Fab Fourth

4 July 2008- This was the first fourth of July here in Oregon and it was so much fun. I'm used to doing something in the early morning, then staying inside for the bulk of the day, then coming out if it's not too hot just before the fireworks are scheduled to go off. But this time we had a great time all day. After spending the morning doing fun things as a family we went with Ben's aunt to her friend's home, which is set on a hill with a great view. We met all the other family members there and had a great time talking, eating, setting off ridiculous fireworks and watching all the fireworks being set off in the valley below. What a great 4th!

What the?

4th July 2008- O.K. so early this morning I walked into Zach's room and I found this little boy just sitting there on this step stool with one arm out looking so pleased with himself. HHHMMMM? What could this darling little boy be thinking about?

Mostly Trees Please

Early July 2008- While all the family was in town we went to the Portland Zoo. It is a vary green zoo, not a whole lota animals but really beautifully green. We took a train ride that took us thru the greenery and sometimes we happened upon an animal or two. Uncle Jim and Aunt Vicky drove down from Canada for a few days and met us a the Zoo.

Lets Get Together!

Late June 2008- That is what we did, Ben's family all came to town including Cousins, Aunts and Uncles. 7of the eleven kids were under two and wearing diapers. So when we were all together we were loud and active, which is what my house is all about. Aunt Janis had a great idea to have everyone line up youngest to the most seasoned. We all had a great time.

The Big Shindig!

Grandma Joan and the birthday boy Ray

Late June 2008- We had such a great time at the big 75th birthday party for Ben's dad. We had it at the Portland Children's Museum and it was catered so there was very little for us to do. We had the whole museum to our selves so the kids could do whatever they wanted to do. Auntie Dottie and her brilliant girls wrote a play that was like "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", and all the grand kids performed it for the man of the hour. The kids did great even the Dwarfs that cryed, refused to wear the hats, ran around on the stage, or just sat out in the audience. Then Ben surprised Ray with a slide show with music and pictures, those pictures were so fun to see. It was such a great party everything seemed to be perfect. We all had such a great time.

Nature Sale

Late June 2008- My sweet children love lots of things, one of those things is making money. So when we had lots of family in town someone came up with the idea of drawing on natural things (like rocks and leaves) and selling them to our visitors. They had no over head and made out well.
The shrewd negotiators at work

They were right!!!!!

Mid June 2008- When we moved here and it was still rainy in May people sayed, "you are going to love the summer, well first they would apologize for all the rain then they'd say how much they lived for the summer. Being from SoCal I under stood summer but, when the summer finally came it was amazing all day long. The worst part was that you had to water the lawn 3xs a week and mow, it doesn't rain much in the summer here. Our summer was packed we were having lots of family coming into town starting with Ben's sister Becky and her family. We had a great time with them, they have 3 kids twin girls that were 1yr. and a 2 yr old boy.
They all fit in nicely with our crazy clan!

This is how it looked every morning,

the sun came out at 5am and so

did the babies.

Since the days were so long and warm we ingeniously
gave the kids Popsicles and put them under
the wisteria. They enjoyed it but I soon realized
the dye stained there skin. Tye dyed children, how
Oregon is that?

Cute dyed naked baby