A Special Visit!

We went to visit our great friend, Kristin and her new baby yesterday! I got to actually take them to the doctors the day before (Kristin still cannot drive because of her high blood pressure) but the kids were dying to see the new little one! She is perfect in everyway! Sweet, small, smells wonderful, and just sleeps plus all those wonderful baby noises!! Oh my! How easily you forget those special first months! Her name is little Maggie and we are so blessed to have gotten to spend the afternoon with her! Even Jon got into the "baby craze" and wanted to hold her. He told us later in the car, he was just getting ready to be with baby Greyson, but I could tell he was really enjoying rubbing her precious little head! Welcome to our world, little Maggie! We are so delighted that you are here!

The Best Things In Life Are Always Free

My sister's work has an annual picnic and we were invited to come this year! There was Goodwood BBQ to eat(YUM!), Bingo Games (Nope, I didn't win anything but I do love the game!) and lots of fun things for the kids to do (Like jumpers, a rock wall, swings, tatoos, and lots of other stuff)! I am so completely in awe of the things that they had for their employees! So much different than a school employee function, plus noone had to pay for any of it!!!! The kids even got to meet Mrs. Idaho and get their picture taken with her! The kids were tired from swimming in the pool for 3 hours before we left (maybe I should have thought that through better), but we all enjoyed it and are so glad Tammy invited us! Thanks for letting us be your date! We had lots of fun!!!

It's A Real Life!

Marissa "tagged" me a couple of days ago and from what I understand, I am suppose to go around my house and take pictures of certain things. I think I am not suppose to clean but I have to be honest and say that I did a little. I enjoyed taking the pictures (well, maybe not of my toilet) and my hope is that someday you will all just come and see these things and stay a while and chat! Okay, so here it goes....

1. Place you want to go: I would love to go to Australia! I have always wanted to go there and see the animals, the ocean and the country. My little brother has gotten to go so many amazing places like Africa and El Salvadore and I love to hear his stories but I am kindof a home body. I am really content being home, or at the cabin, or anywhere on the Oregon Coast! However, I have three places I would like to go, with Australia being the first, Alaska (to see the whales, dolphins, bears and moose) and Hawaii. This is a picture taken from Sydney! Isn't it beautiful? I could just picture myself there!!

2. Your Fridge: Well, if I would have taken this picture yesterday, there would have only been strawberries, old cheese and some condiments. Thankfully, I made it to the grocery store and it is looking much better. It seems that when the kids and I are home for the summer, the fridge gets emptied much quicker than during the school year!

3. Your Toilet: Again, I am not so sure why this is a needed picture and I did clean it before. I am sure sometime in life my mom has said, "If you are going to take a picture of your toilet, make sure you clean it first!". Don't you just love how you can still hear your Mom in your head! I love it! Thanks mom, that information did come in handy today!! You are the best!

4. Your Laundry Pile: I don't really have a "laundry pile". Well, some days I do when the laundry is really piled up. It is more like our laundry room. My dream is to get 4 baskets of different colors (white, blue, red, and brown) so that the kids can help me sort the laundry, instead of just throwing it on the floor and calling it good! Well, maybe not just Jon and Liz, maybe Ronie too! However, it doesn't look too bad today! I have been working on the laundry from the wedding so I am pretty much caught up. The big pile is for my neices, whom we get to play with all summer, to take home and two small piles that Jonathan and Elizabeth haven't gotten to their rooms yet. Maybe something better to see is our Boise State family room just beyond!

5. Your Sink: Here it is! I don't like much of anything on my counters. I am getting better but that goes with my sink as well. Unless I am stressed out, the dishes are usually done. I like to do them so it is really no big deal. I try to put them away in the morning while the kids are eating breakfast and then we fill it all day. As part of our nighttime routine, I start the dishwasher right before bed.

6. Your Favorite Room: I love our "dinning room". It is my favorite place when we all sit down for dinner and hear about everyone's day! It was also a favorite time for me growing up too! It has always been a place for great stories, laughing and spending quality time together. No TV, just the sounds of my kids giggling and Ronie making jokes. I am even learning to cook! Yipee! LOVE IT!!

7. My Closet: Someday it will be full of clothes! I hate shopping but some friends have promised to take me actual "Back to School Shopping". I keep telling myself if I head to the gym everyday, I will allow myself one little trip, so my students might get to see a different outfit other than the typical "Tuesday Get up". I have done good so far! Plus, I haven't had a Rockstar in over a week now! I am on a roll!!

