I Made This

 It took me almost 2 years but with a lot of help from Kathy and my friend Carolyn but I finally finished my quilt.  It was inspired by the Piece by Piece quilt shop and my experiences in Eugene.  I won't claim that it is perfect but it is something that I feel proud to have made and I like looking at it.

 The Oregon Track Club 5k runs are one of my very favorite family traditions.  Usually Ike and Rosy ride in the jogging stroller but Rosy decided that she wanted her own number.  I told her that she couldn't have a number unless she was going to run.  I figured that she would jump in and out of the stroller along the way.  She started strong and by the first mile she hadn't given up.  By the second mile I was really impressed.  She told me that she was going to run the whole way so that when she crossed the finish line they would say her name.

 That is one thing about our Rosy.  When she sets her mind to something there is nothing that will stop her.

 She didn't stop once and didn't even walk.  I was so proud of that little girl I couldn't stop smiling.

Just out for a drive.

Movie night at the Rigby family theater

 Mother's Day came and went again.  The highlights:  The cutest husband making breakfast, Rocky's Grandma's are the Beast card, and the one decent photo ever taken with me and my four little stinkers.

Awww!

 Ike LOVES sour cream veggie dip.  The other day I was cleaning up the kitchen and he was sitting shirtless on top of the table dipping a puzzle piece he had found on the floor in the dip and licking it off.  You can't make this stuff up, folks.  This is my life.  At least he's cute.

And speaking of cute...oh man, these two.

 Every once in awhile I get a chance to head out for a run alone.  I ran up to Pre's Rock and paid my respects.

 At this house we have to keep markers in high places.  This Ike will color on anything he finds.  Paper, library books, skin, walls, nothing is safe.  It used to be embarrassing to me when I was walking around the store with a child covered in marker but now we just tell people that he is a tattoo art prodigy.

 Daisy loves art projects too, but she sticks to the paper.

9 Years Old

 Rocky turned 9.  She chose this chocolate toffee cake for her treat and I was so happy that she has reached an age that she wants something delicious instead of something cute.  The cute stuff that I find on Pinterest usually turn out as fails when I am attempting them anyway.
She also chose to swim at Splash! and we all went together as a family.  For dinner she wanted Ramen Noodles.

 Ike just about ruined everything by grabbing the plate but Brandon jumped up to catch the cake before it dropped.

Sometimes I wonder what I would do without Rocky.  She is the kid who first made me a mom and was my only friend when we moved here to Eugene.  Now I rely on her constantly to keep an eye on the others.  She has confidence and is friendly to everyone.  She is a great storyteller and also a great listener to stories.  She loves to dance and sing, she rides her bike all over Spencer View and she has turned into a fantastic little runner.  She is a bookworm and a cook and she is growing up just so fast.

Daisy times 20

 One thing that we love about living here is that we get a front row seat to the track meets.  These three little old ladies packed up their bags and chairs and set up shop on our side of the fence.  Rocky had her bag packed with snacks and Rosy brought her fan.

 Ike has become my little hiking buddy.  We take pretty regular trips to the top of the butte.

 Even though he does like that pack better he will still ride in the jogging stroller.  Sometimes it will only happen with a bribe.

 He is snuggled up in his bed happily sleeping every day when I have to wake him up.  Being the fourth baby has many benefits and he gets spoiled, but the saddest moment of my day is pulling this baby from his dreams to put him in the car and drive to the school.

 We cheered on the marathoners again.  It is funny how easy running looks when you are not the one doing it.

Family Night

 He is definitely not supposed to be playing on that iPod.  Also, this is what my house looks like these days.  It aint pretty but this is where we are.

 Nicole has a new puppy named Babs.  My kids think she is their new little sister.

Bonus Picture:

Family Pictures

 Our sweet friend Meg is just starting to study photography.  She asked if she could take pictures of us on campus.  It was perfect because we never get pictures with all of us together, and also because the kids got to wear their new Easter outfits.
We aren't the easiest models.
Luckily she got some good shots of Rosy before she face planted and scraped up her face.

Ike spends much of his time looking through books.  He flips the pages and mutters to himself like a crazy old librarian.  The performance is quite convincing and part of me wonders if he is actually searching for the answer to life's mysteries.

I know I have said it before, but it has never been more true.  There are too many kids in this tub. Rocky made bath bombs for Activity Days and everyone wanted to try it out.

Sometimes the best moments aren't the prettiest.

 I looked everywhere for Ike, and in this apartment there just aren't a lot of places to hide.  I finally found him.

 Cleaning the church is easy when you have all these kids.  At least for now while they still think it's fun.

 Easter. Again.  We did all the stuff and it was fun.

 Ike got caught in the Tinkertoy tub.  I left him there for longer than I should probably admit.

 I am not exactly sure why I took this picture but it makes me laugh.  I remember being a teenager and hanging out with Shanan who lived next door.  She had 4 kids and I was shocked at how many clothes she was folding.  And now it is me!

 At Buena Vista during spirit week they have a "dress your age day".  I think it is bizarre.  I guess it started in high schools and the freshmen were supposed to dress like babies, and the seniors like old people.  But at the elementary school they can pick any age to dress up.  I am already the kind of mom that doesn't get involved so they put their outfits together themselves.  Daisy was a teenager and Rocky an adult.  I tried to get her to smile but she said she wanted to look like a real adult.  I think they nailed it, except Daisy is the one that should have the brooding look.

 We have used Grandpa Ike's stool chair in our bathroom for years and little Ike LOVES to sit on it.

 Spring is at least sort of here.  There have been some incredible days mixed in with the rain.  The blossoms are incredible all over the city.

 And with the sun out again I can feel myself coming back alive.  Everything is easier, and kinder.  The kids are happy.  Our apartment doesn't seem so small and the world is gorgeous.
I ran all the way up to the top of the butte by myself on Saturday.
I am a social being, an extrovert, and I generally don't like doing things alone.  But lately I have been finding a peace and joy in being by myself.

 Bonus Picture:  Rockin' in the community room.

 Also, I saw this sign in the Masonic Cemetery.  It made me sad, and it made me laugh.  And it also made me feel guilty even though I didn't steal any plants.

What's next, punching kittens?