Pacific Northwest fun

We recently returned from a fabulous trip to the Pacific Northwest. We got to see friends and family and play on the beach. We also attended Uncle Brad's graduation from medical school. I thoroughly relaxed and completely enjoyed myself. The Northwest is beautiful country and I hope to make it my home sooner or later.


We had a blast hanging out with Ross and Dixie Kolditz and their kids. They treated us royally and have a lovely home. Our kids thought their kids were the best and we all enjoyed the fantastic view from their deck. We enjoyed the Primary activity, their small branch and celebrating Erick's birthday. It is great to have good friends.


From the Kolditz home we headed to Nehalem Bay for a couple of days of playing at the beach and sleeping in the yurts. We all thought that the yurt was way cool. We visited Tillamook (great cheese and ice cream), Cape Meares lighthouse, Mo's, and had fish and chips at the Pacific Oyster Company. We also roamed the state park trails and trekked through the sand dunes--not to mention building sandcastles.


After our Oregon adventure it was time to head to Seattle. We got to see all of my brothers--Mike flew in from England. We went to the beach, took a ferry ride to Orcas island, returned to our old haunts in Bellingham and Ferndale, went to a baseball game and the zoo, and enjoyed being with family.

The "Original Six" Daines.

After Seattle we headed back to Idaho. We stayed a night at Mom and Dad's and then headed to Twin Falls. We enjoyed the Lundgren's hospitality and they came with us on our trek to see the City of Rocks. We had a fun picnic and the kids enjoyed scampering through the rocks.

We were glad to get home but are already missing the freedom to explore that we had on our trip. We'll be back soon.

Emily turns 3

Emily turned 3 on Thursday. We are so happy that she is with us. It is hard to believe that she had such a struggle with her health as a baby. She loves being in charge and likes to tell people what to do. She also gives the best hugs. She had a great birthday. I think her favorite part was opening presents. She got a swimming suit and tea party set from Grandma and Grandpa, a lightsaber from her siblings (purple no less), polly pockets, and a book.


Look at me I am three!! I got to have a butterfly cake.


Emily in action. Look at her rip through that paper.


I am a Jedi and love my purple lightsaber. I also love my Tinkerbell doll.

Happy birthday, Emily!!!

Becca's birthday

Becca turned 10 on Monday. It is hard to believe that Chantel and I started our family that long ago. Becca had a great birthday. She got a brand new bike that should last her for several years. She will be hard pressed to grow out of this one. She has spent most of her free time riding her new bike. She also got shoes and a lunchbox from Grandma and Grandpa and a Disneyland bracelet from Bud and Adella. She wanted cheesecake and burritos for her birthday dinner and they were delicious. Happy Birthday, Becca!!

Becca's beautiful cheesecake. Notice that only some of the candles are blown out. She eventually got them all.

Becca opening presents.


Becca's brand new bike.

Look at me on my new bike!!

The Hillcrest Easter Egg Hunt

Every year the Hillcrest Country Club hosts an Easter Egg Hunt and Mom and Dad thought that it would be fun to take all the grandkids to it. They had three age groups and we covered them all. The kids had a wonderful time and came home with tons of candy.

Grandpa Pete hangs out with Emily and Lucy.

Emily and Lucy in action. Notice how Lucy is looking to Michael for instructions. Emily was getting hers from Grandpa.


Returning victorious from the hunt.


Grandma Susan and Grandpa Pete pose with Riley, Sophie, Lucy, Emily, Amy, Peter Gordon, Hannah, and Becca (only missing 2 grandkids--Cole and Sam).

The Easter Bunny came

We went up to my parents home for Easter weekend to see them and two of my brothers. Bradley has been doing a rotation at the VA hospital and it was one of the last times we'll get to see him before he heads off to residency in Vermont. Michael and his family were here from England because Mike was interviewing for jobs. My kids were in heaven playing with Sophie, Riley and Lucy. We did Easter baskets on Saturday and it was fun to watch the kids hunt around for their baskets--which had been strategically hidden through the house. It was great to spend time with family and Becca and Hannah loved the fact that they got to skip school for two days.

Visiting Grandma Galloway

We had the opportunity to visit Grandma Galloway two weeks ago. We enjoyed visiting with her and had fun having a pizza lunch outside. We also enjoyed seeing Uncle Melvin. We hope you like the pictures we took. Becca and Hannah put on a little recital for Grandma and the other kids joined in singing some Primary songs.

Uncle Melvin and Grandma

Me, Emily and Grandma

Chantel, Amy and Grandma

Peter Gordon and Grandma

Hannah and Grandma

Becca and Grandma

What cute kids!!

Becca has been busy with school, piano and friends. Lately she has been hanging out with the bishop's daughter, Ashley, and they have had a lot of fun together.
Hannah is still passionate about school and recently finished reading Heidi. She is working hard at the piano and loves playing with her siblings.

Peter Gordon has finally discovered how much fun it is to color and write. He still would rather be running around outside but it is a start. He is a master lightsaber fighter and it is pretty funny to watch him and Emily go at it.

These two are quite the pair. Emily is one of a kind and still intent on running the house--she is bound and determined not to let Amy dethrone her. Amy has discovered how to sit up by herself and is now trying to figure out how to crawl. She is quite loud and makes herself heard frequently.