Major Hiatus

Sorry for the utter lack of posts lately - summer has scooped us up and has had us going and doing!

So. Updates: We got all sorts of big fancy pigeons for the aviary. They're beautiful and the boys and I are really enjoying them. What was cool is that the bigs and I made our way to the Pigeon Show (anyone who knows Zephan knows those birds dodged a bullet when I left him home with Daddy). Once the sellers were made aware that we weren't breeders or showers, we just wanted some pretty birds to enjoy, they began handing us free "imperfect" birds. They didn't want these in their breeding lines because the crest is too high or the eyes are the wrong color, and their fellow breeders didn't want them either! So folks were just handing us different breeds to take home! Perfect! We spent a whopping $5 for our "slightly irregular" birdies.

So, this is what I usually see while I'm doing dishes: One or more boys in the aviary, one or more cats waiting vigilantly on the roof, praying to God that one of those kids leaves the door open, and the dog supervising the whole arrangement.
Kids have been cute as ever, see below:
We had a fun week with Auntie Cyn visiting and my little Malachi turned 6. We met a bunch of his friends at the splash park and then in the morning.

Then, later on we had family over to eat Alien Cakes :) Can't believe that kid's 6! Combine that with camp for the bigs, tons of activities and swimming weather and you get zero blog posts! Consider yourself updated! Looking forward, this next school year is going to be crazy. Crazy exciting, crazy busy. God is doing a new thing in our little family - wait and see!

Happy Birthday, America!!

~Cousins~

We spent the 4th in relaxed bliss in Grants Pass with our family. Auntie Angela has a huge jet tub that she stocked with any kind of bath product I could could want. Uncle Daniel is king of the BBQ and blessed us with awesome dinners. The boys' cousin, Edan, was excited to share her toys and house with a horde of little boys for a few days. Goga and Papa drove down, as well. They live beside a big mountain and our evening walk brought us into the domain of beautiful deer (I was holding Zephan as we saw a baby deer and whispered, "Fin! Look! What's that?" He whispered back, "Chihuahua!")
It was such a great time of chatting on the patio together, watching movies and just enjoying one another's company. We're very blessed to have them.
This is everybody watching the fireworks show in the back of the truck:

Mommy's Helper

I'm trying to get caught up on laundry (hahaha) before we head out for a fun weekend with Micah's Auntie and Uncle. Goga and Papa are already down there and we're heading out in the morning. It'll be a great time - have a wonderful 4th everybody!!
I'll be back with pics....

Space for Rent

Well, the Aviary is in full bloom and I'm jonesing for occupants. Chickens are still illegal in my neighborhood (stinkin' bureaucracy!) until the zoning commission has it's 45 days to talk it to death. Then it goes back to the commissioners for another vote. By the time the bill ratification is complete they estimate it will be February 2010. All that just to change the wording so that 3 hens per family are allowed inside city limits.
And we've been fighting for 18 months already!
So, so stupid. I mean, my neighbors can have a pack of Pit Bulls and I can't have a couple of hens? Anywho, many folks around here have found a little loophole in our law. It allows pigeons.
Heh, heh, heh (rubbing hands together in a diobolical fashon).
So, the NW Pigeon Fanciers is having a show next month. The place will be brimming with fancy pigeons and doves.
I'm so there.

Just in Time for Fathers Day...

Micah got his acceptance letter.....to Nursing School.
Wow.
The next 2 years are going to be CRAZY!! But at least it's only 2 as he's got all the pre-recs done. I am so proud of this guy, let me tell you. It's an expensive and intense program and he just jumps in with his whole heart because he feels that it's something he should do. That God is calling him there. How we'll do it? He doesn't know....but God does.
"It'll be fine!"
As long as we're together, hon, it will be!

Wine instead of Whine

These cute faces will be missed. The noise that comes out of these cute faces? It'll be nice to have a bit of a break from that, I'll admit it!
Nana (bless her brave soul) volunteered to wrangle them so Micah and I could spend a whole weekend at the beach. We celebrated our 10 year anniversary a couple of weeks ago and are going to celebrate by relaxing in a room I don't have to clean and eating meals I don't have to fix! And, yes, we invested in a lovely bottle of wine to enjoy by the ocean :)

Fishin'

Aaaaaah....summer fishing. It's just not officially summertime until I have to wash worm guts and crusty fish scales of my sons after a beautiful day filled with fishing poles and laughter. We recruited Jeff & Nep to come help and piled in the van headed for Sandy. It was the perfect weather and so gorgeous there.
All together, we caught about 10 fish and BBQed them up on a beautiful grassy area. Micah stuffed them full of lemon, honey and spices - they turned out soooo yummy!

Solomon's prize!

Reel it in, Levi!!

YEAH!! Got it!!

Patiently waiting...

Kai's got one! Grab the net, Solly!!

Waitin' for a bite :)

"Fish over dayr!"

Beautiful Littles

Relaxing after lunch.

The Zoo...er...Park

So, we woke up this morning all excited to go to the zoo for "$2 Tuesday!" with 3 other homeschool families. We met up and proceeded to drive an hour to the zoo. We pull into the packed parking lot and were told that it was full. As was the over-flow parking lot. We needed to go to another parking site and then we could be shuttled back to the entrance.
Well, the alternative site was a decent drive away and when we arrived and saw the massive line of folks waiting for the shuttle, we decided that "$2 Tuesday!" wasn't the best idea. What a crowded mess!
3 moms (and one dad) stood between 2 vehicles containing our collective 18 excited kids. We stared at each other. What should we do? None of us were particularly thrilled at the prospect of trying to keep eyes on our kiddos in this huge mass of people.
Well, long story (kind of) short, we ended up finding a great park a few towns back the other way. No crowds and FREE! We played all afternoon, enjoyed our picnic lunches and the homemade Cinnamon Rolls Christi made for us all. We and had a great day. We'll definitely be going back. The pic above is Micah with our collective kiddos minus one (he was feeling a bit "done" :)


Daddy and his wet baby!


Zephan splashin'


This thing was ultra-cool, there was another set of steps behind us and more neat waterfalls.
I don't have a clue what they were doing, but it looked fun!


Our beautiful Levi


These were the kind that rise and fall in patterns - Kai loved them!


He's a bit concerned but warmed up to the water quickly.


This is a lot taller than it looks.


...and my wrinkled-nosed and exhausted baby :)

Headlines

Aaaah, June. The wedding month. All this sunshine and warmth made me itch for some Headline Weddings. Here's some with a couple of other funnies thrown in. As always, thanks to Jay Leno for the laughs. I'll miss ya, buddy.

".....Releases in dolphins, the body's natural paintkiller." Who the heck proof-read this?

Wonder why?

Gotta watch out for those miracle cures, folks!

So, we have alcohol, firearms and underaged kids. What could go wrong?

I do. I really, really do.

Here's a nice article on preparing your child for surgery. As hard as it may be, Mom, you gotta keep little Johnny out of the snuff.

What has the country come to?!?

Isn't it funny how one little letter can make all the difference?