A Day at the Beach

So we decided to take a day to play Labor Day weekend, since we have been either traveling back and forth between Bellingham and Newberg, or have been working to get unpacked and moved in. I made the executive decision to find the nearest beach on Saturday, so we traveled the 65 miles or so to Lincoln City. It is a great Oregon Coast town, complete with tourist shops, seafood restaurants, and best of all... a beach or two. (There is also an outlet mall, but fortunately for my pocket book when Nicholle asked to go, the kids were already wet and sandy, so we were in no condition to shop!) We did however notice one particular difference between Oregon coast beaches and the beaches of Bellingham and Birch Bay, SAND! Usually the weather can be a little unpredictable, with fog and cool windy temperatures being the norm. But Newberg was over 90 degrees, and the weather in Lincoln City was 80 Degrees and sunny with only a hint of a breeze, the perfect day! (annecdotally, I guess Sunday and Monday the fog was pretty thick all day) The kids had a great time!

The big waves from afar.....

Franny's "fear" as they approached (notice the size)

Juan doing what Juan does best.....we're just not sure what it is...

Happy kids that slept well on Saturday night!

We have decided to do more beach exploring in the future, and should anyone else decide to go, feel free to stop by, we are on the way!

Thirteen Months????? Really?????

Now that's just ridiculous! Our lives have changed dramatically in the last 13 months! The kids are all a year older, I changed jobs, we moved and for the first time in 16 years plus neither Nicholle or I have any callings in church (probably soon to change however). There is no way I can cover the last 13 months, so I am vowing right now to be more regular about updating this, especially since most of you who at one time followed us are no longer around us every day.... Suffice it to say, we are now living in a small town about 20 miles southwest of Portland called Newberg. It is small, about 25,ooo people but we love it. Originally a Quaker community, Newberg is home to George Fox University, a private liberal arts college sponsored by the quakers. I commute to Beaverton for work each day, not a bad drive at all, compared to the last 10 years of driving to Everett and back. Work has been getting better each day, and I finally feel like I am fitting in after 8 months. The kids all just started school and seem to be making friends, since both Mario and Franny have birthday parties to attend next weekend after their soccer games.

And then there is soccer. This seems to become our lives until November. And they are only playing rec league soccer with the parks and rec department. Fortunately they all have great coaches and are learning a lot, especially Juan, He even scored a goal in his game on Saturday! Having 3 children in sports is just plain crazy, and I have a new found respect for my parents and what they went through with several of us playing baseball at the same time! Fortunately for us, all three coaches scheduled practices for the same days of the week at the same field, so Nicholle just picks the kids up after school, gets them changed and hangs out at the practice field, Kindle in hand from 4 to 7 each Tuesday and Thursday. What a trooper! The kids really love the game, and Dad is finally figuring out the rules, having chosen baseball over soccer as a kid.

We will try to get some pictures posted in the next couple of days, and try to be better about keeping this thing up and going!

Summer Vacation- Did you get a picture of that?

I am such a lousy mom!! We just went on a vacation to Terry's family reunion and I somehow got home without a single picture. HOW DO YOU DO THAT???? We went to Umpqua State Park along the Oregon Coast. It was cold but we had a ton of fun playing with our cousins, and on the beach. We flew kites, made sand castles and went for walks. It was a blast, thank you Grandma Jones for the fun adventure.

Better Late Than Never

Well, Franny was baptized, and we are all still alive. It has only taken me 6 months to get this picture on the blog. Franny did great and had a great baptism. She wore a dress made for her by "Grandma Lori". And has used the dress to attend the Vancouver, British Columbia Temple Dedication where she was able to see President Monson wiggle his ears. She was quite amazed by that.... Both Grandma Lori and Grandpa Jones gave talks at her baptism, and our friend Christa Daily played the song Baptism out of the children's song book. Franny felt like a princess on this day, and I am so proud of her for making such a good decision to be baptized.

Now we are awaiting Mario's baptism in December......

Happy Birthday Franny!

Guess who turned 8 today!!!! Franny had a great morning, painting a unicorn statue with her friend Thirza, at Creativitea, a paint your own pottery store. We then joined the boys at Red Robin for lunch. How much fun it is to be a girl turning 8! Her brothers even wished her a Happy Birthday. Then we get to have a little family party tonight with our little family. Then on Saturday she is getting baptized and we are having a celebration. And last, but not least, she gets to have a party with the Jones family at our weekly Sunday dinner. Is she spoiled or what?????? I think really she is just very loved!

Franny's Baptism

Franny is getting baptized on Saturday the 23rd of January at 11 am for anyone that would like to come. I am so proud of her, she is making great choices in her life, and has really blossomed into a beautifully sweet little girl. She had her interview with Bishop McKell yesterday, and passed (like we didn't think she would:)). She is ready and excited for the next couple weeks. A great birthday, and then a awesome baptism day!! Then we get to do this again in December with Mario!!!!! I am so proud of all of my kids.

So, I started my math class that is online. OH MY GOSH!! My brain is being taxed. I have had straight A's since going back to school this time.... this class may kill that record.

Franny's smile

This is a picture of Franny's dance costume. I tried to upload the vidoe, but it never works. She performed the song from Annie "Your Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile. Thanks Miss Jamie for the fun class. She has really enjoyed it, and we enjoy watching her!