Summer Fun!

We have enjoyed 2 weeks of vacation! The kids participated in a bike race, parade, birthday party, baby shower, went swimming, hiked Mt. Pisgah, watched Brave, played for hours with cousins and ate outside in the beautiful sunshine.

Matt had the kids do a bike derby.

Gannon was on the starting line ready to go and............

everybody took off but him.

This was Paige's race.

Look at this determined little girl.

Bailey is a pro rider.

Carter and Hayden were in the same catagory.

Here is the dynamic cinco's

We then went to our home town parade.

Paige loves Batman. She was so excited to see this float.

Madalyn cheered in our parade for the HS.

We then headed down to Eugene for the Newell family reunion. We took a hike on Saturday morning up to Mt. Pisgah. It was hard but rewarding.

The whole gang.

Paige stayed with me all the way up. She had a hard time. Half way up she begged me to go back down. Way to hang in there Paige.

Jeff and Ty

The group taking a little break.

All of the kids that made the hike.

The adults taking a break with Carter and Gannon.

The view.

We made it to the top.

It was very hot this day so arriving to the top gave us all a little gust of wind to cool us off.

Alex.

Ash and Jeff with Ben and Ty.

Zoe.

Madalyn begged Bailey to do a cheer leading move.

The whole group. Well, minus JJ and Jen.  We thought that they had turned around half way up, but they hadn't. They were real troopers.

When we got home Mom and Dad had put together a delicious bbq.

Monday was a baby shower for little George.

Kelly and JJ.

Laurie and George.

Cherie and JJ.

Hannah, Madalyn, Laurie and George.

Kim and Ash.

JJ and Linda.

The Lakes and JJ.

Me and JJ.

The Newell girls minus Julie, Amber and Jill (we missed you very much).

After the baby shower, we had a surprise party for Ben!

The cousins hugging Ben.

The candy game.

Put the Shoes on Sonic the Hedgehog.

Gannon loved little George.

Swimming at SPLASH.

The kids loved watching little George in the water.

Happy boy.

Alex, Carter and Hayden.

The Canterbury Renascence Fair.

Our valiant knight won the battle.

The kids enjoyed watching the magic show.

Matt eating a turkey leg.

The queen.

Bailey really wanted to ride the horses. 

She loves animals.

Paige also rode a horse.

Two sisters passing along their horse rides.

The kids trying to stay out of the heat.

The kids could try on Knight outfits at this fair. 

Paige put on this heavy helmet.

Hayden used his sword and shield.

Carter liked this shield best.

Bailey and Gannon wanted to be king and queen.

Madalyn was knighted.

Matt looked a little dazed and confused.

This sword was solid.

Before we left the fair, we sat and listened to this man play the bagpipes.

We had a wonderful 12 day vacation!

Cousins come to play!

On Saturday, the cousins came to play. We have tons of raspberries at our house and there is no way to eat them all. I called Tricia and asked her to come with the family and get all the raspberries they want.  The kids had a fun day playing on the water slide, eating lunch and playing inside. It was a perfect day to have some family fun.

The cousins all lined up!

God Bless America

I love America. 

Yesterday, Matt and I woke up early to take a 3 mile walk. It was a beautiful morning with blue skies and birds chirping in the trees. When we got home we woke up the kids and got ready for our stake 4th of July breakfast. 

When we got home from that, Matt and I took Gannon with us to Goodwill to buy some "rodeo shirts". We had a fun picnic in the later afternoon and then rested until we took off to St. Paul for the RODEO. I used to go to rodeo's as a young girl and so I have always wanted my kids to go and enjoy one. This year was perfect timing to go to the rodeo. When we arrived at the rodeo, I felt excitement in the air. I loved seeing the horses, the smells, the noise, the announcers voice. What an exciting place! We ended the night watching fireworks at the rodeo. 

We are so blessed to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

I love the USA.

We made homemade raspberry ice cream for lunch.

Oh so gooooood!

Carter, Paige and I eating ice cream.

Hot dogs and hamburgers.

Relaxing on the lawn at home.

Just having arrived at the rodeo.

Matt giving our tickets to the ticket guy.

We had great seats close to the shoots.

We sat there for 4 hours. The kids did awesome.

Bull riding is my favorite event. The kids really liked it all.

This was our comfy location.

Paige watching the fireworks.

We had a great evening at the St. Paul rodeo.

My Birthday

I just celebrated another birthday. I have wanted to go to the Portland Saturday Market for years now.  Matt and I planned a short trip down there with the kids on Saturday. I could have spent the whole day there but the kids weren't crazy about it. Matt and I will have to go another day. After that we headed to the Portland Rose Garden's. They had an awesome play structure that the kids played on while we ate a picnic lunch. It was a great day! On my real birthday, Matt made me a wonderful BBQ dinner and lemon pudding pie for dessert.

Eating elephant ears and corn dogs.

Standing in front of the famous VooDoo doughnuts.

Rose Gardens.

The kids really enjoyed playing at the park for lunch.

After the Rose Garden we started to head home and I saw a second hand store that I have been wanting to go to. Matt dropped me off and I ran inside. I was so excited to find this B. Makowsky handbag. I have wanted one of these handbags for a few years now. I immediately asked the cashier if I could look at it. I bought it without hesitation. It has double straps, which I love. It is an amazing handbag. Yeah for second hand goodies.

Matt bought me a hair magazine, lilies and gave me cash to go get some things that I have wanted. 

My lemon pudding pie.

The kids don't like raspberries on pie so Matt put it on our half of the pie.

Right before my birthday, we had a celebration for our fitness instructor who is moving away.

We are very sad. She has been a great instructor.