Merry Christmas 2013

Well we hope everyone had a great Christmas and is gearing up for the new year. We were pretty low key this year. We started a Christmas Eve tradition a few years back (something like 5/6 years). Our good friends the Ratnayake's and us if we are all in town, head to McDonald's or something to the effect. This year it was the new Burger King. We eat and talk and let the kids play. 

The guys! Raja moved at the last second and made it ook like he was afraid of Travis. In reality they are good friends!

Madison and Andrew (both 9) have been friends for almost 7 years!!! Zachary and Natalia are pretty good friends too. 

After dinner we headed over to Shannon's for the traditional night before Christmas activities!!

We gave the kids new Christmas pj's, and played the night before Christmas gift exchange (a tradition for the McDowell familiy!)

The cousin picture! All looking at a camera and all somewhat smiling! 

Then we went home and got ready for Santa!

Carrots for the reindeer, milk, egg nog and cookies for Santa! These are cute little mug mats that my grandma sent. They will be added to our Christmas traditions!

The kids slept well all in one room (also a McDowell family tradition!). I forgot to get a picture. Madison and Zach were up talking at 6:30a and then Brynley woke up around 7a. We told them that they couldn't get us till 7:30a!  

Madison got a 4th generation iPod touch! 

Zach got a Wii and a bunch of games!

Brynley got the Little People Klip Klop Princess Pony Stable. It came with 2 princesses. And for her birthday in 2 weeks she is getting more!

We had a pretty fun and relaxed morning. After all the unwrapping was done, I made a large brunch/lunch. The missionaries serving in our ward came over and ate with us. We also put together stockings for them. 

Then Shannon and her family came over for dinner. Yummy ham and all the fixings. We then all took turns playing the Wii. 

Travis and Madison boxing. 

I just love this picture. Zach got legos for Brynn. And while he was putting his set together, she had to play too!! She got the hat from Grandma and Grandpa McDowell and wore it all day!!

Well I hope everyone had a great Christmas. 

Fall 2013

Before I post Halloween pictures, I forgot to post about an event that Madison did a few weeks ago and her field trip to Celebration park. 

The Old Carnegie Library was 100 years old. So they did a celebration. There was a program, cake, and a tour of the old library. 

Madison was in a childrens choir. It was 3-5 grade kids from 3 elementary schools. There were about 100 kids. They learned their song during regular music time, but not all kids were asked to participate. She got a free t-shirt and had a good time. 

She is in there somewhere! I didn't make it to the front for a picture. There were a ton of people there. 

Enjoying her cake! We also took a tour of the old library. It was crowded and stinky! But the kids had fun so that's all that matters right!

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The next day we went on the 4th grade field trip to Celebration Park. It took forever to get there and I kind of got bus sick!

The first thing we did was go on a hike up the the bridge. 

We had a quirky guide. She was kind of odd, and told funny jokes. 

This is the view as we were walking along the river. 

The guide would stop ever so often and explain different parts of the bridge. It's supposed to be haunted so the kids enjoyed hearing that story!

Madison and her best friend Kennedy on the bridge. 

After the bridge we had lunch then to an interpretive center/classroom. 

Then they learned about rock carvings.

It was a lot of walking around on rock and looking at rocks, and talking about rocks!

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Now on to Halloween!

We did the trunk or treat up at the church and were done in about 30 minutes. Then we went to our usual friends houses and one street that has a scary house!

Madison as a "Dia de los Muertos" candy skull. I made the veil, and did her face paint. 

Zach was a NCIS Jr. Agent. A few days before halloween he won a costume contest for most original costume.  He was really excited! 

Brynley was a princess. This year she actually understood trick or treating! It was pretty fun. She is crying here because she didn't want to stop and have her picture taken!

Done with the first house!

Madison was helping Brynley up to the next house!

It was Brenda Shuey's house! Quote, "Here don't take the crappy candy, you can have the good stuff!" 

The next house was the Larson's. They also gave us the "good stuff!"

The last is a video of Brynley. After she would get candy from one house. She would run to the next and yell, "More treats!" She was so funny!

The great pumpkin carving of 2013

This past weekend we carved pumpkins. We each had one this year. We just usually let the kids do it, but this year we got all of our pumpkins free! So why not!

Let the carving begin! Travis started on Zachary's first.

Madison started.........

And this was her reaction! Hilarious! She has never been a fan. But this year she did it all!

This apparently was his favorite part!

Zach chose a cyclopes with toothpick teeth!!

The one on the left is Madison's, it's a headless guy. Mine is the other one. 

Travis attempted an Oregon 'O' not bad for a first attempt!

Brynley chose a kitty! She was very proud of it and kept meowing at it!

It was a pretty fun afternoon that ended with Oregon beating UCLA!

More costume pictures to come.  

End of Summer into Fall = blog lazy!

Well now that summer is officially over, and we are 7 ish weeks into school. I thought I should post something about the goings on in the family!!

Madison did a symbols of Idaho project at school a few weeks ago. And she chose a Peregrine Falcon. 

