Great Grandparents!

Raegan's GREAT Grandparents (my mom's side) flew into Portland last week and we all met in Gearhart at the beach house. They carried live, fresh, Maine lobsters all the way across the country as a treat for us, and Raegan tried her first lobster. "I like lobasters," she said with a grin. Mommy does too:) We also took walks, played on the beach, made home-made ice cream, laughed our tails off until midnight playing dominos, shopped, celebrated Dot's 80th birthday, and enjoyed the weather. Hope to see them again really soon!

Our delcious lobster dinner!

"Water!"

Sounders vs. Chelsea

Jordan was on cloud nine last weekend when we attended the Seattle Sounders soccer game at Qwest field! The "Israel crew" was there, and some other friends too, so we had such a great time catching up! Raegan wore her little Sounders jersey, just like her daddy, and we rooted on the home team. Unfortunately, they lost, but it was a really fun day with our friends.

Owen's Beach

Casey, Candace and I took our girls to the beach at Point Defiance when the zoo was closed a couple weeks ago- the girls had fun getting dirty in sand, throwing rocks in the water, and eating a picnic lunch. Thank God for good friends!


Sometimes you just need a hug...

Homemade Playdough!

My mom is the best, and when I was growing up she was always so creative! I remember her making us playdough, oobleck, gak, etc growing up, but I'd never tried it myself until a few weeks ago... I found a simple recipe online, and it worked! Raegan had Isabelle and Claire over, so we made two big batches for the girls to squish and create with- it all ended up in one big greyish blob in the end, but we started with pretty pink and blue:) Oh, and for some reason Claire was the only one who made it out of her pjs that morning!

Israel!

We recently returned from a two-week, totally life-changing adventure to the Holy Land with our friends! It was so incredible! Honestly, I haven't started writing this blog post until now because I've been overwhelmed with where to even start. We visited so many places, had daily crazy adventures, ate bizarre and sometimes yummy foods, etc... and Raegan proved to us that she was born to travel! She was a total star. The following pictures are in chronological order.

Highlights:

An evening swim in the Mediterranean! Our first night in Israel.

The gang on the bus.

Raegan loved her new REI backpack.

Hiding in the ruins of Caesarea!

Mommy carrying Raegan in Caesarea.

Our family on top of Mt. Carmel!

Heading in to Capharnaum.

Raegan keeping cool in the heat, dumping water on her head. We were in an ancient synagogue built on top of a synagogue where Jesus taught!

All the men!

A recreated village in Nazareth.
Raegan made friends with the woman making yarn from sheep wool!

Jordan walking through the "Narrow Gate."

The girls by the Sea of Galilee.

Our family.

A friendly monk.

Hebrew Coca-Cola! It was delicious.

Jordan in Korazin.

Morning worship boat on the Sea of Galilee.

Baptisms in the Jordan River!

We baptized Raegan~ she looked like a little angel in her flowing white outfit!


A pomegranate!

Outside the city gate.

Daddy and Raegan dancing in the City of David!

Hezekiah's Tunnel!

Raegan in the Canaanite Tunnel! She wasn't scared at all- totally fearless and brave!

Standing by a model of Old Jerusalem at the museum.

Daddy and Raegan entering the gate to the 24/7 Prayer room in Jerusalem!

Playing with Isaac outside the prayer room.

Raegan's beloved "Emmy!" All three big kids were seriously incredible with Raegan, but Emily, being a girl, really stole Raegan's heart in a special way. Raegan wants to be just like Emmy when she grows up!

The Wailing Wall.

Raegan spent a lot of time on Nick's shoulders. He's picking her a flower!

The Garden tomb, the possible tomb of Jesus!

In the tomb entrance.

One of my favorite memories! Riding a camel at the Mount of Olives!

Jordan at the Lions' Gate entrance on our walk along the wall of the Old City.

Graffiti in Jerusalem...

The caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were found, after 2,000 years!

Swimming under the waterfall in the pools of EnGedi.

Covering with mud for my "beauty treatment" in the Dead Sea...

Floating!

Happy Fourth of July, America!

Jordan and I getting ready to go scuba diving in the Red Sea! It was my first time, and i really enjoyed it~ lots of cool fish and an awesome instructor. I know how goofy we look, but I just had to post this!

Our favorite Ice cream bars on the dock after our dive.

My favorite sign ever!

Linda and Raegan playing in the Mediterranean on our last night.

Emily and Raegan loving the warm waves.

We had SO much luggage, just for our little family!
Goodbye Israel!