Apples

 Yesterday was John Chapman's birthday.  He's better know as Johnny Apple Seed.  Last week we learned about apples.  My mom has been picking a theme for us, so far we have learned about grapes, chickens, the American flag and now apples.  She gave us all sorts of things to do with apples. Did you know that national Apple day is on Oct. 21st and that Johnny Apple Seeds favorite book was the Bible?   

 We made a quick and easy apple cobbler with oatmeal raisin cookies and apple pie filling.  Mmmmm, so good.

 We did a tasted test of apple juice vs. apple cider.  We also have been eating different types of apples.  My favorite are the granny smith, Lulu's were the red delicious and Levi loved the non organic honey crisp because it was the biggest one. 

 Then we cut one open to see the star in the middle.  Something I learned was that each seed pocket contains seeds and the health of the plant is determined by how many seeds are in each.

 Our Red Delicious had 8 seeds.  Seems pretty healthy to me.

4 1/2 months

Ila May 4 1/2 months

Levi 4 1/2 months

Lulu 4 1/2 months

 Today all 3 of them. 

I can't believe how different our children all look from each other.  Do you see any similarities? 

Favorite Things

Today we went to the store as a family.  And when we had parked and were walking through the parking lot we all spotted this orange Volkswagen all the way on the other side, so we had to go check it out.  From a distance we didn't see that is was a chopped version or that it said Tillamook on it.  But as we got closer we noticed how cute and little this VW bus was. 

Two of our favorite things, Volkswagen's and Tillamook cheese.  This is truly the only cheese I buy.  I was raised on Tillamook cheese. We have been to the Tillamook cheese factory in Tillamook, OR many times. If you have never had it, don't because you will never be able to eat another brand again.  Also, if you have never driven an air cooled VW, don't because you will want to buy one and start driving it.  Mark has a beetle and any opportunity I get, I take his beetle to run my errands.  They are so much fun to drive.

Click HERE to check out the Tillamook Love Loaf tour site.  They took our picture and said they would post it.  Who knows, maybe we'll be on there.

Grand Opening

 Today our local Fred Meyer had a big grand re-opening celebration.  This Fred Meyer has been here since I was a little girl.  It was time for a remodel. They were handing out free coffee and doughnuts. So I thought it would be fun to check it out the new store and take the kids for a treat.  

Cousins

 This past Saturday we drove down to Salem, OR to visit with Mark's cousin and her husband and kids.  They drove up from Medford, OR.  We met in the middle for the day.  We played at a park and had a picnic.  The last time we saw Brian and Ani was almost 3 years ago.  I wasn't even pregnant with Levi then.  Ani was pregnant with Duke their youngest at the time.  So we got to meet Duke and they got to meet Levi and Ila.

Their kids are Cole (6), Ava (4) and Duke (2)

 The kids just ran and ran and ran.  They had so much fun. 

4 & 4

4 years old and 4 months old

Grandpa Don

 Last weekend Mark's dad Don flew up from Medford, OR to stay with us.  He flew in Thursday evening and flew home Tuesday morning.  We had a great time with him like always.

 Mark and Don put up a swing for the kids.  We enjoyed this all weekend.

Grandpa Don had to try it out first to make sure his grad kids would be safe. 

 Every year Don always wants to go look at some classic cars.  There's a special dealership in our area that has all sorts of fancy cars.

 Lulu and Levi looking into the hubcap of a classic VW bus.

 Then it's off to the Harley dealership.  Don rides a Harley and loves coming here.

 We had a fun weekend.  This was Grandpa Don's first time meeting Ila May.  His 6th grandchild.  



10 Years Ago..

everything changed.  I look at our precious little children today and they will never know what life was like before 9/11/01.  Those of us who do know what it was like have forever been changed.  But we have a God who is sovereign and His love is everlasting!

 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  Romans 8:31

Click HERE to read a neat story on the second graders who were with President Bush when he first heard we were attacked the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

Four Months

Ila May is four months old today.  These past four months have been filled with so much, it feels like she's been here longer.  She has found her voice.  She loves to hear herself.  It's part squeal, part scream, part laugh. Just so cute.  She loves her thumb when she's tired.  After her little photo shoot this morning she found her thumb and went right to sleep. A real joy and dream baby! 



Levi's Birthday Party

 This year Levi's birthday landed on Labor day.  We started the day with some gifts and fun time with Mark since he didn't go to work!!

 Here's my little 2 year old.  What a joy he is in our life.

 Mark helped Lulu and Levi dig a little trench and they made some rivers. 

 Levi enjoyed sitting in his river/mud hole.

2 years old!

 After playing in the mud they got hosed down.

 Then we headed to my parents house to have a family party for Levi. We decided to get some family photos too. My brother took some on his nice camera.  Can't wait to see how they turned out!

 Mark's dad, Don stayed with us for a few days and flew home on Tuesday back to Medford, OR.  Mark's mom Connie was in town also from central Oregon and came to the party.

 Here is my side with Todd and Stephanie and my parents.

 Then Levi got to open all his gifts.  He made it through the first gift and was content.  He didn't have an interest in the others so Lulu helped him out. 

Here is my mom and Ila May. 

Happy 2nd Birthday Levi!!