Mariel's Baby Shower

Alli just adored lil'Ezra. It was fun to watch Alli interact using her version of mothering skills.

Grandma and Alli

...I'm so glad your having a baby girl Mary...you will truly love it!

Alli, Grandpa, and Caleb

...of course when you go to Lion's Park, you have to feed the ducks.

3 Years of Bliss

James and I celebrated our 3rd Anniversary with dinner and a movie. James took me to the Monterosso's Italian restaurant in Richland. It was such a romantic quit place. A place were you can hear your lover whisper sweetness into your ear while taking in the formal dinning atmosphere. We ended the night curled up on the couch watching a movie. This next year we plan to take a honeymoon vacation. ...can't wait to see my sister in Hawaii.

Yard Makeover

This is what the kids and I did early morning while daddy was at the store picking up materials to fix two of our sprinklers and trim our enormous blue spruce.

This Blue Spruce is so large that the back side from about 6ft down is all dead branches. It takes up a good chunk of the yard too. So here is what we plan.

First, James cut down all those dead branches.

Now I have this huge pile of branches..lol, but those will be towed away to the dump soon. James has planned to build a bench that circles around the base of the tree. We will be planting grass where all those branches are and up to the tree trunk. I guess grass can grow under Blue Spruce pine trees cause there are many in our neighborhood with grass all the way up to the base of the tree. Ah, it will be very beautiful when it's all done.

Fair 2009

We rode lots of rides. Weston even got to ride the big Ring of Fire roller coaster with dad. He's tall for his age, thanks to dad. He was the only "little kid" hopping on that ride. It's terrifying for me to ride at 30 years of age! I guess I'm just a whimp.

We entered the goat milking contest...

Feed the sheep...

Jumped high into the air...

And brought home souvenirs with lots of awesome memories.

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.