If I have nothing but my children, I have everything!

Here we are again, looking forward ... 2012 looking at us, waving and saying COME... Let's Make Memories!   And that is exactly what I'm thinkin' we'll do : )

SWEEEET SIXTEEN

Fresh Pineapple from Hawaii to celebrate 16

Blake celebrates being 16
SO proud of Blake - Took the written test the week before his birthday PASSED with flying colors :)

Celebrated turning 16 by cooking our family & friends dinner - he's a chef for sure! Everyone enjoyed his Chicken BBQ Wraps with salad., followed by not one but two YUMMY pie selections also,

MADE BY BLAKE!

Today, March 6th, 2011 we drove to Stevenson, Washington to purchase Blake's FIRST ride!  He found the truck on Craigs list - did the research & learned it was $1000 UNDER the Kelly Blue Book Price - We had to call!!  Learned the fella had posted it and was leaving for a week - we'd need to wait until the weekend to make the 3 hour trek to check it out & see if it was all we'd hoped for.  Blake made the call to learn that the fella was a Pastor (good sign!) and that we'd need to meet him after church.   It was a plan... so we headed west - on a BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY!  Crossed over The Bridge Of The God's *another sign? and met with Pastor Brett.  The truck was in great shape & rode well.  After test driving and poking around Blake decides THIS IS THE TRUCK, not the perfect truck but for the price- Perfect for him, for now!   SOLD
I drove most of the way home, but must say when we stopped and he took the drivers seat, it was pretty awesome to see a smile sneak up and take over my son's face - made me smile inside & out!  
We arrived home, snapped some photos and he was off (sigh) to take the canopy off and COOL UP HIS NEW RIDE... the plan is for selling the canopy - so NOT COOL ;) and using the $$ for gas, oil change or something of that nature.

So proud of Blake   *love that there is prayer over us ;)

It was a great day, SO happy that we got to share this milestone/experience together.  Blake is such a great kid, SO grateful, I'm soo happy I was able to help him - I know he's got a huge appreciation for his new found freedom & his new truck.... Man I love this kid!

*** I strongly believe that there was DEVINE ALIGNMENT in this ....Brett posted the truck on 3/2 and left on 3/3  gone for the week - we made the trek on a beautiful clear day, and all along the journey felt that God was really the driver... COUNTING BLESSINGS TODAY big and small ;)  ****

1-11-11

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The first day of the New Year began with Charlie Mae starting the New Year with a NEW LOOK! We'd been arguing for weeks about her pullin' her tooth... it had hung by a thread & she'd wiggle it and freak out, so scared that it would bleed. It did bleed, but not too much She was pretty proud of being so brave & her new look!! :D

Zooom Zooom

I'm practical. But I'm fun too! When it comes to buying a car, well I think long term, I think safty and I think kids. So when it came time to say SoLong to my 99 Ford Explorer, which I've lived in for the past almost 11 years, I was a little sad...but got over it quickly at the thought of something new (er). Sadly the car that I purchased for nearly $30,000 is now worth a whoppin' $3000.00 UGGG I was forced to purchase a new car... well forced isn't a good word, It was time! I could put $2000 into a new engine orrr I could buy a new car. Doing the math, it was a no brainer ... even for someone who isn't good with math.

Zoooom Zoooommmm

So  I set out to find a new vehicle. WOW... so many options, so many choices, so many colors, styles... mind blowing. I'm not good with choices, I prefer them be made for me... Like when buying a washer or dryer. I really truly could care less about bells and whistles, I just want clean clothes. Microwave, who cares, just heat the food. Dishwasher.. umm get the dishes clean with minimal noise and I'm thrilled! Yeah, now if we're talking about yard decor or something new in the house... I'm all over it! .    Ironically I always said when I turned 40 I was getting something FUN...keeping practical in the back of my mind I'm sure ... because there also lingers the word KIDS.

 

PRICELESS was the smile    I picked Blake up from a friends house, he walked out and a smile overtook his face BIG GRIN, he got in, spun around looking through the car, turns and looks at me "Very cool Mom, you are so not a soccer mom now"... Yeah.. I wasn't worried about that, but hey UP'ING my COOL MOM status, I'm soo good with that ;) Charlie Mae hasn't seen it yet... I'm pretty sure she'll be smitten with it, although really her biggest thrill will be moving from a carseat to a BOOSTER...waahhhooo BIG GIRL!

