More pics...

Liam, Chad, Macy, Luke, Mia & Haley in grandma & grandpa's backyard

Daddy's here!!!!!
Lukie & Baloo. We miss you Baloo!
Getting all dolled up!

Well...

I'm stylin'!

I'm the queen of the car!

we're still here! Just been busy being Californians! Daddy got here (yippee!) and we were able to go to Uncle Billy's house on Saturday night for dinner and saw our dog, Baloo. The kids loved seeing him! Today, D took the girls (and Reed) to Libby Lu's in the mall where they (the girls - not D or Reed - go figure) got "makeovers" (which they loved!) and I took the boys (and Liam - Chad's best California friend) to see "Harry Potter". We hadn't seen it yet, but D did. It was fun! I still haven't seen the last one, #4; one of these days, I guess. Getting ready to head to dinner, then it's off to Legoland, Comicon and Disneyland on Wednesday. Now the fun really begins!

P.S. Figured out where to upload pics, so here's some random ones...

Day 3 - Can anyone say "Pool Party"?

So, we invited a few friends over today. Say about 16 kids and their parents. Only a couple, really. Grandma and Grandpa were on their way home from Utah, only to find a whole lot of people in their backyard - including the pool man. I didn't invite him, I swear!

We had a lot of fun though. It was just what the kids wanted to do. Swimming at grandma and grandpa's house, In-N-Out for lunch, and lots of friends over to play with. This is what summertime means to us!

Reminder though - next time put LOTS of sunscreen on Chad's cheeks!

Day 2

Woke up... not even too late. Only about 8:30. Went to our old church where we saw lots of friends. That was really nice. Then we cruised by our old house. It looked really strange. They had put up new pieces of trim on the outside of the house, but haven't painted them yet. When D and the boys were down in May, they saw the unpainted trim as well... so don't know if this is some sort of fashion statement. Whatever. They also have their Christmas lights up. Strange. Heard they have roosters too. Just the kind of neighbors you want, huh?

Anyways, then we stopped by our friend, Mia's house, but she wasn't there so we got to see her mom, dad and baby brother. Stopped by grandma Paula's house, and convinced her to feed us tonight. Then we drove to Burbank and surprised Chad's friend, Liam, and Luke's friend, Elizabeth. They were all (parent's included) very happy to see us. Totally made us feel loved!

Also saw one of the 7-11's that's been temporarily trasformed into a Kwik-E-Mart as a promotion for the new Simpsons movie. Very cool. Bart and his friend are sitting on the roof, Marge and some others are painted on the front and sides of the building. It was really neat. There was even a line going around the building to get in. Apparently they are selling Simpson-related treats, like Krusty-O's, and people are willing to wait in line to get them. That will have to wait til D gets here... not the kind of line I want to stand in!

We MADE IT!!! - Day 1

We survived! After 16 1/2 hours in the car, we got to grandma and grandpa's house at 12:30 in the morning... very tired and sore, but happy to have reached our destination! YeeHaw! Now, we just got to sleep it off... so we're not feeling so "jet-lagged"... without the jet!

(Can't plug my camera into their computers, so no pics for now. Will post some when D gets here on Saturday with his computer.)

I'm ready for Cal-ifor-n-ia...

Is it time to go yet? Is it tomorrow yet? (She's been asking this for the past two days.) This is all that Haley believes she needs to take with her for a two-week trip. This is good for swimming (obviously), Disneyland and especially, church.

On the road again...

Getting ready to head to California tomorrow. Just me and the kids... 16 hours in the car. Am I crazy???!!!! Gotta do it though! Very excited to see our friends and family that we haven't seen in almost a year, and besides that, D is going to fly down next weekend and then drive home with us the week after. Him and the boys will head to Comicon, the comic book convention, in San Diego, while me and the girls and Reed just swim and enjoy (????) some of the California heat for a few days. Also planning a trip to Disneyland. Know it will be hot, busy, and crazy and we'll only get to go on probably one ride after spending almost a million dollars to get in... but hey, now we're tourists. Gotta do the touristy things! Wish me luck!

