Speed Racer

Last month my dad took a racing course in Portland and I"ve been meaning to put the pics up so... here they are. He rented a 2008 Ford Mustang on a Thursday and had a four hour class to learn how to drive at super fast speeds. On Friday, he met his instructor at a raceway in Portland and was able to test his skill out on the track. He had a blast and came out of the adventure unscathed, we can't say the same for the mustang, those brakes may never be the same:) Unfortunately, the kids and I were unable to go and watch, but mom was there with their pastor. Hmmm, maybe praying for his safety:)

Scary!

The kids and I were playing at the park today across from the house enjoying the warm sunshine when all of sudden, I realized that Gavin was having a difficult time breathing! We rushed home and got his nebulizer set up in record time and started his breathing treatment. Within a minute, his breathing was much less labored and by the time his treatment was over (about 10 minutes) he was good as new.

I've been in denial this summer, I hadn't even gotten the nebulizer machine out yet. Gavin has asthma, a mild form of it to be sure, but asthma none the less. I kept hoping that he would miraculously grow out of it, like some kids do. No such luck. We are in for another winter of breathing treatments, inhalers, and wheezing.

Please pray...For Gavin's lungs, my patience, and most of all for healing. At this point, the Dr's say that there is a good chance of him growing out of this, lets pray that it happens quickly!

Decisions, Decisions...

While at the Linfield campus this weekend. I took some pics of Gavin in hopes of getting a good one to put up in the living room. Here are my two favorites. I just can't choose. What do you think?

#1 So Much Personality

#2 Great Smile

SCORE!!

We introduced the kids to football this weekend. On Saturday, we had Andrew and Suzanne for a yummy lunch and then all headed to Linfield for the homecoming game. It is Chad and Andrews 10 year Anniversary and we thought we'd celebrate it by going back for the football game and checking out all the additions made to the campus since they've been gone. The game was great! The sun was shining and it wasn't too chilly.Kyla was more interested in the cheerleaders than the actual game, unlike Gavin who seemed to be understanding all the action going on down on the field. Even cheering or saying "No" when appropriate:) We were way up in the grandstand, but the game was fun, Linfield won! Go Team:)

Gavin migrated from Chad, to me, to Suzanne, to Andrew throughout the game, while Kyla stayed pretty close to Aunt Suzanne:) What a surprise:)

Afterwards, we checked out the new library and the kids did some exploring.

Our little family went to our church for a special thank-you dinner for volunteers while Andrew and Suzanne went to a reunion dinner. They came over after they were done and had desert. We are so blessed with their friendship and so glad that they came!

Our Favorite Books...

Gavin has finally found the joy in sitting still and looking at books. Right now his favorite books are "The Alphabet Construction Book," "My Book of Tractors," and "Green Eggs and Ham." Though any book with cars, animals, or kids will do. He'll back right into your lap and hand you a book and sit still for an entire book. For those who really know our little guy, this is amazing:) Often I find him in is chair by the window quietly looking at a book.What a joy that he enjoys the world of books!

Kyla's favorite books right now are "Black Beauty," her princess horse stories, and her book about horses. Any thing with horses will do:) We've been reading chapter books at bed time for the last year now. She has a great memory, she can tell you exactly where we left off, no matter how long it's been. She also recently checked out a book from the library at school, "The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh":) She shares her love of Pooh Bear with her Ting-a-ling.

It truly warms my heart to see my kids have such a love for books. My legacy to them:)

And In This Corner...

After dinner we had wrestle mania in our living room. I think the extra energy can be attributed to our sweet and sour chicken that we had for dinner. A little too much sugar I'm thinking:) The wrestlers came to the arena dressed in their finest socks, I mean outfits:) What a grand time we had:)

Check out that pin.

Yes, those are tights on Chad's head compliments of the upside-down Kyla.

The fierce Kyla in her finery. Watch out, those moraccas hurt:)

It's raining, it's pouring...

Okay, it's not really pouring, but it was sprinkling:) The kids got on their rain coats from their Great-Grandma Clara and played out on the porch. It's pretty warm outside, not normal for a rainy day in Oregon. Please don't pay any attention to how bad the house looks in the background. That part has been scraped and is ready to be primed, now we wait for sun:)

What a blessing that my children are friends,
at least most of the time they are:)

Gavin and I started our yearly bible study in McMinnville. It's a non-denominational community bible study hosted at a presbyterian church. This is our third year. It feels very strange to not have Kyla with us as we walk in the doors. This has been a big part of her socialization and our friend base. She had school pictures today, I'm always a little wary spending money for other people to take pictures of my children:) But you just gotta have school pictures, it's a tradition:)