The Finnestad Family

Baby's Got Talent

2010-02-08T21:34:00.000-08:00

Be forewarned - viewing of this video may evoke feelings of jealousy should you not be blessed with a child possessing this talent.

Then again...you may instead be experiencing excessive gratitude that your child does NOT possess this talent.

P.S. When I showed this video to Jimmy, he found no humor in it. "That's not funny Karen. Why are you laughing? Don't encourage that!!" Just makes me laugh all the more....ha ha ha ha here I go again!

Let's Par-tay!!!

2010-02-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

We had the time of our lives celebrating Josiah's 6th birthday and watching the Superbowl yesterday! With it being a combined birthday / football party, it worked out perfectly that he wanted a Sports Themed birthday celebration. Though I laughed a little when he told me the 2 sports he wanted highlighted as cakes were football and pool! Yes, pool has become a recognized sport in the Finnestad household!I laughed at the irony of the crafts we chose, which included sports themed door hangers...when our older three children don't even have doors on their new rooms yet! ha ha Soon!
Our house was full of great food, friends (51 to be exact) and fun!

Josiah received the loudest rendition of Happy Birthday I've ever heard. I was only able to capture a brief portion of it, but you get the idea.After the Superbowl game was over, it was time for the "other sport"...Pool!! I was so impressed by one of Greg's shots - two balls split and off into different pockets at the same time.

What made this weekend even more exciting for Josiah was the fact that it was his turn to bring home the class mascot, Matty Monkey. Matty was here to join in the celebrations and got to go back to school this morning to tell the class all about it. Happy Birthday Sy!

Getting to Know James

2010-02-08T11:24:00.000-08:00

So this is what you get when you turn on the video camera and ask a 7 year old to tell you a little about himself. What a goofball!

You Talkin' to Me?

2010-01-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

About a week ago I began going through a book my Mom gave me titled "The Prayer That Changes Everything" and found myself realizing how lax my prayer life has become as of late. Then at Girlfriends Night at church I won a door prize which contained the books "The Prayer of Jabez" and "Beyond Jabez". A couple of days later a dear friend called me troubled by some very difficult circumstances. We ended the conversation by saying these are the moments when we just ask God for a miracle....only one day later her miracle came! God answered in a mighty way. The next day my neighbor called saddened by the news that a family dog had run away. She mentioned she was shooting up a prayer, so I told her I was going to do the same. 10 minutes later she called back "You're never going to believe this...the dog just came home!"

I was beginning to sense a theme here. As I stood there in awe of God's power, I half heartedly joked "God, are you talkin' to me?" And then I heard him speak - "Karen, are you talking to ME?" I think I can see the first area of my life in need of Revival - Prayer.

Revival and Rejoicing

2010-01-02T01:10:00.001-08:00

I am so behind in blogging, but rather than playing catch up tonight I'm celebrating another year of blessings and refining. God disciplines those He loves and boy have I been feeling loved lately :) It makes me all the more excited for the theme He has given me for 2010 "Revival and Rejoicing". I've had a feeling for a couple of months now that the theme would focus on Praise - glorifying God through every circumstance of everyday. How can He not receive the glory for any reviving being done in my life?

I'm curious if anyone else ever has a theme or verse they pray over for a season? Praying for a year full of Revival and Rejoicing for each of you! Thank you Jesus!!

Come on Rainbow Bells

2009-12-06T20:22:00.000-08:00

Aliya has been practicing for her upcoming preschool Christmas Performance at church. She's frequently heard singing "Come on Ring Those Bells" ~ although she is convinced the song is actually "Come on Rainbow Bells". Here's a sneak peek - for the actual performance, you'll need to be at church on Sunday! (Maybe between now and then I'll figure out how to rotate the video.)

Making Progress

2009-12-03T21:16:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how much has happened in the past 1½ months with our house.

Stairs have been built

2nd story framing has gone up

Walls have been nailed on

Trusses set, rooflines reestablished and reroofed

Windows and Sliding Glass Door installed

Nursery Dismantled/Hallway Framed

Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical installed

Interior framing done / windows removed or relocated

Insulation in place

All to prepare us for "Rockin' Out" next week! It's almost time to sheetrock - Yahoo!!!

Jonathan's Stridor

2009-12-03T20:44:00.000-08:00

I wrote this on October 17th, but never posted it. Time for me to play catch up!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I ran across this video last night. How quickly I had forgotten what it was like to hear Jonathan's rapid, stridorous breathing 24 hours a day...awake or asleep. He's actually breathing slowly in the video (which didn't happen often when he was younger).
I remember a nurse at Children's Hospital telling me that there would come a point when his noisy breathing would be less of a concern than when I couldn't hear him breathe at all. How true that was! And now, we are blessed to watch him breathe so easily that his Laryngomalacia is rarely even a thought. The only time we hear it these days is when he is very active or laughing really hard.

I am so grateful for our children...SO grateful. Thank you Jesus for your protection over each one of them!

Happy 1st Birthday

2009-10-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

Well Jonathan's birthday wasn't exactly how we envisioned it would be thanks to the Swine Flu. On the other hand, with almost the entire family sick that week we were able to spend alot quality family time together. While the other kids wanted to share all sorts of cards and gifts with him on his big day, I'm happy to say there was one thing they didn't share with him...the flu! Miraculously, he managed to stay healthy!

An "Anonymous Angel" left this sweet little 1st birthday cake on our front porch (thank you Jen). Clearly, he LOVED it!

Rampin' Up

2009-10-20T17:04:00.000-07:00

Newest favorite activity in the Finnestad household...especially for one little Finnestad in particular...

Fixing the Floor

2009-10-16T22:17:00.000-07:00

Our indoor waterfall resulted in us ripping out all of the carpet in the family room. After a couple of days attempting to keep Jonathan off of our dirty staple/screw ridden subfloor, Jimmy decided a temporary fix was in order.

Tonight the kids got a lesson in how to lay laminate flooring and were thrilled to be part of the solution. We just happened to have an extra 5-6 boxes of it in our garage from when we laid the floor 5 years ago. While it didn't cover the entire room, it certainly covered up the majority of it and I couldn't be happier!

Didn't they do a fantastic job?

It Is What It Is

2009-10-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

In addition to our 2009 theme of "Believe", we seem to have adopted the motto "It is what it is" this year. It's amazing how those two themes are really tied together. Essentially, it is Believing that allows us to be able to step back and say "It is what it is - and I'm content with that"...

In my Lord, Change my Attitude bible study we have been studying the Israelites tendencies to complain despite the numerous times God proved himself faithful and good. How quickly I've seen myself behaving just like those Israelites and time and time again He provides - not always in the way I imagined He would, but in the way that only a Sovereign God would.

* * * * * * * *

I began the first two paragraphs of this blog last weekend and since then have had several opportunities to put feet to my faith. Monday night at Kelly Lopez's baby shower, I shared a little about what God was teaching me. The title of the devotion was "It is What it is" and focused on Philippians 4:11-13 "...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Tuesday morning I was working on my bible study which asked me to list 3 things I was grateful for. My #3 was "for the electricity that gives me the light I need to read my bible right now and the heat we need to be comfortable." 10 minutes later - the power went out. Seriously! Naturally, the next part of the study was asking if I would still be content without those things. Um, hello! Talk about immediate, practical application!

Then came Wednesday...My intent in beginning this post last weekend, was to finish by saying that although I knew the rains were coming despite our roof not being complete, I also trusted in a God that would be faithful - even if the rains came tumbling down...and boy did they - INSIDE even!

