The Weejuns

K2 turns 4 with a Narnia - Voyage of the Dawn Treader Party!

2011-03-12T18:06:00.000-08:00

We had a rousing party yesterday for K2 as he celebrated his 4th birthday. His request was to have a Narnia - Voyage of the Dawn Treader party. We fulfilled his wishes complete with a water entryway, Dawn Treader cake and Prince Caspian costume. A fun time was had by all and the feast at Aslan's table was magnificent.

Here is the invitation:

Here are the photo highlights:

Thank you to all who attended and participated in the festivities. We're very proud of our little man and the boy his is becoming.

Success at the AWANA Grand Prix - We have a winner!

2011-01-27T21:26:00.000-08:00

Tonight was the AWANA Grand Prix. Beanie and K2 both entered cars in the race. Out of 35 cars Beanie won 1st Place!! Her car had the fastest time and she took the trophy. We are so proud.

In the heats where they raced together Beanie and K2 took 1st and second every time. We're pretty sure he came in 4th overall.

Daddy is pretty proud (he designed the cars) and you'd almost think he won first prize.

Way to go Beanie (and Daddy)!

Nerf gun memories with K2

2011-01-25T15:40:00.000-08:00

Today, I got to go on a date with my little man K2. Just the two of us as Beanie was off with Oma doing "girl stuff."

We started out our adventure by stopping by WalMart to purchase some bullets for our Nerf guns. Then we went to the park to shoot stuff. We shot bears, dear, elk, tigers, antelope, an elephant and an occasional sloth. We also set up dinosaurs, Toy Story figures and anything else we could find to shoot at. We had quite the shooting range going. Oddly enough, I was the only mom at the park down on her belly trying to take out Buzz Lightyear. Go figure!

We were interrupted a few times by other boys coming by to see what we were doing and to try their hand at shooting. But for the most part we spent a lot of time running and hiding behind trees, firing our guns, retrieving our bullets and talking to each other on the walkie-talkies.

On a date level it was totally fun. We ran and jumped and explored (thank you P90X). I have a very creative son who kept me thoroughly entertained and moving the entire time. I think our final take-down tally was 71 by K2's count.

On a mom level it was a priceless day that I will remember forever. Just me and my three year old running, laughing, exploring and making memories together. To watch and see my son turning into a boy is amazing and it made my heart sing.

Afterward we were of course hungry so, upon K2's request, we at lunch at Pastini - because "they bring the food really fast Mom!" We sat and relived our shooting spectacular and feasted on great food. All in all it was a really good day!

We're expecting a White Christmas!!

2010-12-19T16:26:00.000-08:00

It's been snowing the past couple of days so we're expecting a White Christmas. Yesterday we went out to get our tree - we're a little late this year, but that's ok. We found one and it was quite an adventure. The snow up near the mountains was much deeper than at home. Go figure! Here is what we were up to......

She's A Daisy - It's Official

2010-10-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was investiture day at Daisies. Daisies is the kindergarten and first grade division of Girl Scouts. Beanie joined a local group this year. It is just up the street from our house at Trinity Lutheran School and they meet twice a month.

For the first few weeks the girls have been learning about Girl Scouts and each other. Yesterday was the culmination of this time together. They had a short ceremony where they were finally able to wear their uniforms and each girl received her Daisy pin. We're very proud of our new Daisy!!

Here is what it looked like:

Cowgirls live here too

2010-10-19T16:18:00.000-07:00

Well, by now you know that we have a full fledged cowboy living at our house. But did you know we have a cowgirl too?

Any doubts that we had were wiped away just yesterday when Beanie got to go out to Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch and ride a wonderful horse named Halo with her "Uncle" Jeff. It was amazing and beautiful and fun to see such a little tiny body up on a big strong animal such as Halo. Beanie was a great listener and she learned very fast and looked like a natural as she rode around the Sandy Pants Arena at the ranch.

There is great joy in seeing your children experience joy. And I am proud to have two cowpokes in my house.

The cowboy who stole my heart

2010-10-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

K2 is a HUGE cowboy fan. He introduces himself as an "original" cowboy to everyone he meets. Daily he is organizing rodeos, feeding pigs, corralling horses and rounding up cows. I love his imagination and I admit that I encourage it, wholeheartedly.

Of course, every real cowboy needs a sturdy pair of boots, hat, gun, chaps and jeans. K2 has all these things. And they get a lot of use. The heels on his boots are almost gone, his hat is well worn and his gun has seen better days. But he's the darn-cutest cowboy I've ever had the privilege of knowing and he long ago stole my heart.

As we all know, these days are fleeting. Before long he will be into robots or rockets, soccer or skiing and the hat will sit on the shelf and the gun will collect dust. But before it does, I took him to Wal-Mart to get this boy, this sweet, handsome, gentlemanly cowboy permanently recorded for posterity. And I'm so glad I did.

