{The Shabby House}

This is one cool shop. Actually, there were about 8 shops open out behind the place, and several that weren't. It is a shop full or all things shabby, just how I like it! 

{End of the year}

Like most families, we've been doing the end of the year programs.

Ryley just finished year 1 of pre-school. We will be doing the "Smart Cookies" co-op next year. That was the plan for this year, but he was a bit timid in the Fall and didn't seem ready in the Spring when I needed to commit. I am very excited for the opportunity, since I have always wanted to teach.

It was hard to take good pics, but dad video taped the whole thing so we are covered.

{Ryley}

 We have had several water days lately, surprisingly.

 Singing at the assisted living home with preschool. He had such a good time and said, "Mom, I liked singing to the Grandpa's, and I want to go back." He wore his "Happy Hearts Preschool" shirt

 for his last field trip. He only has 2 days left of school for the year. He is going to miss it tons, even if it was only 5 hours a week.  

 Some of the kiddo's

At the park after the field trip.

The same day Chad went on a 7 hour field trip with Maisey's class around Portland with a tour guide. They really enjoyed it and talked about it all night.

I am so thankful for flexible schedules. Chad is always volunteering since he's on the home front but I certainly get my time too. We always go with Ry and the kids are so fun. I am really looking forward to the preschool co-op next year!!!

{Beach}

Like hundreds of other people, we headed to the beach to celebrate Mother's Day. It was so nice and warm! Half of my body ended up with a sun burn, but it was well worth it!

 HayStack Rock at Cannon Beach

 Grabbed a treat at the best little candy shop in Cannon Beach.

We loved all the creatures during low tide! It was even cooler to see all the tourist who commented that they had never seen anything like it. My grandparents lived on the beach most my life and I never appreciated it until I realized so many people (many from Utah even), had never been to the coast!

We went with the Williams and it was perfect because we enjoy the company of good friends as much as we can get it! 

{Girl Time}

Summer is in sight! The kids have had a couple days off of school lately, in fact two this week. Which, called for a sleepover of course!

These girls were so silly. After hot tubing they wanted a spa night. Once they applied the cucumbers, Maisey's door shut and the music was all I heard. I opened the door to see the girls laying in the dark, "relaxing" to the song "Battlefield" blaring! Okay, and there positions did not look too relaxing! To each their own!

 Ice Skating- one of Maisey's favorite things to do. Everyone did so great and it was so fun to see the excitement on their faces!

We LOVE Maggie Moos at Washington Square! Red Velvet (red color) Cotton Candy (blue) Watermelon (pink) and my FAVORITE- Marshmallow (yellow)

 Nails

 I took them to hot tub, BUT, they ended up swimming for some time! The water hasn't been cold (Maise has used the pool this past week with friends 2x), but it was also around 8pm at night and the air wasn't as warm out. Luckily, they warmed up in the locker room showers afterwards.  

Lexie, Taylor, Maisey, and Ellie

Gotta love underwater cameras!

Go get your pedis and bust out your sandals!

Bring on summer!

{Fun Run}

Maisey's school had their annual fun run. Each year Chad volunteers for the day and this year I was able to help out too. Maisey ran 12 laps, and she wore my favorite number "16!" It was an ugly day out but the kids were troopers, despite the mud up and down their backs!

Maisey and Lexie- inseparable!

Thanks to those who pledged and supported the girl! 

{Learning}

Well, a girls shooting outing didn't happen this past weekend but that didn't stop me from trying my new gun! Thanks to a knowledgeable friend, I learned how to operate 'her.' The kids watched DVD's and dirtied every inch of the suburban with bright orange crackers. Chad and I felt terrible! Herb brought 5 other guns and after shooting all of them, I am glad I went with my 22!  

{Miss Worker Bee}

Maisey wanted to visit my work on "Take Your Child to Work Day" last week. I don't work in the office on Thursday's but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to show her the valuable work my office does. I picked her up a couple hours before school got out and we headed into the office/

Because my work is confidential, I didn't think I would have much for her to do. I try to make most things a learning opportunity, and so I did just that. After she cut about 50 box tops off of reams of paper, she researched and wrote a paper on the benefits of open adoption.

