Summer fun!

Thanks to Mia's 5th birthday, we got a really fun slip and slide. Three of the kids tried it out with great results. Noah, of course, was the most adventurous. Mia and, suprisingly, Ruby were much more hesitant about diving down.





The weather has been so strange this summer. 65 degrees one day and 95 the next. It was actually cold two nights ago, with a stiff breeze blowing through.
But, true to form, the slip and slide no longer works. "Somebody" stepped on it too hard and popped the pillow at one end. Do you think Wal-Mart will take it back?

Things that make me happy

Although I enviously view other people's flowers and gardens, I don't have much time for it myself. But every year when my hydrangea blooms, I feel extra special. It looks so beautiful next to the house, which is hard to believe when you see it in February.
A local garden designer taught me how to prune it. Now, after three years, it's finally paying off!

Mia turns 5

Congratulations to Mia, who finally turned 5. I think she's been waiting to turn 5 since the day after she turned 4. She has talked about her birthday most of the year. It's hard waiting, seeing everyone else have a birthday and wondering when it's going to be your turn.
Mia celebrated by having a few friends over. We played water balloons and in the sprinkler. We have giant cupcakes and ice cream. She got a Barbie, Polly Pocket, Zuzu pet that doesn't turn off (even in the middle of the night), a slip-and-slide that's already broken(!) and a few other things.
I'd love to show some pictures from her party but a certain child ... and I don't know who it is because they're all claiming innocence ... deleted every single picture from the party. Grrrr!

One Day Beach Trip :)

Okay, so this week was a beach week for our family. On Tuesday evening, Noah and Ruby drove out to the beach house with grandma and grandpa in Lincoln City until yesterday when they were joined by Moe, Michelle, Mia and Michael. Overall, it was a good short trip. We stayed up late on Thursday night and on Friday we packed up and hung out in Lincoln City for a few hours. On Friday morning, Michelle and the kids went down to the foggy beach to walk around and play. We went to the mall, got some school clothes for the kids, went to a grocery store and got lunch, and ate and played at Devil's Lake. There was a lot of junk food and mood swings involved in this trip.







Dad giving a weird smile to the camera.









Is how teenagers enjoy the beach? On the phone?

Welcome to our world

What a wonderful way to enjoy the Fourth of July! We had a nice morning at home, went to church, then spent the evening with friends at a casual BBQ. Thanks to everyone who brought delicious meat and side dishes to share.
The kids had fun lighting fireworks all over the place. I guess we're lucky we didn't burn down the countryside, or each other. The only drawback was the huge gash that Moe put in the top of his foot from moving a piece of metal. Yuck! We probably should've taken him to get stitches, so I hope it heals up OK.