We had quite the indoor waterfall, which resulted in waterlogged carpet, sagging walls and a quick change in project scope.
I became quickly aware of my Israelite tendencies and felt God challenging me and growing me..."Do you still believe?" "Lord, I believe...Help my unbelief." "Am I enough?" "Lord, you are enough!" It was a difficult day of struggling with the Lord (and with my attitude). When everything was said and done, all Jimmy & I could do was step back and say "It is What it is"...we will be content whatever the situation and know that our God is Faithful! Thank you Jesus for the refining moments this week...those ones that opened my eyes to see that there will be many more "raining down" on me, as I have a long way to go!

Earnhardt Rite of Passage

2009-09-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

Today was the day...the Puyallup Earnhardts have officially earned their stripes in the Finnestad household, successfully maneuvering through our sacred dining room window.
Stephanie and Mikayla even ventured up the ladder to check out the 2nd floor.

Next it was time to put the kids to work, followed by a little trampoline fun!

This day was exactly what the Dr. ordered. It was so refreshing spending the day together just hanging out. Stephanie & I even got to sneak out for a few hours to enjoy Michelle and Madelynn's baby shower. What a perfect end to an already wonderful weekend!

Raising the Roof...I Mean the Floor

2009-09-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

We now have a "roof" over our heads...downstairs at least. I guess you would really call it a ceiling if you're downstairs or a floor if you're up. No matter which you choose, our kids simply call it "awesome!"

Dishes, Dining Room and Delivery

2009-09-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

OK Erin, this post is for you.

DISHES: Here's a glimpse at my new "kitchen" sink - look familiar? Believe me, we use as many paper plates as we can...and for the record last night was the first night I actually put dishes on the (towel covered) toilet seat. I don't foresee that becoming a habit :) I am trying to allow God to renew my thinking each time I wash dishes. Rather than grumbling about the inconvenience, I praise him that we even have running water, dishes to use, money to buy dish soap and that this is only a season...

DINING ROOM: Here's the primary entry/exit point in our house. At a minimum, every Sunday and three times a day Monday through Friday you will find us all crawling in and out of this dining room window. Notice the lovely dishwasher we use to brace ourselves on the way in and out.

Even Jonathan enjoys heading out the window. I love that he's holding his little hammer...ready to get to work!

DELIVERY: That window has seen it's share of deliveries lately...from people in and out, to palates of wood being delivered. It was pretty cool to see this load delivered to the 2nd floor of the house!

And you thought your house was dusty...

2009-09-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

Jimmy got to cut into the kitchen ceiling last night in preparation for setting the 2nd steel beam today. I have a feeling that next time we will wear a mask. The dust was as beautiful as freshly fallen snow all over the inside of our house, but left quite the chalky aftertaste. cough cough
At one point Jimmy sneezed and it was like Charlie Brown's friend Pig Pen - dust went flying everywhere. It was so funny!
Here's a look at my kitchen after the section of ceiling was removed and things were most of the way cleaned back up.

All dust aside, it was well worth the effort as the beam was put in place today!

Movin' on Up

2009-09-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

We're movin' on up with this house project...literally! This weekend Jimmy and Kevin put up the 2nd story floor joists. Things are really starting to take shape. They did such a great job!

It was pretty strange standing upstairs looking out Jonathan's bedroom window and being eye to eye with Jimmy!

Making Progress

2009-09-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

Wow - alot has happened in the past couple of weeks on our house project!

September 4th - Our first framed walls went up

September 5th - We further demo'd the shed. James quite enjoyed busting up the sheetrock.

September 8th & 9th - We began tearing our kitchen apart. We no longer have a dishwasher or a kitchen sink. Several cupboards and quite a bit of counter space disappeared, in addition to our sliding glass door and working outlets. I am learning how to wash dishes in a small bathroom sink and make toast in the middle of our family room. It's also quite comical watching my family line up at the dining room window everyday to walk to church or school. I can't imagine there are too many families using their dining room window as their primary entry/exit point.

September 11th - Crane day! 4 large trees were craned out of our backyard, including our beloved "Fire Tree". This was almost more sad for me than losing my dishwasher and sink. Our family loved the "Fire Tree". I think it just might deserve a blog of it's own...

After the trees came out, two very large beams were craned in.

September 17th - Time to drill holes in the beam.

First Day of School

2009-09-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

After much anticipation (partially due to a 2 week school strike)...school has finally begun!

Abby is in Mrs. Curry's 4th grade class, along with her friends Jessica and Katelyn.

James gets to loop this year, which means he is in the same classroom with Ms. Lutes and his former 1st grade classmates - only they are big 2nd graders this year!

Josiah is in Mrs. Neevel's AM Kindergarten class. He has jumped in with both feet and loves every minute.

Aliya is starting her first official year of homeschool/preschool with Mommy. She is quite excited to be learning to write her letters and get to use scissors with Mommy's approval (on paper!)

Seaside Summary August 23rd - 30th

2009-09-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

I blinked...and our vacation was over, but looking back through the pictures I am reminded of why the week flew by so quickly. In all honesty, the first 24 hours of vacation is typically a challenge for me as I attempt to "redefine normal" for our family - establish routines, set boundaries and in essence, relinquish control and just have fun. God was gracious to remind me that He is Trustworthy and watching. I found that as I drew nearer to him throughout the week, those fears and control issues faded away. He filled me with peace, joy and gratitude for the moments we shared as a family.

There are way too many pictures to blog, so I've attempted to narrow it down. Even having done that, I'm going to have to break it up to be able to get through even a fraction of the fun we had.More to follow, but here's a picture of us with the Currey Crew. Our families had loads of fun together!

Seaside Sand

2009-09-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

Naturally, one of the best parts of a vacation like Seaside is the BEACH!! This was the view from our room! There were sandcastles to build...

(and yes, that is Janelle's husband Eric - they were there for their honeymoon. I still can't believe they wanted to spend one of the days hanging out with us!) Even Jonathan loved it! It only took a couple of times with sand in his mouth before he stopped taste testing and just played (and crawled everywhere!)

There were holes to be dug...

Races to run...

Games to be played...
Waves to be conquered...

Kites to be flown...

Sun-bathing to do...(even little Mayla)
Pictures to take...
And fun to be had...

Seaside Swimming

2009-09-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

It was amazing to watch our kids become more confident swimmers throughout the week. They were little fish! We had a blast playing in the pool - the big pool, the kiddie pool and the "super hot pool" (hot tub).
Our room overlooked the pool, so there were times we got to watch the fun from the balcony.

Seaside Surprise - Cannon Beach

2009-09-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

We were surprised to discover that the Starr and Crawford families were vacationing (separately) in Cannon Beach at the same time we'd be in Seaside. We couldn't pass up an opportunity to coordinate a beachdate together!

Seaside Sweets...Tillamook

2009-09-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

We ventured down to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.
The kids were fascinated watching the cheese being processed and packaged. Although, I think they had even more fun attempting to milk the cowsThe happy-face fries were the best. And then it was time for dessert...Tillamook Ice Cream!

Once the sugar rush hit, it was time to burn off some energy...

Seaside Strolls

2009-09-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

Always something fun to see and do while walking the Boardwalk, not to mention lots of great candy shops along the way! The girls found fancy purses for Grandma Hirst.
Feeding the Fireman's BootBy the end of the week, the street was lined with cars decorated in honor of their teams participating in the "Hood to Sea" run. The relay race started at Mt. Hood and ended 197 miles later at the beach in front of our hotel.