I am thankful Maisey could come and learn more about social services. I am proud to be a role model to her as I share the realities of the world we live in. It's important to teach our children to be loving and accepting and I can't think of a better way.

She loved dressing up to go to the office. She said people at school gave her crazy looks when she told them of the dress code. Maisey wears dresses at least 2x a week, but I let he wear an all lace one she's been begging to wear to school. Her smile was the most beautiful part of her appearance!

{30}

I have been waiting for this day FOREVER! Okay, for about a decade! I am FINALLY 30! Let me start out by saying I feel old. Don't confuse this with mature, because I am a kid at heart (although I have lost my sense of humor somewhat along the way). 

I just feel like I have done so much by this time in my life. I met Chad when I was 18, we got married when I was 20, had Maisey when I was 21 (2 weeks before out 1st anniversary). Can you say lightening speed? That is a lot of change in a little amount of time! Because I decided to have children so young (Chad is 8 years older), I have felt so much older. My sister in-laws for example were having their children in their 30's and 40's... I already have a child who will be 9 this summer and I am just now 30! 

In short, that is why I feel so old. 

 With that said, I was SO excited for this years birthday. People still think I am in my early 20's and so now I am waiting for my youthful appearance to catch up with my age- although that is not something I am excited about- really! 

Here is a synopsis of this years celebration!

Thursday April 12th: Ci made me my favorite dinner- homemade egg rolls, sweet and sour, and fried rice. I love them, almost as much as I love her! She is so sweet to me.   

Friday April 13th: Wings and Waves in McMinville at the Evergreen Air and Space Museum, after wards onto Eugene.

Saturday April 14th: The motion picture of my aunts dance company (Zapp) with my mom, grandma, and Maisey.

Sunday: Brunch with my grandparents. Home to open up many cards and packages (some not birthday related however.

Jamie, thank you for the great baking book (America's Test Kitchen Baking Book). My sister also picked one out for me on behalf of the family and between the 2, I have tons of recipes to try (mom, I found a 4 whisk almond vanilla cake last night). I can't wait to bake!

Tuesday: GNO with the ladies at my favorite restaurant

Thank you Adrianna for the scarf (Charming Charlie)

Thank you Lisa for the perfume (laugh if you want- it's Brittany Spears but it smells great)

 Thank you Julie for the shabby clock!

 Saturday: Date day with my hubby. Dessert (The Cheesecake Factory :D) and birthday shopping!

 Thank you Naomi for the gift card! I bought this "overnight bag" for all my make-up and hair products while traveling (Charming Charlie).

 I found my gun! I have thought about owning one for about a year an half. Finally, I decided it was time. The safe has been waiting for a couple months while I shopped around- and waited for birthday money. 

So, thank you family for the birthday money. I bought a 22 caliber Sig Sauer PINK Moscuito.

It had to be pink, and it wasn't easy to find in stock. I got lucky at the gun show. 

The gun show was full of many interesting people, some who probably shouldn't own guns (instability and paranoia was in the air). Now, I just need to find a class for some training.

I heard a lot of laughs when I told people what I was shopping for. Apparently I don't look like the kind of girl who would be packing heat. Really, my gun with remain in a safe, unless it's being used for fun. I will not risk a child finding it.

 It was a wonderful big 30! Thank you for all the cards and people who celebrated with me, or wished me well! Now I can't wait for 40! Ha, ha! I have a lot to do in the next 10 years. Stay with my for the ride because I know it's going to be busy!!! But, that's no different than now right? I just anticipate some big changes, which are really exciting. 

{Recent}

Here are the kids' most recent pics. Typically, we don't do indoor. However, with the extremely rainy weather I realized I didn't have much choice.

Now, the REALLY frustrating thing... I ordered the 3 prints above in 10x13. DO NOT EVER order that size- unless you want to drop a whole lot of $ on framing. I could not find any frames, so I looked into custom framing. But, I soon realized I did not want to go that route when the sales person quoted me over $900 for the three!!! CRAZY! So, I am going to keep looking, or else I am ordering another more common size!