This is our dog Ace, he has been sick for a while, and had been noticabley getting worse. He passed away on Sunday.
He was an amazing dog. He was a great companion to us all. Rex used to take him to work with him, before he started traveling. He would LOVE riding in the truck... once at the job he would get out and sit at the bottom of the ladder waiting for Rex.He was a very loyal friend.
Each of the kids have great memories with him! They all loved him! And he loved and protected each of them.
I think that Mikayla was about 3 when we got him, she is missing him alot...and was with him at the end, lovingly petting him.
He will be greatly missed in our home.

WELL... I have been meaning to post a few pictures... and just now am making the time to take care of it...
I'm trying to do better managing my time.. I guess as long as I'm trying, and keep trying thats what really matters..
Josh turned 19 on September 27th... WOW that is weird! He spent the day in Eugene with some friends, and we didn't end up having cake until a few days later... but it was great all the same. He is attending the local community college, and has been practicing with the basketball team.. he is hopeful that he will make the team! That would be great!
Here's a pic with of course a "basketball" cake!


It was homecoming week at school and here are two pics... the first is Nathan sporting a Bow tie that Rex wore to prom... and was an escort for Karla... who is now the secretary at the kids High School... she made sure that it was on just right!!! The theme for the day was 80's prom attire!



Second was "Hippee" day! Here are Andrea and Colton before leaving the house! What a crack up!


Lastly.. I also had a birthday... Nathan sent my name in to the local news channel that post birthdays each day... you can see by the picture below... what age I turned...... I think I look amazing for 87!!! He is such a funny kid!

It's Catch up Time!!! AGAIN!!

I am really not a very good blogger... there have been things that have happened, I just haven't gotten the pictures posted!
SO here we go.....

First off Andrea Kay turned 18... I remember finding out that I was going to have "another" baby.. and then I got the amazing news, that I was having a little girl, I remember seeing her for the first time, and feeling SO MUCH JOY! She still brings me the same joyful feeling and makes me smile everyday! She is an amazing daughter! And is the most amazing big sister to Mikayla.
She makes me feel proud to be her mom..... I'm very lucky!

With the beginning of school, means the start of fall sports. Mikayla decided to run cross country this year, and is doing a great job. Here she is before her first meet.


Both Nathan and Colton are playing football. Nathan will be starting both defence and offence. He only came out for a few plays last Friday... I was SO proud of him. He played very tough, and had the bruises to show for it.



Colton did not seeing any time on the field... but I think he was glad... the other team was HUGE!!! He was pretty excited to get the wear the same Jersey that Josh had both his Jr and Sr. years.... So I'm still watching #84!! It's just a little shorter this year!!



Of course we are busy... but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way!!!!

Whitewater Adventure!!

Last week, the FFA went on a 2 day whitewater rafting trip on the Lower Klamath River in CA. On Wed. there were still several spots open, so I went as a chaperone, and Nathan and Colton were also able to go. It was SO much fun to do that with the some of my kids....
This was the first day before we got on the river....


On The second day I had a little bit of a scare, when I fell out of the back of the raft, we were high centered on a rock, therefore I ended up behind the rock stuck in an eddie.... one of the other guides had a digital camera that could take video.... I fell out as soon as you see the boat on the rock, and you can see my head come up FINALLY for a quick breath right at the end after every one else falls out...... I went back under, then came up further down past that huge rock....It was pretty scary, I thought I was going to drown.... Here's the clip....


After that wonderful experience.... we stopped for lunch and hiked up a 3/4 mile stream to Ukonom Falls.... Its was SO beatiful, the water was probably only 50 degrees, and we had to swim upstream a little, but it was well worth it and the picture really doesn't do it justice.....




I would have to say all in all, it was an amazing trip with 3 of my kids.... It doesn't get any better than that for me!!!
And I came home with a renewed sense of appreciation for all of the things that I have in my life.... especially Rex and the kids!

Yesterday was Colton's Birthday... he turned 14, I spent part of the day reflecting on how fast the time has gone... we moved to Oregon when he was two weeks old. My dad had come to California the week I had him, he did a ton of packing for me. I remember him bringing the 4 older kids to the hospital to see Colton, they were all so excited to have a baby brother. Looking back, I think I must have been crazy out of my mind. But I also know that my children are such a joy to me, I can't imagine not having any of them in my life.
Colton loves to be playing basketball, I think he would play all day every day if he could. He like to be outside and active, playing ball, riding his bike, swimming, he loves it all.
His very best friend Josh, he loves Josh and looks up to him so much. He wants to be like Josh, thats a good thing, because Josh is an amazing young man.
Colton is a good friend to kids at school, everyone like him.. and as he reminds me often, especially the girls!
I'm so excited to watch him play High School Sports this year. He will be a freshman, that just seems SO weird.... but it's here. And I'm sure he is going to tear up the football field and dominate on the basketball court.
I'm very blessed to have such wonderful kids! And yesterday I felt extra blessed as I remembered having Colton and all of the Joy he has brought into my life to this point.

WELL, I thought since it has been a very LOOONG time since I had posted, and even though I don't have any pictures, I should probably make an entry.
Summer is in full swing around our house. The kids are excited to be out of school, actually complaining about being bored, and that "there's nothing to do"... always makes me crazy when they say that..... cuz there is a ton of things to do.. just nothing that they want to do.
Brayden is still in CA. and looking for a job.. things didn't work out at Panera Bread. So he is having and adventure..in life. I miss seeing him, and worry about him daily.
Josh has been house sitting for 2 weeks for his basketball coach, this will be his last week. He'll be going up to Seattle with Rex on Sunday to work. It will be good for him to be working. He's hoping to make enough money to pay for his first year of college.
Andrea has turned in some job applications and is hoping to get hired somewhere... she "needs money" ! She has been amazing at holding things together at the house while I'm at work. She is a great big sister, and has made it a point to do dun things with Mikayla.She is just an amazing young lady!
Nathan and Colton are doing some basketball ball handling skills drills, two days a week and lifting weights with the football team 3 nights a week. They love it! And are waiting to see BIG muscle's.
Mikayla is going to summer school Mon-Thurs. likes seeing her friends, but doesn't like the school part. I know it will help her in the fall, when she goes back to school.
I'm busy at work, and wishing I could be home hanging out with the kids.... but have used all of my Paid time off, so that is going to have to wait until after Aug. 8th when I get some more. I will have worked here at Orenco 4 years... how time fly's. I'm lucky to have a good job, and a great supervisor. Don't know where we'd be if I wasn't able to contribute financially.
I'm trying to eat more healthy, and make sure that I'm getting more exercise. I have really gotten out of the habit of working out, and I miss that. It is just so easy to push that to the back burner when time is short, and let other things take priority.
Yet I know that I feel SO much better when I'm doing it. It's a never ending battle for me, that causes me a great deal of anxiety.
Rex has been working closer to home since May. He will be in Seattle for a few months, then not sure. It's a long 6 hour drive home each Thursday night, then back up on Sunday afternoon. But it's been nice to have him home on the weekends.
With all of the stuff that he try's to get done while he's here, not much of a break for him. But as with me, he feels lucky to be able to work.
And we both are very thankful for any time we can spend together.

Oakland Class of 2009

Here are some pictures from Josh's graduation. He looked very handsome, and did a great job on his welcoming speech.



He received an $800 dollar scholarship from the Oakland School District!







It seems so hard to believe that he is old enough to graduate from school, he has always been a great, caring , loving young boy. He has grown into an amazing young man!
He makes us very proud!!