Joseph

Gorgeous...Beautiful...Breathtaking...As it pours rain outside its a perfect time to revist one of our favorite new places we discovered this summer. I loved this sign as you entered town it made me laugh. We went during Chief Joseph days so inaddition to the cute shops in town there was also all the yummy fair food (funnel cakes, shaved ice. elephant ears) and fun booths to look through. Nate also took the big kids to the rodeo one night where there was a cow milking competition. The town is full of these beautiful statues that are made locally, Nate was very proud

of how Noah posed in this picture. One day we went on a hike up near the lake and I swear the woods smelled like flowers. Thats Sydney who had to take her baby hiking with us and everywhere else. The weather was beautiful, we wvwn got to go to two parades where the kids got lots of candy.

Our great friends the Tippetts let us stay in this 1900's farmhouse. It was surrounded by acres of land with cows and a horse, there were beautiful flowers outside and a pool table inside that the kids loved. I loved looking at all the neat antiques inside and feelin like a real country girl!

The big kids rode on go carts and we saw tons of deer we could've reached out and petted. Sydney would yell "see deer", "see more deer". She'd get almost as excited as Nate did when we saw them!

Our friends were staying with family at a house right on Wallowa Lake. It was so amazing how clear the water was, it felt so good and all the kids wanted to do was swim. It was so pretty surrounded by the mountains. Up at the house our friends hosted a big yummy BBQ, there was a trampoline and tire swing the kids loved. Noah had his buddy Isaac and the girls played with...they had so much fun!

We felt so lucky to get to go with friends to spend time with and show us around. Another family we knew was also there, they took us fishing one night and we all enjoyed the lake together.

Noah and Kelsey rode the bull, they both did good. Noah got knocked off and Kelsey stopped before she fell.

Both the big kids had to get cowboy hats. Kelsey had her hair in pigtails the whole time, it was so cute. We resisted the very strong urge to get hats for the twins. It was a wonderful trip we all had the best time.

A big thank you to our friends the Tippetts for having us, the kids are already asking when we can go back!

Saturday!

Thats me in the blue..I just ran a half marathon in 2 hours..I'm happy. I felt pretty good, the last 2 miles were hard but I did it! I'm with some of the other runners trying not to get too close because I get really gross and sweaty when I run.My mom came to run me in the last couple miles I was so excited when I saw her. Nate and kids came too the weather was great and I loved running on the Springwater trail. I was pretty sore Sunday but am feeling good today, and I got a really cool metal!
After getting cleaned up I dashed to Kelsey's soccer game. She's been playing forward this year and loves it. She even got her first goal, it didn't count because one of her teamates was off sides but it was still super exciting!

Aubrey's in the glasses, the girls are spending alot if their lives at soccer games and practices or in the car going to said games and practices. Their really good about it, I just get tired of draggin them around everywhere!

Then it was off to Noah's game, in Welches. He's having a great year and scoring lots of goals were very proud of him.

Makes me Happy...

The other day after changing the appointment many times I finally took the girls in for their 3-year old pictures. Yes, their birthday was almost 2 months ago but get off my back ok!Sydney is sick and had the watery eyes and redness under her nose but I went for it anyway and I was glad I did!
Lately I've had a hard time not feeling sorry for myself...like poor me nothing ever goes right...

We can't sell the house...we have no money...

(By the way I love this pic of Aubrey it totally shows her personality, Sydney's didn't turn out which is why I didn't include it.)

Nate's been gone hunting ALOT I have to do it all alone...

I got my kids cold so now I'll be sick for the half marathon I'm running Saturday...

My girls will never get potty trainined...one of my sister in laws and her family are going through a really hard time right now...

Our dog has fleas...

You get the idea.

I really do hate the whole feeling sorry for myself, its annoying!

So this day something went right...really right. The pictures turned out great. Yes, Nate and I went back and forth and which ones to get and we spent more money than we should of...but I'm just going to dwell on these sweet little faces.

As much as they drive me crazy and tend to bite each other too much, they make me really happy, and for that and much more I'm grateful!

