Guess who's 9?!

This cute little girl! That's who! Cassidy is NINE years old today. She is more excited about it then we are. There is something quite bitter sweet about watching your kids grow up.

At the mature (as far as SHE is concerned) age of 9 Cassidy enjoys horses, mysteries, reading, friends (and boyfriends, though she still blushes when we talk of them). She is a wonderful artist and sketches frequently. She writes her own stories, and illustrates them. She sings all the time and LOVES music. She still enjoys gymnastics and has intentions of picking up piano lessons again now that we are back home with our piano. Her favorite movie is currently "Mama Mia" (which she sings along with at top volume). She loves to eat haystacks, chinese food (fried rice), shrimp, sushi (California rolls, really), lasagna, and baked potato soup. She has finally expanded her ice cream library from vanilla to vanilla OR cookie dough. After years of trying to get her to taste and enjoy maple syrup, she spent 18 days at camp where her friends were able to accomplish the task. She tried it. She loves it. She can now officially be a fullfledged East Coast native (a love for REAL maple syrup is a requirement). Cassidy will start 4th grade this year. AUGH! Because Cassidy thinks she is all mature and stuff, she has asked if she can start wearing make-up. We have consented to glittery chapstick....only. No lip-gloss, yet. And, although we have given her permission since she was 8 years old, she has still opted NOT to get her ears pierced (although, as with the syrup, we are fairly certain her peers will talk her into it soon). A goal for this year is to learn to ride her bike without training wheels. Which is a BIG deal for this timid little one (she'll try something once but if there is an unfortunate event or unpleasant experience, she isn't gonna do it again...and, her first attempt at riding a bike WITH training wheels didn't go well. So that she is willing to give it another go shows growth.)We love this little girl. She cares about details. Loves to clean her new room. Keeps us all entertained. She loves life. She is energetic and excited to be doing things. She is creative. She thinks everyone is her friend and wants to be friends with everyone. She has a BIG heart. She is always aware of choices and wants to make the right ones. She is thoughtful and loving. We are blessed to have her in our family. Happy Birthday, Sweet Cass! We hope your next year is full of happy memories...only to be topped by the ones you make each year of your life after that.To celebrate this big day we had ice cream cake, went to TGI Friday's for family lunch, and she got to do something special with 2 of her friends (There was a sleep over with Lily and a dinner date with Mia). It was a good and quiet birthday celebration. NEXT year she gets to have a big party. (We are doing every other year for big parties now.) Happy Happy Birthday!

Our new Home Sweet Home...

Okay, here are just a couple of exterior shots of our new place. It is lovely! The kids are enjoying the fact that they have a yard all to themselves and a place to ride bikes, scooter, and do whatever they want outside.

We'll try to post some interior shots later, but since the decorating isn't done yet, please know that they will be here as soon as we're finished. But, for those curious, we have 3 bedrooms....technically. There is a "nursery" in the Master Bedroom that is serving as Brogan's room. So, you could say there are 4 rooms. We have a large kitchen, with more cabinet and storage space then I know what to do with. A dinning room. For real. It seems odd to have a place reserved for eating when we do most of our eating at the school cafeteria, so it will also double as my craft space (must to the chagrin and agitation of the 2 wonderful women who helped me unpack boxes). We have a "formal" living room and a family room (aka: the play room). There is an office space at the top of the stairs with built in shelves. And, 2.5 bathrooms. Plus, a large mostly finished basement that houses my laundry area. We are feeling pretty excited and blessed. And, we are eagerly awaiting any and ALL house guest. So, pack your bags and come visit. The door is always open.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

We celebrated Brian's birthday at our lake house in New York. Grandpa Schroyer and Lori were there to celebrate. We had cake, Brian's favorite: yellow with chocolate frosting (the frosting was AMAZING...if you want the recipe, let me know)

Brian got the lego game "Creationary"...basically, it's pictionary, but you get to build objects with legos and everyone tries to guess what you made. Point for the builder and the person who guesses correctly. Fun and perfect for our family.
The kids all got him a present the represents time and things they like to do with their dad. Kayla got him new Halo Legos, Brogan got him Creationary, and Cassidy got him a itunes gift card...we think she is hoping he will score some fun new ipod games and cool "Cassidy approved" music (Taylor Swift, perhaps?).

Happy Birthday, Brian! We Love you! You are amazing! And, we sincerely believe there isn't ANYTHING you can't do.

Where's Cassidy?

