whatever

Shannon, kids and Grandpa Blain-

Shannon and the kids followed me to Dad's home for a short visit. (they stayed overnight, I stayed a few days}

1. Stopped in Henderson to visit Shannon and see their new place- the kids opened their Easter treats.
2. Looking for eggs with Great Grandpa
3. Buffalo 
4. Conner and Payton looking at my scrapbooks- Conner was excited with the prospect of getting some dirt on me....but I think he found more on his Mom.  =)

1. Finding eggs-  The kids had been waiting all day for the Chickens to lay eggs and it wasn't happening....  It was time for the kids to leave ...so, Conner prayed for eggs....and yes, his prayer was answered.
2. Payton on a vintage tractor
3. Conner and his "warm" egg.....he even got to lift the chicken off the egg.  =)
4. Grandpa Blain and Anna

-Shakes and fries-

The kids took turn wearing Grandpa Blain's Cowboy hat.   When leaving the house....Grandpa Blain always puts his good hat on....Conner to Grandpa Blain...."Wow, you look really nice in that hat."

So cute to see the kids around my Dad. 

When I left my Dad's I did so while it was snowing---kind of a crazy 2 hour drive until it cleared up.   I hate driving in snow....but needed to get back, Danny had plans for us.

I was visiting my Dad while Danny and my boys went on a Guy trip. (more on that later}

Stopped in at Shannon's on the way home.....for a short little visit .

 

We left there early evening to go see the Donny and Marie show

 

 

Danny planned it as part of a fun early Anniversary Date-

The show was lots of fun....and great music old and new.

We are celebrating 34 years today!

 

 

Conner's Hover Fan-

Sharing my Grandsons invention. Made me smile-

Happy Day

Read about it here.

Date Night-

Come join the fun- A place to link up your Date Night ideas 

What I shared- Find the Adventure- Progressive Date Night

Happy Day

A week with the Grand-kids-

My last day there I took in some familiar sites and food-  =}  Good bye burgerville.

Just returned home from a week visit with Conner, Payton and Anna.

 Wonderful week of swimming lessons, school drop off and pick ups, special lunch, games, movies, cute conversations, shopping, reading Conner's book written by Conner and tons of wonderful moments.

As I was getting ready to leave I had a little "melancholy"  moment- realizing this will probably be the last time I visit them in  Oregon. - {they are moving to LV} 

I will miss the beautiful surroundings-

The Holly orchard across the street from their school.

The rolling hills and all the green.  I will miss seeing some familiar faces....that I consider friends too. [Paige, Jenn, Sheila and Nichole}

So happy that I got to spend time in Shannon's Oregon- it was beautiful.   Now looking forward to what wonderful things to come in LV.

The kids were great-

It always takes three tries to get a picture =)

Love these kids.

Happy day

 

 

Anna's surprise party for the boys-

Anna wanted to surprise the boys with a little party.  We gathered up what we could find in the house for the party.

• cupcakes
• balloons
• I gave Anna $15 to buy a gift for the boys. {she knew exactly what they wanted....all week she has been wanting to get something for Payton- today was her chance.

Preparing for the Party-

All the way to pick up the boys from school Anna was formulating a plan on how to surprise the boys.  Anna- lets have them stand by the door until we are ready and then yell for them to come in and then say SURPRISE!

As Anna was waiting for the surprise to happen her comment- "The boys are going to be so surprised and happy, they are going to love me so much....this is the best day of my life."

Surprise!

Anna's gifts to her brothers.

 

Anna wanted candles on the cupcakes- she said candles make it special.    When I asked Payton where the matches were he said ...."I don't know, I think Dad doesn't want us to know where they are because we might burn down the house."

So, Conner pretended to be blowing out the candle....but wait, Anna knows were the candles are.....Payton's comment- " Huh....Why does Anna get to know where the candles are?"

 

Happy surprise cupcake party- Love Anna

Anna crowned this the best cupcake- 

Anna- "Grammer, we need to save this for Mom, because she is the best Mom, so she gets the best cupcake."

Got to love that girl.

The kids played with their toys {side note- Anna didn't want anything for herself...but I couldn't let her go without something so I had her pick something out for herself....when she picked out something she made sure to get something small so the boys would be super excited about their gifts.....more love for that girl.}

After about a half hour of playing....it was time for homework, then cub scouts, then swimming lessons......then bed.

Happy Day

This morning I plan to do lots of sewing for the Spring Event- all 15 yards of it.

 

 

Shannon's Vegas Trip-

Spending time at Shannon's so she can go to Vegas and look at the home they put an offer on. {she hasn't seen it yet.} 

The first couple of days when Shannon was here, we.....

Monday Shannon was in charge of a little lunch and craft time with Anna's  class. This is something the parents put together- once a month they meet in this little old lodge building next to the school for lunch and crafts.

What they made- tin foil stars, tongue dispenser snowmen, frosted cookies, play dough and coloring. 

