The date that keeps giving

On Friday night we went kayaking on the Mokelumne (try to say that right--Muuhculluuhmee, after living in Hawaii--it took me FOREVER) River. It was fabulous--especially laughing when Beau tipped himself right out of the kayak. We found this little jem of a rope swing and decided to come back Saturday to check it out. Lets just say it was a good time and Oshyn is a brave little man. I'll post video when I get to it...

Almost in first grade-isms

Some of these are new, many old, but after a conversation this morning, I was reminded that Oshyn still says some awesome stuff.

O: Mom, could you get me some just plain shirts

to play in sometime?

Me: Yeah sure, but why?

O: Because I always have basketball, baseball, or skateboards on them.

Me: You know you can do whatever you want in them...

(FYI He is Mr. King-of-Dress-up, so if he is playing basketball he needs a jersey, baseball--his uniform, skating--i guess his skate shirt)

O: I know but I just get so distracted!

after seeing a picture he drew of a ginormous pickle

Me: Where did you learn to draw a big pickle?

O: Mr. Pickle. Isn't it funny God sent such a big pickle here?!?

Last summer...(obviously OLD :)

O: I am SOOOOO happy we're having the baby!

Right before Tyce's blessing (OLD too :)

O: He is going to cry. If he cries its going to be a happy cry because of what he's going to do today.

As he was sitting on the fence talking to some neighbor kids

O: I'm not telling my mom about this... (that sure made me listen harder)

I'm spitting on my hands and rubbing them together.

Wanna do it?

Why not?

It makes you Super.

Upon seeing a Caldacott or some other book medals on a book

O: 2 Medals!!! Good job making the book guys!!

The Mr. Fix-it's

I love it when these two find something "constructive" to do. When they hit wood with their hammers instead of each other. Times like these I LOVE.

Sweet Dreams and God Bless You

My dear Grammie got her prayers answered in the wee hours of this morning. Such a sweet sweet humble lady that over the years I looked up to more and more, not physically since elementary school, for she was a petite little woman :) but in so many other ways.

To have a marriage that marched right past 60 years and was still going with that "Handsome Cowboy" that she was swooned by so many years ago.

To have seven children alone is admirable, but to have seven children with hearts of gold, that are loyal to the core, handy with a plethora of talents, and that flash smiles & giggles that are contagious is extraordinary.

To be conscious and caring of EVERY SINGLE grandchild that she had, 14 (if I'm not mistaken) and great grandchild (I want to go to bed sometime tonight so I'm not counting that high) seems daunting, yet she made us all feel important and loved by her words, cards for every occasion and time she spent sewing for us.

There are so many wonderful qualities that Virginia Evangeline emulated to all those that were blessed to know her. I am so thankful she is my Daddy's Mom and for all of the great qualities he inherited from her. Christ was her Lord and Savior and she definitely was doing her best at all times to be like Him. She succeeded in my book and I know she is pain free and well with Him now.

Sweet Dreams and God bless you Grammie. You are already missed.

Psalm 23

(One of her favorites)

1 The Lord is my ^ashepherd; I shall not ^bwant.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he ^aleadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of ^arighteousness for his ^bname’s sake.

4 Yea, though I ^awalk through the ^bvalley of the ^cshadow of ^ddeath, I will fear no ^eevil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they ^fcomfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou ^aanointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely ^agoodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

God Bless Waterskiing & America too

I had a feeling

it might be the best weekend ever when right from the get-go I got the older boys (older meaning 9, 7, 6, and 5 :) to swim out to

the island and across the lake with me. Next came fishing (...and fish were actually caught!), peddle boats, more swimming...and this was just the first afternoon!

We had an awesome 4th of July long weekend in Redding. The weather was great, the water even better and the company fabulous. Let me swim, watch some fireworks and make a flag cake and I'm a happy camper for weeks. I love the 4th. (pictures are crazy unorganized, but i'm sick of trying blogger...)

Oshyn officially nabbed the "youngest Nobmann waterskier ever" last weekend and is still flying high. If you don't get sea sick and you have 5:40 to spare, check him out...

First ride of many

with this motley crew. I was reminded today that I am still oh-so in love with this bike seat and the fact that my phone takes pictures.

Beachin' it

Lodi style

and lovin' it!

There is something about a bit of sand between your toes wherever it may be. Everyone loves going to the lake to swim and play, even though there is a pool in our complex, so that tells you its not just about the water. It's just that much different and exciting. We LOVE summer and are excited for the 4th!

