June 25th Update...

Hello family and friends. Just a quick update to let you all know how great we are doing (and to post some overdue pics!). We have been keeping very busy. Chris still juggles work, full time school, and lots of yard work. Shawna is getting BIG! She had an appointment with her midwife and she is actually measuring larger than the norm for how far along she is. Awesome! Twins? Big news in Matty's world, she made the Basin Swim team! At six she is the youngest swimmer on the team. She just loves the water. Katie has been doing really good at swimming as well as she takes lessons 4 times a week now. Joy has been daddy's (and momma's) little girl. She is getting bigger but still looks so tiny to us! She is full of smiles and loves to imitate her older sisters and LOVES to dance. She is such a doll.

The biggest news recently was the injury of our beautiful three year old niece. Jana (my sister's daughter) suffered a head injury from getting kicked in the head by a horse and was airlifted to Doernbecher's Childrens Hospital in Portland. We packed up and drove up there to be near her and to help the Morgan's with whatever they needed. Jana underwent overnight surgery and to the doctors amazement, there was no permanent damage. She did receive some metal plates and a gnarly scar from the injury, but praise God, for it is only He that can provide such miracles. The Morgan's have shown an incredible trust in God, and we are so happy and thankful for them.

After a few days and when Jana was ok, we packed up the van and started our journey back home. The only problem was, it didn't start. Our van finally decided it was time to not provide us with a means of transportation anymore, stranding us 300 miles from home. But luckily we were at my parents house in Portland, so we had a place to stay, and were in an ideal spot to get a deal on a vehicle. I had the van towed to a shop (where it cost over $600 to repair, OUCH), we will sell it to try and recoup the repairs plus a little. Anyone want a 1991 Dodge Caravan? We knew the van wouldn't last us forever (it had 200,000 miles on it) but we hoped it would get us through the summer. Luckily we were somewhat prepared for this (research wise) and got a Honda Odyssey. That got us home, very comfortably!

So as you can see, life has been great. The warm weather finally arrived, the garden is doing great (if only I could grow veggies and fruit like I apparently can weeds), and we have spent a lot of time outdoors. We thank God everyday for the beautiful life we have. Thanks for checking on us, and here's some pics!

The happiest parents in the world!


Daddy and Joy.


Our three beautiful girls (that's facepaint from the picnic we were at, not a satanic tattoo)!