Happy 40th!

While both Steven and I's parents celebrated their wedding anniversaries on June 11th, Steve and Annie's celebration for their 40th was this past week and was a surprise for Annie. Here are a few photo highlights of the event.

Flowers done by Lyn Syring (our wedding planner)

Wedding cake (replica of 40 years ago)

Steven toasting to his parents 40 years together.

The Stokes/Sakaguchi family

Progress

Tom., onions, pepper, beans, peas, pumpkin, squash, cuc.

While we've stayed very busy these past few weeks, it's good busy. Steven has tackled a few yard projects that have been a couple years in the making and it's all coming together nicely. He tackled the massive task of cleaning the front landscaped area of old chips/soil that had accumulated and was ready to be hauled to the back of the lot so that we could put fresh chips down over weed cloth. Last fall I had finished putting in the last few ornamental shrubs and trees which have included a weeping fountain tree, cherry tree, a couple of evergreen shrubs, Japanese maples and of course a small lily for color. Somehow Abi manages to massively re-arrange the decorate pond rocks which is wonderful as she seems to have an artistic eye and they look great.  We got the raised veg gardens put in while Dad visited back in early spring and Steven got the boxes filled with soil and the surrounding paths covered with cedar chips so we don't have to mow around it. As well, the north flower bed has finally seemed to look like it's been getting attention for the last five years! The white, lavender, purple and yellow iris' are just past their blooming prime. In the mean time, the delphiniums, peonies, rose bushes, clematis and day lilies, and a handful of other lilies are laden with blossoms that I can hardly wait to see burst with colors. Mom brought out a few of her perennials for me to add this spring which included a painted daisy, shasta daisy and another that I fail to name at the moment, but added with the few annuals for color, I'm just thrilled to see the bed blessing us with cheer and color as we enjoy being outside as a family most nights.

Cherish the Day

After returning from Minnesota, our world took off again. Because I will be training a colleague to pick up some of my caseload while on maternity leave and have to prep the remaining files to be completed before I leave, I am now back to working full time. Abi now goes to Bright Minds Mon-Fri except when Steven has two days off in a row and opts to keep her home with him. And since it's summer and all the families take vacation, it's also "mandatory" season at the fire district. Steven got mandatoried while we were in Minnesota and it looks like he will be again tomorrow but thankfully for just a partial shift so we'll have him home in the evening. When we have a day together, we try to squeeze some fun family time in if possible.  Saturday morning we all rolled out bright and early. Steven got up and was ready to come off a trade shift at 7:30am and Abi and I headed into help price items at the Young Adult Ministry Rummage Sale. It's so wonderful to belong to a church with wonderful people! We arrived and Abi took off to greet all the people she loves; apart from checking in, she followed everybody around all morning. By late morning, we had packed up our car and headed south to Silver Falls State Park and took off to hike the South Falls and Maple Ridge trails. It was a glorious high 70's by the time we were done and enjoyed our picnic and Abi played on the playground before we headed home.

Another Minnesota Visit

 Just under two weeks ago, Abi and I hopped on a plane and headed to Minnesota. We were able to help celebrate Chandler's graduation and Abi got lots of playtime in with her cousins Michaela and Danielle. It was quite possibly the most exhausting trip home being 6 months pregnant, having an active tot and no Steven. Our 8 day trip was the longest that we've been apart since our engagement! It sure made me grateful for what a wonderful involved father he is and what a friend and companion he is to me.

Michaela (4), Abi (1 1/2), Danielle (2 1/2)

While in Minnesota, Abi and I enjoyed visits with all of my grandparents, most of the aunts and uncles, tons of cousins and friends from both high school and grad school. Abi loved walking through the mud puddles with Michaela and Danielle and David's bunny that he brought for her to pet. Dad and I were able to head out fishing for a short afternoon and each caught a nice walleye and then Mom and Abi met us for a campfire dinner. Abi had her first campfire, marshmallow and chance to sit in a boat actually on the water. Traveling alone also made me realize how much I take for granted that we just arrive "home" and there are car seats, toys, tot beds, cups, etc. and everything for us to use. Have clothes will travel could be our slogan for Minnesota! :)

Loving on Daddy

Tuckered out

I'm not sure if Abi is taking her que from her parents this week or not. Our friend Alicia has been watching Abi on those sporadic Mon/Wed that we don't have daycare quite yet and Steve is on duty and although today is a Friday, I spoke at a conference so Abi and Alicia had a playday.  Late this morning, Abi asked Alicia for her binky and went and climbed into bed. out And this evening after an early bath, some cuddling over an Elmo show and some warm milk, Abi asked for her binky and climbed into bed. Although it was still quite light out and well before her bed time...out.  It's been clear she's hit a growing spurt as many of her shirts to too short and she eats very very well. But I can confidently say: everybody in our household is tired! Steven has had an exhausting week of overtime and trades which has resulted in 24 off / 48 on / 24 off (w/a meeting and drill in there) / 48 on / 24 off / 24 on between this past Monday and this coming Monday. I had a rare week chalk full of meetings and a conference presentation. And as we look over the past month of weekends, they've all been full of visits and trips... needless to saw next weekend will be spent with just the three of us quite possibly doing nothing at all but simply being together! :) It sure makes you appreciate the time you have to snuggle, cuddle, watch the smiles on each others faces and laugh together.

Visits and Eggs

We'll start in chronological order...

 Grandma was able to come for a visit mid-April. We enjoyed birthday pedicures, playing in the flowerbeds (as always) and making new pillow cases for Abi's "big girl bed" now that she has a pillow. Although we searched all over for Nemo material, Abi seemed content to settle with Dorah, clown fish and Curious George pillowcases. As well, we made a mad dash trip down to Eugene for Annie and Steve's Grand Re-opening of the Gateway restaurant.

We had our 19 wk ultrasound last Friday. While this is typically when a couple can find out the gender of their child, we stuck with the decision not to. The baby is growing strong and healthy. It had the hiccups during the visit and had turned 90 degrees just while the tech was trying to capture photos of what she needed. The baby is quite active already and has even woken me up in the mornings before Abi! This past weekend, we got to enjoy our church's first community Easter egg hunt. In addition to some crazy gorgeous 70 degree weather, there was an amazing turn out of over 700 people!!! Papa, Granny and Auntie Stephie were able to come visit for the festivities and it was a wonderful day. Abi and I spent Easter with other fire family friends while Steven was on duty.