Happy First Day of School Beanie!

2010-09-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

Beanie started Kindergarten and it is a rite of passage to make sure there is a photo - so for all our family and friends, here it is:

Notice the socks - the advantages of homeschool!

Kindergarten......say what?

2010-08-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

The Bean is starting Kindergarten tomorrow. Really? When did this happen? I mean really, when did my firstborn baby, the apple of my eye, my little butter bean turn into a girl big enough to learn to read, write, tackle math problems and do science projects? (I think I am having more trouble with this than with her turning 5 last week.)

Well, no matter what I wish, like for time to stand still, she is off and running toward life. The beauty of this big event is that by educating this precious life at home I get to see and experience her major life moments. Just like being there for her first steps there is great reward in seeing the light bulb go off when she reads her first book, grasps the concept that 3+3=6 and wakes up to find the caterpillars have turned into butterflies in her science project.

I admit, I may be dragging my heels at accepting that my baby is growing up. Thankfully, God is in control and He is helping me let go so I can help her be all that He has created her to be. I am so happy to be a part of the process. But really, Kindergarten? Say what?

Beanie Turns 5 - The Friend Party

2010-08-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

Since you only turn 5 once we had a kid-friendly lollipop birthday party today for the Bean and her friends. Complete with all kinds of goodies on a stick.

The spread included fruit kababs, dipped marshmallows, cake pops (courtesy of Bakerella) and an assortment of other fun goodies.

Dipped marshmallows are fun for everyone!

Cake Pops!

Fruit on a stick!

A wonderful time was had by all!

Happy Birthday Beanie!!!!!!!

Summer 2010

2010-08-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

We've entered the last month of summer for 2010. Wow! It has really been quite an adventure already. We started out with a pretty chilly spring and were not sure that summer was even going to arrive, but it finally did and we have been taking advantage of it every since.

Our days have been filled with swimming, biking, music, camping, canoeing, friends, hiking and so much more. Below is a picture montage of what we've been up to so far.... (just an fyi - I have no idea why the video picked up that particular picture, so random)

Waiters are not customers

2010-03-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

Today we are at home because our car is on the fritz. But that's ok because the weather is on the fritz too. Windy, cold, rainy, snowy, sunny - a typical Central Oregon Day.

We finished watching Clifford on PBS and decided to play coffee house / restaurant. I have two of the cutest waiters you have ever seen. K2 is wearing his night night as an apron and taking my order quite officially. We had to have a discussion about who is the customer and who is the waiter. But we got it straightened out.

Beanie likes to use here Bahamian dress as an waitstaff apron and she is great at providing a well rounded, delicious meal. Very impressive!

This is all part of our education today. Manners, nutrition, colors, shapes and numbers. Pretty multifunctional!!

Now Beanie and I are building words, after a hot chocolate break. Not a bad way to spend a day at home!

Hope you are having a great day too.

Tough Times + Tough Choices + Good News= God's Provision

2010-02-21T20:31:00.000-08:00

Times are tough. Not just for us, but for everyone we know. Because of this we, like many people, are being forced to make some very difficult decisions that we never thought we would have to make as a family. We are still mulling over our options and our next moves, but in the middle of the muddle we got some really good news.

Mark has been on a waiting list for several years to get a permit to guide fishing trips on the Umpqua River here in Oregon. We have recently been informed that he got the permit. This is a huge deal because there are only 10 permits for this river. We are very excited because this gives us an opportunity to provide for our family while Mark gets to do something he loves.

We are so grateful for God's provision. He is taking care of us and guiding us in the direction He wants us to go. We continue to pray and fast. And we hope you will join us. God has a plan for our family. We are excited to see how that plan comes to fruition.

Thank you for remembering us and keeping us in your prayers.

2010 - The emergence of the independent woman (aka 4 year old)

2010-01-17T20:46:00.000-08:00

So, we've started off the year with Beanie wanting to do everything by herself. At 4 she wants to take her own showers, brush her own hair, dry her own hair and fix her own breakfast. It has been fun to see her develop in this area but a little bittersweet too. She is starting to need me less. Ahh, they grow up so quickly.

This last week she asked me to get her a driver's license book so she could drive herself to the library. She started reading a couple of weeks ago and now wants to devour books. At least it's the library, as one of my friends pointed out.

Beanie is ice skating and has taken to it quite well. It is interesting to see a child find something they really like to do and put effort into it. She is very determined.

Kubby on the other hand has decided to extend his eating sessions and every meal seems to take at least an hour. They all include numerous trips to the bathroom too. Hmmmm. We are working on changing the habit patterns here. Pray.

