NW Family Chiropractic is Here!

Hello Friends....many of you have been asking for details on the new practice. please accept my apologies for the delay...we have been busy busy. So...it is NW Family Chiropractic, located near downtown Salem, Oregon. It's a great location and we are starting it up (we did not buy someone elses practice). We just celebrated with the Grand Opening yesterday afternoon. We had the ribbon cutting, refreshments, the radio guys were here, and Drew gave adjustmentst. Twas fun and busy. We have Future Health...an awesome software program to help us run an efficient and professional practice. We also had some family pics taken last weekend. Kids are good. No Christmas letter this year from us, but I think we will do a mailout in the Spring. Enjoy the pics :-) More to come later...Happy Holidays and we Miss You all!!

Adoption Poem ((thanks Ceanne))

"Once there were two women...Who never knew each other...
One you do not remember...The other you call Mother...
Two different lives...Shaped to make you one...
One became your guiding star...The other became your sun...
The first one gave you life...The second taught you to live it...
The first gave you a need for love...The second was there to give it...
One gave you a nationality...The other gave you a name...
One gave you talent...The other gave you aim...
One gave you emotion...The other calmed your fears...
One saw your first sweet smile...The other dried your tears...
One sought for you a home...That she could not provide...
The other prayed for a child...And her hope was not denied...
And now you ask me through your tears...
The age-old question unanswered through the years...
Heredity or environment...Which are you a product of?...
Neither my darling, neither...Just two different kinds of Love..."

Sunday

Somehow we all survived an insanely busy week and weekend. Yesterday was fun though. The kids had primary program practice and pizza, yum! Then we were able to go to the Hilverda's to do cider. I LOVE the fall! Then I had a spa to do...and was secretly hoping it would cxl. Why is it that when I want to do the spa it cxls and when I need a break they hold? Hmmmm. Anywho...DJ gets baptized soon. Hard to believe he is 8 already! It doesn't look like we will move forward with the Chiropractic office at the coast. It seems like a great opportunity, but after a trip to the Temple and some fasting/prayer we decided to go forward and open our own here in the Salem area...unless otherwise directed. Well, should go help Drew with the 7 layer dip ...

News!

I finally have some news to post. Most of you know that Drew and I have been working on finding a practice to start, buy, or associate position. We have finally found a "possibility" for a practice to buy. There is a bright glimmer of hope now for an impatient wife! Anyway, it is located on the Oregon Coast...will post more later if it looks like things are working out. Drew got to adjust all the patients today and gets to see all of the patients again on Monday. He is excited to do some chiropractic for a change...:-)

Hello World!

Hi Everyone! Yes,I know it's been since May that I have blogged! We have been so busy playing outside...mainly. So here is an update:

Michelle: Homeschooling, carting kids around to activities, canning stuff, sewiig, and just doing what moms do. Happy to be home in Oregon though I occasionally feel a soft spot for Iowa :-).

Drew: Busy doing construction to keep bills paid while looking for the right Chiropractic opportunity. Frustrating to keep finding dead ends.

DJ: Getting ready to be baptized next month,loving and doing well with school, and having fun with soccer.

Meg: Her love for books and reading has increased and she has enjoyed the new schooling we have started this year. I have enjoyed listening to her sing songs in the car with confidence...she also is a go getter on the soccer field.

Alayna: Doing well! Enjoying school and warming uo to all of the new people in her life. Her smile and eyes twinkle more than ever!

Seth: Just turned 4!!!!!!!! But,if you ask him how old he is,his answers is "I'm almost 5". He is doing preschool in a box over at our friend's house and loving having a new buddy to play with.

Joe: Is growing up fast. He repeats anything and everything that anyone says and talks in complete sentences. I about fell over the other day when he said "mom, i want some pancakes for breakfast"...while holding a giant box of bisquicks. He holds his own well in this family,smiling and giggling most of the time.

So, we are surviving and getting on with life even though Drew hasn't established what we are doing chiropractically just yet.

Blog Update

Hello friends! Sorry it's been so far and few between with posting. We can't help it though. Oregon is so beautiful and fun. There has been so much to do that we just aren't home that often. So, below are some updates and pics :-)

Drew: Finishes up his required hours at AD Natural next week. He has enjoyed precepting there and is looking forward to getting his own practice going. We are strongly considering buying a practice here in Salem, Oregon. The Doc there has agreed to carry the financing since it is nearly impossible to capture a loan these days. He passed part 3 boards and we are still waiting on results for part 4. Drew said he feels confident that he passed part 4 though. Now all he has left is to complete an online course and take the Oregon Boards in July. He will be back in Iowa Monday June 15-Friday June 20. His dad will be there for graduation and Michelle will be home caring for the kids. He hopes to see friends during that week :-). Once he gets home he will be working construction during the summer and possibly in the new office getting familiar with their current office practices.

Michelle: I have been busy as usual caring for the children and taking them on little adventures as we explore our surroundings together. It has been a blast catching up with friends and enjoying the gorgeous weather/surroundings. I also started weight watchers with a friend and have been faithfully tracking all food and activity with a glimpse of hope that it might work. The kids are signed up for Oregon Connections Academy which will start when the public schools go into session in the fall. I will be teaching the kids at home with the support of local teachers/administrative ppl. I am hoping we made the right choice but we will need to try it out and see. The kids and I have had lots of fun continuing to work with our A beka books too. Right now we are discovering insects and they couldn't be happier.

