Happenings here . . .

Bill went to a training the other day and found several pond friends. He brought them home and now we are raising snails and pollywogs (of all stages). The boys are enjoying watching them develop. We have already released one frog in to the wilds of the back yard as he jumped out of the bowl and ended up in a pile of tomatoes we had on the counter. . . that was a fun little search, let me tell ya.

Zac is interested in learning fiddle so we have gotten him an instrument to start practicing on. We will spare you all the pleasing sounds of a first-time fiddle player and not release the video footage just yet. (Yes, we are hippies and the boys rarely wear shirts with their pj's.)


Zac and Sam have been enjoying the last few days of summer vacation (while Ben has been at football practice) and have enjoyed the heat by cooling off in the sprinklers. Zac had just come back from Cub Scouts the night before and they had talked about "cooperation". He had to come running up to me and let me know that he and Sam were cooperating in sharing the swing. They look perfectly balanced on that swing, don't they?

This past weekend was the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days. There was a 2 hour parade on Saturday and Bill, Zac and Sam were invited to be on the Correctional Officer Memorial Float (antique fire truck). It was a great honor and we are very proud of their contribution to "remembering those who serve". Besides, Z and S enjoyed throwing candy out (and sampling several pocketfuls of the gooey-sugary tootsie roll chews). Hmmm, . . . they didn't send any my way!

Summer Nights

Summer nights are the best! We have been enjoying our patio and spending time outside late in to the evening. We have been eating outside, making s'mores, going to the water park (meeting Donna and Brent there to drop off Derek and to play), heading to the creek, and even just sitting outside hanging out. Tonight Bill was teaching the boys some new stick fight techniques with sunflower stalks. Then the boys and I sat outside and popped the seeds out of the sunflower heads. Truly enjoyable times. All too soon, school will start. Make no mistake, I am sooouuuper happy school will start and we will be back in to our routine, but I really am enjoying these last few late summer nights we have.

Fun with Derek

We had my nephew, Derek, come visit us for a few days. It was a great time. We went to the water park and then the creek and played in the water, the boys set up the tent on the deck and slept outside, they played bionicle, lego, pokemon, yadda, yadda, yadda stuff. We even put him to work helping our boys weeding the garden and picking produce. Ha! Cheap labor!! It was great to have him. I had 4 white shirts sitting with me in church. It was great! Here are a few pictures of the fun!

We live on the Lewis & Clark Historic Trail. This is a marker right at the base of one of our bridges in town, near where we play.

LOL - this pictures of the boys far down below in the creek is funny. I took it on the bridge. Look on the far left of the picture. It looks like some giant loch ness monster in the creek. It was getting to be dusk when I took the pictures and a moth was flying around my camera. Must have been captured in mid-flight. Funny. . . it looks like it is swimming next to Zac!

Sam and Derek were a little nervous to get in the water at first. There are fish and water skippers and garter snakes all around. Zac and Ben just jump right in though. :o)

Our wonderful time at the Oregon Coast

We are sooo grateful to my grandparents who provide us with a wonderful week (not so long this year with our move) each summer at the Oregon Coast. It is the highlight trip to our year, each year. We get to visit with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and all of the respective in-laws, hang out on the beach, shop, shop, shop, golf in the annual Ker Cup Classic, visit aquariums, museums, points of interest, etc. and also PIG OUT on so much food we could feed a small country. It is an amazing week and we have so much fun! We were only there 3 1/2 days this year because our move took a lot of our vacation time, but it was wonderful regardless. Bill hasn't been able to go on a regular basis over the last several years, but he got to this year and we spent the time on a fantastic family vacation. Here are a few pics to enjoy!!

I'm the lucky recipient of the official "Rockaway Cup", otherwise known as the official prize for last place in our annual Ker Cup Classic golf tournament. I guess a 62 on 9 holes wasn't a great score??!! Apparently in the sport of golf you want a LOW score, not the HIGHEST!! Go figgure'. I get to keep this trophy and display it until next year's tournament and hopefully then pass it on to the lucky recipient for 2010. Hope it isn't me again. :o)!!

Love, love, love this arrangement!

I absolutely love this arrangement. You have probably heard it before, but it truly is worth repeating. Turn off my music down below to listen to it.

Happy Birthday Sam

Sam turned 6 last week. I can't believe he is that old. Where does the time go? We had a good rip-roaring transformers-themed bday party in the back yard. He had friends come over and we spent our time in water fights, playing in the sprinklers and trampoline & pigging out to pizza, hot dogs, chips and watermelon. Then to top it off, we had bday cake and ice cream. It was a HOT day and the water games and ice cream were welcomed. It is amazing that time goes so fast. Our baby is 6! Incredible!

WE LOVE YOU SAM-O!!!

July 4th

Bill took the boys camping on July 3rd. We then had Cheryl over on the 4th and enjoyed a great bbq and a bounteous feast before lighting and watching the fireworks.

Happy Independence to All!