My Birthday!

A few days before my birthday, my loving husband took the girls to work with him (Collin always goes- he was probably baling hay). Then I got to spend the day with one of my besties, Debbie Ashton, in Tri-cities. We went to a spa, had lunch at Red Lobster, shopped at TJmaxx (one of my favorite places to go) and a few other errands before heading back to reality.{After seeing this picture of me she took of us while I drove I realize - 1. I need some lipstick 2. it's time to wear foundation all the time because my face looks horrible and blotchy -especially now that I got some ugly "sunspots" this summer.}

On my actual birthday I took the girls to playgroup and hung out with friends in Kerry's backyard while the kids played and swam. Kari Sherrill made cupcakes and had everyone sing to me. I forgot to take care of myself and burnt a lovely v-neck and tshirt line on my body!!

Soon after getting home, flowers arrived for me from my fabulous visiting teachers- Shairlyn and Angela. Then I prepared for the arrival of my "old" friends from Mattawa, ShaRee and Staleen, along with Debbie to have a late afternoon lunch. I can't believe those crazy girls from Mattawa drove all the way out and could only stay 2 hours so they could get back for their date nights with their hubbies. But I appreciate their effort and gift.

Debbie stayed and we really played!!

I decided to be brave and take the boat out by myself. I thought I did fabulous. {It helps that it's left in the water and no backing up of trailers are required.}

The girlies posed for Debbie (the photographer for the afternoon) while I got everything ready. My girls were glad Jocelyn and Avery joined us.

Morgan -being the good helper that she is and holding the boat's rope.

Chelsea- I love that she has a little residual peanut butter on her face from lunch.

Mia -looking sweet and innocent

Me -the awesome driver!

I had to wear a shirt to cover up my v shaped chest with the sleeves up trying to fix my arms.

Morgan, Mia and Chelsea enjoying the ride

Debbie did a fabulous job editing pictures for me to make them so bright and FUN!

After boating, Debbie and I layed out in tubes floating on the lake. So relaxing and fun - minus the times Mia decided to climb up on me and almost capsized me on the dinky kid size tube I was trying to keep myself crammed into.

That evening I had Kari and her kids come for round 2 of boating/tubing. Cameron and Collin came home to go with us. Things did NOT turn out as planned! For the first time ever in our boat (15 yrs old) it would NOT start. I thought FOR SURE I had broken it unknowingly earlier in the day. We had already unhooked and were floating farther and farther out into the lake (along with 11 kids) while Cameron worked to get it started. No use. Cameron finally had to be our HERO and tie the tube rope to his life jacket and swim us back to shore. Once back in shallow water he had to continue to walk us hundreds of feet back to our house. Just as we were getting close I finally decided to take a picture of the hard work he put in. Most of the kids were at the back of the boat kicking to help and Kari and I paddled with our super dinky paddle boat paddles that did little good.

Of course, just when Kari was leaving Cameron finally got the boat started (something to do with the fuel line - which he knew was the problem but couldn't figure it out until then). They headed off anyways and we took our kids on a quick tubing ride before heading back in for a late dinner.

So my BIRTHDAY was definitely memorable and filled with lots of fun and friends and I felt LOVED! That was present enough for me this year from my family.

Catching up in June

Morgan turned 9 and I'm sad to say I never got around to blogging on her special day. The weekend before she had her best friend from Mattawa over, Ashley Jenne for her very first (non cousin) sleepover.For her birthday I bought her a bunch of new summer clothes (she was in desperate need) and gave all the girls some sunglasses. Cameron decided to help model them.
We had a fancy dinner and I even got out the china and had apple cider to go with it. Not too exciting of a birthday but we're planning on eventually having an "unbirthday" summer party combined for all the kids together this summer.

Morgan is a great big sister, helper for Mom and really reminds me of how kind and loving her namesake is (Rebecca - her middle name). And she sleeps in just like her also. I think she looks so 80s trendy in her new clothes!

This month we done a lot of this. Mostly in the evening when Cameron gets home from work. I, of course, just get to sit in the boat this year and hold the flag when necessary. Collin did this awesome whip out and I actually caught it!
Chelsea is posing in front of the smooth lake and our house is in the background.
Another shot of our house, we've been "parking" the boat by the tree so we can just jump in when Cameron gets home. It's a bit dirty from that but for now I'm totally ok with that.
The girls have all tubed lots along with Collin and it's so fun to see their happy faces!

