Strength, Joy, Freedom, & Esther at Home

Christmas Stocking Action!

2011-12-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

STOCKINGS 2011

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MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

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Christmas Morn 2011

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Seriously Cute & Silly Libby Love

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Libby fell asleep on the couch...

2011-12-14T16:38:00.000-08:00

One Day at the Park in December

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Esther petting chickens in the nude. LOL

2011-12-07T06:07:00.000-08:00

Avi's New Hat

2011-11-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

Azriel's Birthday Pecan Pie and a Walk in the Park

2011-10-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

October 15th...a walk in the park AND the day we celebrated Azriel's 9th birthday (the real date was the 17th!).

Azriel & his "new" gun

2011-10-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

Azriel bought this gun with money he'd saved and his birthday money!

October Kids

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A little bit o' Oct.31

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Libby with curled hair.

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She reminds me of one of those little cherub photos they used to do of children in the 20's/30's or whenever. :-) I need to put a little halo and wings on her.

Sliding and Toftville

2011-07-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

Witch's Mouth & Pumpkin Eaters

2011-07-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

7 Dwarves & More

2011-07-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

Enchanted Forest from Avi's Camera

2011-07-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

Stonehenge Replica in EA WA

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More Enchanted Forest Fun!

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Abe with Az and Libby

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ENCHANTED FOREST!!!

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Grandma, Avi, Az, & Libby 7-10-2011

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Fun At Grandmother's House!

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At top is Libby in a monkey mask and then Libby with Grandma! The others are of the fun in Grandma's back yard. Toby set up an outdoor movie night, complete with a fire and roasted marshmallows. The kids had so much fun!

Weekend Trip

2011-07-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

The three big kids and I went on a spur of the moment trip this past weekend. Mark stayed home with little Esther. When he got home from work on Friday evening, we hopped in the Burban and drove to Springfield, OR to see Grandma Maxine, Auntie LouLou, Cousin Toby & his boy, Jude! These pictures are all out at Toby's place in the woods. The kids had fun exploring a little there and playing on a zip line!

Kits

2011-06-12T20:05:00.000-07:00

6 Day Old Himalayan Kit

Chickens!

2011-06-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

Look What Came in the Mail Today!

2011-05-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

Our new baby chicks arrived. The three yellow ones are Light Brahmas and the two colored ones are our mystery chicks. We believe they are Speckled Sussex after we've done some internet investigation! We're so excited about this new venture!!!

Libby Turned 4!

2011-05-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

Libby celebrated her FOURTH birthday. Hard to believe that 4 years have gone by since she was born on May 2nd, 2007. We celebrated on the 1st, since that was a Sunday. The big kids were out of town visiting Grandma and Grandpa Wheeler so it was just Libby, Esther, Mark, Grandma E, and me. I made a lovely and delicious gluten free cake with buttercream frosting. At Libby's request we had homemade hamburgers and fries for dinner. It was a fun little party. Earlier in the day we went to Toys R Us and let Libby spend her birthday money from Grandma & Grandpa Wheeler. She chose a lovely new bike which we paid the balance of and then bought her a helmet. We had a wonderful day and, most importantly, LIBBY had a fun day celebrating the fact that she's a year older and now is OFFICIALLY a big girl!

LOOOOONG TIME!

2011-04-17T01:03:00.000-07:00

OK, so I realize that it has been FAR too long since I've updated my little photo blog. Can we just say that life has been busy? Well, this will by no means catch anyone up since my last post but here it is anyhow! This is Esther, Az, Avi, & Libby at the Library Park. I snapped this cutie just last week on Thursday or Friday when I was brave enough to take them to the library without backup, aka, PAPA! It actually went quite well. After the library they had quite a bit of fun rolling down this little hill and the big kids taught Esther how to roll. Then we strolled over to look at the fish in the pond and then we played a bit more before leaving. The oldest three are all wearing their new hats that we picked up at Basin Dept. Store, along with a couple pair of new jeans for Avi ~~ compliments of Grandpa Dave who gave us a gift certificate...THANKS GRANDPA! We had fun shopping!