He is also quite remiss if he is without a pen and paper in his hands at all times. Maybe there is a future in art or reporting here. We will have to see.

Well, life is definitely interesting in our house.

How we are supporting Haiti

2010-01-15T14:17:00.000-08:00

As we all know the devastation is immense. Prayer is our best gift to the hurting and homeless people of Haiti. THE WEEJUNS are partnering with World Relief, a 70+ year-old help and relief organization to pray for the people of Haiti.

Please add these needs to your prayer list:

* Pray for God’s grace and comfort to be very real and present to the people of Haiti.

* World Relief has dispatched its Disaster Response team to Haiti. Please pray for the team’s safety and for strength and wisdom on the ground in Port-au-Prince.

* Pray for the logistical challenges of getting aid into the hands of the most vulnerable people at this critical time. Ask God to clear the way and to empower His people to serve Haiti’s most vulnerable in the midst of chaos.

*Pray for World Relief staff and their families, and for people you know with friends and family in Haiti. Pray for efforts to bring people together.

*In the days ahead, Haiti’s churches will be at the center of relief and recovery efforts. Please pray for your brothers and sisters in Haiti as they respond to the despair around them.

*Right now, the situation is dark – but the light shines brightest in the darkness. Pray that the light of Christ will shine through and give hope to those who have lost all hope.

* Pray for lasting change.

* Pray for the orphans in Haiti, especially those waiting for the finalization of their adoption paperwork. Many, many are ready to come home to loving families around the world. Please pray that the government of Haiti and the countries of the adoptive families will find a way to get these kids placed immediately.

Hopefully you have made a donation to the Red Cross or another reputable charity.

If not, or if you are looking for a way to do more, please consider donating to World Relief. World Relief has a disaster relief team on the ground today in Port-au-Prince working in Kings Hospital. This is not a start up organization. World Relief has been helping people around the world for over 70 years. Your donations are needed and will be put to use in country.

Donate HERE.

You can find out more about World Relief HERE.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and your support.

Merry Christmas 2009

2009-12-22T23:03:00.000-08:00

Every year seems to have a theme. For our family the theme for the year 2009 was marriage, but more about that later.

First, as we come to the close of 2009 we would like to wish you and your family at very Merry Christmas! And as we speed towards 2010, Happy New Year!

Our year was very busy and blessed. Mark spent the majority of the winter, spring and summer working at The Riffle on the Lower Deschutes. He did a marvelous job of beautifying the property with trees and other landscaping. He saved numerous trees that were improperly planted and created some wonderful shade areas for visitors to enjoy. He learned a bit about irrigation, cows and self-employment along the way. Of course, there were some great fishing trips both to the Deschutes and the Umpqua and his love for Steelhead is stronger than ever. (Ok, I sorta like them too!)

In the fall Mark took his first class at Kilns College - Critical Thinking. I must say he is a marvelous scholar and seems to have found a new passion for learning. We feel very blessed to be a part of Antioch church in Bend and all the opportunities which it affords. Mark is also a part of a vibrant men's group and involved in the Kilns College Concert Series which brings in musicians from around the country.

The kids had a great year. Beanie is growing into a beautiful young lady. She's creative, funny and smart as a whip. She turned 4 in August and I started homeschooling her in the fall. She is learning a lot, has a thirst for knowledge and we expect she will begin reading within the next few months.

She was involved in ballet and tap dance this year and can really move to the beat. During the summer she turned into a little fish. She had a great time at the the pool and enjoyed fishing and camping on our many family excursions. She also made her debut as a flower girl. As you can see she was a vision of lovliness.

K2 turned 2 in March and has become a very fun little man. He has a wonderful sense of humor, an advanced vocabulary and a knack for music. He loves the water and riding his bike, drawing and playing the drums. He has joined Beanie and me for homeschooling and is a smart little cookie. His best friend is his sister and together they make quite a team.

I started the year teaching Stroller Strides and saw significant growth in my class sizes. In August I sold Stroller Strides to a gal who was also one of my clients and she is taking it to the next level. It was a win win for everyone. I am very grateful for the opportunity I had to meet some wonderful women and loved the experience of running my own business.

Currently I am enjoying a study of Revelation with Mark through Community Bible Study (CBS). I am also managing my own website and writing 5 different blogs. This in between being a wife, mom, homeschool teacher and over all great gal (toot toot!!)

My main focuses with the website and blogs include, prayer, fasting, book reviews and exposing human trafficking. You can find out more at www.saltandlight3.com and find your way to my blogs at:

http://funkiplanet.blogspot.com - book reviews and helpful information
http://lighthouse513.blogspot.com - prayer and fasting
http://sparklecauses.blogspot.com - anti human trafficking information
http://saltandlight123.blogspot.com - thoughts and ideas from my giant brain (wink wink)

As some of you may know the kids and I were involved in a roll over accident in November. Our car was totaled but the Lord completely protected us from injury. We are thankful that we have a new-to-us mini van and thank you all for your prayers.

