Welcome Nephew Drevin!

Healthy & handsome lil' honey born Sunday April 27!

Congratulations to my sister & her husband on their fabulous first-born.

All the kids are so excited about their new lil' cousin! Oh happy days!

Having A Ball

Well while the men of the house play ball outside . . . . .

The gals of the house make "Rag Balls" . . . . .

I love the rustic primitive country style. Darla & I love being crafty. Alan loves to tease me about our "rag balls" . . . he doesnt get it. They are decor and/or you can use the rag balls to make rag rugs etc., We have made sets of different color schemes too. Like a nautical theme, Americana, neutral tones, etc., Fun fun! New project: Trying to self-teach myself to crochet a fancy doily as part of a wedding gift. I have several lop sided deformed starts but nothing promising yet.

The two young boys of the home love throwing the basketball & rag balls . . .

so you see the whole family truly is having a ball.

PICS ADDED: First Time for Everything?

Payton James attended an "Ultimate Fight Challenge" last night w/ friends & their folks. Payton had won the tickets for this big event at a Louis Palou conference. Well Payton was so jazzed to go and asked me to make a sign he could take that said "In It To Win It" . . . the "In" portion was the nickname of the fighter that he met at the conference. Well I spent a lot of time making him a bold multi colored sign by taping 2 opened manilla file folders together. . . . so the thing collapsed & folded into a size of paper but when he wanted to root on the fighter guy he could open the sturdy sign up & wave it in the air. WELL . . . . two problems. The "In" nickname dude wasnt there at the 3 1/2 hr fight, AND . . . Payton didnt like the event. His exact words??? "Mom, it was GAY" He elaborated by explaining these guys were all on top of eachother. I reassured him . . . "Oh so I think they wrestle and box." He said "No mom they fight - they do everything!" Then I concluded - "Oh ok they must do karate, wrestle & box." Bottom line - not Payton's cup o' tea.

Darla on the other hand also did something for the 1st time this past week . . . . she went skiing and she LOVED it. It helps when Timberline Lodge is considered a neighbor. Every year they give our local 1st graders free all day passes & equipment for an annual field trip. Well Alan & I both dont care for the ski lifts but we entrusted our dear Darla to some friends & school staff. Darla was her usual self in ensuring Mama didnt forget a single thing the morning of her field trip.

Sun block. Check.
Snow boots, clothes, hat, gloves. Check.
Extra tastey lunch. Check. "Mom I dont like string cheese anymore." "Uhh...sorry Darla."
On the bus she goes - "Have fun Darla. Love you!"
Darla gets home - and her report "She absolutely LOVED skiing. She said she had a great teacher and learned how to ski really fast." My friend Debbie's report . . . . "Darla did awesome. She picked it up really fast. The instructor was really impressed w/ Darla."

GOT GOGGLES?

Sweet Sounds of Home

If our whole family isnt rocking out to karaoke - you are sure to hear more than one child on a self-taught instrument. Payton's new career interest is becoming a DJ. His interests have always varied. This oldest son 'o mine has tried just about everything under the sun. Let's see if I can remember it all - basketball since very young age, soccer, baseball, choir, band, student council, journalism, snowboarding, weight lifting, every technical gadget under the sun, lots of christian concerts & events, outdoor school, camp, . . . . . and what is new on the horizon for Payton James? Drivers Ed, his 1st PT job, attending his long time friend Katrina's upcoming figure skating competitions, and tennis!

Prescription for Eye Glasses

Lil' Miss Darla has failed 2 eye exams . . . well, her LEFT eye failed, right eye passed. . . and so she has a prescription for eye glasses! She is excited about it, which is a relief. I have always been fond of glasses and several times during my youth longed to have them. I even deliberately failed a school eye exam in hopes of getting glasses. My poor mom took me into the DR's only to discover that "Amy still has 20/20 vision in both eyes". Ooops.

This pic is from Nolan's 3rd birthday party last August at Roslyn Lake. The theme he picked was "BLUE". Everything literally was blue at the party. In fact, he hasnt outgrown his love of blue. When you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up he says "A blue guy".

By the way. . . . calling all fisherman . . . . Roslyn Lake has not been drained yet (SOON though) and they have removed the limit on # of fish you can catch. Neighbors told me you arent required to have a license either but I havent been able to confirm this. We might run over there tomorrow after church & plunk a couple lines in. The park portion is closed but you just drive around to the backside.

