Silverwood!!

I've been meaning to post forever in here, and now I am a little overwhelmed by all of the stuff I meant to write down, but haven't yet.  Oh, and I am also overwhelmed by all of the pictures I've been meaning to post.  I have no excuse, except for the sheer busy-ness of this summer. 

We've had such a great time being with all of our friends.  There has been a lot of playing, but we've also been trying to stay on top of other important things too.

Sabrina, Steph,, Renae and I took all of our kids to Silverwood during the last week of July.  Despite the heat and the long lines, we all had a really good time.  Good memories. 

And with all of that being said, now is the portion of the blog where I load a ton of pictures (and videos!). 

Finally made it with our crew, now on to the rides!

In line for the first ride of the day.

The girlies, all aboard!

After surviving the Panic Plunge.  Probably not the best choice to inspire further exploration of new scary-ish rides.

Poor 'Nae, being coerced into riding the scary ones!

Plotting out further rides.

'Nae and I at the water park, chilling while everyone else went down slides.

Summer-y-est

So far this summer has been a busy one. We accidentally ended up at home this weekend, and it felt pretty good; it was the first one here in quite awhile.  So far July has been about slumber parties (for Kloe), riding motorcycles (for Derrin and Derrick), swimming lessons in T. Falls, and lots of time with friends and family.

Kloe's Summer 2012 Slumber Party

(June 30-July 1)

Kloe's room got it's usual overhaul (I just can't resist cleaning her room at least four times a year.  I accept this about myself finally) to prepare for her company.  Steph, Aiyana, and Bailey came over Friday night, and Stephy helped me hang lights and party things, and also drink quite a bit of coffee, and the girls played until the wee hours.  Kloe and I decorated her room too (somehow, no pictures were taken of that...) so they were able to sleep in high slumber party style. 

Sabrina, Darby, and Sara came the next day around two, and we ate cake, did projects, and the big girls talked while the little ones played (and we all took care of a baby bird the girls had found the day before and named "Pepper"... he was our guest of honor).

This is one of Sabrina's completely fabulous cakes she made for Kloe's slumber party.  Kloe couldn't really decide to go with an animal theme or beauty shop theme, so thus the poodle with the finger nail polish.

We did a cool tiedye project with permanent markers, cups, rubber bands, and rubbing alcohol.

...and, of course, a water balloon fight.

awww, cousins:)

Darby, Kloe, Aiyana, and Bailey

Guest of Slumber Party Honor, rescued baby bird "Pepper"

Darby holding the group's baby bird, "Pepper".  He was found by the girls on Friday night.  They kept him safe and warm, and we fed him warm squished cat food, as suggested by the wise folks on the Internet. 

Trying to put Pepper back in the nest didn't work out so well- he jumped back out into danger and had to be rescued by our animal squad again.

Unfortunately, despite all of their love and efforts, the girl's little birdy Pepper died July 4th.  Many tears were shed, and they made this tribute in his honor.

Boys Camping/Moto/Stars Wars Trip to Avery

(June 28-July 1)

The same weekend as our slumber party, the dads took Derrin and Cameron to Avery Idaho for some fishing, motorcycle riding, and even a little Star Wars watching (Cameron had never seen it, so it was a right of passage viewing). Reports from all indicate a great time was had, and there is a high probability we we all get to go to Avery for camping eventually.

Steve, camp cook extrordinare.

Self-Portrait, Derrick and a little friend.

Aw, they are so stinking cute!  Watching the Dads fish here.

Cam, going through the long tunnel.

They rode a lot of miles this day (60 miles total).  Derrick said the boys were completely wore out and ready to go home by the end, which is saying a lot- don't think I have ever seen them actually ready to stop riding before.

Chef Steve, making it a sea food night.  I'm having him cator our next slumber party- we just had burgers! :)

That Sunday night, Steve took the boys to T. Falls (he was dropping Derrin off at Steph's, while his fam was staying at a friend's cabin there), and Steph took all the girls back to T. Falls.  Swimming lessons started that Monday, and all the kids were able to be in lessons together again (including Cameron, Darby, Aiyana, Colton, Bailey, Carter, Derrin and Kloe).  I had to work Monday and Tuesday, so I didn't get to join the group until Wednesday (July 4th).  Steph is renting a little house right on the river in T. Falls- such a pretty place, full of peacefulness AND children- an interesting combo. 

