EKjourney Backup

Vacation is here!  I got up early so I could be at JoAnn's when it opened at 8:00 and pick up a few things for the party.  This was the lovely scene that greeted me as I made some tea for the road.  It was frosty out so I warmed the car up and it was so lovely and warm and toasty and quiet and no one was out and about surprisingly.  It was the most relaxed I have felt in weeks.! My friend Sara gave me some bits and bobs from her doll making business and I had in mind a doll making party for Evi's birthday.  Poor Sawyer and Evi had yet to have a party (with friends) since their birthdays always fall during the holiday madness and last year was so difficult with the move and remodel.  We wanted to prioritize celebrating them this year and they have really connected and made friendships within Youth group/Awanas/Sunday school so it was fun to have a group of their friends together. I had a table set up with felt pieces, fabric, yarn, ribbons, pipe cleaners, wo...

What a day this day was LOL! First, 11 years doesn't seem all that long ago...but wow, looking at these pictures, it surely was! Phil with black hair and facial hair and these two little one, just 3 and 18 months old. 2 weeks overdue. Meeting the new sister and granddaughter. Zell was just a baby. And here she is!!  She was such laid back and easy baby (and still is laid back and easy going).  Our smack dab in the middle child, the sensitive one, the compassionate one, the people pleaser, the giggler, the quick to smile child, the creative one.  We are so grateful for her! The winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, what a lovely day to be born, cozy in the winter with longer days ahead. So, what a day it was....let me explain: First, Glorielle woke up wailing of a sore throat (and she can be overly dramatic so I didn't know how serious to take her...as it turns out it was basically nothing), Sawyer had a bloody nose shortly after getting up, and B didn't eat enoug...

After my last bah-humbug post, we continued on in our crazy busy life and I am just now taking a big deep breath (Saturday evening) because the final week of school is behind us, Evi's b-day and party are over, and Phil is officially on vacation.  Now I just need to gear up (food prep, last minute errands, and packing) for Christmas travels bright and early Monday morning after Christmas service tomorrow. Phil and the children attended two Christmas programs at McNary and I attended laundry folding and present wrapping in my bedroom alone, by myself, with no people noise LOL. Sawyer was of course thrilled. We went up to Seattle for a way-too-short visit with Phil's family.  There ended up being a scheduling conflict so we could only go up for 24 hours before having to race home for the Christmas program dress rehearsal. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures! Mount Saint Helens, lit up in the background.  It was breathtaking!!! My teen Game playing at the rental house....