One More Video From the Coast...it is just so beautiful there!

Had A Great Father's Day at the Coast!

Thanks, Dan, for being the best father to our babies! I love you!

We had a great weekend, even though it was a bit soggy! Even when we weren't riding the bikes, Nelson was sitting in the bike trailor. I guess if this was my view, I'd want to go for a ride all day long, too!

ARRRG!

Something Sad

Doesn't it seem in this day and age, the age of mass communication, you always hear about something terrible? We are more aware than ever about all the tragedy in the world...earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, accidents. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with it all. My heart breaks for the people who find themselves, out of the blue, without a home or even a loved one. It piles on my heart so heavy that I feel weighed down to the ground sometimes. I try to say quick little prayers when I hear of such sadness, because I believe in a God that heals and loves.
I'm asking those of you who do the same, to say a quick prayer for a family that goes to the same church we do, Hood River CMA. Dan and I were in a small group with this family a couple years ago, and I did a small Bible study with Leah, the mother. I really can't say enough wonderful things about this family. They are alike my sister-in-law, Danielle's family, in that whenever you saw anyone of one these guys, their faces lit up in a contagious smile. (that is a gift, I say!)
They lost their son, Forest, on Friday just hours before he was to receive his high school diploma, in a terrible accident. I can't imagine, nor do I ever want to know what kind of sadness and pain they are experiencing right now. I don't quite know what else I can do, expect ask others to also say a quick prayer for a family who, out of the blue, lost their son and brother. Thank you!

Monday Evening Fun!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Sure glad you guys got married! :)

Naughty Children

Our Little Girl Who Loves To Fish...

...but doesn't like to TOUCH the fish!!!!

Thanks for the pictures, Ken!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy mothersday!
Love,
Nelson

Swinging is fun...

...especially when you don't have to do the pushing!

Once Upon A Time...

...John and Bear came for a visit! We had so much fun! John sent me these pictures he took....

We went up to Mt. Hood and played in the snow. This picture of Bear's back shows the snow all the way up to the window. This is the SECOND FLOOR!!

...running back from an evening ice cream cone
Bear...climbing around various shades of moss!

We even got some gardening in!

Don't wake her up.

It Was Love At First Sight...

...Amya and ballet...

(she wants to go everyday)

Totally Unhealthy Way To Use Up Those Quick Cooking Oats In Your Pantry...

C.A.R.O.L. Bars (this is clever, right?)

coconut, almond, raspberry, oat, layered bars

I found this recipe on the box of my oatmeal this morning, tweaked it a bit, then made a batch. Mmmmmmmmmm is all I can say.

I used my own raspberry jam from last summer, which was a low sugar recipe, and the bars are still a bit sweet. If you like, sub out the sweetened coconut for unsweetened coconut to bring it down a bit.

Idea: If you don't like stringy coconut, blend it up in your blender before mixing it in and sprinkling it on top!
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup flour (can sub barley or brown rice flour)
1/4 cup almond meal (optional)
2 cups sweetened coconut (divided)
1-1/2 cups quick oatmeal
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup raspberry preserves
Preheat oven to 375. Cream butter and sugars together until fluffy. Add flour, 1 cup coconut, almond meal, oats, and almond extract. Mix together. Scoop out 1 cup and reserve for topping. Press remaining dough evenly into an 8 x 8 baking dish. Spread raspberry preserves (add extra if you want!) on top. Crumble remaining dough on top and press lightly. Sprinkle remaining cup of coconut on top. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Wait until it is completely cool (hardest part) then cut into two inch squares.

Happy Birthday Dan!

We celebrated Dan's birthday this year with a quick trip to the coast! We had some unusual weather for this time of year...snow!
Driving through the gorge and the coastal range was tricky at times, but it made for some beautiful scenery!

The beach was COLD and beautiful as always!

Nelson has a limit of about 30 min. in a high chair before he gets loud and squirrely. If dinner takes longer than that, well...
Here is a glimpse of Dan's birthday dinner....very relaxing...

Happy Birthday Danno!! Hope you had a fun and relaxing get-away!

