Camping in the Mountains

The most recent adventure our family took part in was camping (no water/electric hook ups) in the Oregon mountains. We went with Rick's brother, Dan and his wife Linda. They live in John Day, OR and so we went there and then went camping about 30 minutes outside of John Day.

It was a beautiful camping spot. Both our trailer and Dan's trailer fit on the spot. Dan got to bring his 4 wheeler and that was fun for all! There was a small creek that ran below the camp site. Lots of trees for shade.

Emma thinking about all the trouble her and this 4 wheeler could get into!

Caleb and Emma checking out Uncle Dan's 4 wheeler.

Caleb is all boy...ready to drive!!!

Hanging out with Anutie Linda and Uncle Dan.
Caleb and Emma were in heaven exploring the great out doors. And were consistantly dirt all day, until bath time in the trailer at night. I just simply could not let them go to sleep with black toes, faces, legs, arms, hands, etc.

Caleb and Emma playing in the cool morning.

Caleb excited about the camp fire!

Emma wondering around being silly.

It was a great time for all of us. We got to relax, ride bike and 4 wheeler and even play in the creek. It got really hot during the day. Almost 100...so the creek was a blessing. Caleb and Emma enjoyed nap time in just a diaper! Ha Ha!

The creek below the camp site.

Dan, Emma, Caleb and Rick playing in the creek.

Caleb and Emma did great sleeping in the trailer and with each other. They shared the "table bed" and we put a bed rail up for them so they would not role out. It worked out very nicely.

I love camping! But I was glad to get home to a shower every day and air conditioning. I know, I know...what a girl! YES I AM! Hee Hee!

Family, Swimming and Adventures

Seems like forever since the last time that I wrote anything. But we have been on the go for the last two weekends.

About two weeks ago already we hauled out camp trailer up to Deer Park, Washington to visit some of Rick's family. Rick's brother Ron and his wife Karin, invited us to camp out at their house for a long weekend. So we took them up on the offer and off we went.

Uncle Ron reading to Emma

Caleb playing trucks at Ron and Karin's house

Caleb and Emma traveled great and didn't do too bad in the trailer for the first time. They loved being some where new where they could explore! And of course it didn't hurt the they got to play with cousin Jessica and cousin Chrissy and doggy, Chloe. Who, by the way, loved to lick Caleb and Emma's faces off! Ha Ha! It was so funny. Caleb and Emma are just at Chloe's level. Chloe is Ron and Karin's black lab. She LOVED LOVED LOVED the kiddos.

Cousin Chrissy giving Caleb and Emma at wagon ride.

Laundry basket races.

Uncle Ron and Auntie Karin have a pool at their house and we got to swim and try out our cool floaty toys. Caleb was all about the water and it took Emma some getting used too. But after awhile she was loving it too! Probably didn't help that she got sunscreen in her eye from rubbing...poor girl...but she was fine.

Swimming in the pool

Miss Emma with sun screen in her eye

Mr. Man chilling in the pool

We went into Spokane one day and went to Riverside Park. We rode the carousel and played on the big wagon slide. It was really fun! Caleb LOVED the carousel...Emma however, cried the whole time and buried her head in to my chest.

Caleb loving the carousel ride.

Mommy and Caleb on the big wagon slide

Uncle Jim and Emma on the big wagon slide

We had a great time playing at Grandma Wiese's house one night too. Caleb and Emma enjoyed exploring the barn and fields out there.

Playing out by the barn at Grandma Wiese's house

Going on an adventure

4th of July Weekend Happenings

We had a quiet 4th of July weekend, which was fine by me. We didn't venture out to any fire work shows this year. I just don't think Caleb and Emma would have handled it well. They are tired and ready for bed by 8PM so that would have been a nightmare for Rick and I. Next year though, they will be 2 and 1/2 years old and can hopefully handle it a little better.

Yesterday, late morning and early afternoon, I got to have alone time with ME!! OH MY GOODNESS...it was fabulous I tell you! Ha Ha! I went shopping ALONE! I went shopping for ME stuff! YAY! Doesn't happen very often. I didn't have 4 little hands grabbing for everything in sight, no stretch limo stroller to push, no diaper bag to haul with me, no flying soggy Cheerios or sippy cups...NOPE...just me and my purse. It was lovely, relaxing and refreshing. Every mom needs days just to herself. Even if they don't happen very often...when I get them I enjoy myself. I got to buy new shoes...which I was in major need of, but never have the time to try them on...kids in tow make that hard. Ha Ha! I also got to shop for work clothes...sigh...yes work is about a month away for me...sigh...sad.

Mean while back at home...

Rick was feeding the kids lunch, changing diapers and getting them ready for nap time. Normal routine...not hard. Plus he is great at it. We both have become pros at wrangling them both alone. Anyway, Caleb has this game that he loves to play...CHASE ME. We say "Come here" and that means run as fast you can away from which ever parent is trying to get you. Well, Rick needed to change Caleb's poopy pants before nap time...Caleb took off. He headed to the front door, but turned toward the stairs. Some how he tripped...went flying and hit his nose on the very bottom step. Needless to say, he ended up with a bloody nose. Caleb screamed.....daddy rushed to get a rag and to help Caleb...Emma decided that this excitment meant for her to sit on Caleb's stomach and bounce. Why would she do this? We are not sure. I think maybe she wanted to comfort him and get him to stop crying and play...but she doesn't always understand. Ha Ha! Poor Caleb and poor daddy. Then when mommy found out...well I felt so guilty for not being here to comfort my baby! Ha Ha! But he is just fine. We was a little swollen after his nap, but today it was looking fine.

