Tillamook Cheese Factory and Cape Lookout State Park

So on Sunday we took a spontaneous trip to the coast. We had been wanting to go, we just didn't have much time, so when church was over we decided to just go for the day. We had so much fun, and the kids really enjoyed it. (Chloe cried when we said we were leaving the beach)

These two are such goof balls, and hams when I tell them to pose for a picture!

They had sand on their hands and didn't want to touch each other!

Evan was telling me how the ocean worked. It was very interesting.

Chloe and her Daddy....

Can't you tell Chloe's having fun!

The Farmer and her Cow, and the Tillamook Cheese Factory!

Sarah

New Cousin, Camping and Boating!

So since its been a while since I've last blogged, I figured I have to cram it all into one.

My brother and sister in law just recently had a baby and she's the cutest thing ever!!

Presenting Payton Augustina Leverich!I'm pretty sure the kids like their new little cousin!

Mom, Coco and I took the kids with us on the Western Washington Shop Hop , and to our amazement we actually finished the shop hop and visited 16 shops along I-5. The kids had fun collecting their own fabric and getting a stamp in their passport.

Taking a break. Payton's already gotten the goofy face down.

Over Father's Day weekend we went camping with Damon's family to Foster Lake. We had lots of fun just hanging out, riding bikes, throwing rocks in the river, and roasting gigantic marshmallow's. (minus my allergy's/asthma acting up) So it rained a little...whats new its the Northwest.

Devon and I had a bike race....although the bikes were a little small. :)

Shealyn likes to hang out with her MiMi. Its too cute! Love the smile Chloe'!

Chloe's gigantic smore!

Cousins!
Damon showing Evan how to skip rocks.The Fam!
Shealyn with Evan's goofy glasses. What a goof!

Then, this last week has been a whirl wind, and we got to end it with some fun! Some friends of ours invited us out on there boat, and we were all excited to go! The kids had never been on a boat before and had a total blast being pulled in an inner tube. The kids with there friends....Ready to go! They want to go faster!

They talked me into going with.

P.S. Evan also learned how to ride his bike with no training wheels. Although he hasn't mastered how to stop or start yet. But....he learned in a day!

Sarah

An Adoption Giveaway!

Some good friends of ours are adopting again from Ethiopia. They have come up with a shirt design thats unique yet raises awareness to the orphan crisis all over the world. Before they do any presales of them, they are doing a giveaway and you could win one!! Check out her blog here. You'll LOVE them!!

Sarah

Just an update. :)

This year we went down to the Woodburn Tulip fields. Its always so beautiful, and the kids have loads of fun!Evan......just being Evan.I'm not sure this is a style Damon and I should go with. :)I took the week of Chloe's spring break off, and Mom and I took the kids to the zoo. The Oregon Zoo is getting better and better every time we go. This time they have lions and the day we went was the first day of sun all week, and so ALL the animals were out sunbathing.The Lions looked just like the Lion King up on pride rock. Evan thought the lion statue needed its nose cleaned.
Chloe liked the little lion cub. Why do kids CLIMB on everything! Hope everyone is doing well.

Sarah

A Giveaway!!

Who wouldn't want to win something!!? Some dear friends of ours are on the journey of adopting there second child, a little girl from Ethiopia. She has posted this giveaway for a $50 gift certificate to Junk Posse (which has lots of cool things I might add, like the necklace below) There are many ways to enter 2 of which are very simple. Check it out here!
Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support!

Sarah

Bowling with the kids

So last Sunday a boy from Chloes class had a birthday party at Big Al's bowling alley. That place is ridiculous! I could believe how huge it was. We have never taken the kids bowling, so this was a first for them. They loved it!

These two just get me everytime. They love hanging out, and doing things together. Too cute!Chloe tried her hardest to make sure that her fingers were at least in the finger holes before she tried to throw it down the alley.Evan could barely hold the ball up, but he insisted on doing it himself.We went bowling for a party for a classmate of Chloe's, here she is with the birthday boy.

Sarah

The toothless wonder

The little girl has finally lost her front tooth! She doesn't like to wiggle them, so the only time anything happens to them is when I brush her teeth. So needless to say, I BRUSH THEM! Then this morning while brushing them, she could tell something weird happened with her tooth, and then all of sudden she spit it out. Now she has a hole, and guess what, her other front tooth is loose, so know we start this all over again!

