Christmas time

Every year on the day after Thanksgiving we go cut down our Christmas tree. This year the only exception was we went to a tree farm instead of climbing around the mountains looking for one.



Uncle Jeff made it home for a few quick days. We almost lost Maia to him. Luckily she was to big to fit in his suitcase.


Kids with Grandma's tree

Soccer

I totally forgot to take pictures the whole season of Josh and Jared's soccer games. I managed these 2 of Jare at his last game. It was freezing but I love watching my boys play.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Ryan did an awesome job as 'Lucy' in her play. The boys even loved seeing it. Jared quotes the wolves lines all the time. Ryan says he must be the next actor in the family. ...we'll see.

Going through the wardrobe

'Lucy' and the 'Beaver'


Just a side note...I thought I posted this weeks ago, I guess I only saved it-oops. It's here now~

Why I haven't posted

The oldest 3 started school

Finally it's Joels turn

Signing in for the first day

Ok maybe I am a little nerveous

Joel turns 5

Canadian Thanksgiving

Picking through the costumes to find something

Joel's pumpkin patch trip

This is 'the one!'

Oops, dropping 'the one'

I think it's still ok mom

Yep, we're good

waiting for my puppies plane....80 minutes late, but who was counting!!!

Car ride home

Maia meets the family



Finally schools out so Josh can get back to his dog

Grandma D makes Maia a coat so she can come to football

Picking the kids up from school is hard work!



I don't even have pictures of my boys playing soccer this year. Or of their football games, piano. And Ryan is in the play 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' so I hope to get pictures of that. But for right now a shower would be nice....

Idaho

What is summer without a quick trip to a water park? We kidnapped up my mom on Thursday and headed to Sandpoint Idaho.

4 of us where die hards and went back the first night to try there roller coasters. This one was the best!! They have hardly any lights on at this park so you have no idea if you are going to go up or down cuz it's pitch black. So fun!!

Hanging out in between rides

Our good friends came so each of our kids had a buddy to hang out with. SOOO perfect!!

Jared heading down a slide

Joel loving the rides with dad


Joel could have stayed on this ride all day



Good times, and thanks Mom for letting us take you. We loved having you there!!!

Oregon

********READER BEWARE....Travel log coming up****

We decided this year with 4 kids needing clothes and mom always up for a shopping trip that we would drive the few hours down to Portland for some tax free shopping.

The first day we spent in Portland at a great mall and Ryan and Josh were in shopping heaven. In order to make Joel and Jare happy we did spend some time, and money, in the LEGO store. That night was spent in a great hotel with plenty of room and beds for all.

Next day it was on to Woodburn to the Outlets for hours of shopping fun. We then headed over to spend the night on MT. Hood. We thought it was summer so we didn't pack any warm clothes. But when we pulled up at 6:30pm it said that it was 34 degrees outside. What was the first thing the kids wanted to do?? You guessed it...swim!! No big deal right? One problem...the pool is outside. So after eating a great dinner in the lodge, (SOOO yummy) the kids tor off to the room for there swimsuits. Although you can't see it in the pictures, steam was coming off the water so it was a heated pool, but not warm enough for me. The kids loved it. I managed to stay just long enough to get a few pictures and then back to the tiny room for warmth.

All three boys started out in the twin bed put only 2 made it through the night ON it. Ryan had the floor and John and I had the other bed. Tight quarters!!

The next day we went and did the Alpine slides, bumper cars, tube hill, trampoline. Most of the day was spent on the Alpine slide. It was a blast! The kids said that that was the best vacation they have ever had. I even asked if it was better then Disneyland...believe it or not the answer was yes! We all were freezing and John and I had no shoes, just flip flops. The kids all wore there new school shoes and sweatshirts we bought. John wore my old travel sweatshirt. You know the one that is in every ones closet. Your favorite broke in maybe no longer acceptable for public viewing type sweatshirt. and I wore a fleece. It was soo cold but no one seemed to care.

We will definitely go again. The bonus to that is that next time we are bringing are ski gear. You can ski all year round!. You can kind of see the spot in the picture of the fam. It is right by Johns arm. FUN!!!

Brave

What's camping without a quick drive down a river bed.


Poor Jared. His pack is almost bigger then him


So for the past few weeks I have been gone every night helping out with the production of 'Savior of the World'. This has left John, and Ryan when John's been gone, to take care of things at home. The kids were going stir crazy!! So a very brave dad said lets go backpacking.

So they all packed up and left last week for a 2 day backpacking trip up by Snoqualmie. The kids all carried there own gear. Well except Joel. Ryan and Josh divided up his stuff and off they went.

John said they had a great time and the kids did great!

Sleep Over

Jared and Josh love hanging out with our neighbor Jimmy. They are usually out playing until it gets dark. (That's at 10pm here). Well they just couldn't part so we had a sleep over. I couldn't resist a quick picture of them sleeping. I'm sure Jimmy spent half the night with feet in his face. Poor guy!

Cub Camp

I just recovered from a 3 day cub scout camp. Let me just say that it ended on Wednesday night and it is Saturday, and yes it took me 3 days to re cope!!

Josh and I had a great time! They had sooo much planned and he was able to pass off a ton of stuff.


This is me after 3 days. I was a mess but there you have it
And yes I chopped off ALL of my hair and LOVE IT

All of my 'boys' that I was in charge of

Josh and Tyler going for the record in marshmallow launching

Bro. Fonoimoana Teaching Josh how to use a bow and arrow

Tie dye shirts-man did that bring me back a few years

Would I do it again?? Of coarse. I'm just glad I get a year off :)