We'll miss you Grammie Terrie!

My mom is heading back to CA, but we loved having her here to visit. Eventually she'll live up here. Until then we'll just be missing her greatly and looking forward to her next visit.

Accidents happen and so do miracles

Grant was riding his bike around our circular driveway when he decided to ride it to the mailbox to get the mail. He picked up speed as he got to the bottom of the driveway. He panicked and forgot to use his brakes, causing him to ride right out into the road. Yes, he was hit by a car. BUT he only broke his leg. That's it. Although it was traumatic, it could have been soooo much worse. For that reason I count this accident as a miracle. We are grateful to our Heavenly Father that Grant is still with us. We are also grateful to the multitude of people that were immeadiately around to help us. Miracles do happen, it is up to us to aknowledge where they came from.

Badminton Dudes

These guys are getting some serious badminton skills (sorry Madison you're still not very good at it). Jeremy set up the net in our side yard and we play nearly every day thanks to the fabulous weather we're having.

Boys in a Wagon

Here are some cutie-patootie boys in a wagon. James and Keegan enjoyed being pulled around by each of us as we played outside in the yard. Jamesy loves to watch what's going on from his lil red wagon. I probably took about a bajillion pictures of him riding in it, but I'll just post a few.

Washington summers are the BEST! The weather in the summer is so good here that it really makes up for all the inclement weather that happens during the other seasons. We were missing the WA summer temperatures when we were sizzling in CA last month.

Hapee Birthday to MEEEE!

We are back in WA safe and sound and celebrating my special day! My mom rode back up with us and is visiting for a couple of weeks, plus my brother and sister are visiting as well. It' s so fun to be surrounded by family on your birthday. I loved every minute of it and was sad when it ended.

Hangin' at Grandma's

The kids love switching it up and staying at Grandma Leann's and Grammie Terrie's when we're visiting CA. We're so fortunate that they live in the same area so we can see them both when we go down for a visit.

A bit about what we've been doing in CA.... We've been playing games, reading Fablehaven, watching movies, doing puzzles, trading Pokemon, playing with Eva and Alex, eating yummy food, celebrating birthday's (Amber and Jason's), SWIMMING (sometimes twice a day), and just having a great time. My kids LOVE to go to CA. Amber is getting some birthday loves from her brothers in the photo above.

Knott's Berry Farm

I used to go to clogging competitions every year at Knott's Berry Farm, so I really wanted to take the kids there this summer. We got to go on the log ride three times. We had delicious funnel cakes. We didn't lose any of the kids. Plus- my mom helped out with James the whole day so I could go on rides with the older kids. All in all it was a very fun, and tiring, day. I do have to say that the Knott's in my memories seemed a bit more fun than the trip we just did, but I'm alot older now, maybe that's why. I think next time we do a theme park in CA we'll try Disneyland because I think they have more ride options for kids.

Pools a plenty, pools galore

We swim nearly every day (minus Sunday's) we're in CA. The kids love the water. James couldn't be in it too much because of his excema issues, but the rest of the kids had a blast swimming at Grammie Terrie's, Grandma Leann's, G.Grandpa Don's, and Jeff & Ruthie's. I slather them in sunblock each time before they swim- sometimes twice a day. Those sunblock companies are making quite a bit off us, but I'm relieved to say no one got sun burned.

Those aren't people...

Well a little blurb for any of my WA friends who might be missing me since I've been on vaca for quite a while now... I AM eventually coming home, and YES there is such a thing as too much "vacation". Anyways, Madison and I were strollering James along a path around a park while Carter and Grant were playing (actually they were trying to knock a butterfly out of the air by throwing a stick at it- my little angels). Suddenly a stick comes hurtling towards us, and we're forced to dodge it. I'm a good dodger because Carter has inadvertently thrown so many things in my direction throughout his life. Some older folks sitting on a bench saw the stick attack and said "Be careful with that stick because you almost hit those people walking over there". Carter promptly responded "Those aren't people... that's my mom and sister." The bench crowd started snickering while Carter remained oblivious that he said anything funny. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make antenna motions with my hands atop my head while saying we were aliens.

Squeaky Clean

I like to put things 1 2 and 3 to work. It's good for them. I did offer the incentive of pool time after they washed Grandma's van and our van. Plus a couple of dollars each. Remember we just had a long car trip.... and we had the bug guts to prove it.

James has been getting increasingly messy during meal times and has been getting mini-baths in the sink. His baby body is soooo cute. I love when his tummy is big from eating and is bigger than his booty. It makes me smile. He loves water, as long as it's not too cold. He's a bit of a lightweight and doesn't have much chub-a-bub to keep him warm. When he's done getting clean I wrap him up in a big towel and give him warm snuggles.

Hair- Here, There, and Everywhere

Lots of hair maintenance projects going on during vaca. We must look our best! Madison got her hair cut especially short. She keeps shaking her head and saying how much lighter it feels without her long locks. We also said goodbye to G.Grandpa's beard, and said hello to Grandma Leann's curls.

On to CA and mooching all the way

We made it to CA and Jeremy flew back up to WA to work a few weeks before flying back down for more vacation time on the 24th. He doesn't get to do five straight weeks of vacation like the kids and I do, poor Jeremy. Here we are visiting great Grandpa Don at the care facility he was temporarily at due to a broken hip. He graciously shared his supper with my moochy boys, while Madison kept reminding them not to eat all of Grandpa's food. Aunt Amber, Grandma Leann, and I had a good time watching all those boys eat supper. I think we visited Grandpa at dinner time pretty much every time we went there, and the mooching continued. The evenings we didn't make it to see him he took to saving food for the kids. We love you and hope you get better quick Grandpa Don!