July 4th Weekend

We spent the fourth of July at Sid and Rosy's place for an evening of pigroasting, games, family, and fireworks. Julina and Lincoln came from Olympia while Bob and Wendy came from Boise. Us girls spent part of the time canning 22 flats of raspberries and strawberries, too!

PLAYING CATCH UP

Can you say, "FOOD FIGHT!?" Evidently, Sid and I can!!!

It was Mom's birthday and Kristie, Rosy, and I got her a beautiful necklace.

Mom's BDAY BBQ.

Nickelback concert at the Tacoma Dome with two of our favorites....Kristie and Erik!

2 Hot Mommas!!

Love you, Ken!

Wow! I haven't blogged in a while and it's been a busy month of May and first week of June. I better get posting! We started the month of going to the Nickelback concert in Tacoma with our good friends Erik and Kristie. Memorial Weekend was spent celebrating Mom's bday. Mike and Bob's families came over for the celebration as did Kristie and Sid and ROsy's fam. Good times!

Puppy Love

One week ago, I picked this sweet boy up from the airport. Can I just say....I LOVE HIM! His name is Sounder (after our other puppy who died and is his half-brother) and he has found a way into my heart after just a week of having him.

Sounder loves affection. He loves to snuggle and when he is in the car with me, he is not happy unless he is snuggled in my lap resting his head on my arm....utter contentment. Hmmmm....wonder how that's going to be when he is 50 pounds instead of 8!

Mother's Day

I love Mother's Day. I love the men being in charge and the kids eager to please....LOVE IT! My Mother's Day started off with breakfast in bed. I WILL NOT post any of those pictures....ok, maybe one.

I got a Barnes and Noble Nook for MOther's Day which I have been wanting. So excited about it!! We then headed off to church with the boys while the girls stayed home with leftover sickies.

After church, we headed over to Boyd and Ruth's to give Ruth her HUMONGOUS hanging flower basket and meet her new parrot Jasper.

We spent the remainder of Mother's Day with my family at Sid and Rosy's house. There is nothing like spending time with our extended family members. We are blessed!

MY MOTHERS

I am a fortunate woman. I was raised by a mother who put everyone elses needs above her own and taught me, by example, what kind of friend, wife, sister, and mother I should be. I don't always get it right but I do try to be like her.

When I married Ken, I got another wonderful mother. She raised an amazing son and passed on her finest qualities to him. I am grateful to her for turning out such a good man!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom and Mom.

INTRODUCING

.....I don't know his name....imagining trying to introduce with no name....today, Christian and his two best friends, Chandler and Brenden, went with me to Spokane instead of going to school! The purpose you ask? To pick up our new australian shepherd puppy from the airport. This little guy is the half brother of our aussie who died in January so he is mending our hearts!!

First, the boys and I went and bought some flowers and visited our dear cousins Jamie Hannah's gravesite. Jamie died a few years ago at the young age of 2 with a failed heart. You can learn her story and how to donate to her foundation at www.jamieheart.org.

Next, we went to Qdoba for lunch and IT WAS DELICIOUS! Then on to the airport to pick up our beautiful dog!! We found some grass for him and he immediately started playing around with the boys and being curious....not timid at all. I love him!

We then headed to the mall to hit some stores our shopping deprived Tri-Cities doesn't have to offer. Ended our shopping trip with a trip to The Milk Jug for some shakes and a romp at the park before heading home. Such a great day with 3 12 year old (almost Christian) boys!

SALT LICK

We got cows! Yes, those four legged animals that sit out in the pasture and graze all day. Our purpose you ask? To eat them! The kids named them Big and Mac in honor of our purpose. They are actually very low maintenance. Give them water and feed them some grain once a day and they are in moo heaven!

Our kids find this project very exciting. Macy and I were in the car the other day and she asks, "Mom, are you getting enough salt?" (Background info: I have low blood pressure which requires me to eat alot of salt and drink alot of water to avoid lightheadedness and passing out...another story). I said, "Yes, most of the time. Why?" Macy replies very seriously, "Maybe we should buy you a salt block like the cows have and then all you have to do is lick it when you need your salt!" Macy is thinking this is a brilliant idea. I just start to laugh and said, "Great idea, but I think I'll stick to my people food and salt."

COUPON CRAZE

I am not coupon crazy...just a little excited about it. I decided to give the coupon game a try after speaking with a few family members and friends. I am not one of those ladies that has to buy stuff just because I have a coupon. I have decided it doesn't hurt to take a few minutes and find the good deals of the things I do use.

This week, I stocked up on about 15 boxes of cereal that I didn't pay any more than $1.48 per box plus I ended up with 3 gallons of free milk. Today I bought 2 boxes of tampons for a whopping $.28 cents each. CRAZY!

I am all about saving a buck or two! However, you won't find me buying stuff I don't normally buy.....unless is practically free!

Family Scrap Weekend

Once a year, the females in our family go on a scrap weekend getaway. This year, Mom and Phoebe were in Cancun so they were not in attendance. We had Aunt Judy, cousin Corina, adopted sisters Rosy and Kristie, sisters-in-law Jenn, Julina, and Wendy. We had sooo much fun....so much in fact that we are added another night next year! Thanks to Corina for setting up our photo shots and teaching us some Zumba while we took a break! I did a whoppin' 104 pages! My most ever!

Kristie's Birthday

March 20th ranks up there in year of importance for me with Christmas! It is my dear Kristie's birthday!! Kristie and I have now known eachother almost 7 years and it feels like forever! I am so fortunate to have moved in across the street from her on Van Dyke Court. Cheesy movie line but nonetheless true....she completes me!

For her birthday, Kristie wanted to sit down with some friends and just hang out for an evening. We had her favorite meal which is chicken alfredo and a bunch of other yummy things. It was an enjoyable and relaxing evening of friends and laughter! I am so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing women.