Halloween

We had a really fun halloween this year. We worked around the house until mid afternoon and then took Goose to the old town trick or treat. Its nice that all those shops are so family friendly.

We had a lot of fun carving pumpkins, although finding time to do it this year was almost impossible. I went to westwood discount and found these carving patterns and tools for something like 79 cents. It was a new experience, and they all turned out really cute. Goose did the alien (thanks to help from dad), Ben the headless horseman, and myself the tree. Then there was an activity days daddy/daughter activity with a prize for what we thought was the best daddy/daughter costumes. Since Goose was a rodeo cowgirl, Ben had the option of being a horse, robber, inian, or as a joke, I suggested a barrel. Can you tell what he decided to be??? Yes. The barrel. Thanks to Courtney for letting us borrow hula hoops, we were able to use brown sheets and vinyl to do the rest. He was pretty creepy with the brown face paint though!

We, well... ok I, decided that the dogs needed costumes too. We were babysitting Sadie, so she and pep got spray painted pretty green. I tried to mohawk Sadie, but her fur didn't cooperate. They were so cute. Its too bad the paint wore off so quickly. It is a good thing that Sadie's mommy and daddy have a great sense of humor and laughed instead of getting mad that we had fun with their dog while babysitting her.

Here's my rodeo cowgirl. Thanks to the Duffins for letting us borrow things so she could be "authentic". She was so cute, and SUCH a ham! (If you can't tell by the photos)

Getting her to smile was a chore, though, cause she says that cowgirls are tough and don't smile. Silly girl.

We had a ton of fun and it will be interesting to see what she wants to be next year. Lets hope it goes kinda slow! The years are passing WAY too fast for me at the moment and soon she won't let us take her trick or treating around the neighborhood, but will want to go hang out with her friends.

24th of July Celebration

Over here the Pioneer Day Celebration is a big thing. Big parade and thing at the fairgrounds, and usually the wards trade doing a booth one year at the fair grounds and a float for the parade the next year. And let me tell you.... being on the float committee isn't the most fun thing ever.

We usually have to go sans Ben, since he is usually working. Its always SUPER hot, but Goose loves it, so I take her anyway. She always gets a huge haul of candy, with a couple of popscicles too!

The fairgrounds usually have some really fun activities, with either free or really cheap food and activities. Above, Goose was sliding down the big, bouncy, blow up slide. And she got to shoot a little airsoft pellet gun at targets. She did pretty good. Good thing we are already teaching her gun safety!

The horses were her FAVORITE part! Of course. Anyone that knows her would have just said, "DUH!" (she might get to try riding lessons next summer and is already SO stoked!)

There was a really tall, blow up waterslide. She would have spent all day on it if we hadn't had to go. Heck, it was hot enough, i would have gone as well, if we had had the time. It was a bummer since we had just bought the glasses just for me to lose them.... Ugh. Glasses lost 3 times from May to August. I am ready to staple them to her! Lol! The celebration is fun every year. We can't wait to go next year (and will even help with the booth the ward "gets" to do!).

Lake Merwin

I think we all need our quiet, happy places. For me, it is Lake Merwin with its beautiful green trees and bushes, quiet lake in the mountains, and cute deer running around. This is where I "go" when I am in the hospital or have my bp taken. I could spend hours just sitting at the lake or camp site.

Bradley and Lauren relax in the hammock for a few minutes after dinner.

Isn't it beautiful with all of the trees surrounding it?

Goose playing at the lake, and Kayleigh feeding fritos to one of the friendly mother deer. And right behind momma came two shy little babies. They were SO cute with their little speckles and skinny legs. These were up by the indoor pool area. We had to go "check the hours" while Jordan hid a surprise.

Here's another fun deer by the campsite. Goose thought it was SO fun to feed her right from her hand.

The boys let Goose help put up the tent (and then she loved playing in it). Talk about a team effort... and a little patience with the short one. She has so much fun with her uncles!

My nephew got to try licorice for the first time. He LOVED it, of course! He only got a couple tastes, and he was so cute with it. What a sweet baby! I miss him tons.

Goose and I had to cuddle in the hammock, and couldn't leave Kayleigh out. Nothing says getting to know you like climbing in a hammock with two almost strangers.

Jordan and his at that moment girlfriend... wait about half an hour and things change.

The boys cooked dinner for us. Watermelon, hamburgers, hotdogs, all the good stuff. And if you look close, you can see all the necessities of camping...

