Teenagers + God = An Awesome Weekend.

Okay, Okay.
In case you hadn't figured it out...

I am officially in summer mode.
My computer is still OOC.
I have barely had time to look on the computer let alone blog...

But I miss it.
Terribly.

I just wanted to let you know what has been up.
2 weekends ago I went camping with teen pathfinders to Madras, Oregon.

a view from camp... and people say there isn't a God...


 Camping was great (besides the freezing at night part)
We hunted for Thunder Eggs on Sabbath and were able to have one cut for each person.
We worshiped.  We did community service at a local garden that serves the needy.
We played.  We RAFTED... and had a major water fight all the way down the river...


our boat crew... and believe it or not I had to be one of two "strong paddlers"  Oh my...

It was AWESOME! 

(this is the class 6 falls that you are not allowed over... guess too many people have died here... I was okay with NOT going over the falls... just saying.)

last week we camped at the Oregon Camp Meeting at Gladstone.
It was AWESOME... and LIFE CHANGING.
I was able to attend many meetings and seminars and was richly blessed.
I feel super lucky to have been able to attend :)

Tomorrow bright and early Josh and I will head to Boise, ID for a few short days to pick up our kids, visit with my bro, sis in law, and beautiful nieces!

The next week after that  will be full of friends, family, and the beach.  I CAN'T WAIT.

Anyway... hopefully I will be able to get a few updates on here.
But just so you know.
Even though the sun isn't shining in Western Washington...
Summer is in my heart!

Yard & Auction Dinner

My yard looked like this just over a week ago...

(it still does in a couple spots... I'm not going to lie.)

So ewe had this "auction dinner' that was going  held at our home last Thursday...
2 different families bid on and won a meal & entertainment at our home... put on by some of the teachers and staff at Josh's school... 

That sort of lit a fire under my ---- to get the yard looking semi decent before 20 or so people arrived for this fancy dinner in a field of weeds.

My parents happened to be up and things kind of went down like this
"you're having a dinner here in 6 days?  your yard looks like this?  they paid how much?'

Needless to say the bark company was called... mom bought flowers for my planter boxes and I spent the next 3 days working LONG hours getting ready. 

The good news the dinner was a HUGE hit... and I can relax and read in my yard this summer and not stress about all the yard work that must be done.

So thanks to my parents & the people who bought the dinner at my home!  Now if the sun would come back out that would be awesome... just saying.



the dinner... a mexican theme

live entertainment

the spread... vege enchiladaes, spanish rice, to die for salad, fresh guac, fresh salsa, virgin strawberry margaritas, deep fried ice cream drizzled with hot fudge... oh yeah, it was divine!

awesome Gail  wearing our servers t-shirts...
pretty much I didn't take a bunch of photos because I didn't want to be the stalkerazzi with my camera... but whatever... we got 2 thumbs up!

So Much To Say...

First I must start this post with SORRY...

Sorry for being SO busy that I have neglected my blog. 
I miss it every day.

Second.  My friend Shelly is retiring her blog.
Just want to make a public stand AGAINST this. 
I am getting the petition ready at the moment....
Just saying Shelly.  Don't want you to stop.

Lastly,  My life has been a "good" whirlwind.
Life, but we are living it, so there is SO much to be thankful for.
That said, lots of make-up post that I want to share.

I would like to start with the awesome dinner that was hosted at my home last night...
but I must have pictures of my "new" yard...
"new" meaning weeded and bark mulched yard...
so that post for later.

For now...
FLS Book Club (yes it has only been 3 weeks since our last meeting!)

The lovely Jenny hosted and her book was a great read!  I gave it thumbs up.

She even dressed like an Egyptian...  just not like the ones in the book!





Oh My Word!!!!

Yum.

Super thankful that Tanna is working on a cookbook because this will be on the menu at my house!

The discussion was great, everyone was there, food was fabulous...
I just love fls nights!

Janelle revealed... with a little surprise (book 3)  oops!
Summers are so busy we decided to not meet again until end of August...
That gives us all time to dive into our new read, plus any other summer reads we want.


I know I am going to be dying by the time the next meeting happens :(


Ladies, if you are out there.  I LOVE our book club nights.
Thanks for making it fun, creative, interesting, real, and more!

p.s  Cars 2 came out today.  It has been circled on our calendar for 2 months...
We were planning on attending after basketball camp ended at 4:30... but now there is a bday party that 2 of my kids are attending.  So Cars 2 will wait until next week... and we will try to squeeze it in around VBS. 
I hope Jack can handle the extra couple of days!

Still Here...

Yup... still alive for those of you still checking.
Going to go take a nap though... but hoping to get on here tonight to update with some photos.
Summer has officially started, my parents visited :), and I spent the day with Pathfinders at Wild Waves.
Life continues to be busy but full of so many blessings.
Love you all... and sorry for being so delinquent.

This whole computer thing has been a real drag.

School's Out for Summer!!!

Okay.  The news is this...

My mac is dead.  It will not turn on.
Thus I have to blog in the "office" on the ancient desktop...

So been MIA but here is what happened over the past 8 days.

CAA grad... all 4 events over 3 days.  It was awesome!
5-8 Track and Field
MGAES 8th grade grad.... and Sam is now an 8th grader!!!
Worked for Janet (most fun job ever!)
Awards Day.
Father's Day Party and Picnic.
Last day of School Extravaganza for 3/4
Graduation Party for friends.
Shopping for a graduation dress (Sam got to march the 8th graders in)

Wow.  I am pooped.  Headed to bed.  Hoping to get a little shut eye before a very busy weekend.

And am I ever thankful that SUMMER is HERE!!!!

K-4 Track & Field

This is going to be brief...
(Got sidetracked by the AWESOME comeback by the Mavs to win Game 2!!!)

Anyway, today was track n field for k-4.

Mckenna & Sydney competed today.  Emma and Sam complete tomorrow.

Of course all parents think highly of their kids and why shouldn't we.  I was not only proud of the effort my girls made... but of the efforts of all the kids!  I saw lots of smiles & sweat!  Happy people (mostly happy anyway) and just a lot of fun.

Here are a few "brief" highlights for family who couldn't be here...
and a video clip at the end of Jack and his "race"


my sweet mckenna :)

it was a close one!

off to the next event...

and of course behind the scenes...

our mustang in training.

and here he is in the "big race" that he HAD to bring a change of clothes so he could look like his sisters... (mute playlist to here)

the dude had his own cheering section of my former students from last year!  They thought it was great the little kids were running!  My favorite part... Denton waving to his mom!  Priceless!

after the race, back at the umbrella...

jack: "momma I did a good job in my race."

me: "you sure did buddy."

jack: (after thinking a second) "it's cause I saved all my energy."

love the sweet innocence of young ones.
wish it could be bottled up... because it certainly does not last.

and just because...

Janet??? Where are you??
Our staffers take this day seriously :)