Missing, but still In Action!!

Ok Ok Ok... I am still here. I am just busy enjoying the company of my mom and dad. Well, I am trying to. They are playing and talking and telling stories with the treekids and like usual, I have to elbow my way through the crowd to get close enough to do any visiting of my own!

We have had lots of fun coming and going and sitting and staying. My folks drove all the way out here to Oregon from their home in Illinois! It was a long drive - but, it was gorgeous they say. I made some suggestions for their drive here and for their return home. They have stopped to visit my uncle in Minnesota, Mt. Rushmore and Crazyhorse in South Dakota, Devil's Tower in Wyoming, Little Bighorn Battlefield and Glacier National Park in Montana, a scenic drive across the chimney of Idaho, through the dusty western agricultural land of Washington, through the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon with a stop at Multnomah Falls and finally a speedy jaunt down I-5 to arrive at my home in southwestern Oregon!! Since they have done so much sight-seeing, they were ready for a bit of rest and relaxing. But, we didn't let them rest too much!

We spent an afternoon at a lake. It was plenty of fun and not too much R&R...

Well, I suppose Geemah was resting.

And, Bump was resting.

Grandpa looks to be relaxing just fine.

Having a glass of sweet tea... somewhere between rest and work for Blossom, right?

AH! There is the real work!!! Brats are being grilled by this character while overlooking the beautiful mountain lake!

I'll be back to share more of our lazy days of fun, but first I need to go hang out and put my feet up!!

My Daybook, Entry #38

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, July 20, 2010...

Outside my window... Sunshine & 77 degrees - BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

I am thinking... our dog is getting "ancient," takes arthritis meds and has dry eye that we treat daily with eye drops and Blossom's kitty was in a cat fight and has an eye infection that we are treating with an oral antibiotic. Dog vs meds = not so bad... she likes her treats and has been going at the meds long enough to KNOW that a treat follows. Cat vs meds = not so great... doesn't know that a little chunk of leftover salmon will be her reward if she just stays still and lets me squirt that white antibiotic slurry down her throat. Keep trying... keep trying... keep trying!

I am thankful for... our relaxing family weekend that we make sure to take and remember the important things in life. More on that later!

From the learning rooms... slow and steady wins the "race" - Teaching Textbooks for Math seems to be going well. Branch seems to really like the independence of the work. Bud likes the computer aspect. We are using two different typing programs for a fun way to learn the keyboard - Roller Typing and Read, Write & Type. They, too, seem to be going well. We are using English From the Roots Up to learn Greek and Latin roots - we are going to work on one or two roots each week. We enjoyed playing around with it a bit so far. MCP Math for Kindergartener Blossom - I am wondering if it is too simple for her and might skip ahead a bit to move beyond beside, up, down, above, below, etc... But, it was a fun few lessons and that is encouraging, so we'll just see how it goes. For Art & Art Appreciation we are using a book called Art Fraud Detective and work on two pieces of art each week and then finish off with doing some art of our own that would be indicative of the art of one of the artists getting ideas in the book Discovering Great Artists: Hands On Art For Children in the Styles of the Great Masters. We have some other things going for the year, but for these summer months are on a lean schedule using these items (oh, and working at improving handwriting!).

From the kitchen... my "big meal" plans

Tues: blt's

Wed: steaks

Thurs: fajitas

Fri: not much of a plan, here,

Sat: company is coming...

Sun: need to determine when we

Mon: will be here or out and about!!!

I am wearing... (gray) shorts and a (charcoal and gray) t-shirt

I am creating... I purchased the notions and such for the gift I will sew for my niece... this birthday gift is just going to be late.

I am going... to participate in an online webinar regarding photography... hope isn't "you get what you pay for" because it is free!!

I am reading... photography books

I am hoping... to improve my photography skills... can you tell?!?!!

I am hearing... cars. Strangely, they are racing by on the road not too far from our house and it seems that they are all missing mufflers, today!

Around the house... Again, I am wondering how to keep kids stuff contained. How do you teach your kids to constantly pick up after themselves? I want to raise capable adults... so, I want them to learn this skill NOW as children so that we can move on to other important things! (Like how to have a REALLY great FUN time when all the stuff has been tended to!)

One of my favorite things... a turtle split - I have been thinking about one of these for weeks and I cannot seem to get anyone on board for enjoying one with me. I could make my own and just nosh, but it is soooo tasty and I need to convince Bud. He's my foodie... I'll work on him this week!!

A few plans for the rest of the week... convince Bud of the deliciousness of a Turtle Split, back to the library, a bit of baking, school work, company is coming...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

While we were at Geemah & Grandpa's in Illinois...

Bump "got" Grandpa GOOD!

But, then didn't get the clean up he wanted fast enough...

His shirt said it all, though... "MUSH - it's what's for dinner"

and it is what came back up, too!

