Off to the RaCeS!

The long awaited Pine Wood Derby was this last Wed. We had very little notice...only a week's time, to be precise. That, therefore, makes the turnout of the race so much more amazing! The boys cut out their cars with leader's help just the week before. I was very concerned because of Steve's travel, he didn't have much opportunity to help Jeremy AT ALL. So, with Jeremy's picked and cut design, we did what we could. Spray painted the night before the race, second coat the morning before the race, dragon painted on 2 hours before the race, finished 1/2 hr. before check-in. We popped the dessert & dinner conributions in the car, all children packed and ready, Steve still out of town, and we were off to the races!

Jeremy got his award and blue ribbon for...

SECOND PLACE!!!

Way to Go Jeremy! (sorry, horrible picture of the action.)

Jeremy also earned and recieved his Wolf that same night!

He said it was "the best day ever!" It was pretty great! Love you Jeremy!!!

Amy's Blessing

We are a little late posting this since Steve took the camera on a business trip the week after she was blessed, but I have been looking forward to posting Amy's blessing picture. I would love to say it was one of the greatest days of my life, just like the day she was placed in my arms for the first time. I'm sorry to say, however, that I am always a basketcase when my babies are blessed. Between trying to get everyone ready and to the church on time, giving the baby an adequate feeding so she doesn't cry the whole blessing through, and making sure I look semi-decent.  All in all, she looked adorable and the blessing was beautiful. It makes me ever so grateful to a loving Father in Heaven and is a reminder that this beautiful baby was so recently in His care. I'm so grateful he has entrusted her to our family and pray we can teach her so that she can carry out her purpose on this earth. We are SO very blessed to have such a beautiful baby girl in our home.

We enjoyed a few days visit from her Grandparents Alger as well, as they came up for the blessing. They have been to every baby blessing we have had. They are so wonderful!

With all the chaos, I regret that we didn't get more pictures of that wonderful day. There is no doubt in my mind, however, that Amy will know it was a special event. We Love you Amy girl!

One Great Weekend!

               We started off our Memorial weekend seeing the older two boys off for a weekend with their quorum for an overnight campout at the coast. We decided to have some fun with the little ones at Papa's Pizza. A place much like Chuck E Cheese only on a much smaller scale. It was surprisingly very relaxing and quite enjoyable for all of us. Steve had asked Jeremy and Michael what they would like to do Saturday for a day trip and they said "the coast". We had skimmed by there several weeks ago after visiting the Tillamook Factory and they hadn't had their fill of exploring and rock skipping. So...the coast it was!  

After a pleasant ride out there, we enjoyed a hike to Devil's Churn

We then explored the tidepools at Cook's Cove

The scenery was magnificent....

Complete with a blow hole (behind me), similar to the Toilet bowl in Hawaii.

The children definately got their fill of exploring. Here they are petting and pointing at a star fish!

Caught crabs, watched frogs and tadpoles...

and discovered bugs.

capping off the coastal visit with a wade in the ocean.

One might think we had "too much fun". We think, "is there such thing as too much fun?"!

Life is good!

Of course a Memorial Day wouldn't have been complete without a delicious BBQ dinner (courtesy of Steve) and an after Family Home Evening Marshmallow roasting. It's so great to be alive!

You know it's summer at the Alger's when...

The children start selling lemonaid...

and roast marshmallos for s'mores.

There he goes!

Michael has been our youngest child toilet trained and our oldest to learn to ride a bike. I will tell you though, he sure didn't waste any time learning! One day he had training wheels, almost the very next day, he was asking Steve to remove them. Finally he and Jeremy got impatient with Steve being out of town so much, not being able to remove them, that Jeremy got out the tools and took them off himself. The next weekend Steve was home, he grabbed the camera to photograph a long gone and talented bike riding Michael!

 He rides so well now, that he rode off with Jeremy one day, and forgetting to tell Mom where they were going, were found with the efforts of the neighborhood and police on a 1/2 hour hunt to find them. Needless to say, I was a wreck and they still have yet to gain the bike riding priveledge back.

                                     

Way to go Michael, on learning to ride your bike. We love you!

What a May 9th day!

Many of you know that my first son was a Mother's Day gift from the time I first became a Mom. I was in labor with him on Mother's day and he was born the next morning. I have always considered him the best Mother's Day gift I ever recieved! This year, his birthday and Mother's Day fell on the same day...May 9th. What a fun day it was too.

Since his birthday fell on a Sunday this year, we started the festivities on the Friday before at Bryon's chosen Restaurant spot,"Hometown Buffet", as a whole family. Gram stayed home with Amy as she was only a week old. It was a real treat since we don't go out to eat as a family very often, if at all. On Sunday, Steve and the boys made Gram and I breakfast in bed and the children adorned me with cards and flowers. My bedstand was a Mother's Day shrine complete with a beautiful balloon. Steve gave me my escape gift of 1lb. See's chocolate later that day. It sits on a shelf in my closet allowing me a sweet escape once a day. Howdoes he always know what I need?!

After church, we celebrated Bryon's birthday with his chosen oreo ice cream cake and gifts. What a fun way to celebrate Mother's day.

A New Blessing to Share

Thursday April 29th, 2010 our beautiful new addition entered the world. Our lives will never be the same again. Amy Nicole Alger was born at a family record breaking weight of 9lbs. 7oz. and 20" long. How full of gratitude we are to our Father in Heaven for blessing us with such a beautiful and healthy new baby. She is a joy and a blessing and has such a sweet spirit. We are so thankful she is finally here!

With Dr. Haugen

With the love of my life!