#change

(Jake and Ali when we moved here in front of our ward building)

Big changes in our ward boundaries.  BIG.  As in we lost 250 ward members.  As in our ward split into 3 different wards.  As in our youth program SHRUNK.  As in Jake was one of 10 Deacons and he is now one of 2.

Issaquah 5th ward members are now either a part of Robinswood ward, Highlands ward (us), or part of a brand new ward: Klahanie. 

Some interesting (unofficial) facts about the Highlands ward:

• We are some of the oldest people in the ward now.  No joke.  
• There are about 11 or 12 pregnant ladies and they all stayed in our ward.
• 2 children out of the 30+ in our nurseries left to the other wards.  Drew, along with about 8 others, will be joining the ranks in the next few months.
• Roughly 24% of the Highlands ward members own their home.  Everyone else is renting.
• The boundaries are extremely small--basically the Highlands and one other road.

Along with those changes, Steve was released from the Bishopric (Welcome back to the bench!) and called as the 2nd counselor in YM/Deacon's Quorum Advisor/Scoutmaster.  He and Jake and the other deacon are really excited about it.  And every other guy in the ward is really excited that they aren't the Scoutmaster.

Even though we will dearly miss those 250 people, and we might wonder how our young and small ward will do, change is good.  Especially inspired change.  I have no doubt that the message Heavenly Father wants me most to hear is, "Don't worry.  I've got this."

Ragnar 2013

It was my first Ragnar.

It was the first time meeting 4 of the 5 girls I ran with,

first time running 3 times in 24 hours,

first time running in the middle of the night,

first time ringing a cow bell to cheer for my teammates (and anyone else that we passed!!),

first time "sleeping" on a gym floor,

and first time living out of a minivan...

It will not be my last Ragnar,

and it won't be the last time I see these awesome ladies!!

 

July 19-20, 2013

Blaine to Langley, WA
196 miles

sunny times

We spent a sunny week in Sunnyside doing the same sunny stuff we always do..
a little shopping, swinging, sword-fighting, and riding in Grandpa's wheels.

 We had more sunny faces than we usually do this time.  Yay for Colorado cousins who came, too!!

 

And although Emmy had just broken her arm, it didn't stop her from participating in the first annual Cousin Races in the backyard...

 or from swimming in the City pool that Grandpa always rents for us when we're there.

She even got some special time with Grandma while everyone else went out on the boat with Uncle Gary. 

 Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for a really sunny week!

 

 Until next time...

the traveler

Drew was a trooper on this very looong (30 hour round trip) drive to California and back.  Actually, so were we as our main job (if you weren't driving) was to entertain the sweet little guy who has never been in love with his carseat or slept very long or very well in the car.

Here he is on the floor at the IHOP in Fairfield, California.  Just 45 minutes away from our final destination (for the evening) of Oakland.  This is actually kind-of a low point for Drew.

Here are some things we found to keep Drew busy in the car between his short naps, pit stops, and tantrums. 

Sweet little guy.

And speaking of an amazing traveler...

I am proud to say, our 2006 Ford (not cool) Freestar traveled in temperatures of up to 114 degrees carrying 3 bikes on the back, a jogger and a baby bike seat on top, and 6 people inside--all the while playing DVDs, charging ipads and iphones, supporting a GPS, AND cranking out cool air.  I mean, talk about AMAZING. 

Sweet little thing.

girl stuff

1 day before we left for California, Ali got her ears pierced.

3 days after we got home from California (today), Emmy broke her arm.

What can I say?  Girls will be girls.

a city FHE

A beautiful place for Family Night

We had our lesson in here:

Our activity here:

And had this for a treat:

It's nice to see things from a different place now and then.

3 cheers...

for Donner Donner Donner

fun fun fun

water water water

fireworks fireworks fireworks

 

cousins cousins cousins

 

love love love

family family family

stamina stamina stamina

 

cuteness cuteness cuteness

June 30-July 6, 2013

o.o.s.g.

Our Old Stomping Grounds

We pulled into Oakland late Friday night, June 28th.   Saturday morning, we had breakfast in Walnut Creek with our old friends, the Isoms.  We go back a long way!  Tonya and I had our first babies just two weeks apart.

That afternoon we ate lunch at the San Ramon In 'n Out and then swam at one of our favorite pools there.

That night we had dinner at the San Francisco Creamery with the Lyons in Walnut Creek.

Another family we started out with in Walnut Creek 14 years ago.

Walnut Creek has changed a lot, we have changed a lot, and our friends have had some changes, too.  But it was good to be back with old friends in our old "home" and realize some things just stay the same.