Please join me in welcoming my thirties...

It's true. My twenties are over. Wow do I sound old? Today I turned 30. A new decade to begin. I'm actually doing quite well with it despite how morbid I might sound :)
One makes so many life changing decisions in their twenties and it seems like the thirties is where life gets played out...I've been doing some real soul searching as of late and I think it's been good for me!
My wonderful hubby, along with my sister and the rest of my family planned an awesome surprise party for me on Monday night! It takes a lot to surprise me apparently because I'm so nosy...I just like to know that I'm going to be surprised:) Can anyone else relate to me or am I just nuts??!
Anyways Matt and I went to dinner and coffee and then one of the guys from the church called and told him that they had broken a sprinkler head down at the church building and that water was everywhere...we had to get down there immediately Matt said. I was fully expecting to walk into a room full of water but when I walked in the place was decked out and tons of people yelled surprise when I walked in the door. Pretty sure I almost peed my pants. I was seriously shaking a bit because it literally scared me...good job guys! I am so thankful for my friends...
So here we go...a new chapter in my life, wish me luck:)

Updates!

Hello after a little absence in blogging! Of course it's busy with two kiddos but that's no excuse:) We've had a few things going on around here. We're hoping to buy a house befere December so I've been looking like crazy. I think I know something about every available house in Salem, in our price range at least! We found one that we loved but it didn't work out so we'll keep looking! We also took the kids to the fair and it was Matt's birthday last weekend and I was able to surprise him with tickets to the Keith Urban concert in Portland! It was a great concert and we had a wonderful time. We got a sweet deal on some amazing seats!
Can't believe we're half way through September!!! It's going to be Christmas before we know it.
On another note we have been having Outward's service on Sunday evenings but starting on the 27th of this month we will be adding a 10am morning service! We're so excited.
Ps - I can't wait to get some colder weather going on! Sorry to all you sun birds but I love jeans, boots, scarfs and extra hot lattes!





Me and Reagan...thanks Aunt Heidi for the 'baby legs'!

At the fair waiting for the chinese acrobat show to start. It was a pretty great show and Marshall was trying to do acrobat moves for the next few days!

Just loved the pen behind the ear:)

Waiting for Keith Urban to play!

Keith Urban...he's actually pretty short! He is an incredible guitarist and Matt LOVED the concert. Yay for a great present!
Actual view from our seats...no zooming. Pretty sweet!

Blue eyes...

Matt and I both have brown eyes! No idea where my blue eyed children come from:)

no words...just eyes

Just another day...

So we've been staying home quite a bit lately. Matt and I have decided to try the 'envelope' system to keep ourselves on a tight budget and it's been a fun challenge to see how little money we can spend. I love challenges...I haven't had Starbucks in almost 2 weeks! Seriously how proud of me are you?!!
Anyways here's a few pics of our week!
Marshall snug in bed with his, BASKETBALL, how did that get there? Well before he went to sleep the little rascal got out of bed, got his basketball, got back in bed and tucked it under his little arm! So funny, I couldn't help but take a picture...

Chris and Reagan! She's a red-head!

Marshall helped me bake cookies the other day. He was very helpful! He's wanted to bake cookies everyday since then, go figure:)

Time for another hair-cut to get rid of that comb-over!

And last but not least I picked these gorgeous hydrangeas fresh from my backyard! Love fresh flowers!

Proof that I exist

I'm a list person. Sometimes when I make a list and forget to write something on it, I go back and write it on the list even if I've already accomplished it. I write it on there and cross it off right away! I like to see all that I've taken care of.
My world as a mom, while I'm definitely prone to listmaking, is chalk full of things I cannot cross off my list. I am never done with laundry, dishes, diapers, cleaning up spills, cleaning up Marshall, putting kids down for naps, consoling crying kids...you get the point. I am so thankful that I get to stay home with my kiddos and take care of all the things that go on in our household, but there is something about creating something and finishing it that makes me feel like there is proof that I exist! I started and finished something! For example...I just finished making a blanket for Marshall's big boy bed and I love it! I made a smaller version for Reagan before she was born but haven't put a picture of it up until now. I can't tell you how much satisfaction it brings me to know that my kids are using something that I made. Maybe I'm weird, I don't know, I don't really care I'm just happy to have finished my project and can't wait to start another one!

