Our Serious Side

When these kids get busy with a project, boy do they focus!

Garrett watches the skilled crew foreman, hoping to mimic his techniques.

Even the baby (yes, he is still the baby @ 3 1/2) of the family takes a wack @ building his own sand castle.

I'll be sad when summer is gone.

We'll have to replace sand with snow.

This makes me smile. When my children are within inches of each other AND getting along I just have to whip out the camera and shoot away!

Playing @ the Park

The kids had a good time playing @ the park while Doug ran in the fun run.

5K Fun Run

My hubby (who hates to run) laced up his hiking boots on Saturday to run 5K for charity. The money raised is to benefit a gal who had a Streptococcal Pneumonia infection @ the end of her pregnancy. The baby is fine, but Carol has had many complications, including amputations and loosing her eyesight. The run was on a trail along the Columbia River. It is beautiful and I wish we lived a little closer to to it. I can't hardly justify driving 10 miles to walk on a trail.

And they're off. Doug is in the white t-shirt.

Get a load of this guy's fashion sense. I just had to give him a hard time about the black socks. He thinks I was just getting a picture of those hot muscles.

He came in 3rd for the men in the 26-35 years old category. We won't mention how many men ran in his age group.

Miranda, Carson, and I walked about 1/3 of the race route along the river.

Latest Freebie

This is probably our most expensive freebie to date. Some friends from church had a friend who was getting rid of some extra stuff around the house. They thought our kids might enjoy this "little" surprise. The safety surround has saved Carson's rear-end on several occasions. We love the generosity of others!

Fair Time

It was kids day at the County Fair, so we splurged (and I mean splurged!) and took the kids on some carnival rides after we went to the bank for a loan. I tell you what, our pocketbook is glad the fair only comes once a year. It's a good thing Doug went with us otherwise the younger kids wouldn't have been able to ride a thing. Most of the rides posted signs, "If you are pregnant, you cannot ride." Oh darn! And I love carnival rides so much. NOT!

Garrett was pretty pumped about the spinning spaceship he rode on. He definitely does not take after his mother. I get nauseous on a merry-go round.

Carson was Mr. No Fear on the Ferris wheel. He kept wanting to stand up and look over the edge at me and the other kids. Miranda on the other hand does not like heights. I think she regretted going with Doug and Carson on the Ferris wheel.

Doug and Carson on the mini-roller coaster. High excitement. I'm not sure if Carson enjoyed it based on the look he's giving.

"Smile for the camera, Miranda."

"Quit turning your head every time you come around."

This is the best shot I got of this girl on the carousel. She insisted on turning away every time they passed by. I think she must be camera shy.

Fruits of our Labors

Our hard work in the garden is beginning to pay off. Last night over half of our meal was from the garden. We enjoyed eating our homegrown corn on the cob, peppers and beans. Okay, I'll be honest not all the kids enjoyed having peppers cooked with the polish sausage. But everyone did enjoy the corn. They seem to have enjoyed it a bit more knowing that it came from our very own garden. We are growing magic beans too! We told the kids that they are magical b/c they turn green once their cooked. The older kids don't fall for this kind of thing. They just roll their eyes @ us. Magic or not, I like them because not only do they taste wonderful but they are also much easier to find when I'm picking.

Welcome to Bloggerville

My older sister Melanie has finally been converted to the blogging way of life. She has gone out in full force, setting up two blogs: one for her family and one for her little craft business with her friend Cindy. Check them out! http://jmblazer.blogspot.com/ http://www.craftychicksx2.blogspot.com/

YUM!

Despite the rather warm temperatures we ventured out to pick wild blackberries in the canyon today. My pickings go to the freezer for jam and the kids are free to do what they want with what they pick. They usually end up with full tummies and not so full containers. Miranda and Garrett were my star pickers today, each filling a pint container. I don't think they went hungry though, based on their purple tongues.

Hopefully, she won't be up tonight with a belly ache. Tonight, only half of these were left.

Carson, Garrett, & Max

I thought this picture was so cute

Tanner the ringleader (of this 3 ringed circus we call a home!)

Everything's Fun...

. . when you're three. Lately, Carson takes delight in the simplest of things. Last night it was a neckerchief blowing in the fan, tonight it was jumping the cord while someone vacuumed at the church. Oh to be Three! I'm glad he takes pleasure in the little things:

"You can't swim in 2 inches of water," some say. Carson says, "Hogwash!"

I love this Man!

I love it when my man is all spiffied up. He will probably kill me for posting this pic, oh well.

I think he was about as happy as the kids to be out taking pictures.

Can't you just tell that we are enamored with one another? Really, we are. We just have a strange way of showing it. Lisa, I think this is the closest you are going to get to a full body shot of us.

Baptism Day

Miranda had her baptism on August the 2nd. She was baptized along with 2 boys in our Stake. It was nice to have both sets of grandparents there. I think it meant alot to her to have them come.

Miranda on Sunday

She's got this guy wrapped around her finger.

Miranda is so tiny that we had to cuff the pant leg of her baptism whites. I wonder where she gets her short stature?

Sunday Best

"Leave your clothes on when we get home from church" is what my kids heard as we piled into the van after church. I've turned into one of those moms. It's just so tempting to want to get a photo when your family is all cleaned up-at the same time. This is a rare occasion around here.

The kids were thrilled that it was a sunny day.

There was absolutely no complaining.

Tanner thought he could find shade created by my belly.

Garrett wouldn't come take a picture with the rest of us. I guess he was embarrassed to be seen with us. I think Grandpa must have bribed him to get this pic.