Avi's New Glasses

2011-01-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

Visit to Grandmother's House

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My cousin, Toby, with an unhappy Esther

Grandmother and the big kids.

Grandmother with the oldest three. Esther wasn't having any part of pictures that day!

Azriel with his 3rd Cousin, Jude (Toby's boy!)

Grandma's 9-3-2010

2011-01-01T14:39:00.000-08:00

On the back patio where lots of fun memories have been made over time!
Libby, my Auntie LouLou, and my sister Courtney!

Cousin Toby's Squatch Mobile

Grandma Maxine's

2011-01-01T14:36:00.000-08:00

Avi and her 3rd cousin

Grandmother Maxine.
I love you Grandma!!!

Good Bye Newport...

2011-01-01T14:33:00.000-08:00

So, as the blog goes backwards in time, I'm starting out with the last day of our Coast visit! We had a blast! Enjoy the photos!

Lighthouse

2011-01-01T14:31:00.000-08:00

There were whales just out there. It was pretty cool. They were quite close though I don't think I actually was able to catch one spouting in any of my photos. It was a joy to watch them though!

These were some pretty cool birds. I asked the naturalist there what they were and I've forgotten! :-(

My sister, Courtney, and the kids.

2011-01-01T14:28:00.000-08:00

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Esther on Light House grounds.

Beautiful prospect...

Courtney with all my kiddos!

Sunset & Bedtime

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Sunset at the Beach Cottage

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Outside the Cottage

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Inside the Cottage

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CHILLAXIN' in the HOT TUB!

2011-01-01T14:18:00.000-08:00

My Boy, Azriel

My big girl, Avigail

Little Liberty

House We Rented!

2011-01-01T14:17:00.000-08:00

Sweet little view with two Adirondak chairs and a fire pit right out the back door of the little cottage we rented.

Hot tub on the side of the house. Boy was THAT nice after a day of playing.
One of the nights, Courtney and I enjoyed a late night soak with some rum and coke!

Oregon Coast Sept. 2010

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Can't choose just a few beach photos...

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Courtney with Azriel & Libby

Courtney...my fabulous little sister who accompanied us on our little fun journey!

My kids on the beach. They had SO MUCH FUN!!

Beach 9-1-2010

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Esther on the Beach

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And...Esther on the Rocks!!! :-)

Running from the Waves

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Waiting...

Courtney explaining how to play the wave game.

Running a bit too soon...

Waiting for the waves again...

More Newport

2011-01-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

The view from our old house in Newport. Well, this is from the empty lot right next door to the house we lived in. Fabulous view, esp. on a clear day where you can see the ocean a ways beyond the bridge.

Going under the highway to the beach on a sunny day! Unlike the first day we visited the beach!

Yep, Esther's barefoot. The rocks were smooth.

Newport Bay Front Adventures

2011-01-01T13:59:00.000-08:00

Checking out the Sea Lions!

Lovely whale mural

Libby and Az on the Bay Front. I used to walk this road with my dog, Teddy, oftentimes when we lived up the hill. So many memories!

Bay Front, Newport, OR

2011-01-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

The kids with their Auntie Courtney

Me and my little lot.

Big kids checking out the sea lions

Sealions on at the Bay Front

Esther 9-1-2010 Undersea Gardens

2011-01-01T13:51:00.000-08:00

UnderSea Gardens plus

2011-01-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

Avi and a Monarch

Me in the bathroom at Mariner's Square

The kids in Undersea Gardens

Libby at Undersea Gardens.

Butterfly House at Mariner's Square, Newport

2011-01-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my sister Dee's friend from highschool, we got free passes to the Undersea Gardens, the Butterfly House, The Wax Works, and Ripley's Believe it Or Not! Thanks Carol! We had a blast. Lots of memories going back to Newport. My family lived there for a few years when I was younger. I went to 8th, 9th, and 10th grades there. My Mama lived there her whole youth and graduated from Newport High School. Funny that we moved back for a time. I'd jump at the opportunity to live there again.

8-31-2010 BEACH

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Aunt Courtney with the three oldest!

