My Latest Addiction

These really are delicious. I found them at Costco, bought them, and ate them. Yes, it's an industrial size bag of chocolate covered pretzles. No, I didn't share.

I just found this picture from Easter. Maybe they do like each other......a little. Actually, for the most part the girls are super sweet to Jacob and he is super sweet to them. The other day I heard Hailey getting frustrated with Jacob and asked her what was wrong. She said "he keeps saying 'guess what?' and I know he's just going to say 'I love you.' He just keeps on saying it!" Yeah, that's a pretty big problem. If these were the only fights my children had I would be pretty tickled!

New Old House

We live in Portland, Oregon. It rains entirely too much. But, the pro to all the rain is the beautiful vegetation! It makes for the nicest views. So, we bought an older house and have been remodeling it...the reason we bought the house is that it is on 1.2 acres, which is really hard to find in this area, especially so close to Nike's campus.

We've owned the house since July, but I haven't emailed or posted any pictures so some of my family asked to see....here's the grand McCauley house!

This is the family room - looking out from the fireplace...look familiar, Liz? I'm looking at buying a sectional for here, and a new rug since this one has made it's way down to the basement.

We are painting our baseboards so the bedroom is a little crazy in this pic, but you can see the huge window we put in so we can enjoy the scenery.

Looking from the kitchen into the family room.....nice and cozy. We're having the fireplace redone this week and should have bookcases built with file drawers at the bottom by Thanksgiving (cross your fingers for us).

Too dark, I know, but you can see the layout of the kitchen on the left and the dining on the right.

A better view of the kitchen. I love to cook and bake but I've never been a gaget person so I actually haven't minded having a small kitchen. I have lots of shelving in the garage for all those things I use occasionally....they'll make their way out this Thanksgiving!

Sunday walk

So, our family takes walks nearly every Sunday...as long as there's a slight break in the rain - we're out there. This was Halloween Sunday - our neighbors were preping their yard for their haunted walk. I asked the kids to give me their scary looks in the fog....pretty freaky!

This Blogging Thing

Okay, so I'm going to try this blogging thing again. I love reading other people's blogs but haven't really caught on for our family. Here it goes.

Little Lindsey

The other evening without Marshall I was less-than-patient with the older kids about a messy bedroom. I brought them downstairs for the promised movie and Lindsey plopped herself down on the couch. I was getting the movie ready and she said "Mommy, even though you just got mad at us I still love you." When we are taught in the scriptures to be like little children, I think this is what Heavenly Father means. I sat next to her, snuggled her and gave my apology. She smiled a big, knowing smile. She knew she had turned my tide. I planned to do busy "house stuff" druring the movie, but instead sat and snuggled and watched with all those delicate little faces, and big glossy eyes. I think I watched them watching the movie more than I watched the movie itself.

I love their innocence right now. It won't last forever, one day they will have the eyes of an adult, critical and judgemental, quick to find fault, yet full of fault the whole while. It almost makes me weepy to think of them growing in that way. I love our little bubble of a life right now. The kids hear bad words on the bus - the "s-h" word is shut-up, the "s" word is stupid and the "h" word is hate. I love that they don't really know how damaging words work. I love that their little eyes tell the honest truth even when they try to slide a quick one by. I love the bursts of laughter that come at mom's seriously dumb joke, some pun or play on words. I love this stage right now. Despite the endless laundry, the house that never stays clean, the kitchen that never closes, and the long bedtime routines. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Cannon Beach

We moved to Oregon a little over a month ago although it feels much longer. We had the perfect trip to the beach - Cannon Beach where Goonies was filmed. I have to admit I found myself picturing those awkward teenagers riding their bikes along the streets of this charming little town. The kids were so easily satisfied to dig and build and collect treasures. We came home with a bucket full of stinky little goodies - bird feathers, sea weed, and plenty of broken sea shells. Lindsey found every little thing in her path to be something special.







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Chelsea Came to Visit

We were so tickled that Chelsea came to make our Spring Break! Our neighborhood was completely deserted, not a soul to find. Chelsea Duerden is our friend from California, currently attending BYU Idaho. She used to watch the little munchkins for us but has become much more than that! The kids were so sad when she had to go. I wasn't sure she was going to make it out the door.


This was the good-bye group hug - completely unprompted. They did not want to see her go. And neither did I!

Among other things we went on a worm-hunt/puddle-splashing-walk. Those interested in worms were "catching them". Due to tons of rain you had to watch your step there were so many worms on the sidewalks and roads. Our neighborhood was so deserted we just walked down the street without worrying about cars. It was nice but a little erie.

Lindsey was very interested in getting lots of worms, but not in picking ANY up. Hailey, on the other hand, was more than pleased to hold her slimy friends and add them to the top of the pile of worms in the trap.

Chelsea was a good sport and picked up worms, despite the gag reflex. If you look closely in this picture you'll see she gave this little wormy the chance to fly! That little blurb by Lindsey's knee is the worm. Don't worry, he wasn't harmed.

Those not interested in worms found puddles to splash in. Jacob especially enjoyed this and his new rain boots that he has been wearing every day since then.

Madeline liked it . . . .

Until she got cold. Chelsea was nice enough to keep her warm - thanks Chels!

By the end we had pleanty of worms - no, I did not count them. They got to go outside and stay on the deck. Then, it snowed and I'm afraid they didn't make it. Sorry, little worm enthusiasts!

After Chelsea left we did "toes on the line." This means I hollar "toes on the line" and their job is to come put their toes on the line where the carpet meets up with the hardwood floor for further instruction. They do pretty well at it with the exception of Jake (usually) who then lures Hailey away to play. Usually I have to hold the little fellow.