Fun

We went to Disney on Ice last night with Grandma Nan. Oh-My-Gosh, we had fun! The kids were mesmerized. We got there early and everyone got to pick which kind of junk food they wanted for dinner. Aubree and I had pizza, Ty got a giant hot dog, Daddy got a Chicago dog and Grandma got a gyro. We waited for the show to start while we snarfed down our food. The show was magical. There was the Lion King, the Little Mermaid, Lilo and Stitch, and Peter Pan. Oh, and we had fantastic seats! 5th row. I tried my best to explain to Ty how lucky he was and what an awesome Grandma he has. Some kids never get to go see a show like this. And some of them do, but have to sit in the nose-bleed seats and they sure don't get to eat yummy crap. We had fresh donuts and a giant box of popcorn, the smell of which was so strong it made me a little queasy! ( I was pretty sick a couple nights ago - not quite ready for all this junk food.) AND Grandma bought Ty and Aubree a fun light up show souvenir. Jack Pot! These are some lucky kids. We saw Santa this week, ate caramel corn, went to the children's museum and came home with a year pass, watched fun christmas movies. It's been a blast.

Time seems to get away from me

How can it have been so long since I wrote here? Let's see. For christmas this year, Justin got me a plane ticket. One of my oldest friends just had her first baby and it was killing me that I wouldn't see her get to be a new mommy or see her precious sweet boy till this March when he'd be 4.5 months old. He could be sitting up by then! She wouldn't feel like a new mom anymore, I would miss one of the most exciting moments in my friends life. And of course, the fact that I am not having any more babies has a lot to do with wanting to visit so bad. So Justin worked from home and got my girlfriends to take a few shifts with our kids so I could go see Chelsea. It was great. I got to spend 4 days holding that sweet little lump. I got to catch up with my good friend. I got to read stupid magazines and a great book. I am so grateful that she let me come so soon after Jack was born - 2 weeks! Just two weeks after he was born, she let me hang out and hold her new baby, it was great. Then of course I saw my family. Kids, I did not tell you about this because you would have been devastated that I went to visit a Gramma without you! But it was fun to hang with the Gorden family, just the 4 of us. It's been a long time since that happened. We went to see the Pee Wee's and it was really nice to visit without my sweet wonderful little maniacs running the show. : ) In the evening at PB house I got to crochet without distraction. Good stuff. As usual, as much as I loved my trip, it's good to be home. I love my peeps.

Stolen from the pages of Great Big Love

The crap I’ve done is in bold and italics
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band at school (clarinet in jr high)
4. Visited Hawaii - sadly, no
5. Watched a meteor shower (with Daddy right after we met)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (land, many times)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (I think, my memory fails me these days)
10. Sang a solo (at church)
11. Bungee jumped - no way dude!
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (uh, yeah)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (although I was to young to really remember)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (just once)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (all too often)
24. Built a snow fort - this year for sure!
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (I think)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (not with any success, LMAO)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (snorkeling)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (an extra on a tv movie)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (check it out! http://www.bluestarbutterflies.etsy.com/)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen (not quite, but I built out houses for people who lived in plywood boxes)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - tried, they wouldn't take it, I'm not qualified!!
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check ( I do believe)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (um, yeah)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (fractured a pinky and probably broke 2 toes - one for each pregnancy)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (two of 'em)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (when I was a kid?)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

We bought a spaceship!

I realize not everyone will appreciate this, but I made Aubree a sweater! I bought the pattern on etsy.com from Anji.Beane ~ http://www.anjibeane.etsy.com. I am very proud of it. It took a long time and a lot of weaving in of yarn ends which I do not love to do. I swear this looks just like something you would buy and Gymboree. Can we just have a moment of silence to be impressed? Thanks.


