Mother's Day

These last several years I have been trying my best on Mother's Day to get a picture of myself with the kids that have made me a mama.  I have also been getting pictures of my Grandma, my mom and I together. 

I thought it would be neat to look at some of them all in a row.  (You can click on the images to make them larger). 

Mother's Day Tea.  2007

2009

 

2010

2010

 

2011

2012 (Finners in my belly!)

2012

2013

2014

2014

2014

So there ya have it.  There are a couple years that I can't find, but you get the idea. 

Hope you had a blessed Mother's Day.  Overall, mine was pretty good.  I had a very yummy lunch with my mama and Grandma, which I love doing, so that was nice. 

What EASTER is all ABOUT!!!I

A friend just posted this on Facebook.  Wow.  I know it is 12 minutes, but you will LOVE it!!!  Click on the link and watch it.  All of it!  :)

http://youtu.be/huFra1mnIVE

Thank You

How do you thank a God that has given you the biggest gift?  A God who selflessly gave His ONE and ONLY SON to die for little ole me.  Not only me, but every other person who has lived and ever will live the earth!?!

There have been many occasions lately where I have felt the need and desire to somehow thank Him to a point that satisfies me.  I have the desire to thank Him by giving Him something, to show my appreciation.  But, I always feel like my "thank yous" aren't enough.

I feel like that even more so right now.  Yesterday a HUGE, ginormous prayer was answered!!!!  After years of praying and believing, we are living out the answered prayer.  And God is SO good to follow through!  We had to know He would help us, answer this prayer and believe that God's perspective is better and different than ours!  Pastor Tim taught about that July 21st, 'The Best Life has a God-Perspective' and it was exactly what we needed to hear!     

Yesterday, Trever went to lunch at the Parks and Recreational Department as a Seasonal (which means minimal pay, no benefits, no paid holidays, no paid sick days, no health coverage...) and came back from lunch as a PERMANENT EMPLOYEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This means,  opposite of what I just mentioned above!  Praise the Lord!  God is awesome!  Hallelujah!

I can't tell you how amazing this is!  The desire to thank the Lord for this is beyond words!  I pray that my tears of thankfulness will show Him how stoked, grateful, appreciative, relieved, indebted, and overwhelmed we are by this change.  God is such a great and glorious God!  Worthy of ALL praise!  

Carson 6.5, Gabe 4.5, Finn 11.5 months.  8.17.13

    ALoHa!

Our 4th of July

 Finn is now 10 months old!  I really don't know where the last 10 months went?!  Our baby is growing too fast!  Only 2 more months left until he is a one year old! Boo hoo... :(

He participated in his first 4th of July yesterday!  And overall, I would say he had a blast!   

 We started our celebration with family and friends by setting up our spot at 6am on the 3rd.  Well, my mom and Kristin did, at least.  I worked on packing up the car and getting everything in my car that we would need for the 4th (aside from food).  Jogger, chairs, blankets, diapers...so that we could park it and leave it close to our spot so we didn't have to lug everything up to our spot with the 3 kiddlings.  It worked out very well.   

We watched Trever and Carson finish their second 2 mile 4th of July race.  This year they ran the whole thing, and Trever didn't have to carry Carson.  They finished in 24 minutes and 22 seconds, which for a 6 year old, I think is wonderful!  I am so proud of them! 

After we all ate some breakfast at our spot, we headed down to where the LMTV, Ambulance, Hummer and Ford were along with the troops to meet up with the Vets that wanted to join the entry and walk with the National Guard for the parade.  I am so truly moved and blessed to work with these men and women who are serving this country!  It just amazes me.  

Jerry, one of our Vets, waiting for the parade to start.

Some of the guys and my family.

IT's HERE!  It's HERE!  I get a bit excited and worked up waiting for them to come by us.  :)  I love it!  And I am so pleased!  Thank you to the men and women who risk giving up their lives to protect my life and my families lives.  I am forever grateful. 

I hope you all had a wonderful day celebrating with your family and friends.  So happy for the weekend to rest up!  :)

My Loves

Carson's class had a little Valentine's Day party today and it happened that Finn woke up early from his nap.  I got him all ready and then Gabe, Finn and I headed off to his class.  The kids had a healthy snack of fruit, veggies, and popcorn and then a heart shaped sugar cookie that hey decorated. 

Yesterday in class they made these little car pictures that were tapped onto a brown paper lunch bag to  collect all of their Valentine's in.  They got a lot of them!  Well, 28 or so. 

 

My mom gave us some goodies from Trader Joe's.  Her new favorite store.  I like it a lot too!  I haven't been there yet though!  

Gabe enjoying a little doll time.  He quickly moved on to a garbage truck that he could load Lego's into.  

Finn is having a hard time napping today.  These pictures were taken in between trying to get him to sleep.  I don't know if it his teeth or his tummy that is causing the issue.  Hopefully it will pass soon! 

