Too Far Away

I got to see my nephew Samuel a few weeks ago...I miss that family!  They live too far away!

 

BUT...we are working on making sure we at least Skype so that he gets to know us and his cousins better! That is SO important to me!  I also want to be able to have him be comfortable enough (and his parents) to have him come stay for awhile at my house during the summer, it's a dream/goal of mine.

 

So at this picnic all the boys played...I think Samuel thought they were pretty funny to watch and hang around.  And if we are being honest the lot of them are all funny looking in their own familiar way!

 

:)

I love the continuous snapshots of all the boys together....Samuel in these pictures just cracks me up and makes me smile! (that and it's REALLY crazy to see how much Samuel looks like his dad did at that age...talk about a trip back in time!).

                                   Love this picture of Lee with Samuel...one of my faves!

And a must have for me, my picture taken with Samuel!  Love that boy...all he has to do is ask for the moon and I'm in trouble!

Here's to next summer and the possibilities it holds!

Rattlesnake Ridge

 

OK, so I need to make this quick.  I totally meant to have this done SO much earlier tonight than I did and now it's late and I just want to get it done and posted. 

 

This will be the short version!

 

A day or 2 after July 4th I drug the kids up yet another mountain trail, much to their horror (and by the time I was done mine too...rotten kids!).  This was the biggest one we'd done yet, 2 miles up and 2 miles down (however you decided to go down...STEEP!).

 

This hike was by my old house in North Bend, called Rattlesnake Ridge (or was it Ledge?  I don't know...lived there for 4 years and never once did I hike this trail...lame I know!).  Alright, let's get back on track.  Off on an adventure we go, grumbling kids and all.  Definitely a tough hike and I was really proud of Eli for making it ALL the way...I wasn't sure I was going to make it...some parts were a tad scary (slippery wise...one false step and roll right down the mountain you would!).

 

This picture is when we thought we were at the top only to find out we still had .1 mile to go! Aacckkk!  So off we go to get to the real top of the mountain.

 

LOL a view from the 'fake' top

 ...and another one...really is spectacular.  Please don't ask me what anything is...I have no idea what direction I'm even looking it or where North and South really are...North is up and South is down and we never eat shredded wheat!

 OK! So NOW we are at the official top of the mountain...OK I'll admit...I have no idea if we were hiking a mountain or not.  Is a ridge a mountain or part of one???

                                    I think that is Mount Si or Little Si directly across but I'm not sure.  There were a TON of people doing the same damn thing I was doing that day and that was dragging people and pets up that thing.  I swear we saw a 9 month pregnant woman being drug up there by her husband and we saw a Pug up there.  Either that Pug was held while hiking or Mighty and his 'Darth Vader breathing' is all a hoax on Mighty's part.  I'm undecided which.

 OK, we can say we've been to the top and now we will drink copious amounts of water and eat our snacks.  Because let's face it...we are all about food here people!  That and it took us 2 hours to get up there and 1+ to get down...figure that one out!

 Looking down...lots of ledges here ....hence Rattlesnake Ledge...I believe.  Have no idea where in North Bend this is but I'm sure someone does...just someone not counting on me to know where I'm at.

 ...and the body of the hour(s), Rattlesnake Lake!  We are very high up...I wish I could remember the elevation but it was possible to go even higher and get a more spectacular view...however I wasn't about to hike 2 more miles!  Save that for a later date...I'll drag Nikki up this thing...LOL!

Over all I would do this hike again...at least I know what I'm getting into...I may even invest in a babysitter so I don't have to listen to a bunch of whiners.  My kids really do hate me but I'd like to think down the line when they are 35 and are doing the things I'm just now learning and implementing that they will thank me.  Even if it's quietly in their head saying...thank you mom, thank you for taking the time to teach us to be active...you were right mom it's important to do these things!


I have no idea if this post even justifies as short! 

4th of July

Our 4th of July in a nut shell!

 

Pool time!

 

                                                      Swinging and jumping off them

                                                                        Sparklers!

                                                                  Our  Fireworks!

                                          Frank and the tub-o-fireworks!

 Eli

 The guys found this firework, I can't remember what it does but I do remember it was funny.  I'm 100% positive it had something to with it looking like it was pooping/farting.  Something totally 'guy'!

                                       Ms. Vanna ;)

  I know I'm late in posting but what is new, at least it's a new post right?  Have a good day tomorrow everyone!

A Great Picnic

 

 

 

 

Back in June I put together a picnic with The Greats and all the kids.  We had a lot of fun and I think the Greats had a good time watching the kids play.

 

 

 

Lunch time!  Man was everyone starving! 

(and I use that word loosely as you'll notice we don't look like we've missed many meals, just saying)

 The Greats with the kids and Auntie Megan
(and there's my kid again with the face...what is up with him?? LOL)

Muster

 

 

 

 

Alright people...I'm going through pictures and there are times I see pictures like this and wonder....

 

 

 

 

I wonder......

 

 

Is this really what Frank and I could muster at the time?

 

I'd like to present my evidence....

 

#1

                                                              #2

Apparently that's what we had at the time, LOL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, I come across a picture like this and go all is made right.  There's my little boy!

Yes we have the right stuff!  HA!

 

 

 

 

BUT!!! I'm telling you, there are days that make me wonder if I'm sane...

Father's

 

 

Father's Day 2013

 Ian got Frank a cover for his smoker...good thinking Ian!

 Lee got Frank some apple and cherry wood chips for the smoker...Dad gets to burn his gift.  He found this very funny!

 Dru got Frank some skewers for kabobs and a utensil to cook beer chicken or smoke beer chicken...YUMMY!

 Eli...cheesball!

 Eli got Frank a new Mariner hat, which Frank loves and Eli was excited to give...he picked it out!

                                               My gift to Frank...a sign for his 'cave'.

                                  Happy Father's Day Frank!  Hope you had a good time and felt extra special on this day.

Promotion

Not that I've been lax in my postings...OK well I have but it's summer people give me a break! Why do I think every summer things will slow down and I'll just have more time in general?  I never do, well at least not since they've gotten older anyway.  I tried to remember back when they were super little and it seemed a more laid back time.  Funny though what I fail to remember until later is the fact that they were little toddlers and all that having toddlers entails.  No wonder I feel like I'm busy all the time. The kids are no longer toddlers and in theory that is easier...when in reality it's not easier it's just different.  Yes people there is a difference...how can you tell me that raising kids is different when every waking moment they constantly have you questioning your own sanity??  Tell me!

 

Well onto this post.  I don't think I've posted yet about Ian's promotion from 5th grade to Middle school.  On a quick side note, if they continue to have these 'promotions' will their high school or college graduations mean much to them or will they just shrug it off and go whatever?  Just wondering.

 

Anyway, they have a little ceremony at the school and it's very sweet and yes I cried, BUT only after a friend of mine started crying and looked back at me.  It was 0-V-E-R!  The kids brought a single rose to a parent...most took to their moms, of course!  It was all exciting for the whole family.  The little boys got to be a part of something exciting and something their big brother was a part of.  We all got to sniff back the tears for awhile and wonder at the memories flowing by asking where exactly did the time go with our babies?

 

 

                                                              Brothers

Silly boys!!

                                                         Frank and Ian

 A special picture with the Greats, it's so nice to be able to come and share with us.

 Grandparents too!  Wasn't it yesterday Grandma was showing me how to bath him in her sink??

                                                          Principal Beals and Ian.

                                                  Ian's 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Henderson.

 

 

All in all it was a good night and special for Ian.  He has a special diploma and got a gift certificate to a Fro-Yo place and a whole new outfit!  Score! 

 

Well and of course school is out for the summer!