summer days here we come...

I really love summer time! I love lazy days with my kids - not having to have an agenda but being able to move at a slower pace.

We had a good school year this year. Seventh grade wasn't my son's favorite by any stretch of the imagination, but he survived with the help of good friends and is looking forward to eighth grade. My daughter made a school change this year and settled in quite easily. She enjoyed the teachers, the academic challenge and the new friends were a breath of fresh air! I truly am thankful for the school my children attend. As we have had a challenging year financially, our teachers have blessed us so very much! It has ministered to me in more ways than one and made me very thankful God put us where He did for such a time as this.

Emma and a bunch of her girlfriends gathered around after school on our last day to see each other off for the summer.

Here is a shot of Emma with our favorite 5th Grade teachers - they are a great teaching team and both my kids loved them!!

Cody and a few of his friends got together on the last day of school to go swimming at one of the guy's houses. Cody is so great at choosing friends and I really love these boys! He has been friends with a couple of them since they were all in 1st grade.

Both my kids are gone to the middle school summer camp this week and next week they will be helping with the VBS at our church. My little brother gets home next Friday and will be getting married at the end of August. That will most definitely be one of the highlights of our summer!! We are so excited for him and pray for he and his bride-to-be every day.

picture tag

Julie asked to see my sixth picture in my sixth photo file...so....let me see....

I believe that is from Easter 2006. We hosted an annual Easter egg hunt at our house for many years. 2006 was the year that Sadie, Ande, Brian and Cody were in charge of it. They did the invites, planned everything, stuffed and hid all 550 eggs. They did a great job. The kids were so little and there are a bunch of kids that I do not know - they came with friends. Fun memories.

Counting down the days & praying

We spent the whole weekend making a lot of dust...sanding away the old look of the wood floor. Here I am on Saturday saying goodbye the basketball floor for good.
Here it is yesterday after many layers of sanding and putting a natural sealer on it. Our house has smelled of oranges for 4 days now.
The kids have been learning a lot of different trades since we started this project. Grouting is a fun one - spreading all that "mud".

I continue to paint away at the cabinets a little at a time. Finally doing the doors in red.

Tonight we taught the kids to lay tile floor. They are doing the floor of their bathroom. I hope they will appreciate it so much more each morning they stand on it to brush their teeth.

We played christmas music tonight as we worked to get ourselves movitvated to be in this house by Christmas!

I will show you the bathroom when we get it done.

Praying also tonight for my dear friend Ashley, who lost her mother to cancer last night. We love you Shaddys!

Also, praying for our good friends the Delamarters who are celebrating the birth of their sweet baby Kate - can't wait to see her tomorrow!

Okay, Okay...I have been tagged!

Two of my sweet friends, Mere & Mara, tagged me. So I am gonna take a minute to respond. Here are 7 random facts about myself:

1. I can spread my toes apart like fingers. It is quite a talent - too bad I could not win a scholarship for such a gift!

2. When I was 18 years old my mother let me & my friend Amy leave with backpacks to travel around Europe for 4 weeks. Just made it up as we went along. It was such a cool experience. I love to travel although I haven't gotten to much in my adult life. Getting a map and exploring an unknown place is something I love to do!!!

3. I like preschool. I love the age and kids. A couple of years ago I was a substitute preschool teacher for the year. It was amazingly fun.

4. When I get upset I like to clean/organize. Purging is a passion!! My kids will definitely need some counseling over how much stuff I have made them get rid of. At least when I die they will not be able to say I was a pack rat (their father however, may make up for it!)

5. I am a rule follower by nature. God has had to really work on me in this area - teaching to let go and loosen up.

6. Even though I was bit through my lip by a dog as a young girl & I have never really liked dogs, I love my dog! He loves me unconditionally and is excited to see me all the time - even if I just ran to the garage for a second. He has brought us a lot of joy this year during many trials.