Bowling fun

Ok, one more for today. The field trip for today was bowling! We had lots of fun... and the air conditioning was wonderful! For some reason we have the California weather right now - it's been 103 degrees - so anything to get out of the heat. Here's a cute pic of Haley. Her and I were a team. She got to do the first ball, and I would do the second. She loved it. She would just walk up there, drop the ball, and then wait about an hour for it to get down the lane. Very funny.

(Random side note - notice we finally cut off her hair. It's actually pretty cute! A bit of an adjustment, but I'm really starting to like it!)

Total bed head...

Macy's at Girl Scout day camp this week, and today was Crazy Hair Day. Just wanted to share a cute pic of her and some friends.

You can't really tell from this picture, but Macy is totally sporting Princess Leah buns - thanks to D, of course!

Bambi was here!

So, after my walk this morning, I was on the front porch watering my flowers and looked over the railing to see this deer just hanging out. Very strange for this California girl. I called Macy, Haley and D to come and see, and the deer just stayed there watching us for a while, then finally just meandered off. About an hour later, Chad went out to the backyard to go on the trampoline, and the deer was now hanging out back there. This is our new pet, I guess. Anyone know where to buy deer food?

True Love

Ok, so just a cute picture of Haley and Reed sleeping together in our bed. Just wanted to share! Her head near his belly! She moves a lot in her sleep... that's why we don't like to sleep with her!

Waterworks

Luke getting dumped on!

So up here in the great Northwest, hardly anybody has swimming pools - really what's the need? except when it's 103 degrees like today? Anyways, back to my original thought... so no home swimming pools, so there are lots of community centers with, if I may say so myself, some pretty rockin' pools. Check this out... This was our field trip today. The Firstenburg Community Center. Reeds' first time swimming, and I think he might have enjoyed it. One big giant pool, with two separate pool areas, one with a giant water slide, then a "lazy river" section, and a kiddie section which went from 0 feet deep to 2 feet deep. Perfect! My kind of pool! And it only cost us $12! What a deal!

Happy 10th of July!

Ok, so I'm a little bit late, but this post is really "Happy 4th of July"! I love the 4th of July! It's truly one of my favorite holidays! All the red, white and blue, fireworks and BBQs! What can be bad about that? And truly, to celebrate independence! What a great country we live in!

In Washington, fireworks are legal so between June 28th and July 5th it's pretty much a 4th of July week! Fireworks going off all the time. It makes for a fun (and noisy) week, but we love it!

We had a great time on the 4th! Bob and Susie's neighborhood had a parade which me and the kids were in, then a big BBQ at the lake, followed by "Transformers", and then of course, the BBQ with all the yummy food. We all had a great time!

Happy Birthday America!

Ready, Set, BOUNCE!!!

Ok, so who spent the majority of her day building a trampoline yesterday? You guessed it - ME! And, not an easy task I might add! It's hard work! But, I told the kids that if they helped me clean up the house a bit, we would at least try to build it. So, while I was still cleaning, I told Chad to carry all the pieces (the boxes were in the garage) to the backyard so that even if we couldn't figure it out, when Daddy got home it would all be back there, ready to go. By the time I got down there, Chad had all the pieces out and laid out in the correct formation. He was even following the directions - go figure!

Points I learned -

1. Not a wise idea to use an electric drill while sitting on the trampoline. I was trying to screw together two pieces and the drill accidentally fell out of my hands and onto the trampoline mat while still going, thereby creating a (very small) hole in the trampoline. Hope that it doesn't get bigger!



2. The mat around the edges goes on before the safety net! Once you put the safety net on, pretty hard to get the mat on over it! Left this job for D, so he ended up taking the safety net down to make it easier. That's why I keep him around!



3. Kids are VERY impatient to jump on a trampoline - whether it's finished or not!

Red cheeks

I'm sitting here with Reed, while his face is turning bright red, because he's pooping. Sorry... just wanted to share! :O)

Anyways, nothing much going on. Just wanted to tell you that I've lost almost 6 pounds (5.6 to be exact!)! YeeHaw! Know it's not a TON, but in a month, between Weight Watchers and walking 3-4 miles a day (every day except weekends) that's just not too bad! And considering I have about 15 pounds in total that I want to lose, really not too bad!

