Daphne's 2nd Birthday and Daphne facts

So little one is now 2. We enjoyed a small birthday party. She received clothes and a play kitchen. The kitchen was a hit for her and brother. I like that they enjoy each others toys.

She received 2 frilly skirts. I am a little nervous to go out in public with the second one! There might be a mob of people to comment on it!

She has become her own little person. She is a very physical child. She loves to run, jump, wrestle, throw balls and pounce. She likes to cuddle and enjoys caring for things. Daphne loves her Daddy! She enjoys playing with cars, trains, dirt, rocks, light sabers, and her brothers play rifle. Her favorite toy is her kitty. She likes the outdoors, even if it is cold, she doesn't mind. She also loves shoes. Her shoes, her brothers shoes, her Daddy's, every body's shoes.

Daphne enjoys her friends. She and her brother really like "Get me" and "Super Hero's". "Get me" is pretty self explanatory. "Super Hero's" is running around with capes and doing good things, and occasionally stopping the bad guys (those are always imaginary). We have the Carlson children over often, and she loves playing with them. There are hugs for Erika every week. And she squeals "Efan! Efan!" when she sees Ethan come in sight. The Hollenbeck children visit too. Daphne enjoys having a big sister type to help her and enjoys playing "Girly" things with Kyla.

She has an opinion on her clothes. Beyond loving the color pink (I don't like pink myself), she just likes things a certain way. This is odd to me. I don't really love it. Luke did not like tags sticking out or a rough material. She wants a certain kind of outfit. In fact, there was a sweater she just would not wear. I was sad because it was made of alpaca and was warm. I made her wear it about 10 times or so, because I thought she was ridiculous.

She is a singer. We taught her the ABC's and Twinkle, Twinkle little star. She started mixing them up. Then we taught her Baa, Baa, black sheep. It is pretty funny to hear: "A, B, C, D, wittle staaaaaw. Ow I under utt you aaaaaaw. Ut above the world so high, H, I, J ,K, M, M, N, O, P. Yes, sir, yes, sir, EEEEE bags fuuuuuw. Winkle, Winkle, wittle staaaaaw, Ow I under utt you aaaaw."

Autie Elisha made up a new song. It is to the tune of Only You. You add in the child's name. So the song goes "Daphne, Roooooose. You are my Daphne, Rose" and so on. When you ask her name, she says "Da'ne Wose". She also sings the same tune to "Lukey, booooy, You are my Lukey, boy." She now calls her brother Lukey boy.

How it is, and waiting...

What we've been up to-

The yard work is getting less, while the burn pile is growing daily. It is over 7 feet tall and 15 feet wide. We wonder if there is a legal limit to the size of a flaming burn pile? We wonder if the people golfing that day will think someones home has caught fire? We hope the neighboring blackberry bushes do not catch fire.

We've rid the house of the fleas, and the mice under the sink (we hope). There is still a cougar in the area. We found cougar scat in our back yard a couple weeks ago. And the coyotes here are plentiful. We wake often in the early morning (2-3AM)to a pack running down the street barking and howling the whole way.

The people who own this house informed us they miss it. They plan to move in, when we move out. This can make a person feel a little vulnerable. Like say...vulnerable to a 30 day notice.

We have put several offers on houses. Strange things have happened to prevent us from buying them. We have had a rejected offer with no counter-offer. We have been told that only the asking price would work to purchase one home. We made a solid offer on one house and the couple did not know what the realtor's commission would be. When they calculated the price, and the other costs, they could not afford to sell their home and have it appraise out. We have called our realtor to put an offer on a home, and someone else has already put an offer on it. One home (after we made an offer) had an undisclosed, open murder investigation on it! We are confident that God WILL NOT let us buy a house unless it is the house He has planned. It makes us wonder what He has in store for us.

There seems to be an end to this house and time. But, there is not a place to go forward yet. Ryan and I both feel like we will find a place soon. So we wait.

Learning to be an eager student-

More importantly this is a good lesson. A lesson in faith. To keep and to strengthen faith. A lesson in patience. A lesson in being content in the situation the Lord has allowed you to be in. I do not think it an easy lesson. For me it is finding ways to help Ryan, teaching the children, keeping the home, and being more joyful about it. To smile more. To keep busy and not be tempted to sit and think too much about things. To be...simply just be...to love be-ing!

1 Timothy 6:8:
"If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. "

Philippians 4:11:
"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am."