Seaside Silliness

2009-09-10T10:24:00.000-07:00

In addition to all the fun activities of the week, we thoroughly enjoyed just hanging out back in the room.
James even lost a tooth our last night there!Game room fun
Crashed out at the end of a very fun day

Plumb Line

2009-09-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

This house project has provided so many teaching opportunities for our family. The focus of this week has been the Plumb Bob. Mr. Eckloff explained the importance of having a plumb line in construction. Last night we ended the evening discussing how the Word of God is a plumb line for our hearts.

"It shows us the straight path."
"It tells our heart what is true and right, so we can go the straight way."
"It keeps us from being crooked - like having anger in our hearts or telling lies."

Thank you Lord for these practical examples of spiritual truths!

Joist Away!

2009-09-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

We are getting so close to laying the floor out back, thanks to a hard working contractor while we were on vacation and some help from Jimmy today. And thanks to the school strike, everyone was home all day to watch their progress.

Here Comes the Bride - Hawaiian Style

2009-08-22T23:28:00.000-07:00

Today we had the honor of attending Janelle & Eric's wedding, held at her parents house on Lake Wilderness. Her brother, being a Pastor, had the privilege of performing the ceremony.
She had a great kids table set up with all sorts of crafts for them to do.
And hula dancers! It was so much fun to watch both the Hawaiian dancers as well as some of the guests participate.
There was also quite the candy table that, once discovered, was frequently visited by a few of their smaller guests...

Lots of smiles all around!

The end of the evening was the best though - the siblings & their spouses jumped into the lake still fully clothed in their wedding attire. Priceless!

Surprising Stephanie

2009-08-21T22:38:00.000-07:00

It has been very challenging these past few weeks keeping Stephanie's birthday dinner a surprise. Knowing that we were preparing to go out of town, Stephanie had assumed her birthday would just be brushed under the rug - as most adult birthdays do.

This morning was the start of her special day. Our two families met up at Bradley Park for a playdate/picnic. The kids had so much fun running around the playground and riding scooters.

We took a walk around the lake, but sadly Jordan had a terrible crash half way around. After several attempts to soothe his poor little wounds, it became clear that he needed to get home. So off Stephanie went to care for her little guy, apologizing that she wasn't able to stay for lunch. As my kids and I sat there eating our picnic lunch (on the Happy Birthday plates we had packed for Stephanie) I became all the more thankful for our friendship. These are those "real moments" that we get to share together. Those moments that don't go exactly as planned, but bind our hearts because they are the moments we shared together. Instead of singing Happy Birthday to her, the kids and I prayed for her and for her family. It was really neat.

Fortunately, that wasn't all the day was scheduled to hold. Several of her closest friends & I were able to surprise her at Olive Garden for a birthday dinner. She was completely surprised and slightly overwhelmed. It was so refreshing to get to hang out together and just be friends...not focusing on being Mommy's or anything else, just friends. What a blessing she has been in my life and what a joy to be a part of her big night. Happy Birthday Stephanie!

Scissors

2009-08-19T00:10:00.000-07:00

Need I say more?

Happy 9th Birthday Abby

2009-08-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

Today was perfect for Abby - exactly how she hoped it would be. Several of her closest friends just hanging out, swimming, doing crafts and sunbathing at Grandma's house. My little girl is definitely growing up. In fact, she even requested we skip the cake this year and just have Apple Pie - since she's really not a big fan of cake. (I certainly didn't complain, as it made my job much easier).

Happy Birthday Abby!

Firm Foundations Part 2

2009-08-17T20:06:00.000-07:00

We are making progress on our house project. Today the kids (and several neighbors and friends) got to watch the cement being poured for our foundation.

They even let us jump down "into the hole" and put our handprints in the concrete before it dried. Although it will be covered up with supports and flooring soon, it's fun to know their little hands and our family's name will be permanently cemented into this home.

Celebrating August Birthdays

2009-08-15T22:52:00.000-07:00

August is a big month in our family, especially this particular weekend. Both Abby and her cousin Juliana share August 15th as their birthdays, followed by Jimmy celebrating his the next day on the 16th.

This year we celebrated three birthdays with the Finnestad side of the family - Abby's, Jimmy's and Aunt Kimberly's (who's birthday is on the 25th). The morning started with Belgian Waffles (with strawberries and whipping cream, of course) and a breakfast casserole. After working up our appetite running around outside, we came back in for presents and Ice Cream Cake! What a sweet morning :)

That afternoon we were off to celebrate Juliana's 4th birthday Hello Kitty style. What a fun day full of partying!

Seiku

2009-08-13T23:08:00.000-07:00

James got to experience his first big Seiku fishing trip on Grandpa Hirst's boat this weekend - and what an incredible experience that was! They landed some BIG salmon and even managed to catch a small shark while they were out there.

Neighborhood Carnival

2009-08-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

There wasn't enough time this 4th of July to do everything we had hoped to do, so our neighborhood had to continue the celebration into the month of August. Today we had a "Neighborhood Carnival" for the kids. It began with a ticket-only entry (compliments of Conner Green). First event was a sling-shot/ball toss, followed by a hoop toss and then fishing for treasures.

Next, the kids teamed up for a potato sack relay followed by a cupcake walk.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love our neighborhood? We're counting down the days until our next big event!

A Little Poo Poo Problem

2009-08-08T23:51:00.000-07:00

I ended my last post saying I hope the workers didn't mind having an audience....well, I think that was probably the least of their worries. Part way into the project I overheard Steve (our contractor) asking the Excavators "When did you hit that? Does the home owner know?" That sparked my attention, so I came to the backdoor & was greeted by a request to turn my sink on. I did and everything seemed just fine. Next, Steve asked me to flush the toilet. That's when it got exciting. All of the waste water came shooting out of a broken pipe in the backyard. "I think you won't be able to use your toilets for a while." he told me. Hmmm....a while? Not sure how that was going to work out since I do have 4 potty trained children residing here.

All was going well for the next few hours. I went upstairs to play cars with Abby, Josiah and Jonathan when I heard the pitter patter of little 3 year old feet racing across the kitchen floor downstairs - in the direction of the bathroom. I immediately handed Jonathan to Abby and raced down the stairs. "Aliya - wait!" It was too late. I rounded the corner just in time to watch her flush the "contents" of the toilet down....down...down and right out next to one of the workers carefully shoveling dirt near the broken pipe. I raced to the window in time to see "said contents" laying on the ground with water all over, all while a very puzzled worker stood there saying "What the???"

Fortunately, Mr. Eckloff has a good sense of humor and laughed with me as I apologized profusely. It wasn't long after that he repaired the pipe and we were up and running again. Something tells me this is just one of many comical moments I will experience along the way. Some of the broken piecesAll fixed again

Excavation Day

2009-08-07T23:43:00.000-07:00

There is a dump truck in my backyard...parked and ready to be filled with a whole lot of dirt!Needless to say, this is highly entertaining and I sure hope the workers don't mind having an audience.

Bye Bye Cast

2009-08-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

Big day for Josiah today - he had his cast removed. Yay! He was a little unsure about it at first, but it didn't take long for the uncertainty to wear off.

