Friday, November 29, 2013

Merry Christmas!

From Christmas Card 2013
2013 has been a busy year for the Stavenger family, but what year isn't? We hope this comes to you having a good year and with blessings in your 2014.

From Christmas Card 2013
This year Meredith turned six and started the first grade! Her favorite subject in school is math. She's even taught herself multiplication and has had her Daddy help with fractions. When not in school, Meredith likes her gymnastics class, especially when she gets to practice on the bars. She loves her backwards hip circles! She continues piano lessons and is already playing some songs on her own. Meredith's year of learning even includes riding her bike without training wheels. What fun!

From Christmas Card 2013
Theodore has been a busy four year old this year. He's getting ready for kindergarten next year by already knowing how to read! When he's not reading a book, Theodore loves playing with his monster trucks and Legos. Especially his Ninjago and Chima Lego sets! Theo is taking gymnastics classes too, where he really likes swinging around on the pommel horse all by himself. He is taking piano lessons and has just started playing some songs with the help of his Daddy. Soon he'll be a piano master and playing his own concerts!

From Christmas Card 2013
This year Emmaline turned three and is trying to keep up with her brother and sister by learning her letters and numbers. She enjoys going to gymnastics where she is now in a class by herself where Mama does not have to help. She is starting piano lessons and knows her highs and lows and how to hold her hands on the keys. Emmaline loves singing, whether it be in church, at Sunday School, or at home.

From Christmas Card 2013
Say hello to the newest member of our family, Trinity! We got her as a puppy in September from the local Humane Society. We're not really sure what breed she is, but she sure is pretty! Trinity's favorite things to do are play fetch and beg for lots of lovin's! She will lay down and let anyone scratch her belly!

From Christmas Card 2013
Mollie has been very busy helping the kids grow and keeping the home running smoothly! She continues her knitting projects, with new commissioned work for pay! Though the work takes a while with running around after the kiddos. She loves helping the kids learn by taking them to gymnastics class each week and introducing them to new ideas. She helps at church with the youth group, teaches the high school Sunday School class, and runs the sound board during some services. She ran her first 5k since Emmaline was born at Augie's homecoming, and even tough she hurt her foot, she hopes to continue running races next year after she heals.

From Christmas Card 2013
Timothy continues his work at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as a software engineer. He currently works on cyber security, gamma spectroscopy analysis, and system integration software. He also leads an effort to help improve software engineering at the lab with the latest software tools and best practices. Timothy loves watching his kids grow and spending time helping them learn, especially teaching them music to sing and play. He helps with the music at church where he started a new contemporary service. Timothy also enjoys photography, and when he isn't kept busy chasing after the kids or working, he's often trying to take the kids' pictures. If his year wasn't already busy, Timothy started commuting to work by bike this summer. He so far is a fair weather commuter, though, as he has chosen to drive once the weather turned colder and the daylight became shorter.

As a family, we enjoyed several summer camping trips to the mountains and Columbia River Gorge. In February we went on another winter wonderland trip to Holden Village. The kids love being outside and enjoy the hikes, even if they are kept short for their short legs. We got to take a trip out to the Oregon coast to visit with Mollie's family, we all went to Minnesota for Timothy's sister's wedding, and have had grandparents visit too!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2014!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Mama, We Don't Need a Dog!

From Emmaline Ruth 2 years
See, wee already have a dog in the house! :D

You may think you want a dog, but we already have one. Didn't you say once that you wanted a dalmatian?

From Emmaline Ruth 2 years
Mama, you can even pet me! :X

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Happy Father's Day (and no more days)!

From Meredith Jane 5 Years
When Mama's away for the last day, we all love on our Daddy! The kiddos even let me take pictures of us together!

From Theodore 4 Years
Even my mini-me loves on Daddy and lets me dress him in a nice shirt for Sunday! I think he liked the idea of looking like his Daddy. :)

From Emmaline Ruth 2 years
I even let the littlest one choose what she wears ;)

From Emmaline Ruth 2 years
Just as long as she keeps giving me loves :D

Saturday, June 15, 2013

One More Day to Play (not counting today)

From Theodore 4 Years
Tomorrow Mama comes home, but we may not see her until Monday because she might get home after our bedtime :(

Today we did all sorts of fun things. We helped Daddy dust the house & mail some letters. Then we went to the neighborhood park where we played on the monkey bars, climbed all around, slid down the slides, and even played hide & seek. Emmaline needs some pointers on hiding behind trees, don't you think?