8. What Are My Kids Doing: Well, when I started this morning, they were doing this! Teila and Aly got to spend the night so they dragged out all the sleeping bags and slept on the floor in the Great Room. We were going to pull the trampoline up closer to the house and let them sleep on it but after we got home from the Rec it was 9:45 and we were too tired! (Guess what? I went to the gym twice yesterday!!)

9. Favorite Shoes: Anyone that knows me will attest that I hate shoes! I wish we didn't have to wear them. So I can't say I have a favorite pair but if I had to choose, it would be my flip flops. These were actually cheap from Albertsons because I went to Jonathan's Judo tournament and I realized I had come without shoes! (See I hate them!!) Ron loves all of the "shoe stops" we have to make because Elizabeth and I have forgotten to grab shoes! Haha!!

10. Self Portrait: Well, I stop here! I hate taking my picture and I hate to have it taken so in no way would I take one of myself. Maybe I will surprise all of you one day and add one. There are a few on the blog of me so take a look around and you will see me!

That is it! So I get to tag others..... I say Brandi, Kristin, Colleen and Stephanie- Tag, You are it! :) Have fun!

Our little man was in a wedding!

Jonathan was asked to be in our cousins wedding this weekend. Elizabeth also got to be the gift attendent and they were adorable! We were so priveledged to be able to share in Tim and Shyanne's special day. I know that I am quite emotional at times but to see our little man, all decked out, with a big smile, walking down the aisle, it brought tears to my eyes! I am pretty sure it would have to anyone! What a handsome little man!! He did perfect and the only thing he didn't do when asked was to kiss the bride. (He is 9 though, can you blame him? She was gorgeous!) The wedding was beautiful, Tim and Shyanne seemed so happy and it we got to visit with family members that we don't get to see very often. We had a great time and we even did a little dancing with the kids! We wish Tim and Shyanne a lifetime of happiness!!! Thanks again for including our kids in a very special day!

A Little Taste of Summer!

We finally got a snowcone machine and the kids couldn't wait to try it out! (Thanks Jolyn!) We only had one flavor to try but it was a good one (watermelon) and everyone was happy! Nothing beats it on a hot day and after a dip in the pool! Come over sometime and we would love to share!

Shout Out To Daddy!

This might sound a little corny, okay, a lot corny, but I thought it would be nice to give a little "shout out" to Ron and what an awesome Daddy he is for Fathers Day today! I had always wanted to marry someone that would be fun and crazy just like my dad and I feel like Ronie not only fits the bill, but that my Dad would be proud of who Ronie is and the father he is to our kids. It is not always easy and he works very hard for us and most importantly, we know how much he cares! While he might always be late (wink, wink), he always shows up for everything he can and is involved in everything our kids do. Anyways, here's to you Ron and to what a terrific Daddy you are! Happy Fathers Day! We love you!!! (And miss you very much too! Make your Montana trip go quickly and come back home soon!)

Hey, we do all fit! See!!!

