Certified Backyard Habitat

 After almost a year of planting all kinds of native plants, shrubs and trees we became a gold-level Certified Backyard Habitat.  Soren's specialty was digging holes and Shep's was spreading compost.  As a reward, Chickadees are nesting in one of our birdhouses!

Soren's 7th Birthday Party

 Soren and 8 friends celebrated the birthday at a local trampoline park.  It was Shep's first time there and even he loved it.

The birthday cake was decorated with chocolate "rocks" -- Soren's favorite.

First bike ride around Portland

Five times a year, Portland closes the streets around a group of city parks and everyone rides bikes around the route.  Our family did it for the first time in May.  It was a 7 mile route in East Portland.  Everyone had a great time!

February Snowstorm

Reading Books on New Years Eve

December Hike at Horsetail Falls

The Bennett Christmas

Wedding Day

The wedding day started out with needing to finish the wedding cake.  Thirteen pastry bags of buttercream frosting needed to be filled first.

 

After 12 bags of frosting, the cake was finally decorated.  Then we added the cake topper, which was a piece of black acrylic that had been cut with a laser.

It was then time to pack everything for the church.  The kids were the ring bearers and each carried one of these pillows that Steven made.

At the church, Shepherd was dressed in his "wedding costume" as he called it.  The florist said that everyone in her shop "oohhed" over the boutonniere for a 2-year old.

The flowers we wore were rosemary with yellow craspedia and silver brunia.

Then it was Soren's turn for his boutonniere.

The weather was sunny and bright.  To take advantage of the weather, everyone gathered outside for pre-ceremony photos.

  

Then it was time for the ceremony itself.  Soren and Shep were in charge of lighting the chalice.

Rev. Patti started by talking to the kids about what a wedding was about.

 

 

 

Putting out the chalice seemed to be Shepherd's favorite part.

 

After the wedding, all the kids were dropped off at our house for a dinner of pesto while the adults all went out to a great restaurant.

 

The kids then spent nearly 2 hours decorating the house with streamers and balloons to "surprise" us after our dinner out.

And then it was time for wedding cake.

Shep's 2nd Birthday

Memorial Day Weekend at Cape Lookout State Park