Fourth of July

Oregon, Our New Home

Moving to Oregon is very surreal for me. Oregon has had a special place in my heart since I was a child but I never imagined myself living here, especially not raising my family here.

Almost instantly when we took the kids to the coast it felt like home. The smells, seeing the tide pools, watching the kids play in the all too familiar Oregon coast, eating at Moe's, it all made my heart almost feel a little bit healed from the sadness and pain it had felt leaving our beautiful life in North Carolina. It isn't going to be an easy transition moving here but I continue to stay hopeful for our future.

Goodbye North Carolina

We have sold our home and are leaving beautiful North Carolina. We brought two newborns home here. Everett was only one when we moved here. It seems like every memory I have of being a parent is from living here. 

Some of my favorite memories from our last month living here was the last time Stephen and I swung in the backyard swing after putting the kids to bed. We watched the sunset, sitting next to each other, just like so many other nights. We watched and listened to the song birds. Even one of our bunny friends came into the yard to say goodbye one last time. Our new next door neighbors came outside onto their porch and then awkwardly went back inside after seeing us. Nathan even came and joined us after getting out of bed.

We will miss the summer storms that come in almost nightly.

We will miss the lightning bugs.

The list of things we will miss is endless but we have always been excited for new beginnings and are hopeful for our future. As long as we are together as a family we will conquer anything.

Everett: Spring

April

Everett started Jiu Jitsu in January. He had his first rank review and earned his first belt! He is so proud of himself and we couldn't be more proud as well. He goes to Jiu Jitsu three nights a week and is always so excited. He thinks he is in training to become a ninja! What was extra special at his rank review was that he was able to meet Bruno Bastos, a world Jiu Jitsu champion. He was so kind to all of the kids and signed their belts. The night ended with pizza for all of the kids. Everett had such a great time.

I love when you tell me facts you learn from your dad, like that Mount Everest is the tallest mountain.

We have started picking out chapter books when we go to the library and it is so fun to read them.

May

On your birthday you wanted to check and see how tall and powerful you were now.

It was adorable seeing you give the prayer and scripture in primary.

Kindergarten is almost over. You are writing well, reading a little bit, and really enjoy school and learning. It was really cute having kids from your school class at your birthday party. 

It seems like every time we go to the park you are making new friends. 

Six year check up: Weight 41 pounds 21%. Height 46 inches tall 54%.

June

Something funny you said when we were trying to get the toy octopus to hang. "The weight distribution isn't correct."

You are such a little scientist and love doing experiments and learning about new things.

You are loving the magic treehouse books and it is fun to see how much you remember from them.

After your dentist appointment, "I want to be a paleontologist and a dentist when I grow up. And maybe a police man."

I love that you join me in bed in the mornings and snuggle and tell me about your dreams the night before.