Summer Smiles

Ok, so summer is only half way done, but we have been busy.  The weather here has been pretty close to wonderful.  I am a fair weather gal. When the weather is between 55 and 85, I am the happiest.  In the winter I don't mind it dropping below freezing and getting a few good snow storms, but below 20 degrees and I don't care to leave the house.  The opposite is the same in the summer, I am good up to 90 degrees then I prefer the indoors or at least shady areas.  Still working on that being content in whatever but I will get there.  Back to where I began, the weather here has been lovely and only a few days above 90, with some little rain storms here and there.  This keeps most things green and pretty.  Even the mountains still have a shade of green in them and that makes me smile.

The end of May brought a sad but happy day as Brent and Latisha moved into their new home.  They did a wonderful job building this house.  The builder's price came with the basics but to add on the upgrades they wanted, in most areas was cheaper to do themself or higher someone else to do it.  So they have been working like crazy changing door handles, light fixtures, adding shelves and miscellaneous things.  They just got new countertops put in and have been working on the kitchen backsplash.  I am so proud of all they have done and it is turning out beautiful.

the new home

 Cassandra got her honor star.  It was bittersweet watching her getting her hard work recognized and we were so proud.  There is always a little catch in my throat as I realize my babies are growing up.  I also had a little bit of a mourning time for my Isabella.  She will never be an honor star, we still wait for her to say mom and dad.  I probably should just accept who God made her, but I believe He has more for her.  Sometimes though reality of what may never be and my dreams for my child hit me and I feel sadness I can't explain.  It has been a hard year for Isabella.  She has increased in seizure activity, has a harder time walking and is mostly confined to her leg braces, we have seen little progress in her cognitive levels and the genetic testing basically found nothing except a potential candidate gene.  We are thankful for Isabella, and if this is what God has for her I will embrace and love her with all I have.  She is my baby girl, and I love the joy she brings to our lives.

Cassandra getting her award

David and I with our girls

It had been a couple years but I was able to attend the homeschool conference!!!
Even more exciting was that I got to share this time with Ivy.  She is looking
forward to homeschooling her own children and look forward to advice and
ideas from the conference.  It was a good conference and I enjoyed our speakers

The next great event was the baby shower for Alex and Ivy's new little man.  Because they are having another boy they didn't want a real big party, more of a family barbecue.  Everything went lovely and we had a wonderful time celebrating this new little life.

Me and my son

Look at this lovely mama.  

 Cassandra also had a birthday.  She turned 11 and wanted a water party.  We had a great turn out and went with a Luau theme.  The weather was perfect and the day was great.

 Some friends of ours daughter was getting married where Alex and Ivy live.  It worked out for us to go and we did a family birthday party for Alex and Cassandra at an all you can eat pizza place.  I have little self control there and everyone was amazed with my quantity of dessert pizza, :)

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Fathers Day was a great day to have a golf day.  We joined together and hit balls at the driving range and David got to give Aidric some pointers.  

Auntie Cassie entertaining her nephews and niece. 

 Next we had August's 4th birthday party.  My oldest grandson is growing so well and handsome.  I had told him when he came by how Grandma loves him and misses him, and he said,"you miss me Grandma." It just totally melted my heart.  Such a sweetie.

The other day Isabella had a neurology appointment.  When she came out of the car she landed funny on her foot and squealed.  We didn't think much about it but upon taking her to our next grocery stop she landed funny again.  This time she was very unhappy and refused to put pressure on it.  We took her home and I examined her foot.  It was definitely swelling.  She kept trying to walk on it but would let out screams.  We took her to the doctor and yep, she had broke it.  Poor little girl.  I wonder if she landed on her heal wrong and her hard braces didn't give.  She now has a broken heal that she is supposed to stay off of for a few weeks.  She was very unhappy and doesn't like staying off it. We took her to the park and Cassandra really wanted to push her around.  The rose garden was beautiful and I think it took her mind off her foot.

We went to get some ice cream after. 

 That brings us to the 4th of July.  We had some friends over and once again it was a perfect day.  David cooked up some burger and hot dogs, we played some games, lit off some fireworks and celebrated this amazing country of ours.

