Last Day of Summer Vacation

I have been waiting to do something really fun with the boys this summer. Something more then just the fishing and swimming at the river with trips to the park to play. But, we are on a budget. With James in school, the boys in Private school, Alli at a babysitter, and a house payment all on a single income can really put a damper on family vacation. So I asked some friends at work who suggested we visit the Aquatic Park in Pendleton OR. It was totally worth the hour drive in the car. The kids had a blast! I spent time in the shallow end with Alli as we floated on our stomachs while crawling our way around with our hands making growling sounds as we pretended to be Alligators. Weston was such an awesome partner to go down the large swirling slides together. We would race down the tubes ending in a big splash with water up the nose. And Timmy, my boy who knows how to lay back and relax in the hot tub, Ahhh. Daddy and him also spent time having water fights with the built in water guns and dunking each other with the teeter tatter. I hope we can make one more trip before we say good bye to this warm weather. All the boys start school tomorrow...back to life again.

Arabela's 1st Birthday

Duane and Noelle invited us to join the fun in celebrating their daughters first birthday. It is amazing how time flies. She is truly a beautiful little girl with parents who celebrate every moment of the joy she brings to them.

This was the best one year old Birthday party I've ever been to. The food was excellent, jumping castle for the kids, and of course...

...a pinata full of candy. This Pinata was quite resistant to breaking though. After every child had their try at breaking it open, even a kid in his teens with a broom handle, James then ripped it open with his hands...LOL

Ohh Ana, we sure miss you and wish to spend more time with you. We look forward to seeing you this Winter...must get more pictures!

Playing with Friends

One of the bonuses of living where we do is this park that is just two houses down from us. James offered to watch Colby, one of the boy's friends, for the day. They spent all day jumping on the trampoline, smashing bugs, playing super hero's, and playing at this park. I love watching them play. We have a couple of fun trips coming up to bring this summer to an end before school starts. One is to take the boys to a water park, and of course FISHING...Wes can't stop asking his dad when they're going. So next week will be fun days at Grandmas house. I love my family. The memories we make together will never be taken away.

Perseverance Wins Again

Many of you know we were having troubles putting Alli to sleep in the evening. We were sticking to our routine of bath, brush teeth, story, water, hugs kisses, sing song, then pray to Jesus. Somewhere in all this Alli decided that she did not want to sleep, correction, she decided that sleeping was not what she was going to do and staying in her room was complete torture. I'm a sucker for crying, most of the time, and even more when it comes to sleep. So I would break down and lay down next to her till she was asleep. This was an awful idea which just made it worse. She knew at some time I would leave so she slept with "one eye open" ...hours of trying to leave her bed only to be drawn back by the crys for momma. James and I were exhausted to say the least. So James came to my rescue. He spent a week sitting outside Alli's door gently reminding her saying "get back in your bed and lay down please" over and over. She HATED it. Ohh she'd cry and cry, but he would move farther and farther away till he was around the corner and out of sight. She would get up out of bed go around the corner only to see daddy with raised eyebrows telling her to get back in bed. Today has marked one full week that we have put Alli in bed and she STAYS in bed. No crying, no getting up out of bed, I can just hear her sing herself to sleep. Ohh what bliss to have a baby that sleeps. What an awesome gift my husband is to me.