I went to Time Out!

This last weekend I enjoyed a wonderful two days of laughing, crying, beautiful music, and great friends! Here's part of the gang with out free tote bags that we got this year! Aren't they super cute!Since my sister has recently relocated back to the area we got to go to our first Time Out for Women. How wonderful it was to have her by my side. My stepmom, stepsister, mother-in-law and sister-in-law were also there! Gotta love the family!

One of my BFF's Carrie returned from Houston to share the weekend with us. It was soooo wonderful to be with her again. I laugh so much when were together and we all love and miss her so much!

There's Liz, Melanie and Mindy. Liz went to Seattle with me last year but it was Melanie and Mindy first event. I think they loved it because how could you not, its so great. I was so glad they all came along.

I love going to Time Out for Women. I love being with the other women and hearing such inspirational presenters that encourage me to be a better person.

Next year it is back in Seattle...so up to Seattle I will go!

Soccer Season

As soccer season comes to a close I would be remiss if I didn't honor it with a blog post. But before I do that I must talk about Noah getting his tonsils out.

It was tramatic and anyone who tells you different is lying. Constantly worrying about his eating, drinking, sleeping, everything! Recovery was almost 2 weeks but because of careful planning he only missed 4 days of school. He also got his sinus's flushed and that has really helped his breathing.

Noah is number 11 you can't see him but I love the action shot. Noah started the season excited and aggressive but quickly seemed bored and unmotivated. As a parent it can frustrating to watch.
Kelsey just took that ball away, she continued to improve and become a force to be reckoned with on the field. She loves her team and has a great coach. As a parent it can be exhilerating to watch.

After getting his tonsils out the old Noah was back. Maybe he can breath better, maybe it was nice to have a break, perhaps he was better rested? Whatever the reason I was happy!

Yes, Kelsey just kicked that ball in and scored her third goal of the season. So exciting. So proud of both of the kids.

As crazy as soccer season is, all the driving around, juggling schedules, racing off the games and practices. I really do love it and it's a lot of fun! Once its over I won't know how to spend my Saturdays?

Trillium Lake

In August we spent the weekend at Trillium Lake. Its so beautiful up there and we love the campground. Its very close to our house which was nice when we realized we'd forgotten the life jackets for the kids and drove back to get them!We tried very hard to catch some fish but had no luck. Nate's borrowing one of the twins Barbie poles in this picture. I don't usually fish I like to relax and chill in raft, plus I'm too busy helping the kids cast or untangle their fishing lines.
The girls like to wear a skirt or a dress everyday and camping was no different although I did try to get them to wear pants. One day the twins and I hiked a little on a great trail that went around the lake. We pretended we were Dora, Boots and the superbabies going on an adventure it was silly!

When we camp Daddy cooks most all our meals while I do the clean-up. I like it just fine, but I don't like all the yummy junk food he always buys to take on the trip. Because I end up eating a lot of doughnuts and chips.

We also had fun riding bikes around and playing games. We had a little trouble getting Aubrey to use the out houses, she's a little sensative to the smell!

One day my mom and step dad game up for the day to Kayak in the lake while we fished. We always love camping!

Pacific City 2010

For the second year in a row we spent a week in Pacific City in a Beachhouse. We went with my mom and Step-dad for most of the week, then Daddy came down to spend the weekend with us!Everyday when we would go to the beach Kelsey would make different things in the sand. This day it was a flower and a bee. She also made a elephant, monkey, and a penquin.
One night Kelsey watched the kids so Nate and I could enjoy a romantic sunset. Luckily the sky cooperated to create this breathtaking view, it was beautiful.

Noah's favorite was going on the boogie board. It never mattered what the weather was he was in the water. We also spent a lot of time riding bikes on the great bike paths and we played lots if games at the house.

Some days were sunny and warm but oh so windy, others day were overcast and perfect, we even played on the beach in the rain one day. It didn't seem to matter to the kids, only Aubrey got sick of the wind by the end of the week.

I love going to the beachhouse, I get to take a break from my usual chores and relax. My moms there so I go for long runs on the beach in the morning, take naps in the afternoon and play with the kids in between. It doesn't get much better than that!

And so it begins...

My sweet little Sydney, on the first day of preschool. She cried hysterically when I left after I stayed half the day. Had tears in her eyes when I picked her up and told me she didn't have snack because she was crying.....*sigh*It seems like yesterday I was bringing them home from the hospital. Ok not really it feels like four years ago but a fast four years. Luckily, there are two wonderful teachers to pry them off my body as I squeeze out the door.

Aubrey also cried hysterically when I left but eventually settled down. However, whenever she left her sisters side it would start the tears for Sydney. The next day was also traumatic but better overall I'm hoping the tears will end soon!

Here's my big girl. 6th grade, middle school, lockers, 7 different class periods, changes into gym clothes, gets on the bus at 6:50am. Its a whole new world for us both, she seems to handling the transition probably better than I am!

Her backpack was so full she could'nt zip it shut, and it was soooo heavy. The supplies were outrageous...5 binders, dividers, 5 zip pouches, notebook paper, calculator, protractor...you get the idea.

Last but not least my third grader. By far the easiest trasition this year. He's mellow and easy going about the whole school thing which is great for me since its not been that way for his sisters. He likes his teacher, and so far our biggest issue has been understanding why he can't wear the same outfit everyday to school.

As much as I love summer and the more relaxed schedule, I seem to crave the structure of school and my big kids were getting close to killing each other so forward and onward we go.

summer snapshots

Were keeping busy this summer doing some fun things. This day we went to Wildwood. We hiked had a picnic lunch, played at the park then the kids rode thier bikes around. It was hot but we had fun.Another hot day we went to the Sandy Mountain Festival Parade in Sandy.

There's Kelsey and Sydney.

We sat next to a bunch of our friends. Here's Terry and Selena. Selena's holding her super cute, chubby, baby Ian. Check out her daughter in the stroller doesn"t she look like she's having fun?

Me and Aubrey!

We took off one weekend and went to Ka-nee-tah. Once again it was pretty hot but the kids had a blast in the pool. The twins splashed around for hours in their tubes.

Kelsey and Noah loved going down the slide and going to the buffet dinner and breakfast at the lodge where we stayed.

Nate liked floating around on the air mattress and I liked getting to spend some time with him since he's been working such looong hours.

One day we did put-put golf and we played games in out hotel room. As always it was nice to get away.

Punch Bowl Falls

Last Saturday we drove out to the Gorge and did some hiking. I love hiking and we haven't been able to do much of it with the twins being little but we decided they were ready!It was four miles round trip. We didn't think we were going to make it. We each took turns carrying the girls they got tired. There were also some very narrow parts with steep drop off along the trail. It made Nate and I more than a little nervous!

But this is what we saw when we got to the end! So it made it all worth it! It was a fun day we sang songs and played games as we hiked and the girls both had their first outdoor bathroom experience. Which is priceless!

Aubrey got a new nickname on this hike...pokey. She's often in her own little world and while she'll keep coming she's never in much of a hurry. We took turns staying back with her and encouraging her to keep going.

The only problem when we got there is we knew we had to hike back, but it went much faster and had lots more downhill.

On the way there we took the fruit loop in hopes of enjoying lots of fresh fruit only to discover Nate had left his wallet at home. We were bummed about not getting goodies at the fruit stands but really bummed we wouldn't be getting any ice cream in Cascade Locks after the hike.

Oh Well just gives us an excuse to go back again!