Trip to CALIFORNIA - July 2 - Day 1 and 2.

The first day we drove 12 hours (with kids) to Medford. OR.

We forgot to take pictures that day.

Due to some delays we didn't leave Ferndale, WA until 10am and after an uneventful drive (thankfully) we arrived in Medford at 10pm. 

Matthew on the floor.

Ethan on the floor.

The first day was cloudy and good driving weather (in my books), the second day was HOT!!!

37 degrees!!! - We were very thankful for air conditioning!!!

Here we are at one fuel stop.  I had a very handsome YOUNG man fill up my tank for me - he even came to the window and gave me a kiss!!!  In my vehicle (most times) I had Aleana and Nadia - very good travel companions. 

Here is the second vehicle in our entourage.  Michelle and her son Dylan.

Michelle is a great driver. 

Here you can see the truck that Will was driving for TriVan. 

Nadia was quite happy for MOST of the time.  What a blessing!!!

Even the back of the trucks had seats so sometimes the boys would travel in there too.

Man, is it getting hot, time for some shades!!

BEA - U - tiful blue skies.

Here we are at our lunch stop.  Only 5 more hours of driving!!! 

I still can not believe that I drove for two days straight.  Having good company definitely made it easier.

I can knock that feat off my bucket list now.

I think we are in Mt. Shasta  at a park. Remember that it's 37 degrees!!!

From the inside of Will's truck.

We delivered the trucks in Sacramento at 5:30 and then getting out of there was crazy!!

We didn't get to our restaurant outside of the city until 7:30!!! 

Another long day with us getting to the hotel in San Francisco at 10pm. 

At least Will drove for that part and I could close my eyes alittle. 

The nausea was my friend the entire trip (had a puke pail beside me the whole way) but I think driving gave me something to focus on instead of throwing up.  Once I stopped driving - everything went downhill.  I saw alot of toilet bowls in California :(. 

Yuck!!! On the up side everyone else had a good time and it was and is all for a good reason for which we continue to be very thankful for and do not take for granted.     

It was Peter's turn to be on the floor :). 

Some July Sewing with Aleana

Here are the blocks that we made with ~190 squares.  We ended up with ~50 four patch squares in the end.  I decided that it would be easier and less chance of being off if I sewed in blocks instead of rows.  

I have NEVER done a quilt bigger than a crib quilt so a KING size is just a tad daunting. 

I am thinking that I will quilt it in sections (most likely two halves) and then sew the sections together using biased tape. With me (and Aleana helping) you never know what is coming around the corner as far as a quilt goes and that's what I find fun about it. 

These pieces of embroidery were done by Will's Grandma Faber on pillowcases for her hope chest.  I received four of them from Will's Mom.  The pillowcases are thread bare now so what I plan to do is embroider applique them onto our bed quilt on the white/cream squares. 

Here's all the four patch squares together.  I will be added a 5 inch border around the edge as well. 

Isn't it pretty. 

Oh and in case anyone reading this remembers - these blue charms are from the quilt retreat we had 3 or 4 years ago.  It's taken awhile but it's getting there.  I will keep you updated!!!

Here's a picture of Button (Peter's moniker for the little one) at 13 weeks. 

Button is due on Valentine's Day!!!

It's exciting but seeing how ALL our babies are 1-2 weeks over due I am not getting my hopes up.

We are very thankful to the LORD for this blessing and are looking forward to seeing Button in due time.  

The Dean's Award

At the end of June - last day the kids had school actually, Will, Nadia, Peter and I went to BCIT. 

I was blessed to take that flower arrangement home - so pretty!!!

I was having trouble getting the picture below to behave so I can't caption it.  It's Will recieving the Dean's Award from the Dean of the Technology and Business Degree Program.

The Dean and Program Head marvelled at how well behaved our children were - seriously.  These comments always make me laugh because as parents we always seem to focus more on their faults and think the worst so it's good we actually take them out in public and people can compliment us - it's a good reality check :). 

Will with the Program Head, Terry Suen and the Assistant Program Head.  They were so impressed with Will and our large family - they were very kind to us.  Isn't that amazing?

One of two awards Will recieved.

Here he is recieving an award for outstanding achievement in his program from Terry Suen.

Here's a shot from their website to show the luncheon set up. 

The food was yummy but hard to enjoy because I was so nauseous.

You can see us sitting at the table in the middle left.

The Program Head, Terry Suen wanted a picture of us with her for their website. 

It's a blessing that Will has become a good example to others - especially our children.  Ethan wants to do his post-secondary at BCIT now and work alongside his Dad. - isn't that great?   

We are very thankful to the LORD that Will could finish so well and put his talents to good use.

Will has taught me alot about perseverance (I am so thankful for his example to me) but the LORD has taught me even more how to rely on Him in everything - financially, spiritually and physically.  It was not always easy but the LORD never left us and He has blessed us in so many different ways since. 

Praise be to the LORD and only to His Name!!!  

Peter's June Diary



Hi my name is Peter!  If you saw me today you would see that I look different now because my Mom cut my hair really short.  Here are some pictures I took in June.   



Here's my Mom getting up from a little lie down on the couch - she does that every day.  Now that the baby is coming, she get's very tired and she seems to be in the bathroom alot. She doesn't always look this funny, she's just fixing her hair. 

Here's my little sister Nadia - I love her alot and we get along pretty good.

She likes her soother when she wakes up - it makes her happier.

She likes to roll on the ground with me - we wrestle.

Here, as you can tell I am on the counter.  I'm not really suppose to be up here.  Okay, I'm not allowed to at all.  Nadia wants to come up too.  That would be fun!!  You can see Mom's feet in the corner but I don't think she sees me yet - tehe.

Hey! Nadia where are you going? 

Oh you are going for the strawberries!  Good choice while Mom still doesn't see us.  Maybe she is sleeping while she is standing up hay?

There I am with my older brother Matthew - we like to build things together and then fight about whose is the best or who broke the other's.  We do play without fighting for quite awhile though so Mom \

tries to understand that and loves us anyway.

That's my Oma - she's 80!!!  She sure doesn't act like it though.  

We always make plays for her and she thinks they are great.

There's my sister Nadia again.  Isn't she amazing with the tower she built?  Okay, maybe I built it but we're having fun together.  I think I will miss her alittle bit in September when I go to Kindergarden. 

I wonder if she will miss me?