Proverbs 17:22:

A joyful heart is good medicine,But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Ryan's Gift

This year Ryan received a gift from Brandon. Brandon had made 3 welded metal pieces of art for Ryan, but this years was outstanding! (I wonder if Brandon will try to out-do himself in the future) Ryan was impressed. We came home and I was told to place it by Ryan's elk rack (a place of pride for sure). Here is the picture. In the fish's mouth is a fly!

Christmas Love

Perfection

I never played this game as a child. I was not missing out. Let's just say that the box said ages 5+. I think I would like to know who the 5 year old is who can do this. Anyway, I will just say Ryan and Elisha must have cheated (or they are brilliant). All the rest of us gave it our best. Except Mom. She chose not to play at all! Maybe she is the smart one.

Perfection

Family

Sleepy eyes and Grandma

This is rare. Daphne prefers Daddy's, Grandpa's, Uncles,etc... She usually takes a week or so to connect enough with a female, to sit and snuggle. She warmed up to grandma and nearly fell asleep! What a treat!

Debbie in the kitchen

Christmas' with all the families

1st Christmas, immediate family

This is the first Christmas we celebrated with the four of us in Oregon City.

OH Christmas tree!

We decorated the Christmas tree yesterday evening. This was by far the most fun tree our family has ever decorated. Luke was able to hang breakable, and non-breakable ornaments. And Daphne made happy sounds throughout the event. We put on Charlie Brown miusic, and decorated the night away.

I have noticed a big difference in Luke and Daphne. God definately created male and female! I gave both children an identical bird to hang on the tree. Luke took his and hung it upside down. He then began making gunshot noises and announced he had shot the bird, and we could now eat it. He "Shoots" many animals around the house and brings them to Daphne to cook for the pretend dinner. We often feast on stuffed animal cat, plastic bear, and the like.

Daphne took her bird and said "OH! pretty...TWEET...TWEET...TWEEEEEEET." and made it fly all over the family room.

After a while Daphne sat with Ryan and fell asleep.

Luke picked up the camara and started taking photos. They are below. I only helped him a liitle with the final tree picture. He took the other two all by himself. Not one told him how to do anything! I was impressed, to say the least. Maybe he will remind me to bring my camara when we go places!

"Dead bird" vs. "Pretty bird, tweet"

Christmas Tree decorating

Our "Big" photographer

Thank you moving friends

We are now in Oregon City. The move went as smooth as it could. We had so much help from friends and family. ( Thank you all who helped load, unload, pack, clean and feed us! We simply cannot thank you all enough. We are blessed to have such good friends in our lives.

Pumpkin success

Pickin' a pumpkin

Happy Harvest!!

Fuzzy Hair

Someone said the other day that Daphne had no hair. This is proof to the unbelievers out there....she does have some hair.

Hair

We sold!!

We sold our house! The minister of small groups at Greater Gresham Baptist church, and his wife (a teacher) have bought it. They made us a great offer, and liked the house. She even requested the curtains in the main living space. (Thanks Mom for doing all the work to make those. I will always remember these curtains!!) We are now waiting for the appraisal. The homes in our area are not appraising, so we might have to take less in the end. It is so good that God has this under control. It is good He provides for us when it is His time. Now we wait for a new home. We will keep you all posted when we know more.

Luke now goes through our house clarifying what goes and what stays at the current home. We are wondering how he will do with things disassembled and boxed up. (Maybe we'll have to make a game out of it) Luke hopes we will buy a red house, because red is his favorite color.

Ryan is hoping we can move once. But, whatever happens, this will be a great adventure. Young children make it fun! they turn boxes into forts, they run in empty houses that echo, and they hike a piece of property like they are from the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Camping

We went to Fisherman's bend to go camping with my family and some people from a church we went to a couple years ago. We went to Detroit Lake one day and rented a pontoon boat. We had such fun swimming and putting around. We even saw a port-a-potty on a floating dock!! I realy hope that never tips over!!

Detroit Lake

Little helpers

Manly men-Ethan and Luke

Day hike

We went for a hike to a wetland preserve. Luke and Smokey ran all over the place. They enjoyed looking a bear skat, and checking out animal tracks. After a while the children fell asleep in the stroller.

camping

We had a fantastic visit with Ryan's parents this summer. It was a little while ago, but I am just getting to it now. We went to Wallowa lake in their brand new trailer. It was good to have a trailer, because it rained heavily for half of the trip.

I was told about the bold deer that come right to you. I'd never seen this before. It is strange when an animal that should be fearful of you, is not.

Fishing was good. We only caught 6-12" fish, but they tasted so good. I loved helping Luke learn about catching, killing, preparing and eating fish. He saw them alive and then ate them the same day. The whole family cheered him as the mighty fisherman providing for his family! He just loved it!