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.

Good times... Great Friends!

We were fortunate to have a few hours to spend with some great friends of ours who live very close to where the wedding was held. So we went out for lunch with our friends at Whiskey Creek. We don't have Whiskey Creek here in Oregon, so it was a treat to get to enjoy their yummy vittles!! Once we were finished eating, we wanted to let our kids play together... but it had been raining and the park was OUT for fear of the mud-caking that would ensue! So, Dr. Mike (a vet school mate of Pops') suggested we go to Menards. Uh, what, I thought. Turns out, Menards has much of their play equipment that is available for purchase on display to try out! So, we headed up the road and gave all the toys a whirl!

SEE! This playhouse runs ya $419.99 if it is the one you'd like to take home! Bud thought it was fun to shovel the bark mulch out of it!

Bump enjoyed swinging and smiling at their oldest kiddo!

Their middle boy was a big ham and LOVED to pose for the camera! It was easy to get smiles out of him!

These girls did not want to part ways and were bargaining with us as to how they could stay together for most of the summer. Good to know that they still get along!

Their youngest boy was a bit more elusive with the camera... but boy is he a cutie!

Dr. Mike and Ms. Judy are Bump's Godparents and they were thrilled to get their first snuggles and lovin' on him!

We are so excited for them... as a new baby will be joining their family sometime this fall, likely in October! Yippeee to more babies to love!

We joke... sort of... that with the current spread of kids, they need this babe to be a girl and then we could have four arranged marriages and spend our holidays all together - especially to continue our Fourth of July traditions!! We LOVE 4th of July together!!

Anyway, a fun fun time had with our friends, but I bet Menards was maybe glad to see us go since the only purchase was a package of licorice and a bottle of water!

Celebrate Good Times, Come ON!

We took our trip in June to the midwest at the time that we did in order to make it to Pop's cousin's wedding. (It seems like just the other day that she was a junior bridesmaid in our wedding! Is she OLD ENOUGH to be getting married already?!?!) We might have chosen a different time to head there (preferably when all the other kids are in school so that we wouldn't have to "fight" vacation travelers!) if not for this wedding... BUT, it turned out just fine with really nice early summer weather that wasn't too hot!

After the wedding, the girls held some of the bridesmaids bouquets and Branch told me that she REALLY wanted to be in a wedding while she is little. I suppose every little girl might like that, eh?

Do you KNOW how hard it is to get 9 children to look the same direction and smile all at the SAME time? It is nearly impossible. But, here is the closest that I got. Next time, I will have all the adults stand together and make dumb faces in ONE spot BEHIND me - instead of off to the side!

Our little Blossom enjoyed the party of the wedding. Dancing was her gig. Not that I was terribly surprised, but she took every opportunity to dance with the "fun people." Here she has snagged the freshly graduated from college Uncle Nandy!!

And when he was all worn out, she snagged the BRIDE!! She designed and made her gown... and looked beautiful in it! I happened to LOVE the headpiece/veil that she wore... but was off by this point in the evening. I wish I would have gotten a picture of it. I am not as "with it" in using my camera when I tote a 23 pound chunk of love on my hip!

Here, Pops is teaching his niece how to really rock it - I think maybe the song was an 80's/90's hair band rock song. NICE. I am sure that daycare will appreciate her new rocker style!

Both Blossom and Branch wanted a turn with the dollar dance and drained my wallet off all greenbacks and I didn't have any left to dance with the groom. I hope he understood I wasn't snubbin' him!

It was a beautiful wedding. I can hardly believe how time flies and it seems weddings make me aware of time flying. We have these two beauties growing so fast under our noses and they talk about the day when they will wear their own beautiful wedding gowns... that could be in 15 years or so... Say it ISN'T so!

Many congratulations to the happy couple... we had a blast celebrating your day in Nebraska!

Craft Basket Wednesday: Hijacked

There are times that I find myself at my old hummer of a humdinger ... my hand-me-down from my mom, Kenmore sewing machine from the early 80s (or is this a late 70s model? I don't know!) ... repairing something or creating something fun and my kids are wanting to try, too. Well, I have this much newer Singer that I got fairly cheaply but have never loved as I can't quite figure out the tension in a way that I am comfortable - quickly! But, I get it out and let Bud & Branch (Blossom makes me WAY to nervous, still) play around a bit to see what they can do. I did try to give a "proper" lesson and all. But, in their impatience, they wanted to do it their way, so I gave the instructions of 1. Go Slow and 2. Keep your fingers away from all moving parts! So far those instructions have done them quite well.

But, my girl Branch now wants to create something "real." She doesn't just want to sew together a couple pieces of scraps and make it something in her imagination. So, I told her that a pillowcase (especially one for her baby doll) would be a great first project that she could mostly do all on her own. She was thrilled to be set free in the fabric closet! She hunted down her doll pillow to figure the sizing and cut her fabric and asked for help with the pinning. I helped to pin the fabric together and she was on her way!

