2009 in a Nut Shell

Here's our 2009 in a Nut Shell. I had a hard time picking which photos to put up, sorry if it's too many. Also sorry if you're not in any of them, I tried.
We had a great year and then later in the year our camera was stolen so not much to show for November & December.
Enjoy!!

1st Sleepover and 1st Snow of Winter

Well it was last week, but that's pretty good for me posting it so close to the actual event.

I figured I'd get a new post up before adding our yearly letter which I still haven't started yet.

Alexis had her very 1st sleepover last week while school was still out for Christmas break. We had our neighbor, MaKenzie, to stay the night. I also figured it'd be good since they live downstairs that in case she wanted to go home during the middle of the night (which I remember doing), I wouldn't have that far to go to take her home.
Everything was great, they went to sleep with talking or giggling. What kind of girlie sleepover is that? Oh well, I'm sure she'll be doing that soon enough & I'll get tired of going in and saying, "Girls, keep it down". Ya know, in a nice 'sing songy' voice.


That was the day we had our 1st snow of the winter. It came down in whispers in the afternoon and then came down hard & heavy. Earlier in the day I loaned out Alexis' snow clothes to a friend and literally on the way home it started snowing. Oh well, we managed.
It actually stuck and I'm glad we took advantage of it, even though it's so much work to get 4 kids plus 2 adults ready to play in the snow, because by the next day it was slushy and now it's all gone.
We went and played at night, I love snow at night. So quiet & light.
We had a great time and got to stay up late, that must be why the girls went to sleep in like 5 minutes.


We have a new borrowed camera & this was the 1st time using it so I didn't have it all figured out yet, so I apologize for the exposure.

Carter

Makenzie, our friend


Alexis & Charlie

Travis, that was Preston's snowball at him. Good shot.


Preston & Mommy

Carter as Spiderman & C'mas Program Preview

The kids are going to be a part of our Family Christmas Program at church this Wednesday evening. Since most everyone we know won't be coming here is a little video of what you'll be missing.

The beginning is of Carter being Spiderman, of which he is obsessed right now.

Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUM58fPB2qI

I haven't been able to figure out how to put the actual video here yet, so the link will have to do for now.

I added a new awesome recipe

Cafe' Yumm in Eugene/PDX is one of our favorite restaurants. They serve delicious food that is so good for you.
One of our favorites there is an Original Yumm Bowl. It has brown rice, black beans, their 'secret' yumm sauce, avocado, salsa, cheese.
Oh my, oh my. It is so so very tasty.
I discovered a pirated recipe for their Yumm Sauce & I'm so excited because it tastes as close to the original as I've ever tasted.
Check out the link to the recipe on my "Favorite Recipes" to the left of this page.
Enjoy & let me know what you think.

Our 2009 Summer so far....

Born 2 Run Challenge

Charlie 'competed' in the Lane Pregnancy Support Center

2nd Annual Born to Run Challenge on May 30th.

It was a 5K/15K Run/Walk.
I chose to run in the 15K (9.3 miles). I trained for about 1 month and was feeling very confident. I estimated that I would finish in 1 hr 45 min at the earliest, I beat that and finished at 1 hr 40 min.
However evidently there are a lot of serious runners out there, I finished 43rd out of 48.
That was a bit humbling to say the least, I'm confident I'll do better next time.

Even though I concentrated on trying to beat others & just doing my best, that wasn't the reason for the race.

This was a fundraising event to benefit the most innocent, unborn babies.
It was such an honor to be a part of something much bigger and have a great impact on the innocent, lost & hurting.

The estimated amount that this marathon raised for the center was around $7, 000. Awesome!!
Prayerfully it will go along way.




My cheering section.
Alexis, 6
Preston, 4
Carter, 2

Travis' brother, Sean & fiance Jill, took our kids 1st thing in the morning for breakfast and tons of outdoor fun.

Becky Hall's Wedding

Becky Hall got married to Tom Gregersen on May 23, 2009.

It was such a lovely, relaxed, and fun ceremony in Albany, OR.
From 1st date to Wedding date - 3 MONTHS!!!

They honeymooned somewhere on the coast, isn't that wonderful that as the daughter I still can't remember where despite being told many times.

Becky & Tom will be staying at Tom's house in Junction City until his exchange student has left, then they will move into Becky's house in Eugene while they figure out what their plans are. The have talked about many possibilities, no decisions made yet.

Becky has 2 kids + 6 grand kids, Tom has 3 kids + 4 grand kids.

They are going to be a very busy newlywed couple, and hopefully all of us will remember what being a newlywed is like.
I''ve already learned to cut them some slack, it's going to be a big change for everyone involved.

It is so nice to see my Mom being giddy, even though she's always happy this is very different.

They are always laughing and are always going somewhere. We're going to enjoy having Tom in our family, it will be exciting for sure.




Tom, Becky with Chuck Hall's family
Nicole, Tom, Becky, Chuck
Aidan, Kennedy & Grayson

Some of the grand kids
Tom, Becky
Jacob Gregersen, Preston, Alexis, Grayson, Aidan
Carter & Kennedy

Hollye & Duane Daggett, I think Hollye likes weddings.