Thanksgiving

Posted from Instagram:
Grateful. For all of it.
Today we went four wheeling in Tillamook and I snuck off into a little grove of trees. The further into the forest I walked, the heavier the silence blanketed my heart. Soon it was just me, my thoughts, and beautiful Oregon. In that moment I saw everything as it really was, and I was overcome with gratitude for a Heavenly Father who has never abandoned me, and has blessed me so immensely. I thought about my husband and my kids. I thought about the ups and downs, the hopes and doubts, the joys and pains, the lessons learned and the ones I'm still learning. I embraced the many warm, happy moments in my mind where I felt encompassed by love from heaven. I considered the hard experiences that have propelled me to a deeper place or understanding and love for others. I couldn't count my blessings because they felt innumerable, so I just kind of gave them a mental hug and launched a thank you prayer to my Heavenly Father. I felt the spirit whisper to my heart, "This is life. And it is good." And it is.
I'm choosing to be grateful, for *all* of it.
#thanksgiving2018
And not to ruin the spirit of this post, but we also had a wall ball tournament in which I beat e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e,💃👊 beating young children at a game I bombed in elementary definitely made the highlight reel (coming close behind the mashed potatoes and gravy and William eating everything on his plate....even if all he dished up was sweet potatoe casserole.)

Monday at Sauvie Island

Monday morning I packed up my crew for a day on the Columbia river. Sauvie Island is seriously dreamy. As soon as we crossed the bridge, we were affronted by ideallic pastures, farms, and streams. It was a peaceful step from civilization and it took  me back to Idaho in a comforting way. We passed pumpkin patches and sunflower fields, and I sensed summer's end approaching with a content anticipation. It's been a great summer and we are excited for school start!  The Sauvie Island beach (the non-nude one, of course) was one of the funnest places for my family.  It is only a thirty minute drive away, making it an easier trip than the coast. The Columbia River separates Washington and Oregon. It is a strong, large,  beautiful river and Sauvie Island is in the middle of it. Kids under 16 are required to wear life jackets, which eased my mind, and to be honest,  stressed me out! I don't have strong swimmers yet, and I was so nervous my little adventurers would push boundaries and drown, or get swept away and float their way to the Pacific Ocean (the last one is completely irrational, but you never know! I mean- right??) I tried to be brave and chill, as all the other (more seasoned) moms were pretty confident, but I did make sure to pull my oldest two aside and gravely say: "if you drown, you will die." (Just to be sure they knew what was on the line here, and to scar them from truly enjoying the water.) Luckily any admonition I ever give them seems to have a short shelf life. As they got comfortable exploring limitations, I did realize I was over reacting and they were going to be OK in their life jackets. There were a lot of older kids watching out while they swam too, which helped.

We were there five hours and it was seriously the best way to spend the day. We swam, played in sand, explored the shore line, picked berries, climbed trees, and even got the courage to jump off the wood posts! I met a lot of new people and by the time we left, I felt so uplifted.

I love these two pictures of Matthew! He was so cute playing in the sand with Tonka trucks, and he felt so adventurous whenever He stood in the water up to his knees.

There were these huge boats that would stream by and cause massive wakes. All the kids ran to the water and squealed as they bobbed up and down in the mini waves. They'd cheer for the boats. It was so delightful to watch. Johnny always had to be one of the farthest out- he is fearless; I love it and hate it! Caity was right out there with him though. 

 Here's Caity and Johnny after a failed attempt to jump from this wonky (do I call it a dock?) Wood-post-thing. They got half way when they remembered their crazy-mom telling them if they drown, they die. I will say, glad they got more comfortable before they actually took the plunge.

 Here's kids watching the boat, waiting for the wakes. William is in the red life jacket, Johnny is that far little head in the distance then you can see Caity and Matthew up close.  There were about 60 kids just bobbing in the water- really something so childlike and magical witnessing it all. Matthew was standing on the shore, not sure what to do in all the excitement. I ran up and grabbed him from under his arms and jumped through the waves with him. His instant delight was so gratifying. He was giggling so loud.  I promised myself to never forget that moment and how happy motherhood makes me.

Johnny and Caity finally got courage to jump! I was so proud of them. (And grateful for their supportive friends who believed in them but didn't pressure them.)

This kind of stuff makes me oddly emotional. It's like I get to witness these little souls evolve into their own persons as they take risks and feel the joy of successes.

I don't have pictures of William! He was a busy little bee playing in the water, burying friends in sand, and asking me to hold his sandwich while he took bites so not get sand on it.

Again- it was simply a magical August day. 