Volleyball

My children still at home

Latisha, Brinley, Brent and August

My love and me

Here we now are in the midst of summer, enjoying our time together and looking forward to our new grandbaby.  We have  a couple other events up and coming and maybe I can find some more time to post.  Hope you all are enjoying the summer.  God bless you all,
Alicia

Spring Getaway

Spring is birthday season in our home.  It is one party after another and as much as I try to simplify, it still is a busy time.  It is a good busy, celebrating life and the lives of those I adore.  So, on now to spring.

my birthday celebration and offspring present.

Aidric had a lego party

We celebrated 29 years of marriage

Isabella's traditional birthday party.

Danika turned sweet 16!!! 

I have been blessed with some wonderful friends and one of my dear friends is expecting her 11th baby.  I have had the joy of knowing her and seeing her go through six of those pregnancies.  We became friends because our oldest sons played soccer together.  She has since had six and I have had three more children during our friendship and she still remains one of my greatest encouragers.  I am so thankful for her and her commitment to teaching and raising her children for the Lord.

here we are with part of our tribe

These are our oldest sons-oldest sons. Our grandsons. It was fun to take them
 to the zoo like we used to their dads. 

Cassandra and Aidric made and raced their derby cars.  They both did great and Aidric actually took first in his division.

My husband, my dad, my grandpa, my son and my daughter

As part of my birthday present my girls took me to have my toes done.  We all got pedicures, it was so much fun.

Latisha, Danika, Me and Sierra.

Next up was Easter.  We had a great time dying eggs and only a few were cracked.  I have found using a table cloth helps relieve some anxiety. :)

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Easter morning, Isabella and Sierra doing the egg hunt

Brent, August, Brinley and Latisha

Then after a great dinner we had an egg hunt at our home.
Aidric was ready

Weston was adorable, he is getting the hang of this

We took some fun family photos

Then we had dessert and celebrated Sierra and Danika''s birthdays

Sierra has been collecting tea cups for a while, so Latisha and Ivy planned and put together an amazing afternoon tea.  The boys went to wild wings and we did the girlie thing.  It was so good.

Lots of fun yummy fu fu food

so fun. 

With the weather warming up we set up our fire and enjoyed hot dogs
and smores

Sierra had fun making a cake for Christians birthday.  He is five days younger
and it is a source of fun teasing. 

Alex and Ivy got to take a fun baby moon.  With the birth of the baby around the corner they got away for a fun trip.  We got to keep Weston for a few days and he loved school time.

Latisha and Brent also took the opportunity to take a trip in honor of their 5th anniversary.  They packed up their kiddos and braved the long flight to the UK, where they visited England, Scotland, and Ireland.  They had an amazing time. 

Then it was our turn to take a spring trip.  Our first stop was Crater Lake.  We were there in time to still enjoy a little snow.  It was absolutely beautiful and a wonderful getaway

From there we headed to the coast and stayed at a rental house in Lincoln City.  It was a peaceful time.

One evening the girls and I decided to take a sunset stroll on the beach.  I got some beautiful pictures. 

We also got to visit a local lighthouse were Aidric became an official junior ranger.  

The next day David decided to take me on a morning "little" hike.  Google did not get us to the right place but thankfully some blogger out there gave better directions and we found the spot.  Had we paid attention we would have noticed the little hike path but we didn't see that and went on a two hour hike.  Once to the top we discovered the way we were supposed to go and made it back down in 20 minutes.  I am glad we took the "wrong" path because we saw some amazing foliage. 

made it to the top, so beautiful.  It overlooked the ocean and city

Once we got back, we quickly showered and took the kids on some more adventures.  First stop was a beautiful Garden

Cassandra and Isabella

Sierra and Danika

Then we went to some tide pools where we watch some very aggressive little crabs and saw lots of fun sea life.

The girls were adorable

so cute

Finally we headed home and the last stop was the Multnomah Falls, always a fun stop and we even climbed to the bridge.

Our spring was busy, fun and exciting.  I hope you all had a great spring too.  God bless you all. 

Alicia