Other news, we made a deal with the kids yesterday that if they helped weed/clean up the backyard, we would go and buy a trampoline... so expect pictures of the new trampoline as soon as we get it assembled. Probably tomorrow. Have a great day!

Happy Birthday Chad!

Our first born is 11 today! Can you believe it? He's told us that soon he won't like Star Wars toys anymore - because they're not cool (try telling that to Derrick!) - but for now, it's still a Star Wars holiday at our house! We love you Chad and are very happy to have you as our son!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHAD!!!

The ortho will love us...

This is such my kid! We didn't teach him this, but he LOVES sucking his thumb! Another one for braces!

We just love him so much!!!

Field Day

Just some cute kids enjoying Field Day - kind of like school Olympics, and apparently done at all the schools in Camas. Pretty fun. I was on the second shift for hula-hoop. There was a second grader that hula-hooped for 2 hours, 32 minutes in the first shift, beating the school record! Think of that workout!

I cannot hula-hoop for anything! I tried a whole bunch of times, and that thing just refused to stay up around my waist!

Summer's here!

Macy and Mrs. Andros

Mrs. Sleight and Chad

Luke and Mrs. Mahoney

Last day of school. Kids went to school at 9:00 and got out at 10:50. That's my kind of day! And while they were there, all they did was play and have a final assembly. Can't beat it! I even showed up with Krispy Kremes. Gotta love it! Since Chad's birthday is on Monday, he wanted something special today, and I figured that since it would still be early in the morning, donuts were just what was needed!

Chad is now done with elementary school. Can you believe it!?!!! He starts middle school next year. I feel so old! :O)

Another baby boy

Congratulations to our friends, the Morrisons, for welcoming Evan Patrick yesterday! Weighing in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces - almost as big as Reed - he is welcomed home by Kelan, Kathy and big sisters Bailey, Shannon and Makenna! We can't wait to meet you little Evan!!!

Summer fun

Enjoying popsicles on a nice summer day. We just walked back from the park where we had our last den meeting - treats and playing - with the Webelos, and the girls were hot and needed some cooling off. Perfect summer treat!

Macy, her good friend, Sierra, and Haley

The State of Utah

The Utah state "cookie" is finally done! It's part of the extra-credit for Chad's state report. But of course we had to make our "cookie" out of Jell-o, because after all, Jell-o is the official state snack of Utah - did you know that? See, learn something new everyday!

We really had to talk Chad into using Jell-o and not making a cookie, which would've been easier, but once he saw how cool his was compared to everyone else's cookies, he was convinced! Not that their cookies were bad or anything, but he was the only one with a cool wiggly, jiggly state! Gotta love the Jell-o!

FYI though, icing starts to melt on Jell-o as it warms up. Just thought you should know!

A new baby in the house...

Not ours! The Kolbe's! Congratulations to Pam, Steve and Megan on their new little baby girl, Isabel Shae! Hugs and kisses to all!

Sunday afternoon in our house...

After church meetings, Boy Scouts meetings, finishing up the 5th grade state report, this is what happens next...

The (Not Pasadena) Rose Parade

Macy, Haley and our friends, Julie, Brian, Greta, Anna & Ian Brown
Luke playing his washboard drum

So, in Portland every year they have their own "Rose Parade". It is always in June, supposedly, rain or shine (go figure!) and it is in honor of the roses. Gee, I think I could make up my own parade at that rate. Anyways, today was the "Junior Rose Parade" - the "real" one is on Saturday - and it's a big deal around here. Chad and Luke were both in it with their school and really, for being on a much smaller scale, it was a lot of fun. The streets were closed off beforehand (and it's on a very main street in Portland), and people were in the middle playing ball, drawing with chalk, blowing bubbles, etc. Then the parade starts and it's all about the kids. Scout troops, Shriners Hospital, lots of schools, karate clubs. It was fun. So Luke walked the whole parade route playing a drum and singing with his school group, Musiking, which is like a choir, and Chad did round-off backhandsprings and cartwheels with the tumbling team. I don't think they enjoyed being in it as much as I enjoyed watching it, but the rain didn't come, so all in all, a good time was had by all!

