100*

Austin, Zack & Lexi

Zack, Austin & Caden
Caden ~ almost 3!

As the weather turned really hot yesterday, I snagged my niece and nephew and brought them back home with us. They had a good time playing in our neighbor's pool (thanks!) and just hanging out (their parents are working hard at their house to get it on the market = not too much fun for the kiddos!).

Here's to another hot day out there - enjoy!!

parks

In the last 2 weeks, we have visited over 7 parks...with 4 of those parks new to our list! The boys are at such a great age to enjoy a park and play for hours on end (without me having to follow their every move). Very cool, fun...and FREE!

Here's the boys today at the park out by where my parent's live. They loved it! (can you see their blue spiky hair in the front a little bit...pretty cool, huh??)

Make a Smilebox postcard

We ROCK!!

That's all Dave and I could say last night, after spreading 3 yards of rock in our side yard and in the back yard in less than 2 hours. We ordered it at 3pm...had it delivered around 4:45pm...and I was at Taco Del Mar getting dinner by 6:45pm! It's a great feeling to have this done (although we are a bit sore today!!). :)

Oh, and our neighbors are going to be thrilled that we finally did this!!

1st day of Summer ~ 2008!

Make a Smilebox postcard

June 2006

I do love Wordless Wednesdays, as I don't have too much to say!

Austin, just 3 1/2 here - Caden has those pajamas now...

Almost 1 here - what a messy eater (but oh so happy!)!

Oregon Homes!

I know that real estate is tough right now, but know of two homes in Oregon in need of selling...if you know anyone!

First, my Grandparent's house is for sale, after living there for 38 years. My Grandpa passed away almost 11 years ago, and my Grandma has lived there until now. So...it's a great property - lots of land, mainly a kennel for dogs, but a lot of potential!

RMLS # 8052028

Secondly, my best friend's parents are selling their home in Boring, Oregon. Great, spacious home with a wonderful BIG backyard! Spent many hours and nights at this house! Check it out!

RMLS # 8049634

Both homes need to sell ASAP!

2 months!

Today has been two months since I started to exercise at 24 Hour Fitness! I've had a great time, going several times a week - with the boys enjoying their Kid Club too (Caden loves Teresa, although he still loves to give me a million hugs before I go!). I'm a big on dates, anniversaries, etc., so this one is a small milestone for me, but one to celebrate!

The summer could be a little harder to get there, with a busier schedule and both boys at home full-time, but I'll do my best! I can always exercise at home too.

Have a great Monday!

Favorite Fathers

My Dad with his 4 grandchildren, 2 years ago!

Caden, Zack, Austin & Lexi!

Papa loves these kiddos!

Dave and the boys last week - snuggling on the couch!

Daddy and his boys!

Happy Father's Day to all those great guys out there - especially to my favorite two - my own Dad and Dave! You two are truly amazing, great dads and we love you both a ton!!

the four year plan

Three summers ago, when Caden was born, I would watch our neighbors work in their yards all time. They were shaping, planting and putting down bark dust. Our yard was just the sod, with the icky bark dust the builders had put down (and Dave had raked up). I wondered when we would ever have the time and energy to do that kind of yard work, with two boys. It all made sense to me today and came together. Three years ago their boys were 5 & 2...the same ages of Austin & Caden now. The boys didn't mind Dave and I spending hours putting the finishing touches to our yards today with bark dust, which now includes plants, trees, flowers and bushes (although some are still so new and little!)...and looking finished. We still have one side to finish with rock, and hope to have that done before the next four years are over, but knew that bark dust would wash away on the first rain if we put it there (although it would have been really sweet to have it ALL DONE today!!). We're making progress. Yeah!!

Thanks for helping us get the bark dust, Dad...you're great! And thanks to our neighbors for being patient watching us slowly by surely getting our yards together. Ha, ha!

Friday the 13th!

Some might think that there is bad luck with "FRIDAY THE 13TH"...but not me! Actually, I thought it was pretty cool that Austin's due date was December 13th - which happened to fall on a Friday in 2002. But, as everyone told me, it was very unlikely for my first baby (or fifth baby, if we had gone that far) to actually be born on their due date (and my sister's birthday).

