Finally!

Well I was feeling pretty bad about slacking of so much on my blogging... then I went an looked at all of the ones I love to read, only to find out I'm NOT the only one that hasn't posted for a LONG time! WHEW!!

So as usual I'm busy with the kids sports... and LOVING every minute of it.
Mikayla is running track and doing a great job.. I think she is going to be another natural hurdler... right now she is working on getting her arms in closer to her body.. as you can see from the picture... she's really trying to fly!! She is also trying to get faster.
I see great things from her in the coming year in the girls 100m race.



Colton is playing on a spring league basketball team.. I think he could play all day every day!! This is a picture from the Varsity season this year. He was starting point guard for the High School team. He did an amazing job!



Nathan was ready to start track halfway through the basketball season. He is a natural runner.. and is much stronger and faster this year in his hurdle races. He was in the paper the other day.. the headline read....
"Reber paces Oakers at McKenzie track meet" He won both the 100 and 300m hurdles that meet, and earned 10 point a piece for placing 1st.
This is a picture from the 110m race that day.



Funny story behind why his jersey is on inside out... The first meet of the season this year, he ran his fastest time yet. 19.80 sec
after the race we noticed that his shirt was on inside out.... he quickly stated that he was going to wear it like that every meet now for good luck!! Silly boy!!
He and I are going to Portland on April 19th to meet with the Head track an field coach at Clackamas Communtiy College.
He has voiced interest in having Nathan come and run for them next year! Very exciting for him!!!

Andrea is a nanny for a young single mom, she watches her 3 and 4 yr old several days a week. She also has another part time nanny job after school with 3 kids. She is loving it.

Josh is still attending Umpqua Community College full time. He also works at the Boys and Girls club in Roseburg. He recently was the head ref for there winter basketball league. His loves it!

Brayden is still living in Fairfield CA, working and attending school..

Rex continues to work out of town. We've been very lucky this year, as he's been on the west coast, and has been able to be home most weekends. It's been great that he was here to watch basketball, and now has been able to see Nathan run several times.
It looks like he will be in Silverdale WA next for about 3 months.

I'll try and do a better job keeping things more current...
Have a FABULOUS day!!!

WHAT??

Ok.. Ok.. I know it's been 6 months since I posted anything to my blog.. I'm BAD!
SO I get in here and the first thing I need to do is change the background.. It is NOT halloween anymore... Something spring-ish is needed...
WELL.... I can't get the old background off.. . WHAT THE HECK!!!
So for the time being.. it is STILL halloween on my blog..
I'll be working on trying to figure that out.. THEN I'll post some pics and catch up a little..

OH MY GOSH!!!

Have I really not put anything on my blog since JULY??
It sure looks that way. Well I'll make it a point to do a little catching up...
But first, it appears that I need to clean up the way it looks..
SO.... onto that order of business.. THEN I'll be back to post ....
SOMETHING!

July 4th, 2010

Colton spent a week on the Coast with Shannon and Treyse. He had a GREAT time! I took the other kids over on Saturday, and we spent the night. It was fun to sit around the fire and talk.
On Sunday the 4th we spent the whole day on the beach. It was pretty windy, but the sun was out and it finally warmed up enough that I was able to take my jacket off.
The boys had a great time Skim boarding. Mikayla even gave it a try. We left around 6 so we could get home to feed the pigs. It was a great little get away.






Felt very weird to be over there without Rex. He was in Biloxi MS for work. I'm crossing my fingers that he's able to get home this weekend. It's been hard for me to carry on and do family things without him here. But I know that its been good for both the kids and I.

Andrea Kay Graduates!!

How is it that this is happening AGAIN!! It seems like just yesterday I was shocked to find out out I was having "another" baby.. Then SO extremely trilled to find out it was a girl!
My cute, sweet little girl has grown into a very beautiful young lady! She graduated from Oakland High School on June 5th.
Can't begin to express what a great day it was, watching her celebrate this milestone!
Here are a few of the pictures from the day.

Dad, Andrea and Mom


The Whole Family!!!


Brayden and his best buds Tyler and Matt holding the Graduate!


Andrea and her good friend Darien, who came up from San Diego


Oakland High Class of 2010 - after a long day at Great America in CA for their Senior Trip. They had a BLAST!!!

