Merry Christmas 2013

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

We will be celebrating the birth of Christ...remembering that He showed up in the most unexpected way. And, celebrating that He continues to "show up" in our lives everyday.

Tenmile

This post should really be titled "Tenmile and more pictures than anyone really wants to see."

Tenmile is beach house located on the central OR coast.  As far as I can deduce, our children are the 6th generation to go there.  As a child, I spent many summer weeks, and Thanksgivings at Tenmile making great memories.  After a 15 year hiatus, last year I insisted that Aaron and the kids experience Tenmile.  We had a GREAT trip, and booked almost an entire week for this summer.  This year my sister's family, and my parents came along, making the trip even more fun!  

Here's Tenmile (from the back) 

 The house is  bordered with HUGE hydrangea bushes...which are my favorite flower!

Mill Creek runs behind the house and is good for hours of exploring, and crawdad catching.

THE bridge.  This is Tenmile Creek, it runs directly into the ocean...right beyond the bridge.  Our favorite way to get to the beach is to take the rowboat!

Love these crazy boys! Peter (7), Isaac (11), and Luke (9)

And these crazy girls! Natty (5), Reiley (9..well almost)

 Jackson (almost 4) is one of the funniest, silliest, boys I know.

And Benjamin (2 1/2).  You're never too young to haul drift wood for fires at Tenmile!

Aaron and our sweet Benjamin. 

Those sweet tiny arms reaching for Daddy! 

It seems impossible that I could love these two more!

Great pictures of my parents! These two are loving the beginning of retirement...or so they say they are retiring!   This was their first time at Tenmile with all seven grand-kids.

Beach Fun!

Building sand castles with Uncle Alex.

 The girls loved dancing on the beach!

Graceful Reiley! 

And Sassy Natty trying to keep up with her cousin

Back at the house there was lots of relaxing...

...and game playing.

We ventured out to the Heceta Head Lighthouse.

And even went inside.  This is a view of the actual light.  It was fascinating.

 We went adventuring up the creek...without a paddle!

Natty slipped and Daddy was there to pick her up!

The very brave boys caught a crawdad...

Our fearless leader!

The girls decorated "Fairy Land"...a tradition!

 Silly boys! I can't believe I don't have a picture of them playing football in the yard...there was LOTS of football in the yard! 

LOVE this man!

LOVE this family!

I obviously need to get a picture of the Lesyk family...hint hint, Amy!  Send me one!

LOVE this place!

Happy 7th Birthday Peter!

Happy 7th Birthday to our sweet Pete!  Peter has had a great year!  He loves riding his bike and doing all sorts of crazy tricks on it.   He also loves soccer, swimming, friends, and running all over the neighborhood having a blast!   He has an adventurous spirit and a soft heart, and we love him to pieces! So proud and thankful for the gift God has given us in Peter!

Here's his birthday video:...(click play and then click the cog at the bottom to change the "quality" to 1080)



This was a big year for Peter with lots of new adventures and accomplishments....

He went to All Day Kindergarten.  He LOVED it and had a fun year. 

He played his very favorite sport, soccer!  He was excited for every practice and game!  And I mean EVERY single one!

One of the best moments of the year was Peter being baptized on Easter, by Aaron!  There just aren't words to describe what a special time that was.

 

 Peter loves his friends!  Old friends, new friends, potential friends...you get the picture!  He loves to play and he made some great buds this year. 

 

The kids have been taking swimming lessons this year and I can't believe their progress.  Peter loves the water and spent much of the 4th of July weekend jumping off docks and boats, and swimming all over!  He's one brave boy!  One day, he ate lunch shivering in his wet life jacket because he didn't want to waste any precious swimming time having to take it on and off. 

 And maybe best of all, are the moments we spend enjoying Peter's entertainment!  This boy is always trying to make someone laugh...just ask his teacher towards the end of the year!  Don't miss the 6 second video below where he declared "Scuba Gangnam Style!"