Riding trains with Aunt Ali, Aunt Amy and Ethan, Carter, Logan and Collin.
Lots of Cousins and others and Cousin Logan's second birthday party in CA.
Value quilt I made for girls camp this summer. There is a picture of a temple drawn on the middle square but it is hard to see in the picture.
Jared is the Weblos leader for the boy scouts. Spencer and I went along with the scouts on a fishing trip. We didn't catch anything but it was still fun.
The planter's day parade in Woodland, Wa.
The 4th of July parade with Aunt Rosie and Cousins Kaylee and Lily.
Frank and Elaine Wade (Jared's Parents) celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Way to go guys!
Our trip to the beach in May.The last few months have been pretty busy. In April we decided to become Foster Parents. We did all of our foster care training in May. In June we passed our home inspection and our interviews. Now we are just waiting for my background check to be complete (Jared's passed in June) and then we will be licensed for foster care. We are only going to take one baby at a time between the age of 0 and 1. We were originally told to expect a baby in August but since my background check is taking so long (I had to get refinger printed) it might take longer. We are excited about getting a new baby (although I am not looking forward to night times with a new baby, it has been great sleeping through the night).
We have also had some adventures over the last few months. In May we took Spencer to the beach for the first time. The weather was beautiful at our house but was cold and cloudy at the beach. He had a lot of fun playing in the sand. We also went to a party celebrating my in-laws 45th wedding anniversary!
In June we went and saw my sister, Chelsey, graduate high school. She is such a hard working beautiful young woman. I can't believe I have another sibling all grown up. It was fun to celebrate with her. I know that she is prepared to face the challenges that come with being an adult. I am so impressed by the way my parents prepared her for this time in her life and I hope I can prepare Spencer likewise. We also went to the Planter's Day Parade in Woodland, WA. Spencer really enjoyed that. I was asked to make a quilt for girls camp. At camp they tie 10 quilts and the girls who help get their name put in a drawing to keep a quilt. I made a young woman themed quilt. There was a square for each value and then squares with power stars made up of all 8 values.
For the 4th of July Spencer and I went to a parade. Jared and his parent's were in the parade. We also went to the 4th of July celebration at the park here in town. They always have booths and fun things to do. We also watched the City firework show and had a BBQ at my in-laws with Aunt Rosie, Uncle Todd and Aunt Karen, and there kids.
In July we helped my parents dig a french drain. A large number of people from church also helped them. I was touched by all of the people willing to help. Jared got to use a mini excavator and enjoyed that. It was fun to visit my family. I am so glad we only live 2 hours away so that we can see them at least once a month.
For my birthday in July, my Mom and sisters, Emily and Tess, came to visit. They took me out to lunch and then we went to the spa for pedicures. It was a lot of fun and I am so glad they came. My in-laws also threw me a family birthday party. My sister-in-law, Rosie, cooked a wonderful meal and made a delicious cake with fresh strawberry and ice cream filling.
In July we also went to California for a week. We had a great time visiting Jared's family and friends. Spencer has two cousins in California that are his age and four others that are close in age. It was so fun watching them play together. The cousins are all little blue eyed blond kids. People often ask us where Spencer got his blue eyes and blond hair, but if they saw him with his cousins they wouldn't need to ask. Spencer and I both got the stomach flu while we were down there but otherwise it was a great trip. Spencer also got to meet two of his great grandma's and we went on a short train ride.
August is off to another busy start. The last few weeks Jared's work has really picked up (which we are so grateful for). I have also been busy with work. It feels like most of the day is spent with Jared and I running in and out switching who is taking care of Spencer. That has been tiring. I have been in court a lot over the last couple months and I have learned a lot being there. I have two more court hearings scheduled next week and then I am hoping to cut back for a little while. Spencer has been a trooper. He has adjusted pretty well going back and forth between Jared and I. He has also accompanied me to the courthouse a couple times (just to file things, he doesn't come along when I am in hearings). I don't have to walk through security at the courthouse anymore and the security people extended that luxery to Spencer (which I really appreciate). On top of all of that I was made the young woman president at church.
Each day I pray for the ability to know what is most important to accomplish. Life is so busy I hope that I will not lose focus on the things that really matter.
This Sunday is our 6th wedding anniversary. I am so grateful that I married Jared. I loved him so much when I married him and somehow that love has just grown each year. He is a wonderful husband and father and I know marrying him was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Here are some newer pictures.
