I'm walking...and I'm not even 1!

Winter Wonderland...Pre-Christmas Fun!

It snowed today! We have close to a foot already...sledding was soooo much fun.

Our Christmas tree was a little expensive for our liking but we missed the Ikea $10 special this year so we forced the family to get Santa pics at the tree farm this year instead of at the mall. Saved us $20 or so and made us feel like the Christmas tree was not quite as expensive. Oh, us Mortimers! We are so frugal...

This is the tree we took home!

You would think this was on the way home from picking the Christmas tree but, no, it was on the way there. We went at naptime. Isn't he precious!

THANKS GRANDMA JOAN FOR THE CHRISTMAS PJ'S.

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Jesus Loves Me, Yes He Does...

Don't mind Benja picking his nose. He just got done crying so I guess it was bothering him.

Precious Songs of Praise! By Jake Mortimer

Jake is constantly singing praises to the Lord. He has a real gift for remembering any song but he also likes to make them up. They are all original...you'll never hear this one again! I know because I tried to get it on video twice and although the songs I recorded were similar, they were not exactly the same. No two alike! I am hopeful that he will continue to develop a musical gifting from Mike's side of the family so I can live vicariously thru him as I am not even a tiny bit musically inclined! Although I am hopeful that one of my rewards in heaven will be a new and amazing singing voice. I can't imaging how God has put up with my singing thus far so I am sure He would prefer to replace my voice in heaven then listen to it as is for eternity! :)

Pumpkin Patch

Josh had blueberries and blackberries for lunch. His hands and face were purple all over. The picture doesn't do it justice.

Mortimer Family Vacation- Seaside, OR (August)

We took our first "just us" family vacation to Seaside, OR this year. Vacationing with 3 kids under 4yrs is a bit challenging but we enjoyed ourselves anyway. At least the accomodations were nice so when we were waiting for napping kids it was comfortable. Mike grew up in Tillamook so we took the kids there one day to see all the sights. Here they are at the Octopus tree. It wasn't as cool as I remembered it. I had only seen it once before. I was in high school and went to meet Mike's family for the first time in Tillamook. Of course Mike took me to all the touristy spots. Things are so much more impressive when you are young and in love!

We met a nice couple from New York or Boston (I can't remember) that took our picture.

Driving by Tillamook HS we couldn't resist taking a picture of the lawn mowers that some kids had driven to school and parked in the parking lot. Classic Tillamook!

We went to the cheese factory and didn't meet any nice couples to take our pictures so Mike set the camera up on a fence post across the street and set the timer. We have an hilarious set of pictures showing various states of us chasing the boys to try to get them into a picture. It is classic!

And when it was all said and done we were so small in the pics that you couldn't even see us. Oh well, it made a great memory.

Daddy time on the beach.

Looking for seashells...who would think you'd find a crab buried in the sand on the shoreline? Huh, go figure.

The boys went crazy at the arcades. They didn't know the difference between games when money was put in and games when no money was put in so we had a lot of cheap entertainment. We would just stop by the arcade and let them go at it for an hour or so while we watched.

They loved the Carousel!

I think this might have been the first time I put Josh in a swing. He loved it!

A hermit crab crawling on Jake's hands at the Aquarium...if you can call what they have at Seaside and aquarium. Definately not worth the money!

Say cheese!

The first day we were at the beach we ran from the waves. Jake thought it was fun but check out Ben's face. He played along but I think he was a bit freaked out.

Dad tried to show off and make a big sand castle but it was a flop so he ended up shaping a cowboy boot out of the sand. A cowboy boot? Yup. Should've taken a picture of that!

Mortimer written in the sand.

On the way home we stopped in Portland at Malibu Speedway. Jake barely passed the height requirements to ride in the "nascars".

But after one lap around he was a bit sick. He stuck it out for one more but I went a little too fast the second time around and I felt so sorry for him. He got whipped around and his helmet fell over his face. He was so excited to ride those cars and in the end he walked away sick as a dog and crying. He tried to tough it out but it was a bit much. Ok, parental reminder that some fun things just need to wait.

Parsons' Family Vacation- Cascade, ID (July)

On our way to Cascade we stopped over in Tri-Cities and hung out at the "River House" while Mike worked (he is developing a master-planned community on the river, gorgeous place to live!). It is HOT in Richland so we broke out the pool.

Josh singing away.

I dared to let Jake hold (tightly) Josh while I snapped a few quick photos. Phew, it all worked out. Just the other day, I was running the bath water for the boys and giving them haircuts. While I cut Jake's hair Ben and Josh were playing in the running water. Next thing I know I hear a funny sound and turn around to see Josh had fallen into the tub, pjs and all. Yikes! If I hadn't of been there he would have drown. I quickly pulled him out of the water and he was soaked and covered in bubbles...sreaming. We had a close call so we try to be pretty careful around water. Josh loves it...but maybe a bit too much.

Mike played softball with his brother and afterwards took the boys onto the big field to catch some pop flies and field a few grounders. Fun, fun.

The moon is always huge and beautiful at the "river house". Jake and Ben love looking at it. We don't get to see the moon too much in Issaquah. The clouds are too often and the trees around our house too tall.

Finally, here we are in Cascade. These photos are out of order but why not start with a little ice cream?!

Big bite.

Cousin Maddy

Cousin Norah. She looks like a teenager here but she is only 5.

Gone fishing...

Learning the ropes...how to hook up a worm.

Nothing better then the great outdoor latrine.

We hiked to a little lake and back up. It wasn't a big hike but my boys did great on the way there and not so great on the way back.

Isn't Jake precious.

Norah and Josh.

Grandpa Bob and Josh.

The whole Parsons clan.

Aunt Brooke reading the kids a story before naptime.

The best part of vacation...ATV's. The boys call them monster trucks.