Buckle up for this one...

February 15, 2020

Something that I really desire is for my kids to learn how to build and fix things. Today's project was to start installing a deck skirt in the front of the house. Asher was the only one to accept the invitation to help and be did a great job learning how to use a level, screwing boards into place, and even measuring and sawing the boards. This. This makes my heart happy.

February 14th, 2020 valentines day

As one of our first dates 2 years ago, Nate and I decided to play hooky on valentines day and go to the coast. Then last year we decided to make it our tradition. We look forward to this daytime date all year. It's just so much more magical when the kids are in school and you're off having fun, hee hee.
For the first time, the beach was not raining that day! Woo hoo! We had a lovely day, getting our Mo's chowder on and picking shells and rocks along the beach. And, we had a mission: collect some big rocks for our creek. We could use a bunch more. At a beach in Pacific City I made off with the biggest one I could carry. But it felt somehow wrong to take a rock from a public beach. So we tried a trail head Nate knows, but it was closed. 🙄 Next we drove out towards Drift Creek Falls on BLM land, but there was construction ahead so we turned back, watching for rocks the whole way. Lastly, we stopped at a state rec area at a river. There was nobody there... Except for a sheriff dealing with a car accident situation. Nate and I wandered to the river and he found a nice juicy rock. Feeling like criminals of the highest order, Nate attempted to hide the wet rock under his coat and we hurried back to the car, hoping the sheriff across the parking lot wouldn't look our direction. Shhhh.

February 9th, 2020

After church we went out for our Sunday walk, and Nate was excited to show us

January 30th, 2020

Nathan's childhood friend Bill came for dinner (which was great!) and happened to have his bagpipes in his car still. We got to enjoy a concert after dinner!

January 20th, 2020

To celebrate Asher's 12th birthday, we went to a local arcade as a family, plus 2 of his Deacon friends. Everyone had a pretty fun time - Kieran was in H.E.A.V.E.N.

January 19th, 2020

Asher finally, FINALLY turned 12. He's been waiting for this for a long time. Mostly, for becoming a Deacon, which he was ordained to the Sunday before. Asher is such a delight and precious member of the family. He is funny and so, so kind. He's always quick to volunteer, to help others, he thinks about others and ways he can serve them. In Corvallis when a new couple moved into the ward and he heard them talk about having a fixer upper, he approached them after church offering to help them with their house. (Because we were still working on the Elm St. house and he knew exactly how much work it is.) When we talked as a family about ways we can share the message of the Restoration with others, I joked that he could wear a button that said, "Ask me about Joseph Smith." He was all over that idea and really wanted to do it. Asher doesn't go to bed until he's hugged me goodnight and told me he loves me. He wants to fly fighter jets when he grows up, or have a job where he can be rich. Then wants to adopt tons of children. Such a sweetheart.

The evening before Asher's birthday, I suddenly remembered... We didn't have any present for him! So Nate and I were out shopping at like 9:30pm looking for Legos. By the next day, he commented about not seeing any presents, and since I hadn't wrapped them, (and was putting it off) I said that his gifts were hidden. Um, yeah, hidden. Like, a treasure hunt. Sure. Asher thought that was pretty cool, as did Nate, who thankfully jumped on that. He "wrapped" the gifts in old cereal boxes, hid them outside, and wrote riddle instructions to find them. Success! It was fun way to get his gifts.

January 18th, 2020

After his loooong wait to get the priesthood, Asher wanted to get to the temple as soon as possible. So, he was ordained on on the 12th, and 6 days later we made a family baptism trip, with Dad (Grandpa Templeman) joining us, and Mom (Grandma) supplying us some names. The trip was not without some hurdles. I tried to schedule an appointment a couple weeks prior, but couldn't get a hold of anyone. (I was in some loop that kept leading me back to the main menu instead of any department.) But, online it said you can do walk-ins between certain hours, so we just went with that. Unfortunately, after our arrival we learned that they were booked solid, and naturally give priority to scheduled groups. We waited and waited for a while, and it when it appeared it just wasn't going to happen because they were behind schedule anyway and solidly booked, we gave up. Being super hungry, we headed to the cafeteria and then headed out. On the way, we noticed the waiting room was empty, so I chanced an inquiry at the desk. They said the current group was ending soon and they could squeeze us in right then. I called back the rest of the group who'd already headed outside, and we did it! Just a couple names each for Brennan and Asher meant we could get it done. Wahoo! Such an answer to our prayers, after arranging babysitting and Dad coming all that way and having our hopes up. Very special.