My poor little Caleb and his bloody nose.

Then, we had our good friends Sean and Daisy Martin over for supper. We grilled some of the yummy halibut that Rick caught in Alaska. Daisy made some amazing mango salsa to go over the halibut. We had rice with shrimp, salad,shrimp cocktail and peach pie and ice cream for dessert....oh...we were so full! It was wonderful. We ate, talked and laughed.

Caleb and Emma played in the pool. And I must say...my children play alone...with each other though...so well. They always have each other so they entertain each great. It is wonderful! Daisy said that part of that must be because we (Rick and I) are attentive but we don't coodle them either. I think she is right. Kids have to have some independence to learn and grow. They can figure anything out and can get into plenty of trouble, just the two of them. Ha Ha!

"Auntie" Daisy sharing her peach pie and ice cream with Caleb and Emma.

Today, I had to work at Dressbarn from 10 to 4. It was not so bad...getting time and half helps!! Ha Ha! It was really slow and I was sent home at 2. So it worked out okay. We really didn't do anything too exciting today either. We ate supper and then played in the backyard again. Swimming pool here we come! YAY! The kids loved it and were ready for bed at their normal bed time. It was a relaxing be fun couple of days.

Fourth of July Reflection

After the kids were asleep tonight, I stepped out on the front porch and the most amazing sound filled my ears. The sound of fire works from every direction, echoing through the Treasure Valley. It was simple something to behold...gave me goose bumps. The sounds and smells of the 4th of July. It really made me stop and think. First, I was wondering how Caleb and Emma were sleeping though all the noise! Then I hoped that people we celebrating our freedom and what the 4th of July really means not just shooting of fire works for the heck of it. Just like most holidays, the meaning seems to diminish over time. It really is a sad thing.

The 4th of July has a new meaning for Rick and I. Every since Ryan joined the Air Force,over a year ago, we are more aware of the men and women serving our country. Today is a day for honoring those who served and those who are still serving. It is a time to be thankful that we live in a country that is free in so many ways. It is a time to remember those great men and women who founded this nation. We are truly blessed to live in America.

I know that there are those who don't agree with everything this nation has gone through or stands for now, but we have so very much to be thankful for. We really have a lot of rights that so many people granted.

We got this email from a friend the other day. I don't know if it is a true story, but I love the meaning.

One of my sons serves in the military. He is still stateside, here in California . He called me yesterday to let me know how warm and welcoming people were to him and his troops everywhere he goes, telling me how people shake their hands and thank them for being willing to serve and fight for not only our own freedoms, but so that others may have them also.

But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped at yesterday on his way home from the base. He said that ahead of several people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha. He said when she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the U.S. flag lapel pin the cashier wore on her smock. The cashier reached up and touched the pin, and said proudly, 'Yes, I always wear it and probably always will.'

The woman in the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop bombing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi.

A gentleman standing behind my son stepped forward. Putting his arm around my son's shoulders and nodding towards my son, he said in a calm and gentle voice to the Iraqi woman: 'Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like this young man have fought and died so that YOU could stand here, in MY country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing YOUR countrymen. It is my belief that had you been this outspoken in YOUR own country, we wouldn't need to be there today. But, hey, if you have now learned how to speak out so loudly and clearly, I'll gladly buy you a ticket and pay your way back to Iraq so you can straighten out the mess in YOUR country that you are obviously here in MY country to avoid. Everyone within hearing distance cheered!

I am all for people coming to America. That is what this nation is founded on! All of our families came from some where else...that is what makes America so great! All these people coming to the same land with different thoughts and ideas, but one basic goal...FREEDOM. Freedom of speech...freedom of religion...freedom from persecution...freedom for work...freedom for education...I could go on and on.

What I can't stand are the people who come here and point fingers of blame or disgust at us. Why are they here if they don't like it? They want a better life or education for their kids...so they come to America. They want the right to speak out...yep, come to America. Sure, America is not perfect. I am the first one to say there are things that our government needs to work on. But I am very very thankful for to live in a country where I can voice my opinion about the government and what I don't like! I can't imagine never being able to say that I didn't like a decision the government made in fear that I would be in trouble or worse harmed. America could be so much worse!

People come to this country with these expectations that everything should be handed to them. WHAT THE HECK? The men and women who founded this nation worked their rear ends off to make America their dream come true. I am sure my ancestors who come to America never expected someone to hand them something for nothing. They worked hard to provide for their families and make America mean something to them. Why do people come here with their hand open for hand outs and are not willing to give back? Not willing to learn the language? Not willing to learn our ways? The "you owe me" attitude sickens me frankly! (Of course, not all the blame lies on these people either...I will leave it at that.)

We have a generation of entitled people. They are entitled to have everything handed to them and never have to work for it! So when do we change this attitude? I don't know the answer other than I will take care of my own children's attitudes. Caleb and Emma will never have the attitude that they get everything that they want. They will learn what hard work is and appreciate what they have. They will learn that a good education is the key to success. They will learn to respect people and love them, no matter what. They will learn what it means to be thankful. They will know what American means to their parents, and in turn hopefully learn to love this country as much as we do.

I hope that every one enjoyed the 4th of July. It is one of my favorite times of the year. I am looking forward to the up coming years with Caleb and Emma. Their little eyes seeing the fire works for the first time and I can tell them why we REALLY shoot off fire works.

God Bless America!