The laptop for movies.

The big white sheet hung between the back of Jordan's Tahoe and the tree next to it for movies later that night with the projector, hammocks, etc. Who says you have to rough it when you camp???



Lauren and Kayleigh getting a little too close, or not. Just messing around for the picture.




















Ok, so not just one hammock, but two.

Isn't this gorgeous? It was a great day to go play at the lake. Goose stayed the night with her uncles and aunts, and I got to bring my nephew back with me to the house for the night. Kayleigh got a surprise engagement ring (I wish I had the pictures, it was so cute!) and we got a new sister. Jordan hid a box under an old, rotting tree and told her he had buried it before his mission and would she like to help dig it back out. They did and took it in the tent. Inside there were old pictures, and other things that reminded him of high school and in the bottom was a pretty, little velvet box. She had NO idea and was SO excited. Lots of screaming and crying and pictures later, I have a new sis to be (hopefully in June). Now if we could only get them out of Minnesota and out to Washington.

I had always heard horror stories about sisters and brothers in law, so was kind of worried about what would happen when my brothers found women to marry. Would we get along? Would they be monsters? Controlling and never let us see the boys? I don't know what people were talking about or what I had to worry about. I love both Lauren and Kayleigh as much as if they had been born my biological sisters. Both of them have real sisters of their own, but these are my first and I am SO grateful for them and they are great to put up with me. They are both perfect for each of the boys they married/are marrying and each bring different, fun, needed things to the family. We have fun the little bit we get to be together and they are great with Goose. However, they make me feel SO old since they are just young'uns.... lol. Lu is 8 years younger, and Kayleigh 10 years younger than myself. I can't wait til Thanksgiving when we can have some more fun together.

I can't wait to go back to Lake Merwin. It is one of my happiest places ever. We all need places like that. I just wish I could get to my favorite place more than once every year or two.

Oh Brothers...

For Mother's Day this year, as siblings living in this SO wealthy time, we decided to do pictures for our mom. We went out to Camp Curry (I think???) and Lauren, Bradley's wife, took pictures for us. It was the first time in about 10 years we had done pictures together. We had a lot of fun!

Here are Bradley and Lauren. Poor girl was only about 1 1/2 weeks from having a baby! Thanks for taking the pics, sis!

Here's Bradley. He's just younger than me.

Jordan is the baby, so to speak. He's taken now, ladies. Sorry!

I left out all the naughty pictures that Bradley and Jordan were doing just to save all innocent eyes... All in all, we had a lot of fun. We will have to make sure not to wait 10 years before the next ones, and include the married in's too. Thanks to the boys, I now have two great, new sisters. Great job, brothers. I love them both, and you two as well.

OMSI

If you are ever in Portland, you have to get to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry). It is such a fun place for kids and adults (at least I think so!) Mom and I took Goose last time we were in town on one of the few free minutes we had.

There are all sorts of science things like the rocket Goose is trying to do right above.

They have a real submarine you can tour. It was really interesting! I could NEVER do a tour on a submarine... especially sleeping in those little tiny bunks. I have serious personal space issues in open rooms, I don't want to imagine how bad it would be in a tiny submarine.

Goose and Grandma are watching sound waves vibrate through the spring above and Goose is checking out the pinna of an ear.

The newest weatherman is Goose.




I didn't get too many pictures there since I was having as much fun as Goose was. We needed about 4 more hours to really play. We also got to watch an IMAX movie (the first time I have done that in YEARS!) about sardine fishing routes off the coast of Africa. The fish and other sea life were absolutely amazing to watch, and when they all appear about 20 times bigger than you, its interesting. I only got dizzy and had to put my head on my knees a few times... lol!

Family Fun

When we are all there, we like to play games. Normally Bradley kicks our behinds. This night we were playing curses and celebrating Dad and Jordan's birthdays. For those who haven't played curses, its a must do at least a couple times a year, however, in our house, Ben hates the game so we never get to play.

The two birthday boys!

Becca, Kayleigh, and Lauren

Kayleigh and I.

Lauren eating yummy ice cream cake, and Jordan and Kayleigh so generously showing us their cake.

Dad was getting ready for scout camp so he didn't have a lot of time to play. Here he is wearing some huge, warm wool thing (I can't remember the name...) and Zeke is following him around like usual.

Cute couple. Bradley and Lauren hit the 1 1/2 year mark soon!

It sure is fun being home. Goose and I miss it when we aren't there to play games and have fun.