Okay, so you know all the wonderful weather we have been having (NOT!) and the kids have been watching the TV like hawks to see when the sun will come out and they can get out and play. Well, today the forcast was just what the little ones have been asking for. First of all, while we adults understand that even though the sun might be out today, that doesn't mean the pool water magically warms up to a degree that someone would like to swim in but of course that knowledge comes with time and with age. (Please no more mean comments about my age!) This is important because as we left my mom's house for my belated birthday breakfast of waffles and strawberries (and walking Nana-but that is a whole other story!) the kids were so excited they felt heat and they were ready to swim. With patience, I tried to explain to them the previous statement but they wouldn't dream that this would be the case because as Jonathan put it, "I have sweat right now on my forhead! I NEED the cold water!" So, I join in and start to get excited too realizing that the budget that Ronie and I had blown to bits finally was going to reap its benefits and the kids were going to have the time of their lives. I started out with trying to unhook the "special" tie that Ronie has concocted in order to keep the pool cover on. This took only around 15-20 minutes and I only pinched my finger two times! So, no worries, the hard part was now behind me and the kids soon would be swimming and playing in no time. I was starting to have dreams of sitting on my new patio furniture and watch my little angels take a dip and be the best of friends. I am pretty sure I heard a Jimmy Buffett song play in my head to keep me focused on the next mission at hand... the cover itself! Putting it back on with Ron hasn't ever been a problem but as I started to pull the cover off (making sure not to let the little bugs on the top fall into the water for my princess) water started to fill and I now had a gigantic water balloon that not only was putting the "yuckiness" back into the pool but was starting to pull me down into the pool with it. I was now covered in water, my clothes and my hair wet, hanging onto the side of the pool to keep from going in and the children, my little angels, stood and watched me do the whole thing now had enough nerve to ask why this process was taking so long. Lucky for me, the water balloon sprung a leak on the side and water started to drain (all over me but at this point I really couldn't have cared less!). By the time I had the cover drug to the lawn, the kids who now decided that helping might be a nice gesture, added the ladder to the pool. Wasn't that nice of them? I watched as each child, did a nice cannon ball off the ladder but as quickly as they landed, they jumped right back out at an even faster rate. I was starting to realize that my day off relaxation was going to quickly come to an end if I didn't do something fast, so I punted and asked if the tubes would help. Of course, that was going to be just the ticket. So as I hauled each tube into the shop (remember, I am dripping wet!) and filled each one and carried it all the way back to the pool, they played on them for all of well, maybe 2 minutes and begged to jump on the trampoline. Now, I figured even though it has now taken me close to an hour to get this pool that they all HAD to play in ready for them, at least I could still sit and watch them jump and read my magazine and maybe dry off myself. So, they jumped for well, yea, probably 2 minutes and then all four of them came to me and wanted to go in the house and play the Wii! Can I tell you that I had a meltdown? Yes, the ones that Elizabeth has and I look at her and think why did her father teach her to act that way! I think the kids understood where I was going and all of a sudden realized the pool was going to be alright after all.
However, Nana and Brenna come over and then Liz's great friend Miranda and her sister, Mikayla (Yea! We had another teenager for Teila!) come over and the day did turn out very nice indeed! Of course, they spent most of their time in the hot tub but hey, it's water right?

Little Girl, Big Party!

WOW! We had a party! Elizabeth's 7th Birthday party turned out nice with our friends and family. Elizabeth is still elated with everyone and everything. Little baby Greyson even e-mailed her with a special birthday greeting that we still cannot get over without laughing hysterically! What could be better? We had a BBQ, opened gifts, jumped on the trampoline, had a flip flop pinata, took a dip in the frigid pool, and even had time to decorate some flip flops for ourselves! Fun times! It is always nice to have a get together and realize how blessed you are with special people in your life. (Even ones that can appreciate the special talent of a Daddy using a tractor to hold the pinata! Gotta love the man!)

What A Day!! Talk About Memories!!!

Well our baby girl just turned 7, on the 7th and we were informed that this is the "Golden Birthday" which is the most special one of them all. So Grandma, Grandma Great, Aunt Nana, Jonathan and I made her the perfect breakfast of strawberries, whip cream and waffles. Not a bad way to start the day. We tried to put it off until tomorrow when her party is actually scheduled but she felt (being the princess and all) that some extra special measures needed to be taken on the actual day and all of its splendor.

Our family also had plans to attend a promotional BBQ for Jonathan's Judo club. We went last year and it is always a great time to be with the great friends we have formed throughout the two years we have been involved. Usually, we eat, chat, laugh and then some of the kids get promoted to a higher rank. Jonathan was indeed promoted to a yellow belt from a white/yellow and we were/are so proud of him. Teila was also promoted to a yellow/orange belt from a yellow and we were/are very proud of her. After the belts were awarded, the Sensei's gave out special awards for the judoka (Special word for judo student-see I am learning!) that have shown great achievements throughout the year. Teila was given an award for having the best Judo spirit and we were/are all very excited and pleased with that. Then, there is a BIG trophy that is housed at our Dojo and is given each year to the judoka that displays the best sportsmanship. It is a HUGE honor and is usually given to an older student that has been in Judo for a while. The Sensei gave a little speech about the student earning the award this year and how he shows what Judo is all about, on and off the mat, that he is kind, caring, helpful and is eager to learn all he can. Well, this year, that judoka is our son, Jonathan. Can I tell you how proud I was/am of him? I was all full of pride and then I saw his Dad (who has won this award twice in the past) and you could tell he was even more excited than myself. Now, we all know that Jonathan is a great kid and a hard worker but to have two Sensei's see it and boast about him in front of everyone, that is a moment that any parent will cherish forever. Jonathan hasn't quit smiling and I am almost positive that his Dad hasn't either.