Growing Pains

Todd received a $100 movie gift card as a thankyou to a bed he recently made. We are not regular movie goers, so tonight we decided on a whim to go see Fireproof. He'd heard good things about it from some guys at the firestation. I haven't seen Kirk Cameron since he was the cocky teenager with curly hair!
First of all I highly recommend this movie. I must say that the first few minutes of acting I felt as if I were watching one of those RM or Single's Ward type of film. During other parts I wondered if this movie was really made and put out by the church.
There was religious message and theme, but real life events were played out as well. It addressed issues that I'm sure many couples are faced with. Several funny parts and I shed a few tears. I told Todd I am surprised.....with all the different ways God is being taken out of anything public due to people's "rights"..... that this movie is doing so well. Our whole auditorium even clapped at the end, and we're talking about NW Liberals :>

Recue 911

Several months ago Todd was promoted at Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue to Lieutenant. Thursday night we went to the awards ceremony for all promotions that have recently taken place within the dept. It was a big to do. The bagpipes led off the evening and closed it as well with the song Amazing Grace honoring all of those within the dept whose lives have been taken while employed. Whenever the drums played it sounded like thunder outside. It was awesome.

After being sworn into office the wives come up to "pin" the medallions on their class A uniform collars. I could not get it on! See Todd, he's saying through gritted teeth, "honey, come on!"
The kids had their eye on the banquet tables of food. It was quite the spread!
We have pumpkin carving contests in the fall.....why not watermelon carving contests in the summer?!?
Mr. Boy was the entertainment to all the other parents in the back chasing their own small children. When he wasn't trying to pull grapes off the tables he was happily spinning around and hugging other babies about his same size.
We're so proud of Todd and the hard work and dedication he puts into his job each and every day. It's an honor having a husband whose career follows a path steep in tradition. Seeing all the officers there with their various ranks and positions makes me proud of Todd for choosing to promote and taking the added responsibilities that come with being a company officer.

Apples, pumpkins and marshmallows, oh my

Typically each Fall we take an overnight holiday to Cannon Beach. This year we wanted to try somplace different, but with taking the kids out of school, possible rainy weather and soccer-filled Saturdays, we decided to make a few fun day trips instead. Friday the kids were out of school. We left early to hit Washington Square (for a few essentials for the kids). Then headed out to North Plains Oregon. Seeing that I didn't bring enough apples we found this cute stand off the freeway. I just love this about the Northwest.....fresh seasonal fruit stands are so country living. Apples are one of the kids' favorite snacks! We've been coming to Lakeview farms pumpkin patch since before Kenna was born. It's quaint, NOT swarming with unpleasant crowds and has the most adorable paddle boat that takes us across the lake with a train returning back....pumpkins in tow.
This shark scares Camdyn EVERY year!

Brody was adorable trying to pick up baby pumpkins.....he kept tripping in the vines and falling.

No.....we dont' let the kids take home pumpkins quite this big.Picking out pumpkins is like picking out a Christmas tree....you usually end up with the first one you saw.
The hay maze was perfect size for Brody. He loved it!
I LOVE MY CAMERA!!! When my camera got lost and Todd suggested we purchase a NICE one, I was skeptical as to whether or not we really needed one so nice. I was wrong. I haven't even begun to figure out more than a few settings and it's amazing all I can capture compared to my old one with a 10 second pause time between each picture.

These were just a few I was figuring out how to take in action shots. No way was I getting these with my old camera.
After our pumpkins were loaded up and we purchased some carmel corn from the vendors we headed west towards the coast.
When we arrived at Cannon Beach we ate lunch at our favorite Pizza a Feta......
Todd gave each of the kids $5 to buy whatever they wanted at Bruce's Candy Kitchen. They were lovin' that independance and took quite awhile picking out exactly which candy they wanted.

The weather was absolutely perfect and sunny. Cammy wanted to walk barefoot and play in the water, yes her toes were red but she hardly complained.

Cannon Beach Sandcastle days has sculptures like this only BIGGER, about a dozen or more. We just found this walking down the beach.

I love candid action shots. I love haystack rock.
This was taken as the tide was coming in....faster than Kennedy realized and soaked up inside her boots.
I brought bread and hot dog buns from home. These birds aren't shy to say the least.....one grabbed it right out of Todd's hand as he was holding it just talking to me!

We like to throw it up to them while in a flight pattern. The stronger those birds can hold position, the more likely it is they'll get some bread. It's SO fun to feed the Cannon Beach Gulls.

Even Brody got the jist of feeding these birdies. They weren't afraid of that little pint size dude either..... ....however, he wasn't too amused with them chasing him around. This face is classic!
Griffin found this kelp. Looks like a snake or an Indiana Jones whip. Whapshaaaaa!
The crowning part of the day was the roaring fire Todd built on the beach, just as the sun was setting. We bought wood and smore forks at the Mariner Market and roasted marshmallows while the girls played in the sand. The most adorable part was when I offered Brody, who was playing with a stick of the kindling, a marshmallow and he stuck his stick out for me to put it on the end like we were doing with our metal forks. He may not speak a speck, but he's very observant.

