Sewing 101

This year as part of our homeschooling the girls had expressed interest in learning how to sew a dress. So the other day they had a great sale going at the fabric store on patterns and fabric. The girls enjoyed glancing at the pattern books, and learning about different types of fabric. They have each chose a different pattern and fabric and have begin to cut them out. I would like to try to work on them about once or twice a week. I hope they turn out great...but we will see. I'll try to keep you posted.

This is the pattern and fabric Alyssa chose.


And this is the pattern and fabric Shelbi chose.


The girls at work

Pictures

Well I finally talked Sean into it and we got a professional family photo taken. Sean really doesn't like to get pictures taken, but he really was a good sport about it, and I think we got some pretty good pictures.

Our family Photo. I couldn't get my computer to crop the pictures, so they really look better printed up.

Finally A New Post!

Where has the time gone? Summer just flew by and I figured once school started and we got back into a schedule things would slow down, but they really haven't. Summer was great, and looking back over my previous post "What I'm Looking Forward To" I was blessed to be be able to enjoy most everything on the list. Billy and Barbara didn't make it out to see us, but we are sill hoping they will make it out sometime. Since the camp out we have had a lot of company. I really have enjoyed having different ones in our home, and to our assembly for church. Although it makes life busy it is always so encouraging to have the brethren in our home, and I feel blessed to be able to teach my children hospitality through example.

This week we went over to the coast for a couple days with some of our company. As we traveled down the road we sang, and visited about good things. I thought about what great memories these are going to be for my children, and what a blessing it is to be able to share it with them. It seems like the older I get the more I realize how quickly time is flying by. It may be just a few short years before my girls are getting married and moving away. I really want to enjoy there teenage years and take every opportunity to instruct them to be good wives and mothers.

I am homeschooling the two older girls again this year. We are doing a different program than we did last year, and I really am enjoying it much more. We are able to set our own pace and own schedule. This has worked great with all of the company we have had, and I feel so much more relaxed and less stressed out than I have in the previous years. Once things settle down a little around here we would like to do some projects. The girls would like to learn to sew some clothing and I would like to do some cooking lessons also.

So that is the short version of what has been going on around here. Hopefully I will be able to get on more frequently. I miss reading all of your posts, and receiving all of your comments. Now it's time to get caught up on what has been happening with all of you.

Maria's 11th Birthady

Well I have to admit this is kind of old news, but I took pictures to post on my blog so I figured I might as well post about it still. A couple of weeks ago my computer had to go in for repairs, so I was with out a computer for about a week, so that is a good excuse for being behind on my posts right?
Maria turned 11 on the 15Th of this month, and to celebrate her birthday we went to the family fun center in Wilsonville They have a lot of arcade games, mini golf, race cars, bumper boats, and batting cages. The kids had fun. We played a round of mini golf. This was a bit challenging with a 2 year old. He didn't quite grasp the concept and kept picking up everyones ball and relocating it. But we soon found that as long as he had a club and ball in his had he was a happy boy.

My little golf pro

The birthday Girl

This picture turned out so cute I thought I would post it too.

So after a round of mini golf in the hot blazing Oregon sun, the girls thought they were about to die! So they all voted to ride the bumper boats. I would have loved to have gone too, but Hayden was to young to ride along, so I sat out and took pictures of all the fun. They had a blast!







Sean was working when we went to the Family Fun Center, so we also went to the Olive Garden as a family for her birthday. We had several gift cards, which covered most of the cost, so that made it even nicer. She had a nice birthday, and it was great to spend a little time together.

Here's An Update

I guess it has been a while since I posted, so I thought I would do a little update on what has been going on around here. Well school is finally over. We have been sleeping in some, but never past nine....we have to keep some kind of schedule around here. So usually we are all up by nine to get ready for the day and do some chores. We have been getting out some most everyday. Just to do a little window shopping, swimming, or to enjoy some sunshine at the park. The sunshine I was looking forward to has finally arrived....and I have been enjoying it. I got to go pick strawberries the other day. Trina came out to pick too. It was nice to spend a little time together out in the fields picking and visiting. I brought them all home and the girls helped me put them up and make freezer jam. It is nice to have kids old enough to help. It makes it go so much faster.

We also got to venture up to Olympia for Ashley's wedding. It was nice to see everyone. Even if it was just for the day I'm glad we got to go. As they were standing up in front of everyone the minister instructed them to enjoy each day, because time goes by so fast. And I though about how true that is, and how it seemed like just the other day it was me getting married. Weddings are always such a good reminder of the promises made between man and wife, and the love for one another. It is a beautiful thing to reflect on, and to still have after fifteen years truly is a blessing. It was great to be reminded.

