Memorization to Music

So the past couple of weeks we have been trying to focus on scripture memorization at home with the kids. In order for it to not be frustrating and to overwhelming, Sahaan put the verses to jingles/music that would just come into his head while I was writing them down on the chalkboard wall. So here is Kai singing those the first two verses, so we hope you enjoy. (Sorry they are side ways, I filmed them this way, not thinking about the uploading process)

Mark 10:45 (2nd verse)

Mark 10:31 (1st verse)

Stay tuned for more in the future.... :)

Love,

US

Pumpkin Patch Play Date

Happy Harvest time everyone...last week the kids in Portland Public Schools didn't have school. So for Robert and Martay's adoption day birthday we went to the pumpkin patch and walked the gigantic Portland Trail Blazer maze. They did this in honor of the team being here for 40years. It was alot of fun, and boy did we ever get lost. You take clue card and at each number you get to, you have to read a clue...sounds easy right. WRONG - you then turn and twist and take rights and lefts and often times end up at the same number or at a number way off the sequence. It was fun, at least Stacey and I thought so after an hour....the kids I think thought it was getting old and wanted the pleasure and satisfaction of just completing the maze.

This is all of us when we finally reached the half way point in the center of the maze.
The kids did it...they made it to the finish line. Just up those stairs and over a bridge was the end. Being on top of the bridge was really cool, because we got to see the whole field and pumpkin patch around us.


At the end was a huge tent with pumpkin carving inside and painted posters to poke your head through. The kids loved seeing all the different carvings of pumpkins....especially the batman pumpkin.

Here is my handsome sun flower....doesn't he just make you smile and happy!

We then headed over to the hay pyramid where the kids climbed and climbed. Kolbie however, began to not care about her hay pyramid, she just wanted to eat ritz crackers.

Kai on the other hand wanted to be king of the pyramid all day...he climbed and jumped off over and over. If you're wondering, yes he still has the huge cast on his arm and the climbing and jumping did make me nervous, but he was careful and had alot of fun.

He is getting so big now, and really doing well being limited on his activities right now. He was really glad to get outdoors and run around.

We then headed over to the pumpkin patch and picked our pumpkins. The kids always have to pick a pumpkin they can lift and carry, so this year was got 5 litte pumpkins because Kai could only carry his with his one good arm. This weekend we are going to be opening them, digging out the seeds and baking them. This is a traditional treat the kids look forward to and oh so healthy.

You can't help but agree with the sign. I did get two perfect pumpkins. :) To end up our pumpkin patch adventure we went and saw all the barn animals, went shopping in the store and got some delicious kettle corn for the ride home.

A few days later, Kai got his short cast on. This was a great push forward to get him to concentrate on the end. His arm really needed to get out of the other one anyway because it had gotten some good wear to it and was falling apart in places. :) It also was good for his arm to breathe, even if only for the few minutes he had the one off. He is beginning to re-work his arm into moving the right way, since it was stuck in the L shape for 2 1/2 weeks. He has been writing with his left arm and doing amazing. I don't think at this time he has any intention on switching back to his right hand. So, grandpa Greg, Safta, Great grandma, Marty and Scott, you may have our first lefty in a long while joining you.

Kolbie and I got to have a play date with my good friend Becca and her baby girl Aubrey. We had a blast. We pulled tomato plants out, Becca made pesto sauce, we got to go on a nice long walk and most importantly the girls got to go to the park to play.

They both were a bit small for this teeter totter, but they thought it was great.

They also had a ton of fun swinging side by side and kicking away. :)

Becca and Aubrey, October 15, 2009.

Aubrey Joy and Kolbie Taite having a blast sliding together.

Aubrey thought for a short second she might try this head down first, but they quickly decided this would be a bad idea. So she sat up instead and happily went down again to greet me at the bottom.

So this concludes our pumpkin patch play date week, but stay tuned for more. Fall is here and winter is soon to come. Not to mention the annual harvest party/Sahaan's birthday October 31st.

