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"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondange." Galatians 5:1

Family Vacation

So.....it's been over a year since my last post, but I'm trying not to start so many of my statements with an apology, ya know? I just need to try to remember to post more posts more.. hehe.

We just got home from a family vacation. We went to Gearhart, OR for five days...and it was WONDERFUL. It was great to get away, have no schedule, let my husband golf as he pleased, and enjoy watching Aunt Tammy have fun with our girls! We are blessed by these sweet times.

Aunt Tammy, Lu and Daddy @ ZigZag Inn

Mae and Mommy @ Great Wall Chinese food.

Mae and Aunt Tammy flying a kite!

Lots of ice cream..

Many bike rides through Gearheart.

Even a trip to Long Beach!

I took around 400 pics, and these were only a FEW of the highlights. We hated to see our time away come to an end, but we are so thankful for our family time. Thank you for coming with us, Aunt Tammy!

Oh yeah, and we ATE a lot of food. Crazy amount. It was so.much.fun. :)

Loves!

Birthdays..

It's birthday season.. Well, if you think about it, the whole year could actually be considered "Birthday Season" since there's always SOMEONE out there having a birthday, but Spring is our time of year for birthdays.

(Chris had his birthday on March 26, which just starts our round of three celebrations in our family, not to mention the others just around the corner of our siblings, nieces, etc...)

Mae celebrated her 6th (6!!!) birthday on April 19. Of course, as a mommy, I have to reflect on the day she was born and then weep a little because she has grown so fast right before our eyes, and then wish I had it my way and it would take TWICE as long for them to get big and talk and need me less with each day.... sniff sniff!! Any....Way..... My first daughter had a lovely birthday, and we are truly grateful for her and all of the wonderful people in her little life.

*Here she is, posing with a paper her friend Isabelle colored for her..(one of SEVERAL) so cute!

My Lu is turning 2 on May 6!!! We just can't believe it. She's so much fun, and we've been enjoying her so much, that we hardly noticed that another year has gone by. Hopefully she won't notice that due to her big sister's birthday happening 2+ weeks prior to hers, she has gotten a little shorted on the birthday bash planning.. Is this typical for the second child?? If so, I'm sorry LuLu! There will be lots of cake (strawberry flavored, courtesy of your sister's choice for you), and probably some of her favorite HOT DOGS, so should be a fun time... you know, if and when it does happen.. hehe

*Lu at her favorite restaurant - Saigon Village!

Oh how we love our little girls. Wish they didn't have to have another birthday, but God is nice enough to let us have them for the time that we do, and we are so very thankful for Mae and Lu.

Karen, I love you!

This post is for my Karen.

I love your blog. I've been meaning to suggest that you start one. I can't wait to read more and am so thankful to have this wonderful way to see your beautiful photography and read about what's going on with you!

I'm sure you've noticed that I'm super lame and I don't post much, but for you, I wanted to say a little something.

I love being a mommy. I know it may seem that Little Girls are a lot for me to keep up with -- and they ARE, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Mae and Lu are the loves of my life -- and they're amazing! I know you are sooo looking forward to meeting Little Owen -- I have to tell you that your heart is about to be broken.................broken open and bursting with so much love it literally HURTS. My heart just fills up in anticipation for you and Walter to experience this moment.

I am here for you, my most beloved friend. Please always remember that!

Loves!

well...

here I am.. being all BORING again..

I'm thinking of deleting this blog.. making it vanish. in fact, it's so apparent that no one reads it that I'm thinking about paying my husband to post "comments," just so I don't develop a complex.

anyway, I thought I would share that, after about two weeks of looking at it sitting in the box on the living room floor, I finally opened my Wii Fit and set it up. (was a gift, looked cool when I asked for it a while ago..) Mae and I had some time alone during Lu's afternoon nap, and we set her up and did the "Body Test" and she did some "Training" -- aerobic hula hooping and balance practice by hitting soccer balls with her head. we had such a fun time together - just the two of us. we laughed a lot and had a good time watching our Mii characters play the sports.

