back to school...

My kids really looked forward to starting school this year. They both are excited about who they have for teachers and they know most of the kids in their classes. Here are a few pictures from their 1st day.

Sarah was so excited to get her hair done and find out what was for snack. The night before she had me brade her hair because she said "It will be curly that way mama" got to love it!

This was in the parking lot. He has gotten to the "I don't like to have my picture taken" age! Painfull looking isn't it ;)

The day before school started Taylor asked to go fishing. No way to much to do and you have got to get to bed early tonight, sorry buddy. Well leave it to him to find "a creative way" to go fishing. Yep that is what he said. "Mom this is my creative way to go fishing" We/he needed to get back to school. 

horse camp!

Horse camp has become a summer highlight for our family. I volunteer to be the camp nurse and Taylor and Sarah get to hang out and play. Neither is old enough to be a camper yet but they are counting down the years untill they can. I love the anticipation for them. Personally I've been reminded lately that having to wait for things helps me enjoy them more; same for you kids!

This year they got to ride the horses twice! They had 3 camp kids to play with whos moms were helping at camp too. The kids played by the pond making sand "castles", water trenches, and played carpet ball. This year was the start of a new era for us also. The: "I don't need you. You can you go do something else mom" era. Yep. they are there. They would prefere that I leave them alone to play with their friends. It caught me a bit off guard. Don't get me wrong: it was relaxing. Lots of moms say times flies to fast with your kids cherrish it. I guess I imagined that at 18 years old, maybe 16, not 7! So to all you moms it comes in stages and really time does fly!

it's been to long...

Yes I know It's been to long. Hopefull my kids will realize my lack of blogging is due to the fact that this summer has been full of many great memories; so many that blogging is the last thing on the to do list. 

That being said Taylor is a fish; really at swim team for his age they are the "fishies". He swam in 3 meets this year. 9 events and DQ'd in only 1 that I know of. He won't know untill he can read this but I think he is faster than me in the water already! He even starts of the blocks.

                                                                This is his start to the backstroke

Sarah has been enjoying her "helper" status. She keeps me in  check with what goes where and what needs to be done to be ready for the next event. She is a great packer! If we go somewhere for 3-5 days she perferes to pack her own bag. She's only 5 right? I truley am so thankfull for that in her. She took a week of swim lessons and now feels comfortable swimming under water and shows all who will watch that she can do it!  During Taylor's swim meets she hung with mom, dad, and ahi (aunt) Kelly whom lives in The Dalles and we hope she feels like a part of the family!

This weekend we went to Bend with Thad for his annual softball tournament. It's a great family event. They have a lady come play games with the kids and paint their faces. They get a load of prizes. Thad's team went on a 6 game winning stretch before loosing in the championship. The kids brought their bikes and made lots of friends quick. This year I let them have some freedom. They would come check in with me every 30 minutes. Sarah would stay close but Taylor was off; so fun and yet sad that they are getting old enough to have some time on their own! They had fun playing together which was great to see. The concession stand served "Hawaiian shaved ice" my fav! Not exactly the same but close enough and they even had the sweet cream for the top!  Here are a few pics.

still playing catch up....

Wow it's been to long since I've posted. I'm trying to decide which computer to run my photos off of so this one is it but I love it. After our trip in Feb life was busy for all. Baseball stated. Thad coached and Taylor had a blast! Taylor is a slugger. Sarah was in gymnastics wow she has found her love! We finished Awanas and both kids got through thier books. Of course there was school graduation K for Taylor pre-school for Sarah.

So now we are into summer. Swim team for Taylor lessons for Sarah. Work for mom and dad to keep things going. Oh and one cold tent camping trip so far that ended a day early did I say cold! I love the way the kids anticipate things and I've grow fond of counting down days to the next big thing: Zoo, birthdays, camping ect. Having something to look forward to is magical. Focusing on the good stuff helps the mundane days worth it. Or is it the mundane days  that make the fun days stand out!

Just the 2 of us...

Months ago we told the kids that we were going to Hawaii for a trip and they would stay here with grandparents. We told them we needed "mommy daddy time" and sometime to "get away" Both of them for the following 2 months would discribe why they needed to "get away" and for the most part it involved leaving the other sibling home becuase they needed time "away". It was so funny to hear their stories and pleadings. Sooo we are back. They had a wonderfull time with grandparents. Here are somethings we came home to...
1) Taylor getting dressed belt and all without being asked.
2) Eager cleaners; ok Sarah ussually is but Taylor well it wasn't his cup of tea before.
3) Sarah's helping skills honed to a tee. She is always a helper but she was so proud to be a grandparent helper.
4) Taylor knows left and right like a champ and now tells me which way to go one block before I turn. Thanks Oma, smile, hehe.

5) Parents and kids who are so excited to share life and love in a new refreshing way.

We missed you so Taylor and Sarah but sometimes you will find too that you need to be gone from something to enjoy it again! I so enjoy you both! Here are some pics from our trip. Enjoy.

Why I blog....

For the most part I blog as a journal for my kids. I print pages from the blog and put them in my kids scrap/life books. I truly enjoy reading other peoples blogs and getting good ideas and just hearing how people are doing. So this one is for my kids but you might find it funny.

At the end of Awanas there were no more suckers. I'm not sure how many kids got suckers but Sarah didn't get one and I could hear it a long ways out. She was devistated. I was still selling derby cars so I was holding a crying girl while logging cars and taking money. God helps moms do many things at once! I asked her if she was tired and she said yes through her tears. I held her and talked to her. After all the craziness was done we went to go home. Taylor had gotten a pack of cheese crackers. He asked me to open them. Sarah asked for one. Taylor was thinking. Finally he stated, "Sarah do you know what nice brothers do?" She stated "no".  He said nice brothers share with sisters because they love them. Here Sarah you can have 2 crackers". Sarah looked at Taylor batting her eyes and said "I love you Taylor" He said "Here Sarah you can have all of them". Then he said "Mom next time we go to McDonalds I'm giving Sarah all my frenchfries because I love her. Next time we go I will give her all my pickles and onions too!" Funny she likes the pickles but not the onions!

We love the BEACH!

We went to the beach this weekend with some friends and had such a great trip! Picture the Oregon Coast in Jan...rain right??? Nope it was dry day and night from Friday to when we left Sunday. We walked on the beach with no coats today! Wow I miss it already.

If you asked Taylor and Sarah where their favorite place to visit is they would say the beach. They love the pool at the place we stay, finding sand dollars, and playing in the arcade. We are so thankfull to live where we live.

We hiked up to the top of the Astoria Column. What a great piece of art history.