Lily Crowder

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

photo journaling and saying goodbye to 2013 Part 1

June 29, 1013...Crowders leave CA and head to Portland in the heat of the summer. We underestimated the amount of room we had in our Moving truck, so we ended up with my favorite lawn chair tied to the roof of our car and a bunny and bird practically on our laps (not pictured). It was 103 degrees, and the AC was conveniently broken. Craziest, hottest drive of my life:)


Saying a goodbye to my home town, Capitola....I'll be back soon.


The boys with their first Jiu Jitsu instructor, and at their last tournament in Santa Cruz. Now they are training at Five Rings JJ in Portland.

Enjoying our favorite Santa Cruz summer perk....Locals night at the Boardwalk. I love sharing my favorite childhood memories with my kids

Ezekiel turns 8, yep! My baby is 8!!! He is the coolest kid, can't tell you how much I like him and love him even more.


Threw a surprise party for Ezekiel at the local roller rink, He had no idea and did not expect a party because we were in the middle of moving. This party became a "good-bye" party for him as well, all his buddies got to come say farewell. Sweet memories.

Kids see our Portland house for the first time. So excited to own a home!

First time swimming in our neighborhood lake. Making new summer memories in our new home. I miss so much about Santa Cruz, but what new perspectives Portland and Oregon living have already brought us. I know God has something so special for each of us here in Portland. We jump in expectantly!

4th of July in our new home.

View from our new house is amazing.


My Nova turns 10. All set with her net, so she can catch specimens in our lakes and rivers. This girl continues to remain original and one-of-a-kind. I look back on this photo, and realize how rapidly she has matured since this birthday, my youngest girl is becoming a young lady and she is so lovely.


Shopping spree on NW 23rd for Novas Birthday.

Family hike in the Gorge. My favorite part about our move is our close proximity to the mountains where I can share my love for hiking with my children. So far, they don't like it...But I am determined:)

Young Zooks maintaining our beautiful yard. His job for the summer was trimming the hedges:)

Fishing on the Willamette across from our house is great practice for fishing the Columbia.

We are so happy the beautiful coast is only a short drive away. Here are the girls at Ecola state park, Crescent Beach

Alaskan cousins come visit us in our new home.

My sister Sarah, teaching Ezekiel to make me bloody mary's, my favorite!

Jonas visits my sisters family in Alaska for the ultimate wilderness experience. Alaska is for boys!


Maile turns 16!

Maile with her new car. She is amazing and we are proud of her.

One of many waterfalls we have hiked to this year. All that PNW rain results in many beautiful falls.

The farms around Portland are so rich.

some of our oldest friend live here as well as some of our newest friends. We are so thankful for them.

I have dreamed of a dining room table like this! I plan on having my grand-kids sit here one day. So many things are built around the dinner table.

My sweet Jonas turns 12, he is such a stellar young man. I am amazed by his character and could not be more proud. God is so faithful in my children.

This happened! Family rafting trip for Jonas' 12th Birthday. So much fun and a great close to our summer.

Jonas' first day of school. No more homes school for this boy.

Ezekiel goes to school! I am only home schooling Nova this year. The boys love their new school and Nova loves being at home and part of an amazing home school group.

dressed up for our 13th Anniversary.

13 years with this amazing man. Glad I said yes!

Rain boots replacing my flip-flops. I get my vitamin D from a pill now, and some vacations to the sun.

Sisters! These two have really connected this year.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Fall 2012- Spring 2013 Photo Journaling (and a few videos)

Having a moment remembering the past fall, winter and spring seasons, in photos.....


Halloween 2012. Nova Created this past years Halloween costume. She loves to be creative any chance she can get.

Thanksgiving 2012. California family, such a great day.


Favorite fall days are spent at the beach....My happy place.	"the Hook" Fall 2012

Successful art show...Sold all my paintings over Christmas break. @Los Gatos Coffee shop


Nova and Ezekiel surprised us with a party they planed. We danced to Jazz, ate cookies and drank "cocktails" Christmas 2012

Ezekiel dressed himself, he enjoys looking dapper apparently.