For a while, and she probably still is obsessed with these birds! They are pretty cool, and have some cool features! We used a Dr. Pepper bottle! She traced and cut out all the feathers. I glued the beak and head so it would be ready to paint when she got home. I was simply the glue gun operator! She decided the pattern of the feathers by looking at a picture we found on Google! We got the grade back last week and surprise, A+ 100% 

moving on.......

We took the kids to their first drive in movie! We have lived here 7 1/2 years and have never been. So I found a great coupon and the kids were so excited! The movies were "Disney's Planes," and "White House Down." We only stayed for the first one because Madison and Zach would have never fallen asleep! Brynley did great! 

And....................

Brynley and I went to Linder Farms with a group of moms and kids. It was sooooo cold. It was like 50 but the wind chill had to have been 30! She is wearing 3 layers in this picture with my gloves on!!

While we were waiting for our hay ride. The kids got to play in the corn box!! She loved it! It was probably 3 ft deep of dried corn kernels!

She had a hard time finding the perfect pumpkin! First she chose this little one. Then she decided on this one...

A little bigger but just as cute to her! She kept saying how cute the "cupins" were and how she loved her "cupin!" We have tried correcting the "cupin" but she insists on calling them that! Too cute!

We had a fun time and were happy to get back in the warm car!!

Happy Fall!

A weekend in Seattle

A few weeks ago we took a family trip to Washington. All of Travis's sister and mom all converged at one house. Nicole and Rick (bro and sis in law) housed us! The same weekend Travis had a cousin get married at the Columbia River Temple. And his best friend was married in Seattle!

This is the Columbia River Temple. We didn't have time to go to this wedding too so we just stopped for a quick picture. 

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Then we drove to Yakima and stopped for lunch with our friend Josh. He was headed up to Seattle too so after we ate lunch we headed to the family dinner in Enumclaw. 

Since Travis and Josh hadn't seen each other in a year I suggested that they ride together! I had to drive by myself. It was good for them to play catch up!

The family dinner was held in Enumclaw on the top of a mountain facing Mt. Rainier  It was fun to catch up with friends and meet Lauren (Randy's wife), it was the first time that we had met her. 

We hadn't see Jared and Donelle in FOREVER! Probably 7/8 years! 

It was so fun to be with friends!

These two had a great time talking all things Duck football!

After everyone had left and before we headed out we got a great picture of the guys. From L to R. Randy (groom), Jared, Travis (best man), and Josh. They grew up together, went to school together and have been friends for over 20 years!! What a great group of guys! (and yes, Randy is on the phone! It rang just as we started taking pictures! And no, no one got pushed in!)

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August 10, 2013

Mr. & Mrs. Bell

They had the cutest sailor theme! All yellow and blue! The little kids had sailor hats and saluted as they came out!

This is Randy's family picture. Travis and Randy's families grew up together and were pretty close. It was good to see all of them!

Yes I know.... the smile! We were laughing and cracking jokes and I caught Travis in mid laugh! These two couldn't be any closer friends. They grew up together from about age 12/13. They were dorm mates at U of O, they got their mission calls on the same day and then lived together after their missions for a few years before we got married. Travis was the best man, and it meant so much to him that Randy had asked. 

Josh couldn't make it to Seattle otherwise the picture would have

 been complete!

We had such a great time. We are so grateful for such awesome friends. And for being able to attend their sealing and and share in their special day. Thanks again Randy and Lauren!!

First Day 2013-2014

August 22, 2013 = The First Day of School!!!

The kids were up bright and early. Zach came in at 7am and said, 

"Mom! Get up we are going to be late! I'm going to get dressed!"

Whoa down there sporty we don't have to leave for an hour and a half!!

I made cinnamon rolls last night so breakfast was done and ready!

All ready to go! They still have dress code, however they have relaxed a little on the rules. They added Khaki, and colored denim! 

Sassy Miss. 4th grader!

Excited Mr. 2nd grader!

"Mom, at first I didn't want to go back and now I am really excited!"

Brynley wanted to join the picture! She was a little confused and sad this morning. 

At the school ready to go in. They changed it up this year. You used to be able to go to the classroom and find your locker. This year they had the gates up so you couldn't go down the hall. :( So no picture with the teachers or at the locker! We said goodbye and they went outside!

 Yep! She cried as soon as we walked out the door. Sad little sister. All the way home, she said, "Where's bubba (Zach) and Sisser (Madison)?" "Where go?" "Noooo!" 

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One of the new school year traditions that we have done over the years is a Father's Blessing. Each kid gets their turn to receive a special blessing from Dad. Each in unique and just for them. We can receive a Priesthood blessing to help us get through different times in our lives. A Father's blessing is very special because it comes from dad and Heavenly Father. We loving have the Priesthood in our home!

Madison went first, then Zach and then Brynley. She sat so still and quiet. Madison and Zach are such a great example to her! We did this last night right before bed.

Here's to a great school year!