Easter 2011

Good Friday Morning, my friends!  I could not be more excited for the weekend; it is going to be 70 degrees on Sunday (only the second 70 degree day we've had this year).  Hip, Hip Hooray! 
 I'm telling you, this weather has left me feeling a bit restless.  I've been watching the horses out the big front windows all winter, longing to get out and ride fast, but the wet weather keeps preventing the ground from drying out to ride.  To carry out my need for speed, I've pushed the double stroller up the hill as fast as I could every day this week (an improvement from my 'just weekly' walk we've been doing), but I'd much rather be riding.  Jesus, send the sun!
We had the pleasure of hosting Easter for our families and friends this year. 
A few highlights from the weekend: beautiful, sunny day on Saturday for the egg hunt, helping in children's church Easter Sunday, wonderful food and fellowship (everyone brought something), the sunshine coming out long enough for another hunt on the farm on Sunday, and my brother, Patrick, finishing off the day by busting out the hula-hoop complete with workout clothes and a whole lotta sass.  I am still laughing!
   Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

Peyton did not get into the festivities this year (acted very much like a two-year-old and was pretty stinky at times...buddy!), but he loved coloring eggs!  He kept grunting from holding his breath because he was concentrating so hard.

   

First Easter!

Easter decor consisted of candytuft and heather from my parent's yard and wood rounds my hubby cut for me.  Speaking of wood, I am trying to get my hands on some wood stumps.  You know we have access to plenty o' wood and they make such cool side tables.  I tried to get one for Peyton's nursery a couple years back, but never thought about making my own, until recently.  My mom even had the cool idea of using a birch tree stump for a white one or painting one white!

The naked dining room post-Easter (with the exception of the bunny stuffed with heather and one wood round, I wasn't quite ready to put them away).

I cannot get over how cute these two looked in their matching blue and white (Auntie Erin and Marcus).

Pictures from my mom's camera...

We also celebrated David's 32nd birthday, which fell on Good Friday!  Happy Birthday to my very best friend and love! 

Olivia and Peyton playing with Daddy and his new toy...

I heart you, David Gordon!

You're Invited!

"Easter Day, Easter Day, That is the joy of my life, Easter day that is the joy of my life,

On Easter day Jesus was risen, On Easter Day He was Alive,

Oh how I love him and I will 'til I die, 

I will love him 'til I die." 

My Uncle Robb wrote that song when he was a little boy and Nanny had his piano teacher put it to music.  Cuute! :)  I'm trying to track down the exact lyrics/music, but that is what I have so far (as remembered by my Mom). 

I'd like to extend an invitation to you for Easter Sunday if you have don't have a church home.  Don't let Easter pass you by without taking the time to celebrate the Risen King!   I would probably crack with delight if you joined us for an Easter egg hunt on Saturday or for Easter Sunday.  Heck, come join us for Easter dinner at the farm! 

Good Friday Service on Friday, April 22nd at 7 p.m.

Extreme Easter Egg Hunt- Saturday, April 23rd at 11 a.m.-12:30

Easter Sunday, April 24th at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

You can find all the information right here.

HAPPY EASTER!!

Words & Pictures

Life is going by at lightening speed these days; the days, weeks, and months are flying by.  I am thankful for this little spot on the information superhighway to help us remember and enjoy. 

Am I getting a reputation for my plethora of pictures?  In any case, pictures are easier than words right now.:)

But, before the pictures, some words farm information:

Did you know the average age of U.S. Farmers is 55?  And did you know we spend considerably less on food as compared to other countries {thanks to our inventive and adept farmers and ranchers}.

Now for pictures...

I adore this picture of baby Julia in Nana's hat that her grandma made for her.

She will be 5 months old this week.  She is reaching out and pulling our faces in for slobbery kisses, "scrunching" on the floor like a worm {I wonder if she will be our youngest to crawl}, sitting up, and has tasted her first rice cereal.  She is an absolute delight.   

The last couple months were harder than the beginning, but I am realizing that it was most likely due to sickness (makes a two-year-old very clingy) and terrible weather {what a challenge when everyone can't get outside}. 

We are so very thankful to have sickness behind us and summer ahead of us!  Now, more about the weather.  Do you remember last year when the seashells blew in after the stormy weather?  Olivia was overwhelmed with joy when she found a new dusting of seashells last Friday afternoon.

She got her wagon and started loading them up straightaway.  I love how she appreciates the little things like finding seashells in her backyard!

I love sleeping baby pictures, too!

One of my dearest friends and cousin, Becca, came down from Washington to work on a "special project" with my precious sister-in-law, Liza, and to meet her new nephew!  Congratulations, Nick & Ali!!! 

BIG kudos to Becca & Liza for all the work you put into the family project {it is a secret for now, but it is going to be awesome!}.

They informed me in the picture below that they were "computicating".

Watching the little nuts play...

Becca's adorable girls came down, too,  and the kids were pretty much inseparable; they pretended it was spring summer, rolled up their pants and ran around in the sand.

Cousins from left to right: Katelyn, Olivia, Abigail and Evelette

I love you, Evelette Marilyn!

And Peyton, well, he didn't seem to notice his pants falling off every time he bent over, but the girls sure did!  Just this week he headed outside in the freezing cold while I was getting something in the basement with nothing on, but his rubber boots.  :) 

I have been so hungry lately.  Yes, anything I can bake or buy and ultimately consume is on my mind these days!  Southern Living had so many yummy recipes this last month- check them out!  Here is just one of them.

Strawberry-Lemon Shortbread Bars

Friends in the Sun and Rain

Hello again!  I hope you are waking up to sunny skies this morning and your weekend was wonderful!  I tried not to share these pictures with you, I really did, but could not resist. :)  

Olivia and Peyton are quite the friends... here are a few pictures from this weekend.

The rains subsided for a bit, so we relished being outside.  It was not warm, mind you, just rain-free!  On Saturday, these two got dressed up in their Indian outfits and pulled on their rubber boots to help plant Christmas trees (I know, Peyton's boot aren't even on the right feet and they are not dressed warm enough).  I watched them for a good 20 minutes marching around outside and helping with the planting, being little nuts, before I took their picture and shooed them inside for a few more layers of clothing. :)     

We went for a long walk Friday afternoon and then hiked at Multnomah Falls for my Mom's birthday on Sunday, so we definitely got our exercise in this weekend.  Happy Birthday, Mama!  You are the best friend ever and more precious than any of us deserve!   

Love to you and yours!  Have a blessed day!

Days on the Farm: Early Spring

There is much to do on the farm these days, if only the weather would cooperate, so they could really tackle all there is to do.  There will be a rush when the rain subsides, and the tile up the hill quits running (Great Uncle Bill used to say, "when the tile stops running, it is time to farm."). 

Note: it is still running

Tough Guy and I went out after his nap to watch the guys auger the wheat into the truck. 

He is so fascinated by everything on the farm.

The wheat is collected in the grain bins during harvest, then sold, and trucked to Portland  in the winter (or in this case, early spring) . 

Uncle Patrick gave Paytay a closer look at the wheat.

And his own handful of wheat, which he carried around and finally dumped into a cup, and slowly ate.  :)

It is an intense time of preparation on the farm these days. 
They are amassing a very large pile of pipe for the black-cap field. 

As well as a very large pile of sawdust for a new blueberry field that will be going in this spring.

Julia is enjoying the activity, too!

Happy Spring on the farm!