Halloween

It’s never to late post our Halloween pictures right?   Good because we’re late!

Fred dressed up as Indian Jones and Bam was a puppy.  We didn’t get a whole lot of pictures this year.  This year at the harvest party they were off running around doing their own thing.  No more Mommy walking them from booth to booth. But still young enough to want to go to the Harvest Party.   On Halloween, the boys had their last soccer game of the fall season, and then we were off to Nana & Papa’s to trick or treat up and down their street. 

All the cousins before they all got seperated and had to trick or treat in groups.

 

Corn Maze

Believe it or not, but this is the first year we have gone to the corn maze.  The boys and I went last week with the preteen Sunday school class, but Jason was unable to meet us there. So we went this week. We have gone  to pumpkin patches, and straw mazes before, but never the corn maze.  The boys and I had bought pumpkins earlier in the day while we were grocery shopping, so we just went on the tractor ride for fun.  We were going to do the scary maze, but that was before we were told it cost more money, so we just stuck with the tried and true unscary maze! We gave the flash light to the boys and let them lead. They did a great job. It only took us about 15-20 minutes. Of course since tomorrow is Halloween, the path was pretty worn down and obvious, but whatever, they got us through.  They took turns holding the light.  Jason kept trying to fall back and cut around to scare them, but it really was too busy.  So I just told them someone had been murdered in the corn field.  They laughed and said I was lying, but before they went to bed, Bam told me I sacred him! Bad mom award!  After a good game of hide and seek in the straw maze, some posed pictures, one where Bam dropped the camera taking a (blurry) photo of Jason and me, and some fresh doughnuts we headed home so the boys could get a good nights sleep for their last soccer game. All of this after it snowed yesterday, today was almost a perfect fall day! They are beyond excited for trick or treating tomorrow. I’ll bet it has nothing to do with going to Nana & Papa’s house. But it probably does.

Some nice man realized he bought to many glow sticks so he gave one to the boys.

Bam found a good hiding spot, then Daddy found him and pulled him out.

Jason was laying down hiding when Fred came around the corner. When Jason took the picture his breath made this cool fog effect!

 

Summer in Picures

Trips to lots of parks
 

We went camping with my family. The boys spent more time in the water than the fish did. Not that we caught any.

Lots of produce from our garden. This is my first potato harvest. This was ONE plant! I had 5 plants total. Tomatoes were not so good this year.

 

Many drives to the desert.

One of them was to Qwyhee State park in Oregon. The boys want to move there. I told them not to forget to write.

Another of them was to Celebration Park. Fred ended up going back here a few weeks later when school started for a field trip.

 

 

Swim Lessons

We just got done with swimming lessons for this year. Fred was in the same level as he was last year, level 3, but Bam moved up to level 1. They say it’s pretty common for a kid to spend a few sessions in level 3. Fred will be doing it again next year, but Bam has moved up to level 2. Fred is a little disappointed with himself for ‘failing’. I keep telling him that he didn’t fail, he just needs to be a little stronger in the water. For someone who needs to excel in everythingthat he does, this isn’t a good enough explanation. I’m sure by next year he’ll be over it. I hope.

Since it was one of my New Year’s Revolutions to take the boys to the park more often, we crossed the street to the city park quite a few days after swimming lessons were over. There is also a baseball park across from the park. The boys had a lot of fun playing one on one baseball. It’s hard to follow the game. Believe me. Rules were being made up and changed constantly. I’m honestly surprised they could remember all of them. But hey, they were having fun. A few days ago we were still at the park when the lunch truck got there. I didn’t realize our town did lunch in the park. I had seen on a website that two schools were serving lunch during the summer but nothing about the park. I asked if they wanted to get in line and they did. We were expecting PB&J, or cold ham and cheese, but no! It was a full hot meal! Two taquito/burrito things, pears, carrot sticks, graham crackers, cheese stick, and chocolate milk. They were FULL. For 20 minutes. Maybe a little longer.   We will definitely be hitting that up again. The best part?  FREE!!  I love it. Only I need to pack my own lunch. Since we weren’t expecting to stay, my stomach was growling smelling their lunches!

We are having such a fun and relaxing summer. It is going by way to fast.  But I am enjoying every minute of it.

Bam learning to float on his own. He now thinks this means he can swim. He is wrong and it’s kinda scary! He just jumps in now, but can not swim.

Fred learning to do the dolphin kick. He’s pretty good, but a little slow. He tires out quickly.

One on one baseball. I think it’s going to catch on and be the next big thing. Mark my words.

What a meal!!

 

My Attempt at Being a Photographer

So I took some pictures of the boys to try to save some money.
I’m thinking that I’ll not be going professional anytime soon. I like the last one best but it’s pretty shadowy. the first two Bam has a strange look on his face! I definatly need more practice. At least the test subjects are nice to look at!

