Vacation Bible School 2010

Today is the last day of vacation Bible school. Christian and Maddy had a lot of fun this year learning songs, dance routines, crafts, games, and Bible stories. It has been challenging to wake up early in the middle of summer vacation, but it has been worth it. This is the first year that Maddy hasn't had separation anxiety and I haven't had to stay the whole day. It helps to have your brother, cousins, and friends in your class!

My sister-in-law Tani teaches a class every year. However, this year has been different because all her kids - Heath, Heather, and Han - are teacher aides instead of students! She has been teaching Sunday school and VBS since her oldest Heath (who turns 20 next month) was in her class. I think next year I'll be brave enough to teach a class along with my other sister-in-law Kari. Samuel can be our little helper or mascot :)

The kids can ride!

Last Wednesday I bought Christian and Maddy bikes for MY birthday! It was the best present ever to see my kids learn to ride bikes. They've had small training wheel bikes they rode a few times years ago, but now they are big kids! Our family got side tracked with all the baby stuff, plus Christian and Maddy never really wanted to ride a bike. Sun River changed all of that! The extended family and ours vacationed there a few weeks ago. Sun River is an awsome resort community with lots of bike paths. After Christian and Maddy saw how much fun all the cousins were having on their bikes, they decided right then and there they had to learn to ride. Lessons started on Thursday with me holding the back of their bikes. By Friday they just needed a little push to get going. Saturday they were good to go! Today Dane got his bike all fixed up and gave Sam his first ride. He's taken rides in a bike trailer (the buggy that hooks on to the back of Daddy's bike), but this was whole new adventure! Samuel couldn't stop smiling and saying "wee".

Aside from all the scrapes and bruises the kids are loving their new bikes. We plan on buying a couple more bikes off craigslist for when my nephews come up from Las Vegas for a visit. Just think of all the fun bike rides we're gonna have with 5 kids. Look out here we come!

Beach Trip 2010

Here are some pics of our annual family beach trip to Lincoln City! We all had a blast!!!

See you all again soon!

We're leaving for the airport in just a few short hours. This vacation has been much so fun! Swimming, Circus Circus, Vegas strip at night (for Sasha and I), her yummy cooking, games of Hand & Foot (We beat Sasha & Troy :), not to mention the relaxing time we had just hanging out in their new home! The Gillian's made us feel so welcome. 

 

Enjoying their brand new pool!

Las Vegas!

We arrived Thursday afternoon for a visit with sister and her family, meeting us there was Grandma & Grandpa L*, Dad & Robin. We're having a blast! It's so nice to be in the sun! When we left Portland it was in the low 60's! It finally feels like we're starting our summer vacation!

Sash and Troy's house is amazing! Big with plenty of room for the kids the reek havoc (which they are), amazing decorating, and have I mentioned their beautiful pool! Unfortunately the pool JUST got finished a couple of days ago, and the plaster has not quite hardened. It's a no go till Monday :( But that's ok, we've been using the pool just down the road at the hotel/casino dad and the grandparents are staying. When it comes to swimming these kids are all over it. Even Samuel! He doesn't know that he can't swim, and keeps protesting when I glide him through the water. He is fearless! Sam's favorite thing to do at the pool is stand on the edge & 1,2,3 JUMP! Down under the water he goes, I pull him up for air with a big smile on his face.

Here are some pics, I'll post more when we return home on Monday. An all too short vacation, but I'll take it!