Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Kallin

Oh how this sweet boy helps me to be a better mom!!  Because of his ever curious nature, fear of nothing, and very strong desire to test ALL boundaries I am learning patience and long suffering.  I know this may come off sounding negative but that is not how I mean it.  Not at all.  This boy is teaching me to be more like Christ every day.  He is bringing our the best in me!  To that, I will forever be grateful.  My favorite things about Kal as he turns 4 is:

His sweet snuggles in the morning.  He loves to get in bed with us when he wakes up.

His "go go go" nature.

Loving to help me cook.

How focused his is when he has a job to do.

Loving to be outside regardless of the weather conditions.

He is a great story teller.

How he idolizes Avery. . .she can do no wrong in his eyes.

Hid love/hate relationship with Lincoln.

EVERYTHING can be made into a weapon.

He gives the best kisses and hugs.

Hearing him sing.

What a blessing he has been in our home.  We feel all our kids are miracles, each with their own story.  Kal was one of our last two frozen embryos for our final frozen embryo transfer.  One of the embryos did not survive the thawing process.  He did.  In our previous 4 attempts I would get pregnant but could not stay pregnant  We fully expected to get pregnant but would not stay pregnant.  When we did, to say we were surprised, is an understatement!  From the start he has kept us on our toes.  I wouldn't want it any other way.  LOVE.

Portland Zoo Lights

I love the days that we get to spend as a family, really just enjoying ourselves.  We have a lot of days spent together but they are about living life:  homework, cleaning, piano lessons, picking up toys, fixing stuff around the house, making meals, getting to and from work/school/lessons etc. . .  Yes these days are a necessity but the Family Days that we get to be together and it is all about fun, I LOVE!!!  We had one of those days today.  Such a great one too!  A trip to Grammy and Grand Bob's house for a family dinner.  You know, one of the dinners where everyone who you are related to and lives in the area shows up!  We followed that up with the Portland Zoo Lights!  The A-Dubs had such a great time despite the long lines and very cold weather.  What a welcome way to start the Holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

(post dinner haze. . .)

2014 Walker Family Gratitude Tree

This month we have focused on being grateful for the "small" things.  The things that often go unnoticed in our everyday lives.  Some of the things my kids put on our tree where: 

Snow Days

Favorite Books

Ice (by Avery)

Sharks (by Kal)

My Bed (by me)

just to name a few.  We also talked about the big things we are grateful for:

Temples

Forever Families

Grand Parents

Our Brother and Sisters

Good Jobs

I am so grateful that we get welcome in this Christmas Season with a month of gratitude leading up to it!

Brother and Sister

This is such a rare moment right now. These two are continually at odds with each other so these moments of kindness are worth documenting. Despite these hawnyawks not getting along they are always asking for each other. Lincoln:  "Where's my Kallin?"  Kal: "where's Baby?"  Kal's night time prayers are pretty cute too. "Thank you for mommy and daddy and my sister and my baby."  Love them!!

(This is normally the only time these two have together where they are kind to one another.)

Sisters

I never had one and always wanted one. I think that's the biggest reason why I love watching these two. Avery is a darling little mama and Lincoln idolizes Avery.   I'm sure the 7 year age difference helps foster such a fun relationship!  Oh my girls!! 

Thanksgiving Feast

Miss Avery had a Thanksgiving Feast at school with the entire 3rd grade.  Of the Pilgrim or Indian costume choice she chose Indian.  She has worn the costume for the last 2 days and used it as PJ's last night.  She was so excited to get it ready the night before her party.  I LOVE that about this age!  She is so excited for everything!  She is so fun to do things with.  

(don't you love the detail she put on her headband?)

A-Dubs

We call our kids "A-Dubs". . .short for Awesome Walkers.

When you ask my kids what an A-Dub is this is what they will tell you:

I am a daughter/son of God.  I am smart.  I am kind.  I am a hard worker.  I am pretty/handsome.

I feel like they are going to be told "stuff" through out their entire lives.  I want them to hear it from us first.  We are the ones that are going to tell them the truth.  

Helpers

I love it when my kids want to help. Avery and Kal have really blossomed this past year. Avery has really shown a great love for her siblings and especially, babies.

