Grandma McVea Visits

Abby showing Alice a hermit crab from the ocean at Brookings, OR.

One of the sea creatures that were all over the tide pools.

Do you see the starfish?  Hint: it's purple and by Grandma McVea's hand.

Camping at Brookings.  Hotdogs roasted over a fire.  How could we go wrong?

The tide was coming in!

Madison caught this bird in a small pool of water near the top of the beach.  It was so cute and the girls loved holding it.  I couldn't believe that it let Madison catch it!

Abby, Alice, and Madison posing in front of a redwood tree in the Redwood Forrest.

Abby caught a frog and named it little guy.

Both girls caught one each and posed for a picture.  We had tried this picture many times before, but a frog would escape and have to be caught again.  

This was all fun and games until we saw a few water snakes...no more getting in the water.  The frogs were safe for now:-)

Some panoramic pictures of the redwood trees.  They are so magnificent and tall.  It makes one feel very small and amazed at God's hand in creating this beautiful world.

Dan and Clare Visit

Madison and Abigail helped me decorate and design a cake for Mesia and Anna when they came to visit.

Having to say goodbye...it was a sad moment.  The kids had so much fun with their cousins here.

Adjusting to Oregon

First Day of School

Madison's first day of school!

Abby's first day in front of the bus!  She loves riding the bus to school with her sister.

Redwood Forrest and Beach Trip

Fun in the Jacuzzi Tub

Hiking Roxy Ann Peak

Happy faces on the way down...it was a tough hike!

Our family at the top.  No, that dog is not ours:-)  He wanted to join the picture.

Madison and Abigail on the way down

Alice on a Tree branch having a good time!

The Stick in the Road

Here is an excerpt from my journal concerning Madison.  Rick and Tamara flew in for a visit and decided to hike Roxy Ann Peak that night.  On the way down Madison was ahead of the group and came upon a rattlesnake.  It was past sunset and was low visibility.  She said she backed away and ran to the group.  As the group came upon where the rattlesnake was, Madison was pointing it out to them and it looked just like a stick, but as they got closer they heard the rattle and it slithered away.  Madison said it was only a foot away from her and sprawled out on the road.  Luckily she didn’t step on it and stopped as she heard the rattle. 

The real tender mercy is in the history.  Just a few days earlier, the family had hiked Roxy Ann Peak and there was a sign saying that there were rattle snakes, ticks, and mountain lions in the area and to be aware of them.  Madison asked what a rattlesnake looked like and we explained to her that they were very dangerous and that they would rattle their tail if she got close to warn her.  We told her that if she ever heard that, to run.  Who would have thought she would have remembered and been able to act so quickly.  We are blessed it wasn’t Abigail, who I am not sure was listening on the hike days earlier.  Also, Brian and the group were in a hurry down since the gate was to be closed and locked at 8 pm.  They made it to the gate before 8, but it had been locked early that night.  They couldn’t drive out and it’s a good mile plus to walk back to the house.  What if Madison had been bit, they wouldn’t have had a way to get her to help…just another blessing in this story.  

Camping in Oregon