STATE 2A Track

Nathan has had a great track season this year. He placed 3rd in both the 110 and 300 Hurdle races at the Mountain View Conference Meet. There was a guy that we had not seen run all year who snuck in and took the 2nd state birth right out from under him. He did PR in both the races and seemed very happy with the races he ran. This picture he is very high on this hurdle, most of the time he is right down there close...Was amazed at how much stronger her was this year!

Next year we will have our eye out for the sneaker... and make sure Nathan is ready for him!

He is also the 3rd leg of the boys 4x400 relay team. They qualified to compete in the State 2A track preliminaries on Friday the 21, and made it to the finals on Saturday the 22nd. Rex flew in on Saturday morning, and was able to watch him run in the final later in the day. It was SO exciting to watch him compete. They ended up taking 8th place and got a metal! They are on the far right.


It was a great weekend, and SOOO nice to have Rex home! He's here until after graduation! So hopefully he'll be able to get a lot of stuff done for me at the house.. I have such a hard time keeping up with all of the things that he usually does.
Hard to believe that there is only 2 weeks of school left.
Andrea has already registered for fall classes at Umpqua Community College. Will be a BIG change for her. I'm just glad that she's going to be staying around here for a while longer!!
Just LOVE having my kids around!

WOW

It seems like I have the best intentions ever to keep more current on my blog, but always fall a little short.
Track season has come to an end for Mikayla. She did a great job for her first year participating. Each time she ran the 100M hurdles she improved her time. She even places 3rd at one meet and got a medal! She was SOOOO excited!


Nathan is running in Districts this Saturday. I expect that his relay team will qualify in the 4x400 and possible the 4x100 relays.
He is 2 10th's of a second behind the #2 guy in the conference in the 110 High Hurdles. He will have to have a great race in order to qualify for state. Only the top 2 get a state birth. He is also running the 300M hurdles, he also has a chance in those. I'l just keep my fingers crossed and hope that he has a great race day all around!

Andrea is counting the days until graduation. She is such a beautiful girl! I have not idea what her plans are for next year.


I think I may be going through a mid life crisis.. not sure, but whatever it is ... I wish it would be DONE!!!

UPDATE...

Seems like I just can't keep up with all of the things I WANT to be doing, and most of the things that I NEED to be doing.
The end of March, my brother and his family were in Oregon for a visit during their spring break. The kids and I meet them and my Mom & Larry in Eugene for a fun afternoon of mini golf and pizza! It really was a lot of fun, & great to see them all again. It had been 9 years since we had seen one another.
The kids really enjoyed getting to know one another again!



That same day after we got back, the kids got their piglet to raise for fair... It is always an adventure! Lets hope they all three make weight!!
Here is Colton with his pig!


On March 31st I picked Rex up at the Eugene airport. His flight didn't get in until Midnight.. we kept it a secret from the kids... On thursday morning, he went into wake them up for school.. that was PRICELESS!!! They were all SO happy to se him. Nathan pounded on the wall a few times just to make sure that he wasn't dreaming.
It was a great time having him home, he was able to be here for 10 days. He got to see Nathan run 2 track meets, break his personal record in both the 110 High Hurdles and the Triple Jump. He also got to watch Mikayla in her first track meet! They were both very glad that he was here to watch.
He left last night for New Orleans. He will be there until Graduation June 5th, then probably back out there after that... really don't know, and just try to go with what they say.
Can hardly believe Andrea will graduate in 8 weeks! CRAZY!!!
My kids are growing up so quickly...keep me busy and bring me MUCH JOY!!!

Caribbean Cruise!!