So now, about this marriage theme. It all started in the spring with my Aunt Barbara (Hornbeck) getting married to Reuben Welch. Then Paul married Jessi (Stringer) in September. Then Jackie (Mark's mom) married Jerry Hendricks in November and now we're pleased to announce that my mom, Bev, will be getting married on December 28 to Art Ophoff in Michigan. We wish all the newlyweds our best.

As we anxiously await the theme of 2010, we've got some ideas.... awesome jobs, good health, big fish, warm weather (ok, that's mine)..... you get the picture. Pray with us!

Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated. We wish you all the best this Christmas as we remember and celebrate the birth of our Savior. We also hope you have a fabulous New Year and pray that the Lord richly blesses you and your family in 2010.

Merry Christmas,

The Stangelands

Summer Vacation 2009 - The Epic California Adventure

2009-08-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

Whew! We made it. 2800 miles towing our new to us tent trailer, two kids in car seats, two cases of food poisoning, one fender bender and a whole bunch of adventures later we made home in one piece and we had a WONDERFUL time.

Highlights:

Mark finally got to see my family in all it's glorious, dysfunctional splendor. I was impressed with his fortitude and graciousness. He still loves me in spite of my quirk and foibles and now he knows where I got them. (I guess you can't hide them forever!)

Beanie got to meet the princesses. When asked her favorite she is very adamant that they ALL are her favorite.

Kubby got to spend 10 days with his dad and it was a joy to see them bond.

I got to see old friends, family and thoroughly enjoyed being with my husband and my kids as we explored California, both Southern and Northern, and I finally got to see the Charles M. Schulz museum.

If you want to see the photo journal of our adventures, please visit my Facebook page.

Campin' in the backyard

2009-07-03T14:37:00.000-07:00

Last night we (K2, Beanie & Mommy) did a little campin' in the back yard. It was fun. I set up the tent and we all got our sleeping bags out and slept under the stars.

Ok, what really happened is.......

I set up the tent, Mark put K2 in his sleeping bag but forgot to put on nap pants so he peed in his bed in the first 5 minutes. We got that cleaned up then Mommy put everyone back to bed and went inside and watched a movie with Mark - then went outside and slept in the tent with the kids. The earplugs helped a lot since there seemed to be an unusually high number of trains going through town last night.

Puppy didn't know what to do since we were outside and Mark was inside. I think Rudy slept on the porch all night keeping an eye on us. In the morning he was ecstatic to see us emerge from our dome. Just to know we were safe. Whew!

Daddy took the kidlets to IHOP (which K2 gets confused w/ LHOP (Little House on the Prairie) but the pancakes were good anyway. Then we all went out to Terrebonne and bought a new-to-us tent trailer. Camping should be pretty posh for us from here on out.

Tomorrow is July 4th and Mommy will do a 5k at 8am, we'll all watch the Pet Parade downtown at 10am and then have a BBQ throw down at our house at 4pm. Complete with fireworks from Uncle Pyro (aka Paul). Should make for a very fun and tiring day. We'll need Sunday to recover for sure!

Happy 4th to all of you!!

From the mouths of children......

2009-03-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

Since each of the kids was born we've been praying with them each night before bed. Here are the fruits of our labors.

(Beanie is learning to pray on her own and each night is a new adventure to see what she'll come up with next.)

The Weejuns in 09

2009-02-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted any family happenings since before Christmas when we had our snow party outside. Everyone is doing well. We are just a few weeks away from having a 2 year old and a 3 year old in our house. Can you believe K2 is 2? Amazing.

The news on the home front is as follows:

K2 is a vocabulary machine. He loves books and speaks much clearer than a lot of 3 year olds we know. He also keeps us entertained with his trial and error method of learning how words work together. Right now he keeps telling us that his arm came off or his foot came off. It means he can't get them through the holes in his clothes. I guess if he can't see them he thinks they must have come off. His is also on the tail end of potty training. We started a couple of weeks ago and he is doing just great. Finally, he is attached to the hip of his sister. They don't seem to be able to do much apart. Where you find one you find the other - usually making a mess. He did make his own mess the other day when he got into a tub of Vaseline during naptime. Ah, there's nothing like greasy blobs all over a room to make you appreciate wipes.

