9 years old on the first day of school!

What a rotten day to have a birthday, the first day of school! But, Im bringing treats today, so maybe that will help...
Happy Birthday Coley Nelson!!
I just told Cole in this picture not to do a cheezy smile, and to just look off like he was thinking, and he is saying to me, disgusted, 'Mom, Im not gonna look off like Im thinking.' You can pretty much tell from his expression. This was right before I got the hand in the camera...

Birthday party at Boondocks!!

Cole reving up to blow out his fire starter...(still no candles)
go karts!
Jayden, Tyge, Cole and Jaxson
James got to take the day off work at Boondocks and keep Kambree company
My two cute racecar drivers.
We had a fun day today. Happy 9th Birthday Buddy! I love you!

There is a thief among us...

I went out to check on the status of my ripening raspberry this evening, and it was gone!  Ive been fertilizing it, watering it, watching it grow, and I didn't even get to eat it! Not happy.
But on a lighter note, we had a campfire tonight, lit the tiki torches, listened to music and made S'mores.That was fun. 
I will smoke out the raspberry thief later. 

Today is a glorious day.

Today I write with overly dramatic tears of joy because I found this... A magical, beautiful tiny red raspberry growing in my own yard. I have been trying for 7 years to get them to grow at this house. Finally. I love life and I love everybody....

Another fun time in beautiful Oregon

We had a lot of fun this time. We went back up to the Gorge on Saturday
and stayed overnight in a quaint little log cabin hotel, very appropriate for the
area. The views were beautiful as always. We got a blah dinner at the River Cafe, great atmosphere, but the fresh caught (supposedly) fish tasted like water. Maybe it was still waterlogged... Anyway, we watched Stand By Me, a classic favorite, which happens to have been filmed in this area somewhere, and ate popcorn. Popcorn and movies provided by the hotel owners. They were very nice. In the morning we ate a delicious brunch at the beautiful Multnomah Falls Lodge, and hiked to the top. It was tough, but manageable. Cole and I picked wild blackberries from the sides of the road everywhere. Then,,,,,I got sick. Not a good idea. Maybe eating them from the mountainside was ok, but probably not so smart to eat the ones we picked under the bridge, where, Mack pointed out while I was sick, people probably spit off the bridge.

AAAGGGHHH! I forgot the most important pictures in the last post

Her and her cake!! Somehow when they turn 18 it seems less traumatic when you realize there are no candles in the house. We just stuck a straw in it and it was all good.

T minus 0. the countdown is over, she is 18!!!

This guy just about caused a 10 car pile up on the freeway during rush hour. Not a pretty site in our car. The cars around us must have thought we discovered a swarm of bees. Note to backseat passenger...If you find an earwig on your pants, dont scream and kick it onto the driver....


We were so excited when Kenzies boyfriend showed up. Just look at the way he looks at her....such love. and creepiness..


She got to put on a coconut bra and hula skirt for her special day at Joes Crab Shack. Lucky for her we were early enough there werent a lot of people in there yet. it was pretty funny. Happy Birthday to the newest adult in the family. I love you Kenzie!!!!