And now, I introduce to you, our spaceship!! I can not believe how excited we all are to have a mini-van. I was reluctant even though I could no longer deny that it would make my life easier. And these days my goal in life is to simplify. SO. We went, we drove, we talked down the price, we bought. And I loved it from the first moment. I am surprisingly not embarrassed to drive a mini-van. Maybe it's because I'm older now, or maybe I've been a mom long enough. Or maybe it's just because it seems like everyone drives one these days. I love this car. And so do the kids! It's a 2007 Toyota Sienna 38,000 miles has an mp3 hook up and seats 8. Woo Hoooo.

Hollowweeny, pretty witches and spider men

Hope

Obama's acceptance speech highlights @ Yahoo! Video

I spy

Here it is! Finally, the I-Spy quilt. I am proud to say, my kids adore it. My new sewing machine worked wonders for me. It's the most fun I've had making a blanket in quite a while. Yay!! Picking the fabric was an adventure, the cow border is bovine, wait, I mean divine. (LOL) Ty and Aubree have their favorite pieces and fight over who gets to sit where. We watch movies on it, have picnics on it, play games on it. I am so happy we finally have this fun toy/game/blanket I've been dreaming about for so long. In addition to the fun fabric I used every stitch I could find on my new machine. Did I say FUN???

Been a while

I think of so many great things to write about while I'm laying in bed trying to fall asleep at night. And by the time I can get to a computer and stare at the blank screen I've got nuthin'. I'm happy to report that the PB's got some new kitties. These will be the kitties that my kids will know growing up. I can't wait to find out what their names will be!

Daddy got a new job. He started last week. We looked over health care options last night and were pretty disappointed by all of them. Who wouldda guessed that??? But seriously, a much too big chunk of the raise he got is going to be eaten up by health costs. Grrr. Luckily not so much that we couldn't get a new van! The tercel was on it's last leg. So after 7yrs we traded her in and got a 2007 Toyota Sienna, with 38,000 miles. We got a really good deal on it. I love it way more than I could have ever dreamed I would love a mini-van. I thought if I ever got one of those things, it would be kicking and screaming. I was a little reluctant, but it was so obvious that we needed one. And I was giddy the first day. : ) We call her the spaceship and she's light blue. I'm so happy we have her, and the kids love it too.

Ty loves school as expected and wishes he could go everyday. I am talking to them about letting him attend all 5 days. Especially since kindergarten is 5 days all day long. I think it would help him warm up for next year to get used to leaving the house everyday this year. He'd like to start now, but it might not be till January.

I am going to attempt to do the South Beach Diet. The plan is to start on Monday. I'm getting a menu and grocery list together this week. Then we'll cook as much as we can this weekend. Wish me luck. I've got a good 30 pounds to lose, and I'd like to be a healthy mom and set a good example for my kids. I suppose that means I should get off my butt from time to time as well. I have a friend who want to hit the gym with me, and as much as I don't want to do it, I swore I'd never say no (unless I'd already been 3 or 4 times, ha ha).

The biggest news in our world is that Aubree has beaten her big brother to the ER for stitches. I want to write up the whole event, but can't muster the strength. She got 3 stitches over her right eye, above the eyebrow. She had them for just a week and got them out Monday. She was a trooper both times. Getting the stitches and getting them out, she didn't even flinch.

Tonight we frosted Halloween cookies for dinner. : )

G N' R?

Guns N' Roses, my favorite band in Jr High. A band I haven't listened too all that much since Jr High. A band who's songs I never could have imagined would be sung to my kids as bedtime lullabies! Yes, bedtime songs, screeching from the back of the house. In Daddy's ear piercing tone, nearly at the top of his lungs, 'Welcome to the jungle, we've got fun and games. We've got every thing you want...' and then 'jananananananana eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!' OMG. And the kids freakin' LOVE IT! LMAO.

Humpfh

I'm not much for blogging lately am I? There are probably a hundred things I should record so my memory can't let them disappear in the coming years. But I'm a little outta whack. : ( The thing that I want to record is that, in my every day struggles with life, the thing that is of number one importance to me, is how my kids are doing. The point of this blog, is for them to be able to come back and walk through their childhood and learn a little more about our family and what Mom and Dad were like. Where we came from and how we tried to grow our family with love and hope. Part of this story is that I am battling anxiety and depression. It makes me not want to participate in life. The bummer is, that is exactly the opposite of what I want to show/ teach our kids. I want them to love life and embrace each day and take advantage of every opportunity to soak up more. So, I guess I just want to go on record saying, that I am trying. I am hoping that the good times will out weigh the rough times. That Ty and Aubree will know I love them so much it hurts. And hopefully growing up with a nutty mom isn't all bad.

