I have a 5 year old!

This year we celebrated Dylan's 5th birthday by breaking the day up a little bit. We had a "friends" party from 2-4, which included 3 kiddie pools, a slip and slide, a water table, and a sandbox. It was a blast! With the help of one of my best friends, McKenzie, we made up about 4 dozen cake batter cookies and served them up along with Freezer Pops and juice boxes. The kids had a great time just running around and playing, breaking briefly to watch the present opening. We wrapped this party up around 4:30 and then got into high gear for the family dinner starting at 5. I really enjoyed his party this year, it was so much more relaxed and it gave Dylan time to spend with his friends and a separate time to spend with family. This may have to become my new tradition! Here are some pictures from the day, mostly taken by my father.

Swimming Lessons Week 2

The kids finished up swimming lessons today, thankfully. It was good for them, but man was it a L-O-N-G 2 weeks! Neither of them passed onto the next level but I really did not expect that. I am just so happy because now they have gained confidence in the water and really enjoy it. I am looking forward to swimming lessons next summer! Here is one more "movie mix" of them swimming!

Dylan's Generous Heart

Last night we went to a Corvallis Knights game with the Hotrum clan, since Uncle Brian is in town! On this particular night they were doing the $1000 Dash for Cash. It was for kids 12 and under so I got the waivers and got Dylan and Ally signed up. The time came and I took them down to the field, not having ANY idea of what to expect. We were standing around all all of a sudden there was a countdown and then money flying everywhere! The kids scrambled and tried not to get squashed by the millions of other people scrambling. Dylan ended up getting $2 dollars and Ally ended up with $1. We got off the field and started walking back to our seats, on the way Dylan holds up one of his dollars and says, "I don't want to keep this one." I think he was feeling a little bad that he had gotten more than his sister. So I told him if he wanted to he could give one of his dollars to his cousin Grace who had come to the game with us. He absolutely lit up at the idea and decided that is what he wanted to do. So when we got up to the seats he shyly but very happily went over to Grace to give her one of the dollars he had "dashed" for. My throat got tight and tears threatened at this generous and selfless act. This is what being a Mom is all about!

Swimming Lessons: Week 1

Here is a "movie mix" from this week of swim lessons! They have already made lots of progress! Plus they are having fun and that's what really matters! At the end of next week I will update with their progress one more time!

Picking Strawberries!

Today we headed out to pick some strawberry's. I was determined to make some Freezer jam this year. So Poppa, Grandma Jo and Uncle Eric met us at our house after swim lessons today and we headed out. As we were driving towards Lebanon to the field we drove right into a rain storm. Luckily by the time we were walking out to the field the rain had stopped and it started to get a little muggy, gotta love this weird Oregon weather! So we headed out and got picking!

The kids were not too sure about it at first but after a little bit really got going!


We filled 2 buckets full, which at the time did not seem like that much, it turned out to be 11.25 pounds!

We got the berry's transferred to the bowls I brought and loaded them in the car. Poppa wanted to get a picture of the kids with them, and at first Dylan didn't want to but Ally jumps up and says, "Where do you want me?"

Finally Dylan leaned over the seat and we got a picture with the both of them.

It was such a fun relaxing thing to do! I can't wait to go next year!