"STAY"cation Destination 2

Today we had planned to visit a completly different destination.  However, when we arrived it was being closed for remodeling.  The kids were a bit bummed, as was I.  I called up JBody and told him the news.  He asked what we were going to now.  I had no idea, but then he recommended a nearby waterfall.  Once I said waterfall outloud, Lil' E was set and ready with no backing down. 

Let's just say this was going to be bigger adventure than I was prepared for. 

1.  It was pouring.  Yes the sun would come out in spurts.  Some times it was just a drizzle, but other times it was a complete downpour with GIANT raindrops.  Luckily the kids were prepared with rainboots.  Me however, was wearing my nice dress shoes.

2.  The road was closed to get down to the waterfall so we had to park the car on the side of the HWY and walk up to it.  It wasn't too far of a walk, but with Doble short walks become long ones.

3.  We had planned to eat at our original destination.  Now we had to stop at the local convienent store and buy some sandwiches and eat them in the car.  The kids enjoyed this though, because mommy jumped in the back of the van with them.  By the time we were done, the windows were all steamed up.

4.  Rain means puddles.  Puddles mean jumping.  Jumping means mess.  The car ride home was spent in t-shirts and undies because the kids were all wet from the waist down.

5.  MORE FUN THAN WE HAD PLANNED.

Enjoy our pictures and don't forget to make you guess as to where we are!

Lunch in the back of the van.  Bella actually did really good with leaving the kids alone.  As always the kids had to get some silly pictures in.

This picture is pretty much a giveaway as to which waterfall we were near.  This was taken outside the convienent store after we enjoyed our car lunch.  You can't see it, but it was drizzling on us.

Here are two different views of the same waterfall.  Can you guess which waterfall it is?

This picture courtesy of Lil' E.

 

Puddle jumping: Oh so much fun!

SPLISH

SPLASH

The kids LOVE their boots.  I was really grateful to have had them today!

Now go ahead and make your guesses.  Good Luck!

"STAY"cation Destination 1

Today I announced to the kids that we were going to go on an adventure. I asked them where we should go and what we should do on our adventure.

Doble wanted to go camping and to the nearby city next to us. Razy wanted to go to Portland and see princesses. And Lil' E wanted the ocean. So I called up JBody(who was at a chiro conference) and asked him for ideas. This is where he suggested. Brrr....it was a bit chilly and windy by the water, but the kids had fun watching the waves roll in. Tide was high so they didn't get to go out to far.

We had fun watching the birds play on a rock island out in the water. The kids got a kick out of how long the birds would hang out underwater before popping back up.chillin' on a tree stump on the trail

Razy's pout. She didn't want to walk down the steps by herself. Luckily she has a good big brother who came to the rescue.
The kids had fun taking pictures with the "HUGE bullets". Well that is what they called them.

 Lil' E making his wrestling stance pose.Sliding and Climbing. The kids had a lot of fun climbing and sliding on the side of this hill. I wish I had better pictures as to how high they were and what they were sliding on. I was nervous that they were going to fall of the edge.Photo op with Bella. She had to stay in the car while we were down by the water, but she enjoyed the nice little hike we took later on in the afternoon. Lil' E carries her around like this ALL the time. He loves, loves, loves, this puppy.

Doble told me that after our little hike (and I mean little) his feet hurt...but not too much to go play on the playground.

Where did our Adventures take us today? Make your guess.

Party of Five "STAY"cation Contest!!

So this week is our Spring Break. The kids are only in preschool and I never really thought that since they have been in school we haven't really gotten to go out and do things. However, I was totally wrong. Preschool actually makes us EXTREMELY busy. Doble goes mornings from 9-11:30 on Tues and Thurs. Lil' E goes Mon thru Thurs. from 11:30-3:30. And then on Thursdays we have speach at 10:15 till 10:45 and Occupational Therapy on Fridays from 11:45-12:15. Don't forget that dropping off and picking up is like a huge time consuming thing. To get to preschool it is min. like 12 minutes (one way). Luckily I have a friend I can trade with so she takes Doble in the mornings and drops him off and I pick up. So atleast I don't have to go out there 3 times a day. So anyway now you understand why I have thinking about spring break a little more. Well JBody works and he takes his time off more in the summer for our big family camping trips. So anyways my friend, Carmen is doing this cute Spring Break contest on her blog and I thought I would follow suit. The kids and I need to get out of the house and explore this beautiful area that we live in. There are so many things we can do around here and we haven't yet taken the time to do so.

So Everyday, from March 27-April 3rd (excluding Sunday),we are going to go visit somewhere here in the beautiful northwest. It may be familiar to some of you or not so familiar. It may be really close to home, or maybe an hour or two away. The only catch is I am not going to tell you where we are going. I will post pictures of our adventures each evening and you can leave me a comment telling me where you think our adventures took us. Feel free to make your guesses even if you are not a local. I know I have some followers that used to live here and probably will know and recognize some of the locations. So what is the big deal about making guesses? Who doesn't like winning a prize every once in awhile? I haven't come up with the prize, but I promise it to be a good one (whether it be a yummy treat, or something homemade you will like it). Just leave a guess under each "STAY"cation post. Your comment won't appear until the end of the week and as long as you have your guesses made by the end of the contest you are eligible for the prize. Good Luck!!

GIRLS NIGHT!!!

Yeah I know I have already put a post on here about new moon, but that was when I went to the theater to see it. Well now that it is out on DVD and my husband is out of town for the weekend, I am pulling it out and April and I are having a girls night. Popcorn, Diet Pepsi, Cadbury Mini Eggs, and Chubby Hubby here we come...

Springtime!

Spring is fast approaching well actually it has been here for sometime now, but I haven't really stepped outside to really enjoy and appreciate it. The sun has been out, but there is still a slight chill in the air. The kids are slowly attempting the outdoors as they have yet to remember the fun they had playing in the yard last spring and summer. I even had Doble come in from outside to proclaim, "The sun is too bright it is hurting my eyes." Yeah for the sun I say. Spring brings lots of rain in our part of the country. However, when it takes a break and the sun pokes through I would have to that I live in one of the most beautiful places to be lived. Not too cold, not too hot, beautiful mountains to the south and bright waters to the north. Eagles and deer dot the skies and land. So now that I have actually realized that spring has sprung I will take a deep breath and enjoy the beauty and calm around me.

A litte side note: Take a look at the two eggs in the picture. They were laid by our two chickens. I was so amazed at the size of one compared to the other. That poor hen went through alot to give us such a large and beautiful egg wouldn't you think.

"Go Ye Forth"

Yesterday my little sister left to head to the MTC. She was set apart as a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints Tuesday night. JBody and I and the kids attended with my parents and one of my brothers as our Stake President did the setting apart. Wow. All I can say is she is so ready to preach the gospel. Her testimony of Christ shines through her countenance. All you have to do is look at her and know that she believes! What an example of faith and strength she is to me and my family. We will miss her while she is in the Philippines for the next 18 months, but we also know that she will be a wonderful and strong missionary. I know that she will share her love of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of the Philippines and she will help bring many to Christ. I love her, my children love her, our family loves her, and our Father in Heaven loves her. Go get 'em Sister Bails!

Thank you to Carmen for taking the wonderful pictures of our Sister Missionary!

Hopefully I will do a good job at posting updates while she is in the MTC (Missionary Training Center) and then while she is in the Philippines. I am planning on keeping updates on here as well as on her facebook while she is away. I know that she would love to hear how things are going for those of you she knows and I can email you her address if you would like it. Just send me a comment and I can get it for you.