Well, that's the gist of what I've been avoiding writing down. Let's see if I can cheer us up a bit. Ty started preschool two weeks ago. I love how much he loves to go to school, seeing him so happy puts a huge smile on my face and makes me feel all warm and wonderful inside. He's still mad about Dino's and all things gross and scary. He's boy to the max. And bossy like nobodies business! Oh, and he still hasn't decided which hand he's going to use. Every time I think I have it figured out he switches it up again.

Aubree is getting so big. She talks non-stop while Ty's at school. She's in love with kitties, mermaids (moony's) and Unicorns (lunacorn's). She likes sparkly shoes, all things she deems beautiful, and she's got gorgeous curly hair that's to die for. She's a serious whiner and still wears most meals from head to toe.

Best of all those crazy little monsters hug me and tell me they love me every day. And they truly appreciate all the crafty things I do for them. Like the giant I-Spy quilt I've not yet blogged about. And our crocheted little moosers, since we're Minnesotans now. They will seriously fight over the things that mama made them. That's a fight I can like. LOL

Computer Woes

I hope to catch up soon.

Grammaaa PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!

Better late than never. Gramma P came to visit for a fabulously long vacation. And once again, the timing couldn't have been better. I don't think I've mentioned much about my anxiety and depression issues and I'm not sure how to go about it. The important thing is that things were going fairly rough for me and I was able to take full advantage of having Gramma around.

The fist day she was here I was able to see my Dr to try and figure out what meds might help me. Trying to do something like that with kids in tow, is well, nearly imposable. It worked out well. The kids were over the moon, and got a good dose of Gramma that day since I was trying not too loose my mind entirely.

The first week we kept busy. We went downtown for Summer Tuesday's. Had dinner at the Freighthouse on the River. We went to the beach with all of my friends, and Gramma was able to get some good vacation novel reading in while the kids played the day away in the water. The day after that we walked down to the courthouse for the Lumberjack Days Festival kickoff. They had a little petting zoo, lots of games and prizes, $.25 Rootbeer floats and popsicles. A little later there was a talent show and the kids practiced rolling down hills. The walk home was wonderful. Then Friday we went on a paddle boat lunch cruise up and down the St. Croix river.

The rest of the trip was a little more mellow. Lots of soaking up the sun, pushing kids on swings, walking to Nelson's for ice cream, and P read two books during the trip. I am so grateful that we are able to hang out for extended periods of time. Some of my friends and one of their mom's didn't think they could do it. So, while we may not always agree, we are really lucky, especially since we live so far away that we can take advantage of the cost and hassle of a long flight to see each other and stay for a long time. I know Ty and Aubree appreciate it.

I know there's a ton more that I could say but the kids are getting restless, and I need more coffee. Ty and Aubree enjoyed every moment of their Gramma P. And daddy and I like it too.

Baby Ghosties

Several weeks ago my kids besties came over to play for a short while so they're mom could go to some appt. that I can't remember. While the foursome were playing they some how ended up on a ghost hunt. I was very curious where this was going to go. And I was pleasantly surprised. Not that I should have been, I love the way Ty and Leah interact. And their little buddy Owen is really coming into his boyhood nicely. He was the main ghost getter on the adventure, and he was very good and very proud. Ty and Leah ended up finding cute baby ghosties, and then it turned out there were two of them! And they carried the ghostie babies around and took very good care of them. It was freakin' adorable.

Oops.. I did it again

Last Saturday around noon. I was originally tagging along with my friend and her mom, but these things are kind of contagious. I've always wanted to be shiny and happy, so I got some more gorgeous stars to guide me in that direction. I got them on my right wrist to support and enhance my creativity. They're fantastic.