Mae is purely delightful when we have time together, just the two of us. it's hard because she is LESS enjoyable when her sister is up and around and in the middle of the action. I feel bad that Mae is still learning how not to be the only one who needs me all the time.. she still has obvious jealousy and resentment issues when Lu is too close. we will keep praying that it "clicks" with her someday, but until then we need to remember to savor that time alone with her, one on one.

I'm glad I decided to keep this anniversary gift from Chris -- he didn't know if he should get it for me or if I just wanted a new camera. while I need the camera, I'm glad Mae and I have something fun and active to do together while her sister is sleeping the afternoon away...

(oh, and when I did MY "Body Test," it determined an unflattering weight and BMI for Mommy -- ughhhh... so it automatically makes my Wii character FAT! now if that's not motivation...)

photos next time.. (NO! not of ME -- of Mae playing the Wii Fit!)

loves.

hmmm... has it really been that long?

Geez, I must be the world's worst blogger. Oh well, does anyone really read this anyway? (except for my friend, tile girl, who had been asking for a "new" post... this is for you - another dull write up!)

I do have some update info on the Doty Girls. Tomorrow is their last day at their current DCP's. While I feel a little sad that they won't be going there to see their friends on a daily basis after tomorrow, I also feel that it really is time for a change for them. Mae completed a preschool course with her friend while there and really enjoyed learning. Lu has grown SO much while she's been going there - that part is sad for me - that she had so many milestone stages at this house. We are grateful for the time they were able to spend with this family, and we will always remember their generosity of opening their home to our girls.

We will soon have a young woman (ewww! if someone called me that when I was her age, I would've probably gagged at being described that way.. but I don't want to say that she's a "girl" either - she is a college graduate...ANYWAY..) come to our house over the summer to take care of the girls here. This will be a change for us, but hopefully fun for them. I'm glad that they are able to have exposure to different people in their lives - it's good for them. And an added plus that I feel loved when someone loves my children. (ahhh...sigh...)


Our family is finally recovering from a very busy birthday/vacation/event season. We had my sister's wedding, Easter, Mae's bday, a beach trip, Lu's bday, and then a grown up trip for Chris and me, all in about a month's time. It was fun, but we're glad we have the next few months to relax and just be a family together. -A family who hangs out, sits around, watches tv, eats a lot of snacks, and maybe takes a stroll in the out-of-doors once in while.... jk! ;D sort of...


Well that's all for now. I will attempt to update more often, but no promises. I seriously do not feel I have worthwhile information to share about our life, but as much as I'm entertained by our 5 year old Mae and 1 year old Lu, I will see if I can write it out as cute and funny as it happens. That should be really fun to read. haha.

Loves!

new days ahead

Tomorrow is the first day back to work for me. It is also the first day Mae and Lu will be going to Dawn's. (Chris is going to work too, but he hasn't had much of a break from his work like I have...so nothing new for him!) We are all anxious about our new weekly schedule, and it's funny how I can already feel the structure re-settling around our house. I'm sure it's very similar in everyone's homes right now - the day after Labor day means back to reality...

Chris and I had a great time at our Dave show at the Gorge - went too fast, but had a nice break to ourselves. :) We also attended little Mikey Sorenson's 1st bday party in Prineville yesterday, which was a lot of fun for our whole family. Jon's wife, Mai, is SOOOOO nice, as is the rest of her family - and very Asian... (okay, I know that sounded a little strange, but you just have to know me and the amusement Chris and I both felt at watching our daughter play with so many kids that sort of looked like her - something I NEVER did as a child growing up in Prineville.)

Anyway, another boring post. We did get a "Bumbo" seat for Little Lu so she can learn to sit up, and mostly so she can add yet another new item to the "baby" things she can do/play. Mae got a cute little guitar, just her size, from Gramma and Papa - she's looooves it!

We love our girls so much - they are so fun to watch, teach and spend endless hours with. I say this now when they're both in bed and I'm going to start leaving them four mornings a week - I will miss them, but know that they are also on to new things themselves.

We are unbelievably thankful for the blessings we all share together on this earth.

Loves!