Mystery Bus & Speedy

2009-08-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

Every year our church puts together a Mystery Bus Adventure - a special field trip where neither children nor parents know where they will be going until after everyone is already on the bus, ready to head out. This summer was the first time my kids experienced the Mystery Bus for themselves and were beyond thrilled to be shuttled to the Pacific Science Center's Grossology Exhibit, followed by playtime at the Seattle Center Fountain.

While the "big kids" were away, the younger ones solved a mystery of their own: what was the little black thing with a yellow strip in our backyard? Answer: A Western Long-Toed Salamander, who despite his slugglish movement was happily named "Speedy". Speedy remained a part of our family for a couple of days before being released back into the yard.

More Backpacking Adventures

2009-08-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

Jimmy ventured out this weekend with our oldest three for another backpacking adventure. This time they packed out with Matt & Jacob Earnhardt and Shelby and Travis Bolster.

I was shocked to hear the kids packed a total of 10-12 miles the first day, only to pack the remaining 2 miles back out the following day. This provided quite the teaching opportunities for Father & Children, as they were tired and getting cranky several miles into the trip. Jimmy kept encouraging them, telling them he believed they could go farther than they thought. They were SO delighted when they made it to the 2nd lake and didn't have a single complaint the 5 miles back to camp. They were absolutely giddy when they got home and began telling me of their trip....well, minus the mosquito bite part. One section was so infested that they ended up with countless bites & some unfortunate allergic reactions. Another great backpacking/bonding adventure!

Unexpected Phone Call

2009-07-31T22:14:00.000-07:00

Ring Ring! Jennifer Currey called yesterday asking what I was doing. I began rambling on:

"I just finished making a Rhubarb Custard Pie with the kids...am hoping to catch up on laundry...blah blah blah. What are you doing Jen?"

"Just sitting here holding my baby girl."

WHAT?!?!?!? Kevin could hear my scream through the phone from where he was standing across the room. She wasn't kidding and I couldn't be more thrilled for their family. Welcome sweet baby Mayla Lynn.

Keeping Cool This Week

2009-07-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

It's been hot, that's for sure - with temps over 100 yesterday! We've managed to stay cool this week with help from some wonderful family and friends! Monday we got to hang out with the Earnhardt crew down in Puyallup.Here's Stephanie feeding her baby birds. She has two new best friends now!
They have the coolest inflatable water slide. The kids had a blast!

Tuesday afternoon we headed to Grandma Hirst's house to swim in the pool with the Hirst cousins. No pictures this time...we were too busy swimming :)

Wednesday we met up with the Currey crew, Aunt Kristin, Aunt Kim, Amanda and Elizabeth to swim at Lake Wilderness.

After a long fun day, Auntie Kristin even managed a run through the sprinkler with the kids to cool off one last time.Even Jonathan got in on the sprinkler fun.

Remembering Timothy

2009-07-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

We came home from camping in time to head out to Lake Wilderness for a very special celebration...celebrating the life of Timothy James Currey. It's hard to believe it's already been 1 year since his birth. I found myself almost avoiding Jen at the park. I wasn't avoiding her because it was uncomfortable or because I didn't know what to say, but because "Remembering Timothy" are two words that hold so many memories and emotions. I struggle to be able to capture them all in a blog post. These are the moments when I am so thankful she knows my heart. She knows what an honor it was for me to be there to witness his birth...to hold my breath with her until he took his first breath...to see his siblings and other family members meet him for the first time...to hold him myself and praise Jesus for the miracle of his life...and then hold him again after he had flown from the arms of his Mommy into the arms of Jesus...making hand and foot molds as a treasured keepsake...letting go and holding on at the same time...
Kevin and Jennifer, our family is "Remembering Timothy"...and not just today. He will always be in our minds and impressed upon our hearts.Here are some pictures of the special butterfly release they did in his memory.

Bumping Lake

2009-07-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

We had such a wonderful, relaxing time camping with our neighbors and their family at Bumping Lake this weekend.
The campsites were fantastic, with our own private beach access tucked away from the rest of the world.
Aliya and Chloe enjoying some morning Hot Cocoa time.There was always exploring or fishing to be done down at the lake.
Canoeing was another favorite part of the weekend

The water was perfect ~ even Aliya had a blast swimming. She loved it!
While Abby loved the swimming, I think she was even more thrilled with the little friend she caught in the water. Jonathan did really well camping too, despite cutting his 3rd tooth while we were there. Only seemed fitting for him to get a tooth, since his first two teeth came in while we were camping over Memorial Day.

We just happened to be camping next to a tree with our initials carved into it. It's always fun to be reminded that we are a "couple"...

Pool Party

2009-07-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

It sure is nice to have a place to cool off on these hot summer days. I took the kids over to play in Grandma & Grandpa Hirst's pool this morning. It was so wonderful. Jonathan slept upstairs, while the other 4 and I just hung out. Kids had a blast and I thoroughly enjoyed just kicking back and soaking in summer with them.

Grandpa Hirst's Bike and Blood

2009-07-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Vroom....Vroom..... "Mom, there's a big Motorcycle heading up the hill towards our house. Wait!!! That's GRANDPA HIRST!!"Yep, Grandpa came by this morning and wow'd the kids with his cool wheels (and helmet).

When they were done checking out Grandpa's cool ride, he gave them a lesson on diabetes and blood sugar levels. The three older kids even let him check their blood sugar levels. James was at 97, Josiah was 87 and Abby was 86. They were quite happy with their results - then proceeded to spike that number right up with Belgian Waffles :)

Finnestad/Rabb Family Reunion

2009-07-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

If all family reunions were this fun, I think every family would reunite regularly! We "camped" out at Uncle Duffy and Aunt Judy's house in Spokane for the weekend, enjoying lots of laughter and relaxing with our Finnestad/Rabb family. Here's our trailer in front of Uncle Duffy's massive workshop and a view of their house from the street.
The kids played hard the entire time and had a blast picking raspberries, riding scooters, and exploring with their cousins.

James spent quite a bit of time at the game table with the adults learning how to play spades. I'm sure Sue was having flashbacks of Jimmy at that age, always wanting to be with the adults to learn the strategy behind the games they were playing.
Aliya enjoyed spending time with her Great-Grandma Finnestad, thoroughly intrigued by the sewing projects she was working on.
We were quite surprised to discover we are *kind of* related to Jon Jancola, as the father of two of his sisters just happens to be our Great Uncle! What a small world!! "What ~ You know a Jancola?"
"I do! I know Jon Jancola...wait? He's your BROTHER??"In the middle of the reunion, we switched gears to participate in Aunt Janice's wedding. Our Great-Uncle Jim is a pastor and was able to perform the ceremony.
At the end of an incredibly hot day, we all cooled off with some major water fun! Certainly one of the highlights of the weekend.

Team Finnestad is on the Case!

2009-07-07T20:27:00.000-07:00

There are alot of things on the list of activities my kids would like to accomplish this summer. "Catching Robbers" was not on that list, though I have a feeling that particular event will be one of their most memorable summertime activities!

While riding bikes and scooters around the church parking lot this morning, we noticed a suspicious car with two individuals taking turns walking around the church while the other stayed by the car. Not sure exactly what they were doing, I continued watching the kids and pushing the stroller around, while keeping a close eye on the guys. I had already mentioned to the kids to stay away from that section of the parking lot as I wasn't sure what they were up to. But once I saw one of the men attempting to carry a large projection unit out of the back of the sanctuary, it became very clear what they were doing.