Green Eggs and Ham

"If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good."

Dr. Seuss would be proud. Cruz is making his "cool" face not an I-don't-like-green-eggs-and-ham face and Oshyn is always that nutty. To say they keep me entertained is an all-time understatement.

If you give a Cruzer a

Bruiser,

he's going to want a popscicle to go with it.

(berry color ice hides bloody tongues well too)

Perfect Fit

I love this sink and the choice size it is for Tyce boy right now. No bending over for this tub!

Baseball Obsession

We are runnin' with the baseball passion our boys have had lately and actually got to go to a Stockton Ports game last week. They loved watching the real ball players (...but truly seemed more into all of the food guys that came around every 2 minutes). It was a beautiful summer evening. With all of our D-Back hats one might have thought we were watching a game in AZ, but nope, just a plethora of snake gear.

Happy Father's Day

Loud Naps

Before I forget (and I'm assuming one day this will be long forgotten...) when afternoon naps roll around it is far from quiet around here. We have Cruz banging his head on the wall--which is surely a sign of intelligence (at least that's what the internet has told me :) and Tyce whompping his legs down on the bed--that must mean he'll be a great kicker?

Regardless of why they do what they do & what they'll become, from downstairs it sounds like we have a band. Awesome.

Mr. Rise and Shine

I have a love/hate relationship with the 6'o clock hour my newest born has taken to waking up in since our vacation.

Other children of mine have been banished for similar type of behavior but we have run out of banishment rooms :) The lack of excitement I feel as I get out of bed dissipates significantly as I see Tyce's grin that even makes his eyes sparkle. Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he made babies so dang cute and lovable.

After he eats a bit and talks/smiles/laughs a whole lotta bit, I pop him in the stroller and we are off with the people that catch the worms (the early birds, if you missed that).

And that is when the love with the early hour steps in.

Just me and the wee one strollin' along by ourselves in the still, cool morning air. Stretching my legs and getting some fresh air.

And I like it. I am happy to be up and about. I am thankful that if I am up that early that I have the freedom to get out of the house (Beau is done with Seminary so I'm not deserting my other two) and have some quiet time before the day truly begins.

So I'll embrace the hour while it lasts.

But as great as it could be, I'd be lying if I said that I would continue to wake up if everyone else was sleeping. Its amazing how fabulous another hour in bed sounds.

Note to self: go to bed earlier and your eyes won't burn so bad.

It's OUT!

After weeks of preparation and a face plant on the carpet from his loving brother, Oshyn's tooth fell out Sunday morning. He was pretty pumped and kept asking people at church if they noticed anything different about him. He couldn't wait for the Tooth Fairy to come and was happy to add his tooth to her collection. The sweet lady even wrote him an itty bitty note.

Oshyn told me yesterday that he thinks Tyce is getting to know him without his tooth, probably because he can recognize him from his glasses. I love that he thinks he's a different man now...drinking through and squirting water out the hole, wondering how we will floss the empty spot, and showing off his tongue through the gap. O said the other one is beginning to get loose now...

AZ goodies and gratefulness

Cowboy getup

Hikes less than a mile away...in the DESERT :)

Swim sessions multiple times a day

Nakie runs to drop suits outside to dry

Koi feeds

Ranbug and all the sweet, nasty boys

Cruz "Freddie"

Sprinklers at 8 & 4

GF pizza DELIVERED

Fabulous cousins to talk & hang with

Aunts and Uncles that love unconditionally and will do ANYTHING for you

a closet for Tyce

The church of wine

Climbing a tree with the boys

Grammie

Crazy birthday boys and anxiety watching presents opened at high speed

Kind strangers at a familiar church I've never been to

Seeing old stomping grounds

Family get togethers

Forever friends

Did I mention cousins? :)

Little swimmers

Sweaty lake walks

Megan Marie

Ashley Rae (and awesome fam)--seriously no pics?!?

Sweet sweet happy smiley baby

More fabulous friends/roommates/kiddos--OCC oh yeah

A hotel NORTH of LA

Rad kids on a LONG drive

We had TONS of fun. I never knew I was so brave until 9 out of 10 people couldn't believe I drove from Phx to Lodi and kept commenting on how brave I was to do it by myself with three kids. They were so good and the drive was pretty uneventful (minus the homeless couple I screamed at in Blythe--out of shock of seeing them in the bathroom at the "park"), that I would do it again for sure.

The only thing that would have made it any better would have been to see Grampa and Tutu. Thanks again for letting us stay at your house for our little desert summer camp.