Stylin'

Here are a couple random pictures. I cut Cam's hair yesterday, and he wanted me to put "hair stuff" in it today. I did, and loved it (but I'm kinda crazy like that). Here's a picture of the results... It was so funny... after I was done, he looked in the mirror, and gave himself a thumbs-up and said "I'm stylin'!".


Here's a random pic of Serayah this morning because she's got to have her pic taken if I've got the camera out.


Hugs to all!

The tooth fairy is a comin'!

Serayah lost her first tooth today. It's hard to believe she's old enough to be losing teeth, but apparently (despite our attempts to freeze her at age 4), she's decided to grow up on us. Sniffle.

Never has there ever been any child more excited about a loose tooth. She discovered it yesterday (and it was seriously loose), and proceeded to tell everyone she saw... which would include the entire shopping population of Costco... about her magnificent discovery.

She kept playing with it, and I kept giving it little testing tugs for her. Finally tonight it popped right out. After bouncing around the house, now it's bedtime, so let the tooth fairy come!

The other pic is just a random one of the kids sleeping. You can't really tell, but they're laying EXACTLY in the same positions... both arms are at the same angles, and their feet were splayed out identically as well. It was really cute. Cam sleeps in Serayah's trundle bed every night. That's the way they both want it, so who are we to argue?

Anyway, hope this finds you all well!

Love,
Summer

Brownies (and Tom and Jerry)

Well, if you're on Facebook, you've heard about Art's awful commute home last night. My friends in Utah probably won't get why a little snow would get us down, but we get wet snow that turns to ice. Lots and lots of ice. It's about 12 or 13 miles from Art's work to our house... he's usually home in 20 minutes. He left work at 4:15, and at 5:30 he gave up for a bit (and tired of slipping/sliding/pushing to get started from a stop on a sheet of ice) and pulled off to a restaurant 3.52 miles from work (I looked it up). Yep... that's over an hour. He finally got home a little after 8, and had passed 21 cars either in ditches or off the side of the road incapacitated. He would have stopped to help, but honestly, he didn't think he had a chance in heck to get back on the road after getting off of it. Ugh.

Anyway, the kids and I thought it would be a good idea to make some brownies for him to come home to... I snapped a couple of pics of the majority of their "help". Well, they each took a turn sifting and stirring too... but this is where their talent lies. Bowls really get cleaned around here!

Also, I'm posting a random one of them curled up watching Tom and Jerry (Serayah's favorite). I love how they love cuddling!

One of my New Year's resolutions is to try and get back on the blog and update more than once a season! Hope all is well...

~S.

We hope everyone had a merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful time down in Roseburg w/ my Dad. We were able to see lots of our family and friends, the kids and I made 4 different kinds of cookies to give out (and eat, of course), and fun and love was had by all.

Here are a few pictures from when we opened up presents on Christmas Eve (Santa's presents came Christmas morning, but I didn't take any pics of those). The big hit of the evening was the dress up outfits I got Cam. I figured that Serayah has lots of princess dress-up things, but it's hard to find stuff for boys, and I found these fabulous dress up outfits at Toys-r-us. They've got tons of accessories (and I found them at BOGO prices! Go mommy!). They loved being a Dr. and Cowboy, but the funniest part of the night was when Serayah needed a bad guy to chase, and Cam started running her down snapping the curling iron and flat iron! He kept yelling "I'm gonna Curl you, Cowboy!" It was awesome.

Sorry I haven't been keeping up with the blog... it's one of my new-year resolutions! I promise to try harder!

Love and miss all of you!

~S.

Halloween

Well, after months of nothing, here are some new pics. Halloween was SO much fun. We went down to Roseburg and did the trick-or-treat thing at Dad's house. I was a witch, and handed out candy on the porch... there was a smoke machine, I was sitting on a throne, and the candy was in my cauldron. I was a very good witch to the little ones, and scared some big kids. It was a blast. The kids had so much fun, and I loved my Spiderman and Spidergirl.

Waterfight!

Well, the other day, we were hanging out in the back yard, and Art went and got the kids their squirt guns out of one of the 368 boxes sitting in our garage that have yet to be unpacked... anyway, the kids (even Cam!) had a blast squirting each other, not to mention mommy and daddy... Enjoy the pics!

Spaghetti

Well, I said I'd bombard you w/ posts! The kids were having so much fun chowing down on spaghetti tonight that I thought I'd take a couple snaps. I especially love the one that looks like Cam is a spaghetti charmer!