Another day, Max decided to join in on the fun (I didn't) but Cameron said he spent the whole time hiding under the steering wheel. Not sure if he'll go again now.

Morgan and Chelsea on {FINALLY} their last day of school - JUNE 16th! It was strangely cold and even rained and we were so glad (maybe just me) to be done getting up early and rushing off to school.This is how Collin spent his last day of school. He actually didn't go to the last 2 days and missed 2 days the week before also to do this. He loves to bale hay and both he and Cameron thought his time was better spent here than watching movies doing "activities" those last days.
My parents came to stay with us for a week and this was the only picture I took. My mom, as usual, did some sewing projects for me. This time on top of teaching Morgan to sew a little (they made a bunch of tiny pillows for Barbies) she made curtains for Collin's room, outdoor patio pillow covers, made Mia's queen size quilt into a twin and used the extra fabric to make new bedding for their doll bunkbeds.
We also played games a few nights which Cameron and I always lost in. Sometimes the kids played too (during the day). On the last night we played 5 crowns again. (If you haven't heard of it - it's super fun and you need to get some cards to play it- my girls and I even played today) I got a GREAT score and finally beat my parents and so did Cameron.
Now we have more lazy days and busy days planned and hopefully I'll get around to blogging again sooner. I'll just blame it on being a lazy, pregnant mama for not blogging very often recently. (I'm over 31 weeks now)

May Happenings!

We saw another interesting animal in our yard - 2 Beavers!! I looked out the window and saw one climbing up the tree. Who knew they were so big!

A few Sundays ago I looked out to see the girls dancing on the trailer of straw (Cameron had for the Father's and Sons camp out). This reminded me so much of growing up - Rebecca and I used to make up dances (just like they were). I have lots of memories of making up "routines" in the back of my grandpa's pickup (we used the tool box as our stage) with my cousins. It's so fun to see my girls doing the same thing.
My girls all performed at Spring fest - the annual festival in Moses Lake. It was outside and luckily the weather was nice enough that day (it rained the whole week). They all did a good job - although I think Mia might have been mesmerized by the huge crowd because I think she skipped some moves while starring at the crowd. This is her with her friends from class and primary.

Here is Morgan's dance to "teacher's pet."
Chelsea is in the middle here.
While waiting for our family to arrive for our Memorial Day party we looked out to see 3 deer just a few feet away from our grass.
After everyone finally arrived and eating LOTS of food, everyone took turns (minus me and Valerie) going out to the dunes to ride these Razors and 4 wheelers. The weather was not cooperating so it was a fun alternative to playing in the lake. Morgan came back after her first ride and said we NEED to get one of those. Good thing my kids all had helmets from snowmobiling. This is a picture or Morgan, Mia and cousin, Kaylee.
I think Collin went on every trip out to the dunes on his 4 wheeler - not much for sharing - he thought it was awesome and wished that there wasn't school the next day so that everyone could stay and go again.
I'm so thankful we have a great house and location for entertaining. I'm ready to throw another party - anyone want to come?

The Wizard of Oz

A little more than a week ago, Cameron finally brought home our trampoline and our girls playhouse from our old house in Mattawa. He decided to set the playhouse on our raised patio right outside our master bedroom window. Very quickly I decided I didn't like it there because it blocked part of my view of the lake from the bed. So on Wednesday I knew that I wanted Cameron to move it as soon as possible since I'm no longer capable of attempting such feet's (I have moved it before but never down stairs). But Wednesday evening right after Cameron arrived home and the whole family was getting ready to go to our activities at the church, a TORNADO decided to hit Moses Lake! It picked up the poor little house and hurled it 15 feet away down onto the grass with a crash. Everyone heard it hit and ran outside to see the damage (at the time we didn't know it had actually been a tornado). Mia cried because her playhouse was RUINED.
The next day Collin, being the worker that he is, decided he'd take it apart and try to put it back together. But before he moved it too much I had him reenact "The Wizard of Oz" for me. (Sadly, he doesn't even know the story) He played the part of the wicked witch.
Most pieces are salvageable but I don't think the roof or front door survived. Who knows if it will ever get put back together well enough to play in again. I had plans to paint it pink and white this summer. Oh well - one less project.

enjoyment . . . and some less enjoyable

We had lots of ENJOYMENT this past week or so.