Kids: Joe is growing like a weed....talking up a storm and also interested in going on the potty chair. He fits right into the fun and active family. Seth is doing better and we are enjoying some bonding time as we go out once a week for attachment counseling. His hair is still curlier than ever and still matches his fun personality. Alayna has grown a lot...especially when it comes to school. She is reading just as well as D.J. these days and puts in a lot of effort. I've also enjoyed watching her "help" Seth and Joe do things. Megan is still the "mother" of the kids and dolls. We are struggling a bit with school stuff, but I am looking forward to getting some help with that. I think she is happy here and really enjoys playing with the neighbor girls. D.J. is a growing boy. LAtely he has been asking for 3rds at every meal. I just don't know where he puts it. He enjoys riding his bike and inventing very creative things out of glue, paper, siccors, etc. He LOVES getting together with cousins and still enjoys helping dad in the garage or yard....doing "guy" stuff.
Below are some pictures from our recent visit with Brian and Penni and some pics of the girls wearing ponchos that Michelle's mom made.

Time...

Time is one of those things! Sometimes it goes so slow one wishes it would hurry and pass. At other times it goes so very quickly as though it feels like precious time was lost. I was sitting at the breakfast table with the kids the other day and as I glanced over at Megan, she seemed to have changed overnight. The kids are getting big so fast! Anyway, I am enjoying them and being home with them has been good so far. We have been doing school regularly except for when I have been too sick. Today we got to go to a friends house for a playdate...the kids had fun! Us adults talked so much that by the time we got back home I was also ready for a nap. Anyway, things have been going well. Drew is enjoying his precptorship, we had family here for Easter, and we also enjoyed a mini vacation at the Oregon Coast with Drew's side of the family. The weather has been wonderful! Just yesterday the kids enjoyed a trip to the park and ice cream afterwards. They have been playing SO hard that they sleep real good at night!

Quick Update and Pics :-)

We have been doing pretty well out here in beautiful Oregon. Along with getting settled into the house, we have been homeschooling and spending time with family. We have celebrated Drew's dad's retirement, gone to the coast with cousins/family, and are looking forward to more family over Easter. Following are a few cute pics of kids :-)

Homeschool Ramblings

I am SO excited to start fresh with homeschool this week. Kids have been asking for it for a while now. Fresh starts are so wonderful. D.J. and Megs are home and will join us for our studies. We are more than 1/2 way done with our health book! I took time to plasn and make copies for the whole week. Hoping it goes smooth. My parents are spending the night on Wed...kids are excited!! We were able to have dinner with Drew's parents tonight ((here in our new house)). Megs didn't understand that they live only 45 minutes away. She was nearly in tears when they left. It may be a while before they "get it" that family is close by now. Church was really good today. Got to see some friends! I also thought about friends in Iowa...missing you very much too. I promised myself I would be more sociable here in Oregon. I have 2 playdates scheduled for this week. ONe friend coming here on Tues. and we are going to our Cousins on Saturday afrernoon. Lots of kids and family. My cousins' Rex and Anita only live about 15 minutes drive from here...on a cool farm. We are SO happy to have family near by. Also they are homeschoolers too. Well, I should go cause it's getting late :-) Will try to post pics soon.

9852 Willamette St.

Just a note to let yall know we made it home to Aumsville. IT is beautiful here. Kids did great on the drive here and have enjoyed playing outside and going for walks around the neighborhood. We all have had fun listening to the frogs at dusk. There is a creek not too far from our house. We had loads of help from the ward moving in ((thanks))!! We are excited about being back in our home ward. Tonight is the chili feed...should be fun! Most everything is unpacked. Just need to hang pics and catch up on laundry. Miss you Davenport folk already.

More Isaksen Happenings!

It's been an eventful week or so in the Isaksen house. We've had b-day parties, strep, coughs, good-bye parties, more parties...did I mention parties? Lol... IT sure has been crazy though. Tonight some of the girls got together and had a good-bye party/wife graduation. It was really nice to get the chance to really say good bye....thanks Robyn!!! We are also thankful to have been approved to rent that house in Aumsville :-)...the address is: 9852 Willamette Street Aumsville, OR 97325
We will be moving in on March 1st or 2nd depending on how long the traveling takes. Drew and I will keep our same cell numbers for a month or two until all transitioning is copmlete. Following are pics from the last couple of weeks.

Drew earned his black belt!! ((thanks Emmiline for watching kids so I could go))




Seth and Mom at the bob the builder exhibit

\ Megan opening her tinker toys
Joe exploring his new ball pit
Joe first opening his ball pit
Before the mayham
More b-day and museum fun!






Valentine Fun!

"Adoption Day Anniversary"

Yesterday marks our second annual adoption day. Since Meg's B-day and Joe's B-day are also within the same 2 week time frame we plan to do a bigger than normal party. It seems like time has really flown since then. I can remember the car ride home from the courthouse. I was gazing down at the adoption decree where the kids "new names" were listed as Isaksen. It was so emotional and impossible to imagine what we had just done...not only in the temperal life but also the eternities. The kids were sealed to us in the Portland Oregon Temple in the summer of 2007. Since then we continue to work together growing closer to one another.

Adoption day at the courthouse

Kids climbed all over the judge and slammed the gavel
Homeschool was fun today. In our History lesson we learned about how people used to dress and communicate. We talked about all the different ways people sent messages to eachother from the town cryer to mail by horse carriage. We then talked about giving special messages to our family members through nice cards and notes. They got to decorate a paper sack for their "mail". We also set up a valentine card making center with all the goodies needed to make valentines. At the end of the week we will have a lil family party. Should be fun!!!