A Little Publicity

Daria's coach just sent us a link about her soccer team. I will post the link here in a moment....but I will essentially post what it says below. It gave some fun little statistics about their soccer tournament this last weekend.

Yes. I'm a proud mom.

PDP Hurricanes Win at Lake Oswego Tournament

Team Hurricanes won 1st place for the U10 Silver Division in the Lake Oswego Nike Cup over July 25-27. The Hurricanes were 4-0 during the tournament and outscored their opponents 19-4.

If you want to check it out for yourself...click here.

Thankful Thursday

Once again, in crazy Summerness, I keep forgetting to do my Thankful Thursday posts. Crazy me. I guess it goes to show that I am a creature of habit and routine. When there is the routine of school, I am better at remembering things. I refuse to admit that my forgetfulness could be old age. I will not go there. As always, I have much to be thankful for.

This week, I am thankful for:

• Extra times with family. It was fun for the kids to have sleepovers with cousins. It was fun to have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins hang around for extra time to watch Daria's soccer game. Fun.

• For someone to watch Luke while I traveled to watch Kyle's baseball game. I am thankful, too, that being a SAHM makes it possible to do extra things like that. I am also thankful that I have money to pay for the gas. It was so fun to be a part of Kyle's experience. More fun.

• For being more patient about messes in my kitchen as my kids are learning to bake. This week, they have had fun making cookies and scones. I have the fun of cleaning up their messes. Next lessons for them....cleaning up. It was fun that I attempted to use my Kitchenaid mixer to knead my scones. It worked!! Yahoo for another time-saving step!

• For my house. I was reminded again today how thankful I am to be where we are. We are blessed.
  

Happy Thankful Thursday! What are you thankful for today?

Bonus!

Today felt like my lucky day. Not that much really happened...but when it did....bonus!!

I must admit that I have been a little bit on the lazy side the last couple of days. After a crazy week last week, staying up way too late all week, as well as a soccer tournament, day camp and crabby kids, it just seemed like the way to go. When you are a stay at home mom, that becomes your prerogative. Granted, it usually comes back to bite me...but it still is nice to be a little bit on the lazy side.

So, in my attitude of laziness, I was taking my time getting going this morning. I got a call about 10 minutes after nine, still in my pajamas. (oops) It was a good thing that I got that call, because that call required me to look at my calendar. OOPS!! I had forgotten that the kids and I had a playdate at a friends house at 10:00. Hurry...hurry.

What a great day for the kids and I. They played so hard while they were there. It was nice that they all seemed to play together so well. They were going nonstop the whole time that we were there. My friend and I got some good girl chat in, too. It seems like it has been a while since I had some of that.

So, today, was a bonus. We weren't in our house all day to make too much of a mess. Since I wasn't home, I didn't have to clean anything...or even make any lunch. Definitely a bonus.

Days like today are nice.

Shooting for the Gold!

It sure was a button-popping week last week. I had so much fun watching my nephew's baseball team. I am amazed at these young boys' skills. Wow. I am blown away at their accomplishments. Then this last weekend, I got to sit on the sidelines as Daria and her soccer team powered their way to a first place finish in their soccer tournament.

When I think back over Daria's tournament, I don't think that I can even begin to give a blow by blow account of each game. All I can really say is how incredibly proud of my Girlie that I am. I don't think that I will ever cease to be amazed at her abilities. I am convinced that she takes in instruction so quickly. I can't imagine how else she has obtained the skills that she has. I can't explain it. I find her and her abilities amazing.



And she is so incredibly fun to watch. I love watching her jump in the middle of the fray and kick the ball out of the mess. I love watching her wind up and womp the ball a good one. I love watching her size up an approaching opponent, wait for her moment, and take the ball away without hardly thinking about it. I hope that neither one of us gets tired of the game. We both seem to have a lot of fun.


I remember when Daria was a baby. I was overwhelmed with the feelings of love and pride that comes with being a mother. To watch her beautiful face while she slept. To see her discovering new things and accomplishing new feats. I would just sit back and "ponder these things in my heart." I remember at Daria's first Christmas and reading how Mary pondered in her heart the amazing things about Jesus and His miraculous appearance into her life. That Christmas, I understood that phrase in a whole new way.

