*WARNING* LONG recap :-)

Okay, okay, how long has it been since I've blogged?! Ummm...yeah, too long. Soooo, I'll begin with some random fun pictures, highlights and memories of the past 6 months or so to keep this blog light and fun as I feel such a heavy bout of guilt for not blogging in so long...yes, I'm a guilt ridden person...just don't use it against me ;-)
Our tiny little Wyatt turned 1! He was one happy boy that day! Big Brother had to jump in and help out with the cake. What a great first year it was, even with all the iron deficiency and post partum depression, I can say that he is a true blessing and is always making us smile.

Okay, this was THE FUNNIEST moment of the past 6 months for sure...HAHAHAHA...still makes me laugh! Becky could not get a picture of us with my eyes open. This picture totally encompasses the fun that is 4th of July 2010. We laughed soooo hard! Fun memory. LMAO!

This summer I also had the opportunity to leave the kids and hubby behind for a week and go north to Enumclaw, WA for Creation Northwest! Camping, Music, Fellowship, oh and REALLY good food!! Once again, it was great, even at the new venue. Even got to visit my Best Friend Rachelle who only lived about a half hour away! It was a great week...definitely the highlight of my summer!
Martin and I decided to meet up with his mom and dad at the beach where they were camping, to do some quading and give the kids some sand time. Little did I know that Martin had taken the next day off and had planned on staying at the coast to camp out!! What a fun spur of the moment trip. The boys loved the sand, driving their little quad and being with their Gaggie and Poppie!

At the end of the summer we had planned (since Feb.) to go stay in a cabin at Silver Falls. Those reservations fell through, so we found this campground just up the mountain from Silver Falls called Camp Dakota and were able to book a last minute yurt for that same week. So, we loaded down our new (to us) minivan and took off. What a nice mini family vacay! Here we are on our first evening in the yurt, all settled in!
First haircut for Wyatt! Before.
After! So handsome!

My big boy turned 4! This was the first year he has really been able to voice what he wanted for his birthday and ya know what he wanted?!?! A monster truck cake....yep...that's all he wanted! But of course, he was spoiled! Look at that sweet smile, who wouldn't wanna spoil him?! Halloween this year was pretty mellow, we got in a last minute stop at Herrick Farms for a couple little pumpkins...thank you Dianna for your willingness to come with us and brave the mud! Martin had to work, so mama had to step it up and just go! No dressing up, just handing out candy this year. Ryan couldn't keep his costume on, so we bowed out.
What a surprise to get snow before Thanksgiving this year! We didn't get a lot, but enough to suit up the boys and send them outside to freeze. It took Wyatt awhile to get into the mood for the snow suit, but he eventually became a snow lover! Here's Martin and I at about 2am outside of Sears, 2nd in line on Black Friday. We waited for 6 1/2 hours for the best deal of the year (by our standards anyway)--the Kenmore washer/dryer set for $599 which was discounted even more after they found a scratch on the top of the washer!!! Yup, it was the most successful Black Friday ever!!
This is my last picture...promise! I was given my Grandma's duck ticket and was able to watch the #1 ranked Ducks play Arizona! It was a blast...cold, wet, but a blast. I enjoyed spending time with my Aunt Cindy, Mom and Dad. Now to cheer the ducks on as they beat the Beavs!

PHEW! It has been a crazy busy 6 months! Though some days weren't always so cheerful and fun as the pictures posted, I can say that I am thankful for every one of them. They have helped me grow closer to the Lord and grow in faith.

Thank you for being patient in reading this blog...I promise the next wont be nearly as long! Hopefully I'll be putting up Christmas pictures next time!! Here's hoping! ;-)

Someone stop me...

Oh my goodness, I am doing two blogs in one night...I think I've lost my mind! Oh well, its for your benefit, so, enjoy the last of my most recent pictures!! :-)

Here's Ryan wearing mommy's shoes in his undies...classic!!

Martin powerwashed our small little patio this week with the beautiful weather and we all kinda got summer fever. The guys are playin in the tent...Ryan sooo wants to go camping now!

Guy time.