The Bean is growing like a weed. She started ballet class last month and is an excellent dancer. We're very proud of her. Beanie and mommy do "school" just about every day and are currently working our way through a Hooked on Phonics program for preschoolers. The lightbulb recently went off about rhyming. We talk about words that rhyme all the time now. Cat, hat, fat, mat.... You get the idea. She also has some great friends from Stroller Strides - like Josiah -and church - like Sarah - who we get together with and play with on a regular basis. She has a firm grasp of the world around her. In fact just this morning she heard the name Michelle and told us that Michelle is Barak Obama's wife. Not much gets past this one I tell ya! She HAS been asking where John McCain is but that's another story for another blog.

Mark is doing well in his new job. It's much different being self-employed but he's adjusting quite famously. He has not been on any fishing expeditions lately but we've really enjoyed having him home. We recently went on a family outing to the High Desert Museum and daddy showed us all the areas where he had cut trees down. Ooooh fun! After his accident in November Mark was able to purchase a new vehicle. He got a Chevy truck and I love it. He volunteers to run lots of errands for me so he can drive it. If I would have known that's all it takes I would have insisted on a truck years ago.

I am doing very well. Stroller Strides is going great. My class is filled with wonderful moms and I am enjoying being an integral part of helping them achieve their fitness goals. The kids and I are involved in MOPS this year and it is very fun for them to see their friends every other week. Mark and I are participating in a CBS (Community Bible Study) group that is studying Genesis. We are both learning a lot and it is a real treat to discuss our lessons and insights with one another. We have been in the group since September and will finish our study in May. Our church is going very well and is even considering going to 2 services. The auditorium we are in seats 600 and we're pushing the limits every week. I have been actively involved with a non-profit organization called World Relief NEXT and have recently completed a 6 week learning group on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It was a really intense experience and I am praying about how God wants me to proceed.

We took some family photos recently. Here are the results. They were taken by our friend Tamera at Wiggleworm Photography. She's good.

Well, that's our update. We hope you are doing well and we look forward to hearing from you anytime you want to drop us a line.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

2008-12-20T11:25:00.000-08:00

On Thursday night Mark made a fire in our fire pit and we all put on our snow clothes and played in the snow and roasted marshmallows. Fun memories for 2008!

Our Grand Adventure!

2008-12-14T16:14:00.000-08:00

First, it finally snowed in Bend. So, we broke out the snowsuits and played in the snow.

Then we packed up the car and headed over the pass to Salem. Who's bright idea was this?

When we got there we all suited up again and headed downtown to ride on cousin Devon and Todd's 1972 Fire Engine in the Christmas Lights Parade.

The Bean and K2 even got to help steer the back of the truck!

Everybody wore Santa hats and waved to all the people lining the parade route.

It was fun to see all the lights, hang with Grandma, Papa Merle and Aunt Squirrely.

Then we drove back home in the snow and now everybody is taking a sleepy time!

Merry Christmas to you!

My baby turned into a boy. Where was I?

2008-11-19T15:12:00.000-08:00

I was downloading pictures today for my trip to California. I found some great ones but while I was doing it I realized that my baby has turned into a boy. When did this happen? Where was I?

I know I've been here all along, but I'm so surprised. It's very dramatic in pictures. It makes me excited to see who he is going to be in another few months. I wish I could hold onto him forever, but I am envisioning him pulling out of the driveway with a packed car headed for college. Oh wow!

I think I'll just relish in the moment instead. My little K2 singing the alphabet, putting sentences together and driving around the living room on his push car. I'd better get my kisses in while I can.

If you want to see what I mean, click the pictures to see them blown up.

Boys

2008-09-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like coming into your living room only to find numerous piles of dirt on the carpet. Not just little piles, but big brown heaping piles.

K2 is in quite a mode lately. He loves to shovel things. He's a master at shoveling gravel that makes it's way into little piles in the garage, on the front porch, in his bike helmet and all over the driveway.

So, I shouldn't have been surprised to find these little alters to the dirt gods, but each day I am more amazed at the difference between girls and boys.

Thank you Lord for ALL my blessings!

Labor Day Fun! - Click the pictures to see them better

2008-09-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

We took the kids up the McKenzie pass today. We wanted to go to the Dee Wright Observatory (this is a lookout tower made out of Lava). We tried to explain it to The Bean but it didn't quite make sense. As we stood on top she kept asking where the observatory was.

She also got Lava and Observatory mixed up so walking up she kept saying "Where's the lavatory?" Those within earshot found it quite funny.

As you can see from the photo there is quite a bit of lava. There is actually a 8 mile stretch of it 1/2 mile wide. Imagine taking a wagon train over this! Now imagine riding in the wagon 8 month pregnant! (that's my favorite way to cheer myself up - It could be worse, I could be pregnant riding in a wagon!)

