Lazy Daisy

Now that it's been 2 weeks I've gotten used to this brown hair, yet when I go places I still hear "You're hair is dark!", then I think..."oh yeah, it is".  Hollywood changes all the time, why can't I?

I made an attempt to capture some photos on the porch, wondering....''how hard can it be?  I've got a good camera."  Well for any of you who have seen Scarlette's photo sessions.  That girl has got a magic touch that I just don't have!

Thursday Todd and I heard some loud sound in the middle of the night.  No idea what it was.  He looks out the North window and sees nothing, so we go back to bed. I leave the house at 4:45a.m. to workout and see this massive tree limb form the oak tree lying into the road.  Hello!  That was the noise.  There wasn't even a windstorm, which is a little worrisome.  What if it had comd down on the house!  I borrowed the Moses' chainsaw and Todd hacked at it for THREE HOURS.  That's how big it was.  40 feet long and about 16 in in diameter.  Now we've got some nice wood for burning this winter tho.

Now to introduce our newest addition.....Daisy.  The kids and Todd are in HEAVEN.  They love her. It was Todd's decision to buy her as a mouser cat.  The whole thought of that to me is revolting. I want nothing to do with petting a cat that has eaten a mouse for lunch.  In fact I really want nothing to do with any pet in general. I have yet to even pet her. I'm completely indifferent to animals.  Don't hate em.  Don't love em.

Since she's still a kitten we are feeding her and easing her into her new surroundings before we limit food and make her hunt. Ahggg!  Sad.  After one week here she has found her favorite spot. Curled up on ALL my cushions, whichi is great cause we all know how much I love to see animal hair covering any peice of fabric....let alone on the kids clothes.  But she does look cute when we open the door and there she be.

Todd is almost as bad as the kids "Honey come look at Daisy catch this moth!"  he'll say.  I saw her do it 3 days ago.  I'm good.

The girls enjoy having friends ride the bus home with them (since it takes 30 min!) and stay for a late.  Hmm, where's Griffin?  He was "outta here" when I started snapping these and off to hang out with his friends.

First Day of School Tummy Aches

Sadly, I realize I didn't capture a pic of Griffin on the first day!  The girls however....and Brody were willing to smile, as long as we weren't going to be late!  Kennedy was complaining of a tummy ache all morning.  I just told her it was nerves or that she'd go to the bathroom and school and feel better.

 I get a call from the school nurse at 1:00.  She'd thrown up.  Back at home she withers on the couch all into the evening.  Finally she sleeps from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Hurts to go potty and a really sharp pain over her belly button and sides.  Hmm, once Todd mentions "apendix" I google it and sure enough......  ALL the symptoms match up.  She says she can't live with this pain through the night, and she's not a drama queen so I believe her.  I take her to the E.R. at 2 a.m. and after and IV and CT scan she is scheduled for sugery at 8 a.m.  The nurses were in love with her sweet demeanor and raggy ringgy curls!  She was a cute lilttle cooperative patient!

Todd got to the kids to school and came to the hospital just as she was coming around from the anesthesia.  Bevery delivered this balloon boquet.  Annie and Papa send $50 to grandkinder who get appendix out (she makes #4) and I brought her a jamb juice.  When she told Camdyn on the phone, just before going to surgery, Camdyn says "Kennedy....that's just like in the book Madeline!"  Later after more friends were dropping by gifts such as candy, notebooks, flowers and even the DVD Diary of  a Whimpy Kid....Camdyn says "Kennedy is kinda spoiled.  I wish I could have my appendix out".  Kids!!

Brinley and Rachel came by to deliver a card and gifts of their own.

I decided the blonde was going to be too much upkeep....so to get rid of the line I'd have I we went back to more of my natural color for awhile. I have yet to actually style it so I'm still getting used to it.  Although in a few more appts it'll be different again.  I like change.....lucky for me I have pretty healthy hair!

Green Gables

We hosted the Skeen reunion the first week in August.  Everyone came in Sunday for the week.  There was plenty of room for all.  We had a great time from swimming, volleyball, outdoor movie, hiking Round Lake, biking the Lacamas Trail and picking blueberries.  We went to Cottonwood beach for the day for picnic and boating.  Went to the Rose Test Gardens for picnic and played in the fountains in the Pearl and shopping downtown, plus a full day  and some who stayed overnight, at Cannon Beach.  Each family took turns making delicious meals, desserts and games for the evening.  Pete's and Bundy's Cabo Tacos/flaun and Jamie's Eclair cake were my faves!

My family decided our home needed a name.  A few suggestions that made the list were:

The Lake House (not original enough)

Forrest Knoll (lived there, done that)

Green Gables (or as Linny says "Green Gambles"

and the most funny...

Despereaux Chateau

(Sara is up at 4:30a.m. to workout with me and sees a mouse run across the kitchen and is stitting on the counter saying "hoochie mama, hoochie mama" when I come into the room...hence, Despereaux the mouse!)

Dad poured cement and got us all set with a sweet volleyball court.  Giant beach volleyball was a nightly hit!

Cody helped get the swing in working order and the kids loved that as much as anything else!

Lucky for us our day at the River was perfect weather for tubing.  Now that was a blast. I know it was Jamies favorite day of the whole trip.  Seeing Cody hang on the back of the tube for dear life was priceless!

We had a picnic set up on the beach and the kids entertained themselves well in the sand.  Spencer and Emma finding joy in the small pleasures of life!

Papa set up a movie out back.  We watched "Old Dogs" and had tiki torches and movie munchies. 

I insisted we go blueberry picking. You can't visit the NW and not go get fresh berries, walk downtown or go to Cannon Beach.  Those are crimes many hosts commit to their guests!

The Rose Gardens are always a perfect spot to enjoy a delicious picnic lunch.  The kids love The Children's Park just up the block and playing in the Jamison Sqaure Fountain with Hot Lips breadsticks while the women do some quick shopping in the Pearl, rounds out a nice afternoon.

Mid Summer's Guests

Summer projects have been in GREAT abundance.  We had much to keep us busy and many a night to host company and have friends come by to play.

I like change, so decided to go a little more blonde for the summer.

Brody missed playing with E and E, his friends/sisters while I work. 

Jeff, our neighbor across from our old home came to stay with us twice during the summer from CA.  The kids ADORE playing with him and get so excited waiting his arrival. 

Griffin had several sleepovers, war games and pool parties.  I usually came down around 11 pm to make them pancakes.

The girls went to their 3rd year at Currie Day Camp along with their best buds Brooklyn and Brinley.

My cousin Tanner, who is Griffin's same age, came out for a stay.  He was SO EASY to have around. He and Griff had so much fun together....and believe me, they were mostly home bound while I was at work for two weeks!

Among many other things, Todd resided the poolhouse and framed old windows in. He rebuilt the gate off the patio and did landscaping....but most fun was his mole hunts every evening.  They drive him crazy!!!

These little girls got pretty brown, even with my vigilance at keeping sunscreen on them whenever they went outside.

Happy 100th Birthday

Our new "old" home turned 100 years old this year!  To celebrate we invited a few families over to swim and have treats, lemonade, and play volleyball.