8-31-2010 OREGON COAST

2011-01-01T13:39:00.000-08:00

We went to the Oregon Coast on our week away from home while Mark was working on the basement rebuilding!
Had a fun time. My sister, Courtney, came along to help me with the kids. We rented a sweet little house for a couple nights. It was a lot of fun!

Esther's first ever beach experience!

Country Village

2011-01-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

After the Fair the kids and I went to Seattle area and then on to the Coast and to see Grandma Maxine in Springfield. My sister, Courtney, accompanied us on the journey to Oregon. Before we left for Oregon, the kids and I spent a few days at Grandma & Grandpa Wheeler's house. These first three pics are the kids at one of my favorite shopping villages: COUNTRY VILLAGE!

This is Avi with cousins, Audrey, Kateri, & Pippin in Grandma's hotel room in Kennewick. Sometime in September, I think! Right before we went to their house and then on down to Oregon!

Libby at the Fair

2011-01-01T12:21:00.000-08:00

Esther at the Fair

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RIDE DAY at the Fair!

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Mark & Esther

Libby & Azriel

Libby, Avi, & Azriel

More Rides

2011-01-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

Face Painting plus more

2011-01-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Family Fair Day. Grandma & Grandpa Wheeler brought the kids to the fair. Mark hung out with Esther and ended up walking home with her when she got tired and grumpy. The bigger kids stayed until dark riding rides with Grandpa! Libby and I hung out in the kiddie section. It was a fun day!

Showmanship

2011-01-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

Avi doing her showmanship for 4-H at the fair.

Her participation ribbon.

My TIGER girl.

County Fair.

2011-01-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

Curly Fries at the Fair...a MUST have!

4-H Friend

Grandma E visited the kids in the barn.

Avi getting ready for SHOWMANSHIP!

My Crazy Kids!

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Fair Wanderings Before It's Open

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PONIES!

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8-2010 Wandering The Fairgrounds

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Fair Time!

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Avi's 4-H Sign

Az came to help one day! Avi made him do the grunt work. ha ha

My Big Kids!

Random Fair Photos

2011-01-01T11:52:00.000-08:00

Piggies

Dragon Coaster

Miniature Horses

Avi with Skipper at the Petting Table.

Avi & Ponies at the Fair

2011-01-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

Avigail's favorite place to visit at the fair was the PONY BARN. These were all the ponies that do pony rides. Early in the morning, before the fair was opened we'd wander around the fair and would stop in to see the ponies.

County Fair Aug 2010

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Avigail entered her rabbit, Skipper in the County Fair. We were there every day by 7AM and spent a good part of the day there with her 4-H group. She won lots of ribbons for Skipper and had a GREAT experience. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to do this with her again next year!
Watering the rabbits

Skipper

Going for fresh shavings

Filling up her bucket!

8-22-2010 Az Stacking Wood

2011-01-01T11:41:00.000-08:00

We hired a guy to chop & stack a bunch of wood for us. Azriel helped him and learned how to stack wood properly. Azriel worked ALL day out there...8 hours. He learned a lot and got paid well for all his hard work!

Mid Aug 2010 Randoms

2011-01-01T11:28:00.000-08:00

"Baby" Esther

The New Living Room Carpet and my toes.

Libby in pig tails.

Azriel showing off some Lego creations with Avi and Libby in the background.

Family at Lk. Wenatchee

2011-01-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

My brother, Shane with cousin Tracy & his wife, Dara! Last posting of the Ash Spreading Memorial Trip.

Lake Wenatchee 8-10-2010

2011-01-01T11:14:00.001-08:00

Avigail

Azriel w/3rd Cousin, Ray

Cousins Audrey & Cyril with Azriel

Kids playing in the lake! We had beautiful weather. This was part of the ash spreading memorial trip for Granner and Pa. We sure miss them!

TRIPLE Pine Lodge

2010-08-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

The Lodge

2010-08-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

This was the slider into the bedroom that Mark, Libby, Esther and I shared!

Triple Pines Lodge

2010-08-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

Libby.

The morning of the ash spreading...trying to get some food so we can head out on our little hike to Hidden Lake.