"Finnestads - right here!" The kids were immediately at my feet as we started heading towards the car. Praise the Lord my HOME PHONE works from all the way in the parking lot, so I dialed 9-1-1 while Abby & I repeated their license plate over and over until they answered. The dark haired "perpetrator" saw us coming and ditched the projection unit behind a bush and headed for his car. They made a speedy get-a-way, but not before we were able to communicate what was going on to the 9-1-1 operator.

We went into the church to tell Vicky what had just happened. The staff came rushing outside and the police were there within minutes. The kids were so excited to be able to share what they saw with the police officer. Abby was even able to attempt to identify the men with me via photos a second police officer brought back to the scene. Although the "perps" haven't been caught yet, the license plate information matched the description of the car registered. We're hoping that all of that information, in addition to some other evidence they left behind will help lead officers to the bandits.

What's amazing about all of this (talk about God's Sovereignty)- we normally wouldn't have been riding in the parking lot. We had originally headed out to our cul de sac. Our neighbors were out front and since Aliya has been battling fevers since Sunday afternoon, I didn't want to expose them to anything. So we decided to head out back instead. Crazy!

Coolest Cast EVER!

2009-07-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

Thank you Jesus for the Medical Marvels who invented the coolest cast possible for a very active 5 year old boy in the middle of summer - WATERPROOF!!! Can you sense our excitement? I am giddy like a school girl :) Les Gove Waterpark...Grandma's Swimming Pool....Lake Wilderness....Neighborhood Waterfights...Waterballoons...here we come! Josiah is armed and ready (no pun intended).

Now on to the details: The doctor commented on what a tough kid he was. Most of his patients won't let him touch the site of the break, but Josiah hardly grimaced while the Doctor manipulated his. We've always joked that Sy could take one of his limbs off and hardly notice. He only has to be in the cast for 4 weeks, followed by approximately 2 weeks in a brace. Yahoo!!!

Preparing for our Foundation

2009-07-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

After nearly two months of waiting (and numerous months of planning previously), we finally have permit in hand for the addition on our house. We officially broke ground this weekend, cutting down bushes...
and removing the existing deck, to prepare the backyard for contractors to lay the foundation...

The kids are thrilled to "work like a team" to build our home, wanting to be involved in every aspect of the project - from design to completion.

As we began working, these two verses came to mind:
"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." Psalm 127:1

"As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

Our prayer is that as we build this temporary home of wood and nails, we will be investing even more in the eternal, Christ-centered foundation of our family. So many lessons to learn...so much work to do!

Daddy Daughter Backpack Trip

2009-07-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

Abby went on her first official overnight backpacking trip with Daddy this weekend. They hiked to the Upper Greenwater Lakes with Steve and Cami Smith. The girls were fantastic hiking companions geared with full packs, positive attitudes and the energy they needed to get there. This is the same hike Jimmy took the boys on last year with Grandpa Finnestad, although this time they hiked a little farther up to the 2nd lake before setting up camp.

They made it home just in time to join in the 4th of July Festivities...needless to say, Abby was EXHAUSTED by the end of the day. We actually had to go into her room at 9:45 am this morning just to make sure she was OK!

Fourth of July Festivities

2009-07-04T22:22:00.000-07:00

First, I must start off by saying I have the most amazing neighbors ever! Secondly, the Fourth of July in our neighborhood is a blast! This year's block party began with a Patriotic Parade. The kids dressed-up and marched around playing instruments and singing the Star Spangled Banner.From there it was off to the obstacle course. The kids had to fish two objects from a pond, bat a ball into the basket, ride a hippity hop in between cones across the cul de sac, perform a beanbag toss, go down a slide into a pool where they then found a pair of goggles to put on, add a lifejacket, jump into a pool of bubbles, carry a water-balloon by spoon to one of the dads, jump into an inflatable boat and slide down the monster slip and slide. Whew! They loved it!! Even Josiah got to ride the boat down the slip and slide (with his arm bagged up and duct-taped)The kids weren't the only ones enjoying the slip and slide...

We had an awesome pie eating contest...

Which then turned into a pie throwing contest...
We had no problems cleaning that up, as next on the agenda was a water fight!

After some yummy food, the kids (and adults) were treated to a well presented history lesson by our next door neighbor Craig who is a Chief in the Navy. He explained the significance of the holiday we were celebrating and the freedom we enjoy in our country. He then had the kids help participate in a respectful resigning of an American Flag. His sister-in-law read a script in between each segment of the ceremony.Hanging the new flagCertainly a very memorable Independence Day!
God Bless America!

Getting So Big...Literally!

2009-07-03T22:11:00.000-07:00

Wow Jonathan is really growing up all of a sudden ~ and not just in abilities. I'm happy to say I had him on the scales a couple of days ago and he weighed in at 19 lbs. Granted he was fully clothed, but by my standards that is fantastic considering he's been so low % wise on the growth charts and I've been doing everything I can think of to put some weight on my peanut. Needless to say, I'm not as worried anymore. Although his breathing has gotten noisier again so I will be calling his Dr. just to verify that it's typical to have happen.

It's been a big couple of weeks for him. He is officially crawling everywhere...He's pulling himself up on everything...
Even greeted me at naptime the other day...
He's learning how to feed himself...(ha ha) And one of my favorites is hearing him say "Mama" when I walk into a room or he wants to get my attention. I don't know how to capture that one in a picture, but I have most certainly captured that one in my heart :)

Do the Math

2009-07-02T22:05:00.000-07:00

Josiah + Monkey Bars + No Fear = He meets with the Orthopedic Dr. Monday (ironically the same one who just treated James). We're hoping for a cast that's not quite so cumbersome. Then again...nothing seems to be slowing this little guy down. Are you surprised to hear he's still attempting to climb trees, play on the swingset, or ride a scooter like that? And can you hear Mommy yelling in the background "Josiah! STOP...That is not safe!"

Playing at Dash Point

2009-06-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I took the kids out to Dash Point for a little summertime beach fun. The Earnhardts are camping there this weekend, so it was such fun to meet up with them to play. It was a treasure hunt like none other! The tide was SO low, which opened the beach up for finding countless sand dollars, jellyfish, crabs and shells. The weather was absolutely perfect for it too!

Summer Has Begun

2009-06-24T20:47:00.000-07:00

We kicked off the first day of summer with a FANTASTIC playdate with the Puyallup Earnhardts. We hung out all day playing games, jumping on the trampoline (even us Mommies), playing kick ball, making shadow drawings with sidewalk chalk, wheeling around and just thoroughly enjoying every minute with their family.

Cousins!!!

2009-06-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

While the older kids were off for their last day of school, I took the younger ones to the MOPS Park Day. We met up with the other Hirst Cousin's which got us all the more excited for Summer to begin! After the big kids came home from school, Grandma Hirst brought the Chow cousins over for some playtime. It went far too fast. We can't wait until next Tuesday to get to see them all again!

Last Day of School

2009-06-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

It was a slightly emotional "last walk to school" this morning (well, for Mommy anyway). Along the way, we were talking about how after this day Abby would officially be a 4th grader, James a 2nd grader and Josiah a Kindergartner...that's when it really hit me. My kids are growing up so quickly!

As if that alone wasn't enough to choke a Mama up, seeing my children's amazing teachers again filled me with such gratitude. They did a remarkable job this year and after having homeschooled my children, I have a little better understanding of how much they invest into their students. Abby and Mr. Thompson
James and Ms. Lutes.The teachers at Meridian Elementary have a fun tradition on the last day of school. All staff members (and numerous parents) come out on the front lawn of school and with bus horns blaring, everyone waves goodbye to the students.As you can see from the picture, that's Josiah plugging his ears ~ it is REALLY loud. Literally every bus and many of the cars are honking as they drive away. Its a fun wrap up to a great year!

