Our First Family Vacation

Over labor day week we went to Coeur d'Alene with my sister and her family. It was a crazy time with 4 kids under 3yrs of age. It was definately a learning experience...how to vacation with kids. We had a good time but came home exhausted! With all these pics you would think we captured everything but we actually forgot our camera so we were at the mercy of my sister to take shots for us. Since we didn't hang out together every day we missed many great pics. How sad!

Uncle RJ and cousin Maddy, Mike and Ben watching the boats. Below are some pics of the favorite activity of the kids...beach time!

Maddy, Jake and Ben checking out the view from our deck.

One day we took a bike ride along the lake. Here we are stopped for lunch.

Apparently the ride was exhausting for Ben! He fell asleep and slumped over on Jake's chest. Jake was such a good big brother. I asked him if he could let Ben sleep there and Jake said yes and rested his chin on Ben's head. After awhile though, Jake started asking me to take Ben.

A family paddle boat ride.

Morning cartoons. Maddy is a sight in the morning isn't she?

Mike was pretty popular when he introduced the kids to pop rocks. Jake would just put them in his mouth and hold it open while they popped. Ben shoveled them in!

Waiting for the St Marie's parade to start.

Harvesting candy at the parade. It was quite the frenzy once the kids caught on that candy would be thrown from pretty much every float, truck, or motorbike that went by. And with their cute smiles and waves, wouldn't you throw them candy?

Jake going down the big slide at the St Maries playground.

On the way out of town we stopped to see Mike's childhood friend. He has fond memories of raising his gold prize pig on her farm. She was a strict "old" woman back then...Mike learned many a life lesson on her farm.

Mike touring St Maries and reliving his elementary years around town.

It's about time!!!

I know, I know, it has been wa-a-ay too long since I updated the blog with our family news. From a family vacation to Coeur d'Alene to a parade at Salmon Days it has been an adventure. Hope you enjoy some of our recent and not so recent pics!

Grandma Joan and Grandpa Bob came to visit in September to watch the UW vs BSU football game. My brother, Jeff, and his family came as well. It is so fun now that Jake remembers my parents and looks forward to their visits. As I was uploading this picture today Jake was squealing over Grandma and Grandpa. He said "Look, there is our friend, Grandma Joan!" Everyone is our "friend". Here they are with the boys after Sunday morning church before heading home. We miss you!

Cousins Jonah and Norah were here to visit in September as well. Jake and Ben had a great time playing with them. They are enjoying rootbeer floats out on the deck after dinner in this picture. Nancy isn't used to having to share Jake so she tried to sit on the boys side. Norah's feelings were pretty hurt since no one wanted to sit by her but in the end we worked it out.

Uncle Steve is a real hit around our house. We have a picture of him playing ball on the fridge and the boys are always pointing at it and saying "there's Uncle Steve playing baseball!" It was so fun for them to have him around. You could just see the adoration in Jake's eyes! Ben was a little more hesitant but as you can see here, Steve slowly won him over.

I showed this picture to Jake and it has been the inspiration for much role playing. He pitches to Uncle Steve (me or whoever is willing to pretend to be Steve) over and over. Steve usually gets a hit and now a lot of times loses the bat too!

Just having a plain old good time! Here they are sitting on eachother's laps and yelling "cheese" for the camera.

singing..."Bob the Builder, can we fix it? Yes, we can!" Can you hear him?

Ben loves Jake's bed and is always climbing into it with him. Here they are at naptime snuggled in and ready for sleeping. Ok, so not really ready for naptime. Being in the same bed makes them too hiper! But posing for the camera, nevertheless.

With baby on the way, space being limited, and Ben being enamored with Jake's bed we decided it was time to bunk them! Ben is now in the bottom bunk and looks like a little spec in a sea of covers. He loves it though and is sleeping great. Jake is on the top bunk and everyday he tells me "I love my bed, I love my ladder!" This is their first night in the new beds. The next morning when we heard them chatting back and forth Mike shot out of bed like a cannon and rushed into their room. I am serious, I have NEVER seen Mike move so fast. I asked what they were doing in there and Mike said he had visions of Jake leaning over the top bunk to chat with Ben and falling out. Needless to say, I am sure I will never figure out how to get Mike out of bed that fast again! But the boys were fine and we haven't had any issues except keeping Ben off the ladder. He thinks he should be able to climb it like Jake but his legs just aren't long enough. We also moved all the toys out of the guest room and into the boys room so now they spend all their time in there. It is precious!

Getting ready for the next float to go by in the parade. Jake and Ben sport matching raincoats and hats that our beloved babysitter Gail made for them last year.

Yes, that is my child laying flat on a dirty, yucky stormwater grate in the middle of the street during the parade. He has taken to doing this with all grates because he likes the sound of his voice echoing when he yells down it. He also likes to throw things down it. Unfortunately the picture on the right is after cleaning Ben up. He was a mess. If you can see, he had dirt lining his mouth from actually pressing it against the grate. Oh, Benja, Benja! Always dirty, always getting hurt, always all boy!!!

