I took Rebekah, Benjamin and Andrew to the park knowing that I would have some fun photo opp's and I was not disappointed! It was a beautiful, warm dry day here in Troutdale and the kids had fun out in God's creation. Happy Fall everyone!
Just click on the pictures and they will enlarge :)
My mom has, for years, made me this WONDERFUL Chocolate Delight pie and had it ready for me when I or my family arrived to stay in their home. So, being the thoughtful woman she is... when I have stayed with Lisa and Raymond she has spoiled me and made me Chocolate Delight Pie! What a sweet sister! (-in-law) Thanks Lisa! ILY
These pictures together have made me smile every time I have seen them. Unfortunately, I don't remember which Derouin this is...sorry Laura. He could be in our red head pictures though! 
Since I did not get any red heads Janice had them for me...:) Gracey, Ethan and Tawnee. They are so beautiful/handsome! I take advantage of every photo shoot I get. .jpg)
.jpg)
Here we are in our Christopher & Banks outfits. Janice gave me mine and I gave Mom her jacket 'cause she looks so cute in it! She's a cute little German leperchaun! (I know I'll catch flack for that!)
Ah, yes, me and my parents. Mom and I did not plan our wardrobe but we showed up at Connie's gathering as twins. You can usually find Dad poppin' his face in the picture right before it's taken. He always adds a little "Ray"
of sunshine in our lives.
Well, we had to go all the way to France to find a forever friend!
Carol Hardin and I went to the same church in Boring, OR for 10 years and never met. At the end of our ministry trip in Marseille, France we began to talk with each other. On July *28th* we flew to Paris together to meet up with the friends we were staying with. I had introduced both of these couples, by email, when the Lewis's started planning to move there. My friends Tom and Phyl had been there 11 years. Kyle was able to help Phyl with many things during their stay in Paris. The Lewis's had all of us to dinner in their home the following evening where we found out that both sets of ladies were planning a tour of Paris the next day so we met at the "Tower". Carol and I went up into the tour and Ann and Phyl stayed below and chatted. They continued to be our tour guides leading us to the attraction and allowing us to experience it as they sat outside and had good fellowship. They were the best guides! We all had a great day. We were together one other time during the week when both families attended a farewell party for a long-time missionary family leaving the field. Carol and I were the only ones who did not know this family so we were able to spend more time getting to know each other.
Carol had invited me to her home when we got back to the states so that we could scrapbook our trip to France together. We did that and here we are a year later and I still go to her home on a regular basis and scrap family photos or girlfriend photos. God has brought us together and blessed us in so many ways it's hard to keep track. Carol has become a very dear friend to me. She is a treasure that God lead me to and I am forever greatful to Him and to her for going along with God's plan.
You have a very special spot in my heart and I am blessed to know you and be part of your life.
This is me and my man in Victoria, BC. Thanks Mom for staying with the kids while we went north to play!
Ah, my favorite man and my favorite dessert, chocolate mousse! What a night!
This is the beautiful baby girl whom I delivered on my 39th birthday. As you can see she has my hair and eye color (not to mention my heart). I love you Tawn'! (Nice photography Gracey)
Andrew went camping with his friend, Nicholas, this summer and came home with some fish that he had caught. He was very proud as the picture shows. He had never seen fish be cleaned or filleted before so he very inquisitively watched. After I cut the heads off he asked how I got the eyes out and I told him that I didn't. He asked if he could and in enters imagination.....something Rebekah surprisingly thoroughly enjoyed also!
Grama came to Troutdale to help celebrate Rebekah's birthday last April 5th. Reba had a group of girlfriends over and they played music and danced. This was right up Grama's alley and she did the bop! You go Grama! :) What a treasure for Rebekah.
Andrew loves "bugs"! You can see some of his summer collection here in the creature box. In the upper left corner is a preying mantis chrystalis (sp?), lower right and top middle are preying mantises. The black spot on the left is a nice size spider and another good size one in the lower left along with the white spider egg thingamajigger, unfortunately you can't really make out the cricket in the picture but there is one and of course the little snake. Andrew has no qualms about sticking his hand all the way in the box to get which ever creature he wants to hold at the time. He also, being the youngest, thoroughly enjoys his older siblings fear of his little friends and chases them around with his critters as they scream! For once he has "power" over his older siblings. 
