Season ending

November 3rd brought the end of the fall rowing season for Alia. November 1st was a regatta.

First race, in the eight, they took 3rd out of 5 just barely behind 2nd place because of a rough start.

Second race, in a four, they took 1st out of 4, winning by about 2 boat lengths.

The rowing season was 2 1/2 months of 5 days a week, 3 hours a day, workouts - she loved every minute of it. 

Alia has such drive and determination, she loves pushing herself physically to accomplish a goal. Rowing has become her passion. We're so glad she has had the opportunity to participate in this challenging and exciting sport.

Happy Birthday

Matt had a great birthday. He got two celebrations (one on his real birthday and one the following Sunday with extended family). He was looking forward to this birthday. He wrapped himself a present a month and a half ago in preparation. I think that was one of his favorite gifts too.

Matt's birthday lunch choice: Mac and Cheese with salad

His request for cake: chocolate with M&Ms

Our gift to Matt = excited and happy

His gift to himself

A blanket and a bag he calls his "camelbak" = super excited and happy

Matt got one more thing for his birthday...

A dog he named "House" from the Dr.'s office to go with his one stitch for a split lip.

Happy Birthday Matt! We love you! 

Quick random updates

Nathaniel 

If he is not in my immediate view, he is either flushing toilet paper in the toilet (even sometimes attempting an entire roll), or else climbing on something (or maybe I should say everything).

Was introduced to Barney videos recently and talks about Barney all the time now. 

Throws almost everything he can, just listen for him saying "catch" and something will come flying

Loves gargling water

Has a great vocabulary. Will repeat almost everything you say and can now say prayers with help. We even taught him to repeat "I am a child of God" (melts my heart everytime)

Matt

Gives awesome devotionals and very nice spiritual thoughts during scripture study.  A couple weeks ago we had our ladder out because we had been using it to paint. It was on Matt's devotional day and he decided to stand on the ladder to give his devotional. Now he insists on having the ladder to give his devotionals. (try not to think: Rameumpton)

Here is part of a recent devotional transcript: "We do things and we can teach and share the gospel.  We need to seek after those things. We need to do to many things like read scriptures and do many things. We need to go to stores if we don't have any food. We need to go to those stores if we need to. Now I'm going to read the scripture about Jesus and Heavenly Father and then we're going to talk about prayer and going to bed..."

Ashlie
Keeps me entertained while checking her science notebook. She is studying ocean animals and draws the animals with speech or thought bubbles to correspond with the animal facts.

Got to finally make the treat she has wanted for a very long time to make. Tropical fruit pizza

Madelyn
Is quick everyday to do her chores and school work so that she can have a computer turn and take care of her virtual horses and villages.

Actually wore pants instead of a skirt more than once in the last few months. They are loose fitting knit capris that are about as close to a skirt as pants can get, but they are pants.

Fills up my phone with pictures she takes. Some nice ones...

 ...some goofy ones...

and even some creepy ones...

  Alia
Ran 4 miles in just over 28 minutes last week for one of her rowing workouts.

Writes in her journal almost everyday.

Has had an alligator on her head this year.

Workin'

It was hay harvesting time down on the ranch...

It's a hard job, but it's got to be done.

Lot's of loads of hay

It's always nice to have some help

Even if they help a little too much and start moving the pile back to where it came from

No harm done though.

You know you've been working hard when even a rock is nice place to rest.

Reunion in the woods

It felt like we'd found paradise at Aaron's family's reunion in Idaho. Thanks to our brother-in-law, Kevin, and his family's cabin the fun was endless.

Oh Boy!

You guessed it

You are all so clever! Our last three post are our subtle announcement that baby #6 will be arriving around February 21, 2015.

And now I spelled it out for those of you that thought we just developed a love of simple, yet elegant single fruit photography. :)

We're excited!

Picture of the week

Kumquat

Picture of the week

Grape

Picture of the week

Blueberry

The 4th

Independence day was a blast. Our ward held its first ward 4th of July breakfast, complete with games and activities...

Madelyn slurping up yummy pie at the pie eating contest

3 legged race

Water relay

Gotta have a flag cake

  After a barbeque at Aaron's parents, we were off to view the fireworks with cousins.

I think they're excited.

Look what I caught!

First time catching a frog. He was really good at it and very gentle with the the little hopper.

Camping time

We looked forward to this camping trip since January - the month I reserved our campsite. Even with mailing my paperwork on January 2nd we still got our second choice of dates. But that's what it took to get the best campsite in the campground. Here we are:

 

And just beyond that wooden fence (at the back of the picture) is this view...

The Straight of Juan de Fuca

Our campground provided access to tide pools with crabs, anemones, small fish and starfish (we only saw a couple of small ones) tons and tons of mussels and barnacles. Aaron said mussels are like the dandelion of the sea; after this trip I would have agree.

 

Treasure from the sea...he carried this around for a good 1/2 hour.

Hmm..what are these?

 Exploring the rocky tide pools

Matt loved camping so much. I asked him what his favorite things were...the campfire, roasting marshmallows and lighting the campfire.

We roasted hotdogs, made smores, used our dutch oven to make lasagna and apple crisp...And we chased a raccoon out of our campground several times

 

 

Alia got creative with the charcoal. She also left some charcol writing on the firepit for the next people like "the gold is in the log" and "don't look behind the big tree" and "watch out for the ____(this part she purposely smudged, keep 'em guessing right?)"

 On our last day we went on the hike to an old railroad tunnel which lead us past a clear blue lake that was gorgeous.

Nathaniel was so ready to go he couldn't stand still long enough for the picture.

Inside the railway tunnel

Nathaniel falling asleep on dad's shoulders

We came home smelling like campfire, with tons of laundry to wash, and lots and lots of wonderful memories.