Lights~ Camera~ Auction

Last night our community proved once again how wonderful they are at the Tualatin Elementary School Auction where $38,000 was raised for the school, their programs and its children. It was put together by a lot of awesome women. I volunteered on a few things but many of the parents spent months planning, organizing and working out donations. There were trips, art work, amazing baskets full of treats, wine, you name it, it was donated! Katrina and I helped decorate the venue yesterday where she was the only student who was there helping out! She felt special, had a lot of fun and was quite helpful. To say the night was a success is an understatement and the party was definitely a party! Dave and I had too much fun but it was worth it!

Go Tualatin!

The Theme was "Lights, Camera, Auction!!"

Katrina the helper!

The Auction begins....The auctioneer was fantastic and super fun!

The Pfeifers

The Bradys

The Hachmeisters

The Bakers

Annelle and Kelly!

The Kopoceks

what a crew!

lately...beautiful weather

We have been so busy that I have been bad about posting!

Besides the fact that it is pouring rain as I type this, we have had amazing weather the past week! Last weekend was beautiful, 80's and sunny for BBQ's and ball games! Miles had opening weekend for Baseball, we planted MORE flowers in our yard and had a great weekend enjoying friends and family time in the sun! I got my first sun burn of the season which is a sure sign summer is on its way!

In other news, the neighborhood  kids presented their lemonade money to the local Lutheran Church which has severe fire damage from a tragic fire set by middle school boys. Our neighborhood, again, is so wonderful and the parents and kids continue to impress. The kids and their pictures with the Lutheran Pastor of the church along with the story! Our neighborhood kids along with Katrina and Miles had the idea and they raised almost $60 in lemonade for the church. We are so proud of them.

Lemonade stand a couple weeks ago

last weekend presenting the money to the Pastor of the church

Opening Day!!! LETS GO BOYS!

Miles Baker #42

A really fun Saturday

Beautiful weather, wonderful girlfriends and wine! Who could ask for more! Saturday we celebrated my friend Erika's birthday by touring a little of Oregon Wine Country! We had lunch at Red Hills Market in Dundee which was the perfect first stop and then it was off to the wineries! We all had a great time.

Lindsay and I (neighbor and friend) at Bergstrom Winery!

 

Bergstrom

Raechel, Summer and I

Jennifer- Next door neighbor and friend!

Adelsheim Vineyard

Raechel and Jen

Angie, Raechel, Erika and Dana

The crew of wonderful Moms and friends at our third winery!

Sunset on the day!

Katrina

Incredibly smart, witty, charming, hilarious and adventurous. These are some characteristics of Katrina of whom we are very proud. I am just amazed at the young lady Katrina has become and how much she teaches me each day about patience, kindness and comedy! When first meeting Katrina she had just turned 5 years old, she was a shy and curious little girl with all of her baby teeth and cutest little eyes that needed glasses so badly! She was an all around girls girl and loved anything to do with princesses, dress up and music. She loved to color, read bedtime stories before bed, watch movies and spend time with her favorite people! Today Katrina is that same little girl with a more grown up twist! She loves school, has a ton of friends, works very hard in her education and in dance (hip hop and tap), loves to go on adventures such as hiking or bike riding, rollerblading (she got new blades for Easter!) hang with her friends, read, do arts and crafts, sing and dance! More and more each day she is becoming funny like her Dad. She loves to make people laugh! She loves the store I work at (Hot Mama) and enjoys fashion. She is quite the little diva, full of energy, spunk and personality! She has a lot to say and would love to sing for you! I just wanted to say how proud I am that she is our daughter and that she was put into my life! She is amazing and growing up so fast!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_p8xE4Veyo (link to Katrina's dance class video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15obNMh3U7Q (link to Katrina's rollerblading in the rain video)

new cool roller blades!

It's raining but that doesnt stop her!

Katrina is fashionable!

Easter Week and Dave is finally home!!!

The last 9 days, I have missed Dave more than anything! He has been traveling for work in Germany and England. Though I realize his job is wonderful and travel is a part of the deal, the only complaint I have is that I miss him when he is away!

Despite Dave being away, the kids and I had a great 9 days. It is the Easter Season and Spring is here! We started out Easter week with Palm Sunday at Church last Sunday, had baseball Monday,Wednesday and Saturday, Dance on Monday and Tuesday, dyed Easter Eggs, had a lovely happy hour and movie night with girlfriends, enjoyed Good Friday Service at church Friday night, a neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt and luncheon on Saturday and Church today. Though it may seem like a lot of church talk, it is the Easter holiday! Miles and Katrina the last year or so began asking more and more questions about Jesus, who he is and what being a Christian means etc. We decided to take them to church a couple months ago and let them check it out, get a better understanding and allow them to make up their own minds about what it means and what they believe! A lot of their friends at school attend the Christian Church and they wanted to know more about it. I grew up at Webster Groves Christian Church in Webster MO. and was always very involved in the choir, youth group and mission work! It was a great part of my upbringing with wonderful memories and I think it is important to have something to believe in! Though the kids have been baptized, they have not had a lot of experience in church. Dave took them to church a few times in St. Louis before I met them but they had not been a lot in the past. The kids also experienced our beautiful wedding ceremony and minister in Florida, including prayers and a wonderful message. Dave and I have have had many discussions about my history in church and our beliefs together as a couple but we also believe to be a Christian does not mean you have to go to church. You can always believe whatever you wish outside of the church building. Well the kids wanted to know more, so we took them! They really enjoyed it. Dave and I did as well! It has really been a great thing causing more and more discussion! We have not turned into a "Bible Thumping" "Godly Family" and certainly judge no one who chooses not to go to church but more than anything we believe church includes great morals, values, and lessons causing more and more family discussions which is a good thing.

By the time we arrived home today (Easter Sunday) driving down our street, we saw the Taxi pulling out of our street, dropping Dave off  at home after 9 days away and knew he was home! We honked and the kids screamed for him out of excitement; we were so excited to see him! He is exhausted to say the least but had a great trip, saw a lot of cool things and more importantly accomplished a lot with work! He brought back a lot of great gifts, including a beautiful scarf and jacket for myself. Manchester United Soccer gear for all of us, including a personalized "Baker" jersey for Miles! Katrina got a lot of UK fashion such as a couple dresses that Kate Middleton would have worn when she was 9 years old a hat and couple great tops! We had a few special Easter treats for them and homemade chicken and dumplings, had an egg hunt and enjoyed the sun!!!

I could not be more happy that my husband is home and we had a blessed Easter!

Good Friday Service

Easter, Homemade Sugar Cookies!

Easter Sunday!

Katrina and her Easter basket

Daddy and Katrina

Miles and Dave

Miles and his "Baker" Manchester United Soccer Jersey

A new dress!



Dave got me a Manchester United T- Shirt
 Katrina a cute Glitter Top form a UK boutique!

Hiding Easter Eggs

Happy Easter...Hunt Time! Katina in new dress and Miles in new shirt from Dad!

hunting..hunting and more hunting

found another one!

serious stuff

only one more egg...who will get it first! Racing to the finish!

A beautiful Harvey Nichols Scarf came home in this bag

out of the Easter clothes and into Cozy clothes... enjoying the sun light, watching the kids play soccer with Dave and hanging with Boggs!

LIFE IS GOOD!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Easter Eggs!

Happy Easter Weekend!

We are headed to the Good Friday Service tonight at Church and looking forward to family time this weekend full of neighborhood egg hunts, yummy food and treats! Let's hope the weather cooperates!