Summer Beach Trip

At the end of August we went to Pacific City for a week. My mom and stepdad were there part of the time and Nate came down for part of the time too! We stayed at this fantastic beach house. See what it says on the sign behind the girls...I love that. The place had everything including a bunch a fun toys that the girls loved!Dadddy surprised us all and came a day earlier than we thought he would. It was a great surprise but I actually enjoyed my time with just me and kids. It was nice to be able to just focus on them, at home theres too many distraction and stuff I gotta do...but not there!

This red chair in the above picture was HUGE. It was a big circle that spun around and we all loved it...so cool and fun!

Here's my stepdad. I think he loves the twins more than anyone else. Sydney's trying out her new trike that the girls got for their birthday. Perfect timing because they worked great for the trip. The street we were on was perfect for riding bikes, flat, and safe, the kids (Noah) loved it. There were also all these fun, paved, bike trails all around the area that we were constantly riding on!

We had beautiful weather and played and played on the beach. The girls love to dig in the sand and were content for hours which made me content for hours!

This is the HUGE hill at the end of the beach. Nate and Kelsey walked up it. Noah and Kelsey went part of the way up and tried to sled down. It didn't work very well, check out all the people and cars at the end of the beach it was kinda crazy!

Since grandma and grandpa were there to babysit the girls, Nate and I took the big kids crabbing one day. The weather was beautiful so I thought it would be a nice day out on the boat. I was wrong, it was crazy windy and miserable cold. After the first hour I was begging Nate to go back but no I drove that boat around for 3 hours dodging buoys, other boats, and the shore.

We did pretty good getting a dozen or so keepers and the kids had fun but if I never go crabbing again it will be too soon!

On the beach we played frisbee and made animal shapes in the sand. It was kinda nice being able to drive on the beach, it made it easier for the loading and unloading. We also shopped in Lincoln City, played games, and I had some great runs on the beach.

The big kids loved playing on the Boogie boards and played for hours in the water jumping waves and scaring Nate and I. It was also fun to watch all the sufers in the water.

I'd been looking forward to this trip all summer and it was worth the wait. It turned out to be a perfect way to end the summer. Thanks so much mom, please take us again (:

Lemonade Stand

Noah begged me all summer to do a lemonade stand. So last week we finally got around to doing it. Of course it was also the day Aubrey had put a polly pocket shoe up her nose and we'd spent the day at two different doctors trying to get it out before discovering she'd swallowed it.

Kelsey thought it'd be fun to dress up in disguise and go to the stand. Noah knew it was her, but it was still hilarious. She was a nice big sister giving Noah $1 instead of the asking price of a quarter. (which is big because she's kinda stingey).Noah had helpers to keep him company. He barely lasted an hour and half before getting too bored. We did it during peak come home from work time and we live across from the mailboxes so we had a prime spot! We also tried to sell cookies but the kids ate more than they sold. I was in charge of pouring and of course the making of the lemonade.
All in all he make $10 which is pretty good, he was happy. Luckily people are nice enough to usually tip more than the quarter. Noah's planning on using his money for a new DS game and I feel like a good mom so we all win!

As promised...A New Post..The First day of School

Aubrey and Sydney are all alone now, no big brother or sister to play with them, take them potty or outside to play.Don't worry they'll be just fine, me on the other hand will miss them. My big kids are my buddies and my helpers and I was bummed this morning when I took them to school.
Kelsey was ready...she had her outfit all picked out weeks ago. We packed and repacked her bag to ensure we had all the necessary supplies. She had a rough night last night but she was excited and will do great. My 5th grader..sniff, sniff.
Noah was casual about the first day like he is about most things. He was concerned about seeing his friends that weren't in his class and was a little hesistant about me leaving but he'll be fine! Look at those cheeks I still wanna squeeze them.

Nathan trimed Kelsey's hair for her last night and she gets subway for lunch(she earned it doing her summer chores). I can't imagine what I'd do if the twins were in preschool the house is so quiet.

On hiatus

I know it's pretty obvious but I'm on a blog break. It's killing me because I have a bunch of great pictures of our beach trip and lemonades stands but I'm happily experiencing a self imposed break from blogging until school starts. So please come back next Tuesday when I plan on wasting the whole day on the computer sitting in my jamies while my kids are at school.