Tricksters

Our kids are a bit obsessed with bike riding!  It's true!!!  If they had their way...they'd be out on their bikes, every minute of every day!  We're pretty blessed in the fact that we live on a street with very little traffic, so the kids can actually "own the road"...which only makes the desire to ride every waking minute...that much stronger!  Anyways...

Kallen got a new bike a few weeks ago, and decided that he had to race daddy...you know...now that he had a "fast bike" and all!  So, they pumped up daddies tires, and off they went...

Now, Kallen won of course...

So daddy had to start doing tricks...you know...to keep his "coolness" after being beat by a 4 year old!

The kids thought daddy was amazing...but the lil' miss still tried to show him up!!!  Standing and riding at the same time, no way!!!  oooh ah ooooh ah!!!

She was pretty proud of herself

and so was big brother!!!

A Boy, his Boat, and his Best Girl!

We've had some sunshine these past few days, and the kids can't get enough!!!

Just the other day, Kallen loaded up his "prized" bathtub boat, and headed down to the park! Oh the fun a small amount of water, some mud, and a couple of friends can have!!!

Oh, and of course a lil' sister looking ever so cute, but being oh so "annoying"!!!

A Splash of Sunshine

Here in Oregon...we get rain! It's just a thing we get! Some places get snow, some sun...we get rain! Okay, so not nearly as much as I used to think as a kid, but we definitely have more rain than I would like. The rain is so wet, dreary and depressing...who could ever enjoy it???

Anyways...every once in a while, the dark looming clouds stop releasing precipitation, they part like the Red Sea, and clear bright blue skys abound! Last week was one of those rare occasions, and since it hardly ever happens around her, we decided to take advantage of it...big time! I think we were only home for a few hours each day, and even then we were outside riding bikes, playin' games, and diggin' in the sandbox! It was so much fun!

Now as I hear the pitter patter on the roof top, and stare at the drops of water sliding down the window, I decided to reflect on our week of sunshine...through pictures...but since we were having so much fun and didn't have time for pictures...our day at the water fountain will have to suffice!

Blessings,

"Ou-side...peease"

The past few days we've had gorgeous weather around these parts. Clear blue skies, sunshine a shinin', fall leaves falling, and the like! The previous weeks of rainy days were definitely beginning to get to us all!

Well...now that we've got our wonderful, and oh so useful fence, I've been giving the little man a bit of freedom and independence (so he thinks) when it comes to the great outdoors. We strap on some shoes, throw on a sweatshirt, and out he goes. One nice thing about our house, though there are many, is that every part of the backyard can be seen from at least one of the windows inside. This allows Kallen to be the curious and inquisitive little boy he is, and me to have peace of mind that he's safe. He may eat mud, squish bugs and throw rocks, but at least he's not running out into traffic or wandering down the street to the neighbors!!!

I was able to be a little stealth by peering around corners, and leaning off the edge of the deck to catch the little man in action...notice the dog wont leave his side...

Then he caught me

Just Another Day at the Park!

With today's 80 degree weather, and the bright beautiful sun...Kallen, Kynlee and I decided to head to the park!


Kynlee didn't think much of the place as you can see;




and Kallen had to show off his new "cheese" face every time I tried to get a cute picture of him playing!

It's a Start!!!

Well, I told you that cousin George finally came by to put the culvert in the ditch, and fill in our backyard.

Remember what it looked like before:

Now here we are a week or so after the culvert (again):

Kevin has been busy setting the retaining wall, bringing in LOADS, and LOADS of dirt and rock, and finally getting things started. It's nice to actually have a place to begin now! In no time at all our back yard should begin to resemble the vision we've imagined! Not much yet...but it's a start!

Here are some pictures of the process for those of you who are interested...I know...It's not as exciting for you guys, but for me...I'm ecstatic!

Now onto the next step...concrete and more fill dirt!

Vivid Imaginations will have to do...for now at least!

Imagine nice green grass, clumps of birch trees scattered here and there, bright vibrant flowers, plants and bushes all around, a seasonal dry creek bed running along the beautiful new fence, etc., etc.,

Can't you see it!!! This is what our backyard actually looks like right now!