 

Vacation

This year we went to my sisters house for our vacation.  Her property in Rupert boarders a state park, so there was a lot to do.  We had free room and board and all I needed to do was help Jenny with her VBS.   We took our camera but we were a little lazy on taking pictures.  It was a very nice and relaxing week.  It was cut a little short, though.  Jason’s aunt was very ill and in the hospital in Florida, so we left a day early so we could get Jason to the airport for his flight.  Nothing very exciting happened on our trip, only good times with family, so I’ll just post some highlight photo’s.

Fred climbing during his cousins t-ball game.

We went fishing but never caught anything.

But it was great practice for casting.

And good cousin time.  These boys (minus one who stayed home to nap) played nonstop the entire week.

We went on a lot of walks.  The scenery was so beautiful.  Bug spray was essential on all of these walks.

It was even nice when the clouds rolled in and it cooled off and threatened to rain.

The boys approved of this years vacation and we are all excited to start planning for next year!

 

Busy Spring

As usual our spring has been very busy. Not a single day on the calendar was blank!  It’s fun and exciting to stay so active, but it is very draining at the same time. Since I’m not a spring blogger, I thought I should consolidate it all down to one entry. You know to keep everyone from being bored to death.  I would hate to be the cause of such an unfortunate event!

First, Bam went on his first ‘real’ field trip. That’s what he called it because he went on a bus, and it wasn’t just to the local civic center. We went to the zoo. He loved looking out the window, being so high up. He could see the truck drivers! He sang to himself most of the way. I’m so glad I got to be a part of that. I just happened to get done with work the day before!

Fred turned 9 this May. All my family came up for Memorial Day, so we celebrated his birthday a day early. He was overjoyed to be turning 9. One more year ’til double digets. That’s all I was hearing from that child! I am so blessed and greatful that God has chosen me to be this boys mother. He is really amazing. I love him more than any words would ever do justice to.

Fred was also in a church play. It was called Camp Wallaballa. The bus broke down on the way to church camp, and all the kids had to rely on God for all their problems. It was super cute. He did a really good job. My batteries died so I wasn’t able to get all of his parts on video, but I was able to squeeze in a few photo’s.

The last day of school is Field Day. Jason was able to attend this year, so I put him to work on camera duty. I am so glad I did too! I am never able to get pictures because I’m always working a station. While I was working the water balloon toss, Jason followed the boys around and got some awesome shots. Bam was beyond excited to finally be able to participate! Fred won his classes sack race. Jason got this on video, so no pictures. Luckily for me this station was close to mine, so I was able to cheer him on! Bam is very much like his mother so this day was just a wonderful exuse to be social!

After field day we went out to lunch, and then Jason was off to Cascade for a fishing retreat. He didn’t catch anything, but he came home refreshed and rested. He had a good time, which make me very please. While he was gone the boys and I went to go see ‘Up’. Cute cute movie.

And finally, this Monday, Jason and I celebrated 11 years if marriage bliss. Ok well not all 4015 days have been bliss, but it’s been prety darned close! Fred was our anniversary photographer.  He did a good job!

That wraps up our busy spring. Typing it up it suddenly doesn’t seem so busy! But I guess I was just hitting on the main points. Summer break has begun and the pace of our lives has definatly slowed to a crawl. Now it’s all about enjoying every second before we are all wisked away, back into the busy schedule of the next school year.

 

Mother’s Day 2009

All in all, this was probably the best Mother’s Day I’ve had.  So far. I might say the same thing again next year.

Saturday we woke up and got ready for the boys soccer game.  Fred was a little nervous because they were going up against the number 1 team.  As the number 2 team, he felt the pressure.  

                                  Number 6
The other team has not lost a single game, not even tied. Our team has not lost a game, but we have tied 2 games.  As of the end of the game,  Fred’s team is now the number 1 team.  They won 4-0!!!   Fred played his best this game and he was SO close to scoring his first goal in this season.  The other team had better team work but their defense was a little off this day. Our team could use a lesson or two from the other team on working as a team.  Bam had a game right after Fred’s He scored his first 2 goals of this season!

Bunch ball at it’s best!

Then we came home and crashed after all that excitement. We had a very lazy afternoon before we went to help a friend celebrate his 30th birthday.  Of course, no one brought a camera, but I will tell you that our waiters earned every last cent of their tip!!!  13 adults and 14 kids makes one terrible mess!  Hope you had a fantastic day Josh!  On the way home we stopped at a garden store and I got my Mother’s day gift early. 

Two Yellow Baby Lilies and some Gold Moneywort

Northern Lights decorative grass

Jason got himself a blueberry bush. We are trying it out in a pot.   We’ll see how it likes it.

