Fabulous Fun Friend Sunday

Cathy and I all matchy and happy


Our sweet men all smiley and floaty


Linc-utey in the boat



Ralph gets a little sprayback....



'cause some Dads get all the fun

5 Years of Independance Day Memories

So the camera's not up, but do you think that should stop me? I think not! Just watch me go....

These photos are of July 2002, 2003 & 2004. They were taken in Oregon, California and Leesburg, VA.



These are more 2004 photos taken in VA, and 2005 taken in Virginia, and Maryland. Then there are 2006 photos taken in Oregon.



All of these 2006 and 2007 photos were taken in Oregon. (I couldn't NOT sneak in the sweet photo of Nate and his baby. Sorry)



I love our country. As of late I've been teaching the boys a bit about our country, how it was founded, on Whom it was founded, the inpirations, ideas and dreams for which it was founded. How many people in our country have given great service and lives to keep our country free, inside and out. How our country has been a refuge to those who needed some of that freedom.

We all know that the picture I've painted isn't all that makes up America. There is lots that I don't care to share with them just yet. I can still wholeheartedly stand today and say....with liberty, and justice for all.


We'll be traveling out of town for this fourth, but I can promise you more photos than you can shake a stick at when I return. Have a wonderful day, celebrate your independance; God Bless America!

Somethin' To Blog About

I just got back from the most delicious date with my sweet husband- and I'm not talking about the food. It is a perfect summer evening, warm and balmy. We dropped off our boys with my sweet folks who surprised us by offering an overnight date. Yikes! HAVE to jump at that. Then we drove to Bend and had a fabulous, great conversation, yummy food dinner at Pine Tree Tavern. True to it's name, there is a monstrous pine tree growing up through the restaurant. Yummy dinner and then the longest stroll in Drake park all around the lake with so much good conversation I shan't need to talk for days.

Good luck

There were many sweet nothings and complimental everythings involved, and I just think I am the most loved woman in the world- and have the best husband. I love this man.

AND we get to sleep in! This is serious, stuff people. Nate is an early bird.

To my mom and dad,
Thank you so much for offering us a beautiful evening. Our boys are so happy to be with you and I'm so happy to know they're in great hands.

Psalm 33:4

The Word of the Lord holds true, and everything He does is worthy of our trust.

Everything.
Everything.
Everything.

Week long update

I think it's happened at last, my camera doesn't seem to be responding to any tricks or love I can give it, I'm going to have to break down and get a new one. As you know, this makes for a very boring blog. I apologize.

This morning the boys (yes, all three boys) and I spent a half an hour finishing up a 300 piece puzzle together. We have quite the puzzle boys, and what a fun thing to do together to keep our cool while summer comes on and their daddy is on travel (coming home tonight!)

We've been busy this week; hours in the pool, Eli and I went on a "date" and I got new running shoes, a trip to the children's museum, took in "Kung Fu Panda" ( a HUGE hit with the boys), and invited a friend, Miss Caffee, who's hubby was also out of town to stay overnight with two of her three kiddos. That was a fun night for all, Caffee and I watched Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (great chick flick) and stayed up way too late chatting the night away.

I also worked more with Juneau, trying to teach this young dog new tricks- stay, heel, scrub the toilet. We all know how old dogs do with those new tricks- and this doggie ain't getting any younger. He's nearly 50 lbs now, in fact. Caffee helped me out with some tips- though they seemed to work much better for her than they did for me. Any great doggie training tips?

Even after all that fun I'm missing my best friend and can't wait to hear him pull into the drive tonight. Maybe if he's got it in him after all this travel I can talk him into a great little hike I learned of yesterday. I'll let you know... Pickles! I'll have to borrow a camera!

How boring is that? A post with no photos.

Missing my Man

When R is gone, I don't want to go to bed. I'm really, really, realsleuyry tired...but I just don't want to go to bed. Last night I found Nate all curled up in R's spot and just left him there, nuzzled up next to him and fell right to sleep. Mind you I NEVER have a tough time falling asleep. Sometimes I think "Oh no, here it is at last, the night I can't fall asl..zzzzzzzzzp."

I fall asleep as soon as my light is out and glasses are on the nightstand.

But I still miss my husband.

Pouty Napper

Plinkety-plinkety-plink, here I am under the sink. Here are the buckets, the brushes and me, Plinkety-plinkety-plee.*

This is what a sleepy, pouty little boy looks like when he refuses to sleep for his rest. Can you believe he fell asleep in there? How I love my middlest bucket boy.

*If you haven't picked up Bread and Jam for Frances in awhile, you should. (The song might be from Baby Sister for Frances or one of the other's though) It's summer. Plenty 'O time to read! They were great when I was little and my boys love them too!

