A Blustery Day at Pacific City

While all of our friends and family went to places like Arizona and Disneyland for spring break we ended up at the Oregon Coast. We knew it wouldn't be the best of weather but figured it was better than being stuck at home. We went with Uncle Aaron, Auntie Amber, Braylon and Alexa which made it fun! We were only there a couple days and one trip to the actual beach was enough for us! We bundled up ourselves and the kids, packed up the beach bag with shovels and buckets and once the rain stopped headed for the sand. We timed it great because it was dry and even a glimpse of sun through the clouds. The kids of course headed straight to the ocean and within minutes were stripping off their pants and jumping waves that were up to their knees as we stood in our parkas and boots shivering. Alexa was content to sit and build sand castles and Aaron and Amber took the big kids to climb the huge hill. Just as they were coming back down (the kids were rolling down!) it started to rain. By the time they got back to us it was pouring and there was a chorus of whining and crying kids because they were so cold and numb and covered with wet sand. We threw them all into the back of my car (you can imagine what that looked like!) and hosed them off in the sink in the garage and then put them in a nice warm bath. Three loads of laundry later we were all caught up from our trip to the beach. So needless to say when they asked to go again the next day the adults unanimously agreed...NO!! We stayed inside the warm house listening to the rain on the windows, watched TV, read magazines and relaxed. It doesn't exactly compare to swimming in the pools in Arizona but we had good company and some well needed down time!

Anne Frank

In the second grade each child has to study a "Great Person of History". Lily first chose Mother Mary (which is so sweet...she is definitely my spiritual one!) but after long thought and discovering how hard it is to research her since it was so long ago she decided on Anne Frank. I don't think either of us realized how many similarities Lily shared with Anne Frank but as I watched her today give her speech in front of her class I was so touched. She stood up there in a skirt with knee high socks and little Mary Jane's, a white blouse with a sweater over it, and we curled her hair to make it short like Anne's and clipped it back on the side like she did in so many of her pictures. Even to my surprise she had memorized the first two of her flashcards and started her speech with a big smile and looking everyone in the eyes. She explained the history and then described how much Anne loved writing and how she was such a happy girl despite her circumstances. That pretty much describes Lily as well! She has about ten different journals all over the house and car and between writing prayers and poems and drawing pictures (she loves art) they get filled up very quickly! And maybe it's a middle child thing but she is so laid back, easy going and always has a smile on her face. She is content to sit for hours working on a picture or making crafts (especially with Grandma!)and is the most independent seven year old I know. She has strong morals and sticks by them and she is a friend to anyone and everyone...a quiet leader. She told me the other night before bed that she was gong to be a great person and change the world...I wouldn't doubt it. But if I were making bets I would say she is most likely to change the world for some cute little animals...like saving all of them!

the look...

In case you were wondering how exactly a 3 year old "looks" at you when you ask him to do something he doesn't want to do...priceless.

Outside Mario Cart

The sun finally came out for a little bit this afternoon...and it is something we haven't seen around here in WAY too long! So we got off the couch, put away the wii and went outside for some real play. Daddy drew a race car track with chalk and Jalen raced around it over and over and over again. Of course it was a lot more fun when Daddy chased him with a big PVC pipe that was laying around the garage. I think it intended to be the finish line but it was way more fun to watch Daddy running after the super fast race car! I think the vitamin D did us all some good!