Father's Day Fun

2009-06-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

Father's Day always has to begin with breakfast in bed. Although, Daddy was up early getting dressed and ready for church, so the kids made him get back in bed to give him their specially prepared breakfast and gifts. The highlight of their Father's Day with Jimmy had to be jumping on the trampoline. Daddy is officially the Foot-Clap Champion. He also had the kids mesmerized by getting some serious air doing tricks.

Tooth Fairy's Goin' Broke!

2009-06-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

Father's Day afternoon: The race is on! Both Abby and James have a very wiggly tooth in their mouths, unfortunately we only have one tooth fairy pillow. By 3:30 pm James managed to pry that 2nd top tooth out of his mouth. Abby conceded defeat and decided to pull hers out the following day. Issue resolved...until about 4 hours later when Abby's tooth couldn't wait any longer.

They were giddy with excitement and thrilled to share the tooth fairy pillow, which they set in the hallway in between their two bedrooms.

What made the evening even more incredible was the rainbow we were greeted with immediately following the excitement.

It's difficult to see in the picture, but there were two rainbows - one of which we could see from end to end. Two rainbows tieing up our Two-Teeth-Losing Day :)And in case you were counting, that makes FOUR teeth lost in 2½ weeks!

Sy's New Smile

2009-06-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

Big day in the Finnestad household tonight ~ Josiah lost his first tooth! Let me tell you, he is one tough cookie! Although it probably could have held on for another day or two, he was determined to have it out tonight. After much (and I mean MUCH) pulling, that tooth finally gave up and came out! James of course had his comedic input along the way..."wouldn't it be easier to just punch him in the mouth to get it out?" Josiah's big bloody smile afterwards was awesome "Didn't even hurt a bit!" None the less, he is thrilled to be sporting a new smile

Abby's Hawaiian Performance

2009-06-17T22:47:00.000-07:00

The third grade classes at Meridian Elementary treated their families to a fabulous Hawaiian performance tonight. Abby did a wonderful job singing, doing hand motions and even playing special instruments.
Both sets of Grandparents were able to attend. It was fun watching them participate in some of the funnier portions of the evening!
Lots of smiles and laughter tonight!

JJ's Hiking Birthday Party

2009-06-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

In lieu of a traditional birthday party, James requested a Father/Son hike on the Soos Creek Trail followed by playtime at the park with everyone. The boys did great, hiking a total of 3¼ miles before reaching the 208th play area. The weather held out for us and the clouds even burned away to let in the sunshine part way through the party. The kids had such a great time playing with their friends.

First Broken Bone

2009-06-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

It's official...one of my boys has incurred their first sports-related broken bone. James broke his middle finger & possibly the pointer one on his left hand while playing football with a neighbor on Sunday.

Monday he told the Doctor that he was hoping for a cast. 15 minutes after being splinted and wrapped, he was singing a different tune. His hand now not only hurt, but was itchy, sweaty and uncomfortable - not to mention his buddies were splashing in a pool that he was no longer allowed to play in.

Wednesday, it was off to the Orthopedic Doctor for further evaluation. They decided he did not need a cast, but would have to remain splinted/wrapped for 2½-3 weeks. He is doing a great job keeping his wrap on now that he knows that reinjuring it could result in the possibility of surgery and 6 weeks in a cast.

The journey begins...I love that I have active children. I love that they enjoy spending afternoons throwing a ball around or swinging a bat. Right this second, I love that our first break was a relatively minor one.

Happy 7th Birthday James

2009-06-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

James is officially 7 years old! Today was his day and exactly how he hoped it would be. The day began with candle-filled donuts for breakfast. Then we were off to school with Cinnamon Twist & Sprinkle Donuts for his first grade class (after they sang to him of course). Daddy came home early to pick him up from school & give him the absolute BEST PRESENT EVER!!! Lego Starwars for the Wii. James (and Josiah) were thrilled beyond belief. After an hour of Light saber battles & pod racing, we hit the Soos Creek Trail for a little hike before playing at the playground.
Finally it was time to head home and eat pizza followed by Cold Stone Cotton Candy ice cream (filled with marshmallows, white chocolate chips, sprinkles and gummy bears) Sounds appealing, huh?

Before tucking him in bed, I asked him to tell me a little about his favorite things:

Video Games: Excite Truck, Lego Starwars and Mario Party 8 on the Wii.

Board/Other Games: Frame-it, Sneaks, I Spy Bingo, Boggle, Phase 10 and Wheel of Fortune.

Outdoor Activities: Jump on the trampoline, swinging, squirt gun fights, camping and hiking.

Sports: Football, Basketball, Soccer, Baseball and Wrestling. (He also asked if Boxing was considered a sport because he likes to box his brother...if his Mom lets him).

Things that Happened This Year: Roller Skating, Jonathan being born, March for Babies Walk on Timothy's Team, Easter, Seattle Fountain, Riding his Scooter & Bike, and Camping.

School Memories: Treasure Box Picks, Recess, Friends

Friends: Austin, James B., Anthony, Brandon, D-Ray, Marcel, Nathan, Josh, Jordan, Jacob, Bradley, Kalacious, Connor

P.S. You may have noticed in the first picture that he also received a splint/wrap for his birthday too...I'll blog more about that tomorrow after his appointment with the Orthopedic Doctor :)

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

2009-06-07T16:06:00.000-07:00

Jonathan participated in his second 5k walk, this time in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

First Trampoline Related Injury

2009-06-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

I love our trampoline. I mean LOVE our trampoline. We have had it in the backyard for one year now and have not grown the least bit tired of it. Almost every dry day of the year, you can find one (if not all) of us jumping away.

Last night started out as a perfect evening. I mean perfect. Jimmy was at the BBQ, Aliya was laying on a blanket in the grass watching while James, Josiah, Abby & I jumped our little hearts out. We were having so much fun, laughing so hard our stomachs hurt. It was girls against boys with only one goal to go before we were all heading in to enjoy dinner when it happened. Our first trampoline related injury. Abby's chin came down on James' head.

She immediately headed for the exit saying "Help me Mommy". I knew she was hurt, which I quickly pushed to the back burner when I saw the blood on James' head. "The blood Mommy! I think I'm going to die!" OK, so maybe a little dramatic but there was quite a bit of blood...dime sized drops following him into the house and throughout the bathroom. Quick reassessment of both kids and sent them off with Jimmy to Urgent Care.

Abby's chin was a pretty clean cut which was able to be closed with a little Dermabond. Unfortunately, they couldn't Dermabond the top of James' head. After being evaluated by 2 different Doctors, James was released without a single stitch. The 2nd Doctor admitted that while a couple of staples would help lessen the scarring, he didn't think it was necessary. He was confident that once the swelling went down his cut would look much better. He was right!

We still LOVE our trampoline. While I wish the injury portion of the evening hadn't occurred, I wouldn't have changed a thing. It was just one of those random accidents...and as Jimmy put it at the end of the night "Now our children just have permanent reminders (scars) of what a great evening they had!"Believe it or not, this picture was actually taken 2+ hours later, after he had been cleaned up & was back home from Urgent Care.
Abby the morning after - still a little nervous to move her chin, but smiling none the less!