However, Austin, being the good obedient boy that he is, was born on his due date...and on FRIDAY the 13th. I've always thought of it as our lucky day, a good day.

So - have a great day, whatever your superstitions might be...and happy 1/2 birthday Austin Michael! You're 5 1/2 today! Finally!!

Now, here's the next question - "Mom, when will I be 6???"

greasy bunnies...

what? That's what I dealt with on Monday & Tuesday of this week. The weather was cold & damp, and forecast predicted it to be nicer by the end of the week. So I decided to do more than my regular cleaning routine, as, well, there were areas that needed it. You wouldn't know it from just a quick glance, but the blinds had bunnies sitting on them...and the microwave vent had built up grease. Yuck, but now that it's over, it's a great feeling!

So, sunshine, come on out - our house is clean, we have 2 boys begging to go to the park - we need you!! :)

Doctor, doctor, give me the news!

Yesterday I went to the doctors for a couple of reasons...

Reason #1 - my toes are aching...numb...hurts...for more than a year. Thought it should be checked out. Looks like I have neuroma, which is treatable. Going to see a podiatrist to have them looked out. Apparently my excitement of not having to wear shoes everyday, once I quit working wasn't that great of an idea. My "barefoot Mom" approach hasn't supported these size 11 tootsies, so now they hurt. Hopefully they will be better soon.

Reason #2 - Allergies - can I get a nose spray?? I know that we only have another month to go before the season is better, but it couldn't hurt to feel a little better until then. SCORE - got a sample of Veramyst, the one that they have been advertising that could help itching eyes too. Not sure how that would work, but I'm giving it a try. If I like it, I'll get some for both Austin and I next spring.

Most doctors aren't the most social, and this guy was no exception. I think he was annoyed with my several questions in one visit, but hey, isn't that what he is there for? Hmm...anyhow, the best was when he had some shoe inserts for me, and when he went to walk out he had them...I asked and he said that my foot was too big for what they had. Hey, thanks. Like I didn't know I had a big foot.

This evening I came upstairs once the boys were set up with some kettle corn and a movie (yep, same ol' Alvin & the gang...). It suddenly was quiet...a quiet we don't hear too often. This is what I found:

Ah, how sweet!!! Now that they are both in bed, it's back to putting away laundry!

3:30 a.m. is too early...

Caden & his puppy (favorite thing, ever!)

for anyone to get up. Caden fell asleep last night at 6:00 p.m. after Lexi's track meet, as he was pooped! He woke up long enough to have dinner around 8:30 p.m. and wanted to go to back to sleep. I knew we would pay the price, but the price this time was high. He was up (happily) at 3:30 this morning...and would bounce in-between his bed and ours trying to go back to sleep. I gave in around 5:00 a.m. and asked him if he would like to go downstairs. He sat up quickly with a happy "YES"! By 6:00 a.m. we had watched two episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Oh, I forgot to mention that Austin must have heard us, as he got up at 5:30 a.m. WHAT?? So, at 6:00 a.m. we put on Alvin & the Chipmunks. As Caden came to snuggle in, he whacked me with his big noggin giving me a fat, bruised lip on top & bottom. Not how I envisioned the morning, but by 7:00 a.m. I had dosed off a little bit and woke up as Dave was leaving. So, it seems like it should be later than 3:00 p.m. right now...oh, and guess who has been napping for a couple of hours. Yep, you guess it...Caden. :)

masterpieces

Caden just started to love to draw & color (remember, boys don't do this as much as girls do!)...and he drew a person the other day. When I asked him where the shoes were, he gave little lines at the bottom of the legs and said that they were "boots"! Very cute!

baby, turned big boy

Caden's first night in a big boy bed!

We made the bed in the morning and the boys said,
"Ta-da!"!

This weekend we finally went for it...I had all the new bedding ready, just needed to go get that big boy bed! You may remember that Caden went to the toddler portion of the crib back in January. He has been the easiest kid to transfer into a bed, it's been a dream compared to Austin! Caden was ready and excited, and so were we! The crib is now nicely stored in Caden's closet, as it is going to Hudson's Grandma's house in a couple of month. Yeah! Caden says it is "baby Hudson's crib" now!