Friends

I have made some excellent friends here in my new hometown. The last few months have been a fantastic journey of outings with children, runs to the craft stores and coffee/ vent sessions. I am so happy and so grateful for my little group of gals.

TV update and Handmade frustrations

We're doing pretty good! I mean, it's not like we cut all TV out of our diet, just the part that was super expensive. Our friends lent us some rabbit ears for a while, but we haven't really used them. The kids still watch movies and have found a new love for Baby Einstein. I am doing a lot more sewing and reading, but still indulge in 'Charmed' via Netflix. We did up our subscription from 3 dvd's at a time to 5. So we're always sure to have one movie and one tv show in the house at all times. That helps me wind down in the evenings after the kids go to bed. So, that's that!

I am almost finished with Chelsea's baby boy blanket. It's been a bit of an ordeal. First I started cutting the fabric out wrong, luckily, I had enough fabric to continue. Then I tried some 'psychic sewing'. I was going to write a whole post just about that because I really wanted a post with that title. Anyway, I kept forgetting to take it out of reverse before I started sewing again. It didn't go forward. It was really frustrating! I guess my Singer isn't psychic after all. She and I had a number of arguments, a war even. She gave me an anxiety attack and I was ready to throw her in the trash or at someone with enough patience to make her work for them. Then I was going to melt into a little puddle on the floor and sob because these kind of cheapy machines aren't really made to sew as much as I am sewing these days. The Husky dream machine costs a pretty penny, and I don't seem to have one of those. I tried to convince my husband that I deserve one of those suckers for my 30th Birthday that's coming up in a few weeks. He didn't appreciate it. LOL He is deathly afraid of my wanting things, because I seem to have a tendency to eventually, someway or another, get what I want. So he got to have an anxiety attack of his own. Great. Anyone want to come join us? Ha!

The point of my rant was to say that the tension on my machine was whacked out and left fun little yarn 'nests' on the back of this handsome 'construction' themed blanket for one of my best friends first baby. Grrr. I tried everything I could think of, and then called in reinforcements and tried everything they could think of. Some how we got things chilled out. After that, I broke my walking foot, and two needles.

I send my prayers out the Viking gods to send a Husky Girl to save me..

Blogalog

My Etsy shop, Blue Star Butterflies, has gotten a mention in a crafty blog! Take a peak.

KaedanKrafts

AUBS

I know she's my kid, and that makes me biased, but isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen?!




As always, photos were taken by Andy Cosgrove, the awsomest photo dude ever.

I'm a little scared

I definitely feel unprepared, and I'm a little scared of tomorrow. Starting tonight we have no TV. Oh crap. We've talked about doing this for maybe 2 years now. But one of us always chickened out. Tonight we were having issues with the service, so we axed it. Gasp. I hate that it makes my stomach turn the way it does. But, it does. I used to pride myself on being one of those people who didn't like TV. I had never even seen Friends until half way or more through the series..... And what will my children do tomorrow when The Wonder Pets don't save the day? Yes, yes there will still be movies. Ugh. It's not the same. Anyway, I'm happy for my kids that I won't have so much TV to use as a crutch, but I hope my anxiety doesn't ruin it. Anyway, that's all for now.

If you have my number you may want to call me and see if we're all still alive. lol, sigh..

Ok peeps

We've been having some technical difficulty. We're adding an external hard drive to our set up and it's taking fo-evah! I haven't been able to download pictures in about a week. I've got new stuff to list on Etsy but I can't do that until I've got some photo's to show people. I made Aubs an adorable little dress, some hot pads and dishtowel for the kitchen and a taggie for a friends baby. All things I'd like to share pictures of!

Andy took Aubree's 2 year pics yesterday. She hasn't been feeling real co-operative, this was the second try. This time he and Krisha took her out by herself so she wouldn't cry 'mamaaa' the whole time. She did better than the first time, which was shortly after a fever that mysteriously appeared and disappeared. And they actually got some really neat shots! I'm so excited.