Anna with her BF F's {that's what they told me}

Tuesdays swimming lessons- Payton being silly- 

Cold outside- but the indoor pool was like a tropical island.

Mornings are filled with piano practice, lunch making and all the business of getting ready for school.

{sorry the picture is a little fuzzy....very little light here =)

Special lunch with girls- Shannon,Anna and me- Hawaiian style.

Beautiful flowers in greet me each morning- Thanks Shannon-

Love seeing the day to day happenings of the kids- sweet.

I've also been busy making tons of things for the Spring Event.

Happy Day

More to come.......

 

Mother Daughter Tradition-

It's been a long standing tradition for Shannon and I to get together each year... to do something fun and just catch up with each others life....No children, no husbands....just us. 

We take turns planning what we will do...this year was Shannon's turn.

I flew to her home.....so sweet, the kids were there to meet me with a sweet  bouquet of flowers.

Our Mother Daughter Activity wasn't to start until Saturday....so we had a couple of days to play with the kids.

 

 

 

 
 I love seeing the kids work in the yard. {don't you just love the red cheeks?}

Friday we  planned a trip to the beach.....but you can't go to the beach without first stopping off at Camp 18 for some yummy holy cow fabulous food and a few  pictures.

 

 

 
Next stop Cannon Beach- I have to say it was a Beautiful day. No wind & just warm enough....we didn't even need a sweater. =)

 

 
 
Just a little low fog/mist, but I thought it was beautiful.   Love seeing Shannon play with the kids.

 

 
 

 
Digging holes at the beach is a tradition...the bigger the better.... but lately we have moved on from just holes...now we dig hot tubs and lakes.  Above is Lake Conner, Lake Payton and Lake Anna.

 
After hours of playing it was time to hit the candy store.... little wax bottles filled with a yummy mystery  liquid.  =)    I just love all the flower baskets; we saw them every where we went...so stunning!   Felt like we were at Disney Land.

 
Wonderful  beautiful fun day at the beach.

We ended the day by going to a community play Rapunzel  presented by children from the community- tons of fun.  Hair, Hair, Hair and Sinister, sinister forests keep running through my mind. {cute to see Paige's girls in the play}

Sitting by the pool and other summer stuff-

 

 

 
 We loved having Shannon & family here..... love seeing the kids play in the pool.  {All of them left with a wonderful California tan =)

Each summer they come....the kids get better at swimming.  Conner is all over the pool and diving off the board.  Payton left his floaters behind and is now  swimming from  side to side and jumping off the board....still need to keep a close eye on him...but he is doing great!  Anna can swim from  pool side to Mom without her floaters...next year I see her free of them also.

 

 

 

-Anna, Carlee, Conner & Audrey, Preston and Payton-
Sam  & family came by to swim  and hang out with us a couple of times. {notice the nice sunny Ca. glow on their faces.... =)

 

Took the kids to The lake in our sub-division- {Interesting fact.... the lake and dam were built by a group of artist's and musician's back in the 60's the group was call "Up with People"}

 

 
 

 

More swimming & frogs-

 
Sharing a few random  pictures from a few days ago- while at the houseboat.

 
Mason wake boarding-

Payton and Shannon-

  
Mason and the boys-

 

Mason took full advantage of free help-

 

 
 
Payton our future architect....{sorry, fuzzy pictures}

 
I caught Anna singing "Count your Blessings" as she was playing with the pop beads- cute.

 
-Shannon and Audrey-

More Swimming-

We had a wonderful sweet visit with Shannon, Scott and kids- it was great to have them here.... good medicine for Danny.  

 

 Having the kids here was......well, a good activity. =)

Happy day.

Getting ready for the 4th-

Red Velvet cupcakes and marshmallow pops- 

I put my little floral "frogs" to good use.

 

 
Lots of swimming going on around here.

FUN

"Pit Stop" - 2011

 
Our good friends the Pittson's lets us enjoy a day at  their wonderful Houseboat.  Dan is still recovering  and not able to do much....but he enjoyed the lounge chairs and the floating hammock and reading his book with his feet up....while he was doing that..... the kids did this-----

Sandi had the boat decorated so cute for the fourth of July...she is awesome!

 
The kids had a blast on the slide....along with some of the adults.  The Pittson's have all the toys you could want to have a fun day.

 

 
 
 
Later in the day...the kids went out to "wake board" and ski....I stayed at the House boat with Danny, Audrey, Carlee and Anna... Can't wait to see Heidi and Shannon's pictures. 

 
Anna and Carlee helped to babysit Audrey....Plus they put together a talent show to entertain us.

 

The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast.  I felt bad for Danny; it was the first time he wasn't in the middle of all the craziness....  but, he did enjoyed watching the kids and just relaxing. 

Thanks Sandi and Steve we had a blast.....

Conner's words- I had a awesome blast!