Summer Time is the time for dirty feet.

What would Summer be without dirty feet?

Summer Time Fun

Oh how I love this time of year! We are no longer stuck indoors watching yet another Barney video! We have so many kids on our block and they all love sidewalk chalk. Our street is filled with colorful art work and the newest craze, chalk outlined children. It looks like a crime scene outside our door. It's nearly impossible to get a picture of the older kids, so the top picture will have to work of Addy. I will try for a Taylor picture next!

Happy Birthday Hudson!

Thanks for the lawnmower birthday present, Neenee & Pappy!

Hudson Turns 4! I am not ready to lose my baby. I guess it already happened, but I can hardly believe that 4 years have already passed since this little guy was just a tiny peanut in the NICU. The years went by way to fast. No more buying diapers or cute little bottles, no more adorable matching little outfits with the cute farm animals (he picks all of his clothes now and he likes them best when they are backwards, inside out, dirty, mismatched and over sized.) I will really miss that stage. Hudson has begun to talk quite well now and this enables him to speak his mind and he does it often! He is a feisty little guy and he's learning how to stand up to his older siblings. He knows his rights now and he realizes when he's being used (go ask mom for ice cream, go tell mom you want to watch a movie and eat popcorn.) He no longer belongs only to me. He has a life and friends now. Just last summer he would hide behind my legs when we went outside and other children were running around. Now he pushes me away and says, "Mom, you go inside the house, Okay?" Is it happening already? Am I no longer his one and only best friend? I asked him that very question and he gently placed both hands on my cheeks and turns my face towards him and said, "It's okay mom, I like Dallas now. He's my friend. I like him more, okay mom?" Ohhh the heart ache! Well, his life journey is just beginning and although I may not be able to carry him or hold his hand through it, I will find contentment and joy in watching this little guy develop into the man he will one day be. I love you, Hudson.

Another lost picture

This was taken at grandma's birthday party a few months ago. I don't know how I misplaced it, but I think it's blog worthy!

3 gallons of Ice Cream x 2

Savannah was excited to go shopping with me at Wal-Mart. She had a purse full of money and she was aching to spend it. As we walked through the store she carefully checked out the merchandise and chose several items. She was so excited about buying them and needless to say so was I. This girl is lounging shopper and after an hour of deciding what she could buy, my legs were sore and I wanted to get home. I still had my shopping list to attend too, so I finally managed to drag her to the other side of the store to the grocery section. As we moved down the frozen foods isle, Savannah stopped cold and turned to me and began her pleading. "Please oh please mom. Can I buy Ice cream with my money instead?" I didn't care what she spent her money on and a few seconds later she was throwing all of her treasures from the cart and loading it with 3 lbs. containers of ice cream. She promised she would share it with everyone. Once home, she announced, "Were having ice cream for dinner!" Then she kindly reminded me that she bought it and therefore she got to decide when it would be ate (breakfast, lunch dinner). She was the family hero and everyone agreed that ice cream was a far better dinner then fish sticks and mac & cheese. Thanks Vannie for your generous treat.

Boy how they grow!

I found this picture in one of the many endless picture files on my PC. It was taken 2 summers ago at lake Wallowa. I wish I could keep them this size forever. Taylor has changed the most. He is probably a foot or more taller now. I think he liked Star Trek at the time, either that or he is in some gang with a funky secret hand signal!

Farewell Columbia River Voyager

I just wanted to say farewell to the Columbia River Voyager. We really enjoyed the nice scenic boat ride and quiet dinners that they offered. Apparently business was too slow, so the owners are moving to Arizona and taking the boat with them. I'm not too sure, but I am wondering how much business they could possibly get in that waterless place? Nonetheless you will be missed.

Homemade Pizza!

I have always wondered what goes on at home when I am away. I found these pictures on the camera. Looks like fun! "Dad let us make pizza!" A few months ago I bought a very old cook book at the library. It was printed in 1950 and has thousands of recipes, everything from cow brain pudding to pig heart soup. YUMMY. Living in the 50's must have been a desperate time. Nothing was left to waste and I really mean nothing. One of the recipes is for a cow head. It has something for all parts of the head, deep fried tongue, eyeball stew, and too many cow brain recipes. There are plenty more recipes in the book too and homemade pizza better suites our family. Addy and Savannah said that this was the best pizza they had ever eaten. (are those slices of cow brains on top?) Anyhow, looks like they had fun and the pizza looks great girls.