A Few Days Ago 'till Yesterday

It's hot. Here in Oregon we've been experiencing a record breaking heat wave. I'm not sure what we'd do if Ben hadn't found (from craigslist and I think they were free) and saved two window a.c. unites from a few years ago. I love the warmth of summer but this is a bit much. I can handle up to 90 for a while. This will be the fourth day over 104. Yowsa!

The following will be a glimpse of our lives the past few days. We've had fun. ;)

Last Friday
The produce from our garden turned into 'carrot people' by Essy.

She used Barbie accessories and Polly Pocket clothes and hair to dress them. Yes, that'd be a golf club that the 'dad' is holding. Notice the 'babies' in the pram.

Saturday, our cleaning day.

Last night. The kids have had a BLAST with Lego's the

past several days. It dosn't show in the photo but the

floor is covered with them (and has been for the past 4

days). :/


Fooling around with the camera.

Learning to take photo's of oneself. First try.


Second try.

Me teaching bad habits.


Zach learning bad habits ;)

The horrors of blogging

I have been loving summer and being with my kids. Some days are so busy while we're living them but at the end of the day I sit and think about what really got done and I can't think of a single accomplishment. Other than board games, creative play and reading aloud. I need to remember that those are accomplishments too. Just because there isn't a tangible reward, there is an emotional one and possible a spiritual one as well.

With all that quite business I have neglected to blog. OH WELL!

I will try and catch you all up. I know you've been waiting anxiously =D Right.

Sunday the 19th we left for Medford then at 6am the following day we left for Sacramento. We arrived at 12.30pm and we were all exhausted. Our cousins Keith and Stacey graciously allowed us to take over parts of their house and stay with them. They are the most easy going folks around. THANKS! We stayed and played until Thursday. But between the two days is when the break down occurred.

Wednesday Night.
We had got to my Uncle and Aunts for dinner and on the way the Twins fell asleep. When we arrived and got inside I asked all the kids a question and everyone answered but Zach. I asked him again. and again. and again. He just looked at me with a blank expression without answering. I asked him what was wrong. No answer. About now is when I get a bit scared. He's TOTALLY not acting himself and I think some thing's wrong with him physically. I touch his shoulders, bend down to look at him in the eye and ask whats wrong again. He finally answers that no thing's wrong. I get some water and tell him to sit down and slowly drink all the water. (I thought he had gotten sun stroke from playing in the pool for 3 hours.) I make sure he drank some water and go to chat with the fam. I check on the kids a couple times and make sure they're all hydrated. Yup. Drinking water and in the a.c. After we've been there about 45 min. I got again to check the kids. I sit down with Z and ask him how he's doin'.

This is when it all hits the fan. In his 7 year articulation he tells he he's missing Dad. His lip starts to quiver. He wants to be home with Daddy. (I must add here that Zach, out of all the kids, is his Daddy's shadow. He'll come to me twice of often as the rest of the kids to ask me when will Dad be home from work. And once Ben is home, Zach'll ask if they can play or wrestle or fix something.) I whip out my cell in record time and call Ben hoping he can help with the heart sick boy. Zach's holding the phone but when Ben answers Z can barley squeak out a salutation his throat is so tight. I holler into the phone "He's a little emotional right now so he may not be able to respond." That was probably the most pitiful thing I've ever witnessed. A dad-sick seven y.o. boy, lip quivering, holding a phone to his ear listening to his Dad comfort him. Heart-breaker-tear-jerker. Boooo-hooooo! My throat was tight.

I ask Ben to send a photo. He does and goes a step further and sends a video text.

As I snuggle with my crying boy, the Others (siblings) gather 'round and comfort. Essy starts to cry too. BOY! They all want to go home. NOW WHAT????

After about a 1/2 hour of comforting I settle them in front of the electronic babysitter (t.v.) and go out to talk with Mom. That's when I loose it and start crying. THEN she starts to tear. Golly. What's with California, huh? Is it the air? the water? the governor? Heh. Kidding. That is when the plan starts developing. If the kids miss and need their Dad that much.....I'll move the planets out of orbit to give it to them. They've never spend that much time away form him ever. Ever, ever.

So we cut our trip short and leave the following day for Medford. Zach told me "I feel better today." when I asked him how he was feeling that morning. "Not like yesterday?" I say. "No. Yesterday I felt like my heart was breaking." Gosh what a kid.

