Backyard Campfire

On a whim I decided that we needed to have a backyard bbq - camping style. I gathered a bunch of small sticks that had littered our yard for too long. It was time for them to go. Starting the fire was pretty easy and soon we had a good little fire going.
I showed the kids how to sharpen their sticks with a pocketknife. After everyone got going with their hot dogs, I was able to throw a couple of hamburgers on. Yum! There is nothing as tasty as a fire toasted hamburger!
The kids roasted quite a few hot dogs and then ran off to play a game of Frisbee. John, Jonah and Katie John ran back and forth playing for quite a while. Jonah is caught here (pictured above) leaping for the Frisbee with much enthusiasm. The small Frisbee is hard to see, it's that little white blip right in front of his hands.
Keira, Sariah and Lucas sit to the side playing in the green grass. As soon as the sun seemed to be going down we got out the marshmallows and started roasting. I love marshmallows! And roasted ones are even better! What a fun backyard adventure we had today, we should definitely do this more.

Grammy and Grandpa Visit

Yay! Grammy and Grandpa are in town for a fun visit. They have come to meet, hug, cuddle and laugh with Lucas.
A fun filled outing to John's Incredible Pizza was full of opportunity for fun. An indoor roller coaster, Twister, arcade games and an indoor playground were all part of our adventure. The kids had a blast, literally running from activity to activity. Grammy and Grandpa sure know how to have fun!
During our down time we had a nail day. Grammy is pictured painting Sariah's nails. Everyone that wanted got paint and decals.
Grammy's visit continues with a trip to the zoo. We haven't been in years. Check it out, Keira has an "enormous" wingspan!
The giraffe paddock... look at all the happy faces!

A trip to In-n-Out is always on the to-do list when anyone from Washington comes into town.
As always we are glad when family come into to town to visit us. We love getting hugs and getting to hear all the news in person. Thank you Grammy and Grandpa for the entertaining visit! We love you!

San Juan Sings! West 2011

Katie John is in choir this year. She has been practicing lots of songs for this performance which included 11 other schools.
What was your favorite song? "The star-spangled banner was my favorite song."
How many kids were there? "Like about 200 kids."
Do you like singing in the choir? "Yes! It is really fun."

This performance took place at Arcade Church. It was amazing to see all these kids singing first separately, then together. I enjoyed the whole performance.

Lucas and his Invisible Friend

Lucas is a very special baby indeed! He has a "special friend" that only he can see. This phenomenon has been witnessed by our family and only just a few visitors over the last few months. I can't exactly say when it started happening... maybe a month or so ago. He would consistently stare at our back door and just giggle. We don't use that door very much, especially in the winter. So we were confused at first, wondering why he chose to watch the door, it wasn't going to open. Watching him look lazily around the room and then lock on the same spot on the door each time, laughing and giggling for sometimes several minutes. It's quite amazing! We imagine that he has a special angel looking out for him. An angel with a sense of humor! Recently he's looked to the door less and less. So this was my chance to try to catch it on film. The above picture is him actually smiling at his angel. There is no kid off frame dancing a jig to get him smiling. Just a plain white door.

Spring Pictures

School fall pictures: didn't buy them.
JC Penny's: didn't go.
Now it's spring: drats.

Jonah seems to be growing taller by the minute!
My hopes are to get all five kids done in the next week!

Cousins

Mason, Jonah and Max pause for a picture at my Dad's birthday party. Today was an early day out at school so we were able to attend the party that evening all the way out at my mom's house. Happy Birthday Daddy!

Green Day

Every year for St. Patrick's Day the kids dress up in green. At school they get a special "green" ticket to spend on special prizes at the end of the school year. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Boy

Lucas is a fast growing boy! This is a 3-month outfit that I put on him today and quickly realized that today would be the only day he'll fit this outfit. He has so many cutesie outfits to wear, I had to dig to find this one in the bottom of his drawer. We are just now 2 months old and growing pudgier each day. With the limited wearing options, I decided to have a photo shoot with him and his "happy" outfit. How cute is he, with his fun new smile?

One of My Creations

I've been looking for cute apron patterns on and off over the years. Recently I came across a pattern full of retro aprons that I liked, so I bought it. This cute apron I made from that pattern for my visiting teachers' daughter. When I was shopping for the material, I saw an example of this apron. I chatted with one of the ladies that works there (I know her from church) and she showed me how she'd had trouble with the flounce and improvised a fix. It's always nice to see a finished product. Knowing that I already had the pattern, I felt compelled to attempt it. As always it takes me a bit to understand the sewing instructions. About the 5th time through, and a day later, it finally dawned on me how to attach the flounce the way the instructions intended! It was truly a light bulb moment. It was so clear! Why didn't I understand it before?
Anyway I finally got it all put together in time for her wedding shower. Isn't the material fun? I even improvised and stitched bright blue (matching of course) thread around every edge. I am very happy with how it turned out. Now... if I could only get it together to make myself one!

Matthews' Boys

John and his two boys! I thought this was a fun picture that documents the handsome men in my life!

Cute

The girls wanted to take a picture with month and a half old Lucas. What cute kids!

Park Day

Every year we have a week off at the end of February (coinciding with the President's birthdays). So while Jonah is off playing at Mason's house, the girls and I (Lucas too) went to a park downtown. It had lots to do!
There were two separate playgrounds, one for older kids and one for younger. In between the playgrounds were a whole bunch of things to do. One was a spinning thing that all the kids could get on. I just can't remember what it's called.... drats! It's the kind of thing that parks don't have anymore probably due to a high probability of injury!
The girls had a great time and I'm sure that we'll go back someday... this time with bread for the ducks!

80th Birthday Bash

An 80th birthday is always a reason for celebration! Born February 23, 1931, my Grandma Betty has always put family first. Our group photo shows just how big her family has grown! She has been a great example to all of us, we love her dearly!
Recently she had an operation for a cochlear implant. She was very brave to come out to the party unable to hear. It will still be a few more weeks of healing before her implant can be turned on. In the meantime we had a visually stimulating party. A big cake, many smiling grand-kids and a Skype chat with Granddaughter Angela, grandson David and their families. We are always quick with hugs and pads of paper to help communicate. I put together a slideshow of our family with pictures from all of 2010. Hopefully when her implant is turned on she will be able to hear the music that goes with the pictures.

Blue and Gold

Tonight was the Blue and Gold dinner for cub scouts. Jonah has been working hard earning many activity badges. He's showing off his awards (above), we are very happy with his hard work and dedication. As a den leader, I am always up in front giving out awards. Lucas helps me give out awards to my little wolves. One of my other den leaders also has a small baby (also in a Moby wrap). We look like mommy twins up there. We like to joke that they are our little wolf cubs!

Blessing Day!

Lucas Gabriel Matthews
2/7/2011

We blessed our baby boy today! Here is our family trying to take a good picture despite the very windy conditions! Grandma Myrick & Jonah
Grandma Myrick and Aunt Christina's family were the only family able to make it to the blessing. Sickness raged all through the other families and they decided to keep their germs at home. My great friend Christy, drove all the way down from Camino, Ca for our special occasion. She came with the healthy kids and left the sick ones with her hubby at home. Thank you to everyone who sent good thoughts and kept their germs home!

We had a wonderful picture session after church. My mom wanted pictures with all the kids.
Grandma Myrick and Katie John
Sariah with Grandma
Keira and Lucas were good kids through all the wind!
The blessing was beautiful. John blessed him to not be a burden in such a large family and that he would take care of his mother. :) It makes my heart smile to hear such wonderful things! My mom took some notes, hopefully I'll get those and add them at a later date.