Teeth

2009-06-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

While Jonathan has been busy getting his two new front teeth in, James was busy losing another one of his!

Happy Birthday Denise

2009-06-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

We had a blast celebrating Denise's birthday today! What a great excuse for a super fun playdate :)

Les Gove Park

2009-05-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

Today we met up with the Wagner's and Earnhardt's at Les Gove Park in Auburn. What a great day for some water fun!
Ready, Aim, Fire!!!

So, what do you think Gabe...is it a little cold?

It didn't take Aliya too long to warm up...or shall I say "cool down" at the park.

Jonathan's first time trying out the sprinklers.

What a little stud that Josiah is!

Getting Lisa wet with a BIG hug :)

Let Summer Begin!

2009-05-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Summer is here & we are LOVING it!!

Memorial Day Camping

2009-05-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it, I was a little apprehensive about this year's camping season. The thought of packing everything up for five children, one of which is still waking up in the middle of the night (a night which could be only 30°) didn't sound very appealing. Fortunately, we are surrounded by an incredible group of encouraging and motivating friends.(sadly, we're missing quite a few people in this shot but it's the only "group" one we ended up with)

The preparations were so worth the effort. We had an amazing weekend full of sunshine, dear friends, hiking, river fun, biking and just hanging out enjoying our time together. We are anxiously awaiting our next trip!

As is customary, we spend our first afternoon hiking in the hills for the perfect firewood...which typically proves to be a large, dead tree. This year was certainly no exception. Then men came through and the kids were thrilled!

The boys love finding the largest rock they can possibly pick up. Here is Josiah with his trophy!

This was classic: Aliya saying "I nope dirty Mama!" Then I showed her a mirror. Shocked at what she saw, she asked "Who did that to me Mama?"

Do you think Jonathan is enjoying his first camping trip? I can't forget to add - Jonathan got his FIRST TWO TEETH while we were camping! YAY!!

One of the best parts of camping, time around the campfire and making s'mores!
Aliya sharing hers with Mr. Currey!

Cute cousins Juliana and Josiah

Not sure which I should be commenting on...my hot husband or how cute Matt & Denise are together :)

Jonathan being thoroughly entertained by Ron!

Picture Day

2009-05-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

Took the younger three to Kiddie Kandids today for their "birthday pictures". (Josiah's 5 year, Aliya's 3 year and Jonathan's 6 month). And yes, I know I have 2 other children, but how could I resist this picture? Good thing I have several pictures of just Abby and James together at these ages.

Mother's Day Moments

2009-05-10T19:10:00.001-07:00

7:15 am - I hear the sounds of little feet tiptoeing to Daddy's side of the bed, then hear James whisper "Come on Dad...you have to get up and help us make breakfast for Mom." Jimmy rolls over & says "That must be music to your ears." Then proceeds to head downstairs to help the kiddos.

7:30 am - Jonathan's awake, so I sneak into his room to feed him. (I'm supposed to still be in bed). I find myself choking up a little as I wonder, will this be the last Mother's Day I will spend nursing a baby? What a privilege to be a Mom...I am so blessed.

7:35 am - Back to reality. I pretend not to hear the kids fighting downstairs over who gets to slice the strawberries & who gets to help with waffles.

7:40 am - Sneak back into bed with 5 minutes to spare before Josiah and Aliya come in to play cars and Littlest Pets with Jonathan and me.

7:55 am - Surprise!!! I am greeted by a very well presented masterpiece. The kids had to use a large serving tray as my breakfast plate because there was so much to put on it. Notice the Belgain waffle is in the shape of a butterfly, with strategically placed strawberries as decorations. My buttered toast is decorated with 3 strips of bacon in the design of a flower...to match the floral centerpiece they arranged. All of which is perfectly balanced with a lovely glass of lemonade (I had to move the lemonade for the picture because there was too much to balance).
After breakfast, they began presenting the numerous crafts they had been working on throughout the week. They did such a wonderful job on everything and handed me each item one at a time with special care...what treasures they had made for me!

After church, they made me a meat & cheese sandwich with chips on the side. Then it was naptime! Need I say more? Loved that!! After naps, we went on a 1.7 walk (Jimmy had his GPS with him) and met a neat lady walking her two dogs. We spent quite awhile visiting with her and playing with Otter and Kyla. Then it was back home to do yardwork & visit with the neighbors. Our Architect stopped by in the middle of it with the drawings he plans to submit for permit tomorrrow (yay!!!) Finally, time for pizza, a movie & ice cream then it's off to bed for the kids. It has been a truly wonderful day, yet at the same time somewhat of a normal day too. I think that's what makes it even better...just enjoying a "down day" with my family and being able to soak in what a blessing it is to be called Mom. Thank you Jesus for this gift!

Wonderful, Whirlwind Weekend

2009-05-09T21:39:00.000-07:00

Friday night our 4 oldest had a slumber party date with their cousins Amanda & Elizabeth at Grandma & Grandpa Finnestad's house. They watched movies, ate Safeway Chinese and had a ball playing together. Jimmy & I took advantage of the fact we only had one child at home with us and met the Currey's for a double date. We watched Mall Cop at the $2 theater then hopped over to Marie Calendar's for dinner/dessert. It was so fun being "couples" together...the night flew by. Before we knew it, we realized employees were counting money in the till and the restaurant was pretty much vacant.

Saturday morning, we headed out early to pick up the kids. Abby & I had a Mother's Day brunch to attend with Grandma Hirst and Aunt Denise down at Stephanie Earnhardts church. Jimmy stayed behind with the other kids to spend time with his mom for Mother's Day.

The brunch was a blessing and we were challenged to consider what kind of "Spiritual Will" (or legacy) we are purposing to leave behind to our children and others who are watching us live. It was fun having Abby & Mikayla at our table. My mom & sister will be the first to tell you that there is truth to the statement "Never a dull moment at the Finnestads." Abby was rather giggly and talkative the entire way home. I wonder where she gets that from? Mom & Denise, don't forget to check your mail sometime in the next month :)

Immediately after the brunch, it was time to pack up and head to the Seattle Children's Museum to celebrate our next door neighbor's 3rd birthday. We haven't been there since the month before Josiah was born! The kids LOVED it!!

Here's James in 2004...and again 5 years later.
After the museum, we headed over to the fountain where we jokingly told the kids to "stay dry", knowing full well that was really not an option. What perfect weather for some fountain fun. Clearly, they loved every second of it and walked away soaking wet. Fortunately, we still had suitcases packed in the back of the car from their cousin's slumber party. Next it was off to dinner and REI before heading home to crash!

The weekend's not even over yet. Tomorrow is Mother's Day! I can only imagine what my little crew has up their sleeve for tomorrow. I will joyfully oblige my daughter's request to "stay in bed" in the morning until they are all ready. I suppose I will sleep in...if I have to :)

6 Month Well Child Check

2009-05-04T13:27:00.000-07:00

Jonathan had his 6 Month Dr. visit today. He did amazingly well with his shots (much to Josiah and Aliya's surprise). We are happy to say he has almost completely outgrown his laryngomalacia. There are still random moments when we can hear him breathe more loudly than normal, but those moments are becoming fewer and farther between. We're also going to stop his reflux medication and see how he does. Next on the agenda, is tackling his sleep issues. One step at a time!

