the Simple Things

Lincoln City, Oregon

I love this picture of my boys at the beach.  This vacation gave both of them their first taste of the ocean and they loved it.  They could not get enough of the chilly Oregon coast.  What I love about this particular shot (and there are some amazing ones which I will slowly get posted on here) is that you get a sense awe that my boys had for these mighty waters. 

I hope that I will have the opportunity to bring them back to this beautiful beach.

 I am joining the Simple Things challenge.  Go here to see what it is all about.

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.)