My Growing Family....

I'm truly grateful for the family God has given me....even my extended family. Over the weekend I got to go to Portland with my girls and spend a few days with them. It is amazing to see how much our family has grown in the last several years, and now we are welcoming in our newest family member - my Dad's fiancee Joyce. She is truly a delightful person...lovely inside and out. It was fun to get to know her more over the weekend, and even meet one of her daughters. My Dad and Joyce are planning quite a large wedding, and my Sister and I get to be bridesmaids. We are excited for this new chapter of our life and change in our family. Sometimes change isn't always easy (especially the change of losing my precious mother), but I am learning that as I surrender to God's plan how much joy and peace He can give us!!

Here are a few pictures from our weekend in Portland:

My Sister's oldest daughter and her friends. What great girls!

Football cake my Sister's daughter made for the Super Bowl! I was impressed!

My Sister's youngest daughter. Singing to Tyler Swift...adorable!!

Malaya, Joyce and my Dad.

Cousin time! The girls and their cousins playing school!

Happiness is........

Happiness is:

1. finding a sweet old barber who gently cut my son's hair for $9.

2. having some quiet time to write my "happiness is" blog.

3. loving my kids even when they aren't getting along.

4. having a great hat to hide my messy graying hair.

5. getting through my exercise routine even though i wanted to stop the entire time.

6. having the sun peak out just when I'm noticing.

7. not getting everything done on my today's do list and being okay with it.

8. having a really cool chalkboard hanging in my kitchen, and knowing how much my husband did to get it sturdy and straight.

9. brownies cooking in the oven.

10. having my 5 year old sit on my lap and giving him lots of kisses!!!!

Our Rescue Dog

Almost one year ago we took home Rusty (a rescue dog from California). A rescue agency, called Ginger's Pet Rescue, picked him up, immunized him and transported him to a PetSmart store in Seattle, where we purchased him. He has been an enjoyable dog for our family. This morning, Asha said, "I can't imagine our family without him." The girls love dressing him up and including him in their "house" games; the boys are constantly chasing him around, even impersonating him. He is well-loved (and also very tolerant of four active kiddos).

A poem that reminds me of Rusty's life.

RESCUE POEM

Arlene Pace
September 18, 1998

Once I was a lonely dog,
Just looking for a home.
I had no place to go,
No one to call my own.
I wandered up and down the streets,
in rain in heat and snow.
I ate what ever I could find,
I was always on the go.
My skin would itch, my feet were sore,
My body ached with pain.
And no one stopped to give a pat
Or a gently say my name.
I never saw a loving glance,
I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me
was really lots of fun.
And then one day I heard a voice
So gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me
And took me off my feet.
No one again will hurt you
Was whispered in my ear.
You’ll have a home to call your own
where you will know no fear.

Christmas 2010

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Jeffrey turns 5

Happy Birthday to Jeffrey! God has brought us great joy through this little man. We are very thankful for his life! Wow...was that really five years ago that he was born??

Things that Jeffrey loves at age 5:

*Playing with his plastic bowling ball & pins. He's got quite a good arm!
*Throwing balls
*Eating anything that is sweet (he must take after me)
*Listening to music
*Playing his guitar
*Playing the WII with his brother
*Going to Costco with Mommy
*Writing his name (he is getting quite good)
*Trading silly bands with his sisters
*Picking on Rusty (the dog)

Here are some pictures from his special day turning 5.

He opened his presents right when he woke up. Our family in Oregon got him a Loop & Jump Hot Wheel track! Very fun!

Grandpa & Grandma got him a WII Cars racing game. He is still totally into the Cars!

Lana giving his "birthday brother" some extra loving.

For dinner we had pizza and cake (ice cream cake this year), and our special friends came over to help us celebrate - Seth, Megan and their baby Jane.

Happy Birthday to you!!!

Girl Scouts

My daughter, Lana, started Girl Scouts this year for the first time. She is really enjoying it! Lots of fun and laughter is involved - as you can imagine with a room full of young girls! Yesterday they had a Girl Scout Christmas party downtown Seattle. They rode on the Carousel, had a secret sister gift exchange, and enjoyed cupcakes & hot chocolate! Here are some cute pictures:

Everyone in the troop!

The girls doing the "Girl Scout Circle".

Lana with a new Girl Scout badge. Was a sweetie!

Thanksgiving 2010

There is much to be thankful for! For one, I'm so thankful that my whole family could be together on Thanksgiving. My Sister, her family and my Dad all came up for two nights. We truly have an unique one of a kind family, and I love how all 10 kids fill our house with joy and excitement! Here are a few of the pictures I got from our weekend together (though sadly I didn't get many this year).

A few of my table decorations - one of my favorite things to do!

Appetizer - raspberry & almond glazed brie. Yummy!!

After Thanksgiving we all went downtown to see the Christmas decorations (Asha, Annalise, Lana, and Aubrey).

Ernst, Kristol, Marissa, Tyler, and Luke.

Malaya and Jeffrey are truly good friends...it's so adorable to watch them together!!