownie to a Junior Girl Scout. Next year her involvement with the troop will be a less due to another scheduling conflict, but she wants to continue on with the troop for her 5th year. She still plans to sale cookies (so she will be coming for you!), do service projects, and go to camps.  

The next color she will sport is Girl Scout teal!

{Modesty and Specialist #1}

Our kids are EXTREMELY modest. We appreciate their virtue, but it seems a little extreme when they visit their pediatrician each year for well child checks. Maybe I am just hyper-sensitive to their behavior concerning this issue (nudity) because of my former job with child-welfare, but we keep trying to explain to them that it is ok to undress for doctors.

Anyway, this upset face is due to the fact Ry had to get undressed and put on a gown. I slyly took out my camera and snapped the pic nonchalantly because I didn't want to disrespect him, but at the same time, it was too cute.

Now, Ry had an appointment with a pediatric dermatologist.

He was diagnosed as we all suspected with Vitiligo, an autoimmune disease which is not harmful (yes, the one Michael Jackson had).

We are blessed Ryley is healthy and that he is fair enough it isn't too noticeable. We aren't even going to do treatment right now, as it is cosmetic and hardly noticeable to areas where his clothes do not cover. 

I will admit that when they discussed the heightened risk of other auto immune diseases as he gets older my heart raced a little. However, what I mostly thought about was how terrible it would be to have a sick child. And the thought of receiving a life threatening diagnosis. It surely put some worry in me and I am counting my blessings a little more right now. I don't ever want to take for granted the gifts I have been given. I am one lucky woman. I know this and give thanks continually.

Specialist #2 is this Thursday but that is for another post.

{I know}

Just to make it known, I do acknowledge the fact that sometimes I am a little extreme when it comes to planning things. This was one of those times. It started out when I decided to make a cute wreath for an upcoming baby shower I am planning. The picture of the fabric below only total 1/3 of what I used. I traced, and cut, and glued, and then pinned cirlces only to find out the 12 or so hours I spent on this thing, could have been drastically less, IF I had known Olfa makes circle cutters!!! Lesson learned for the next third time (ok, that is embarassing, I made another wreath out of felt for Valentines one year, a heart).

 

 I also made these little balls to add more color. I used some foam (which are a rip off) and some plastic bags that I taped to be smaller for size variation.

Lastly, see this rosette ball? DO NOT make one! I expect it to take 10 hours- IF I finish it! This portion took me 4 hours. If I could re-do it (but I won't, I was going to make 3, no I may not finish one), I would use fabric because it is far more durable and quicker than this crepe paper.