Halloween

Halloween was a bit of a downer this year at our house. Friday evening we had to take Madi into urgent care and turned out she was sick with the rest of West Portland and Beaverton with H1N1. I felt so bad for her. She spent the better half of the weekend on the couch watching movies. So this year Garrett and Addyson went trick or treating with Ryan through the neighborhood while I stayed home with our sick little girl. Madi was still happy that she had gotten candy from Ryan's work at the little Halloween party they have. Needless to say Garrett made out well with the candy this year having gone to Ryan's work and out through the neighborhood. Next year will be better and hopefully we won't have a sick kid. Here are some pictures of Garrett and Addyson.

Pumpkin Patch

Fall, I love it! We made our annual trip with the our good family friends The Kellar's and Putz families to Lakeview Farms in North Plains to the pumpkin patch after we enjoyed the rest of the day eating lunch and dessert together. Our kids all range in ages from 7 years-9 months and we had alot of fun. We started going as couple's when Margaret and I were pregnant with our older girls Madi and Zoe. Now there seven and growing like weeds. It is so fun to have these very special friends to share such fun traditions and outings with. We love them like family and are so blessed to have them in our lives. Thanks guys for being such great friends!! Here is a glimpse into our day together. Pictures still don't express the funny little things that eight kids can do. Enjoy and Happy Harvest.

More Soccer Pictures...

Soccer, Soccer and More Soccer!

Well it has offcially started we have two kids in sports!! Let me just say that comment that I have heard many mom's say "I live in my car going from one practice to another" is so true! Every day except friday I'm in my car going to drop someone off or pick someone up. Thank goodness I have a van with a DVD player to keep all my children and those I'm carpooling occupied while driving through town. I have mastered eating between games and practices while making sure all kids have appropriate gear with them and on them. Who new this could be such a chanllenge. Ryan coached Garrett's team and had alot of fun. He said to me he wasn't looking forward to the season ending. So this fall has been a busy one and from what I understand I'll be doing this for the next eighteen years. Wow! We have enjoyed watching the kids play this season. What a fun stage of life were entering!!

Oster Family Sunriver Trip

We spent our first week of August like we always do with The Oster Family in Sunriver Oregon. Justin and Jesse (Ryan's older brother and his wife) along with the newest member of their family, Lucy, came from Montana. Ryan's parent's and younger brother Jeff also were there. Ryan's parent's are so generous to rent a home for a week for the whole family to come together. This year we also experienced Madi bringing a friend with her! She brought one of her best friends Raegan (who's parents are some of our dearest friends). We enjoyed our week swimming, bike riding, watching thunder and lightening storms, eating good food, shopping, golfing, fishing and going to the High Dessert Musuem. This year we experienced five children on vacation. Needless to say we ate in shifts since there were with two infants and three school aged kids! It was fun and noisy!! We look forward to this trip every year. Here are some pictures of our wonderful trip!! Enjoy!



Garrett on his way to Fly Fishing

Madi in all her glory digging up dinosaur bones

Garrett, Raegan and Madi High Dessert Museum

Addyson and cousin Lucy eating lunch together Garrett and Raegan building a Fort

More Sunriver Pictures....

Sweet Baby Addyson

Addyson is fast approaching her first birthday in November. I find myself wondering where this year has gone and why it has had to go by so fast. Addyson has been a wonderful addition to our family. She is happy, energetic and sweet! She is full on crawling and pulling herself up onto everything and we find her occasionally letting go and standing all by herself! She is even walking along walls, coffee tables, bathtubs and beds! "Oh boy" is all we can say. We will soon have a walker in our home. She now says "Ma Ma" all the time. She understands the words "Danger", "NO Addyson", "Ma Ma", "Da Da" and nummy time!! It has been so much fun watching her grow. She has become a little helper. Whenever she hears the dishwasher open I will hear little hands and knees coming across the hardwood floor and a babbling happy little girl wanting to grab whatever she can get her cute little hands on. Needless to say our sweet little Addyson is even more than what we could have asked for. I'm so happy we have her and can't imagine life without her. What a blessing.