Detroit Lake Fun ~ LAST WEEK OF SUMMER!!~

Monday Morning, we headed to the lake with friends for a couple days of fun before school starts! Detroit Lake is only an hour and half away from home. Our friend's, The Pfeifer Family have a cabin in the woods there! We love going there and are so thankful they share the cabin with us! We had a great time.

before we hit the road, Miles buddy Owen gave him an early Birthday Present...Miles turns 12 years old on Saturday!

We are going to the Timbers Game for Miles Birthday and we have great seats! Miles can wear his new jersey from Owen and hopefully get some autographs with his new soccer ball!

Soccer Buddies!

We arrive at the Cabin!

beautiful afternoon on the Lake

Splish Splash!

Katrina and Stella! Sweet girls

Cole

Blake

Miles

The kiddos! Katrina, Charlie, Owen, Miles, Cole, Blake and Stella!

"this is totally rad!"

So pretty

Fun times

S'mores

I was so impressed with Jen's fire building skills!

the boys chilling in Pj's the next morning

a small hike to a cool stream and bridge!

Stella- so adventurous!

29 years old

My 28th year, though FILLED with joy and many things to be incredibly thankful for....also included it's challenges. Dave and I continue to keep the Faith in our Baby Baker as we have had continual challenges in "keeping a baby" ....many of our "baby's" have wings.... We remain HOPEFUL....We also remain blessed and thankful for each other, Miles and Katrina...

I AM A LUCKY GIRL...

Today marks the beginning to the end of my 20's! Being that my husband is 39 and I am 29 - we are both facing BIG birthdays next year...BUT ...I WILL ALWAYS BE 10 YEARS YOUNGER! 40 is MUCH greater than 30....BRING IT ON! HAHA!

My heart is VERY warm as I write this. The amount of love I have received today fills me with joy. For those of you who sent cards, emails, facebook messages, voicemails, park picnic, gifts, family time; I am blessed! To know you and to be in ALL of your company makes me SMILE!

Today I had many highlights. Pancakes and Eggs for Breakfast with the kids and their sleepover buddies. A talk with my best friend in STL. A talk with my Mom. The park time picnic and fun with my girlfriends (who have become like family to me) and their kids. Receiving beautiful gifts from them. Getting Katrina ready for a Tea Party with Stella. Running 3.5 miles. Getting both kids ready for Soccer Practice. A SKYPE session with my Twin Sister who also celebrates the last year of her 20's while taking care of three boys under 2.5....(they got in the bathtub while IN THEIR CLOTHES ...all during our "birthday talk" smiles )... A glass of wine with dear friends. A delicious dinner with my family and the MOST sentimental gifts .....

My heart is SO SO Warm.

Thank you Erika. This meaningful Butterfly hangs in our home.

My fortune at one of my Birthday lunches with Erika......CRAZY!

YUM...Happy Birthday to me!

self portrait at 29 years old

Picnic Lunch with WONDERFUL women/friends/family

my husband is the bestest

delicious wine...beautiful flowers and wonderful gifts

my favorite dudee!

love this girl and my new coffee mug!

Dave painted this new coffee mug for me!! ( HR(B)utterfly)
 

Cheers to 29 years of a very fulfilled and lovely life. Thanks to my Mom and Dad...

More thanks to my TWIN (HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY!) sister and brother...

Most Importantly...

My husband, kids and dog who keep me full of happiness, strength and faith everyday! XOXO!

Miles- Baptism

Miles and Katrina were baptised as babies on Pop and Gran's (Dave's Parents) dock wearing exactly what Dave was wearing when he was baptised as a baby!

Today, Miles was baptised again. What makes today so special is that Miles chose to be baptised again on his own. He wanted to make this decision knowing more about what a "Christian" means and what being Baptised is. Up until this year Church had not been a huge part of Dave, Miles and Katrina's life. This year, Miles and Katrina (especially Miles) had more questions about Church, being Christian, what it meant etc. Like I have said in a previous post, we decided as a family to go check out the local Christian Community Church. Miles was intrigued because a few of his buddies attended church and it sounded like something he would enjoy to continue to do. I grew up going to Church and was baptised when I was 12 years old so Church is not new to me. I really liked this new church we had found as did Dave. We have taken the kids to Church since February. In June, Miles attended a Bible Camp with his friends and had a great time! It has been a great experience watching Miles turn from curiosity and learning about Christianity to seeing him proclaim himself as a Christian this morning. How cool! Below is a link to the video from this morning at church ...Pastor Tyler baptised Miles and he was his camp counselor at Camp this summer. He speaks very highly of Miles. Miles also says When and Why he chose to be a Christian. We are so proud of him. He and Katrina are very special children! He made this choice on his own in full understanding of what being baptised means and Dave and I think that is really special.

Link to YouTube Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I5EwLFl8gs

The Baptism Tank

Katrina Checking It Out

JR. High School Pastor at Church - Pastor Tyler

look at that smile

Going Under!

A super sweet and supportive sister. She wants to do this in Middle School too!

Congrats Miles! We love you!

Crawfish Festival Parade

Katrina was a part of the Crawfish Festival Parade again this year! This is her third summer with the parade at Tualatin Dance Center. She has been dancing for close to 5 years now and the amount of improvement is insane...she is a smiling, happy diva dancer and we are proud of her! Before the parade we had the pancake breakfast at the Commons. Yummy!

She did a great job!

Dancing in the parade

Great job girls at Tualatin Dance Center!

Miles watching Parade

USA

Elvis