Oregon 2011

What another fun trip to OR, this year 

the girls got to meet and get to know their cousins Ollie and Liam

go to VBS with their cousins

Dave, Tim and Jason built an amazing fort out in the woods

our girls, Jessy, Kami and Bode even got to sleep out in it one night with Uncle Tim (it was pouring down rain all night but they stayed out there, we didn't see them until 7:30 the next morning, I was surprised)

We got in a couple of nice days down at the river and then the weather changed and it started raining.

We meet Beverly and Amy in Salem for lunch.

To help entertain the kids (due to the rain) and get rid of some of their energy we were invited to Bill and Jill's to let the kids swim in their indoor pool and one night Rick and Julia brought over a big blow up bounce house.

There were many cousin sleepovers. 

Jessy and Abigail were joined at the hip, it was a lot of fun to watch those two together (I hope they end up as college roommates).

Ash feel in love with horses.  She'd hang out with Auntie Krista and Emily while they took care of the horses.

The cousins did some rock painting in their new cool fort.

Of course there were zip line rides, mornings spent in the hot tube and motorcycle rides.

We took the kids bowling.

We celebrated Tim, Amy and Jason's birthdays.

Abigail got water balloons from us for reading an entire book on the way to OR.  So, Abigail and Jes spent all day filling them up for the cousin water balloon fight.  (note to self, don't forget ... the bucket full of river water)

I loved playing basketball with Bode.  One morning when the sun finally decided to come out, Bode asked me to move the hoop to the shade.  I was like what you want it in the shade and Bode said, "yes, I don't like the sun."  Well, he's perfect for OR. 

It was really hard saying goodbye.  Every year it is.  We can't wait to see everyone again in 2012!

*so I have more photos from our trip but I still haven't downloaded them. we got back home and are now enjoying our last week with J at home.  we only have 7 more days of his 26 day vacation left.  i had to get this post done so that I can share all the other things we've been doing.  maybe i'll get back and add those pictures later.  hopefully.*

Everything Friday

Where to start.

First off, I had such a great time hanging out with Hamilton clan on Monday at G's bday party. I just love them all and could spend hours laughing with them, and so, that's just what I did.

Ashy, Jason and I have been missing our sweet Abigail.  I mean really missing her like crazy.  On Thursday I got a picture text of her, it made me so happy and then later that night I got another text from Summer saying she had just seen Abigail and gotten a big hug from her.  I screamed and called Summer immediately.  And then I got to hear my little girl's voice. Oh how I felt so much better seeing and hearing from her.  I didn't know it was going to be so hard on me to send her. Jason and I think camp should have an internet cafe so kids can skype home.  Ha!

While Abigail is away J painted a wall in her bedroom green.  Her new favorite color is green.  We can't wait to show her the surprise.

I got my family pictures. I love them.  Thanks again pal.

Fireworks with Friends

7.4.11

We had a fun night celebrating the 4th with the boys.

*I love that the boys all had red mustaches

*Abigail's favorite firework was the torpedo, I think (I'll check with her when she gets back home)

*Cody knew all the names of the fireworks

*Ryan would use his sparkler to catch fire to other fireworks

*Ash had a smoke bomb land at her feet

*The new neighbor boy shared his fireworks with us

*Ash said her feet hurt and so she needed a drink, an excuse to go inside Melissa's house

*Luke couldn't wait to light the blood sucker, their $20 grand finale firework

*We didn't tell the kids we were lighting off a string of black cats, you should have seen all their faces. (Melissa and I both tried to get a picture of their reaction but missed it)

*Jason would just all of a sudden set off a fire cracker, scaring us half to death

*Ashy loved the sparklers, Abigail didn't

*Ash covered her ears a lot

*Fighting tanks were a big thing this year

*The kids enjoyed every minute of it!

Wordless Wednesday

Father's Day Weekend

This year for Father's Day my mom and dad treated the family to a weekend stay in Cascade, it was a great little getaway.  

Saturday the guys took the kids out fishing, while the girls went to town to shop around as we waited to get the cabin key.  It was a cold rainy day but that didn't bother anyone.  Mom and dad's boat has a cover on it and a heater.  Plus it didn't matter how crummy the weather was, the fishing was great!  Jason said it was so easy to catch fish that he'd drop the line in the water while trying to untangle the girls fishing line and they'd end up catching a fish.  That's some good fishing.

Sunday morning we woke up to a partly cloudy day, and after a big breakfast we all headed back out on the boat to do some more fishing.

We ate fried fish for lunch and after a couple of quick naps everyone ended up back at the dock fishing, so we decided to go out on the lake and, you guessed it, do more fishing.

The day ended with a nice big dinner.  My brother was driving down from Coeur d'alene and was driving through right at dinner time so he stopped in to eat with us. That worked out perfectly!

Thanks again mom and dad, we had so much fun hanging out and fishing.  Ash told me her new hobby now is fishing.

 

What a great way to spend Father's Day!

Everything Friday

Happy July!

The girls and I are still trying to get over our VBS colds.

We've been hanging low this week.

We did get family pictures taken. I really needed to update our family photo on the sidebar, that winter picture just didn't work now that it's summer.  Thanks pal for hanging out with us on a 93 degree day!  Once I get the CD of pictures I'll share more.

My brother has been in town for work.  It's been nice to see him.  Tuesday night he and Andrea came over for dinner and some time at the pool.  I love that a brother is always a brother, no matter how much time goes between visits.  No matter how old we get it's still the same.  He'd defend or stick up for us in a heartbeat and constantly teases and bugs us to death too.  I love you bubba!  I've always said, every little girl needs a big brother, I am thankful I do.

It was fun to watch Uncle Aaron in action.  Ash couldn't get enough of his attention, that is until he threw her in the pool.  Ha.  Now she knows what Andrea and I lived with.  Because I remember a time when Aaron threw Andrea into the big above ground pool we had, but of course he did this to her in winter!

Jason has been busy at work this week.  He is moving to the new Kohl's and has been doing a ton of interviews to get their positions filled.  Since he is opening the new store and will be required to work 6 day works week until it opens in Sept and then they go right into holiday mode, Jason has had to take all his vacation now.  So that means he has something like 27 days off!  We're looking forward to it.  I'm so glad all this happened during summer break, the girls are so excited.

I'm packing up Abigail for her 1st time to church camp.  I can't believe she is old enough.  She is so excited to go! I on the other hand am not ready to let her go.  But I wanted to send her this year because it's Michayla's last year at Junior camp.  I feel better knowing Michayla will be there to show her the ropes.  I am looking forward to seeing how the Lord will work in her heart that week and I can't wait to re-live my camp memories through her.

Now it's time to start thinking about the 4th, happy celebrating!