Every morning Rick would venture out to catch some warm sun in the site across the road from us. Then Ryan and Luke would join him for a visit.

Thank you Dad and Mom for a great vacation!

4th of July

Forgot the camara! We went to Corbett for the old car parade in the morning with our friends from Moms club and the Hollenbecks. The children all enjoyed flag waving and seeing logging equiptment, tractors, horses and ATV's.

That afternoon we went to the St. Paul rodeo. It was a sold out show. (This means that you sit on wood bleachers right next to someone you don't know) Luke and Ryan were so excited. It was a fantastic show. Luke liked that he could yell as loud as he wanted when a person lasted 8 seconds. Daphne cood at the calves.

We left early because Daphne was holding hands with the gentleman next to me, petting the long hair of the lady in front of me (and kicking her in the back). It is good to have people who are nice to your tired and loud children. Thank you nice people!

We enjoyed fireworks from the car after the rodeo ended. What a great day!

Happy birthday Luke!

Luke will be 4 on 7/15. We celebrated his birthday at Blue Lake park on Saturday. However, Ryan and I both forgot to take pictures!

Luke woke up at 3:45 AM and said "Mommy, today is my birthday party!" He never went back to sleep. Daphne was up due to teething. So I was up too.

At 9:45AM we left for the park. Both children fell asleep on the way in, so we had a smooth unloading period.

He had a Star Wars Theme. Every big child received a blow up light saber. We thought this was a great idea! Ryan and Luke have light saber "Fights" all the time. Not so. Luke was so excited he lost control and had his light saber on time out for a while. And some kid who was not apart of our party, kept stealing them and breaking them. Let's just say I will never again give any kind of weapon in a group setting! HAHA!!

It is good to have friends. Happy birthday big boy Luke.

House for sale

Our house is for sale. It is a very exciting and strange time. Ryan and I are used to moving with just the two of us, not a family. So here is the individual update.

Ryan is planning all the supplies for the next house. Since we will be getting property he has enjoyed looking at: bigger chainsaws, ATV's, ATV attachments (tillers, graders) riding lawn mowers, tractors, generators, splitting axes, trailers, etc... I know he is having a blast. We have brochures-a-plenty. He sits in the evening and says things like: "Won't it be fun to take the boy out in the morning and mow the lawn together on the riding lawn mower?" or "In the fall we'll ammend and till the spot for the garden." Ryan and I like to garden together. He likes everything I don't about it, and I like everything he doesn't. I am sure glad he likes to water it.

I feel a little like a fish in a bowl. Just now someone has walked up to the house looked in the window and taken a flyer. It's weird. I get up early everyday and do chores while serving breakfast. Then the house is clean and ready to show before 10 AM. I am trying to cook less with salmon, garlic and onions. I am chasing the children and the dog with Windex! Luke likes to put his hand on the window and see the imprint. What a hoot! I feel like that dad on My big fat Greek wedding. In my spare time I am making county calls to see if specific properties have any flood issues, zoning violations, zoning restrictions, errosion problems, and sink holes. I am also researching wildlife. There are many cougars, bears, coyotes, and eagles in the area we are looking at. Ineed to know more about these critters.

Luke is not sure what to do. He doesn't like big change. When I am packing or moving things around. He gets upset. So now I have him help me sort things and we talk about who will buy this house (not our house), and the new one God has for us. He initially thought that everything including our dog would stay with the new owners. HA! So we went through the whole house and talked about what we will take with us. I think he feels a little better. He is currently anticipating camping with Grandpa and Grandma in June. He told the chechout lady today, "You got to be careful for rattlesnakes so they don't bite you. There are rattlesnakes camping with Grandpa and Grandma. We get to take their BIG, BIG, TRAILER."

Daphne has decided now is the perfect time to begin blowing bubbles on our sliding glass door. From her perspective, maybe the bubbles look way better and stand out on a cleaner window.

Smokey (mini-dachshund) has decide that she will be on the couch. She was banned from the couch when we purchased a leather one. She sits on the couch when things are not right, from her perspective.

In the end, everyone needs more cuddles, hugs, rest and kisses. I am thankful to the Lord for His provision for us. He always knows what is best for us. He always delivers in His perfect time. What a happy adventure to have, as a family, together.

Spring is really going to happen!

Here it is, proof that spring is going to come this year. Even though we had snow....again.....yesterday. Hold in there people. Bees will buzz, hummingbirds will zoom around, and there will be a bird war for tree territory soon enough.