The last couple of days, I have been pondering in my heart the wonderful things that I saw Daria doing. I have been pondering the words of praise that others had spoken to me about her. These are things that I am treasuring in the banks of my memories. They are treasures. It is hard to explain, but I feel so unworthy to have those treasures in my heart. It is an amazing thing to watch your child grow up and succeed in ways that you did not. What a joy.

Anyway...all that to say that I am so proud of Daria and her team. Way to go, Sherwood Hurricanes!! Congratulations on a job well done.


(Man, I got gushy!)

Memories for a Lifetime

When I think back over the many experiences of my childhood, I think some of the best ones come from attending our church camp. It wasn't one of these fancy-schmancy camps, but I remember having a blast. Those were also some of the most profound spiritual times of my childhood, as well. So, when I became pregnant with Daria, I remember telling Tim to brace himself....we were sending our kids to camp when the time came. He had a good 6 years to prepare himself for the expense.

Daria and Caden had the pleasure of attending Tilikum last week. They would come home tired, dirty, completely exhausted, and a tad crabby....but they had a good time. I can hardly wait for Luke to have his opportunity next Summer when he is entering the first grade. Tilikum will be completely up his alley! Caden wasn't so sure about camp last year before he had any experience with it. This year...he was raring to go. He was so excited that he was the first kid at our church to finish memorizing his scriptures that qualified him for a scholarship. He could hardly wait.

The extra fun thing about Tilikum is Family Fun Night. It is always so much fun to go up and experience a small taste of what the kids do each day. Even though our family has been up there a number of times, my kids still can hardly contain themselves as they dash to show us their favorite parts. Tilikum has a pretty big campus so it is hard to get to all the places. Inevitably, someone is disappointed that we didn't make it to one part or the other. We sure give it a valiant effort anyway!

This year, Daria and Caden had the fun of having a couple of cousins attend Tilikum at the same time. They weren't in the same groups, but they got to see each other fairly often, too. We did get to go to Family Night together, so some of our pictures include them.

A big part of the fun at Tilikum is the great lake there at the camp. It really is a wonderful place to swim. Boating is also a lot of fun. My kids love going out in the canoe and riding in the raft. Fun!! On family night, Caden got to take a canoe ride with Aunt Cindy and cousin Marcus.


Another favorite Tilikum place is the big Tree House. It is pretty cool. They have a rope bridge that the kids love to conquer. They also have a rock climbing wall. It was amazing to watch Caden scale that thing like a monkey. He was amazing!! Luke particularly like the rope bridge and had fun crossing several times.

Daria, of course, believes that she is the best and had to show off her skills as well.


Caden, of course, refuses to be outdone by his siblings.

I also enjoy getting to meet the staff people that help to make my kids' experiences a blessing. I am not sure why I always get so teary-eyed when people tell me how special my shy little man can be. One little comment and I find myself fighting back the tears. Crazy...but it sure is sweet to hear. Caden was so excited to get a picture with Suds, his staff person, but once it got down to doing it...he was so shy! We managed to get a good picture anyway.....

I love camp. It is such a special time in life. In my opinion, it is worth every penny to make these incredible memories for a lifetime.

On the Edge of My Seat

I am exhausted. But what a wonderful exhaustion to have. When I think about it, there really is no good reason for being as tired as I feel right now. I think all I did all day was sit. I guess it all has to do with where I was sitting.

Today I had the extreme pleasure of driving to Eugene, Oregon to watch my nephew, Kyle, play baseball on route to become Regional Champs for his age group. Words can't even begin to describe the game today and how I felt about it. Wow. Over the Top. Or...as my friend, Lindsay, would say....it was EPIC. For those that need to know what epic means, it means: very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary. There....I think that just might begin to describe it.



I know that I have gushed on and on here about my own kids and their accomplishments. Proud Mom. You bet. Most times, when I sit back and watch them play, I am in awe. I am in awe of all that they have become and are becoming. Sometimes my feelings are so profound that I feel that my own participation in their process has been close to nil and the only thing I can say is: "Wow, God, you are doing an amazing job with that one!"