K2 might be a future geologist. He seemed to want to stop and look at EVERY rock. This turned the 1/2 mile loop into quite a hike especially with someone who's legs are only about 12 inches long. Run - Stop - Look at Rock - Run - Stop - Look at Rock etc....

We did find a great little campground with a lake by which to eat our lunch and The Bean & K2 were quite the hikers when we walked the trail around it. (read 10 minutes here)

The usual joint was packed to we opted for the SKI INN for our milkshakes when we came back through Sisters. Very tasty. I had peanut butter of course!

Best part was the 4 hour naps the little squirrels took this afternoon. Sweet!

Happy Fall Everybody!

Summer Storm

2008-08-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

We had pretty spectacular summer storms all day today. So much so that I had to cancel Stroller Strides due to wind, rain and lightning.

But here are some photos we took from our morning off - We decided to have a FUNDER Party in the garage. (Funder is Skylar's word for thunder and I like it.)

You can click on any photo to see it bigger

Our FUNDER Party

The clouds above our house just before the sky unzipped

As soon as the rain let up a little Karsten ran straight out to the puddles and started jumping to his heart's delight. It was fun just to experience the storm through the eyes of my kids.

Ooooo Busted!

Puddles are FUN!!

My beautiful baby in her raincoat!

He doesn't like the camera at all!!!!

Hard to say goodbye!

2008-07-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

At the pool with Papa & Uncle Pyro

It was very hard to say goodbye to Papa on Monday morning. When I told her Papa had to go home all she said was, "No."

We had a wonderful week with him and a great weekend playing in the pool, hanging out at the lake and going to church together.

We are praying diligently that his house sells so he can quit his job and come visit us more often.

Beanie flying her new Nemo kite at the lake

K2 Driving the boat w/ Uncle Pat

Papa is in town!

2008-07-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

Papa is in town. It's been pretty hot here but today he invited us to his hotel to swim in the pool. What fun!!!
We're looking forward to going back tomorrow for some more fun time in the pool!!

Saturday we're planning on going to the lake with Pat and Amy to ride in the boat and go swimming at the beach.

We love summer!

Lovely 4th

2008-07-05T21:04:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely 4th of July with our friends and family. It was very mellow and relaxing, especially in our new front yard. The kids had great fun and our house got a major cleaning which feels so good today, the day after!

Hope you had a fun filled day as well!

K2 is starting to look like daddy!

2008-07-01T15:41:00.001-07:00

I took this photo of K2 today and he looks so much like his daddy now. He's also looking like a little boy not a baby anymore. They don't come much sweeter than this.....

Limerick fun from Mark

2008-06-10T21:38:00.001-07:00

Mark has been writing fishing limericks lately. Here is some of his fare:

A BAD DAY TURNED GOOD

While driving to fish just last summer
hit a pothole and rolled my new Hummer
I was pulling a boat and now it wont float
my day was turning out quite a bummer

So now you see my real issue
I was sad and I needed a tissue
without my drift boat that was all she wrote
I was pissed at such a bad miscue.

But I still had the need to go fishin
instead of going on home and just wishin
the fresh fish were in and grinning a grin
I went on ahead with my mission

I walked to the river somehow
rode a mile or two on a cow
he bout bucked me off and I was highly aloft
but to my favorite spot I was there now

So I commenced to start casting
without any lunch I was fasting
and hunger set in and I got really thin
it stayed with me long everlasting

I forgot about that and just swang
a fish broke my favorite fly off gee oh dang
but right after that I hooked one quite fat
and took care of that old hunger pang

By this time I was quite happy
I forgot about all that was crappy
I could get a new car my boat could use tar
sometimes life can give you a slappy

So all in all I still went
even caught one and one left me spent
so watch out for holes make sure your shoes have good soles
when bad things happen FISH don't get bent

Mark

Room To Grow

2008-05-15T08:43:00.001-07:00

When the Bean was born my dear friend Karin and I, with the help of Juli of course, did a themed room for her. When we found out K2 was coming we kept the room just the same because it works so well for boys and girls alike.

I still LOVE this room. You can't help but be happy when you walk into it. If I'm having a bad day, a quick sit in the rocking chair staring at the walls is the perfect prescription to clear up my blues.

You gotta love Suzy's Zoo!

My Magnum Opus

2008-05-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

I am borrowing this concept from a fellow (and might I add much admired) blogger - Diary of 1.

“Are you awake, Charlotte?” he said softly.
“Yes,” came the answer.
“What is that nifty little thing? Did you make it?”
“I did indeed,” replied Charlotte in a weak voice.
“Is it a plaything?”
“Plaything? I should say not. It is my egg sac, my magnum opus.”
“I don’t know what a magnum opus is,” said Wilbur.
“That’s Latin,” explained Charlotte. “It means ‘great work.’ This egg sac is my great work — the finest thing I have ever made.”
“What’s inside it?” asked Wilbur. “Eggs?”
“Five hundred and fourteen of them,” she replied.
from Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. 