I know this will be the week I remember as the highlight of this summer.  It had all of the elements of happy memories- playing with our friends and family, constantly playing in the water, and perfect weather for playing in the water (it was in the 90's the whole time).  I know this will be a week I will wish I could zip back to over and over. 

Summer in T. Falls, 2012

(July 2-July 14)

Nae, Bean and Kloe at Steph's house

View from Steph's back deck (addicted to morning coffee out there with that view).

Steph's cute little house.

Burying One's cousin is SO fun:)

Kloe practicing her diving skills.  Sabrina took these swimming pics.  I had pics of Derrin too (he was in an earlier class before Sabrina and her kiddies would come), but my memory card was out of my camera for those (bad bad brain of mine).  :(  Colton and Heidi were at lessons too, but my pics of them also were on my non-existant memory card:'(

She made Level 3 this year!!!  :))) 

Derrin and Phil being pulled by Steve out on the river.

Our feast with the kiddies, out on the back deck of the cabin.  We spent a lot of time playing out on the river here too.

A trip up Grave's Creek to see the waterfall with the kids.

Our group (minus me, cuz I'm the pic taker)- Sabrina, Cameron, Derrin, Kloe, Chantil, Aiyana, Steph (holding Indi), Darby

My babies and me

Princess Stephy-Poo

Cousins

My boy

My boy and me:)

Now we are back home, back to real life.  We loved the last couple of weeks, but it does feel good to be back home in our own beds and our routines.  So glad we have more summer to look forward to and enjoy.

Summertime, Summasummasummatime

It's Sunday afternoon.  Super sunny outside, bEE-U-Tiful at the moment.  But it's hot, so I'm in here typing away on a computer instead.  Sometime mid-winter, I will read the beginning of this post and slap myself pretty hard.

We just got home from our Sunday meeting and lunch at Fiesta En Jalisco.  The kids are playing Mario.  I'm gonna kick 'em outside here in a minute.  As soon as I get off of this computer.  Don't want to be a hypocrite, after all.

Tomorrow is supposed to be pushing 100 degrees.  A bunch of my fellow Moms and I are taking the kiddos to the waterslide park.  It's going to be my first all day excursion in a swimming suit of the summer- must remember to baste the kids and myself with sunscreen.

Derrick took the kids in service yesterday and then to the waterpark.  He's such a good dad.  I was ill with stomach and headache issues.  It required gluing myself to the couch for most of the day.  A day which was also blissfully quiet, thanks to my husband.  I slept most of the day, and now feel better than I did most of last week.  At first I felt like it was a wasted summer day, but now it is a pleasant memory of silence.

I got rid of the trusty Blackberry last Wednesday, and got a plain ol' cell phone with no data package.  I am going through some SERIOUS Internet withdrawals.  It's much more disconcerting to not be hooked up to all of my email and social network accounts than I expected. 
My sis and her family are all gone to Canada for the next couple of weeks.  They go there every summer to work unassigned territories in super remote areas in their ministry.  They took their boat up and are going through difficult to reach islands.  My brain will not let me access the name of the islands at this time, but the pictures I saw were beautiful.  I haven't talked to her since Wednesday- feels weird; we usually talk every day...

Well, better go be productive-er.  Do laundry or some such nonsense. 

Before I go, here is a link to my favorite comedian Maria Bamford.  (Just for fun) 

:)

Summer Days

It is so hard to consistently write in here when it is so beautiful out side and there is so much to do.  If I lived some place always hot and beautiful, I might never write again.  Maybe winter and cold rainy days serve the purpose of causing the angst and discontentment needed to write.  I'd like to believe they do, in fact, serve some purpose. 

Since words are failing me, I'm just gonna post some pictures of summer.

After 2nd Convention Day
At the Pool (We had our District
Convention last weekend in Kennewick.)

Soaking up a little Sunshine.

 

Kiddos burning some energy up after
sitting and listening so well all day.

Big Beautiful Strawberries(from the little patch in my backyard)

My Little Vege Garden

Flowers and Herbs

Strawberry Patch

Kloe and Her Baby

Jessy

 



Jessy's Dog Momma, Gertie, right before we brought Jessy home.

 Kloe has been doing such a good job taking care of Jessy.  It hasn't been easy for her either!  Usually summer has a lot of sleep-in days for her, but since Jessy moved in, Kloe gets up a couple times a night to let her go outside and she has to get up early for potty/breakfast/puppy playtime.  Not that all of this has happened with zero whining, but it has been fairly minimal.  Like I said, she's doing a good job.