Heading home we stopped for a LATE night dinner....9 p.m., at the most yummiest rest. Costa Vida. We all shared a few salads and got home by 10:00. I love fun-filled day trips....especially in SUNNY weather! I didn't even say WARM weather :>

Quirky-ness

I have seen tags, read tags, but never participated in a tag....so for my friend Dawn, here I go.
I was asked to list 6 quirky things about myself.....some of these I may have mentioned before, so it may come as no new surprise.

#1. I always make my kids put on clean underwear...like twice a day. If clothes are dirty it doesn't bother me, but undies have to be fresh and clean, especially when little bummies sit on school potties then transfer those germs onto undies.

#2. Which leads me to #2. I am a deep-clean-aholic. If the silverware drawer or fridge has crumbs it drives me crazy....smudge prints on the cuboards in the kitchen, can't stand it, but messy toy rooms don't bother me as much.

#3. Toe and fingernails. My dad's and Todd's are especially fun. It takes two hands to trim those suckers! Long and dirty fingernails on little kids is gross.

#4. If I had a day to myself I would choose to go on a long run, alone. Go shopping, alone. Hit some antique stores, alone. Then come home and bike with Todd up to get a steamer. The theme here is that I enjoy the solace of being with myself. I can go, stay, leave, linger as long or short as I'd like and not worry about who else was with me.

#5. I'm very indecisive. It's a problem. I'll be at a store, can't make up my mind. Buy it. Regret it, and go back again to return it....and usually the whole process is repeated with the next purchase I make.

#6. I'm not a big fan of going out to eat. Lunch with friends, dinner with the family or even Todd and I. I think it's because I'm frugal AND I love the meals I prepare. My salads and pastas are just as delicious as any I've had.

Six people I have tagged: Danielle Dilger, Lisa King, Michelle Chapman, Jamie Casperson, Nicole Jackson, Diana Thompson

Rules:
Link to 6 people that follow your blog.
Mention on their blog that you've tagged them.
Tell 6 unsuspecting quirks about yourself and ask them to do the same.

He's just a little boy!

This had me laughing out loud. I asked the kids if they thought Brody was GOOD, CUTE or HARD. They all replied CUTE and HARD but definitly not GOOD! Today alone he spilled glittery nail polish all over the hardwood floor, had 4 dirty diapers during ONE session of conference, threw mashed potatoes on the floor, has knocked down my wrought iron candle stand for the 5th time banging it into the wall and shut off the main swich of the computer while downloads were in process. His new favorite thing are the Sweet and Salty bars. He grabs them out of the pantry by the handfuls wanting to munch on them....at least he doens't know how to unwrap, yet! But like President Monson said....we will miss these times.

Willkommen

We just had our Fall activity and I told my friend Lady Di that I would post pictures since she has my calling now. We had a Bavarian them to celebrate Oktoberfest. Ward members could dress in Bavarian attire and prizes were awarded for Best Dressed, and Best Pumpkin Dessert. We had some funny contests. Marshmallow stuffing for the ladies and Pie Eating for the men.
Families went around to the various booths to sample different fares or play games. Bobbing for apples, rootbeer, cider, preserves, and Bratwurst for dinner.
Four Elders helped man our booths and judged the desserts
My kids had a blast....so did Ashley and myself, who stayed there till 1 a.m. setting up so we wouldn't have to worry about it the day of and get caught in the rain!

The primary kids liked playing on the bridge....

Ashley made 12 signs in this Bavarian font. They turned out so fabulous and I didn't even grab a picture of my most favorite one at the entrace that she had done in color and with glitter that said "oktoberfest"! The cotton candy was a big hit.

I made these centerpieces one afternoon while Brody "should" have been napping. That was one of those..."I'm just going to let him cry" days.

We had raffle tickets for everyone as they walked in and raffled off some cute felt bags filled with candy. The primary kids were swarming Ashley for a prize....we could have raffled off a dum dum sucker and they would have been thrilled. Kids just love those tickets!

I downloaded some Bavarian tunes that played on the overhead system which helped set a theme. The gym is so hard to decorate....it's an enormous cave! We were going to hold it outside but our 80* weather turned to rainy and 60*'s overnight. Such is life in the Northwest!

Photo 101

There's a first time for everything. This was my first day at trying out my new camera. A couple weeks ago my camera just "poof" disappeared at the church after scouts. I looked everywhere there for a week. I told Todd we must have a camera.....soon! He shopped around and found me a super nice digital camera with an 18/55 mm lens and 75/300 mm lens. All I know is that with the lens at 300 I'll be able to get face shots of Griffin playing soccer on his full size fields! The only down side.....it's going to take me awhile to sort through all the settings, and it's not going to fit in my back pocket :> I like doing manuel settings, so these were my test shots. It may have helped had I done their hair or gotten them dressed up, but this is real life here! Brody
Cammy
Kenna