Sarah

Lowes project

So for the last few months the kids have enjoyed going to Lowes every Saturday, or every other Saturday, and making things. They have a free kids workshop, where they get an apron, a project kit, a tiny hammer, and safety goggles. Its the cutest thing, and they LOVE going! They have made things from Gingerbread Houses,Christmas ornaments, Tic-Tac-Toe boxes, coin banks, and then today they made a jewelry holder. (Evan made his for me) :) Each project that they complete they get a little certificate and a patch to sew on to their apron. Or should I say for Mom to sew on. Heres a few pics.

Sarah

Valentines Cookies!

So I was asked by a dear sweet friend to post my cookie recipe. (no pun intended) I make this recipe every Valentines Day although these cookies were first made for me on Halloween. Don't ask, I'm not sure how they became Valentines cookies. :) The cookies are Pressed Shortbread with some delicious frosting. (and not your ordinary powdered sugar frosting either) Anyways, you will need:

1 cup of butter, softened (if its salted butter, do not add the 1/8 tsp of salt, if its unsalted butter add the salt)

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1/8 tsp. of salt

2 cups of unsifted flour

Heat the oven to 300 degrees. In a medium sized bowl with an electric mixer, beat the softened butter, sugar and salt, on med-high, until fluffy. Reduce speed to low, and add flour a 1/2 cup at a time. Beat until smooth. Roll into a ball, and then roll out with a rolling pin till its about 1/8 of an inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters, and place on a greased cookie sheet. They do not get bigger, so you can squeeze them on, just don't let them touch. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.

Now for the yumminess that goes on top!!

In a bowl:
2 egg whites
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
and dash of salt

Beatr until stiff, and then add 2 tsp. of vanilla and gradually add 3 cups of confectioners sugar until peaks form. You can then separate it out into different bowls and dye it different colors. I don't have pictures yet, but I will take some when they are finished being frosted. Make them!! You'll love them!!

Sarah

The Infamous Update!

So, like I said, I'M BACK!! Our lives have been crazy, and by no means has the crazy ended! A bit of some updates. The kids are well. They are having a great time in our new place. YES!! We moved out of the parents and are getting back on our feet! We are actually only a few doors down from my parents, which works out really great especially for the days that I work. Chloe' doesn't have to change schools, and things are still familiar to them. (neighborhood friends and places they like to ride their bikes)

Chloe' is loving school more and more each day, and can't wait for 1st grade where she gets to go everyday. She celebrated her 6th Birthday a couple weeks ago, and has almost lost her front tooth.

Evan misses her A LOT when she's gone, and gets excited when its time to go and get her. They are both getting so big, and I wish I could freeze time with them and leave them the way they are. Evan is definitely the family comedian, and jokes about EVERYTHING!

Damon is still testing with different police depts. but getting a job with them has pretty much been put on hold. Most of the depts. in the area are in a hiring freeze, and are even laying officers off. He is however on a few eligibility list, so in the event they start hiring again, he could get a call to go further in the hiring process. Right now though, he has a great job with a company in Tigard, OR called A cut above exteriors. He's highly valued, and is really likes what he does. What more could you ask for.

As for myself, I got a job with JP Morgan Chase in WA part time, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Back in February I had lost my job with Bsecure, and we were really needing my income, so I had to look for a job. So we moved up closer to family in Washington, so we would have babysitters and not have to do the daycare thing. So far so good, although it would be lovely to be a stay at home mom again. But, I will do what I need to for the time being. I don't have any really recent pics, (my camera seemed to delete my photos after Chloe's birthday) so your gonna have to deal with what I do have until I take more. :) Thanks for reading!

This picture is our most update family pic with my side of the family. Although you can't tell there is one in Nicoles tummy, so I'm gonna be an AUNT again. Wahoo. Its pretty exciting when its your brother and a friend. Nicole and I go way back to when Damon and I were dating, and would have thought that he would the Uncle to her kid! Let alone me the Aunt. We are very excited, and they found out not to long ago that its gonna be a girl.

I thought I'd show you my newest outfit that I made. I couldn't sell this one because Chloe' wanted to where it for Thanksgiving. It turned out really cute! What do you think?

Sarah

Well.....I'm back!

I'm so very sorry for how long its taken to update this thing. We have had a lot going on, with little time to do extras. Please check back soon, as I plan to post a slew of pics and updates of the updates. I hope that all my blog friends are doing well, and I'm excited because I finally get to read all of yours again. Blessings to you all!!

Sarah