We also would like you to notice our scripture verse at the top of our blog. This will be changing weekly, but our family has taken on a new tradition. We have assigned one scripture a week for our family to memorize together, kids as well. We are having alot of fun putting jingles to our verses, and hopefully soon I can show you video of the kids singing it. It is important to have God's word tucked into our hearts and mind and to experience the full glory of God.

Love you all,

Steph

This summer we spent the majority of our vacations at the beach. We did a different activity each time to introduce our kids and eachother to different things every time. Here's a bit what we did.

I went away on a little retreat of my own. It was amazing.

The second week into school, Kai decided to fly off the zip line at a park and break his wrist in two spots....4 weeks to go until cast removal. He also thought he hadn't seen the doctor enough in a weeks time and got bit by a stray dog, while getting off the school bus. No stitches could be administered, so butterfly tape, a little antibiotics and time will heal this wound.

We did a ton of swimming as well this summer. All the kids had a blast. Kai also learned how to swim on his own this summer. 6 years old! I am so proud of him and his determination and will to not give up.

We stopped by in Newport to see the sea lions. We also had to get some taffy and sea foam candy!

This is us with the Newport Bay behind us. It was gorgeous every time we went to the coast. It must have been a record.

Little Valerie was so adorable and the kids loved having her around. At times we had to limit the arguments as to who would hold her first, play with her and to limit the smothering.

We hit the sunlight just right this morning and got a great picture of our shadows. Sahaan, Sadiyah, Kolbie, Micah, Kai, me and Becky (with Val in pouch).

Micah thought it would be a blast to bury the kids in the sand dunes. They loved it and boy did it make for a fun load of laundry!

Kai holding sweet baby Valerie before leaving for the beach trip.

We went on our beach trip the first week of school, so here is Kai on his first day of school. Ms. Webb's class. He is already learning so much and is now probably going to be ambedextris (sp?) because his writing hand is broken, and his left hand writing and drawing is actually amazing.

We also went to the zoo with the cousins this summer. Who knew they had a farm at the zoo too.

My two little eagles in their nest.

How do you measure up?

Sauvie Island was our beach at home, when we didn't want to travel all the way to the coast. It made for some fun water time in the hot weather.

Sahaan and I got to get away on a little vacation of our own. It was the coolest trip we've taken in a while together.

You never thought you would see anyone walk on water again...right? Look again. JK! Luck with the camera. :)

We went crabbing for the first time and while catching the crab we also caught a starfish. The kids were very excited.

Sahaan and I watching the kids play together in the sand.

My good friend Becca and I got to go away with no children. This was her first time with out her baby girl (1yr old) and it was so fun to shop, scrapbook and talk with out interuption or distraction. Thanks Becca for going with me.

Sahaan, the biggest family member, holding Valerie, the smallest family member.

So sorry folks, didn't rotate the picture before downloading it, but just tilt your head and you can see me and my little man.

Here's are cheeze head, baby girl, lil' mama.

Kai and Kolbie enjoying Jamison park in downtown Portland. It was crazy hot that day!

Us at Council Crest park, above OHSU hospital. It is an amazing view up there, and the kids loved hearing their echo in the center of the park.

After having 9 days over 100 degrees we decided to go swimming alot at grandpa and grandma's house. So the whole family and friends got together and stayed cool in the pool.

Taliyah, cousin and niece.

Taliyah and Kolbie, 2 months apart in age.

The cousins, Taliyah, Kai, Daylen, & Kolbie.

Daylen, too cute, I know.

Kolbie and I.

The kids and I in Lincoln city at the beach.

Our gorgeous pre-teen, Sadiyah. They grow up too fast.

Lincoln city beach.

My 3 little sailors.

Newport Bay.

Japanese Spider crab engulfing my children.

Sahaan and baby girl.

I love staring into this fish bowl....:)

Kai was amazed by this octopus. It's like "DOC OC". Only he could compare it to something out of Spiderman.

The shark ate my family...........AAAHHHH!

I got them back though! So this is us almost up to date. More pictures to be coming soon. Off to see my best friend, her new baby and then the pumpkin patch....Stay tuned.