April 2017

If there is one word I could use to describe April it would be "snuggles". Just lots and lots of snuggles. We had so much fun as a family in April and were blessed with a few days of really nice weather so we could get out a little bit and enjoy the sunshine.

Snuggles

I was able to capture so many cute moments of the kids together. Whether they are reading together or playing a game together on the iPad, they just really love to be close and to be together.

Easter 2017

We celebrated our first Easter in our new house by dyeing Easter eggs and hiding them in all of the cool new places. Clara just came for the food. She did love finding plastic eggs filled with candy everywhere!

Grammy and Jarom's Visit

We enjoyed a visit from Grammy and our nephew, Jarom. Tommy and Jarom were connected at the hip the entire trip and played game after game together. We got to visit OMSI's special exhibit, The Art of LEGO, have breakfast at Slappy Cakes, play at the trampoline park, attend our homeschool Easter party, and walk up the Tilikum Bridge. 

Other Happenings

Clara is now in full destructive mode. She pulls everything off every surface she can reach and gets into as many naughty things as she can. Lily dressed up as Snow White and helped me do some dry ice science experiments outside one day, which was very fun. And Tommy has been enjoying his sewing class with his homeschool friends. In the picture below you see him wearing the lunch bag he hand crafted.

A Hike in the Woods

We caught an especially beautiful spring day and decided to go for a hike in the Columbia River Gorge. It's less than an hour from our home and is filled with hundreds of waterfalls.

We set out to do an easy, family-friendly trail to the some lower falls called Elowah, but found that the trail was closed. On a whim, we set out to do the hike to the upper falls and found it to be a huge treat, if a little bit sketchy in some places.

We hiked along sheer cliffs, saw a snake on the trail, ducked under downed trees, rushed under rocks that were weeping fresh water, and were rewarded at the end with a waterfall that felt other-worldly. Tommy carried a little notebook and a pencil the entire hike and stopped once in awhile to sketch a nature-inspired comic.

Spring Outfits

This Easter we got new church clothes from both grandmas. The pastels came from Grandma Chatterton and the yellows came from Grammy. The kids are so cute, they would look adorable in anything.

Mom's Getaway

I had the amazing opportunity to go hide in a cabin in the woods for three nights with some of my homeschool mom friends. It was just what the doctor ordered. I had a room to myself. My view consisted of gorgeous forest and I fell asleep the sound of rushing river water. I slept in until 10:00 and could literally feel the stress from the past 16 months just melt right from my body. I remember just lying in bed thinking, "I have absolutely nothing I need to do today. Today is about me." All moms need a weekend away in the woods once in awhile! My weekend consisted of lots of sleep, a few nature walks, eating healthy and amazing food, chatting with friends, and just getting my head on straight so I could come back energized and ready to be a better woman. The kids had a load of fun with Ben, ate out several times, watched lots of movies, and ate a ton of candy. I don't think they even missed me.

Ice Skating

I took the older ice skating for the first time. They loved it! It was so amazing to watch them go from barely able to stand up on ice skates to gliding on their own in just a couple of hours. I used to ice skate all the time as a kid and it felt good to get back out there!