September

School, Austin's baptism, Leah starts Kindergarten

October was football....

Priesthood Preview

This last Sunday was Jake's Priesthood Preview at church - an introduction to what his responsibilities will be when he turns 12 later this year and is ordained a deacon.  During the meeting , the Bishop called all the boys up front and asked their Primary teacher to join them.  Jake's teacher is Ned, the husband of my good friend Lori and I have been so happy he is Jake's teacher. Unbeknownst to me, every year Ned has his class memorize the following section of the Doctrine and Covenants.  and during this meeting they all stood and recited it together by heart:

Doctrine and Covenants Section 4

Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

 2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

 3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

 4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

 5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

 6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

 7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.

This mama shed more than one tear, watching my almost 12 year old stand before me, white shirt and tie, and say these powerful verses from memory.  It was not hard to imagine him 6 years down the road with a black name tag on his pocket, sharing his strong testimony with the world.  I'm so proud of him, the example he is to all of us and to his friends, and for the good choices he continues to make in his life.  

August

Leah told me tonight, "I want to look at pictures of remembories".  I love that this is what she calls memories, and it reminded me that I have been so neglectful in updating this online journal of their childhood.

So here goes...

Austin's birthday, we decided to head to the beach, since Brian was there for work.  The kids and I spent the day exploring new beaches, then met up with Dad for a birthday dinner.  We visited Yaquinta Head, and found the coolest beach, Cobble Beach, named for the stones that cover the beach and sound like cobblestones when you walk on them.

the kids had fun playing pioneer games in the lighthouse education center

Jake also spent 3 evenings at a football camp at South Albany High school, his future alma mater

He also started his football season.  

Homemade Art

We've got a ton of hallway walls upstairs, and very little hanging on them.  Today we decided to do a Pinterest hack, and make some of our own art.  This was a super simple, super fun activity.  

Canvases from Hobby Lobby, blue painters tape and regular craft paint.  The kids loved it and are excited to hang their own masterpieces on the walls.

New Annual Family Beach Trip - Neskowin Beach

Peas in a pod

 One of many full body burials

 My son, the big breasted mermaid

 No one really wanted to know what was keeping her hot tub "hot"

 Grandpa and Hannah trying to figure out a selfie on a flip phone

Waterloo Park

For several years now Brian and I have been looking for a good place to go to the river.  No one with any concern for their own health actually swims in the Willamette, so we were on the search for a good clean river with easy access for the kids and a nice park to spend the day in.  

Thanks to an Albany community page on Facebook, we found just the place - Waterloo County Park, just outside of Lebanon.  Just our luck, we managed to go on a day when the forecast of 90+ degrees didn't quite live up to its prediction, and it was overcast and not warm enough (for me anyway) to spend too much time in the water.  Regardless, everyone had a great time, and we plan to go back with warmer weather.

Beach Day

To finish up our Independence Day weekend, we headed for the coast.  We don't get there nearly as often as we want.  After having a super yummy lunch at a new-to-us restaurant in Newport, we spent the afternoon at Agate Beach.  Once again we lucked out with amazing weather and warm water.  The kids were in it all day!

 Brian teaching Jake how to body surf.  He quickly became obsessed with it.

 Cue the Baywatch music...

 I kept going back and forth between being worried to death that he was going to get sucked under, and feeling teary that my first born has gotten so big.  

When we got there, this was our view of the lighthouse.  By late afternoon a fog quickly rolled in and...

this was the view we said goodbye to.