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.

Lame Blogger

Haven't blogged in way too long. I have no good reason for last week, except I was busy with work and enjoying the first real summer days we've had. This week I don't have internet access, and I've resisted doing the ol' blog from the blackberry up to now.

I literally was able to hang out with some of my very favorite people, either by going to a concert, going on a long walk, going on a guided food tour of a small town, throwing a summer kid party, and by playing a ginormous baseball game. One favorite friend couldn't be with me, or I with her, but we had a nearly three hour phone conversation.

Every week should be like last week.

This week I have been in T.Falls at Steph's. The kids are on their second (and last) week of swimming lessons. We were able to hang out at Renae's yesterday (she's back!), and today I hung out with Heidi and caught up while we watched the kids swim.

Tomorrow we will be in Paradise cemetery, pouring cement and setting Mom's head stone. It's been hard to find a day on the calendar that would work for us to meet up; it'll be good to finally have it up there.

On a different note, I have made an unfortunate hair dye decision. I would have thought that I would be over my "great ideas" when it comes to hair color. Now I know I will someday be that 85 year old woman with crazy orange hair. I guess if I didn't learn from the accidental green hair incident at age 15 (and my resulting nickname "Spruce") I will never learn.

Oh well. It's just blond, bright red and pink highlights... Not the subtle coolness I was going for, but it shouldn't be too hard to fix once I get home.

Auntie Lores n Kids

Kids at lessons

Kicking off Summer Party



Whip Cream Fight



@ Brandi and Ray Concert

Ma' girl and I at concert

He made Level 3!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

My Summer To-Do

Droopy Days

This summer has already been rushing by.  I should say "summer vacation", because in reality the first day of summer is June 21st, which is five days away from now.

So far we have had a whole three consecutive days of sun, and a whole lot of rain.  Everything is beautiful (the plants are loving it) but it's making people kind of droopy.

It's been kind of quiet up to now.  I've been filling in at my office job this week.  I'll be taking the kids to T. Falls on Sunday and leaving them with Stephy.  They are going to be taking swimming lessons with their little cousins there for the next couple of weeks.  I am working at the office again Monday (Going to see Brandi Carlile and Ray Lamontagne in concert- Derrick bought us tickets forever ago! Can't believe it's already here) and Tuesday (my friend Amy's gonna stay with me for a bit those days while her kiddo gets fixed up at the doctor) and then I should be mostly done there for the rest of the summer.  I'll drive down to T. Falls to be with the kiddies and Stephy.  We'll be staying there during the next couple of weeks, and then going back home on the weekends for various summer parties and 'hanging out with Derrick time'.  

The assembly is coming up in July, and I'm hoping for some camping in there with various buds of ours.  There is definitely gonna be a trip to Seattle sometime in August to see Aunt Tia and Uncle David.  All of this will be interspersed with meetings, service, playing at the water park with our friends, being Derrick's office sidekick, and keeping the house functioning. 

Hopefully most of these things will happen under a big sunny sky.

T. Falls

Last night I had a dream about Mom.  She was showing me how to use her new washer and dryer, and it felt so real.  I could hear her, smell her, and feel her touching my shoulder.  It was so good to hear her voice.  I wish that I had saved all of the voice messages she ever left for me so I could at least have that.  I took so many pictures of her, especially in those four years that we knew she had cancer.  I know someday those pictures are going to be nice to look at, but right now they are a little too bitter for me.  I wish I would have taken videos and recorded her voice- something to capture who she really was.

This last weekend was great.  We stayed at Renae's and everyone came over for the day.  We played scrabble and hand n foot (not to brag, but I totally won*hehe*) and then Renae made some of her fabulous lasagna.  Dad came down to spend the day with us, and he also came down the next day for our super bowl party.  We went to meeting on Sunday and got to see our friends there (hi Amy!).  Love going to T.Falls- it's like a giant hug for me.

Super Bowlies

Our game of Hand n Foot was WAY more exciting.

Self Portrait of EmWha during a superbowl game
(I took some of the other card players, but I'm thinkin'
they might not appreciate them on the internet...)

I hear the Packers won.

back home

I just got home from T. Falls a little bit ago. It took awhile to get Mom up and running today, but we finally rolled out of the zoo about 6 o'clock tonight. The plans of us all alternating staying with Mom have changed. Now she is going to stay with Renae until she feels better and we all can just visit. It is probably a better plan because Mom won't feel the pressure to get up and clean, cook and do laundry like she would if she were in her own home.

SO, this weekend I am officially back home. It feels pretty good to sit in my chair and type away on my computer (which is fixed), and soon sleep in my own bed. Life is still a little turned on it's ear, but for now, life is feeling pretty good again.