(Sweet baby Mac Moon)

Kal on the other hand has become the master helper in the kitchen. This kiddo loves to help cook!  So fun to watch them grow and change, develop their talents and interests. 

Old Friends

Ahhh. . .Ricks College has had many great effects in my life.  One of which was meeting this lovely person. Jami Norman.  A Southern California girl by nature.  She braved the first snow of the Pacific Northwest to visit a sister and made time to hang with me and my crew for a couple of hours.  Wall Street Pizza.  Gresham, OR.  Game room.  All were happy.  My A-Dubs were happy.  What a great visit!  I love the kind of friends who you can see. . . every 3-4 years. . . and it is like it was yesterday.  Those are the best.  So glad we braved I-84 to see you my wonderful friend!!  Lets not wait so long for the next visit!!! 

Bangs

After twisting her bangs into mini dred we were unable to detangle it and ended up cutting it. Or shall I say, Miss Avery cut it so, we were forced to get bangs. Regardless, she LOVES her new look!  We think it's pretty cute too!

Curious Gorge #38

HOOD RIVER'S HOOD RIVER "TRAIL"

On one of the last beautiful days of Fall I got to take Avery and Kal on an impromptu hike.  We pulled out our Curious Gorge book to see what was close.  What a great hike for kids!  The majority of it was on a "bridge" over a huge pipe that follows the Hood River.  We got to see Chinook Salmon spawning and a Blue Heron.  My kids LOVED it.  I actually only had to carry Kal a few times when he was "too tired" to go any farther.  What an incredible place we live in!  Lovin' the Gorge!

Windows

As a mother I feel like a get these little of moments of time with my kids that are so precious and so fleeting.  It is a window of time that is filled with joy and laughter and awe.  We had a few of these this past week.

Playing at the Children's Park in HR is such a great day for my little A-Dubs (more on A-Dubs to come.)  We found a little pocket of time between the rain to enjoy.  Mr. Kal truly needs these moments of unstructured time to get it all out, more than any other kid I've met.  Climbing, Jumping, Running. Laughing, Hiding. Sliding. Balancing  Swinging.  Oh, and sending as many big sand trucks down the slide as he can.  

Not a great photo of Miss Avery and myself because we were in the dark.  For Family Home Evening we went to the Waterfront Park after dark, with our head lamps, and played !  The only way we could keep track of these turkeys was to look for their lights.  I cherish these Windows.

The Little Moments

Fall has begun in the beautiful Hood River Valley. We've seen quite a bit of rain these past few weeks. It makes us all want to stay inside and cozy down. So, when we get these small pockets of sun or simply "just a little sprinkle," we have to revel in it. Fun friends just make it that much better!

(Seriously, can you be any cuter?)

A Month of Thanks

On Saturday, November 1st, we had a Walker Family get together.  Bob and Jean Walker, the most KIND and GENEROUS and THOUGHTFUL 

in-laws a girl could want decided to bring the family together despite having some serious health issues as of late.  The entire day they demonstrated love and kindness, acceptance and gratitude to everyone.  What truly Christ like examples these two individuals are.

I read a quote today at church that really spoke to my soul today and completely reminded me of these two amazing individuals.  It said,

"It is not HAPPY people who are THANKFUL. It is THANKFUL people who are HAPPY."

Despite all the challenges they have faced in these last few months both of them continue to express a great deal of gratitude and both have such peace about them.  I love these beautiful people and  I am so grateful for them.

Happy Halloween

We were the Incredible Family. Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Violet, Dash, and baby Jack Jack.  In our great town of Hood River the city shuts down Oak street (our main street) and the kids can trick-or-treat to all the business.  It is such fun to see so many familiar faces and fun costumes.  Last year was our first "family costume."  We were ninjas.  This year we wanted to continue with the family theme.  There was quite a bit of coaxing with Miss Avery to be Violet but she finally agreed.  However, the condition was that she gets to choose what ever she wants next year.  It was so fun to do this together as a family.  This may be our last family costume for a while so we enjoyed every second!!!  

Mr. Kal initially didn't want any photos. . . 

But eventually warmed to the idea. Such a fun night!  I love these types of family traditions.