Hope you are having a wonderful Valentine's Day! 

 

Remember who loves us so much that He died on the cross for us!  "God so loved the world, that he gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16.  

Christmas in Jacksonville

Tonight we had to use a Limelight Deal in Jacksonville at the Candy Shoppe and wanted to visit the toy store in town.  While we were there, the owner of the Candy Shoppe told us about a live nativity scene that they were having at the old Cascade Christian High School.  

It was very very cold, but we had a great time! I am so thankful for my family.  Thankful that through the fighting and lack of naps today we get to spend time together and do special things together in celebration of the birth of Jesus!  Hope you are having a very merry season!

Jacksonville 12.14.12

Santa visited!

Here are a couple of pictures of our lives lately.  

12.5.12  Making Julekake.

Carson put his new Lego set together.  Gabe posing with Carson's new gift.  12.8.12

The new train getting set up and played with.  12.8.12

Gabe's new BFF that Grandma got yesterday,

Finn in his seat for the first time,  12.13.12

Julekake

This last week, Gabe and I made our first loaves of Julekake.  It was something that I thought was going to be very hard for some reason.  It is time consuming with having to knead it several times, but making the dough was easy enough.

Julekake
Makes 3 smallish loaves

2 cups lukewarm milk (to dissolve the yeast)
1 cup sugar
1 t salt
1 1/2 t ground cardamom (next time I make it I want to use 2- 2 1/2 t)
Mix above ingredients
Add a tiny bit under 1 T yeast
Mix
Add & mix in 2 eggs
4 T soft (or warm (not hot) melted) butter
Add & stir in 1/2 cup (or a little more) citron
1 cup raisins
7 cups flour
Mix with spoon and then with hands.  Knead and cover and let rise twice.  On greased cookie sheet shape into 3 loaves, cover and let rise.  Bake at 350* for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.  Brush with melted butter. 

Enjoy!  It is delicious! 

Weekend

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner at my moms this year.  Cousin Gemma joined us for a stomach stuffed meal!  We all ate a bunch!  Then we went to Garin and Sandra's house to join the rest of the Coster's and Oono's (Sandra's family) for dessert.   

11.22.12  Wrestling time after dessert, Finn talking to GG, Gemma and Gabe, Uncle Garin with the boys, Mrs. Oono, Auntie Lynn, Uncle Steve, and Cole, family picture, hugs with Grandma, Finn and Carson, Finn smiling at GG.

Thanksgiving ad time.

Smiley Finn.

Snooze bottom.

11.22.12

Talking after dessert.

 

Cozy Finn @ the Christmas Lights Parade.  11.23.12

Waiting for the parade. 

The Christmas Lights!!!

Napping on Grandpa.  11.24.12

Finn wants to be a Duck when he grows up!  11.25.12

11.24.12 At Science Works with Zapata, @ home .  The Christmas Lights Parade 11.23.12

Our Harvest Day

Our Harvest Day consisted of carving pumpkins, lunch with friends, making Carmel apples and passing out candy to our 3 "customers" that we had.  The guys were even by the street trying to drum up business.  Oak St. was very quiet this year.

It was a very nice day overall.  I am very thankful for my family and wonderful friends!  

AlohA! 

4th of July!

This was in our local paper this morning.  Just thought I would share.  

Veterans wanted for Ashland Fourth of July parade

Woman organizes parade entry to include past and present soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines so the town can thank them

June 28, 2012

By Paul Fattig

Mail Tribune

ASHLAND — Simone Coster is looking for men and women who have worn a military uniform or are still serving in the armed forces to march in Ashland's Independence Day parade.

Coster decided to obtain a parade entry for the 2012 annual Fourth of July parade after watching last year's entries and noticing there was little in it to honor veterans or those still in uniform.

"After last year's parade my mom and I started talking about the parade and why we celebrate the Fourth of July," Coster said.

"I grew up in Ashland," she added. "For the majority of my life, I've gone to every Fourth of July parade here. The parade has gotten very political."

Coster, 32, hopes her entry will simply remind parade watchers of the role veterans and those still serving play in American independence, she said.

"I thought it would be something unusual, honoring men and women in uniform," she said. "I also think it would be great if the town could thank them."

Many local residents want to show their appreciation for those who have served, said Coster who described herself as a homemaker and mother of two who is pregnant with her third child.

She has contacted the Oregon Army National Guard at the Ashland armory which is expected to provide several vehicles and 15 citizen soldiers for her entry.

Coster, whose grandfather served during World War II, hopes to have at least 40 participants for the event.

"I'm looking for any veterans (or service men and women) to walk in the parade or to ride in military vehicles," she said. "My goal is to just give the 'thank-you' they deserve for what they've done for all of us."

Any veteran or local person still in the military who wants to participate in her parade entry can reach her at 541-292-9020.