Today after a wonderful morning at church, which included a card from my secret sister (who is spoiling me senseless) we made a unscheduled stop at our local lake. Only Jason hates it when I call it that. I must refer to it at the local reservoir when he is present.  We went on a little walk along the dam and took in the beautiful weather.  Naturally, I did not have my camera. We came home, and Jason grilled some chicken up. Then I planted my cool weather seed. Carrot, radish, lettuce, broccoli, and onion.  Then….. I took a nap!!! It was glorious! Fred had play practice, so the rest of us did some grocery shopping, and on the way home we had milkshakes.  As we were getting the boys to bed, I was reflecting on what I wonderful weekend I had with my boys, and how truly truly blessed I am. Then I saw this:

Evedentally Bam got bored and scratched his bed with a PAPER CLIP!!!  I can hear all the wonderful women in my life who have children older than my own, telling that one day I will look back on this and laugh.   I don’t think so ladies. I don’t think so.  Fred did something similar when he was about 4, and 5 years later, I’m still not anywhere near een cracking a smile.  At least my earlier nap  prepared my mind and body for what was to come.  I thank my mother for not killing me when I was his age and did stupid things like this.  After the headache I gave myself over this, I still KNOW that I am blessed. 

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mommas out there.

 

Spring

Spring has been keeping us busy once again.  I love spring.   It always has something happening.

We are redoing our back yard and garden.  We built some garden boxes for our veggies, though I’ll probably throw some flowers in there too.  So far I have potatoes planted. I have tomatoes and peppers started in the house.  I had some lettuce, but I think some little fingers were involved in trying to make them stand up straight, and now I have no more lettuce.  Poor little lettuces.   We are also replanting our grass.  It was sad looking and we needed to do some serious rock removal. That’s what’s in the white bucket. The rest are all piled on the side of the yard.  I have no explanation for the flower pot.  I put it away after I took some pictures.  Please ignore it.  That’s what I’m trying to do, but I’m failing. 

Java had his 11 year birthday. We didn’t get him his traditional pig’s ear or raw hide this year. Why? Because he’s 11 and his digestive track is too. Yuck. He got his daily milk bone instead. He’s so spoiled!

Then my poor little Bam got a tummy bug. He got to stay home the next day, but he didn’t get to enjoy it as he was still feeling icky until late afternoon. For some reason when any of the three boys in my house get sick they always sleep on the bathroom floor. Please ignore it. That’s what I’m trying to do, but I’m failing. 

 

Jason took the boys camping, but he forgot to take the camera that I put right next to his pile of gear.  Luckily Fred remembered to take his little disposable camera. He has a few pictures left before we can take it into to get developed.  I hear they had a great time, and they are already planning for the next trip. I am so glad they had so much fun, but I was ridiculously lonely. But they had so much fun, I’ll let them go and keep my mouth closed. 

All these plus the normal spring business has been keeping us, well, busy!  I really do love spring.

 

Easter 2009

This year Easter was a little different.  Well it was a lot different. First of all we were at my parents house instead of here at home. It was the first Easter we spent somewhere else.  Saturday after the boys soccer game we headed out.  We got to my hometown just in time for my nieces birthday party. She turned 3 on tax day. That was my grandmother’s birthday too. She had a funny joke about that.  It was a fine birthday party and like any good auntie, I forgot to take pictures. I have no idea how this happened, other than after 2 hours of soccer and another 2 hours of driving, my brain was mush.  This sounds like a good enough excuse to use.

Then Easter morning we went to church service with my sister.  We are Protestant, my sister is Catholic.  It was quite different, and it started VERY early. So no family picture this year on Easter morning. I will have to take one some other morning…. we’ll pretend that it’s Easter! 10 years from now, no one will ever know the true story. Except for you because I just told you.  After the service my sister’s friends invited us over for breakfast. It was a very nice visit, with great conversation plus homemade waffles and strawberries while listening to the boys laughing and playing with the cousins equals singing in my heart. We got back to Nana and Papa’s house and the daddies went and hid the eggs.

We got some funny pictures of the cousins, some were happy, some crying,  and some just not paying attention.

After evaluating their loot we took the boys over to Shoshone Falls.  I grew up with the falls being right there and being able to go see them whenever, but my boys have never seen them! This is an absolute tragedy to me. The falls do not fall all year round. This is because there is a dam upstream that holds the water all winter, then they let it go when they know they have enough for all the irrigating for the summer. Easter weekend was the first weekend that the falls were flowing. It was busy but as usual it was beautiful. Breathtaking beautiful, even though I have seen it a million times. Perhaps even more so because I was seeing it with my kids for the first time.

It still brings tears to my eyes. Is is even possible to look at this magnificent falls and NOT see the power and awe of The Lord? Look he even puts a rainbow in it!  What a beautiful Easter treat to us! He has risen indeed!!

I can not wait until we get Fred’s little disposable camera to see it through his eyes. They loved it.

After the falls we headed over to my brother’s house for some a yummy Easter dinner. My bother had smoked a turkey and it was delish!  YUM! Then before we headed back home to get those boys in bed for school the next day we headed over to the park by his house to let the kids run around. My children climbed trees instead. Of course.

That was our 2009 Easter.  A little different than our traditional Easter but one that I will treasure forever!