birthday parties are fun

We were invited yesterday to a birthday party for our sweet little friend Jubilee who was turning 6. The party was held at her grandparents amazing property and Jubilee's mom, Emily, made yummy pizzas that were baked in the outdoor mud oven and we had absolutely delicious rainbow cake that was made by her aunt Tina, Each layer was dyed with natural dyes (ie. spinach for the green layer) and Mira has already requested that cake for her next birthday. Playing on the huge lawn, the pinata (the highlight for me was watching Shane blindfolded try to whack it - the kids were cracking up!) and exploring all the many gardens, chicken coops and greenhouses was so much fun. And being together with good friends was a blessing too.

day at the beach

Last Monday we decided to go for it and drive 2 1/2 hours to Rockaway for Homeschool Day at the Beach, a free event with science classes hosted by Twin Rocks Christian Camp. We almost didn't go because frankly driving almost 3 hours each way for a rainy day at the beach with 5 (!) kids did not sound like fun. BUT it was and I'm so glad we did it.

The day before I spent all afternoon making muffins, graham crackers, soup, PB&J, gluten free pizza, biscuits with fried eggs and packing up the car with extra clothes, coloring books and water bottles. On Monday morning the car was already packed and I was able to go to my 6 am spinning class at the gym, get home and shower, make some green smoothies and we were on the road by 7:30. We listed to a new radio theater CD, Silas Marner, from Focus on the Family that I bought especially for the trip and we stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory for ice cream and cheese. The three littlest took a short nap and then we arrived at the camp.

I was dreading being out in the rain all day with the little boys but everything was set up to be indoors which was great. The program started with worship time and then a rotation of classes like sea star dissection, edible plant walk and flubber making for the little ones. There was hot cocoa and cookies in the dining hall, a warm fire in another building and lots of crafts and science exhibits set up indoors for the kids. The only time I went outdoors was at the very end of the day when I took the older kids over the bridge and down to the beach. Shane stayed indoors with Silas. Of course at the beach we made the mistake of going too close to the water and we all got soaked. After changing our clothes we went back to our friends, the Harold's, beach house and had dinner with them before making the long drive home. We got home around 10, exhausted but happy.

small town pet parade

Last weekend the girls pulled a couple of our chickens in the annual pet parade. They've done this the past few years and even made it into Sunset magazine with our "hen hotel" a few years ago (I love the photo in the magazine (click link) those were the days I could dress them alike!). This year I made them cute skirts out of chicken print fabric and they won a blue ribbon. West enjoyed the candy and all the animals. After the parade we walked home and enjoyed a big picnic in our backyard with friends. Photos were taken by me, Lissa and our friend Emily.

art in the garden

See! The winter is past;
 the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
    the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
    is heard in our land.The fig tree forms its early fruit;
    the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
    my beautiful one, come with me.

Song of Songs 2:11-13 

This week the rain is back for a few days but last week was beautiful and sunny and the garden was full of life: dinners on the patio, painting in the garden and lettuce, radishes and spinach being eaten right from the new garden beds. My sister Leyah found a (free!) old easel down the street and Mira set it up in the garden and painted the afternoon away. Mimi (photo above) worked the afternoons in her garden next door and Auntie Lissa popped back and forth between the garden gate. Granny sang songs on the back porch and the little ones took turns swinging in the old tree swing. This week we're reading by the fire once again while the rain falls outside and we're baking up our own storm in the kitchen. But I know soon these beautiful afternoons will once again return. Photos by Lissa and Tirza.

rubies tea

Last night our mother-daughter group, Rubies, had a tea party put on by the girls. The girls made invitations for lady guests, planned entertainment and menu and had fun decorating for the event. It was fun to watch my girls step into the role of hostesses. Mira played the piano as guests arrived, prayed for the evening and both girls sang a song from the Shirley Temple musical Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm (click video above to see the video or if you get this post via email go to our website www.wibelfamily.blogspot.com). Grammie (Shane's mom) came all the way from Central Oregon for the tea and made the girls so happy by coming and my mom and sister also came. One of the highlights of my evening was when our little foster girl, age 4, decided that she too wanted to perform and ran up on the stage and belted out Twinkle Twinkle. It was so sweet and brave. It has been a hard week for her and my heart breaks for what she's having to go through but she has been nothing but a joy to have in our home.

a blessed mother I am

I awoke late this morning and when I opened my door was surprised to find three little girls with a beautiful tray of scrambled eggs and tea that they'd made themselves while the rest of us slept. When did my girls get so big?! And wonderful gifts were waiting for me too - a new yellow coffee mug from Mira, a ceramic figurine from Annah (who was excited to tell me that you could get 4 of them for $1!) and a new bike basket, wine and sea salt chocolate from Shane.

Later in the day we had a lovely brunch with my mom, granny, Chip and my sisters in our backyard (which by the way is undergoing a wonderful transformation into a vegetable garden) and an evening walk and picnic at Silver Falls State Park. Oh, and we have a sweet little four year old foster child living with us right now so today I celebrated mother's day with 5! sweet children to care for. What a blessing they all are.