'sgusting

We're almost packed, my boys are bouncing off the walls- of the car- 'cause they're so excited. Only wait! "Boys, please get out of the truck....we have to wait for dad to finish work in THREE hours. Let's go for one more little bike ride.

Just two blocks from our house is the equivalent of three empty lots waiting for the economy to bounce back so it can become a new neighborhood. The boys call it "Nothing Park." I grab a leash, water bottle, book and doggie and the boys hop on scooters and bikes to go down there and get some of that energy out.

I love Nothing Park, I can let Juneau off the leash and let him run around until he tires...this is good. He's going to the doggie-sitter this afternoon for our trip. This trip will be too much of a touristy trip for him. Anyhow, he snuck off in the trees toward the end of the boys' bike ride and I saw him eating something. Eww.

When he came back I bent to put his leash on and OH MY GOSH THAT DOG STINKS!! I am not even going to speculate on WHAT gross and disgusting thing he just ate but OH MY GOSH he stinks. I gagged. I gagged again. I gagged all the way home, mumbling how he was so gross and disgusting with a side of grosser. Joey heard all of what was happening. His first thought was, "Mom, is he going to get sick?" "No," I answer. "God made dogs so that they want to eat all kinds of gross things and they can take it." Then he responded;

"Well, look on the bright side. At least he ate."

Confidence, car trips and the battle of the buldge

I spent a good part of today packing up, getting ready for our biggest venture in the camper yet. We're heading out to Colorado tomorrow. We'll be gone for nearly two weeks, but 5+ of those days are on the road, I'm planning to make those days part of the fun and adventure.

#1-I pilfered all our Highlights Magazines from the bookshelf. My boys NEVER get tired of looking at these. Now that Joey is reading he often reads aloud the stories to the younger boys and of course they love it.

#2-I went to the library and picked up a new stash of books and a couple books on cd for us all to listen to.

#3- I borrowed from the movie library of a friend, 7 movies my kiddos haven't seen. I also got a couple from the public library, including Chitti Chitti Bang Bang. The boys watched that this morning while I packed and haven't stopped singing since.

#4-I made a trip to Trader Joe's and picked up two grocery bags chock full of the boys' favorite healthy snacks. I bagged up the peanut butter pretzels and Pirate's Booty in snack sized ziplocks. I'll put all these snacks along with our waters and fruit in a cooler in the back of the truck to ward off convience store fare.

I'm thinking we're set up for success. I'm hoping for it. These are going to be long days, but hopefully these boys will be busy.


Tonight, when I was bagging up the snacks, Ralph walked in the house and spoke the sentence I hoped I would never, ever, ever hear.

"When you have a minute why don't you go out and drive the camper around the block a few times. You'll do great, just have to take wide turns."

Then he turned and walked away.

Let me tell you what happened in my brain at that moment. I thought, "Well, I really don't want to do this, but Ralph seems to think I can do it. I guess I can." That thought didn't steal the fuzzy feeling in my tummy but I grabbed the keys, went out and got in the truck. Ralph glanced in my direction, but amazingly he didn't come over and say "Be careful! Watch the right side on the turns! And whatever you do, don't run over any small children or drive into the Canyon or wipe out our brand new camper."

He had complete confidence in me. It gave me confidence.

I thought about that the entire time I drove through the neighborhood. Confidence spoken to me completely changed the way I felt about driving this 45 foot monster.

When I got back, I was relieved. I know I have to drive this trip, we're driving some 1600 miles. Of course I'll have to take my turns. Now I have to visualize a safe and perfect trip....

Anyhow this lead me to thinking about me. You see shortly after I did my little test drive, I went up and did something equally scary and brave...tried on a new bathing suit.

Imagine my surprise when I looked in the mirror and saw the woman I usually envision, only slightly rounder in a not-so-graceful kind of way. I thought, "Who is that? Where did my skinny little self go? How can I do that to a bathing suit?" Oddly enough, I thought, envisioning myself skinny is NOT making that happen.

So what do I envision now? I think it's here: I envision me running 3+ times a week. I envision me not snacking at every opportunity when I'm not even realizing it. I envision me not eating any more of those wonderful Joe-Joe's cookies on the trip but rather a piece of fruit. Hmpf.

Here's to positive thinking! See you in two weeks.

Jeremiah 17:7
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.

May Beach Trip Part 2

Nate is proud to share...he's on Two wheels

Nathan decided to try out two wheels this month.


In just a day, he'd mastered starting, staying up and balanced and slowing, coasting, and stopping.

The next day he mastered "skid marks" a sign of true big kid-hood. We went for a 3+ mile bike ride.
For those of you who don't know Nate, he's very tenacious. He loves physical activity, and he's equally very caring, giving and tender hearted. He loves to give gifts he's paid for and make cards and pictures for others. I love the combination.
I'm as proud of this little boy as he is of himself. I don't doubt that he would sleep with his bike if he could.

Suttle Lake Camping; June 2009

This beach is one of my favorites because the shore is small stones rather than sand that comes home with us.

Suttle Lake, OR

Joey lost tooth number three on our camping trip, biting into a s'mores, of course.
Mom and Meg at their crossword puzzle
My handsome man, relaxing in the afternoon.

My dad took the boys out a little to paddle around, much to their delight.

Belly buttons all around.

Chocolate, anyone?
Nate took this photo, it's one of my favorite.
My #1 favorite part of the camper....the sink.
My #2 favorite....

Nate's find.