Berry Booty

Berry Booty
(My Mom finds this title highly inappropriate, by the way)

I have memories of berry picking when I was a kid.  We would head on out to the local berry farm and pick a ton of strawberries.  There was a system to the picking, one in the bucket, one in your mouth, one in the bucket, one in your mouth...  We never left the strawberry fields hungry.

I wanted my kids to have this experience.  We arrived in Oregon July 6, a tad late for berries, but I wanted to try.  So I convinced my Mom and we loaded up and headed to Lone Pine Farms to pick us some berry goodness.

While there were not as many as there might had been at the peak of the season, nor were they very big,  there were plenty of berries for my kids.  They were ripe and sweet.  My kids enjoyed the hunt and their "lunch."

At Lone Pine Farms, they also have a beautiful farmers market, goats to feed, and a playground.  The kids really enjoyed the merry-go-round.  They do not have those in New Mexico and so it was another new experience. 

After all the play we finished the afternoon with a yummy bowl of Umpqua Ice Cream.  So yummy!

Photo Phrenzy

I think that my biggest problem with vacations is the picture taking.  Not that I don't want to take the pictures, 'cause I do, but it is the amount of pictures that I take.  For example, I was out of town for 3 week, exactly, and I took 488 pictures.  FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-EIGHT!!  The math on that is 23.238 pictures a day (488/21=23.238).  Does anyone else take 23 pictures a day?  I might have a problem.

But every shot was priceless.  Well, almost every shot because I am far from perfect and had to trash too many -- some while I was there and others after I dumped them from my camera.  But seriously, could you imagine if I hadn't deleted any pictures while I was there?!  Definitely over 500 shots in those three weeks, but I digress...

I have every intention of writing a post about the pictures and the accompanying activity, but I have barely started the editing process.  And editing is necessary because my sensor is d.i.r.t.y and I have not yet taken the time to figure out if it is self cleaning or if I have to deal with it ($100.00 to clean it is more that I am willing to pay, especially when photo shop does such a good job for me).  In case you were wondering, a dirty sensor leaves pretty black dots on your nicest pictures.

So, for dealing with my ramblings, I will treat you to one of my favorite pictures of the boys at the Oregon Coast.  This vacation offered their first experience with the ocean.

joy ~ lincoln city 2011

I will be back soon with more.

FOUR, QUATRE, FORE, 4, FOR, CUATRO!

Katelyn is four.  FOUR!!  My little girl is growing up.  She is an amazing daughter.  She sets the example in out house for sharing; she is always kind and loving.  She is funny, sweet and cute.  She loves to sing and dance.  She is loved by all.  I am proud to be her Mom.

She was born at 10:22 pm (which is why this is posting at 10:22), 2 weeks before her due date, but we were completely ready for her.  She really is a blessing to our home and we are so happy that she choose us!

Kate ~ June 25, 2007 ~ 1 day old

Kate ~ June 24, 2008 ~ 1 year

June 24, 2009 ~ She's 2!

Kate proudly display her 3 years! ~ June 24, 2010

And now she is FOUR!!!

Happy Birthday Kate!  We love you!

The Bishop is the Father of our Ward

I had thought that it would be a good idea for the Primary kids to give a Father's Day gift to the "Father" of our ward, the Bishop.  I had found this super cute idea at Make It and Love It that I knew we had to make one (sorry, I didn't get any pictures).  But instead of the little flag that she recommends, I made subway art (inspiration found here) that can be framed and kept on his desk in his office or at home.

I LOVE how it came out!!  This was my first time making subway art and it was so fun.

when I grow up...

ERIC:  "Katie, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

KATIE:  "Uhm... a doctor, and a teacher, a mom, a grownup, and a mermaid."

ERIC:  "Why a mermaid?"

KATIE:  "I just want to."

Try and guess what her current favorite movie is.

Random Videos

I made these fun videos for a class that I had this spring.  It was for a class titled "Microcomputers in the Schools."  While I enjoyed the project and will use it again for personal reason's, I am still unsure as to how it would be useful in the classroom.  Oh well, I got an "A" on the project and that is all that mattered to me.  Enjoy!

(P.S. -- They have music so make sure you have your volume on.)

Aahh, the blog. 

Clearly, I have been avoiding it.  But I am not sure that “avoiding” is the word that I want.  I, simply, don’t know what to write about.  Truthfully, life has been hard the last 6 plus months and it is sometimes hard to write about things when you aren’t enthusiastic about them.  Or worse, to find things to write about because what has made life difficult is something that I would rather keep within my family (or the VERY small group of people that are privy to that kind of information).  Actually, it is easier to write a short, one sentence statement, to post on Facebook, then a longer, more detailed account here.

But there has certainly not been a lack of blessing.  There have been many that I can think of quickly and I am sure that there are many more that I am overlooking.  We are healthy.  We survived the school year and all did remarkably well.  Brandon got a new job; one that he likes.  Both Brandon and I received callings that we love.  I was accepted into the College of Education against all odds (only 25% of those who applied were accepted).  The kids are content with our summer at home.  I will have the chance to student teach at one the schools that I was hoping to teach at.  We have wonderful friends and family.  We will be able to take a vacation to Oregon.

So here is my pledge.  I will start taking more pictures (I have a pitiful amount from the last little bit) and I will post them here and write about them.  I might even back track to show what we have been doing.  I will not promise to do this.  I will simply promise to try. 

I say this because I know that at least one person reads this blog.  She is the one that called me out.  I will do this for her, and maybe the rest of you.  But honestly, you are all like phantoms to me.  I have no clue who you are, if there are any readers to write for.  So, if I begin to blog again, I need you to comment.  It’s all about the instant gratification, people.  I need it.  That is why Facebook is so appealing, the comments.   People who agree, disagree, or offer random thoughts.  So, do we have a deal?  I will uphold my end of the bargain; the rest is up to you…