Rain, Rain, Go Away!!!!!!!!!

I've lived in the Northwest since 1991 and never have I disliked our weather as much as this year! It is cold and it is wet. I miss the sun and I miss the warmth of a 70+ degree day. I don't know if it is just me, but it seems like the weather just keeps getting worse and worse every year. I mean I hate to complain about something as trivial as the weather, but I dont' know how much more of this I can take!

So... as I wish for warmer, drier days I will add a few pictures from summertime as a reminder that one day the sun WILL shine again!! :)

Changes

Recently I've been feeling a little sad about how much the girls have grown up and changed. I find myself missing the early years when they were home with me and our days were spent watching videos of Bible songs and dancing in Daddy's t-shirts while folding the laundry. Days when the yellow Belle costume NEVER came off (not even for trips to the grocery store) and a major tantrum would occur at the mere SUGGESTION of wearing anything else. Days when we thought of their thumbsucking and fingersucking as a 'cute habbits' rather than 'the cause of a huge orthodontia bill.' A time when boobies and bras were something only Mommies had. A time when Hannah Montana and The Jonas Brothers did not hang on their bedroom walls but their backpacks still donned Disney Princesses.

Don't get me wrong, though - I LOVE what I see blossoming in front of me. I see gorgeous young women who are fearfully and wonderfully made by God - beautiful from the inside out. I see individual personalities unfolding right in front of me. I see gifts and talents being used and lifetime dreams beginning to form.

While I DO miss who they were, I SO look forward to who they are becoming. Praise God for trusting me to be the mother of these fine young ladies.

What'cha got cookin'?

For Kurt's birthday dinner this year he requested homemade Chicken and Dumplings. My first reaction, "Wow, that's a lot of work." After thinking about it for a just a minute though, I thought, why wouldn't I make a something that takes a little time and effort in order to celebrate my man?! So, I rolled up my sleeves and got cookin'. They really are pretty yummy - maybe they should be standard birthday fare around here (although I must say the picture doesn't do them any justice)! Happy Birthday, Popie!!

Fort Worden

For our President's Day weekend we decided to take a little camping trip to Fort Worden near Port Townsend. We had a great time exploring the old batteries and hiking up the hill and along the beach.

No More Brace Face... for now, at least.

Lauren recently got her braces offafter a few years of wearing a Herbst appliance to correct her mis-aligned bite follwed by the braces on her permanent teeth so far. This was "phase 1" and was very simlar if not identical to the treatment Ashley went through for the same thing. Ashley's braces went on when she was in 2nd grade. The day after she got hers off, Lauren got hers on! So, all in all, it's been about 4 straight years of braces in our home. Of course now we just heard from the orthodontist that Ashley is ready any time for "phase 2"!! I figure by the time she is done with that it will undoubtedly be time for Lauren's "phase 2"! So, for now... we will just enjoy some brace-free days.


Isn't she beautiful? :)

Ballet Performance

I just found these pictures from the girls' Christmas ballet performance. It took place on Jan 10th after being rescheduled due to bad weather in Dec. We were using the camera to record the dance, so I took these few pictures on my phone.

The girls work hard each week to learn these dances and we think they have done really well.

Pardon me while I brag about my daughter!

BTW...This post is going to be all about Ashley. In our house I often hear the phrase, "that's not fair" to which I am usually quick to reply, "the fair comes once a year in August!" Lauren will have her moments for me to brag about her, but for THIS moment... I'm gonna brag on Ashley!

What a fun year this has been for Ashley starting middle school. She has taken really well to it. The end of her elementary school years were not so fun for her. However, 6th grade has opened up a whole new world. She really enjoys her classes and she is making great grades, including a 4.0 her first quarter.

BAND
Ashley had grown a little tired of piano after 5 years of taking private lessons. We still wanted her to have some sort of musical training, though, and so the Monroe Middle School band seemed like the perfect way for her to do so. At first she wasn't too excited about it, but decided she would like to learn to play the saxophone. In order to learn saxophone, she would first need to learn clarinet. So... along with quite a few other students in 6th grade that is what she is playing this year.

Mr. Dumchen, the band director, has been wonderful. Ashley really enjoys him a lot. In December the first concert of the year had to be cancelled due to the snow and ice we had at that time. It was rescheduled for Jan 14th. She was excited and very prepared. Below are a few pictures from the concert.
When it was over she thought she played pretty well - no squawking at least. ;)

Ashley has told us that she is excited to continue in the band next year and she really IS gonna go after the sax! What fun it is to watch her beginning to enjoy music. God has blessed her with a natural talent and we are so happy to see her discovering the true joy of it.

STUDENT OF THE MONTH
A week after the band concert, we had another opportunity to be proud parents of our Ashley Mae. The school has started a program called "Student of the Month" where teachers, staff and students have an opportunity to nominate students to receive an award. Ashley received an award for outstanding performance as an Aide and good citizenship.

They said of her:

"Ashley is always willing to help correct papers or do other tasks requested. She also enjoys helping other students. She is very kind and respectful in everything she does."

The school called us secretly (without Ashley knowing) and invited us to the assembly where she received her award.

Kurt and I are really happy to see Ashley doing so well in middle school and we feel very proud of her. I thought I would take a moment to celebrate all her hard work with a blog post in her honor! :)