She doesn't plan to walk or ride in the entry.

"I want the focus to be on them and what they have done for us," she said.

Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at pfattig@mailtribune.com.

Mother's Day

I hope the mom's have had a wonderful, blessed day!

Yesterday, my mom had the boys for the afternoon so that Trev and I could go to lunch and a movie!  We ate at the Red Zone, downtown, which we hadn't been to yet.  It was delicious!!!  We both ate so much for lunch we didn't eat anything until around 8pm last night.  We walked to the movie from there and saw The Avengers.  We both really enjoyed that.  After the movie, we found a bench and did a little people watching.  Tourist season is great for that!  The boys got hair cuts last night to hopefully bring a little relief to their hot heads.  :) Carson's hair is so thick, that last night while watching TV he was sweaty...so hopefully having less hair will help them out. 

A before hair cut picture.  Carson before his AWANA Serendipity Dinner.

Today we all got up, ate and got ready for church.  Carson and Gabe helped Trever give me my gifts.  I got the always needed Arm & Hammer laundry detergent.  :)  That wasn't really a gift, but it is something that is always needed.  And I also got two Essie nail polishes!

At church all the moms received a carnation, and I got a necklace from Carson made of paper flowers and different colored cut up straws.  And in Sunday school Carson had his hands traced, Gabe had his hands painted and the hand prints were put on a piece of paper that says something like "When I get big, this is to remind you of how little my hands were" which this mom just loves to much!  Those are both going into the filing cabinet!

Trev and the boys dropped me off at Cafe Denjeuner, which is where my mom and Grandma had brunch, again.  We ate there last year also!  The food is amazing!  I stuffed myself, again, and then came home and took a bit of a nap!

 

My boys and I!  My mom, Grandma and I after lunch, and Trev rocking with Gabe after nap time.

I hope you have had a wonderful time celebrating and being celebrated today!  God is good and He loves us! 

Aloha.

Randomness

If you have heard our car arrive, you might have noticed the squeak that goes along with it when we stop.  Needless to say, we have needed new brakes.  Yesterday, after a lot of research, Trev changed out our front brakes all by himself!  I am so proud of him for taking on a task that he had never done before and getting it done.  A bonus is that they brakes work!  :)  And there is a lot less squeak!  The back brakes are next!

                         

 The boys and I watching Trev test the brakes...

As many of you know, Mother's Day is this Sunday!  I really had no idea what to get my mom, and was thinking about a plant of some sort.  Then, with a suggestion of getting a plant from the Grower Market, I came up with the gift idea of a pizza garden.  I had seen Roger Cook, on This Old House, make one and looked for the video, but couldn't find it.  So, I did a search and came up with a list of herbs to put in the garden.

The boys and I went to the Market yesterday, and after a lot of looking around, purchased pesto, an orange pepper plant, parsley, and creeping thyme.  We went to my moms, spiffed up a planter with some horse manure (thank you Uncle Cam's horses!) and planted the herbs/pepper plant in their new home.  There are also going to be 6 tomato plants after this weekend planted, so I passed on putting a tomato plant in the little pizza garden.   

 Carson is holding the sign we made for Grandma that tells her what is in her new pizza garden!

This morning, since it is at her house and she will see it, we gave it to her, even thought it is a bit early! 

Hope you all enjoy your Mother's Day weekend, whether you are being celebrated or celebrating with your mom!

AlohA!

Easter Fun!

Coloring the eggs. 4.7.12

Easter Morning.

Looking for eggs and goodies.

Carson looking for an egg...notice it on the arm of the chair next to his belly.

Trever, Carson, Gabe and their macaroon egg nest.

Grandma with her grandsons, Gabe shoving candies in his mouth while looking for things, nests and tulips, Trev and the boys, the boys checking their baskets out, the boys helping Keith open his birthday gifts, the family, coloring eggs, boys and gifts, and Carson getting a treat.

We had a very busy, but blessed day! We celebrated with my mom, Grandma, and cousin Keith this morning with breakfast and birthday gifts for Keith. Then we ran off to church to be in the nursery. We thought there would be a ton of kiddlings, but fortunately (especially since the other two adults weren't there), we just had basically the regulars. There were about 8 to start off, 1 became friends with another helper and was in the baby room, and another one got sad and mom came to get her. The rest were easy peasy! Praise the Lord.

After church we went home, put the boys down, ate lunch and rested. Then we had Easter dinner with the Costers. Most of them at least. Sandra and Kai stayed home because Kai had a headache, and Cam was on a little trip, so it was a smaller group this year. We had a fantastic dinner! It was delicious! And we ate WAY TOO MUCH!!! It was really good though. The boys did a great job eating too. I don't know if that was because they were going to have some strawberry shortcake for dessert or just because they were hungry?!

Hope you had a blessed Easter!