Yeah... lemme say, it's pretty fun...being the COOL MOM..and having a new car, That's FUN too

Its Like Learning To Ride A Bike....

One of my favorite photos from childhood is learning to ride a bike. My dad, who I lost at the all too soon age of 5, removed my training wheels & with a push I was off...and wrecking. He'd pick me up, dust me off. We'd begin time & time again with his racing along side the bike. I'd get balanced and he'd let go..... I WAS RIDING MY BIKE. Of course this often ended with crash! boom! or bang! There was great Independence in the moment, I was riding all by myself. I needed nothing to hold me up and no one to hold on to me while I was going.... I was INDEPENDENT...

And now it has come full circle. I have a little girl with a curl who has found her own independence ~ May she always have the confidence in herself, the courage to try and the ability to pick herself up and brush herself off... May she always find her independence.

READ..... SET.......... GROW................

My Girl With The Curl Is FOUR!!!

Charlie Mae turned four on September 3rd. Tradition is a special breakfast and a photo of yourself before the day begins =) She woke up in a mood... as she typically does A GREAT MOOD.. the kid never wakes up crabby, maybe once and even then I think she was giving it a try, didn't like it and smiled. HAPPY is my girl =D

Charlie Mae invited her bestest buddy Kinley Jo McAnally to her party ~LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN! Kinley Jo's Mom Maya and I went through our pregnancy's together, sharing fears, joys, movements and morning yuck ... It was special to share it with someone and then to have the girls become good friends- SPECIAL! The girls from the start have had a fun and silly bond...much like their mothers =) Kinley Jo stayed the night to celebrate... It was the FIRST SLEEP OVER... and what fun it was!!

The girls got creative after a good nights rest and decided that they weren't going to do their hair, but the were going to utilize the pony bands for SHOES.. They put the bands on and with hair sticking up were on their way to find FUN!

FRIENDS WHO CELEBRATED WITH CHARLIE MAE

Mary Kate, Bella, Tanna, Jeaneal, CM, Ellie, Kinley & Drew

I LOVE CHARLIE MAE SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!

So as I looked at the beautiful little girl I gave birth to four years ago, it made me smile...I am blessed with such a vibrant and fun loving little girl. She knows no stranger and is a friend to all. She never hesitates to talk to others or to share and make them feel included. She is kind, loving and so nurturing. Her favorite activities are playing with her baby dolls, she lines them up in a row, on a blanket and covers them up snuggly. She is sweet in the way she makes sure they all have a spot and a place to call their own. I predict that my precious little darling will have a minimum of 5 children! And a houseful of laughter if they are anything like her! And I hope they are exactly like her, for she is an incredible girl full of life & love!!! xoxoxox

Pendleton Round Up 2008

....I love Eastern Oregon. I love just about everything about it, love the weather, the views of the mountains, the river that runs through the middle of my quaint little community, love the people and I love the western influence. The influence brought about in part by being the home of the worlds third largest outdoor rodeo, the Pendleton Round Up. Each year, second full week in September out town comes alive and busts at the seams with people, cattle, and entertainment that can't be beat. And in the midst of all that hoop la, I am captured by the excitement of others, and the thrill that fills the air when a bronc bucks and a bull rears up- kicking up dirt and tossing cowboys. We yell, we cheer and we cringe when that poor fella is flung into the air and tossed on his well leathered backside! We laugh when the rodeo clowns perform and we tear up when the national anthem is played while the Air Force fighter jets zip over head reminding us all where we were on September 11, 2001~ The Pendleton Round Up.

The excitement and fun isn't limited only to those who appreciate the rodeo and the events, there is so much more to the week! There are Parades & a carnival, Main street entertainment and CORN DOGS! Yeah.. that's what its about for me, ok well a large part of it =D And there are the concerts and Happy Canyon, the Indian Villiage and hundreds of street vendors. My daughter she gets excited about the parades and ponies! Her brother was the same, I thought for sure he was going to grow up to be a cowboy..I think he realized that the money that was won also known as "the purse" , usually ends up in the purse of a Doctor or Dentist =O He now has his eyes set on safer ventures, like Pro Baseball or Professor of Math at OSU! THANK GOODNESS!!! It is a fun filled week ... one that comes to quickly and often ends too soon. Let'er Buck!

CHARLIE MAE...

Pendleton's Cutest Cowgirl!!