Dad and the boys watching the parade.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame... and more!

Abner Group, Mike's company, makes it to a Mariner's game yearly so we took the boys with us this time. Jake was very excited to watch a baseball game. Ben was clueless but he clapped when everyone else clapped and danced to the music. Here we are, boys paying close attention while Mike and I smile at the camera.

Jake was determined to catch a ball. I found this one of those heart breaking moments as a mother because he was so excited to "play" baseball and didn't understand that we were just watching. There was no way a foul ball was going to be hit where we were sitting but Jake had his glove out and ready anyway. Dad and Jake took a walk later to the lower levels so they could check out more of the action up close.

Ben and Dad goofing around at the game.

Earlier in the week, my dear friend Rachel came to visit. Jake loves babies and was enamored with baby Audrey. Rachel has 2 kids that are the same distance in age as our kids...16 months. Yes, we are both crazy but we love having them so close. Sam and Audrey are younger then my boys but we enjoy going on walks with them. They recently moved to Vancouver so we miss seeing them more.

Ben checking out baby Audrey as well. He doesn't quit know what gentle is like Jake does but he is learning by watching Jake how to be a little better in that department.

We also had a day visiting our friends Heather and Micah. I love this picture of them eating ice cream sandwiches in their backyard. Micah is a joy and loves to play with Ben (and Jake).

Finally, a favorite pasttime of the boys...to crawl into Jake's bed and read. Mike caught them on Sunday enjoying some time together and they both are saying "cheese". Can you tell?

A visit to MR JETSL in Richland

Mike's company has property in Tri-Cities and since we have relatives over there we at times brave the drive over with him when he has business to do. This weekend we stayed in our "vacation home" at WillowPointe (a house in the subdivision Mike is building). This was the first time we didn't have to make Marc and Robin give up their bedroom and sleep on the couch so we could crash at their house. It made the experience much more enjoyable for everyone and we are looking foward to longer trips in the months to come. Here are some pics from our trip to see MR JETSL (Marc, Robin, Josiah, Elizabeth, Tirzah, Samuel, and Lydia).

Dad went fishing with Gramps and Uncle Marc on Saturday morning so the boys and I met his cousins at the park to hang out. Jake and Ben found their own fish to enjoy!

Jake loves his cousin Sam! The first thing he asked when we got to the park was "where's Sam?" Here they are sitting down and discussing the day.

Cousin Liz showing Ben around the playground. She took him up to the big slide and they rode down it together. She will be a great mother one day. Although, by the look on Ben's face at the bottom of the slide I am pretty sure once was enough for him!

Nobody ever takes my picture with the boys so this one is pretty special to me. Ben was exhausted after a late night and an early morning so he couldn't muster up a smile but he's still pretty cute!

Dad gave Jake and Ben both a ride on the zip swing.

Then Joe and Jake sat and watched the other kids get a ride. Jake is a lot like his cousin Joe when Joe was little. I think they will be great buds growing up. Don't they have the same look on their face? Joe's mouth is slightly smiling and Jake's is slightly frowning but other then that...

And back at the homestead...we can't forget cousin Tirzah who is a bundle of fun. The boys had lots of fun playing with her! In fact, Jake prayed for her about 10 times that night in his prayer so she must have made quite an impression. When they laugh...they could be twins. All the kids look like Mortimer's but Tirzah and Jake really look like Bugga so seeing them together was uncanny.

Another great reason for the visit? To celebrate Sam's 4th b-day and Gramps b-day. Here they are singing "to you" to eachother while the other kids drool over the cake.

Jake and Ben trying on the spiderman mask.

And last but not least...pics of Ben eating. I love the one on the right. He is having oatmeal for breakfast at one of those tall tables. The sun was bright since it was just coming up. The one on the left is post b-day cake.

Unfortunately, we didn't get any pics of Lydia. Next time, next time.

Lunch at Dad's Office, Ice Cream at Bugga's

Ben loves basketball and always goes straight to Bugga's stash of balls when we get to Dad's office. Here he is posed and ready for a slam dunk.

Hot dogs for lunch at Dad's office in the conference room. I look at this picture and can see why people think the boys look so much alike. Ben sure doesn't look much like a baby anymore! Good thing we are having another one...these little guys are growing up way too fast for me.

Ahh, how sweet! Ben and Dad giving good-bye hugs.

" Mom, Mom, It's ice cream time!" That's the cry that echos thru the house whenever ice cream is pulled out of the freezer. Jake loves green ice cream. The boys are saying "cheese" for the camera!

This is Ben's first ice cream cone. He can't seem to figure out how to get that ice cream out of the cone. He figured out after awhile that you could eat it all. Don't you love his green goatee and the green trail down his chest?