Ty's still rocking the mohawk. I think I need to trim it because it's not standing up so good anymore. I got him a super cute punk rocker t-shirt an Etsy shop. I'll be working to get some cool shots of him in it soon!

Last weekend we got a baby sitter for the ENTIRE day! We spent that whole time organizing all the bedrooms, the bathroom and hall closet. I had hoped to do more, maybe another time. It was awesome though. They had so much fun with Kelly (Ty's preschool teacher), who they both really like. Kelly's niece was having her 1st birthday party so the kids got to go eat cake and play in the giant jumpy thingy and hang out with their buddies (Kelly's niece and nephew, who we hang out with lots). Then she stayed after the kids went to bed so we could go out! Does she rock or what? We went to a local sports bar and grill to watch a UFC fight. And it was a good one. Woo Hoo!

The 4th of July was fantastic. We hung out with friends in the evening and then all walked downtown and sat on the grass on home-made blankets chatted and waited for the fireworks to start. The kids were mesmerized. It was wonderful. They both sat in my lap and Daddy sprawled out in front of us. They would take turns being excited and cuddly, hugging me and Daddy, pointing up in the sky, yelling with excitement. It was perfection.

Cuz I'm awesome.

For my pregnant hormonal friend who I love dearly - I have turned on the comment feature!
Smooches.

Look at this

Ty's fun summer 'do. Uncle Kai was giving him a hair cut while he was in town and somehow we all decided to leave the 'hawk. Then Leah's been wanting to do fun hair colors ever since the last day of school when a boy came with painted hair. So we got a can of hair color spray. SUPER fun! It makes me want to get a can of Manic Panic and keep the blue true till we ditch the Mohawk. Andy Cosgrove is the one to thank for the awesome fancy pics.



And I swear this one is like having a premonition. Seriously, just stare at it. Soak it in, analyze it..... What are they! 15? The way he's got his arm around her, all protective like, and his 'look how mean I am' face. And her sweet smile, is very, 'check out my tough boyfriend!'. I truly believe this picture is worth at least 1000 words.

Aubree's new blanket!

I am so excited to have finally finished Aubree's bed spread. I knew I wanted to make this for her before I was even pregnant. I got a Jo-Ann (fabric and craft store) flier in the mail, way back when we lived in Idaho and Ty was younger than Aubree is now. There was this gorgeous blanket on the cover of the flier and I absolutely fell in love with it. Eventually I went and hunted down all the fabrics I wanted for the quilt top. This labor of love has been in the works for around 3 years! I had all the strips cut out and a good portion of them sewn together by the time we got pregnant and moved to Washington. That's where all work on the blanket took a turn and stopped all together. There just wasn't time or energy to sew after a huge move, chasing a barely 2 year old Ty, and trying to hang on to that single thread of sanity that was keeping me from totally losing it during a surprisingly difficult pregnancy.

Anyway, another baby and another new state later! I finally have had the time and ability to sew again. I put all the blocks together and headed back to Jo-Ann to pick out the boarder and backing fabric for my then almost 2 year old girl who's been in a big girl bed for 6 months with no bed spread! I am so happy to have finished and even better, she really likes it. It goes perfectly with her room - that I did not design specifically with the blanket in mind.

Isn't it awesome? : )

If you're ever

If you're ever looking for a way to ruin a perfectly good day, I've got a suggestion. Go stand in one of Target's wonderfully lighted dressing rooms baring all to the mirror god, and try on bathing suit after bathing suit. I guarantee it's a recipe for disaster. Humph.

Cheap, Not Easy, Awesome

While the kids and I were in San Diego visiting the PB's and helping with Chelsea's Wedding, Daddy was at home working super hard on spiffying up our itty bitty kitchen. I am very pleased to say that it turned out amazing!

Here is the evolution:

When we moved in, open space to the dining room and a 'portable' dishwasher - not as cool as it sounds. ; P


Framing the wall in to create Ty's room. And a great picture of the dish washing situation.


Whala! A wall so Ty can have his own room and get some rest.


