What kids do when they take your camera:

Then you get mad at them when you can't find your camera.  You make them search for hours for it...tearing apart their baskets of toys looking for it.  Then you find the camera in your car under the seat where you left it.....and have to apologize ! 

Tree 2 Tree

Happy Birthday Matt!  Not a bad way to spend ringing in 40!

ZIP-LINING!!!

 Brian on the zipline.

 The junkyard.  You had to get up this in order to do the "black" course!

The epitome of Summer

Swimsuits and bicycles!

Look who learned to ride a bike and now has a new found freedom!

10

I know this is late....but wanted to post some pics.  I love this boy.

He is funny, loves to dance to music, loves sports, he will take the trash out whenever he is asked, usually without complaining, he is a great for his teachers and likes to make the whole family laugh...and sometimes makes them mad too :)

The other day I told him to shut the garage and come outside.  He hit the button and started running.  As I was about to yell at him that he was going to 'trip' the sensor and stop the garage from closing, he jumped over it at the last minute....  The kid is like a cat sometimes.  He made me laugh. 

He has a great group of close friends that I am really thankful for.

Memorial Day

What we did Memorial Day

Willamete National Cemetary

It's improtant to me for my kids to understand that we live in this great country

because of great people.

They come from long lines of Service Members

and I feel very indebted.

They were so reverent there. Jake was cleaned the graves of a lot of the soldiers.

A day to remember and be greatful.

Good ole Cass

The dog I thought I never liked.... died March 1st, and I realized I really did like her :)

She was a great dog for these kids, easy going and usually full of energy.

We had a lot of great trips down to the beach, a lot of fetching, and a lot of hiking.

We made a cross for her and left her chain on it outside the cabin.

We had a great weekend remembering her and enjoying this place of solace.

Rest in Peace Cassy

Aug 2000 - March 2012

Oklahoma

 Jake had his "State Fair" this last week at school.  You may ask "why" Oklahoma?  No one we know lives there....we have never visited the state.....  But, Kevin Durrant plays for the Oklahoma NBA team!  Reason enough for Jake to pick it!!! 

This was such an intense project.  The kid worked on it for weeks.  When Jake was done he had a three page typed paper about Oklahoma, their government, products, agriculture, population, sights to see.... and much more! 

Yes, I learned that Oklahoma has the most tornadoes in the United States per square mile :)

For their presentations, they had to bring in at least five products representing Oklahoma, make a brochure, and dress in a costume to represent the state.