The grounds of the lodge. Lots of neat rockwork.

Shane in the kitchen window of the lodge.

August 9th, 2010

2010-08-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

Here's an old newspaper clipping that Gran had saved. Pa had worked most of his career at Hanford in addition to raising cattle & taking care of his farm.

My lovely sister-in-law, Briana, in the forground on this one.

My cousins and their spouses. Tracy on the floor and Teri standing behind the couch.

Memorial Trip

2010-08-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

Cousins, Siblings, and our Families gathered together for a couple days to spread our grandparent's ashes and to go through photos, memorabilia, and to talk about our fond memories.

Ash Spreading Memorial

2010-08-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

These photos contain me, my siblings, and my cousins, along with our families. We met in a beautiful lodge by Lake Wenatchee from August 9th thru the 11th for the purpose of spreading our Grandparent's ashes, according to their wishes.
My brother, Shane, went a day ahead and hiked up & scoped out a beautiful and perfect spot for the "ceremony". We spent the first evening, as depicted in these here photos, going over some old photographs and memorabilia that my sister, DeAnn had brought and organized. We were able to take home some of the photos and items that held a special place for each of us.
Also we were given discs with everything scanned so that we'd all have a digital copy of the photos and documents (thanks to my Dad, Ron, for scanning everything!). It was a really wonderful reunion and memorial. I think Gran and Pa would have been very pleased. This was the first time us cousins had been all together in one place since we were in our youth.
Esther (my youngest), me, Dee, & Teri.

Shane, Dee, Me, Tracy, & Teri.

DeAnn, seated on floor, Me on the couch, Tracy on the floor, Teri on the couch, and Dara (Tracy's wife, standing)

My brother, Shane!

Grandma E, Mark, & the Kids

2010-07-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

Grandma E's B-Day at the Water Park

2010-07-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

Water Park

2010-07-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

Condi Dog

2010-07-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

Buddies & Jack

2010-07-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Azriel and Avigail. My two big kids. I love that they're so close.

JackieJuJuBean Kittie. Or just Jack.

Random, Up Close

2010-07-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Echinacea

Me, in the bathroom, on the phone, taking pictures of myself. Special, I know.

Libby Being her Cute Self.

Esther showing us her Tummy Tum Tum.

Eye Candy & kids

2010-07-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

This flower is called EYE CANDY. It's actually much more beautiful in real life.

Water in July

2010-07-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

Esther is unimpressed.

Esther Getting In on the Fun!

2010-07-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hot July Days

2010-07-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

Water Slide

2010-07-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

Az as a Vampire.

Hot Day in July

2010-07-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

July 8th. Another HOT, desert day!

Sparklers

2010-07-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

July 4th

2010-07-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

Sparklers, in their jammies, on the back patio. Sounds like a CLUE murder mystery, SOLVED.

For the BIG SHOW everyone but Esther and Me went to the Fireworks show at the river. E and I went to bed. We had a great time and so did they. In Kennewick, fireworks are not allowed. Didn't figure that sparklers really counted as fireworks so we did those!

Hot enough for Water Play

2010-07-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

Esther with a particularly devilish look here...

Filling the wee pool to the brim.

Esther & the Sock Monkey

2010-07-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

Esther has taken a liking to this cute, old sock monkey. It was mine when I was a child. I still love it but I think Esther loves it more.

Rabbit Show

2010-07-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

Avi's first Rabbit Show in Moses Lake. Skipper won quite a few ribbons, but then he was the only Himalayan rabbit there. It was a GREAT and positive experience for Avi and built her confidence for further shows. She'll have Skipper in the fair here this year. We're already registered so between Aug. 24th and the 28th we'll be hanging out at the fairgrounds in the Rabbit Barn. Big fun. Hot and Dirty.

I'm looking forward to it. :-)

The Kids' Catch

2010-07-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

These are the rainbow trout that the kids caught. We panfried them the same evening after Liberty's birthday party. They sure made a yummy dinner. This is my HUGE cast iron skillet so that big fish you see was REALLY big. The kids were really proud to provide dinner.