You know, today, as I was watching Kyle play, I had those same feelings. My feelings of awe and pride at the things that Kyle is accomplishing matches those feelings that I have regarding my own children. I sat there on the sidelines of the game and felt nervous to my tummy....just as if he was my own child. When Kyle made an awesome play at short stop....or slammed a magnificent triple...I rejoiced as if he were my own. I yelled and cheered....just as if he were my own. Who knows? I may even have embarrassed him as if he were my own, too! Ah...the joys of being an Aunt.

What a game! Needless to say, if you hadn't already guessed, they won the game...6-3... in extra innings. Kyle's team is the Idaho State Champs for their age group...and they are rocketing their way to becoming Regional Champs. Isn't that just the coolest? As a matter of fact...it is completely and totally epic. Today I was on the edge of my seat during the whole game. I'm dieing here at home that I can't be there to watch the rest of the games. Guess I will just have to be here...at home...on the edge of my seat.

Proud Auntie? You bet!

Remembering a Blessing

Tonight, as I was watering my flowers and feeling a little melancholy, my attention was drawn to a blessing that keeps on blessing. I smiled as I remembered how blessed I felt at its gifting....and how it continues to bless me today.

Here was my blessing then....

And my blessing today......

A Few Thoughts I am Pondering

For the last couple of days, my mind has sort of been in a jumble over a couple of thoughts. Not much formed out of them. Even so, I feel I need to put them here so that I don't forget their formless existence.



Hope: To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment. To have confidence; trust. To expect and desire.

Misunderstood: To understand incorrectly, misinterpret. Thus, understand: to perceive and comprehend the nature and significance of; know. To know thoroughly by close contact with or long experience of. To grasp or comprehend the meaning intended or expressed by another.

Validate: to declare or make legally valid. To mark with an indication of official sanction. To substantiate, verify. Thus substantiate: to support with proof or evidence; verify. To give material form to; embody. To make firm or solid. To give substance to; make real or actual. Thus, verify: to prove the truth of by the presentation of evidence or testimony. To affirm formally or under oath.

Maybe someday they will be more than just the words that I put on this blog.....

The Best Advice I Heard Today

I am pretty sure that I am posting this for my own remembering.....

To keep your marriage brimming, With love in the loving cup, Whenever you're wrong, admit it; Whenever you're right, shut up. ~Ogden Nash

Evil Willamette Mutant Fish

It is amazing to me that two people can look at the same piece of scenery and come away with two totally different perspectives.

I took a friend to the Willamette River tonight. It was in the evening hours and the river was so calm and peaceful. I could have sat on the dock all evening, soaking in the moment. It was so beautiful. The water was calm...and even warm. In fact, if the evening had been a little warmer, I would have jumped right in. I was a little envious, at that moment, of the beautiful homes that overlooked the river. They have a priceless view!

Now, my friend on the other hand....could hardly stand to sit too close to the edge of the dock. The water was gross...and in her opinion, you couldn't see more than two inches past the surface. She wouldn't even look as I stuck my foot in several inches....and I could still see it!! Shock. Yes...the Willamette River is not the cleanest river in the world. I certainly wouldn't go drinking a big ol' glass of it. But, there is no problem with putting my foot in the water. I managed to come home and have no mutant growths sprouting over my foot.

Oh the things that we miss when we limit our points of view. Which is the better way to live? To live on a little on the edge, dipping our toes into new experiences....or do we sit in the middle afraid of the unknown? Or even afraid of the things that live only in our imaginations? You do realize that the Willamette River is flowing with Evil Willamette Mutant Fish. They like to nibble on toes that dangle from docks. They lurk in the murky depths just waiting for some unsuspecting fool to jump right in. I think they have even been known to walk on land and jump out of the bushes to capture only a few unsuspecting souls.

Maybe life is really what we make it. Either life is an adventure....or a horror movie.....all in how we look at it. Kind of an interesting thought for me tonight.

(This one is for you, Lindsay! )

Gag Me!

Disclaimer: All content of this post is the responsibility of Tim. If you become gagged out on this post, do not blame me. Send all complaints to Tim. Do not, I repeat, do not shoot the messenger. If you are squeamish at all, please stop here. Consider yourselves warned.