From Theodore 4 Years
Later we went to the library, sorted & folded socks, and talked to our Aunt Becky, Uncle Jesse, Grandma & Grandpa (but not all at the same time)! We even snuck in some time to play with our toys!

Phew!! What a full & fun today!

Friday, June 14, 2013

Only Two More Days (to be silly)!

From Meredith Jane 5 Years
In two days Mama comes home, that means we better get our sillies out now!

From Theodore 4 Years
So we're practicing our silliest faces and our silliest moves.

From Emmaling Ruth 2 years
Because, you know, Daddy's the silly one and Mama is the serious one, of course! ;)

Thursday, June 13, 2013

We Love You So Much! (three days to go!)

From Theodore 4 Years
We love our Mama so much!

Meredith says, "I love you because you hug me and play with me."

Theodore says, "I love you because you play with me."

Emmaline says, "I love you because I love you!"

From Theodore 4 Years
We can't wait to see you soon!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Four Days and Counting

Mollie left on a church youth retreat today. She'll be back Sunday evening. That means Daddy-kiddo time for 5 days (and 3 workdays with a good friend). We now have 4 days to go.

What four things are you going to do when Mama gets home?

From Meredith Jane 5 Years
I am going to play with her, and I am going to paint with her. I am going to play gymnastics with her, and I am going to color with her.

From Theodore 4 Years
I am going to play gymnastics with her and I will tell her that I love her and give her kisses. I want to play checkers with her too.

From Emmaling Ruth 2 years
I will play with her, tell her "I love you," play in the playroom, and play in our bedrooms.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Here I come, 1st Grade!

From Meredith Jane 5 Years
My last day of school started the same way the first did.

From Meredith Jane 5 Years
Walking (running) to the bus stop!

From Meredith Jane 5 Years
Here I am getting ready to go to class on my first day.

From Meredith Jane 5 Years
And now I'm ready to go to school today. It will be FUN!

From Meredith Jane 5 Years
It was a GREAT year! Mama, Daddy, Theo, Emmaline and I even went out to dinner to celebrate. I can't wait until next year!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Cannon Beach

From Cannon Beach
We went to Cannon Beach, Oregon last weekend. It was SO MUCH FUN! We of course went to the beach (and saw Haystack Rock).
From Cannon Beach
We also saw Multnomah Falls! They are HUGE!
From Cannon Beach
We saw sea anemone.
From Cannon Beach
And lots, and lots of sea stars!
From Cannon Beach
We swung on swings!
From Cannon Beach
And swung...
From Cannon Beach
And SWUNG!!!
From Cannon Beach
And best of all, we got to see our family! Thanks for coming to Cannon Beach!

The future

From Meredith Jane 5 Years
I foresee "danger" in my future...

From Emmaling Ruth 2 years
And mischief...

From Cannon Beach
And silliness...

I think Mollie and me have our hands and hearts full!

Hells Gate State Park

From Meredith Jane 5 Years
We went camping at Hells Gate State Park in May. We played on the playground.
From Hells Gate State Park
Swung on the swings.
From Hells Gate State Park
Slid down the slides.
From Hells Gate State Park
Honed our orienteering skills!
From Hells Gate State Park
Went on hikes to see cool rocks and learn about how Lewis & Clark made it to the Pacific Ocean!

Four

From Theodore 4 Years
I turned four in April! And I got a football!
From Theodore 4 Years
And my family & friends celebrated with me!
From Theodore 4 Years
I even blew out all of my candles, after a couple of tries.
From Theodore 4 Years
Anyone recognize the hat?

Easter

From Easter 2013
Not much to report for Easter, but we did go to an Easter egg hunt, where we made cool crafts!
From Easter 2013
Like multicolor eggs!
From Easter 2013
It was fun!