It was finally warm enough to really enjoy the lake and the kids swam with friends 3 days in a row! (Mia was a bit upset that she was not allowed to swim on Sunday too.)

I also got to join the girls at school for a parents lunch/bbq - although the bbq was really just school lunch of hot dogs or hamburger and we chose to all bring our own lunch. But it was fun eating lunch with them and seeing their friends. The day before I worked at the bookfair and they managed to talk me into buying more books than I'd planned.
Usually we've only seen the deer farther off or in other people's yards (which is fine because I don't want them eating our bushes). But this past week I seen the deer twice right on our trail down to the lake eating the brush down there (fine with me - they can eat it but we can't develop it anyways - might as well have them trim them back a bit).
And we've had some gorgeous sunsets!! I was doing dishes Sunday night and was looking out at this . . . too bad the mosquitoes are horrible right now so I had no desire to go out and sit and enjoy it. Just went out long enough to snap a few pictures. So the mosquitoes have ruined a bit of our ENJOYMENT because all of us have been bit a ton and I ended up taking Chelsea and Mia home after sacrament meeting of church because they were scratching so much and needed a good dose of benedryl. But I am glad I went out to capture the picture - I didn't even edit this picture one bit because it seemed so perfect without!

Now on to the MUCH LESS ENJOYABLE part of the week . . .

(I made these pictures small to spare you the grossness unless you really want a good look and make it big yourselves)

Our dog is in BIG trouble!! He ran away AGAIN (seriously we stopped keeping track) Saturday morning when I drove Collin to work. Apparently his dog tag was so worn out you could no longer read where we live (the weekend before 2 people dropped him off at our house after they followed them on their jogs/bike rides).

So finally on Monday late afternoon Cameron calls to say an animal shelter had him. I had to get the kids out of the lake with their friends and take them with me across town (25 min away) to pick him up. Of course their was a $30 charge to get him out of "jail." Then when we were headed home Collin said he had 2 ticks and we didn't have any more of that medicine for him at home. Against my better judgement, I pulled over at Walmart and quickly made him a tag and got the medicine while Collin stayed in the car with Max. When we were almost home (5 min away) Collin starts screaming that the dog is pooping! BOY was I mad and sick when he said it was diarrhea! We rolled down all the windows and everyone made it home. Collin threw up when he got out of the car.
I had my camera handy to take pictures of the disgusting- ness before I backed into the grass and tried to spray it out as best I could. Then went off to the closest car wash to shampoo and vacuum it out!!!

YUCK, YUCK, YUCK!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say - since we don't have a fenced yard - Max has been tied up since Monday.
My car still doesn't smell quite right and I think I'm going to have to go at some crevices with a toothbrush and pick to see if their is something I missed hiding somewhere!!!!

All about me . . .

according to Chelsea . . .apparently SHE thinks I'm about 6 inches shorter, I'm very skinny, I have the same eye color as she does, and I like salad best (maybe she just knows I like it and she doesn't). But I'm glad she thinks I'm creative and she knows my favorite color.

Now just for fun - I'll let you see how huge I'm getting with this 5th pregnancy. I'm just over 24 weeks here (thanks for taking my picture Debbie).

Not Much Has Changed . . .

Collin turned 12 years old yesterday and he's grown up so much . . . but not much has changed other than that.

He still loves to farm with his Dad

- He chose to take Monday off of school (sort of a birthday gift) to run the new John Deere swather all day long. (even though asked both boys forgot to take a picture of him running it)10 years ago, when Collin was 2 and he would jump at any chance to work with Cameron on tractors or on the farm.

Collin still collects or wants to play with or build tractor toys.

-This is the set up he currently has on the floor of his room. He designed and built the wooden shop and the disk thing out of k'nex in the background.

10 years ago, when forced to play inside, he would line up all of his tractor toys on the carpet to play with.

So . . . although Collin has grown up and can now run the real tractors himself . . . he hasn't really changed and we love him that way!!

Collin wanted the Bybee boys to come over for Sunday dinner when we celebrated his birthday. These 2 boys both love the farm as much as Collin and he loves to have them over to talk farming. Collin picked our dinner - ribs, green bean casserole, baked beans, potato salad and his favorite "dirt" cake.