When we moved into this house 4 years ago, I was thrilled that I was finally in a house with a true foundation. Our previous home was a manufactured home and it seemed to have an open invitation to all critters. Particularly mice. It was just gross. I have a particular memory to being awakened in the early morning hours to a trap going off and hearing a mouse flopping through its death throes. Gag. Tim thought it was so funny that he taught two-year-0ld Daria to do the "Floppity Mouse." She would throw her self on the ground and flop her legs around. She was cute....the memory of the mouse was not. Now, I know that homes on foundations are not exempt from getting critters....but my impression has always been that the likelihood was less. Until a couple of weeks ago, that proved true for ours.

While attempting to get things in order for our vacation, I was doing a little cleaning. It was then that I found a lot of Mouse Rice behind our couch. WHAT???? Of all places to find evidence. Yuck. I moved our couch out and gave a thorough cleaning under there. Tim set the traps out for a couple of night...and nothing. Then we left on vacation. I was hoping that with a week of absence, the mouse would somehow disappear. (Die.)

When we came home, I checked around and found a little more mouse rice. Not much, considering it had been a whole week. I cleaned it up and checked every day. I didn't seem to find any more. Good news. Then two nights ago, while we were sitting on the couch, Tim sees a mouse dash into the kitchen from the direction of the stairs. YUCK. Gag me. Out came the traps again. The first night, we put peanut butter on it. Nothing. It just looked like the mouse had a tasty little treat as he licked it off. Darn.

Then comes last night. We pulled out the big guns and used peanut butter and cheese. I was fearful last night that I would wake up again to hearing some mouse flopping to his death. Needless to say, I didn't sleep very well at all last night. So, when Tim headed off to work this morning, I asked him if he'd caught anything. He gets this devilish look on his face and says, "Maybe."

Victory, I thought. Yeah. So, I get up and get ready for the day. I turn on my computer and this is what I see:

My precious husband decided to take a picture of our little house guest and placed it as our wallpaper on our computer. So here is this LARGE, beady-eyed bugger staring at me this morning. If he'd been around, I'd have been tempted to slap him. He practically dared me to post this on my blog. So that is why I did. Here is his response to my tirade about the picture: "I thought your blogees might get a kick out of real every day occurrences so I
got you a picture. Love ya!!!" See. This post is all Tim's fault. Blame him.

I am seriously hoping that this mouse was a one-mouse show. I don't know how it got in here. It could have been the time that the front door got left open for several hours while we were gone a couple of weeks ago. I've been checking around for other signs....but haven't seen much. Please, please, please....let this be the only one.

Yech. Gag me.

One Week to the Day.

My son cracks me up. He reminds me so much of myself some time. I haven't decided if that is a good thing....or a bad thing. Poor boy.

Last Friday, Caden lost his tooth. In the grass. Forever. The funny thing about that tooth....it wasn't even the tooth that was the loosest. That tooth's faithful companion has been dangling by a thread for about a week. I've been telling him to just yank it for several days now. Or at least let his dad yank it. He would have none of that.

That is the part that reminds me of myself. I never did have the courage to allow my Grandpa to pull my loose teeth with the pliers. Now...my sister....she seemed to have no problem with it. I do have a horrid memory that involved my Dad, Grandpa, a piece of string and hanging upside down screaming bloody murder. If I remember right....they really did lose my tooth....but maybe my memory has gone awry through the years. Stranger things have happened. Anyway....I was quite content to just let those teeth fall out....all by themselves.

Today, Caden finally lost that tooth. At one point he comes in and starts wagging his head back and forth at me. That tooth was little just waving in the breeze. Just as I was thinking to myself that that tooth was going to be out by the end of the day....Caden exclaims: "I lost my tooth. I lost my tooth!" At least this time, he found it after he lost it!! His excitement over losing those teeth just crack me up. One would think it was Christmas morning with all the hullabaloo he puts off.

Anyway....here is a cute picture of Boy with Hole in Mouth.

Thankful Thursday

I realized this afternoon, that I don't think I have done a Thankful Thursday post since school let out. At least. Shameful.

I definitely feel like I need to get back on the Thankful Bandwagon today. It has been difficult to get back into the Groove of Life after a week of vacation. It hasn't helped that I came home to a filthy house, loads of laundry, tons of unpacking, and several requests for babysitting. Nothing like coming home and hitting the ground running. I have felt like running away all week long.

So...get busy and get thankful. Life is too short.

