July Celebration

Our family spent the holiday weekend at home with our neighborhood friends. We were pleased to have Carson and Jena come down Saturday, for the evening festivities. Trevor and Carson put on a spectacular show in the Williams front yard, with all their planning. No tears from the boys during the fireworks. The boys loved the sparklers, smokers, and snappers. Here are a few pictures from the day.

Disneyland

These pictures sum up our day at Disneyland. We got there 20 minutes before the gates opened and left at midnight. The boys took a two hour nap in the middle of the day while Trevor and I took turns riding the big kid rides. TJ said his favorite part of Disneyland was getting chosen to train as a Jedi during the Star Wars show. He got to fight Darth Vader (and I had a video malfunction and didn't get it on tape). Russell said his favorite part was seeing Mikey Mouse. Trevor and I both enjoyed riding Space Mountain again. It brought back memories of riding it as a young girl. Its not so scary now that I'm and adult.

California Dreaming

I don't know how to get rid of the blue line under my text, or how to get my text above each individual picture. I switched to an updated blog thing and now I have some learning to do. I'm going to pretend it doesn't bother me and get out a post that needed to happen three weeks ago.  We took a crazy spur of the moment trip to California over the week of Father's Day. Trevor got cleared for time off Tuesday and we were on a plane that night. Thank Heavens for air miles. Here are a few highlight from the vacation. The kids spent lots of time with their cousins playing outside in the sun. We got to go to Nathan's High School Graduation. We spent a day at the beach. But most important, we made memories with family. The last picture of the boys and Trevor was on Father's Day. He wore the M&M tie to church. 

Cousins From Canada

Two weekends ago my cousin Fraser and his family came to Portland for a family vacation. While they were staying with Aunt London we all got together for a fun family BBQ at our home. Beth had a soccer game in Portland the same weekend so, Wes, Mom and Carson came to our home as well. We all sang Happy Birthday to Carson because he turned 17 the following week. The kids used up lots of energy playing at a nearby park and in our backyard. I loved catching up with the Bowden family and hope they come visit us again soon. We look forward to seeing them in August at our Russell Reunion.

London, Amy, Fraser, Trevor and Esther

Genesis 2:3

"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."

Last Sunday after church...

Cousin Weekend

Beth came to Portland and Olympia to help take care of Christian and Heather's kids while they looked for housing in San Fran. We got the cousins together and had a grand old time. We took the kids to the Portland Zoo and Cider Mill Farm. We enjoyed chocolate milk, pizza and burgers at Grandma Kathy and Papa Deans. I'm glad we were able to spend the weekend together making memories.

A tether ball game at the Cider Mills Farm

Love those apple fritters

Happy Babies

Time with Papa

Five kids under five at the Zoo

I'm holding Amelia while taking this picture

Stroller Hopping at the Vancouver Park