Summer is upon us...

So, in honor of summer almost starting, I have joined Weight Watchers - yet again - and have started my own walking club (me and Cooper!). I just got back from walking about 3 miles with Cooper. Although I hate getting out of bed at 6:30 - even though I'm awake - I have started to realize that I like being out, walking around the somewhat quiet neighborhood so early in the morning (although the junior high and high school buses start picking up around 7:15). And, I really enjoyed feeling like I accomplished something when I get home, an hour later. So, here's to getting in shape! Totally down to my pre-pregnancy weight without trying, but now that I am done having babies, it's time to get back to my totally pre-pregnancy weight, or at least a lot closer, and looking and feeling a lot better about myself. So, first WW meeting tonight with Susie and a bunch of other people from church who have been going for a while, and just gotta keep up with the walking. We walked all over the neighborhood on Saturday - it was garage sale day after all! And it's really nice where we live 'cuz there are all these amazing trails behind our house.

Dream Dinners

Ok, for those of you that know me, you know how much I love to cook - NOT! So, today I was very excited to try this new thing called "Dream Dinners". It's not new in general, just new to me. A lot of people up here use it, so I wanted to try. The way it works is, you go to this place and pick out whatever different meals you want to make - they have a different calendar of menus every month. Then you go to all these mini-kitchens and follow their recipes and pre-make the meals. The great part is, all the ingredients, tools, measuring things, whatever you need, is already right in front of you (and you don't even have to clean up after yourself!). Then you just put it all into Ziploc bags, take them home and freeze them, and then you've got meals ready to cook, that actually have been prepared by you (for an extra $1 they will even put the meal together for you!). Crazy! This is definately my kind of cooking. I got a Sunday Roast, some Saucy Beef Tips and Honey & Orange Glaze Chicken - all on recommendations from friends who have tried them. Will report back once we've tried them. Works out to be about $20 a meal for 6 people... not too bad and super easy! I could like this!

Also discovered Schwan's. I was at a Stamp Camp this morning (go figure!) and the "Schwan's" man came by. Schwan's is like a giant refridgerator on wheels. They come to people's homes and have all sorts of good stuff - meat, veggies, ice cream, etc. Super cool! I have decided that I don't like the grocery stores up here, so at this rate I could never go grocery shopping again - other than Costco of course!

It's been a food-filled day! That could be June-y!

Happy June!

Can you believe it... it's June 1st!!! Crazy! Where has the year gone? For us, only 14 more days of school - yeehaw! Not that I love the kids being around all the time, saying they're bored and there's nothing to do, but I do so love not having EVERYTHING scheduled! I love the "relax-ness" (is that a word?) of summer! For us, the remainder of June and all of August are pretty "relaxed", but July is a bit crazed. A week of Girl Scout camp, a week of Cub Scout/11-year-old Scout Camp, and two weeks in Los Angeles right in the middle! We are excited though to see our friends from Cali and hopefully get a trip to Disneyland out of the deal - if it isn't too hot!

Have a super June 1st! Go out and do something "June-y" to celebrate!

Chad's run for the gold...

David, Chad and Justin

All the 5th graders in our district had a track meet yesterday. Chad didn't win any of his events (track isn't his thing), but he had fun anyway, and that's what it's all about. Just wanted to post some cute pics of him and his friends.

And the best part...

of our weekend was definately blessing Baby Reed! Since a lot of the women were going to be here anyway, we decided it was a good time to bless little Reed, so Grandpa Fred flew in for the weekend as well. We were joined by Uncle Bob and Uncle Dwayne, who live nearby, and our Bishop, for a great blessing done by D in our living room. It was really nice... and isn't he the cutest?

More Sista pics...

Christine being so brave!
Happy Birthday Heidi!