When Nova asks, "Mom, may I decorate for Christmas?" This is what you get.

Our Santa Cruz community decided to throw "12 Days of Christmas Parties." For this party, we had a murder mystery party.

Maile as the "Dew Drop" in this years Nutcracker 2012.

for Christmas the Crowders flew to Anchorage to visit our family and friends. Best Christmas ever!

Hersh cousins and Crowder cousins spend Christmas morning together. Great memories. They all had a hard time falling asleep the night before

Jonas got the flu for Christmas....Had a fever all day:(

Ezekiel missed the flu, but got hooked up with these hard-core throwing knives! You should have seen how intense and serious he was with these. Quite a gift for a 7 year old boy.

Amazing Christmas dinner with the Faulkner family. These are all the Alaska cousins.

I look a bit unsure about the mustache.

We spent 7 winters driving these blizzard passes of the hwy. to Homer from Anchorage.

My sweet Homer home. Love this Alaska town by the sea. This is where I met John and where 3 of our 4 kids were born.

Snowy Bishops Beach.

Visiting our first home. This is also where Jonas was born. A log cabin with 57 stairs leading up to the front door.

learning to ski over New Years at Alyeska. Girdwood, AK 2013

Maile is a pro!

My awesome nephew, James. Fun hockey day in Anchorage.

My mom and all her grands: Sophia 6, Ben 9, Ezekiel 7, Noelle 10, Nova 9, Maile 15, Gracie 4, James 7, Jordan 14, Jacob 11 and Jonas 11.

Santa Cruz coast. Breathtaking winter day.

Homeschool field trip with our friends. Longs Marine Lab, Santa Cruz.

Maile at the Studio.

Ezekiel and his Jiu Jitsu Buddies

Nova leash-training her bunny, Aurora.

Davenport Landing.

The boys and their best buddies in San Francisco.

John was gone on a trip over Valentines day, but before he left he stashed this massive heart filled with Chocolate under the bed. Pretty sneaky dad!

Me, making the boys pose after winning first in the Brazilian Jiujitsu tournament. Go team Crowder!

broke away to Carmel to paint with the girls.

Mountain biking in the Santa Cruz redwoods with Jonas.

Nova poses in the plum blossoms.

Georgia grandparents visit us. I had not heard that strong southern accent for quite some time.

A typical quiet evening in the Crowder house.

Nova discovers claymation.

Taking the kids across the trestle bridge in Capitola Village. This is where I spent many a-day as a young girl.

Nova and horse.

My new favorite trail. Just outside Carmel. Soberanes Canyon Trail, Big Sur.

Brother and sister being goofy in Carmel.

Our family hike in Big Sur.

Lupine and Crowders in the clouds

Nova woke up early on the morning of my Birthday and make me this cake.

Santa Cruz friends took me to SF for a birthday weekend.

Go Jonas!

My dad had a mild heart attack in April. He has had major heart surgery since then and is recovering well. So much to be thankful for.

Dinner at the beach with beautiful Nova.

Aurora is adorable as usual.

Johna and I get so spend some time away together.....Very refreshing as we get ready to make a big move to Portland as a family.

Jonas 11, Ezekiel 7, Maile 15 and Nova 9. Such amazing people!

My mom visiting from Alaska, here with Nova at her end of the school year play.

Night out with some of my oldest and best friends. We have known eachother since we were 12!

Nova had the privilege of taking "adult" art classes. She was a bit tired of the kids classes. She was so studious and devoted to this course. Totally in her element.

Nova's Mothers day gift to me.

On a very hot Felton day, we enjoy a trip to the Garden of Eden swimming hole. One of our favorite spots.

The infamous Banana slugs of Santa Cruz.

We make the "leap" and purchase a family home in Lake Oswego, OR. After renting a very small 1100 sq. ft. home in Santa Cruz county for four years, this house will feel good. We are very sad to leave our beautiful beach town and wonderful friends but anticipating good years ahead in Portland.