• Today I am thankful that I am able to be home with my kids. I have to remind myself of that every once in a while. I forget that being able to listen to my kids argue, picking up their messes, and having a constant influx of friends is a gift. It is a gift. Thank you, Jesus.
  

• I am thankful that my house is getting clean. I decided not to kill myself cleaning house. So, I have done a little here....a little there. At least I am no longer wanting to throw piles of stuff out the windows anymore. Peace is beginning to reign once again.
  

• I am thankful for Good Neighbors who watered my plants while we were gone. I was amazed at how much things grew while we were gone!! Wow. Thank you!

• I am thankful for packages that arrived two months too late....but really....arrived just in time. I feel blessed.
  

• I am thankful that my vacation blogging is now caught up. Don't forget to look for my Fourth of July post. Scroll down....I finished it tonight. Yeah!!

Getting caught up.

I have finally had some time to update some vacation posts. I'm not done yet....but getting there. I post dated them for accuracy of time for memory sake. So....scroll down a little to find them by date.

Or...if you are bored with vacation pictures...just ignore them.

Thanks!

I'm Behind.

We've been home from vacation for a couple of days. Life has hit me full force since then. I have lots I want to post about....but not enough time to do it. I am hoping to get caught up soon.

Thanks for hanging with me. Keep checking in. I'm slowly getting caught up.

T'was a Grand Ol' Day....

Why is it that holidays are always better when a little family is involved? This Fourth of July, we really had the family stuff going on. I don't remember exactly what day it was, but Mom had the grand idea of inviting as much of the family to come celebrate as we could. Amazingly, everyone was available!! What fun. And fun is exactly what we had. We had fun packed in there from morning until very late at night. I will say that we did have some work in there. But, there is something about work before a party.....it almost doesn't seem like work.

To start the day off, my kids were excited to spend some time shooting off bb guns. Caden literally spent hours out there shooting that thing. He was bound and determined to master that thing. He really can be tenacious when he wants to be. I shot a couple of times....it was fun. My dad sent the gun home with Tim....so now maybe I can get the cats that like to do their business in my flower beds.



Isn't it cute that they are all wearing tie-dye shirts? That was their project the night before. I think they had fun....

Personally, I think the best part of family gatherings....or any gatherings for that matter....is the food. Considering the fact that we all had just a couple of days to plan....we really had a feast that day. On days like that, I wish that I had an Extend0-Stomach....and that all calories were null and void. Since that isn't the case, I just ate myself silly.


For Tim to really enjoy food, he has the mentality of calories-in/calories out. So, the kids, and the Men-Folk gathered together and played an old-fashioned game of kickball. The last couple of years, when my family has been together for vacation, we have played kickball. Kind of a fun way for us all to get involved without too much stress. Tradition!! I ended up not playing....I was torn between visiting family I don't see all that often....and taking pictures. Though I must say, the pictures really don't capture the joy of the game......


I have to laugh at the above picture. If you notice, that is Daria's leg that is mimicking Kyle's kick. I see her do that all the time out on the soccer field. I think she wants to be in the action all the time....which isn't possible....so she pretends. Cracks me up. I'll bet she will be one of those Moms who opens their own mouth when they are spoon feeding their babies. I'm going to catch that on film some day!

During the kickball game, Caden had the good luck, or bad luck all depending on how you look at it, of losing one of his teeth. Truly, he lost his tooth. That little bugger of a tooth went flying out of his mouth....only to get lost in the wilds of the grass. I spent quite some time looking for that dirty little bugger with no luck at all. Caden was devastated...and a bribe of twice the amount of money didn't keep him from falling apart. A while later, he finally let me take a picture of his gaping hole. Notice the other tooth that is dangling......it has yet to fall out. Ugh.



As luck should have it, Tim and I had a few tricks up our sleeves for entertaining the gaggle of kids. Actually, we had brought them along to share amongst our smaller family....but it was nice that it was able to spread around to the extended family. Tim brought out his balloon rockets again....and the kids had a blast. It was fun watching them giggle and chase their balloons all over the field.

I had brought along some Mentos and Diet Pepsi to do a little "experiment" for the kids. I had done it at our Power Lab vacation bible school the week before and my kids thought it was a blast. I thought it was too. So, we had fun sharing.

