Mad about March

Joy!

So much fun, it's hard to keep up!  Springtime has been busy in Portland with lots of great events happening.  Maddy has been busy at school and Steve and I have been trying to help out/volunteer when we can.  I've been making "Spirit Day" posters like the Pajama Day one below.  Pajama Day happened to be the same day Maddy had a "Jogathon" fundraiser for YMCA (her after school program is Y-Care) and I helped out at that event too.  Maddy had chosen cozy jammies which made running tough!  Luckily we had extra clothes so she changed part way through.

We also went to Kieran's 6th birthday party for Laser Tag, which was a lot of fun.  Steve couldn't make it so Maddy and I represented, and it was our first time playing.  We didn't do all that great but we had a good time trying!  There were also lots of games to play and Maddy loved that part nearly to the point of obsession...including wanting to win a stuffed animal from one of those claw games.  I told her that her chances of getting one was low, and what does she do?  Wins the rather big pink bear that she REALLY wanted.  Go figure!

We love our neighbors and our neighborhood (which is quite diverse), so when we found out about an event at our local community center called "Portlanders Stand With Immigrants and Refugees" off we went and invited friends to join us.  Some old friends from ChildRoots (Henry, Daniel, Karina) and a friend from Vestal (Siobhan) all attended with their parents and we all had a great time!  We enjoyed the music and dancing and feeling of camaraderie throughout the evening.  

Also in March, Maddy was awarded an "Academic All-Star" at Vestal, continued with swimming (passed pre-otter and can move up to pre-seal!), kept up with gymnastics with Carson, stood under a rainbow, did some crafts and went to a kid's show - Red Yarn - with friends.

Spirit Day Poster (made by Marnie)

Fundraising Jogathon for YMCA

Kieran's 6th Birthday - Laser Tag!

Laser Tag!

Gamer!

Portland Event We Attended with Friends

Henry, Daniel, Karina, Maddy, Siobhan

Dancing!

Daniel and Henry

Maddy = Vestal Academic All-Star Award!

Kiwi Crate Craft Time - finger puppets!

Maddy and a Rainbow

Red Yarn!

Maddy and her buddy Althea

Babies!

👶 The newest members of our Portland Village 👶

• Emily Wilcox and Eric Skaar have two additions to their family, Ella and Audrey! 
• Brett, Daynia and Wyatt Daby welcome Wyatt's baby brother Quinn!
• Jon, Mariela and Wilson Daby welcome baby Eva!
• Christina, Erik and Jace Lorntson now have a family of four with baby Reid!

Welcome Ella Skaar!

Welcome Audrey Skaar!

 

Welcome Eva Daby!

Welcome Quinn Daby!

Welcome Reid Lorntson!

Baby Reid

February Fun

Steve's Birthday!

February catch up time!  So many fun events and happenings at the Faust House.  We celebrated Steve's birthday with a yummy dinner and cake, Melissa's birthday with a dance party.  Steve continued his celebration with the guys in Astoria attending a Stout and Porter Beer Festival.  As a family, we went to Northwest Children's Theater production of Sleeping Beauty (with Puppets!) with the Rocks and had an excellent time.  We watched the Super Bowl (well, I watched the commercials) at the Flynn's.

At Vestal I attended STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Day with Maddy and made a bridge out of straws and rubber bands.  I also went to Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at Vestal and sat with the kindergarten class to enjoy the production.

Maddy got new footie jammies with kitties on them, and a kitty face on her bum (makes me chuckle).  She drew a neat photo or two and we built a swing for Jingles together.  Included in this update are some Chicago, Bayfield and Knife River family updates.  February was a great month

Swing for Jingles

Sleeping Beauty - Northwest Children's Theater

Cinderella -Puppets!

Super Bowl at the Flynns

Maddy and Althea = Buddies

Melissa's Birthday Dance Party

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) at Y-Care

MLK Day Celebration at Vestal

 

Steve's Birthday "Dark Arts" Beer Fest in Astoria with the Guys

Maddy Mommy Selfie

Maddy's New Jammies

Maddy as a Rainbow Unicorn Butterfly Kitty

Maddy and Althea entranced by Trolls

Valentine's Day Heart Girl

Benjamin turns 14!

Jared and Jemma

Jemma and Grama

Heat Wave in Minnesota!

Southsiders Reunite

In February a bunch of former ChildRoots Southsiders (Maddy's preschool classmates) got together at Buckman School playground for a big play date.  Miraculously the weather was perfect! All the kids had a great time on the slide, on the playground equipment and running around on the field. We also celebrated Attie's birthday and her parents provided cupcakes as a treat. Thavy and Amber, former teachers, also made it to the play date which made the kiddos very happy!