First day of kindergarten

Well, our little girl started kindergarten today. You know, I really thought I'd be cool with everything... she'd been in preschool the last couple of years (and it's not like she's shy), so I thought I'd be fine. Well, I've got to admit that when I walked out of the classroom, I got choked up. She just looked so grown up sitting at the table with her little classmates! Sniffle. Here are a couple of pictures before we left (if I'd been thinking, I would have taken the camera to school, but I forgot, so this is all I've got... Sorry!)

Also, as you've probably gathered, we're getting settled so now I can start bombarding all of you guys w/ posts again! I plan on taking a lot of pictures of all of our new adventures in Oregon. Last weekend (again, no camera!) we spend a day at the beach. It was magnificent, and I plan on luring all of you Utahns out to visit with the beauty of our state. Also, we've got a new address and phone number, but as my wise friend Michelle told me... "don't put your info on your blog!", so if you want my new info, let me know and I'll email it to you.

Hope everyone's doing well...

Love, Summer

Oregon

Well, we made it!



Sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything, we've been really busy.



Our drive out here went really well, all in all. I drove our Trooper, my dad drove the Expedition (with the kids... thank goodness for car DVD players!), and Art rode his motorcycle. We spent the night in Reno, and everyone was pretty happy to stop. Art was really really happy, 'cause by that point he could not feel his bum (but let me tell you, the next morning he sure could!).



We stayed at Circus Circus, because we thought the kids would have a great time playing a few games. Ironically, I think we now have just as many stuffed animals as we did in Utah (after giving almost all that they had away in the garage sale.). We had both cars really loaded with clothes and stuff, and didn't have much room, but we thought "Eh, what's a bag full of stuffed animals... they'll fit OK". No problem.



Well, the morning that we were leaving, we saw a guy walking down the hall with the BIGGEST stuffed animal that I have ever seen. I was a giant clown fish, and looked just like Nemo. Serayah was needless to say incredibly impressed. She said something to the guy, and he looked at her and said "Hey... you want it?". We thought he was joking. He was not. Apparently, he and his friends are the best carnival game-players on the planet, because they had already won another giant animal, and could not fit this in their car. I laughed and said that we'd love to have it (thinking, where on earth does one put a 6' tall Nemo fish in a house..), but that we had the same no-room problem. Neither car could see out of the rear-view mirrors as it was. But... my dad was with us. He said "Seriously? We'd love it!". Huh? Anyway Nemo made the trek out to the car with us. I held Nemo while the men assessed the situation. Nemo was not going to fit. Nemo does not squish... he's really stuffed. I was contemplating somehow strapping him to the backseat of Art's motorcycle (that would have ROCKED going down the freeway!), but my Dad pushed, and pulled and shoved, and Nemo made it into the car with the kids. So now, Nemo is hanging with us at my dad's. He takes up the entire entry to the front door, but whatever.



Still not sure what to do about Nemo when we get a house. My friend Chris caught a giant marlin once and had him stuffed and displayed on the wall... I was thinking I could go that way, but I don't want to traumatize the kids with the thought of Nemo being "dead" hanging on the wall. Right now he makes one heck of a trampoline and they ride him, so he'll probably just hang out on someones floor.



Part of the reason I haven't posted a blog in so long is because we've been so busy. Art has been working M-F up in Tualatin (and for you Utahans, that's about 2.5 hours North of Roseburg where the kids and I are staying), and I've driven up once a week for one reason or another looking for houses. Sigh. I used to love looking at houses... now, not so much. I'll let you guys know when we find something.



During the week, the kids and my dad and I have been running around. We've been able to go to friends houses and play, and I've been loving being with all of my Roseburg friends again (although I haven't managed to see all of them (sorry Herm and Sherry!)). On the weekends, Art comes down and we're always really happy to see him. We usually head up the river and go swimming, because it's been really hot. I was going to post some pictures of the kids swimming (and actual trees and rivers, for you Utah people), but my dad's computer doesn't like posting pictures apparently. I'll try again later.



Art and I will be going back to Utah in the early part of August to finish packing, and load up a U-haul and drive back. Sniffle. I'm going to be so sad when we drive out of Utah with our stuff. Right now, it still seems a bit surreal because all of our things and house are still in Eagle Mountain, but leaving with everything will make it official.



Anyway, sorry about the lack of pictures... I'll try and get them posted soon.



I love everyone who takes the time to read this, and I would just like to thank EVERYONE who I met during our time in Utah. I've never lived in a nicer, more welcoming community. You all made us feel like part of a great place, and we made so many amazing friends. I love you all.



~Summer

Dance, Dance, Dance!

