Noah the robot programmer

Noah has been loving his NXT lego mindstorms- which is a programmable lego robot. He has made some awesome things including: a blender, a vending machine, a card shuffler, and even bionic arm boxing game. He can really program it to do this stuff! It's pretty cool and he loves it. 

Wrapping up our summer

 We have had a great summer full of fun! Some of the things we have been doing the last two weeks are in the pictures below. Addie had a great time at rock climbing day camp. We went to the zoo where the kids were able to pet a stingray and feed a budgie right off their stick! We went to Northwest Trek and rode the tram and were able to see lots of awesome animals very close up. We also got to see a Grizzly bear pretty closely and that was quite exciting for me! We went hiking around Mima Mounds State Park which was very cool and something we had never done before, even though it was only 20 minutes away! We have been having a lot of fun and it's hard to believe in one week the kids will be back in school!

Braces

He got braces. He is being a trooper about the whole thing and trying not to complain. In fact he was even a little excited because he likes growing up. His braces are just a reminder of the fact that he is right in the middle of those junior high school years. Good times. 

Till we meet again

It's hard to believe it's been 11 years since Jillian's death. I was so glad that we got to stop by her graveside and leave some beautiful flowers and take a little time to remember her. Of course I remember and think of her a lot. I think about what she would be like at 11. Wow! Almost a young woman! Probably as loving and sweet as her baby sister Katie. Certainly as funny and helpful as her little brother Adam. Definitely as faithful and diligent as her big brother Noah. Adored by her father. A joy to her mother. She would be perfect. She is perfect, she is loved, she is happy, she is missed. I am grateful for her brief presence here on earth with our family and I am blessed to know that she will be with us again. 
"Some have a lifetime, some just a day
Love isn't something you measure that way."

California Trip Part 3

 Last stop- Grandma and Grandpa's house in Visalia. We had more fun with cousins and more to do! We were getting pretty tired, but our vacation wasn't over yet and there was still lots of fun to come. We went on the waterslides, saw Smurfs 2 at the movies, played at the park, mini golfed and rode bumper boats at the fun center, and did plenty of swimming in Grandma and Grandpa's pool. Katie got to have her tea party with Grandma! Adam got to go golfing and to breakfast with Grandpa. Noah got to hang out all day with his cousins' dog Tom. They were all in heaven. I even got to go out to the movies with the grown-ups and see Red 2. We are so grateful to Grandma and Grandpa for such an amazing trip! The kids had a blast and made lots of wonderful memories! We sure do love them.

California Trip part 2

We left Grandma and Grandpa in Pismo Beach and headed 6 hours south to San Diego to visit the Marstons! The kids had a great time with their cousins and I had a blast just hanging out with my sis. We panned for gold at the Mormon Battalion Center, went to old town San Diego and made rope and got candy at the candy shop, went to the beach of course, did tons of swimming in their community pool- endless rounds between the big pool-kid pool-hot tub, saw a puppet show at Balboa park and explored around, and hung out a lots of parks. We are so grateful to my sister and Blake for letting us stay with them and showing us such a great time! We sure do love those guys.