The Growing Gant Family...

After a successful trip to Goodwill, I present to you this year's costumes.  People typically wear them once a year and then they give them away which totally makes it worth a thrift trip!  And we even found a matching costume for Z!  We took the opportunity to snap a pic of the cousins in their costumes before they had to leave after their visit this month.  Out of the bajillion I snapped, this was the best I got.  These three are adorable. Halloween: Molalla Communications has done a picture booth the past few years that we always make sure we stop in at for an annual picture.  Unfortunately, they weren't doing it this year (we heard a few other people surprised and disappointed...Probably wasn't terribly cost effective for them).  So, we took our own. After this picture was snapped, we went around to the surrounding business' and fire station for our trick or treat experience...Then it started to downpour.  Curtis ran to get the van, and by

The school puts on an annual pastor/teacher appreciation breakfast.  It's hosted by the Kindergarten and 1st grade classes and each student is able to invite whichever pastor or teacher they feel has been the most influential in their lives spiritually. It didn't surprise me when William said that he wanted to invite "Teacher Sandy." She's given her life in devotion to the 2 & 3's class at church.  And even though it's been a few years since William's been in her class, he still receives postcards from her every Christmas telling him how special he is (she actually sends them out to all the kids she's had over the years...Even those who are now in high school).  She makes William feel special and it shows.  She felt honored that William would invite her and was more than thrilled to be a part of the event. I was able to sneak in and take pictures of the event.  William surprised me and I could tell was just talking away to Sandy all through

At the annual Gant Family Reunion every July, we visit with Tom and Marian Gant.  Tom is Terry's (Curtis' dad) cousin and his family has owned and operated cranberry bogs since the late 1930's.  Tom is in his 80's and he's still out running the bogs with his two sons: Steve and Gary.  We've talked about making a trip to Bandon during harvest time so that we can see the entire process in operation.  This time, we did it. Just so happened that the Thy's family planned their visit around the same time we were planning to go.  Made for a great family vacation!! First stop: West Coast Game Park Curtis remembers going as a kid, but the rest of us had never been.  It's an interesting twist...wild animal park meets petting zoo sort of a thing.  There were plenty of exhibits where the employees would bring out the wild animals and allow you to touch them (under supervision of course)... Z lovin' on a Beaver.  Not one bit scared. I believe it was a

Tonight was the first night this happened. With no prompting of either parent, William got a book, invited Calvin to sit down, and read to him. Be. Still. My. Heart *And yes, you saw it right...They're both wearing Christmas jammies in Oct.