Happy Birthday, to Me!

Me celebrating my 39th birthday with Family.

Yes, I am going to admit I am one year older.  Each year I get through successfully I want counted, and I don't want to have to go back and do any of them over again.  Yes, I wish time would slow down a bit rather than me slowing down.  There is still so much to do, see and experience.  Even though another year has passed, I feel like I did when I just graduated from BYU:  all the world has to offer is ahead of me--I just have to reach out and take it.

The Portland Timbers

Last Christmas, Uncle Scott treated the boys to a Timber's soccer game.  Eric and the boys went to see the Portland Timbers play the San Jose Earthquakes.  They sat among the “Timbers Army,” the group of Timbers fans that attend every game and root the team on.  The Army sings, chants, cheers and taunts from an hour before the match, through the entire 90-minute game.  They all had a great time; though Austin commented it was weird to have so many adults acting so rowdy.

My Time With Marsha

Grandpa's Sunday Morning Breakfast Ritual - YUM!
( He let me do the toast.)

I got home from Boise just long enough to make sure all was well at home and everyone was adjusting to the school schedule, then took off to be with Marsha in the Tri-Cities following her third chemo-therapy treatment.  Marsha moved to Richland several years ago to take care of her parents, and help her sister and niece.  Just this year she was diagnosed with cancer and has had to undergo chemotherapy.  Now Marsha needed someone to help take care of her.  I am so glad I had this opportunity.   I stocked her freezer full of prepared food, teased Grandpa every chance I had.  I made him an apple pie to make up for it all.  I was glad I could be there to do what was needed.  Though I am sure I needed to be part more than Marsha needed me.  I treasured the time I had to visit with her and help her through a tough spot.  She is attacking this disease straight on with strength and determination.  We will all be happy when she is through it.

Homemade apple pie with honey-crisp apples bought from the Tri-Cities Farmer's Market that morning.

Grandma is going to be 90!

Two Amazing Women:  Grandma Mary Tippetts and Great Aunt Helen Harris

After I got my kids back to school, I went to Boise to celebrate Grandma Tippetts' 90th Birthday.  She is one amazing lady.  Her birthday is December 22nd, but we all wanted to make the drive in good weather and knew we could really surprise her this way - she wouldn't be expecting it.

Grandma still lives alone and works a few days a week at the insurance office.  She even sits on the floor to do her filing.  It is not uncommon to go to the mailbox and find a little note from Grandma with a newspaper clipping she thought you might like.  One of my fond memories of Grandma is her sitting at the breakfast table after serving everyone course after course and eating the cold toast everyone left with her coffee that I am sure was cold by that point too. Now when I serve my family breakfast and find mine cold by the time I get to it, I think of her...Love you, Grandma!

Grandma Mary and All Her Children
L to R:  Larry, Diane, Debbie, Marlene, Grandma, Wendy and Danny

While in Boise I got to stay with my Great Aunt Helen.  We had a grand time together shopping, talking and crafting.  She even let me pull out all her closets and drawers to find all the great craft stuff for Grandma Mary's B-day banner.  She was confused when I got the sewing machine out and didn't have any fabric to sew on, but got excited about sewing on paper once I showed her what I was doing.  I even had Thayne, her son out rummaging around in his shed for me.  I am sure I cleaned her out of most of her crafting stuff, but the banner was amazing, and she said it was fun to have someone to craft with again.  I think I wore her out.  Thanks, Aunt Helen!

Helen Harris and Keri Sork

Another highlight of my trip was catching up with a forever friend.  My last night I went and stayed with the Feiks.  Carolyn and I stayed up into the wee hours of the night talking.  We had a pleasant walk, good visit and much needed friend time.  It was a nice way to wrap up the trip.

Daddy-Daughter Date

Sometimes Eric will get box tickets for the Rose Garden through work to share with the family.  When the Taylor Swift tickets came around he lobbied for two so he could take McKenna to the concert.  They had a fun evening together, and the rest of the family got to hear the concert re-sung by McKenna for the next few weeks around the house.

The First Day of School

My mom marks her calendar for my kid's first day of school.  She knows I need extra support that day and a little distraction.  I am sure she sits by her phone waiting for my tearful call once my last child exits the front door.  I hate sending my kids back to school.  It marks time passing, and them growing up.  When I was their age, time couldn't pass fast enough.  I was always wanting to be on to the next thing.  Now I wish I could halt time for awhile and enjoy a little longer right where I'm at.  I can't imagine it getting any better.

Tanner - Senior

Austin - Sophomore

Carson - 7th Grade

McKenna - 5th Grade

This year was extra hard.  It will be my last year having a child at the elementary school and my first baby will be graduating!

Here's a look back at Tanner's 13 "First Day of School" Photos:

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Sixth Grade - Middle School

Seventh Grade

Eighth Grade

Freshman - High School

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

Though You Are Grown

© Cynthia A. Sieving

I remember years ago,

you were so little then.

Sometimes,

I can't help but wish,

that you were small again.

I've cried when you've faced heartaches,

and saw, that as you grew,

nothing broke your Spirit,

instead it strengthened you.

I'm filled with mixed emotions,

as I hold back all the tears

and, with much pride remember,

back so many years.

When I first held you in my arms,

if only I'd have known,

the years would feel like moments,

after you had grown.

You aren't a child,

though in my eyes,

I guess you'll always be,

that baby boy who changed my life,

and means the world to me.

Last Day of Summer!

Elsie and Sage McKague and McKenna at a photo op inside the park.

Oaks Park has been an attraction in the Portland area ever since I can remember, but none of my kids have experienced it.  For our last day of summer we took a picnic lunch and went to the amusement park!  It was a fun way to pass our last day of summer.

McKenna, Sage and Elsie racing on the slide

Carson and Ethan taking a break from the BIG rides to go on the Ferris Wheel. 

McKenna and Elsie - what dare devils!

This summer was like no other - see the clouds in the background of the pictures?  That was a common site.  It sure cut down on how many times we were able to go to Horseshoe Lake (maybe once) and venture to the river banks (maybe twice).  We did make it to the rope swing at Lacamas Lake a few times, which was closer to our home and more do-able during the short sun breaks we would get.

Carson singing Rubber Ducky!

Austin playing Tarzan the day after he got his boot removed.

With Austin in a boot all summer, he was my buddy.  I was happier about that than he was.  He had to miss his High Adventure activity and several sporting opportunities, not to mention just keeping up with his two-legged friends.  I tried to make things fun for him.  He learned how to quilt and became quite the baker/chef.  I also had him making friendship bracelets and he made it through an awful lot of books.  Austin says he appreciated it, but Mom's can only be so much fun...

Austin and Tanner plating scones for the neighbors.
Austin also learned how to make cake bites and Bavarian pretzels.

Austin and McKenna tying the  family reunion quilt.

We also stuck a Pioneer Day celebration into our summer activities along with a Battle of Pranks between the Jackson Family and the Union Girl's Cross Country team.

Eric and McKenna at our Stake Pioneer Celebration 

Everyone seemed to have it out for "Jeffie"  the Jeep: 

Can you imagine the boxes of seran wrap this took?  Pranks not pictured:  TP of course, forking and Oreo's and car paint, post-it notes and q-tips.   Jeffie had quite a summer!