7. I really do not enjoy to cook. I love to eat! Especially when someone else makes the food. But cooking is just not something I am passionate about. It is fun to make stuff that my family likes to eat. But it seems like a lot of work to then have it gone in moments.


There I finally did it! Sorry it took me awhile girls. I know you will probably not like this...but, I am not planning to tag 7 more people. I am going to be super naughty and break the rules. Aren't you proud of me?!?!? God must be really doing a good job on healing me of that obsession.

I am now giving in to the pressure and tagging my children. So Cody & Emma, you are tagged!

changes & cabinets

To think that this is what the house downstairs looked like only last year. Man this family has gotten a lot done!

We put in heated concrete floors in the kitchen that we then stained. I think they will look pretty good in the end. This is the corner where the kitchen is now.
These are the cabinets our friends, the Morrells, gave to us. They were in great shape for as old as they are. Thanks Morrells. Thanks Dad & Mark for helping us move them home. Thanks to the Dillon's home group for sanding and prepping them for us. Thanks Mark for helping us install them last week. Wow - we have had a lot of help on this kitchen!
Here is what they look like currently since I have primed them. Tonight we will start painting them inside and out. You will have to see a finished picture later....
This is all the doors and drawers laying all over the living room as they are being primed. Notice we still have flooring like a basketball floor...that was put off until next week. Kitchen was a priority to get moving on.
My hubby has trimmed out a great post and built some cool cubbies for books and games that I am excited about. I am looking forward to this breakfast bar too.
We got enough free cabinets that we put in a built in desk across from the kitchen. You will have to stay tuned to see the cabinets painted. This was the hardest decision in a while! I could not make up my mind. Dark brown or deep red???? I finally made my decision today and the paint starts tonight! I hope I like it.

walking for a cure!

Sunday morning, bright and early, a group of us women and girls headed down to "big city" for a very cool fundraiser for cancer research. We stopped at pioneer square for a group photo.

We got to be right at the start line, under the cool balloon arch!

We took lots of combinations of group photos at this point. I think a few of the women around us were not too amused, but we had a great time taking pictures of each other.
Here we are walking down Broadway in the mass of people. It is cool to be a part of something so big!
Then of course, since we were so close, we had to treat ourselves to a little bit of heaven! My daughter will probably want to kill me if she sees this photo?!?!?
We love you saint cupcake!
It was a great time and it didn't even rain a drop on us.

Oh, How I Love Them!!

Yesterday, my dear friend Annette and I went to spend some time "helping" the MOM's ministry girls at our church get ready for the season. I say help them loosely - mostly I just sit there in awe of how much they get done! These women are so beyond what I was when I was a starting out mom! I was lucky most days to just get dressed and make dinner. Many of them do canning, bake homemade bread, have businesses, make all kinds of incredible crafty things and they serve people. I love being around them - they give me energy and inspiration. Yesterday one of them, who is a kindred spirit, gave me this wonderful verse that I want to share:

"Oh, bless our God, you peoples!

and make the voice of His praise to be heard,

Who keeps our soul among the living,

and does not allow our feet to be moved.

For You, O God, have tested us;

You have refined us as silver is refined.

You brought us into the net;

you laid affliction on our backs.

You have caused me to ride over our heads;

We went through fire and through water;

but You brought us out to rich fulfillment."

Psalm 66:8-12

Thank you girls for being yourselves and sharing who you are with others!

Fun Memories

We have some places our family loves to go where we have a lot of fun memories. One of them is a mountain cabin we have been going to for the last 8 years. Here is a photo of us one of the first times we visited with our friends the Martins. The kids were pretty little.
Now here we were there together this summer - eight years later. The kids have definitely grown up but the adults look better and much wiser?!?!? Maybe a little more tired too.
Thanks Martins for keeping the traditions alive with us! We love you guys!

celebrating freedom!

After celebrating at a big party in the afternoon, we decided to forgo our annual tradition at the Fort Vancouver and just stay home with some friends. We had several friends over and just relaxed until dark. Luckily, we didn't go to the fort because I ended up with lovely pink eye that evening. With every loud boom, I thought my head would explode!!

