Time flies

It feels like I just blinked and weeks have gone by. I'm amazed that it's the 4th of July weekend already. It seems that the older I get, the faster the time goes by. I know everyone says that but it's true.


So what have we been up to? Work has been crazy. I feel like I've been running a marathon for a couple of months and I didn't train for it and they won't let me stop for a drink. But, after a long weekend working last weekend there might be a light at the end of the tunnel now. I've also been spending as much time as I can with my friend that lost her son. I never know what to say or do but I hope that just being there is helping in some way. I don't know how they will get through this but I know that we'll be there every painful step of the way with them.

Blake has been busy enjoying his summer in the babysitters new pool. It's about 3 feet deep and just right for him. He's going to be part fish and very brown by the time the summer is over. He's also been busy loosing more teeth. This is his new look.




Tim has to work most of this weekend but Blake and I will be going to the parade and then meeting up with him to go play with some fireworks at grandmas house. I'm thankful to have a few days off. I have a ton of things that need to be done around my neglected house but high on my list if just getting some much needed rest and hanging out with my favorite guys.

Till we meet again

One of my closest friends lost her son late Saturday June 6th. Grant was only 18 years old when he was killed in a car accident. I got the call around 5am on Sunday the 7th. This is every mothers worst nightmare.

Our family has been blessed to consider these people family for many years. We have been able to watch Grant grow into a fine young man. This was not your average teenager. As his Uncle said "Grant's hobby was collecting friends". This kid was no respector of age, status, religious affiliation or any other social status. He always had a huge smile and huge hug for you. You always knew when Grant was in the room. There was no pretense there. If he loved you, you knew it. And he loved many. This pure joy and sincere quality was infectious. Of late, he was focused on going on a mission for our church. He had worked hard and saved all the money he needed for it. He was even counting down to the day he could turn his papers in. He is now on another mission.

While we don't understand why he was needed there and not here, we are comforted by the knowledge of where he is and that we'll see him again.

We'll miss you dude. Until we meet again.

All I want for summer is my 1 front tooth and to be able to breathe

Yesterday as we waited for some prescriptions at the pharmacy, Blake pulled out his first front tooth. Both of them have been loose for a long time so it won't be long until they are both gone.

Here are a few pics The reason we were at the pharmacy was to get a whole slew of medicines for Blake. This has been the worst allergy season ever for him. In the last week his wheezing has gotten worse and worse and the inhaler was failing to do much for him. Yesterday I took him to the doctor and his allergy induced asthma is out of control. He took a breathing test that he failed miserably so they gave him a breathing treatment and then he did a little better but still not great. The doctor prescribed a oral steroid, a inhaled steroid, nose spray and more inhalers. He has to take the oral steroids for 5 days and that should get his airways opened up and then the other meds will help keep them open we hope. He sounds just awful but it's already a little better than yesterday so I'm sure he'll be fine soon. The doctor said it will probably be a month before the asthma is completely under control and then he'll be on the maintenance meds for awhile.

My dad would be proud

I had no idea until last week that Blake knew how to say The Pledge of Allegiance. This is one of those things he could tell me when I ask him what he learned in school today instead of the standard " I don't know" response. Maybe my questions need to get more specific. Next week I'll ask him if he learned how to sing the star spangled banner.

My dad was a military man and he would have loved this. This one is for you dad.

Rose Festival Waterfront Village

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at the Rose Festivals Waterfront village using the free stuff I won. We rode rides, we ate fair food, we looked at all kinds of stuff and listened to some good music along the way. The weather was perfect, not too hot with a nice breeze off the river. I was pleasantly surprised that there weren't too many people there so we didn't feel crowded.

Here is Blake and I on the big Ferris wheel. We had a wonderful view of the river and the city and the mountain. It was great. **The pics were taken with my cell phone so I didn't have to carry my big lug of a camera with me**


Here's Blake looking at a giant tortoise in the African exhibit where they have lots of animals especially snakes and reptiles.

We thought Blake would love to do this but he got up there and it kind of scared him so he didn't want to jump to high. He's a daredevil when he chooses to be.

Mr. Cool on the ferris wheel thinking he's all that.

This was Blake's favorite ride. He rode it 3 times and smiled from ear to ear the whole time.

I would definitely go again but I'd need to have coupons or free stuff again because it is spendy. It's not like carnivals that I grew up going to where you could play a game for 50 cents and ride a ride for about the same price.

Best Stake Conference ever

Last weekend was our Stake Conference and we had the privilege of hearing from an Apostle of the Lord, Elder M Russell Ballard. The whole weekend was wonderful. It was the first time I have seen an Apostle in person. The spirit was so strong that I was sure you could cut it with a knife.

Saturday evening Adult session was my favorite. All the speakers felt like they were talking just to me. 2 of the speakers talked about their conversions to the church among other things. They both did a great job.

Elder Ballard was the last to speak and he talked about the 10 virgins and keeping our lamps full and ways that we could do that. The usual things came up such as prayer, family home evening, scripture study. He said that he often hears people ask why we talk about the same things all the time and he said something like "As soon as you all get those down pat, we'll move on to deeper doctrine" He talked about rededicating ourselves if some things had started to slip. One thing he mentioned was kneeling each night as a couple and thanking Heavenly Father for one more day together. Tim and I had always had family prayer but didn't really think to kneel each night, just the two of us. We hope to rectify that. I found him to be very sincere and funny. I truly felt like my lamp was filled to overflowing from the whole experience. I did get to shake his hand after the Saturday session. I told him that I would rededicate myself to those things that I have let slip.

Sidenote: I have a 4 day weekend and the weather is beautiful. Hubby has 3 of those days off with me. It's rare that we have more than Sundays off together so I'm really looking forward to some good quality family time.

Sidenote 2: I won a radio content yesterday and got 4 tickets and free ride coupons to the Waterfront Village which is part of the Rose Festival. It's a carnival/fair that is on the waterfront in Portland. We've lived here 15 years and have never gone so we're going to do that tomorrow. The prize package also included a $25 gift cert for KFC and a gift cert for 5 laps at Malibu Raceway.

21 more days

That's all that is left of my son's first year of school. I can't believe the time has gone so fast. I'm amazed at how much he has learned. This is a picture from his first day. The little boy in the picture didn't know how to read.

One short school year later and now, check him out. He's a reader. It's been so cool to watch as his mind soaks it all in.

Wednesday night they had a kindergarten conference at the school where all the kinders and their family came. The kids sang a couple of really cute songs and then took us around to 9 stations that were set up to demonstrate all they have learned this year.

Here they are singing a super cute song called "Tootie Toot"

They were cracking me and themselves up.

Showing us his skills with colors and paints.

He's reading his "popcorn" words.
We've been blessed to have a great teacher this year and we're looking forward to his first year of full day school. Watch our first grade. Blake is on his way.