As most of you know Rex has been traveling for work for about 18 months now. He has been in Florida since January 5th.
Several years ago, we bough into a cruise vacation plan... it has been amazing to have and has allowed us to travel with the kids as well as alone.
WELL we figured that we would take advantage of his location and take a Caribbean Cruise! We had a Delta travel voucher, so I used that for my LOOOONG flight out.
I left Eugene OR. at 1:00pm on Friday Feb.19th and Flew to Salt Lake City.. I had a 4 hour layover there, So my Dad and Kris came and picked me up and we had dinner. It was nice to be able to visit with them a little.
Then I boarded a plane to Los Angeles.. yep how dumb is that... any way.. my flight to Fort Lauderdale left at 10:15pm and I arrived in sunny Florida at 6:00 am the next morning.. which I'll remind you is 3 hours ahead for my body clock.... and sleeping on the plane, well that didn't go so well.... BUT I was in Florida and just 4.5 hours away from Rex. See he was working in Key west, and HAD to finish the job before he could leave.. SO I rented a car and drove to key west. Let me say that was a LOOONG drive. Once I got there, I showered and took alittle snooze while I waited for him to get back from work... It was SO wonderful to see him.
We spent the night seeing Key West, and left the next Morning to drive back up to Miami to get on the Cruise Ship.. we were soooo excited.

Here is a picture of our ship. This day we were ported in Cozumel, Mexico!!! It was BEAUTIFUL!!!


We had an absolutely amazing time, just being together was fabulous! We had 4 ports of call
Costa Maya, Mexico - Bellize City, Belize - Cozumel, Mexico and this is a picture during our tender boat ride in Grand Cayman...


The sunsets onboard the ship each night were beautiful


We got some great pictures taken... but had to narrow it down to 1..they are not cheap...here's what we choose.


We met some great people, who will be friends for life now! Had so much fun with them! Phil & Debbie Scott
They actually live in Ohio, close to where I grew up.. we had a ton of things in common..It was great! We even spent a fun morning in Fort Lauderdale together before we dropped them off at the airport for their flight home.


We spent the rest of the day and night in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday. Rex dropped me off at the airport at 5am Monday morning March 1st. It was very hard to say goodbye after our wonderful week together.

We didn't have anyone stay with the kids this time. Figured they were old enough to handle things themselves... and they did a fine job. Andrea really took care of everything, especially Mikayla. She is an amazing young lady!
They were ALL SO happy to see me when I got home. It made me feel very loved and special.
The girls told me that they were hoping that I was going to surprise them and bring Rex back and not tell them... NO such luck, he flew back up to Jacksonville on Monday evening. Not sure how long he'll be there. Could be 3 weeks could be 6... It makes it hard not knowing when he'll be home. And even though I got to see him for 9 days, the kids are missing him, it's been 7 weeks for them.
I think we will be getting on Skype this weekend so they can see and talk to him.
I feel very lucky that I was able to go and spend time with him... and that I have wonderful friends here that looked over my kids while I was gone!!!

A little catch up... AGAIN!

Things are busy busy, Basketball is in full swing. It is SO much fun to be able to watch both Colton and Nathan play together..
The are both starting on the JV team... and both see considerable minutes.. Colton plays much of the game and is the point gaurd. He is very good, and has been given alot of responsibilty. Nathan is playing alot on the JV team and swinging to Varsity.. he doesn't see much time on the floor, but its great for him to be a part of getting ready for next year! I've been streaming the home games so that Rex can watch them. Technology is an amazing thing...



Josh is playing ball for Umpqua Community College. He is enjoying it and continues to improve. I happy that he has been able to keep up with something that he loves so much. He is on the front row #15


Andrea has started her clinical's with her CNA class, and has told me she never wants to live in an "Old Folks Home"
she is doing well, and learning a ton!



Mikayla and I are able to spend more time together after school, since the other kids are at practice or class. It has been very fun and makes us both happy.
Rex is has been working in Jacksonville Fl. for the past month, and will be heading to Key West this weekend.
It is hard having him away for so long. We all miss him.
I'm going to be going down there on the Feb 19 and we are taking a Caribbean cruise for a week! WE CAN'T WAIT.. I'm so glad that we bought cruz points years ago when money wasn't so tight, with out them we would not be able to go now!
I'll try to be a little better about posting... keep you fingers crossed.

NO TIME!!

How is it possible to have not time, when there are 24 hours in a day??? WELL what ever the answer is... It is how I live!
Running around like a crazy woman, most of the time...
It was refreshing to go down my list of blog's and notice that I am not the only one who hasn't updated in quite a while!
I will try and do a better job.. maybe I'll post a picture of Andrea after she gets her wisdom tooth out later today... or some basketball pictures, or maybe holiday shots... who knows what it will be, but I will try and post something new.... besides just text! Until then.. much love to all who read this !!!

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!!