Oh My How These Girls Have Grown!!

And Taylor Turns 15!!...

...this means I can teach her how to drive our stick shift this summer!! ;)

One Year And One Day Later...

...Nelson turns one!!
Some things you should know about Nelson:
He likes to climb up. But not down.
He has one volume. Loud.
He has one scream and he uses it for everything: excitement, anger, frustration, fatigue
He used his first sign language the day before his first birthday to tell me he wanted more food.
He loves food.
He loves to point. At everything and everybody.
He points with his middle finger (which makes grocery shopping interesting)
He is loved more than he can ever understand.

This Time Last Year...

...I had my last regular Dr. appointment. I stopped at the grocery store on the way home, but the contractions were so strong I had to leave. I got home, called Dan in the middle of his Dr. appointment and told him to come home...it was hospital time! Off we went!

super kid hiker

I took Amya fishing the other day and it required a hike down to and back up from the river....this kid is getting fast

...just watch it...

Four Years Ago Today...

...we were walking up and down the beach in Treasure Island, trying to "walk out the baby". Then we settled down to watch The Office, when my water broke!

Three Guesses...

...as to who Scarlett Jo, Black-Feather, Golden-Feather, Junior, Pucky, Essie and Astro are.

Some of their names have changed...we now have a "Towie" and a "Walking Nelson"

Merry Christmas!

...from the Shaws!

I love getting Christmas cards! It is so much fun for me to see what kind of cards people pick out (or make) and I love the pictures inside! This year, the Shaws will not be sending out Christmas cards, but we did manage to take a Christmas picture to post on the blog!! :)

Truth be told, it has been a very sickly month for us. Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, we all took our turns getting sick. Unfortunately Nelson has actually been sick the entire time, and is just starting to feel better (after two Dr. appointments and his first prescription of antibiotics...poor baby).

Dan has been working a lot more than usual the past few weeks, so we have been squeezing in family time whenever we get the chance. As a result....no Christmas cards.

Keep those Christmas cards coming and please accept this blog post as your card from us! ;)

Nelson's Got Balls

Violet's Visit With Santa

Baby Violet pictures!!

I love NY Santa's garb!!! That is kickin' it OLD school!

Handsome Baby

This Is So Cool!!

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/LrtNJ9s04OPA3rPBbccBZQ

If you click on the link you can watch the video that Amya is watching in the clip below.
Thank you Aunt Carol for the tip!!
You can ask Santa to make a video for your kids, too!

This is Amya's reaction!! Loved it!

Dear Amya...

A Seat With A View

The kids have been sick...

...for a week! Today Amya realized she couldn't go to playgroup and was a bit bummed out. If you want to torture that child, you isolate her from her friends. She just can't deal. Today she took her two chairs and put them up to the door and said, "There. Mommy, now when my friends do come over, they can sit here and watch the snow falling outside!" (watching the snow falling outside is something she has done a lot this week) It broke my heart a little.

On a lighter note!...I love this first picture because it encapsulates what Nelson thinks of his changing table...it is a climbing table. I have to flip him back down AT LEAST three times per diaper change. The other picture is of a cut out Turkey that Amya got in a card from her Grandparents. She loved it! It's the "little things" for that kid!

Nelson has been surprisingly good around the Christmas tree! He takes his Mickey Mouse walker and walks up to and looks at the ornaments. I'm not sure when it will change to ripping them down, but I'm sure it will....

The Naughty and The Nice...

...pictures with Santa, that is.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Winter...

You can tell winter is in the air .....

...when the Christmas tree hunt ends in success! (by the way, it is OK for babies not to wear socks when outside in the cold)

...when indoor activities revolve around art and horse play!

...when Carol gets (more) crafty (than usual)...

...when there are more kids in the house than one can count!

....when the grass under the snow is greener than in July..

...when babies hang out in front of the wood stove loooooong after bath time!

...when the hot cocoa flows like it's on tap...

...and the sledding never ends!

(until someone gets cold!)

You know winter is in the air when tree is trimed and the stockings are hung with care!