There was rejoicing when the kids learned we were leaving for home. And then more tears. They were all sad to leave their cousins. Is there no winning here? Ahhhhh! This is the roller coaster of a road trip. One I will never do again. We WILL fly to Medford and then fly to Sac. next time. Who wanted to drive to Cali anyway......oh yeah, heh-heh.....it was me. ;)

Now for the good stuff......photos!

Wednesday.





A dive gone wrong. OUCH!

Back in Medford.

The ride home to Daddy.

Total hours in the car: 22. Total miles: 1,300. Total states: 2. Total smiles: too many to number. =)

Yesterday

During the heat of the day.

My parents over for dinner.

Today isn't Sunday

it's Wednesday. We've been waiting. Waiting for Sunday. That is the day we'll leave for a quick visit to family in California. We are SO-O excited! We already have snacks for the drive that's just how excited we are.

Since we chose to purchase an older vehicle I've been taking the kids with Penny and I to all her appointments. We had her oil and rear differential fluids changed Monday. On Tuesday we had her transmission serviced and today we were quoted on the repair of her A.C. *choke-sputter-cough* The quote was over 2k. Ugggg. I had the distinct feeling that the mechanics saw me as another dumb girl and wanted to jerk with me. Have I mentioned that I'm not one to be jerked with? Thought so. We paid our service charge (yes, they charge just to find the problem....no fixing involved) got in Penny and said "Bye-bye" without waiving. See ya. Going someplace else. =) I can smile now but I was upset at the time. Nice, but upset.

On the way home I told Ben that since I LOVE to be warm I don't mind a whit going without A.C. indefinitely. I just hate spending $$$ on such an old thing. Sorry Penny! It's true though; you are an old Lady.

I will post pictures when we get back (we're going to Tahoe, which is very close to Reno, one of the days and I hope to cross the border to Nevada so I can say I've been =).

Have I mentioned that I.LOVE.Summer? Yeah, thought so.

Pictures from our vacation.....FINALLY!

Our time at Eagle Crest. Ahhhhh!

The wild flowers/weeds Sis and I picked.

The Forth

I can't believe

that my second born is 9. OMGosh. He wanted pancakes and bacon for breakfast; tomato soup and grilled cheese for lunch and spaghetti for dinner with a vanilla cake for dessert.

Sam: You are the BEST! Even though you are young you have such integrity. You have the ability to say something silly and make everyone laugh. I am so excited to see what special job God has just for you. I love you, Brother Brown.

The surprise gift.

Happy birthday Bud.

Click for last years post.

Haven't

I know. Strange title. Fits with the author, though, doesn't it? *grin* It's okay, the kids tell me constantly that I'm weird. Just living' up to their expectations! =D

I have totally enjoyed summer vacation (and it's not even over yet)! TOTALLY! On the way to church today I was so thankful that I wasn't required to dive everyday. *ahhh* Nice. This is heaven to me. I was reminded of all the 'haven'ts' I've been thankful for.

I haven't:
1. Had to drive to school four-days-ah-week. Yea!
2. Made the kids lunch everyday (they make their own!).
3. Set my alarm even one day since school let out. Yes, I do get out'ta bed! But I get to 'sleep in' until 6.30. Oh.So.Nice!
4. Made dinner consistently. Ben loves to b-b-q and that's our staple during the summer.
5. Gone grocery shopping alone. The kids are a huge, Huge, HUGE help at Winco. They help me acquire the items and cut our time by 1/4. Thanks guys!
6. Missed driving.at.all. Although, it was weird to drive today. I hadn't driven since last Sunday. I better keep up on my driving or else I'm soon to forget....right? Or is it like riding a bike, you never forget?
7. Missed the kiddo's! I LOVE, almost, every aspect of them. =-]
8. Missed coffee one day.
9. Ran a marathon. Someday....maybe. ;)

Summer ROCKS! We were able to spend 5 nights in Eagle Crest and Ben was able to take 9 days off in the middle or our vacation. I don't think I have to convey what a treat that was. We are blessed!

I'll leave you with a question; Do children grow at a greater speed in the summer or does it just seem that way? I say they do. They eat more, they grow more.....right?

Picts of our vaca soon.