Usually if you're wanting to see photos of a perfectly cute little girl, you wouldn't look here, but today I have a treat for you. Monday we had Cupcake over to visit for the day. We had a grand time, and I think she did too. I'm bettin' she hit the pillow early that night. The boys took turns showing her around and entertaining her and she followed them around investigating our place. After her nap she came outside and plopped her little dressed self straight into our little wading pool and flapped her arms up and down as if to say: "It's cold! It's fun! It's cooold!"

Sleepytime for three

Loving the slide!

Business

*This is a note for those of my friends and family that are on an email list to receive notification of my blogs. I'm not sure that you all want this notification, I know I do a lot of blogging and I don't want to be plugging up your inboxes w/ unwanted info. I'll not at all be offended if you'd prefer to be taken off this list.

If you want to continue the emails: Please go to my blog. On the sidebar you'll see a place for you to select "I want your emails!!" If I don't see this checked, I'll gladly take you off the list.

If you'd rather not get the emails, just do nothing. :)

Women's Wellness Works for Me

After I finished nursing (a complete six year stretch) my littlest boy, I suddenly had a surge of hormones that didn't seem to go away. Night sweats? Check. Hot flashes? Check. Crazy cycles? Check. Irritability? ALRIGHT ALREADY! I SAID CHECK!!!

My sweet double-cousin*, after hearing of my ails, told me about a supplement that has saved her bacon. Her husband's too, she claims. Being that we closely share genetic makeup, I thought I'd give it a try, even if it is sold on TV.




This little bottle of Women's Wellness from Andrew Lessman has been a huge help for me. I've been amazed at the immediate turn around in my bimonthly grumps, and all my other symptoms have amazingly vanished. This supplement works best for me if I remember to take it, take one a day when things are settled down and two a day when things aren't.

Works for Me!

* My cousin is double...My mom's sister married my dad's brother, we're literally doubly cousins.

Father's Day Bash

This year we started Father's Day in style. The boys gave dad handmade cards,(their sweetbabysitter helped the boys make them) he opened his Steelers Father's Day gifts I picked up from a friend who sells great mascot over at Team Mascot. Then just before church we surprised Ralph by taking him out for a doughnut. The boys loved this as much (or more) than he did- for sure.

After church we headed over to my parents house where my aunt and uncle came to visit as well as some special family friends. I have a few photos for you. (Restraining from sharing a million...)

Grace contmplates the slip and slide...

Nathan takes it on, getting some help with the "slip"

Uncle Dave and shivery boys

Boyscicles

Happy Father....

You really are the man of my dreams. I was amazed when I met you and I'm still thrilled with you, especially watching you with our sweet boys. They're the luckiest kids in the world. Now tell me, just who wouldn't want this sweet man for a dad?

Ralph gives Eli a better view of the ducks at the pumpkin patch

Eli and Ralph at the beach

Ralph and Joe at D.C.

Dad's first days with Nathan Dean

Happy Kids,

Winter Wrestling Matches

Joe, Eli and Dad watch Nate's soccer game

Dad shakes the loaded tree branch for Joe and Nate's own snowstorm in Leesburg, VA

Joey catches a little dad air in Alameda, CA

Teacher...

Browsing through Christmas Catalogs

Joey learns to ride with two wheels

Camp Fire making and safety lesson on a early morning

Dad reads to Joey and holds sleeping Nate

Happy, happy Father's Day

Sticks and Swords at Nanna and Grandpa's place

Searching for tide pool treasure in Yachats OR

Fishing Break (potty break too) on a camping trip in '07

Ralph and Eli in Leesburg VA '05

In the Backyard..

So JUNE is finally almost warm enough to set up a pool. We've had a long drawn out Spring around here, so Ralph finally set up the pool with some higher numbers in the forecast. As we all know though, it takes more than a day (a week?, a month?) to heat up a 3x12x12 pool. The boys got in, and have several times....but it was chilly! If you watch my sidebar, I'm going to track our hours of play in the pool this summer.


On our Thursday hike Eli the brave hunted and captured some catapilliars. The boys really enjoyed playing with them until they were all squished and dead. I kind of resigned myself to their fate...Eli packed each one all around for days. The boys also managed to "cook" a gopher snake in the sun that I captured for quick observation. We're keeping buggy heaven busy!







...and these are just the beginning of the photos for a busy, busy weekend!

A field trip to the Fish Hatchery

A group of friends, mom's and kids alike, went to the Fish Hatchery for a tour, picnic and kid-led hike last Thursday. I've been so amazingly busy this week that I haven't taken a moment to sit down at the computer, but at last you'll get to see some so cute photos. *Joey took lots of the photos