I don't think I could have said it any better. These two represent my finest work:

I have no greater calling in life than to raise them to be Christ Followers. To instill values, decision making skills and compassion into these little bodies is my greatest joy. Thank you Lord, for giving me this opportunity. Thank you friends and family for supporting my efforts. Most importantly - Happy Mother's Day to all of you wherever you are!

K2's Dedication Photos

2008-04-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Stangelands at K2's Dedication

Papa and K2 the "Big Mouth Boys"
(click this photo to see K2 mirroring Papa - but with more attitude)

The Whole Family!

Gabe is at the party after 101 years!

2008-04-12T14:19:00.001-07:00

We took the kids and drove to Salem last night so we could see Great Grandpa Gabe today. Jackie has been over there for a few days because the hospice nurse said he was starting not to eat.

Karin came up and we all stayed at Shirley and Merle's house. While we were eating breakfast this morning the phone rang and Gabe went to heaven around 7:30 this morning.

Mark was very sad that he didn't get to see him first, but we're rejoicing that he is partying in heaven today after 101 long well lived years on earth.

We were relieved that it was quiet and without pain and we praise God for a life that was such a great example to everyone.

What a great legacy. Happy Homecoming Gabe!

He Is Risen. He Is Risen Indeed!

2008-03-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter everyone!

We hope that you have a wonderful day praising God and giving thanks for the gift of eternal life.

We are so thankful to be here in Bend, with jobs and a wonderful family to share special occasions with.

Jackie is spending her Easter in Jerusalem and we are praying for a safe and blessed trip for her.

Again, Happy Easter! He Is Risen. He Is Risen Indeed!

Happy Birthday K2!!

2008-03-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

Today is Little Man's Birthday. The Big #1. What a year it has been. Mark and I were commenting on the busyness of the year. It's not that it went fast, it was just amazingly busy.

Baby
New Roof (that Mark put on)
New Business
New Bathroom
Surgery
Hawaii

And that's just the big things. It would be nice to have a quieter year. We'll see.

My dad and mom were here last weekend for the dedication (which was wonderful by the way) and we are so grateful that they came out to see us. It was very meaningful.

Here's a couple of pictures:

We're Dedicating K2 on Sunday

2008-03-08T12:59:00.000-08:00

We're dedicating our preciaous baby boy on Sunday. Some people ask what that means so I've posted some info below.

Personally it means that Mark & I, as Christ followers, promise to raise our son in the teachings of the Lord and we are doing in front of our family and friends and asking them to also promise to support us, pray for our family and stand behind us as a community of believers.

We are so grateful for K2's life. We feel honored that the Lord would entrust him into our care and we dedicate his life back to God until he is of the age that he can make a personal decision to become a Christ follower.

What a special blessing he is.

From: Christianity

Q. What is Baby Dedication?

Many Christian churches practice Baby Dedication instead of infant Baptism.

A. A Baby Dedication is a ceremony in which believing parents, and sometimes entire families, make a commitment before the Lord to submit a child to God's will and to raise that child according to God's Word and God's ways.

Responsibilities Involved in Baby Dedication

Christian parents who dedicate a child are making a promise to the Lord to do everything within their power to raise the child in a godly way, prayerfully until he or she can make a decision on his or her own to follow God. Parents who make this vow of commitment are instructed to raise the child in the ways of God, and not according to their own ways. Some of the responsibilities include teaching and training the child in God's Word, demonstrating an example of godliness, disciplining according to God's ways, and praying earnestly for the child.

An Example of Baby Dedication in Scripture

And she (Hannah) made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."

(NIV)

When God answered Hannah's prayer by giving her a son, she remembered her vow:

"As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.

(NIV)

What's a fiasco?

2008-02-28T13:51:00.001-08:00

This was the question my 2.5 yr. old asked me today as she was swinging in the back yard.

She said, "Mom? What's a fiasco?"

Where did she hear this word?

Anyway, I told her it was her room when she messes it all up. She nodded understandingly and then said something about cleaning it up, but I haven't seen that happen yet.

So, the word of the day at our house is fiasco.

Awesome!

K2 is WALKING!!!

2008-02-28T13:48:00.001-08:00

So, there he goes. . .

K2 finally took some steps on Saturday and now he thinks he's all that. I think so too of course, but it's pretty funny. Last night he was walking around the living room with his blanket around his shoulders. I was so surprised.

So, I guess life changes now. I've got 2 to watch after now. YIKES!!