Our family was assigned to clean the church that morning. We left at 8am to a lovely creek, and came home an hour later to Wonka's Chocolate River. Yummm.

January 11th, 2020

I love watching the little ones play. This kenetic sand is a never-fail hit.

January 10th, 2020

Kiearn earned a Kindness Award at school. It was also Grandpa Barry's birthday and I like to think he appreciated the birthday gift of his grandson's award.

January 5th, 2020
Kieran INSISTS the earth is round, not flat. I dunno about him, so gullible...

December 28th, 2019

This has become a treasured photo for me. After Christmas we had some fun - Nate took the boys to The Gilbert House Museum, and I took the girls to the mall with their Christmas money. We'd been there several times in the preceeding weeks. Oh gosh, I've got some mall-loving pre-teens on my hands. We had fun with cousin Peyton this day though, getting some items from Claires and a special treat.

Ivy! Ivy! Ivy!

December 25th, 2019

I was honored to host a Christmas dinner this year. Attendees included Kim, Susan, and Brian; Grandma and Grandpa Honey; Aunt Donna; Uncle Matt; Mom & Dad; Parmenters; and Robisons. All in all 24 people I think. I learned some things for the future after this, my first time hosting anything more than a couple people. I love having a house. Even more, I loved seeing so many loved ones.

December 24th, 2019

Kieran settled himself in the Hallway to wait for Santa Clause. He eventaully relocated to bed when it wasn't as comfortable.

Reading The Night Before Christmas

This girl got a visit from Santa AND the Tooth Fairy in the same night! I'm pretty sure they sleigh-pooled.

December 14th, 2019

The girls made some videos with their dolls.

We introduced Nate and Kylea to Storybook Land in Albany. Even ran into some long-time (growing up) friends of Nate's. We hadn't gone in a long time, so it was basically a new experience for Kieran too. Lots of fun, as always.

Mother Goose

December 12th, 2019

Most days we're able to get the kids outside, thanks to the creek.

December 11th, 2019

Asher performs in his first Choir Concert (front and center)

December 10th, 2019

A knock on the door, eyes staring back at us. Glen Creek Ward's secret santa brought us a treat. Obviously we had to have a little fun over the next 24 hours. I left it just around the corner, at eye level, for Brennan to find on his way to the bathroom getting ready for Seminary the next morning. Got 'im! hahaha.

December 6th, 2019

Hollyn and another girl were selected to demonstarte being a role-model, by modeling a song at the school assembly.

December 5th, 2019

Happy 37th birthday to me! We celebrated by attending Asher's band concert, and then chilling at home in our Christmas sweaters.

Oh, and the girl's decorated my office. 💗

December 4th, 2019

Helped at and had fun at the Elementary School Winter Carnival. Brrrr.

December 3rd, 2019

Ok, this is embarrasing, but I got only ONE picture of Nate's 40th birthday. Eek. Well, he looked the same as he did the day before and after, so there's that.

Being a milestone birthday, I really wanted it to be extra special. Ideally, a full blown surprise party would have been awesome, but I really don't know how to throw a party, and I know very few of his close friends, and I don't really even know the ward all that well. So I kept it smaller scale, but still a surprise. I had his buddy help me get the paintball gun Nate's wanted for a long time, and then we had said friend and their family surprise Nate by coming for dinner. As a party game, we did a Rootbeer Tasting, voting on best rootbeers. Oh my gosh, so filling, but fun. (Thanks for the idea, Butlers. I totes stole it because I'm not creative enough to come up with original ideas.)

I think there's almost 20 kinds!

November 20th, 2019

We're such a sucker for a good car accident. Making the 3rd one in 13 months, Asher and I got hit when a car in the lane next to me thought she was good to move over into my lane. Spoiler alert, she wasn't. Caused $3000 worth of damage, and 2 weeks without the van because of the Thanksgiving Holiday in the middle of that.

We decided to go to Grants Pass for Thanksgiving, even though I was a little nervous about driving the rental van on slick roads. The roads, thankfully, were fine. The kids however, were not. We did have to stop and clean vomit up half way there. *sigh*