Blessings

While I still am having computer trouble (most importantly - it won't upload my pictures from anywhere other than if someone emails them) and try to avoid it at all times. I don't want you to think I've left the blogging world either.

This past Sunday we blessed Cassidy at church. I loved her outfit and had Debbie come over this week to take her pictures since we didn't do any on that crazy, busy, fun Sunday.

My mother knitted her booties to wear.
And although I picked out the dress online my mother and sister Melisa picked it up for me at in outlet in Utah.

I love that Debbie captured her new, precious smile.
And her peacefully sleeping . . .
And looking like a doll . . . .
and just looking so cute!

Now tomorrow we will be celebrating Cameron's 37th Birthday! Too bad I can never buy him what he wants so instead he gets a card! But he knows I love him anyways - I think.

Cassidy's growing . . .

Debbie came over to take pictures of Cassidy for me. I don't want to post most of the pictures yet since I'm sending out birth announcements to at least some of you who read my blog. And I don't see the point of sending one if you've already seen the picture. But I was able to upload these pictures (because they were emailed to me) opposed to the ones on my camera which my computer fails to recognize are there, I decided to go ahead and finally do a post. Plus a certain sister-in-law requested an updated picture. These were taken last week (2 wks old) and she's already grown (longer mostly).

We love her! But - in case you'd forgotten - babies are TIME consuming. Maybe one of these days I'll figure out how to get more done - for the time being we're living in a mess but the laundry is usually done and we have food to eat. . .

Cassidy's picture

I still can't get my pictures off my camera. So annoying . . . but I emailed myself some pictures off my phone to post for now.

Introducing:

Cassidy Megan

Baby

Cassidy Megan

was born last Tuesday, August 17th at 3:10pm.

She weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces

and was 20 inches long.

We're so glad she arrived and are happy to have her home with us.

She is a very good little girl.

Sadly, something is wrong with my computer or picture program or who knows what and I can't get my pictures from the last month to download (one of the reasons for not blogging). If you're friends with me on facebook I did download some pictures from my phone. Otherwise I will try to post her picture (and do more posts from this summer - such as our Disneyland trip) ASAP!

8 months

So I've decided I need to update . . . I have lots to post about our adventures this summer but for now I'll start with my most recent baby bump picture taken just days before I hit 36 weeks.
I have guilt over not blogging more this year. I blame facebook and pregnancy. I'll hopefully get better at it.

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)