random summer updates...

We started the summer with Taylor's 6th birthday. He wanted to wear all white to be like a clone trooper. We had a great time! He loved his clone trooper helmet he got as a gift. Most of all he felt so special that his Oma and Opa came for the party. Opa and Taylor love to tell stories to each other and Sarah does Oma's hair.




Here are a few pictures of our "princess". Most of the time we see the "fair lady" every once in a blue moon we see the grumpy "I need a nap" sleeping beauty and then the princess transforms into a rock-n-roll or county queen. We love to experience them all!

We went to horse camp again this year. The kids had a count down to it. Both kids repacked their bags several times waiting for the day. Sarah was much more into what was in her bag to wear and Taylor into what toys he was bringing.

Sarah loves the horses! she could hardly wait to ride. When she got up she gave me a "go ahead and leave me for hours I've got this mom" look. She was co content up there. I got to go on a trail ride and Thad even went on one too. Taylor rode his bike all around camp and enjoyed hanging with the camp kids that live there. It was such a sad day when we had to leave.

This is the "pond" at camp. The kids swam in it several days. It was so muddy gross. I cringed when they got in!

Here are a few pictures from Taylor's last day of school (June 2009). We are so thankful for his teacher. She is such a wonderful lady and such a blessing to us. She encouraged Taylor so much and he loves her zest for animals and art. Taylor is wearing the hat she had all the kids make for the last day. On the top of the hats they decorated them with their favorite craft supplies.

I took pictures for a wedding that Thad and I went too. We asked someone to take a shot of us. It's the only recent picture we have. Someday I'll train Taylor to snap a few shots.

Here are a few shots from this past few weeks. We took our first camping trip of the summer. What a blast and jam packed. The first full day we went for a 4 mile hike. The kids did great and loved that they got to do it with friends that had come camping with us. After hiking we stopped for ice cream and played at the park. Enough for 1 day right??? Nope then we went to the creek at the camp ground and played in the cold water for a couple hours. Dinner and smores and the kids were out (so were the parents lol).

The next day we took our kids in the kayaks for a fishing trip at the lake. Both Thad and I almost tipped over while casting and while the kids were reeling in. It was so fun and relaxing. We watched bald eagles sore and dive for fish that other people where catching. Yep none on the Routson lines but Taylor swears he had a bite or two.

The day we came home from camping Taylor swore that he didn't need a nap. I walked into his room after things got that "it's too quite" feel and took this picture of him sleeping. That's one tired boy!

Sarah "graduated" from pre-school; well not really she'll be in the same class next year but non the less she loved have a cap and gown on and reminded Taylor that it was her turn not his. What a goof ball. She loves being done with school but wishes brother was done too. I guess mom is boring or something.

Mother's Day...

Hi there everyone. Hope you all had a great mother's day for all you mother's out there! We stayed close to home since Thad has been out of town off and on for the last 2 weeks. So yesterday afternoon we went to the Tom McCall scenic area close to our house and went for a hike. It was beautiful! The flowers were out and Taylor loved trying to identify types of bugs. Both the kids made the 2.5 mile hike on their own, wow! We had long pants on to guard against the tick population. Sarah and I sang songs from The Sound of Music which she got to see her cousin Brooke perform in. So here's to a great mother's day and hoping you had one to because...who knows what tomorrow may bring!

The Cherry Festival was last weekend. What a great day. 1st thing in the morning Thad and Taylor went to run the race. Taylor ran 1.8 miles (3K)! I wasn't there but Thad said he was so determined not to let anyone pass him. I was just glad to hear he had a good attitude and didn't get discouraged. Way to go buddy
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Next Sarah and I walked in the parade. Our Chinese friend Kelly asked us to be in it for her restaurant. She got costumes and lion dancers. It's just over 3 miles. Sarah wanted to walk and not ride in the cart behind mommy with the others so she walked. I only had a carry her 3 times for about a block each. I was the empress and she was a princess. She waved to everyone. She looked so beautiful it was so much fun!

We went to Thad's parents for a late Easter get together. Here is one picture of Sarah on the hunt. The kids had a great time and now think that they can request Easter more often. Nope guys it's once a year!

A couple months worth of pictures!

Taylor had been wiggling at a loose tooth for a few days. At his first T-ball game he walked up to Thad (his coach) and said, "Dad would you hold this for me?" It was his tooth! He didn't want to loose it so he just pulled it. It bleed off and on through out the game but most important to Taylor dad didn't loose his tooth. The game was so funny to watch too. Kids playing in the dirt. Girls chatting in the "outfield". Piles of dirt being formed into shapes at 2nd and 3rd. The kids had so much fun and the dads did too!

We went to the zoo during spring break: what a zoo! (the people anyway). We had a great time and the kids got to see the baby elephant which was soo cute!