We spent five hours playing with friends and left anticipating when we could bring our dad back with us.

Oceanside Beach

We moved to Portland with exactly one month of summer before school started for the older kids. I remember making a deliberate goal that my kids would have Oregon memories of summer.  I know that doesn't seem like a big deal now that I am writing it out, but it was. It meant really getting out of my comfort zone quickly. Before feeling settled in, I wanted to act settled in so my kids would have a strong foundation of our life here when starting school.  This meant saying "yes" to everything, no matter how much out of my comfort zone it made me. 

We really ended last summer right: park dates, zoo trips, beach trips, soccer games, library visits, bike rides, hikes, picnics, making friends with random people at the park/library/MAX station...it was a busy last month. I'll be honest, it was hard for me at first. I have become somewhat of an introvert over the last few years, so getting together with groups of people I didn't really know really stressed me out. I did however feel like it needed to be done. It wasn't only a goal with myself, but one I took to the Lord, and I know I was really blessed in my efforts.  My kids were able to make a strong foundation of friends much quicker than normal, their confidence grew, and we made some memories that have buoyed me in depressive moments.

The following pictures were from our last Friday night of the summer. Earlier in the week, I went with a group of friends to Oceanside Beach and seriously fell in love. It was breathtaking.  It was my favorite beach I had been to so far. So when John got home early that Friday at five, we bee-lined it to Tillamook so he could experience it with us.

It was such a perfect night and really, a fitting cap to a magical summer.

Then, here a couple of pictures from when I went with the kids earlier in the week:

Matthew and my favorite game is to get his hands dirty then I carry him out to the waves and carry him in just a way so his hand can get clean.  Then I will hold under his arms while his stands in the ocean and when little waves come I swing him up to jump over them. Then, when a big wave comes, we both run away as fast as we can. I know, the same game everyone plays- but does everyone get to listen to Matthew's little laugh??

Silver Falls in November

Fall is still going strong here in Oregon. And by strong, I suppose I mean it is holding on with all its might.  Instead of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows among the green, there is more purples, browns and mustards. Instead of  looking up for the colorful foliage, we are looking down at the crunching leaves blanketing the walk ways.  Instead of warm autumn breezes, we bundle against brisk currents of wind warning of winter coming.

Our trip to Silver Falls last weekend really did me in for what a perfect fall this has been in Oregon.

Silver Falls was absolutely gorgeous and such a fun little hike for our family. It was freezing, so we didn't last long enough to explore all the waterfalls we wanted, but I still can't get over the magnificence we saw. I'm sorry, but I will never get over walking right under a waterfall...like ever.

I think my very favorite moments were John racing William and Matthew, Johnny exploring all the caves behind the waterfall, and the moss on all the rocks and vegetation.

It was truly breath taking!

The pictures are all out of order, but you'll get a general idea. :)

Upper Silver Falls

Walking behind the waterfall.

That's me. Walking. And Caity.

Getting ready to start our adventure! 

I mean, that moss!? Right?

Always time for an awkward selfie.

Oh Wills, I just love you.

I legit stink at taking pictures. Like, when other tourists ask me to take one for them...it always gets awkward because if they knew what I knew about my skills, they would not ask me.

Oh Johnny-boy! (Note the superman paraphernalia. Always.)

We're BATS!

Strike a pose, Sister-friend!

Give me all the heart emojis.

There were all these beautiful little caves up in the cliff that Johnny acquainted himself with! At one he was naming all his imaginary bat friends from when he was five, "Casserole? Stinky? Tommy? Tommy? (the twins...)"

Us. :) And Matthew's little-not-so-little cheeks.

Nope, no bears.

So much power!

Mom take a picture. Seriously mom- take a picture. Mom! Stop and take a picture of me. Wait, what should I do. This. How about this? Yeah. Take it. Thanks, that was a good one right? Why is it so blurry?

(Because I STINK at taking pictures.)

But I did take this one...sooo....that's something. The boys were racing leaves down the river.

A hallowed out stump.

Awkward selfie game is strong.

John and both thought there was something so beautifully symbolic about this tree and its last hanging leaves. So gorgeous.

John is the cutest dad ever.

Behind the waterfall.

aaaannd...I had to include this because DID YOU KNOW that Oregon has like ten Christmas trees to every person!? Heck yes! We drove by thousands of  acres of Christmas tree farms and I about died. It was so beautiful. This helicopter was lifting bundles of Christmas trees into these trucks to transport for wrapping. So cool. 

Maybe I let my Christmas heart get a little too excited a little before Thanksgiving. :)