May 13, 2008

We will be celebrating our 8th Wedding Anniversary already!
Seems like just yesterday I was 12 and he was 16 on the school bus.
He would always sit in the seat directly in front of mine & ALWAYS say
the same thing "How's it Goin'???" (long drawn out like) I would always
nervously reply "It's goin!" I would accompany my Pa to Carver Gym
to watch the guys (teens thru 4o somethin' year old men) play basketball.
You can bet Alan Crombie was there and he was so adorable!!! Who knew
later he would become my husband & father to our 4 beautiful kiddos?!

Love you Alan!!!! Signed, Your Oh So Grateful Wife

Nostalgic trip around "The Loop"

Nolan Elijah & I spent the afternoon recently playing at Eagle Fern Park. We found a huge mushroom, petite wild flowers proving Spring was upon us, the boys spied on birds, of course skipped a good hundred rocks, played on the playground, and we took a great hike. Had the whole park to ourselves. It was warm out, smelled so fresh, and sounded refreshing.

After our play was done we loaded up in the car & headed up the road to George (where I grew up) . .

a couple miles up the old firestation & old barn announced we have arrived.

Took tons of pics from around the loop. Lots of wonderful memories up there! Here is a pic of my childhood home, which was always painted yellow with white trim.
The common observation while driving the 13 mile loop I called home 2nd grade on up . . . was the land that once was forest was now logged and/or young starter trees and the properties that were once logged clearings are now tall lush forests. Amazing. It is so refreshing to drive up there because, for now, there hasnt been a bunch of new development. Just an occasional new home but miles & miles of country land, tree farms, berry fields, host pastures & forests. LOVE it!

Alan and I really look forward to moving to a little farm of our own someday so our kids can experience all we got to growing up. Feeding baby goats with nippled glass pepsi bottles, shoveling stalls, horseback riding, gardening, pulling tansey, picking berries, fetching farm fresh eggs from the nests, and all the wonderful EXPLORING the surrounding lands. Note: I go to Feed Stores because I miss the general smells of farm life. No joke.

Spring Break: Oaks Park

Kids stuck on roller coaster in hail storm. It hit immediately . . . . Alan, Nolan, and I stood watching Payton, Darla & Elijah go whizzing around on this roller coaster at Oaks Park this afternoon - when all of a sudden huge ice pellets (hail) started pummeling us all. Alan took Nolan to seek cover. I and my hoodless jacket stood yelling at my kids to pull their hoods over their heads. Darla & Payton kept growling at me that the hoods wont stay on. I watch as the roller coaster violently jerks them upward - their hoods go flinging back - exposing bare faces staring straight up into the sky.

It was scary yet I also almost peed my pants laughing and tears in my eyes from being beat up by the hail myself.Before the hail storm we got in almost 2 full hours of play at Oaks Park. It was the 3 younger ones 1st time there. Alan and I wanted to treat the kids to a special outing before they all return from Spring Break tomorrow. Nolan unbelievably did well on a ton of rides by himself. It was shocking!!! He even went in the old haunted house which is now a Lewis n Clark thing - but dark & scary inside.

So he did this without a tear but wont go to church nursery or anyones home w/o us.

Payton was getting some serioud behind-the-wheel time at the bumper cars. Poor kid was in a sea of teen girls.

Nolan & Darla in their shooting plane.

Elijah laughing hysterically as him & his sister had this huge swinging rocking boat all to themselves. The thing normally seat over 20 people. They each sat at opposite ends - laughing at one another. Was a joy to watch!

Amy's 1st stab at "painting"

It all started w/ a steal of a deal on craigslist for a new bedding set, curtains, throw pillows etc. .. and then 3 blank canvas' on the bargain clearance aisle at Michaels Craft Store. So for $35 Darla has a whole new bedroom. Oops forgot also got her a matching stuffed reading char to match for another $12 I think. She loves her new room and the less pastel pallette.

Spring Break Fun: Slumber Parties!

Darla Diane and her friend Tierra rocked out to a Hannah Montana Karaoke CD. So entertaining!

Easter 2008

Festivities began the night before Easter . . . . the 3 younger kids & I stayed up till almost midnight coloring 36 eggs wild colors & patterns. FUN! Early Easter morning the kids woke to find the good ol' easter bunny hid their prized eggs outside & left their 4 baskets filled w/ goodies on the dining room table. After enjoying some treats & a new toy in their baskets, they ate breakfast, and headed outdoors. Payton was photographer with his digital camera. He is such a great big brother. After the egg hunt - got ready for church. Attended a great service at church - grabbed lunch- and then spent the afternoon out at Grandpa & Grandma Gaskell's. It was great time. . . . then we cruised down the road to the inlaws gathering. Wonderful time together!!!!!

Darla a bit squeemish about grabbing the egg out of a soggy pile of fire logs.

Nolan was thrilled to have his big brother Payton leading the way during the egg hunt.

Elijah Alan happy as always.