Thad and I had a day off together and since it had been awhile since that had happened we took the kids golfing with us. The kids have putters and like to use them often. Taylor is starting to connect with his driver and Sarah is a natural putter.

I've been wanting to get to the slopes at least 1 time this year. I had gotten skies, boots and a "cool" helmet for Taylor at the Goodwill. Taylor agreed to go with me so off we went. It was his first time on the lifts and he was beaming from ear to ear. We stayed on the bunny hill. He made it for about 2 hours with a break in there. We made an igloo and talked about how great snow is. Taylor always says he is a "polar bear" since cold weather doesn't bother him one bit. Hot chocolate and a warm car ride and he was out like a light!

We've hit the beach already this year. Thad has such great memories of the beach growing up so we try to go for weekends when we can. Thad had a basketball tournament at the beach this last weekend. They played 6 games and in between we got to walk on the beach 2 times. Taylor loves the "big sandbox". The kids like to chase the birds and find shells and of course get wet. The first time on the sand I forgot a change of clothes for them. Big mistake. Of course they both got wet; and loved it! Sarah likes to bury her barbies. I think Thad loves playing in the sand as much as the kids!

While at the beach we went to check out Fort Stevens. Talk about interesting! We investigated allot of the battery stations and old tunnels. We read about the history of the fort. Definitely a return visit is needed when the kids start understanding history more. We also went to the Coast Guard museum. You can see Taylor at the captains seat but Sarah at the wheel. That's how it goes at home most days too! (haha)

Welcome to 2009!

I'm still writing 2008 every once in awhile on checks and at work but I think we are starting to settle into 2009. We celebrated Chinese New year and my mom even sent New Year's gifts for the kids. We went to a New Year's festival in Portland. They had dragon dancing, traditional dances performed by local Chinese dance schools, Kung Fu performances, and vocalists too. Sarah was a dancing fool and some Chinese families kept telling their little girls to dance by her. At first I didn't understand and then one man said "lucky girl" (luck is big on Chinese New Year) so Sarah was going to bring them good luck, great. Anyway it was really cute and she didn't care. I forgot my camera that day, sorry. Here is a picture with the kids and gifts from Oma and Opa, Thanks again!

The kids have been camping allot lately. My sister gave us her daughters pop-up tents awhile ago and the kids love them. They ask to eat lunch in them often and when I work the night shift daddy lets them camp out in the living room. They truly work together to make it fun. It's great to see them imagining and acting out the fun adventures they are having in far off lands!

We sit at the kitchen table to do crafts and homework. Aunt Molly had a birthday in Jan. and the kids really wanted to make her a card. Taylor thought uncle Seth would be sad that he didn't get a card so he said "He needs a card since it's aunt Molly's birthday and he'll be sad that it's not his birthday". I think this was referred pain from Sarah's birthday when Taylor realized that Sarah's birthday meant it wasn't his. I was able to help him sound out the words for Seth's card and he wrote them out. School has lost it's excitement but he is learning and it's fun to think he will be reading soon.

Both the kids love to "cook" that's if it involves sweet bowls that need to be licked clean. Cooking is great for math time. Sarah is great at her job: emptying the dish washer. Taylor's job was to feed the dog but that is on hold so Thad gave him a new job: taking the garbage out. I'm impressed that he is able to open the big lid on the outside can and heave the garbage bags into it. We haven't had a spill: yet! I read an article about age appropriate chores and our kids find such accomplishment on getting their family chores done. We love that we can teach them that to be a family we all work together to make our house work well. Taylor has been feeding our dog since he was 3 and has such a love for her.

Our dog is staying with Bob and Jessie (thank you guys!). She is staying with them since we have house guests with us downstairs and one of them is allergic to her. They have 2 girls from China so it's fun to see the kids all interacting. It's interesting to see Sarah interact with another 4yr old from China. The Lord knew she needed it. Taylor is getting used to being out numbered by girls and the older girl (8yr old) likes playing Lego's with him. I think we all know someone who has been hit hard by the housing market/recession. We've had only a few growing pains and Thad misses his downstairs but we believe that God gave us this house for His use and we felt that this is what he wanted it used for at this time. Who are we to tell Him no? I guess we could have but I know we would have missed out on the blessing too. Our pastor today talked about James 1: trails. Having a family living with us is not a "trial" but the kids are going through growing pains. I have confidence that these times of sharing toys, respecting others, talking nice to each other among other things will mold and shape them into who they will be. As we take time to guide, train and direct them in the ways they should go they are learning so much through this "trying time". The blessings: having play dates everyday, being able to run to the store without kids while the "other mama" watches kids, the graciousness of them to watch our kids while I'm working so I don't have to get the kids up at 5:45am to take them to the babysitter, in home movie rental (what a great collection they have), late night girl chats over tea before bed, etc.