School's Out for Summer!

 We are so excited for summer to begin!!  It is a different kind of last day of school for us as it's Erika's last day at Crater Elementary.  On to middle school for her next year!

Last Day of School - June 2018

First Day of School - September 2012

Healthy Kids Running Series

 The kids participated in a five-week running series in April and May.  Each Sunday, they would meet and run a race.  Levi's age group ran 1/4 mile, Laurel ran 1/2 mile and Erika ran a full mile.  They did very well!  It was so much fun watching them run each week and improve each time.  Laurel came in first place each week...sometimes by 10 seconds!  It was incredible to watch!  Levi usually came in about 4th and Erika was the second girl to cross the finish line.  She ran with boys as well (Levi's age group separated boys and girls) and she ran with a friend of hers from school who really pushed and challenged her.  After the first race, Erika wasn't sure if running was for her, but she shaved two minutes off her time and by the end was really looking forward to running the mile!  We are so proud of them for trying something new and a healthy lifestyle they can keep with them for years.

Church Family Camp

The kids and I had a blast at our church family retreat at Camp Yamhill this past weekend.  Matt had to stay home with Griffey because he is too little to leave home alone for long.  But hopefully next year he will join us.  We went out Friday night in time for a hamburger dinner.  We had a guest speaker who did an amazing job encouraging us with a discipling mindset.  The kids participated in a "no talent" show.  Laurel did a cartwheel routine with her friend and Levi told a riddle.  On Saturday, we had more classes, games, and ended with a zip line.  We were so blessed to spend a beautiful weekend with our church family who loves us.  I am so glad the kids get to have all ages of people in their lives who value and support them.  God has truly blessed our lives with our church family.

Laurel did the "cookie face" challenge and won!  She was the first person to get a Chips Ahoy cookie from her forehead to her mouth only using her face muscles.  She was a rock star!

Erika tried knocking over plastic cup pyramid with a Nerf gun.  On her first shot, the pyramid fell down on top of itself in a beautiful motion!

Levi tried his hand at Jedi training.  He had to go against two other people and hit them with a pool noodle while blindfolded before they hit him.  He got out first but loved it.

The highlight was probably the zip line.  They all went down it and had a blast!  Erika had done the zip line two years ago but it was the first time for Laurel or Levi.  On the way down, Levi somehow managed to clip a tree branch with his helmet.  He brought the broken branch home with him for memories.