This year the girls really got into the fireworks. They were all wanting a turn to blow something up - they were giddy from the excitement!

My brother joined us since our parents ditched us for a fancy cruise on the columbia to watch the big show! Actually, we sent them off with our blessings.

The evening was gorgeous!!

Not too hot or cold

and perfect for sparklers

and blowing up big stuff!!

We ended the show about 11:00 and dad was out cold by 11:10 - He was done for the day!!

Happenings

When summer comes, that means we spend more time riding in our dad's 1968 Nova. This photo was just a couple days before us girls chopped of our hair. Our hair blows around a lot in this car, since it was made before air conditioning =).
Last week we went to a dinner party that a few of us had purchased at an auction. It was at the Dillon's house and prepared for us by the pastors of our church. It was a beautiful night in a great backyard.
The food was fabulous and the friends were great.

Notice how the two hip ones with the short hair (Val & I) are on the left side and the ones who are still hanging on to those longer locks (Shannon & Amy) are on the right.

Thanks Bruce, Vicky, Chris, Diana, Aimee, Connie & Carol for a wonderful dinner!!

Then this week, my son and hubby and brother are off to here....

My son and his small group boys were looking forward to a great week. Thank you God for opportunities to get closer to you and to others.

I FINALLY WON SOMETHING!!!

My incredible photographer friend, Nicci, had a contest and I actually won! When we get our photos done, I will share them with you. Our family has never really had a good family portrait done and this is such a huge blessing for us! Thank you Nicci!!!

wrapping up the school year!

Emma has a big dance recital every year at the end of the school year. This year she was in 5 numbers and had 3 different costumes. It is always a fabulous production and a very long week. We had dance 7 out of 8 days this last week. Lots of hair and make up to do every day. But it was a huge success and she had a lot of fun!!

Our friends Canon and Elsie came to watch dress rehearsal mid-week.

We are thankful for our dance school - great teachers, students and parents! Emma has loved her classes.Emma also wrapped up her final year at King's Way. We had a fun party with her class that she has loved. She was very tearful when I picked her up from school on Friday. Even though she loves her school very much, she is looking ahead to a new adventure!

Cody also had a year-end party this week out at a park. We had great weather and the kids had a fun time. They played kickball with pools for the bases.

They then had a water gun battle with boys vs. girls. The teachers even got in on the battle. It was fun to watch from a distance!

We are so thankful to be winding down a great school year. We love summer vacation!! This year we are looking forward to spending time with my brother before he leaves for Laos next month.

Check it Out!

My friend Eryn opened up an Etsy shop for her creative designs and is having a great giveway. Link over to check it out. Her stuff is super cute and she is a wonderful person that I am thankful to know!

Celebrating with Friends

Last night a bunch of us girls all ventured into the big city across the river to celebrate a 40th birthday for our wonderful friend Annette. Here are a few of our fabulous friends, LeeAnn, Michelle, and Trish hanging out in Anthropologie before dinner.

Our home group girls Ashley, Kim and Julie helped plan the big celebration.

Mara even got Annette to sample some delicious sushi. By the end of the evening I think Annette had sampled a small bite of everyone's dinner!

We then sang and had her blow out a candle to celebrate turning the big 40!!! Annette is one of my dearest friends! Curtis and I are so thankful for her and her family and their friendship.

Annette posed for photos with each of the tables. Here is Ashley, Jamie, Trish, Julie, LeeAnn and Annette - what beautiful girls!!

Here is Annette again with Trish, Vicky, Heather, Me and Mara - more amazing women!!

This particular group had to get their picture taken about 10 times before we could get a good shot - but aren't they incredible!! Thanks Michelle, Patti, Laura and Dawn for humoring Annette as she wanted the perfect photo!

Thanks girls for a fun night of celebrating our wise, fun, brave and fabulous-at-40 friend Annette!!