This is the first year we've made a ginger bread house. Brock really wanted to do it and I'm glad he saw that we did.


I was even MORE glad though, to see Jess get so into it! I honestly didn't think he'd participate.


Boy was I WRONG!


He was all about it. And for whatever weird reason I think my love for him grew 10-fold.


Love this pic.


And love the fun time we had as a family.


MMMMMMMMMMWHAW.

Pickin' In The Pines!

Wow- this happened way back in September... Jess just uploaded our smaller camera after his baja trip, and I found these on the computer. They made me S M I L E. This was a good time!

My neighbor brought over some tickets he had gotten from work- bluegrass "wasn't his thing" he told me. (SCORE!) I had been wanting to go to this for years - but never made it happen! The boys and I were packed up and ready to go in 20 min. flat.... (Jess was working...bummer for him!)

Ahhhh... Now is not the time to be looking at beautiful green grass! :)



Happy to be there!


Brock listening to the music


This kid belongs to me (no?)


Love it when brothers show some love!


Getting down w/ some bluegrass! These three put on a pretty good show. :)




There was a cute little singing puppet show for the kiddos - so we went over to check it out.


Brock was into it...


The other two not so much... they opted for the playground!


It started raining a bit so we bailed. But we made it a good 2 hrs! I can't remember which one now, but one of the boys picked me some flowers to put in my hair... sweet.


Oh - the joys of running wild! :)
I fell in love with the music too - Wow, there is some amazing talent!LOVED Crooked Still.... Check 'em out. (The second video is of them playing... I wish I could remember what Brock started doing for me to have to stop the camera! :) funny.

Lately.

Last weekend we went to a Fall Festival out at the Nordic Center. Becky & Miss Mylie came with. It was a great time. They had so many fun things!!! Tractor pulled hayrides through the cc-ski trails, hay bail mazes, a bounce house, pumpkin patch, live music, scavenger hunts, potato sack races, and more games. :) Delightful.

Good Times.

I look forward to this neighborhood BBQ every year.

(view from my house as it was getting started)

This year didn't disappoint. Oh the S P R E A D! There is always such a great turnout. - 20 or so families if I'm counting right... I love my neighbors and getting to know them better. The boys, of course, had the best time playing w/ all the older kids.
Next year it just may be at 510....

Bodie has been saving up his pennies for as long as I can remember for a motorcycle.
And this past Monday, He got one!! Jess has been scouting them out...for as long as I can remember. :)


Wyatt was pretty stoked too. It's pretty hard to get him out of these pants. Motorcycle or not.


Soooooooooooo. We went CAMPING. (We drove a whole 10 miles out of town)


We roasted Brats for dinner, & of course s'mores were made.






Our surrogate son, Ryan, joined us for dinner and campfire.


Dad & his boys


plus a girl.


Breakfast!!!!!


And the riding begins....


Bodie did so great! I was surprised - I didn't know what to expect!


Getting his confidence up...


Dad taking Wyatt on a ride. Oh boy. The kid is in LOVE. (okay, both are)


Watching Dad. (w/out the kiddos.) :)


I don't know how I forgot this picture when I first did this post. Brock's facial expressions are CLASSIC!!!! Jess and I were laughing SOOOOOO hard going through the pics...


Taking a break for watermellon.


Climbing a little hill...


and sliding down on their bottoms!! ? what the!? there go the bottoms out of their pants!


I had fun taking Brock & Wyatt for rides... Although I must say, when I was with Brock, HE was the one taking me for a ride.


Wyatt was a close second though! :) It was hard to pry his little fingers off the bike!


I think I was smiling ear to ear this whole little excursion. I had fun with my family! Can't wait to do it again. And again. And again.....

I had a ton of FUN...


With my boys


Being silly...


At this place...


for a week.


Morning's were spent in the pool...


we had to ourselves...


Swimming like c r a z y!


Our little fish. He's hooked.


Boys. In. HEAVEN.


Wyatt couldn't get enough of this.


Gettin' crazy w/ the back dive - he just up and started doing 'em.


They especially liked the 'dolphin rides' on Dad's back...






And playing in the ocean,








And bemusing Mom & Dad...


by posing for pictures.


Thanks kiddos!


Taking a rest for all of .08 seconds. (just long enough for my camera to chirp)


Not sure if this was their idea or Dad's...


Wyatt thinking, "Who's the tough guy now??"


Early evenings (after looooooong naps) were spent taking walks on the beach at low tide.


And finding seashells.


Feet of: Dad, Mom, boy #1, #2, #3


Friday was my b-day and kinda windy, so we went into town...


Walked around for a bit,




Got some lunch (the boys went nutzo over getting to have a soda)


And then got some b-day ice cream at Thrifty's. YUM. *We also got a few pieces of cake at the grocery store (where I totally got ripped off because I got flustered at check-out) to take back to our place for after dinner


It was like a romantic getaway (with kids), Our first (with kids) and it = P E R F E C T.




I'm all about spending time alone w/ Jess & getting away, but this trip wouldn't have been near as much fun w/ out our little buggers!




the end.

























p.s.

the 7 hour drive was even worth it. :)