3 Brothers by Olivia Blackburn

Having 3 brothers is fun but they fight each other & sometimes they fight me but I don't mind and they also would like a baby sister like me only my mom won't let us.  The youngest is Dawson sometimes we call him Daws. He's the one with the red hair. I made a handshake with him. Then there's Adam he's two years older than me.  He likes Kung Fu same as Dawson.  The oldes is Isaac he loves kungfu as the others.  I like kung fu too.  We all share a bedroom because our antey and uncle are living with us for a year.  I'm happy to have 3 brothers but I also would like a sister but I'm ok with out one.  My brother's love me and I love them!!!!!!

Camping trip

Matt took an extra day off for his birthday so we took Ben & Lydia camping in Volcano National Park.  We had a blast!    Here's what livy wrote about it in her school journal.

"Our camping trip was really fun and it was also really cold.  I touched the cold rain on the big blue tent.  I also smelled the roasting marshmelos but then the fireman came because there was a sign that said:No Fires in Camp.  I heard people snoring at night. I also tasted the warm marshmellow before the fireman came.  We also saw the bright yellow sun rise."

Bendia Arrived!!

Matt's brother Ben and his wife Lydia (the two of them are better known as Bendia) made a big move across the big blue ocean from Oregon to live with US!!!  Yes, us...we are so lucky!  Ben just finished his Masters in Elementary Ed and his planning on substitute teaching here at all the schools in the area.  Hopefully if we're even luckier it can work into a full time teaching position and they could stay even longer!!  For now they are planning on being here for this school year.  They have been here just over a week now and we've had a blast! They are incredibly great with the kids and we're excited to have lots of time to hangout.  We've had to keep reminding the kids that they're not going anywhere so we don't have to show them every toy or trick in the first day or two.   Matt's had to remind me that I don't have to show them the entire Island in one week like we normally do with guests.   We are having fun with the latest additions to our family...they are better than a new puppy!!

Dawson's Birthday

Okay it's almost been a month since Dawson's birthday and I'm finally getting around to posting pictures.  It's hard to believe our baby is 7 years old!!  He had a fun birthday party with most of the kids on his soccer team and a few other friends.  He planned the entire party and planned and decorated his cake (it's a race track).  He drew a picture of his cake a few days before  and totally came up with the idea on his own.  It turned out great.  He had a "water party" with a slip and slide, water balloons and water games.   Dawson is so fun to be around, we sure feel lucky to have him in our family!  We love you Dawson!!!