I do not like all the frayed edges that are apparent so often in sewing when a serger is not available for use, so I prefer to use French seams and taught my girl about them for this project, which she liked because she got to sew around the case another time!

She was quite proud of herself... as she should be! I am sure that she will again hijack my machine and my time in her own quest to learn to sew... and I am just fine with that!!! Another shared interest, my girl and me... yipppeeeeeee!!!

Go visit Amy and see what/if she or anyone else is crafting these days!

My Daybook, Entry #37

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, July 13, 2010...

Outside my window... Overcast and a chilly 52 degrees

I am thinking... Y'all must be wondering what is going on. I haven't been keeping up with this blog very well this summer!

I am thankful for... antibiotics. I have been coughing and hacking away for over a week now. I tried all the general things a mom can easily do when she still has a nursling. Now, I am on antibiotics (woo hoo! today is day 2 of 14) and I hope to see some progress in the feeling better portion of my world. Because of this nastiness, I was not feeling up to blogging WHILE being away from home in hotels with my young'uns.

From the learning rooms... We had some GREAT learning opportunities at Mt. St. Helens... I HAD NO IDEA! Well, I was only three years old when she erupted and having grown up in the midwest, our history lesson went something to the tune of, "In 1980, Mt. St. Helens in Washington State erupted." I'll share more about what all we learned soon. It was so much more than "she erupted."

From the kitchen... my "big meal" plans

Tues: Spaghetti

Wed: Steaks

Thurs: Roast

Fri: Homemade Pizza Bar - Everyone makes their own!!

Sat: Pancakes, Bacon and Fruit

Sun: Salmon

Mon: Chicken Scampi

I am wearing... comfy NAVY BLUE (no gray today!) knit pants and a lavender t-shirt

I am creating... well, I NEED to create the little gift that I want to send to my only niece! Her birthday is coming up and I have a FUN FUN FUN idea for her!! I hope she likes it!!

I am going... to rest a lot, drink plenty of water, attempt to get my house back in order AND try to go through my pictures from the past month and share what all we have been doing!

I am reading... plenty of children's picture books

I am hoping... that this antibiotic works QUICKLY. I hurt from coughing - my throat (which is raw from coughing so much) and my abdominal muscles which hurt from doubling over to cough all day long.

I am hearing... Branch breathing heavily beside me. A lawn machine of some kind out across the valley. The clock on top of my hutch tick tocking. Bark softly snoring while snuggled next to branch and I. The rest of the house is still quiet!!

Around the house... laundry. small little messes... everywhere!

One of my favorite things... good health - can't wait to get mine back!

A few plans for the rest of the week... lots of rest, school time, library time, rest.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Snuggled up reading a fun book together!!

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.

Be Afraid

... Be Very Very Afraid!

A week or so before we headed out on our journey across the western United States and the midwestern United States, Pops went fishing with a friend and came home with this beauty of a "Springer."

I don't remember for certain, but I think it is a Spring Chinook Salmon. He was pretty excited about his fresh catch and the fish stories that he now has to tell. Something about being in the drift boat fighting this behemoth of a fish while dodging the mulberry tree branches that were attempting to floss his teeth??!? I'm sure that it would have been a great video if nothing else!

Pops helped me rustle all the big kids into bed before he began processing the fish for our next day's meal and for the brining and smoking that would ensue. First, off with that tail fin.

Next, off with the head. Let's not waste any time, here!

Uh, er, well... what is up with this baby?!?

Apparently, wasting time is NOT... I repeat, Absolutely NOT tolerated by the younger set! Why? Well, you take a look at the time wasting activity (in the back of the above photo or closer up in the next one, for Pete's sake)!!

Oh, my... Bump really was not amused. I'll bet that Pops could have gotten a laugh out of Bud! Maybe it will just take a while for Bump to grow into the weirdness of being a male and all that jazz.

The fish was filleted - and apparently, it looked AWESOME enough to just create a bit of sushi with some raw salmon...

I reminded of him of my request for some nice pieces of marinated and grilled salmon and he recalled his desire for smoked salmon and he refrained from the sushi and finished filleting the fish.

I know that we should have kept the back, head, tail and all that jazz to make some wonderful fish stock for some delicious fish dish, but I do not know what fish dish that would be! (I feel like Dr. Suess will appear any second with my "fish dish" don't you?!?) So, we did not save anything for making fish stock. Perhaps someone has a great fish dish recipe for using fish stock so that I can kick myself for not getting those zip-top freezer bags out before Pops threw out those pieces for making the fish dish stock?? Let me know so I can save them next time!

Nice catch, by the way, Pops!!