Cassidy has been missing from our blog the past few weeks. Why? Well, back in June she and Brian left to go back to the East Coast....leaving the rest of us in WA until July 20th. We spent only a few brief days together before driving her to NY on July 24th to attend Camp Chateugay. A sleep away camp...for 18 days! We picked her up today, August 10th, and our family feels much more comfortable. But, have a look at some of the wonderfully fun things that she did while she WAS at camp:

I'm not sure what they were playing, but her friend was the goalie.

This was carnival day...they all dressed up in some sort of crazy outfit and had...well...a carnival. (Complete with kissing booth, which Cass assures me she DIDN'T go to)

Decorating t-shirts

All I got from her when I questioned her about this was, "Two words, mom: robot and robbery." And then she walked off....we're still not sure.

Fishing...she caught a fish on her first cast. Fun!

Dancing. The girl has got some SMOOOTH moves!

Performing with her group.

Hanging with friends!

Archery! She's awesome!

And there you have it! Cassidy's last 18 days summed up in photo.

We missed a lot.

We missed her.

But, she had a WONDERFUL time!

(next year, KK gets to go too!)

Oh Captain, my captain

Patiently waiting to board the boat....
Grandpa Schroyer lets Brogan take the helm....look at that concentration.

The cousin cage...

Jack, Ben, KK, Zoey, Brogan, Kale and Kenny....Missing Abby and Mo, but they were there too.

Check out our boy!

Yep! He's pretty cool (and he knows it).

I Love this MUG...

This is Ben. AKA: Benny-Bob, Benjamin, Ben-jammin', etc. He has THE BEST facial expressions and I was able to catch just a few. THIS ONE (below) is my favorite:

He is one Happy boy. And sweeter then can be. And 2. So, yeah, sometimes a stinker. But it doesn't matter, 'cause his little smile will squeeze your heart and you'll never be the same.

My Family....the Harmon's

This is 80% of my family. We were missing our older Sister, Nicki and her family (hubby, 4 kids, 2 grand-babies, one son-in-law...as of this photo) and our brother, Kenneth and his family (wife and 2 sons). Getting all of us together in the same place at the same time is complicated. So we made the best with those we had. Captured on film and in hearts forever...I present....MY FAMILY:

I LOVE THEM

An Enchanted Day at the Enchanted Forrest

This past Friday Grandpa, Uncle Kenneth, and Mom all embraced their inner child (and sanity) to take 6 kids to The Enchanted Forrest in Salem, OR. Cousins Zoey, Abby, Kenny, Kale, Brogan and Kayla rounded out our crazy group of fun.

The first part of the park is a lush stroll up and down hills that twist and wind through various nursery rhyme scenes.

This is KK posing next to a huge mushroom in Alice In Wonderland. There was a rabbit hole and tunnel that the kids climbed into and followed from one side of the path to the other.

This is Snow White's witch. Once inside, there is a dark twisty turning path to follow with scenes safely sequestered behind plexi glass...the walk end at a large slide that is actually the witches long hair. VERY COOL.

The 2nd half of the park is all about the rides. Kiddy rides, mostly. Brogan was in HEAVEN when he discovered the Bumper Boats (you had to be under 80 lbs to ride these babies).

In the photo above all our group is joyfully crashing into each other and the kind helper girl is wading out to break up the tangled family smash fest.

The frog hopper. All our kids and one mysterious guest crowded on...over and over and over...this was a favorite for the kids in the group.

Brogan, on the psychedelic train....

Brogan and Kale....same train

Zoye, loving her ride as well

The train in full view...Abby and Zoey are in the back cart enjoying the view as the train putts around the track and they explore the little village of mushrooms and castles.

Grandpa and Abby in the REAL BIG bumper cars. (Brogan didn't meet the height requirement for this ride...which broke his little heart. Poor guy.)

Grandpa, Kale, Kenny and Zoey zipping down on the log ride...every good park has one.

4 very wet but still quite happy guests

KK standing at the entrance to the mid-evil section of the park. We didn't get a photo of it, but there was a ride here that we all loved...we all climbed in cart that were equipped with laser guns. The cart then disappeared into a building that had knights and sorcerers and big spiders and dragons, etc. all with glowing blue lights somewhere on them. We got to shoot them with our guns that kept score for us. Some of us did quite well, others had a difficult time just holding up the gun. But, we all got a kick out of this ride. Very Very fun. (One the kids all declared would have been Uncle Brian's favorite ride if he had been with us. They are, of course, correct.)

Thanks, Grandpa, for a final BIG trip and event.

You are the best!