Ian and Nathan

Entertaining Ian while Mommy makes lunch!

New Series--Portraits

While I love taking pictures, there may be a time when I become annoying to the extent that my camera is confiscated at family events. Recently I have become aware of how many, many ,MANY pictures of the kids, and the kids with grandparents, ect. I take, but very few individual portraits that capture each persons unique personality and charm. So I am working on sneaking in a few candids of people that I love.

Here's one of my first shots: our lovely Aunt Boo. Her laugh and smile are contagious!

Back at Home

Juicy, tangy, delicious fresh berries from our garden.

The first handful are always eaten right from the bushes,

warm and blackened from the sun.

I have been craving triple-berry pie.

This isn't enough, though, so I guess we'll just have to eat them plain!

God is a genius to create these!

Trip Pictures~~Day 3

Blinking light of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Newport
This is where Ian spent a majority of our vacation---
and one reason why there are so few pictures of him!

Depoe Bay


N playing "house" on the driftwood!
(He made us mac n' cheese)

Daddy is tired out!!

Closeup of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Newport

N inspecting a tiny crab

B making tracks in the sand for us to follow!

Daddy explaining the details of the tiny crab!

Saying "good-bye" to the sea!

Overall, our trip exceeded all our expectations, mostly because we were determined not to have any!! The boys really were great! They loved staying in hotels, and though we only had one nap the whole trip, they stayed pretty even-keeled and obedient! We didn't spend much money---only going out to eat 2 times (well, three if you count Taco Bell for $3.50!) and didn't buy even one souvenier---isn't that terrible??!!

Other wonderful things we did that aren't pictured:

Toured Tillamook Cheese Factory

Drove every scenic route we could find

Collected "egg" shaped rocks for N to play with at home in the treehouse

Had snacks and listened to Winnie-the-Pooh read aloud in the car

Made Ian laugh for the first time!

Had very fun conversations about all kinds of things---

like how God answered our prayers:

keeping us safe

building our ties as a family

making memories

Loving us and displaying his GLORY in the works of His hands!!

Trip Pictures~~Day 2

Our dream house on Otter Crest Loop

just North of Newport.

The bungalow faces North into a small inlet where the waves crash on the rocks,

sheltered by trees.

Views from Three Capes Scenic Loop.

N and B wanted to climb the Octopus Tree!

Cape Meares Lighthouse

Terria Del Mar beach and tidepools---

Mr. MK's favorite!!

Trip Pictures~~ Day One

The beautiful water at last!!
Suiting up for wave play!

Waiting to Run!

Oh, so cold and refreshing!

Unbelievable!

Nathan expaining the finer points of running from the waves

(he was my protector!)

Any thing better than this?

It was pure bliss!

Good-bye

Off to the Oregon Coast!!

Mr. MK and I have dreamed of this since we were married, and all the sudden, today is the day to

GO!

Lost Lake

Weeds

The weed war has begun.

These nasty things always find a way into your socks. Yuck.

We are off for another weekend of camping.

I have a thing about wanting a hand project for going camping. For all those spare, leisurely moments I imagine happening while Ian is alseep and theboys are off doing boy things with Daddy and Grandpa C. and Grandpa D. and Uncle J. and Uncle B. and Uncle M. (well, the last one really isn't an uncle, but we pretend!!) Oh, yes, did I forget to mention that this is like a family reunion-type camp trip, exept for the reunion part, seeing how we all live within 20 miles of each other? It's going to be great fun!

Where was I? Oh, yes, a PROJECT!! So I came up with something pretty to work on, so stay tuned for Monday's post to see if I completed it!!

Colors of Summer

Fun, snappy top

~thrifted~

New in the Shop

This girls skirt was so much fun!

(and it matches the handbag currently in the shop!!)

April Cornell---thrifted

How my heart beat pitter-pat

when my eyes spotted

All girly and dotted


vintage yellow and blue

I bought it!

Ian is 3{months}

How time flys

when you're having fun!

Thank you, God,

for Ian!

Without my Man

Tired, I am trying to get through today, the second with my Mr. MK. He's away on business and trying to get as much done as possible so we can go camping this weekend. As much fun as that sounds, what I really want is him home NOW. Do you ever have impatient moments like this? Where all I want is a big strong hug, and there's emptiness around the edges without him here.

Fun with Etsy!!

Everyone's doing it!

I couldn't resist---why not test the ETSY waters? It's very simple to set up and now I am really a modern day homemaker---selling simple homemade items from my computer desk!!

Take a look!!

Easy Minestrone

Last night, I was in a rush to make dinner, and the usual hamburger soup that I make was looking forlorn and missing something. So I bravely set out to change some things, and here's what I came up with----it was approved by Mr. MK (providing that next time there's hot bread of some kind to go with it) !

Easy Minestrone

Brown 1 lb. hamburger meat,

with garlic and onion powders,

salt and pepper.

Add 3-4 cups water,

3 beef low-sodium boullion cubes

3-4 cups mixed frozen vegtables

1 can of diced Italian style tomatoes

1 can of black or kidney beans.

When heated through, add 1 cup uncooked egg noodles

corn starch (mixed with cold water to form paste) to thicken as desired

Cook for 15 minutes, serve topped with grated parmesean cheese!