The kids thought it was fun to drink the pop after the explosion was done. Yuck. I'm pretty sure that Mint Diet Coke is not the next up and coming flavor.


And what would the Fourth of July be with out a few fireworks? Between my cousin and I, we were able to keep the kids entertained for quite some time. It was also nice that several places around my parents' house were setting off some pretty impressive fireworks, too. It made for a pleasant evening, to sit there around the campfire, talking with family, enjoying the fireworks and the kids' excitement, without the hassle of dealing with crowds.

Of course, there were the traditional sparklers:




Then...there were the Mongo Sparklers. (Didn't even know that they made things like this!!!!)




It was a great day that went out with a bang....or two....or three.....

Farragut State Park!

Today we went to one of my favorite childhood swimming holes at Beaver Bay on Lake Pend Oreille in Farragut State Park. I'm not sure why it is one of my favorite. It is a wonderful little man-made bay that is perfect for family swimming. The distance across is short enough that I could actually swim across it....and I thought that was pretty darn cool.

If I remember correctly, Lake Pend Oreille is the largest lake in North Idaho. AND....it is extremely deep. So deep that there is a Naval Base on this lake. Because it is so deep....it is so cold.

For me, the best way to get into the water is to just dive in. Unfortunately there are no docks. I hate getting into the water inch by inch. That is pure and absolute torture!
The kids thought that the adults should be a little more involved. It is so much more fun to be in the water than to be beside the water. Unless, of course, you are fishing. I think some of the boys fished for a while. Luke wanted to see Papa get just a little bit more wet.
He also thought that Auntie Tresa should be a little more wet as well. You can see that she was really wanting that!!


Even though the water was cold, once you got in....and stayed moving....we had a lot of fun.


Tim also got in the water.....sort of. He looks like he doing something really cool....but he is only in about 2-3 inches of water. He doesn't even want to get his toes wet. Woos.

I think Tim got a little more wet when he rode in the raft. That raft is a kid magnet....and they are in and out...in and out. Them...along with the water they bring with them!

I guess we must have played hard.....Papa had a hard time staying awake. Guess that is a good sign of another good day.

Say Your Prayers, Varmint!

a.k.a: Grammy's Revenge!


I know that I have mentioned before that the older you get, the more aware our bodies are of how cold the water can be. Thus, when we are on family vacations, the kids play willy nilly in the lakes....while the grown ups park their fannies on the beach. If it is hot enough outside, I still like to get in the water....but sometimes it is harder to get in than I wished it was.

But, I digress.

My mother did a very surprising thing while we were at Farragut. The kids, particularly Kyle, had been giving Grammy grief all afternoon. Splashes here. Splashes there. They were truly relentless. Grammy was throwing back some grief all afternoon as well. Threat here. Threat there. Even if all the splashes and threats never mounted to anything, they were all having a lot of fun.

Over time, some of Grammy's threats started showing a little more buffoonery. Every once in a while, she would charge into the water, puffing up her arms like a peacock on alert, heckling them along. The kids thought that was hilarious and would charge back into the safety of deeper waters, giggling all the way. At one point, I remember asking my mom at what point does she go charging in after them. She told me that she was contemplating it....but I never really thought that she would go in after them. The kids clearly thought that she would never go in after them.
Boy...did she surprise us all.



So the mantra became: "Say your prayers, varmint." Translation: You have thrown around enough guff....now sit there and take your medicine.

Kyle, of course, was the first target. He had been taunting and teasing more loudly and more relentlessly than all of the others combined. I haven't decided if he has gotten some sort of death wish or something.

Of course, the other kids thought that having Grammy in the water and dunking people was just too priceless to ignore. The heckling picked up to a feverous roar. They all must have had death wishes, too......


Grammy must have really done some damage to those kids' egos. I just sat there and laughed as I watched kids, still throwing out the guff, mind you, paddle themselves clear across the bay to avoid the dunkings. It is easy to throw out the threats when you are out of range!!


Even after Kyle had been dunked a time or two, he still came back, begging for more. (Sorry about the picture, Mom....it tells a story! Besides....I don't think it looks bad.)

Silly boy. Doesn't he ever learn?

Lots of fun. Lots of laughter. Lots of memories. And....a lot of prayers.