Life

Well now that I have graduated from nursing school, I have some extra spare time to post some pictures.  I feel like I have not been on here for so long!   I have taken my boards and I am officially a Registered Nurse.  YAY!  It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but such a great accomplishment.  I could not have gotten through nursing school without the support of my family and friends.  Thank you all so much!  I had a job lined up, but I felt it was best for my family to not take it at this time.  I am enjoying the rest of the summer off with my three children and our foster baby.  Yes, we took a baby in at just 6 days old during my last quarter of nursing school.  We love him so much!  It is so much fun having a baby around the house again.  I got licensed for the State of Washington, so I am in the process of getting my RN by endorsement for the State of Idaho.

The class of 2016!  I can say I miss seeing friends and faculty, but I do not miss all the studying I had to do.  :)

This was taken after graduation.

Megan Owen, RN

Fast forward to today and we are still as busy as ever.  Emma just finished her T-ball season and had a great time.

 She is gonna love her sports as much as her brother does!  Last year of T-ball complete for this girl.  It is hard to believe we have been watching our kids play T-ball for at least 8 years.


Emma and Anna being silly.  :)

Charlie continues to enjoy theatre and just finished up with Mary Poppins.  He took a couple vocal lessons, practiced really hard, and auditioned for Oliver.  He got the part he wanted.  He has over 70 lines and is in he says 7 songs.  He has a lot of hard work to do.  The show will run mid September through the end of the first weekend in October.

 Charlie is doing 4H this year.  It is fun to watch both boys take care of their pigs.  

 

Cooper and Charlie went to Camp Lutherhaven for a week this summer.  Always so much fun!

Cooper played baseball and soccer at the same time.  It was tough, but he managed.  He is now just back to soccer and loves it!  He is in a Soccer Storm tournament this weekend, which is  3x3 and then next weekend is playing in the Palouse Cup.

Cooper loves to garden and mow the lawn for us.  He is the best helper and still the hardest worker.

Nanni Vicki drove with us up to Sandpoint for soccer.  Long drive, but it was beautiful and a little stormy.


Cooper and Derek had a blast at Camp Lutherhaven as well.

All three just finished up with swimming lessons and my goodness how they have improved.  All three passed their levels.  The boys are swimming the full length of the pool multiple times doing four different strokes.  They just need to work more on endurance.  Emma even started swimming on her own.  Our foster baby turns 3 months old this Friday.  I can't believe how much he has grown.  He coos, is starting to smile, has rolled over, and is starting to grab things.  He is such a delight to have in our home.  Nate is still working at WSU doing mobile app development, working on his boat, can't wait to get his new Kayak, and has been amazing caring for our family when I was so busy with school.  

 I can't share too many photos when fostering, but I think these are okay to share.  This one is from the day we picked him up at the hospital at just 6 days old.

 It took Cooper a few hours to warm up to him.  He was not too sure about this hole experience.  Cooper later asked us if he could hold him.  He loves him and is such a good helper.

Bella loves him as well and loves to give him kisses.  :) 

 This is our new ambulance!  Megan continues to volunteer on the department.  She has been an EMT for 3.5 years now.  Nate filled out an application and was just voted in.  He is excited to join the department and plans on taking the upcoming EMT class as well.


These two helped clean streets for community days for a little bit. ;)


We made it down to Boise for a few days this summer.  We got to go spend one of the days with Grandpa Owen.  It was so nice seeing and visiting with aunts, uncles, and cousins.  

Winter Break!

Where has the time gone?  I have not updated our blog since September.  Yikes!  Well since I have some time, I thought I would add some photos to the blog and let you all know what we have been up to.  We have been busy as usual.  We had a wonderful winter break  and are ready for the week to begin tomorrow.  It has been really nice!  We hope all of our friends and family had a wonderful holiday as well.

All ready for "The Grinch" Christmas Program.

Nanni Vicki came to visit, bring presents and watch the school program. 

 Grandma Verla came to watch!

 Mr. Grinch Part 1 (Charlie)

Mr. Grinch Part 2 (Charlie)

Old Man Winter (Emma)

 

Rocking around the Christmas Tree (Coop)

 

Grinch Drumming (Coop)

 

Run Run Rudolph (Emma) 

Snow Flakes Falling (Charlie)

 

Where are you Christmas (Coop)

Oh we got it!

 Nate's parents took Nate and the kids to Locomotive Park for the amazing lights display.

Charlie is part of GES (Genesee Elementary Singers) and there was a concert one night.  Coop also played his trumpet at this concert.  Videos to come!  We have not downloaded them yet off of the video camera.

 Decorating the tree for mom and dad. :)

On the first day of summer vacation we finally used the kiddos coupons to the aquatic center.  They got them when they finished swimming lessons over summer.  :) 

I wish I had got some video of Nate going on that water feature.  :)

Day 2 of Winter break the kiddos went sledding!

There was a lot more sledding out at the farm with Nate's family over break as well!

Day 3 we went bowling after worship.  Cooper came home with a flyer for the 3rd annual Christmas Party at a bowling alley and so we joined in on the fun!  They got two free games of bowling and got to pick out a toy.  They even did trivia throughout and Cooper won a tablet! 

Thanks Mom for the Starbucks! :) Yum! 

Kids got to pick out a Christmas gift each.  Emma picked a nerf gun, Coop a WSU hat, and Charlie a stocking filled with goodies.  

Oh mom was super sore the next day.  :)

 

Nate whooped us both times!

 

Drive home!

All ready for the Christmas Eve service!

Emma helping set the table for Christmas Eve dinner.

Uncle Nic came to visit too!

The children's gifts are priceless.

 Christmas dinner!

Christmas out at the farm!  

 

Emma made everyone cookies with her new easy bake.

Unfortunalty a couple of days after Christmas Emma got sick.  

Coop had it by New Year's Eve.  :(  So far, Charlie has not gotten it.

Charlie and mom watched the NYC ball drop. Emma slept through it. 

When Cooper felt better, we took a drive out in the country.  We saw 13 elk and one deer. 

Nate smoked a turkey.  It was fabulous! 

Nanni Vicki and Boppi found Pie Face. It was a fun game! These videos were at the end where the kids just wanted to keep turning it to get hit in the face.  It was quite funny watching Nate's aunts, uncles, and parents get it in the face.  :)

Now it is back to work and school!  Emma and Charlie are auditioning tomorrow for "The Jungle Book" with the Children's Missoula Theatre.  They are pretty excited.  I hope Emma does it! :) 

Happy New Year Friends and Family!