I can't believe I can say this, but I am almost up to date on photos! AMAZING! I'll end with this cool video I took tonight of the Thunderstorm. Have a great week everyone!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp-wTe8ibHI

Venturing out

We've had some amazing, 70 degree days here and I am LOVING IT! Last week I got out of the house with Heidi and went up the Mckenzie to watch Emily's track meet. Heidi was either nuts or really ambitious that day because Martin was working and I had to take BOTH boys with. Thank goodness for the beautiful weather!! Here are some pictures of the meet.
The story goes like this...we got there in time for Heidi to video Emily povaulting, but unfortunately I had to watch it later because she had to literally run across the track to get it on tape. We were running a bit late...as I usually am ;-)

But I did get some pretty amazing pics of a kid named Cameron who also povaults. He is a "beast" as Emily would say! I think he topped out at 13.9 feet! NUTS! Emily has only gotten over 7 feet, but she's still got 3 years to go, not too shabby for her very first year doing it. Here is the lone picture I have of Emily competing in the 100 meter, she's running her heart out...fyi...she's the one closest to us in red with black shorts.

This one shows how nuts you gotta be to do this event! OY VEY!

Here's where we parked ourselves.

Wyatt venturing out...ya, ya, I know, I forgot his shoes...but in my defense, he's not walking...yet.

Our future povaulter ;-) Well, maybe not, but he was loving the povault pit and bar!

Here's how the boys ended the beautiful day.

To be honest...

Mothers day this year meant a little more. Not so much of the "Awww, being a mommy is always easy and fun" it was more of a "PHEW I made it through almost one year with two boys!" Don't get me wrong, I love my boys-but they are such different boys- and since Wyatt has started moving, our household has become a battlefield. Toys are always "MINE" and usually traded, not shared. Mealtimes always begin with someone whining or fussing over wanting something else or wanting it NOW! Whenever the front door opens you would think my kids never get to leave the house because they are both crying to get out.

My idea of a good day is if I get the boys bathed, fed (not in any certain order of course, though feeding before bath is usually the best way to do it) and to bed before 10pm...yup I said 10pm. In a house where daddy stays up all night at work, we somehow find ourselves staying up later and sleeping in later (when allowed). Its the truth and we have embraced our alternative sleep schedule. I have battled fevers, colds, pink eye, and anemia all by the grace of God and am thankful daily that those top our list of illnesses for the year.

Even with all the struggles, my boys are the source of such joy for me...they make me laugh and smile when I need it most and really these years I have with them are probably the most critical, so I am thankful for being able to stay home with them as much as I do.

I know this is only one year of my mommyhood with my boys, but with many more ahead I can say I am thankful that I have these daily struggles and lessons learned because I know that God is molding and shaping me even when I don't realize it.

Thank you Father for the gift of my children, may you give me patience for the next 17 years and continue to challenge me to become a better mommy. Happy late mother's day everyone, may you not forget the struggles, but always remember the victories!

Back to it!

Wow, life is passing me by too quickly here! I'm so behind with my pictures, I will just pass by the holiday pictures all together (sorry!) and move on to more current pictures and activities. Just a short catch up...then will do more blogging later.

So, I did it...I cut my hair! Well, "I" didn't cut it, but I had it cut at a salon ;-) I love it...actually since this picture was a good 3 weeks ago, it has grown out a bit and I am needing to get it trimmed. But I am for sure gonna keep it short from now on...I can't tell you how nice it is to get outa the shower in 5 minutes, fix my hair in 2 minutes and move on! Why didn't I cut it before??? Oh yeah, my hubby doesn't like me cutting my hair...he actually shaved his gotee off the week after I cut my hair in rebellion of my new 'do. What a goober....he looked like he was ten years old! Sorry, no picture to go along with that....I'm sure he'll do it again when I trim my hair next and I will get my camera out when he does! :-P

Love the self portrait!

A few weeks ago we had a yummy crab feed at my grandma's house...the boys could care less, but we LOVED it! This is how we spent the time after eating.

Ryan found this hat and thought it was "Woody's Hat", but really it was one my grandma and grandpa picked up in Mexico. I am thinking about getting this one printed and framed.
I love taking pictures of Wyatt...he is so photogenic...and he totally poses when he sees the camera...what a ham!

Grandma time!

He wants to walk so bad, I just know he'll be doing it before he turns 1. This picture captures his adorable little one tooth smile!

That's it for now...will post more later! Got some boys who would like to do something other than watch their mom on the computer! lol.