Reagan's first blanket!
Marshall's blanket...

Marshall enjoying his new special blanket!
My sweet Reagan girl...

"Bear bears"....also known as blueberries

It's blueberry season again and I LOVE fresh blueberries! Marshall's translation of blueberries is "bear bears".:) I love toddler language...
I had been a little nervous to take him because I wasn't sure how he would do. However, he did great and I think he might have picked a decent blueberry or two. He tried scooping them out of my bucket into his, little rascal, and I'm sure he ate several but who wouldn't expect a two-year-old to consume a few! Here a few pics of our time!
I think he was just being silly before a meal!

Marshall and daddy reading a Saturday morning story. Have any of you ever heard of the book "Skippy John Jones"? I can't read the book because it has the cat talking in a funny accent and I feel completely embarassed just trying to read it out loud to my child. Matt, however, thinks it's hilarious and did great! Also please note Marshall's doggie slippers...pretty sure it was 100 degrees that day!

And last but not least, Matt teaching Marshall about the construction of a block house:)

A vacation...kind of:)

My parents had been on a little trip to Hawaii this past week and so we decided to go and stay at their house for a couple days! We had been wanting to get away as a family for a bit and it was the perfect place to go. We got up there Tuesday afternoon and just spent most of the day hanging out. Marshall built with blocks (which he is enamored with currently), Reagan took a nap, not sure what Matt did:) and I made cookies. My parents came home late Wednesday night so I thought my dad would like a little chocolate chip cookie homecoming...I was right:)
On Wednesday we got up and headed downtown Portland to OMSI. We had never taken Marshall there and I can't even remember the last time I was there. Anyways they have this great area for kids 2-6 and Marshall had a blast. He play in the sandbox, built more blocks, and played in this stream type thing with boats. Check out his little water cape!
It wasn't a super long time but it was definitely quality time both for Matt and I and our family. I'm so thankful for my parents...they are so generous!
Things continue to be busy for us mostly with the church. Can't remember if I posted about out new building?! Anyways, the first of June we moved into a new building in Salem. The old place just wasn't meeting our needs any longer. We got more square footage, full time use and cheaper rent with the new building! It's been a TON of work as we've had to remodel several things on the place but people have really stepped up and helped out. We are LOVING the new place. God has definitely moved mountains to make this all become a reality. I think there are some pics on our website. www.outwardchurch.com
Okay until next time...enjoy the 100 + degree weather!

I love my job...

...as a mom! Some days being a mom is tiresome and draining...other days are refreshing. Today was one of the refreshing ones. We all slept in after a late night last night at the Haynes for a BBQ. I took the kids to Target and Costco to grab a few things today while Matt was working on his message. Then it was home for naps. Marshall just started taking naps in his "big boy" bed. He's gone down without a peep and hasn't even gotten out of his bed, he goes right to sleep. Honestly I cannot believe it. I've been dreading the whole transition to a toddler bed but he's done so great. I'm not ready to switch to nightime yet...I like knowing he won't get out while I'm sleeping:)
Anyways both the kiddos slept for a while this afternoon and I got to sit down and read a magazine! I did the dishes and laundry too, but a magazine...it was wonderful!
Then our wonderful babysitter Britney came over (Marshall calls her Britey) and Matt and I went on a date! Best Little Roadhouse, coffee and a walk...perfect date night! And here I sit, both kids in bed, just finishing up Law and Order, drinking my water and about to start working on a blanket I'm making for Marshall. Life is good...

I snuck in to check on him and I found him hanging off the bed! But sleeping none the less...

Ah my sweet little girl, she's smiling and talking all the time now.

Can't believe those blues!

Marshall at the Haynes house with his "weerbear". (That's his interpretation of wheelbarrow)

And lastly Marshall is sitting "just like daddy" on the couch with his keyboard. My dad fried his keyboard during a coffee spilling so he gave it to us so we can practice Marshall's letters. Marshall loves it. Thanks papa:)