Dedication Day

We just had our youngest dedicated at church this past Sunday.  We videotaped the event, but there was a smudge on the camera lens which we didn't see until AFTERward (unfortunate)... AND both older children behaved horribly up at the front of church during the dedication ceremony (annoying).  So, who knows if the actual video will be shared!  Maggie did pose nicely in her dedication dress for some pictures after church, showing her comedienne side as always.  What a ham.

Marshall Express

I know these pictures are a little bit blurry, but I think they're still adorable: our three kiddos playing train in the living room.  I don't think Maggie's smile could be any happier. 

 

First Days of School

My two oldest have both started the next chapters in their lives: Jack is a kindergartener and Kate is a preschooler!  Kate is in the Tigers class at Bright Beginnings on Wednesday and Friday mornings.  So far, she's doing well.  Each week they have a theme, so it's fun to hear her come home and put those themes into practice: "Come on, Maggie, let's play Camping!"

Jack is in Mrs. Lee's class at Fairacres, the same school that Brian went to.  I was a little worried about him on the bus, but he turned out to be a bus-riding pro.  He has two friends from his class who also take his route (even though he doesn't ever remember their names!), and they all sit in the row right behind the bus driver.  Phew.  Unfortunately, he's already missed three days of school due to a fever... but. hopefully, the sick days are over for awhile!  Words cannot express how unbelievably proud I am of him.  And how I really, really would love to be a fly on the wall of his classroom... but, I guess, there's a time in every kid's life when his/her mama realizes she has to let him go!

The Fun Baby Book

My favorite hobbies as a kid?  Reading stacks of books... and then writing my own.  Jack seems to be following in my footsteps.  He loves drawing elaborate pictures and then dictating the story to me so we can put a book together.  His latest creation was titled "The Fun Baby Book."  It didn't really turn out to be a "baby" book, but it is fun to see he's thinking about.  For all who'd like to take a read, I present:

The cover

People had a race and then they were too tired to race anymore, so they went inside and they slept and they got a drink of water and they came outside again and raced for forty days and forty nights."

The fire is burning a building down that is still being built up.  But will the firemen ever put the fire out?  Yes, they will.  They put it out fast and then they go home.

A boat crashed the land and it flew out to sea and it crashed another boat in the face.  It kept doing that until it wanted to go back to land.

The Transformer dump truck transformed into a dump truck that's standing on one wheel and dumped dirt into a pile and crunched it up because it was too big of rocks and they made a road.

Idaho, So Far

My dad with Kate and Maggie.  He likes taking them on walks (especially as babies) and showing them the birds and flowers.  Think he's especially proud of himself for teaching Mags to say "flower."

After church, the five Gibler grandkids: Avi, Loie, Kate, Jack, and Maggie

My Uncle Greg and Aunt Carol have a chicken coop in their yard in Kooskia.

Kate is always willing to oblige my wish for a good action shot.  I'm pretty sure she jumped off this picnic bench for me at least ten times.

A friendly, free-range horse that ran up to meet us in the hills above Kooskia

Jack and Kate making "funny faces" for Uncle RJ at Lenore

I have so many childhood memories from Lenore.  So glad I was able to take my own kids there (even though the water was waaaay too cold to take a swim).

Kate all wrapped up in a beach towel after a swim in Lake Coeur d'Alene

Jack and Kate showing off their patriotic sides during the 4th of July parade in the tiny village of Johnson, Washington

Cousins Kate and Loie eating ice cream and being sassy together on the front porch

Another one of the five grandkids, this time at Hells Gate

Not sure why, but I just love this picture

In Grangeville.  Maggie seems a little perplexed by the dinosaur.

A gathering at TT and Uncle RJ's house gave us an opportunity to get these sweet three- and almost-three-year-old girls together: Kate, Amelie, Sara, and Loie

Maggie at my very favorite beach in the world: Buffalo Eddy

Me and my beautiful kids at Buffalo Eddy

Another one of me and the kids, riding on the gondola overlooking the falls near in Spokane

At the big red Radio Flyer wagon slide at Riverfront Park in Spokane

The Girls' "Under the Sea" Birthday Party

Fish and chips

PB & jellyfish sandwiches

Octopi (lil' smokies with eight legs cut into them, wrapped in cresent roll dough and baked.  Quite yummy!)

Octopus dip

Fishing bait

The birthday cupcakes

An overcrowded pool!

Pin-the-tail-to-the-whale

Brian and I put this together!  A pirate and mermaid cut-out.  We had a lot of fun with it. 

My in-laws, being silly.

Cake time!

 

 

Maggie's first cupcake

This thing is AWESOME!