Time for paint! Although it took a loooooong time to get ready. We had to take down the boarder around the top of the kitchen and eating area. I swear some one super glued that damn thing on. Holy crap, my arms got a work out! We're lucky we all survived that ordeal, whew.


Ahhh, so pretty! (See the boarder on the floor??? GRRRR)


Check out the new INSTALLED dishwasher!! No more wheeling that huge thing through the kitchen to hook it up to the sink, and unhook the microwave, and make sure nobody needs to get anything in there while you do it. I love craigslist.


AND, a new flat top stove (so that I will actually clean it!). Again, craigslist, I love you. And Gramma Nan gave us these awesome finds for Christmas. We are so lucky!


And now, for the pics you've all been waiting for...... I know how hard it's been for you to sleep and I'm sorry I've kept you awake for so long. So, here you go!



Isn't it gorgeous? Now it's a cute little kitchen instead of a crappy little kitchen. Gramma P got us the cute cafe' curtains for Christmas. They go perfectly!


Justin painted the cupboards white, replaced all the hinges and knobs. We got a prefab counter top for about $60 bucks or something awesome like that. The granite sink was on sale for around 50% off, and we got the cheapest faucet that matched the new knobs, I think it was about $45! How crazy is that? Then we splurged $20 on the tumbled marble back splash. LOL


Aren't you glad I didn't empty the sink before snapping the shot??


Close up of the counter and back splash.


Another great change was moving the microwave up over the stove. No we didn't go get a fancy new one that belongs over the stove. We kept with the penny pinching theme and just stuck the one we had up there. It's too high and it sticks out! But it works and I can just reach it, and now we actually have some counter space.



Thanks for touring our kitchen. Bye!

<3

** This was supposed to be posted on 4/27 but I clicked save instead of publish!**

I *heart* my family. Daddy and the kids are upstairs, making books together. Writing and illustrating their own books. Wow. I love it, and at the same time, kinda get sad that he's better at doing those kind of activities with them than I am. Isn't that my job? Oh well, it's getting done. And that makes me happy!

Bliss

I wish blogger came with a scratch and sniff feature. I want to share the sweet smell of the air out side my house with everyone in the world. The way the flowers all blend in the humid air, is blissful. It's a thick rich sweet smell. It's like candy for your smeller.

Aubree said kitty cat! Just like that. Outta no-where. She's said tiddelee for so long, I may have heard a kittelee in there a few times. But now she can say kitty! Her speech has grown by leaps and bounds in the last month or so. It's amazing to witness. A recent favorite of mine has been her new awareness of flip flops, and the way she struggles a bit to slowly get out 'shloop shlop'.

Our Stillwater native neighbors took us on a sweet turtle hunt last week. We went to Lake McKusik with all the kids. It's only about a 5 min drive from our house. It's gorgeous and green with trees and misc. growth. There are tall long legged birds wading through the shallow shores. And bright colored birds chasing little birds catching bugs. And turtles! Big ones and little ones, fast ones and slow ones, slimy ones and snapping ones. We had so much fun. Leah and Owens Dad brought a butterfly net attached to a broom handle and caught us 6 of the suckers! The kids were in heaven. We brought them all home and borrowed a little plastic pool, dumped in the pond scum, some rocks for sunning, twigs and reeds for shelter and wha-lah! Turtle sanctuary. When Auntie Dev and Uncle Kai got in town, we took them to release the turtles back in the lake. What an awesome adventure.

Some Pics

Here is Aubree in her Great Gramma's Great Grandma's rocking chair!


Aubree with her fav Birthday Gifts from the PB's.


Grandad and Ty havin' some guy time.

I was so busy this trip with Chelsea's wedding (which was great if I haven't mentioned) that I didn't have the energy to take the kids to the beach. It's just wrong to visit San Diego and not hit the beach. I was feeling pretty lousy about it. Uncle Jon came to the rescue and took them to the beach! Ty was going to fall apart if that hadn't happened. They had such a good time. What lucky kids these are to have such a great family!