Welcome to the Stangeland Family Blog

2008-02-20T20:03:00.000-08:00

Technology is so AWESOME! Instead of writing you all a letter in which everything will be different by the time it reaches your mailbox, I've decided to get you to check out our blog so you can keep up with our ever changing family.

As of today we have a 2.5 yr. old and an 11 mo. old who are daily teaching Mark and I the true meaning of the fruits of the spirit. Oh the joy!

But honestly, they really are joyful and fun and unique and smart and wonderfully made. It's amazing to watch them grow and change and learn on a daily basis.

Starting from youngest to oldest, here is the news from the Weejuns (aka your favorite fishing Norwegians):

K2 is almost one. The year has gone by quickly and he is a beautiful and intelligent baby. He knows how to walk but still hasn't found a reason to do so. So, he crawls most places and cruises around couches and tables and refrigerators, but won't let go without sitting down.

He absolutely adores his big sister. Everything she does he wants to try. He has two very cute teeth on the bottom and that's all for now. We keep waiting for more, but nothing happens. He's super mellow but has a short fuse. It's interesting to see him exercise his will - I'm quite sure he will be our strong willed child. (Luckily I have a little personal experience with that - nudge nudge wink wink) We're at the point where we're just waiting for life to shift in a major way when he starts to walk. He also thinks he can talk and we haven't been able to convince him otherwise.

On March 9 he will be dedicated at our church. The whole family will be here for that including my dad and Marilyn and Karin is even coming up from Ashland. It should be a wonderful day for family. Then we'll have his big birthday party on the 11th. He's still quite the napper, so planning all these festivities around naptime can sometimes present a challenge. I think we can do it though.

The Bean is an amazing example of God's creation. She is extremely articulate, creative and energetic. She loves to watch movies - Nemo, Spirit, Homeward Bound, Monsters, Inc. and Curious George - swing on her swing set in the backyard, color, type letters on the computer and sing. She's a very good mommy to her babies and is very bossy to our sweet dog Rudy. (sometimes to me too, but we're working on that together!)

She's quite the water lover and really enjoyed Hawaii when we visited there in December. She's a great big sister and really helps me a lot around the house. I should be so lucky that her bent for mopping floors will continue as she gets older. I can only hope!

Like most kids her age she never ceases to amuse us with funny sayings and reactions. Today for example she told Mark that she was very busy counting on the computer and that she would be with him shortly when he called for her.

She's becoming a very accomplished Weejun too. We've had quite a bit of snow this winter and we bought her some baby snowshoes for Christmas. She's loves the snow and never complains about the cold. We think she might have a little polar bear in her.

I am loving being a mom. I cherish each day with my kids and am so thankful for the opportunity to be home with them to see them grow and discover the world around them. We spend a lot of time together and both have adapted very well to our Stroller Strides schedule.

As many of you know I purchased a Stroller Strides(SS) franchise last summer. I started classes in the fall and it was a slow start, but in the last couple of months things have really picked up. I have some great moms who attend my classes regularly and I have a steady stream of interest. Besides my classes - which by the way have helped me to get into the best shape of my life - I also put on playgroups that are starting to attract numerous moms. It's so fun to meet all these great women who are investing in their kids and themselves.

I love the business side of SS. It's a great outlet for me, but not my only commitment. Mark and I are also leading a small group in our home once a week and we're really enjoying the couples that we share this time with. Our church is growing at a tremendous rate. We had to move from the movie theater to one of the high schools and apparently Antioch is the fastest growing church in town. It's so fun to see the families streaming in on Sundays and we have a great community of college age kids as well.

I am still working at the ski foundation, but only for a couple more months. I really want to focus on SS and feel it's time to give up the event planning I've been doing for MBSEF.

One of my most rewarding activities has been doing a Bible study with my friend Amy and one with my mom. It's been so fun to dig into the Word with people I love and cherish. I look forward to even more times of learning and growing in 2008.

Finally, blogging has become my new passion - besides digging into the Word - I love it. Check out the links on the side of this page to check out my personal blog and my SS blog. This is soooooo cool.

Mark is doing very well. He's such a wonderful dad and we're still very much in love. Of course fishing is still very high on his priority list, but it's good for a guy to get away sometimes. He took his fly rod to Hawaii this winter and had a great time fishing off the jetty in front of our condo. He caught some barracuda and needle fish.

He's still working at Spring River Tree Service and this winter they've also been plowing a fair amount of snow.

He is involved with the History Book Club at our church and has been reading some very fascinating books on people such as C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer and Martin Luther. He really enjoys the history and the discussion group.

Well, there is so much that happens here on a daily basis that is entertaining, fun and of course somewhat frustrating, but it's all par for the course and we're enjoying the ride as a family.

We hope you are doing well and will subscribe to the posts so you can see what we're up to during the year. All the best to you!!

The Weejuns