A fun new hobby...

I have had NOTHING to write about lately.  It just seems that we are trying to pass the days until school starts.  However, one thing that I've found to be a fun time passer is FACEBOOK.  Seriously, I've had so much fun finding friends and family.  Both from the present and lots of people from the past.  I have been able to get in touch with childhood friends that I have not seen in many, many years.  Too fun!  If you haven't already started an account, you should.  And if you have an account, but haven't added me to your friends list, you'd better!

 

Oh a very happy note, the kids start school next week!!!  Conner starts on Tuesday and Alia and Ann-Elise start on Wedensday.  Adrie has to wait until the following Tuesday for her grand day in the sun.  That kid is so funny.  It's all she can think about and talk about.  Going to preschool on the yellow bus.  Too cute!  If only that excitement would last beyond the first couple years of school!

 

Alia has her first game for cheer next Saturday.  Her uniform came last night.  It's not quite the right size, but we're trying to fix it!

 

 

How cute!!!  She has been going around all day saying how this is the first dream that she's ever had come true.  Oh, if only it was that easy...

Get well, my sweet baby girl

Ann-Elise had her ear and tonsil surgery today.  We started by getting up before the crack of dawn.  One of the joys of NOT living in the bustle of city life is the hour plus it takes to get anywhere like the hospital!  Here she is in her "bed" in the back of the car.  Notice she's actually still smiling!

The first thing we did at the hospital was check her in.  I LOVE the children's hospital that we go to.  They are amazing.  After they got her admitted, they had her pick a stuffed animal to go through surgery with her.  She chose a little Care Bear Bee. 

We had the most wonderful nurse, Elaine.  She was so sweet and kind to both us and Ann-Elise.  We passed the time by playing cards and watching TV, getting ready for them to take her to the OR.  

After we go the ok to go to pre OP, we headed down to the basement.  We were met down there by her Doctor.  Now I LOVE her ENT!  She is so sweet.  She came over to Ann-Elise and gave her another little gift, a little stuffed bird to take with her as well.  Leise cruised through surgery with no problems.  After a quick stop in post op, we headed back up to her room.  She was zonked out!  She would wake up to take a few sips of water and would go back to sleep.

After an hour or so, we got the ok to go home.  I am so impressed with how well she is handling the pain.  She is such a little trooper!

She has been a little sad because she can't eat, but I think she's going to do just fine.  Oh, and then when we got home, her buddy Hannah, came over to visit her.  This is what she brought...

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.  I know that things like this aren't really a big deal, but when you are the one going through it, it really is!  I appreciate your caring for my family!

Back to life. Back to reality.

Well, we are getting settled after our camping trip.  Why is it that you need a vacation to recover from your vacation?  I don't get that!  I'm still on the high that came from such an awesome time though.  I don't think I blogged about the 2nd degree burns that I acquired while we were out on the boat.  I was a good mom and sunscreened up all the kids and Mike, but neglected myself.  Oh well.  Skin cancer here I come!  It's not too painful, but the crackling skin is a bit uncomfortable.  Next time...

 

We dropped Conner off at my sister's house after camping.  They live in Bend and it wasn't too far out of our way.  He's going to hang with her and her 3 boys for a week or so.  She has some fun stories to share.  You can check out her blog here to check out the fun things going on over there.  I miss the little man, but I know that he really enjoys these visits with his cousins.  I was thinking that out of the last 5 years, he's been able to spend a week with them every summer except last year when they were moving.  He needs that time with boys!

 

I was able to have my friend Laura watch the babies yesterday while I took Alia and Ann-Elise school shopping.  We had a good time.  We were able to find some really cute outfits for them.  I also picked up a couple pair of jeans for Conner at Old Navy.  I just couldn't beat the price of 2/$25.  I just hope they fit.  I also picked up some super cute outfits for Adrie for preschool.  When we got home the girls decided to put on a "fashion show" for me.  Unfortunately, I only got 2 pictures before my camera died.  Just to let you know, "I" did not put the clothes together for the fashion show.  I wouldn't have put the black shirt with the black leggings on Adrie!  She has some super cute layered shirts that those pants were to go with!  Oh well...

 

I love this picture of Alia.  She is so beautiful.  And I know it's wrong, but I love the sun bleached hair and tan skin.  I'm sorry.  I AM from California, ya know!

Oh, I found THE funniest blog in the world last night.  I spent a couple hours reading everything on there. You can check it out here.  Enjoy!

I'm Baaaccckkkk!

We took some time out of life to go on a little family vacation.  We left last Sunday and went camping at the Cove Palisades State Park in central Oregon.  We went with our good family friends, the Allens.  It was AMAZING!  Gorgeous!  Mike grew up camping for a week every year at the Cove.  He's always wanted to take our kids but we just haven't gotten around to it, until this year.  It was so wonderful.  Other than the fact that the campsite sits on a huge hill that we had to climb up and down every time someone had to go to the bathroom, shower, play, ride bikes, dump the garbage... well you get the idea!  However, the beauty and the fun lake were WELL worth the sacrifice!  We had perfect (HOT) weather.  There is a boat ramp and a cool swim area about 1/2 mile from where we were camping.  We headed to the lake every day we were there.  We would spend the day swimming and playing and eating.  Then head back to camp for dinner.

 

On Wednesday we rented a boat for the day.  I got some fun shots of the kids tubing.  Conner tried to get up on the ski's a few times.  He almost had it, but decided that the instant gratification from the tube was a lot better!  Caile DID NOT want to boat at all!  She screamed at me and hid her head the whole time but she did pretty well the last time we went out.  I was even able to talk Adrie into going out on the tube with me.  She loved it!  So, now Mike's trying to talk himself into buying a boat.  Here we go!  Actually, it was really fun to see him in his element.  I know that boating and skiing was huge part of his childhood so it was fun to see him experience that!

    

Here are some candid pics from our vacation:

 

I did not even think it was possible to get this dirty!!!  We called Caile the Dozer the entire week.  She loved to plant herself in the dirt and then use her hands to push it all over the camp site or beach!  Adrie just tried to take baths in it!

 

  

Conner built his first fire all by himself this week.  He really enjoyed that!

 

Crazy girls!!!

 

   

Mike enjoying himself.

 

 

Oh, if you're still reading this far, Conner got a call on his birthday from the principal of St. Luke Catholic School letting him know that he had been admitted for the school year!!!  What a fun birthday present for him.  He's really excited about making new friends and spending time with his old ones from there!