When Fall is like Summer...

...you spend it outside!!!

We've been blessed with some really, REALLY nice weather this fall! It's been in the 70's this week still! :)

About a week or so ago we were playing outside and Tanner discovered something really fun.....

Oh wow - look what is under the grass!

Look Mama - DIRT!

If I stick my finger way down there - I can get a good clump!

This is so much fun...am I allowed to do this??

First Things First...

So - I'm sure you are all itching to see birthday photos but first things first! I haven't been good about updating the blog lately again...sorry about that! We've had a bummer thing happen - our storage unit with all our stuff got broken into and we lost a bunch of items - so we've been busy figuring that situation out. Yuck!

However, we have some super cute photos to share with you!! A few weeks ago we went to the pumpkin patch (Gull Meadow Farms in Richland) and introduced Tanner to pumkins and donuts! :) It was a gorgeous day - we had a great time! We'll have even more fun in the coming years - they have lots of rides and games for toddlers and older kids!

Here is Tanner sitting amongst the pumpkins!

Look what I found Mama - a STICK!!!

Our little pumkin:

A pensive moment:

Picnic Downtown with Nana!

Last week Thursday, Nana came down to Kalamazoo to visit! We went downtown and had a picnic in the park and then checked out the library and browsed the shops! We had a great time!! It's such a blessing to be able to spend time with family again!


Here we are having our picnic!

Nana can always get Tanner to giggle!

Thanks for a great day, Nana!

Summertime Fun!

Tanner has been loving the backyard at Grandpa and Grandma's house! He is always happy when we go outside and if he is being fussy inside - we just go outside and he's happy! He loves to sit in the grass and just play with it and with any leaves or sticks he finds. One of his favorite things is his cool new pool!! And he's discovered the joy of eating dirt...yikes!

Tanner loves the flowers and plants scattered along the deck!

This is his new sitting position! You'll find him more on his knees these days than on his bottom!

Here he is studying a flower (a zinnia, I believe!).

He is SO happy when he's outside!!!!

Whew - what a whirlwind!

Hi Everybody!

First of all - so sorry it's been over TWO months since we've updated this! Where does the time go?

Well - our lives have changed dramatically since the last time we posted. In what we've been calling a chaotic whirlwind - we've up and moved our family over 2000 miles away to Kalamazoo, Michigan. We left Portland in the middle of August. I flew home with my Mom and Tanner and then Steve, his Dad and brother-in-law drove the moving truck and car home. Since then, we've been trying to acclimate to life in the midwest - it's quite a bit different than the west coast!

There is a lot we miss about Portland - our friends, our church: Imago Dei, the amazing beauty of the Pacific NW, and lots of other unique things about the city we lived in for over 4 years! But we realize that there is a place for us here in Kalamazoo right now. Plus it is very nice to be with our Michigan family and friends again!

I had some great photos of Tanner 'helping' with the packing and such (inside a moving box and crawling into empty cupboards) but they are saved on our computer which is in storage. But we have some photos to share so you can see how our little guy is getting bigger! In less than a month he'll be one!!!!!

Here we are with our friends; Tim and Anna Czuk and their kids; Eliana, Kaspar, and Acacia. This was taken in front of our apartment when they came to inherit some of our houseplants! We miss you guys!!

Steve and Tanner taking a walk on Powell Butte - this was our last visit to the Butte before we moved. We used to go for walks up there almost every day since we moved to Portland - we certainly miss that!

Here we are in front of our apartment the day that my Mom, Tanner and I flew to Michigan. Our apartment is the upstairs unit (with the fan in the window).

And here is Tanner and I at the airport right before we flew to our new home:

Steve, his Dad and brother-in-law stopped at Mt. Rushmore on their trip back to Michigan:

Tanner and I by the truck the day after they arrived - this is in front of Steve's parent's home, where we are living for the time being.

Fourth of July!

Yes...I know - this is a bit belated for the 4th of July but I thought I would share some photos of our day!

It was a beautiful, warm, and sunny day so we went to the park for a picnic and some fun!!

But it started with playing drums with Daddy!


We tried the swings first - Tanner really liked it!!


Then he rode this crazy contraption - it kinda bounced and rocked. He seemed to like the handlebars!


Tanner is being patriotic - wearing the stars and stripes! His shirt says "Little Firecracker" - how appropriate!


Yummy! Picnics at the park are always good!


Scooting around on the blanket after he was done eating.

More Michigan Trip

Here are some more photos from our trip!!

Tanner met his Great-Aunt Mare (Grandma Mare),


His Great-Aunt Wilma (Grandma Toorn),


And his Uncle Branden!!


He played with fun new toys (TRUCKS!!!)


And one of Grandpa's BIG toys!


Tanner enjoyed spending lots of time with Auntie Kim!! She sure knows how to make him giggle!


He also met Mama's cousin Marsha, her two girls, Heidi in blue and Kayelyn in green as well as Julia (cousin Jon and Andrea's daughter - on the left).

And Mama's cousin Missy and her kids, Abigail (in picture below), Isaac (next photo) and Mikayla (third photo down).




After spending 4 days in Grand Rapids - we went to Kalamazoo! Here Tanner met his cousins Eric and Meghan and Uncle Dennis. He met his Uncle Scott too but I realized too late that I never got a photo with him. :( If any of you have one, I'd love a copy!!


Grandpa and Grandma had an open house so we got to see more people and Tanner got to meet Shea and Ella:


And Uncle Ryan!


Then we went to Uncle Dennis and Aunt Sheri's farm!



And got to spend some time with Aunt Sheri!


All in all - it was a fabulous time!! Thanks to everyone for making it so memorable!

One more smile for you!

Michigan Trip

Tanner and I had a wonderful trip to Michigan! Tanner was able to meet lots of new people and see some familiar faces again! Thanks to everyone for making our time in Grand Rapids and in Kalamazoo so special and memorable!

Here are some photos of our trip! There are more to come, too!

Tanner got to spend quality time with Nana and Grandpa:


And with Grandma and Grandpa:


He met Aunty Sarra (and Lucas :)!


He got to eat his food in the same highchair that Daddy used!!


Met Great-Grandma Root!


Tanner saw kitties for the first time - and got to pet them too! This is at Aunt Sheri and Uncle Dennis' farm!


And...he saw chickens for the first time!! He loved the clucking and flapping - it made him giggle!!