Well, Saturday night was Serayah's dance recital. It rocked! All the kids did such a great job, and Serayah had SO much fun... She had the biggest grin the entire time she was performing. Here's a couple of quick snaps from it... they're really grainy, but you get the idea. The close ups are of Serayah hugging her friend Caitlyn, and of course, Ellie and Tanner... Cam bought Serayah roses and happily gave them to her after the concert, and proceeded to tell her she was great, but then he spotted Tanner, and he ditched his big Sis for his babe of a girlfriend... Men.







Well, Saturday night was Serayah's dance recital. It rocked! All the kids did such a great job, and Serayah had SO much fun... She had the biggest grin the entire time she was performing. Here's a couple of quick snaps from it... they're really grainy, but you get the idea.

The price of weeds

Well, the kids are playing outside this morning, and I was doing laundry upstairs. I heard a little voice call out "Mama! We have a surprise for you!" I came downstairs to find these wonderful "flowers" that the kids had picked and they were sitting on my piano stool, where they knew I'd see it as soon as I came down.

You know, I've gotten roses, daisies and other gorgeous bouquets over the years, but this goes to show that sometimes the very best things in life really are free....

Carnival

This weekend is our "Pony Express Days" here in Eagle Mountain. Tomorrow is the big parade, and both Serayah and Cam will be in it riding to support our wonderful Gotta Dance! dance studio of which they both attend...

Anyway, today we made it out to the carnival. We had so much fun! There was a torrential downpour and thunderstorm which reminded me of Oregon, so we had to leave for a bit, but we came back for more rides and fun after lunch.

Serayah had a "Patriotic Princess" treatment. Glitter gel toenails (thanks Shammie!) and hair (The wonderful MaryAnne)... So I'm posting pics of her lovely 'do and toes as well as some fun ride shots. Enjoy!

Aahh... Moab

Art had several days off for Memorial day, so on Monday we drove down to Moab. We keep saying that we're going to try and hit some of Utah's other national parks, but Canyonlands and Arches seem to keep calling.

We got down there late Monday afternoon, and unloaded at our "cabin", then took a drive on the 50+ mile La Sal loop (which we'd not done before). They were having marvelous storms down there then, so we got to drive through rain, thunder, lightning and a bit of sleet. It rocked! There were fields full of some kind of wild irises and other wildflowers, and with the dark clouds, hills and torrential rain, it felt like we were in in Oregon again!

Our cabin had a set of bunk beds, as well as a full sized bed. Serayah was thrilled beyond belief to be able to sleep in the top bunk. I was a little nervous about it, but there were side rails, and plus, I couldn't shatter her hopes. We were all pretty tired and tried to crash early. Yeah, like that was gonna happen. Cam slept in a sleeping bag (very big deal) on the lower bunk, and Art and I took the larger bed. That lasted 2 hours. Next thing I know, I've got a kid on each side and poor Art's crammed in the lower bunk.

The next morning you would have thought that getting to bed (or at least to sleep) so late would have allowed for a late morning start. You really would have thought that.

Serayah and I had taken our showers and were dressed and ready to go by 7:15. Sigh. After breakfast, we headed into Arches. That's where the pictures below were taken. We trekked up to landscape arch (3d picture) and then Art and Serayah took a more stringent trail (4th picture... they're in the center of the frame). I wasn't too sure about Cam being on a rock face, so we hung out below. Cam plunked down in the middle of the trail next to the sign (I was finally able to skooch him over to the side a bit) and started digging in the red dirt. He was in heaven. We drive 3 1/2 hours, and he's happiest digging in the dirt. Eh.. he's 2 year old boy, what can I expect?











After we came back from our trek, Cam was really in need of a nap (and to be honest, so was mommy... I didn't get a whole lot of sleep the night before). We went back and everyone crashed. It was beautiful.

After a short nap, Serayah woke up and she and Art went swimming while I perused the "hidden pictures" section of several Highlights magazines... Laugh if you want, some of those are tough.

We spent the rest of the afternoon/evening cruising downtown Moab and just relaxing... it was marvelous.

Unfortunately, Serayah started not feeling so well and ended up spiking a pretty high fever. Anytime she's in bed and asleep within 4 minutes of laying down, something's up. We decided not to go to Goblin Valley (bummer!) the next day and just headed home. I'm happy to report that her funk was short-lived and by yesterday afternoon she was feeling great again.

Anyway, sorry about the lengthy post, but I haven't really written anything in a while and we had such a great time (minus the fever) that I had to share. Hope everyone has a great weekend!