When we moved into our beautiful new house last September, our yard left much to be desired. The landscaping was not part of the purchase, leaving us to deal with the dusty, muddy "moat" that surrounded our humble abode! We at least wanted to get grass in the front yard before the winter came, and that we did! The front is getting there...not there yet, but we're getting there, and at least it looks decent to passers by!

The back yard on the other hand, looks straight out of a jungle. We have a seasonal creek that runs through the back yard, and before the rains came this year, we traded some work with Kevin's cousin who placed a culvert in the ditch, and covered it with fill dirt in order to give us the greatest square footage of grass. Yeah...It was beautiful.

Well, we miss judged the amount of water that flows through our little "seasonal" creek, and now we're back to square one. Kevin's cousin still owes us some time, but he's a very busy man...so now we're waiting. Once he can come place another culvert, and make an overflow creek bed, we can start doing things ourself. We need to drill some holes for the fence, move dirt around, build some retaining walls, bring in some gravel, set some concrete, prepare the ground, and get our yard going! Ahhh...we can't do anything until the ditch gets filled in, and we can't do that until the rain stops and it dries out.
So for now, we're waiting, and I get to look at our beautiful backyard each and every day...I imagine it of course!

Sunscreen...Who Needs it?

This morning I met my mom & Aunt at a local nursery to pick up some flowers for the house, and our plumbing shop. The weather report said it was going to be a bright and sunny day, and I definitely wanted to take advantage of it! We haven't been able to do anything in the yard since we moved in, due to our lovely Oregon weather, and I couldn't wait any longer!

I started planting the Petunia's around noon, and finally finished up around 4:00...Chasing Kallen around, and trying to keep him out of the street, makes planting flowers quite the challenge!

Anyways...I remembered to put sunscreen on the little man, but neglected to lather myself up as well. With my back to the sun all afternoon, and my pregnant belly helping create a gap between my shorts and top, my nice olive skin, became nice scarlet skin!!! I'm not one who generally burns in the sun, but today was different. The backs of my arms, my necks, and my lower back are a nice shade of red! The itching and burning that has already began to creep in, is a great addition to the aching back and muscles brought on by all the gardening!

Maybe I'll remember the sunscreen next time!

Big brother practice!

Yesterday Kallen and I were blessed to have Dawson with us again! It is so funny when I say "Brandy and Dawson are here!" Kallen's eyes light up, and he immediately runs for the door. Most of the time Dawson comes in asleep, that is until Kallen gets so excited he squeals and wakes the little man up. Yesterday was no exception. Kallen immediately ran over to Dawson's carrier and put his head on D's (Kallen's way of giving a hug and showing affection). He then proceeded to clap his hands together, bend over, and squeal with excitement! That love for Dawson never dwindles throughout the whole day! Kallen is constantly wanting to sit by (or on top of), play with, hug, kiss and talk to him!

Well we had a beautifully sunny day yesterday, so the three of us spent some time outside. We sat D on a blanket, because I'm pretty sure twigs and leaves are not part of his diet yet, and Kallen was continually going over to him to make sure he was okay. He would say a few words, show him a few things on the toys, then move on his merry way!

Then we went out front, and sat Dawson in the stroller while we all explored the yard! Kallen was a little confused why he wasn't in the stroller, and someone else was, but he soon found out it wasn't all that bad. He started pushing D everywhere and talking all the while. I'm pretty sure he was telling him all about rocks, mud, and grass since that's what he was looking at while pushing. Good thing I was around to steer him clear of the road!

The love Kallen shows for Dawson, is I'm sure just the beginning to how things will be when the new baby arrives. I can't wait!

All in a days work!

After days and days of way too cold weather, and being cooped up inside...we finally had a break! We woke up to clear blue skies and sunshine this morning! Yes...FINALLY!!! We threw on our hats and mittens, and made our way outside! Kallen couldn't get enough of the outdoors, and I know where we'll be spending most of our warm summer days!

Here is a quick rundown of our day:

We pushed, pulled, and rode our little truck (and yes the house across the street is mint chocolate chip green...isn't that just grand!)

We played with (or rather sat in) our Tonka trucks

We walked to the park and slid down the slides

We walked all around the block

And when our time outside was over...we came in to do a few quick loads of laundry and finish the dishes

And after all that...we crashed for a quick 2 hour nap! Boy it's hard work bein' 1!