The next few weeks my goal is to sort through all the rooms in our house and get rid of all excess. This weekend Sean and I built a work bench together for the garage. It really helps to get things a little more organized. I'm hoping to have a yard sale in a couple weeks, so that is what is on the agenda for the next couple weeks. I will try to keep you all updated.

Weekend Getaway

This last weekend Sean and I were able to get away for a couple of days to celebrate our anniversary. As I mentioned in my previous post we went to Hood River. We stayed at a nice little bed and breakfast in town. The room was very nice and the breakfast each morning was really good. When we arrived we found a note telling us where are room was located, so we journeyed upstairs to our suite and found the door propped open. The room was very nice with a small living area and kitchenette, but as I turned the corner and entered our bed room I found a cat laying on our bed. To tell you the truth it kind of caught me off guard. I gasped and said "There's a cat on our bed" Now I'm not a big lover of cats, and I was kind of disgusted that they would let there cat come up to our room and sleep on our bed. Sean reached out to touch it to get it to move off our bed, and it did nothing. At that point I realized it was fake. I did however remove it from the bed. In my opinion cats do not belong on the bed not even fake ones!

On Saturday we went downstairs to eat breakfast. We had fruit followed by some banana nut bread, then some sort of quiche, meatballs and toast, and coffee, tea, and juice to drink. Everything was really good, and it was interesting to listed to every ones conversation, and find out all the different places everyone had come from. After breakfast we drove out to the airport for Sean's surprise flight lesson. I really pulled it off well he was really caught off guard, and really had no idea what I had planned. As the flight instructor explained to him that he would actually be flying the plane I could tell he was really surprised, but happy too. Sean isn't the kind of guy to show a lot of emotion, but he was all smiles.


The instructor explaining to Sean how things work on the plane


In the plane getting ready for take off.


Mt. Hood our scenic destination


Mt. Hood right outside our window.


The Gorge and Hood River


Our landing strip


My Pilot safe on the ground again.

After the flight lesson we ate some lunch, browsed through some of the shops down town, and then went on the Mt. Hood train ride. It was a fun relaxing ride. Here are some more pictures.

Sean and I waiting for the train to leave the depot


Scenery on the train ride


The engine switching ends or the train

Saturday was a pretty long day, so by the end we were feeling kind of lazy so we rented a movie, and had Taco Bell for dinner in our room...I know so romantic! Sunday we got up and packed things up as we got ready for church. Then we went downstairs for breakfast, but when we got there two seats were left, but not next to each other. It was a little awkward at first, but the couple that was there the day before from Boston said we were way to quite the day before, so we needed to sit apart in hopes that we might converse more. I don't know if it really worked, but they were very nice and did try to include us in the conversation. The breakfast once again was wonderful. Stuffed french toast, ham, and fresh fruit. All very yummy. It was a great to be able to get away and spend some time together. In some ways I wish it would have lasted longer, but I was starting to miss the kids and was looking forward to getting back home.

What I'm Looking Forward To

Things here have been so busy it seems. I was going to post about our trip to the Brewster camp out, but so much time has passed it just seems like old news. I will say we did have a great time up there, and it was nice to go and see everyone again. So I thought I would write this post about things that I am looking forward to.

1. I'm looking forward to church dinner Sunday. Just being able to spend time with the brethren is a joy

2. I am looking forward to school being over. Being able to sleep in some, not having to keep such a scheduled routine and being able to go out and do some fun things with the kids this summer.

3. I am looking forward to the warm sunshine. Its June and in the 50's and 60's. Hurry up sunshine.....come out come out wherever you are. :)

4. I am looking forward to our anniversary. This year we will be married 15 years. I remember when we were newly married and I thought over 5 years seemed like a lot. This year we have a little weekend trip planned. We are going to Hood River. I have reserved a room at a bed and breakfast for two nights and we are planning on going on the Mt. Hood train. I also have set up a surprise flight lesson for Sean. He has mentioned several times how it would be fun to learn to fly. The pilot said I could go up with them. I think it is going to be fun!

5. I am looking forward to Ashley and Bodine's wedding.....In hopes we get to go.

6. I am looking forward to spending a day at the beach this summer. Going to seaside and looking in the shops, and to Cannon Beach to explore the tide pools.

7. I am also looking forward to the Oregon camp out. I'm looking forward to Billy and Barbara coming for a visit, and getting to spend some time with them and their kids.

Well there are a few things, and those are only the things I know about. Just think of all the other good things that may be coming my way that I don't know about yet.