When it gets down to his stats, I have a difficult time not comparing him to his older siblings. The Dr. will sit down and say: "He's in the 75% for his height" (yep! right on track with where the rest of the crew was at 6 months)..."92% for his head" (ha ha ~ yep! right on track with at least a couple of his siblings)..."At 16 lbs 4 oz, he's 24% for his weight" What??? I have been pumping this boy full of food and yet he still remains a little peanut weight wise. At least he's been consistent and "following the curve."

One curve he has most definitely followed, is the curve around my heart.

March for Babies ~ Timothy's Team

2009-05-03T23:58:00.000-07:00

Today was the long awaited March for Babies in Seattle. The Curreys put so much into organizing "Timothy's Team" ~ what a special tribute to his life and the lives of so many other babies represented today. Ready for the big walk alongside Grandma and Grandpa HirstCurrey FamilyCrawford FamilyJennifer even made Jonathan a team shirt. He was quite excited for his first big walk.
James ran into a classmate of his, Andrew, who was walking in honor of his little brother born with cancer.We couldn't have had more perfect weather today! The kids were troopers, doing a great job on the 3.5 mile walk. We were such an amazing team that we even had police escorts following us at the end of the walk...well, OK....really that was because we were the very last people to cross the finish line :) It actually worked out perfectly! There weren't too many people left in the stadium as we returned for hotdogs, so the kids enjoyed running around (with what little energy they had left) and didn't have to wait in line for lunch!Jen and I with our two youngest - Jonathan and Mocha.
Two of our teammates even made it on the evening news tonight (a.k.a Grandma and Grandpa Hirst).

School, Siblings, Seattle and Salt

2009-04-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

Friday the 24th was a big day for our Josiah, who attended Kindergarten Round-up at Meridian Elementary. The morning started out with a bus ride around the neighborhood, which proved to be his favorite part of his morning...of his entire week really! He met the teacher he will have in the Fall and enjoyed playing in his new classroom.

A few days later, he was thrilled to discover he and Jonathan have (almost) matching Jammies - both have sports equipment and stars on them. He even managed to find another blue pair of jammies for Aliya matching their theme.
Jonathan hit the 6 month mark on the 28th and is not taking this big milestone laying down...nope, he's starting to sit up by himself for longer periods of time. So cute!

April 30th, James' class attended "I Was a Rat" at the Seattle Children's Theater. He was so happy to have Jimmy there as a chaperone. Jimmy had a good time hanging out with James and his buddies.

Here's a picture of Jonathan trying out his new swing. The picture really doesn't do it justice. He LOVES this swing - giggling and smiling as he rides. James especially enjoys pushing him on it & takes just as much delight in watching Jonathan, as Jonathan does in swinging.

Jimmy & I also had an opportunity to go out on a date this past week. It felt like we merely blinked and 2 hours had gone by.
Last, but certainly not least, Aliya was my little helper in the kitchen at dinnertime Tuesday. After stopping to take a quick picture of Jonathan, I turned around to find her washing her mouth out with a washrag. Fortunately, I still had the camera in hand as I discovered what the problem was. My little chef had dumped a very large quanity of garlic salt into the noodles & decided to sample one. Needless to say, we ended up having a box of macaroni and cheese with our meatloaf that night!

Happy 3rd Birthday Aliya

2009-04-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

She is officially THREE today and to celebrate Jimmy took the day off of work. Our first stop - Cutter's Point for Hot Cocoa and Donuts with sprinkles! Talk about a perfect morning for our big girl!Happy Birthday Leela Lou!

He is Risen

2009-04-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

It didn't take long for our kids to begin saying "He is Risen indeed!" after hearing the congregation at church say "He is Risen!" What a blessing to get to celebrate the incredible gift of salvation with our family today!

The kids thoroughly enjoyed playing with their cousins...and Aunts and Uncles too! Here is a fight over candy between James and his Aunt Stephanie. Their mutual love of black jellybeans has created quite the bond between those two!Here are some more fun photos of our Hirst Family Easter Celebration!

Then it was off to the Finnestad's for more fun with the cousins. We are so happy to have Kristin home from Argentina and Jeremy, Maria and the kids in town from Utah. The cousins have a ball together!

Spring "Break"

2009-04-10T20:59:00.000-07:00

On Friday the 5th, I had the opportunity to be in Abby & James' classrooms. At the end of the school day, James' teacher asked "How many of you are going on an airplane during Spring Break?" Several hands flew up in the air. "How many of you are taking roadtrips this Spring Break?" Even more hands went up. James leaned over to me and whispered "Where are we going this Spring Break?" to which I responded "We're staying home to play with friends and jump on the trampoline." He was quite satisifed with that answer, however our week ended up being a little more than that. This past week was certainly a break from the norm, but not at all a break from excitement. Here's a recap of our adventures:

Saturday - Jimmy took the boys to Men's Breakfast, while the girls and I stayed home and made our own special Women's Breakfast. Afterwards, he helped some friends move into their new home and that evening we enjoyed having a couple of families over to hang out.

Sunday - We celebrated Jacob's 6th birthday. The theme of the party was "Camping" and included a tent full of balloons, great decorations, a fun fishing game and cooking s'mores over a firepit in the backyard. The boys were then invited to spend the night there - their first slumber party. They watched Bolt in the evening and ate Mickey Mouse waffles in the morning.

Monday - Picked the boys up in the mid morning and then began preparing for Aliya's birthday party.

Tuesday - We celebrated Aliya's 3rd birthday Princess Style. Abby was the official Hair Stylist/Nail Polisher and thoroughly enjoyed doting on the little Princesses at the party. The boys and their friends spent most of the day on the trampoline. Some of us Mommy's enjoyed a little trampoline time ourselves! The kids had a Candy Treasure Hunt in the backyard, followed by more playtime and bubbles.
About 2 hours into the party our "special guest" arrived all the way from Argentina...Auntie Kristin!!!

Wednesday - We switched into Easter mode and dyed eggs at the Currey's. Emma looked like she was turning into the Incredible Hulk when she finished dying hers. It was quite comical. That evening we headed over to the Finnestad's in honor of Kristin's 30th birthday. It's so wonderful to have her back in town.

Thursday - We caravaned to Ferndale for a playdate with the Williams. It was so nice to feel like no time had passed since we (or the kids) had seen eachother last. Everyone just picked up where we left off. We had an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids, which was a big hit. As if there wasn't enough sugar from all the candy, we then pulled out a birthday cake and sang in celebration of several birthdays. I can't believe how many are so close together - Kristin (8th), Jacob (9th), Erin (11th), Aliya (13th) and Jenna (17th). The time went far too quickly. The kids & I loved the time in the car with Auntie Kristin though. We stopped at a rest area about an hour from home and spent some time running through the grass and picking flowers. The remainder of our ride was spent singing Farm Animal songs, which Kristin probably still has stuck in her head!

Friday - Was pretty low key during the day, filled with cleaning & laundry. Though we managed to spend an hour dancing to the HSM 3 soundtrack (I admit, I like it). We had a movie/popcorn/jammies kind of day with Oslakrinkla for dessert...yum!!

This afternoon we will be celebrating the marriage of our cousin Carissa and then it's off to the Finnestad's for Kristin's birthday party/welcome home party. It will be fun to reconnect with people we haven't seen in a while. We especially love spending time with the cousins.

And tomorrow is EASTER!! That will require it's own blog I'm sure. In the meantime, I am so grateful for the precious gift of salvation that we celebrate this weekend...and everyday!

Whew! I think I need a break after this break!