I really like the picture of Dave and I.  Normally, neither one of us are particularly photogenic, but this one is great.  

 

L to R:  Sarah, Me ( Andrea), Dave holding Porter, Jayson and Sasha.  This was taken at Steilacoom's Sunnyside Beach.  It was freezing cold, but the pictures turned out nice despite the temperatures.  We will be getting new family pictures in August after Heather has her sweet new baby, and after Sasha gets home from college.  I can't wait to see how those ones will be. 

Almost two years since my last blog post!

It is time to update this blog again.  It has been way too long since I did it, and for that I am sorry.  Enjoy the walk down memory lane. 

Our family in Juneau, Alaska, September 2012

 

My mom, Linda, Sasha and I kissing Sasha in her graduation picture. Picture taken October 2012

Cousin Lauren, Sarah, Cousin Megan, and Grandma Linda Paul visiting from Chicago area October 2012

Jayson earned his Eagle Scout Award in December 2012, but had his Eagle Ceremony in February 2013

Porter...such a blessing to our family.  Isn't he adorable?

Sasha graduated from Lakes High School, June 17, 2013.  So proud of her.  Love this girl so much.

Jayson, Sasha, and Sarah on a Pioneer Trek in August 2012. They trekked up near Cle Elem Washington on forest roads.

Sasha was invited to Washington DC to participate in the National Restaurant Association Food Exhibit, September 2012

Our family had a great time when we visited Chicago.  We were visiting Grandma Linda Paul and Aunt Kissy and Uncle Tom and their girls.  We had a great time.  We were there in July 2011. We also visited Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Nauvoo, Illinois.  Can't wait to go back and visit all those places and people again.

Three months have gone by!

Since I am so BAD for not posting more often on this blog.....I think I need to repent and get this thing updated.  Here are a few things that have happened since my last blog posting...in no particular order:

• Started and finished a Psychology course. Got a 4.0 grade.  It was super hard, but I did learn a lot
• Registered for winter quarter: Taking a Special Ed class and then a math/science for children class
• Sasha started 11th grade; Jayson started 8th grade
• Daycare finally got full in September...now it is down to only half way again....gotta get more kids here starting in January.
• Dave worked in Moses Lake, WA twice for a week each time.  Sure miss him when he is gone.
• Sarah started a new job.  She works for a company that makes those Keurig coffee cup things. 

We are blessed with a great life....we keep busy, but there is not anything specific to write about.  

Family History, I am doing it!

 Sarah and her awesome accordion!  What awesome talent she has!

 Marriage certificate of Sarah's great grandparents Leland and Florence Paul

 Wedding picture of Florence and Leland Paul.  Isn't this a beautiful picture?  I love how love looks on them.

 Wedding picture of Linda and Jim Paul, Sarah's grandparents.  Aren't they super cute?

 Jim Paul's high school graduation picture

 Leland and Florence Paul, Sarah's great grandparents.  He died right before Sarah was born in 1989, and she died this May, 2011

 LaVerne and Art Dart's wedding picture.  Such a beautiful picture.

 Art and LaVerne Dart, Sarah's great grandparents.  Art died in 2007 (I think).

 LaVerne and Sarah

 Grandma Linda and Sarah.  Sure love them BOTH!

When we were on our trip to Chicago, we drove up to Casco Wisconsin to visit with Sarah's great grandma and visit with Great Aunts, Great Uncles, and extended cousins.   Casco is about 20 minutes outside of Green Bay Wisconsin.  We had a blast.  It is always fun to be with family.  They welcomed Dave and I and the kids with open arms.  I love them and can't wait to visit them again soon.

Chicago's Great America: June 27,2011

 Sasha and Superman

 Sarah and Superman

 Andrea and Superman

 Sasha getting her hair wrapped.

 Sasha's hair almost done being wrapped. 

 Sarah's hair being wrapped. 

 Ouch!  Even with sunscreen, the Chicago Sun is mean to our bodies.  I hate to think of what it would have looked like without the sunscreen.

On the way inside of the theme park, there was a big van with my name on it.  Of course, I had to have my picture taken with it.  

We went to Chicago's Great America Theme Park when we were in Chicago.  It was about 90 minutes from where we were staying, so we had a relaxing drive getting there.  We had a BLAST.  We all rode rides, ate great food, and got too much sun.  After we were done for the night, we discovered the Cracker Barrel restaurant.  Wow, did they ever have some great food...and I love the little country store attached to the restaurants.  All in all, a GREAT time.  Can't wait to go back again. I hadn't been there since 1988, and the rest of the family hadn't been there at all. 

We went to Chicago...Gotta love the Windy City!

 Dave and Andrea in the Windy City

 Dave and Andrea

 Sarah, Jayson, and Sasha getting ready to board the water taxi to get to Navy Pier.

 Andrea, Sarah, Jayson, Sasha, and Dave on the water taxi.

 I don't know why these two pictures are together, but the top one is of Dave and I on a high speed motor boat out on Lake Michigan.  The bottom picture is of Jayson, wind blowing his hair. 

 My favorite picture of Sarah and Sasha.  They certainly have wild hair.  Love the joy in this picture. 

 Sasha and Dave on the train platform.  We were waiting in the super hot heat.  The day we were there, it was 98 degrees.  Too hot for our blood.  

 Jayson and Sarah waiting for the train.

 Andrea and "Sue" the T-Rex from the Field Museum.  The museum was amazing.  Lots to see and discover. 

 Sasha, Sarah, Jayson, Andrea and Dave in front of the skyline.

Sarah, Sasha, and Jayson in front of the skyline. 

We went to Chicago on June 24th for the first leg of a two week vacation.  We stopped and stayed with Grandma Linda Paul for the first four days.  We were blessed with great weather, great fun, and a great time with Grandma.  We laughed, stayed up late, and discovered the wonders of Cracker Barrel.  Nummmy. 

Family Vacation in Chicago

L to R:  Andrea, Jayson, Sasha, Sarah, and Dave

We semi surprised the kids and took them on a family vacation to Chicago.  I will post more pictures later, but wanted to get this one online before I got too backlogged with other things to do.  We had a blast and can't wait to go back again sometime soon.