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My Baby's Behind The Wheel

Im pretty sure this is my least favorite aspect so far of motherhood...helping our son learn to drive...realizing soon he will be out on his own. Statistics for teen involved accidents are so scary & were very well communicated to us parents at the Drivers Ed Info Meeting.

Happy 4th Of July

227 years ago...on July 4th, 1776
This great nation, the United States of America,
In a struggle for what was right and free,
Was proudly born...
May we celebrate that precious freedom
For which our forbears fought so bravely...
The freedom that is inherent
In the Stars and Stripes, our revered flag...
Celebrate Freedom
This Fourth of July!

For You Papa

Kids CA Vacation

Grandma Lori spontaneously invited to bring all 4 of our kids to her CA home last weekend. She will be bring them home this coming weekend. They will have been gone
a total of 8 days...which is a LONG time for us, considering theyve never been away longer than a weekend in the past.

The kids are having an awesome time. Darla loved sharing today how she can dive off Grandma's diving board now. Elijah is over the moon about the new trailblazer colored shoes & basketball shirt his grandparents got him. Payton is looking forward to spending the night at his Aunt Lena's tonight...a getaway from his younger siblings no doubt. Elijah couldnt believe how "huge" his teenage cousin Lennon has become. Darla is in love with the adorable 2 year old cousin Drevin, and wants to bring him home with her. lol

Thank you Grandma & Grandpa Garber for having the kids for such a special & memorable trip!! So special & generous of you.

I am my kids mother!

As DR Laura always says "I am my kids mother!"

I will always be their mama, regardless of their age. They know I am here for them for always. I thank the Lord my babies feel comfortable talking to me about anything & everything. We are so blessed to have Payton, Darla, Elijah, & Nolan entrusted to our care.

I look forward to spending my life encouraging & supporting my children. I smile thinking about the future dinners we will someday get to share with our adult children & their families. All the new memories with our growing family excite me to no end! The thought of babysitting our grandbabies, ensuring mama & papa get plenty of alone time nurturing their marriage, thrills me! I no doubt will giggle with delight to make my kids wedding anniversary cards-what a grand accomplishment in todays world, will never forget a birthday-afterall they are my most favorite days of the year, attend school functions, come over & help fold laundry, or whatever my kids would appreciate. I know a lot of women a generation ahead of me might be laughing at me. They are probably sighing "You just wait Amy...you will be busy with another phase of life... tired and too busy to do all these things you dream of above." And true as it may be for many.... I will defy the odds because "I am my kids mother!" They are my life and my interest in their lives doesn't decrease when they turn 18 & move away. I do, however, look forward to doing a little bit less laundry & less driving them to & fro.

Nolan's Graduation

Our Lil' Shrimp

Nolan goes back to eating his shrimp, which he LOVES!

10 Year Wedding Anniversary....

So what did we do, to celebrate?! Grandpa & Grandma offered to keep the kids for the weekend but we decided to make it a family day....

"Fierce" Takes 3rd Place

Darla's 2nd year playing softball. This was a recent tournament she attended.

Humorous moments thus far:

"Mom there is a rotation & all of us HAVE TO pitch at one point! I dont want to pitch! Im horrible! I wind my arm round & round & throw it & it lands right here!" (pointing at the ground right at her feet)

One of my many pep talks alone with Darla on a way to a game....we decided she is too nice. She needs to get more vicious, aggressive, & wanting to win. So we decided her name at that game wasnt Darla but it was Rita! Anytime she was on the field looking a bit relaxed or semi-timid Id shout "Let's go RITA!" And she immediately took the aggressive stance.

Nolan's Big Day!!!

For Kally...because I dont think...

she's ever heard me sing....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6xKBN2LfqQ

Play Ball!

5 reasons I smile daily

my first born...the love of my life, Payton best daughter & husband in the world Darla & Alan
blessed beyond, basketball boy, son Elijah our loving baby who keeps us laughing Nolan

Boom Chaka Laka!!

Elijah joins the Blazers!!!

Team "Fierce 14"

Darla's softball team just had their 1st game last night. The rain held off, which was a blessing. Game 1: WIN!!!

14 girls makes for a big team. Darla played left field & catcher....had a good hit...stole 2nd base....good game!

Beverly Lewis...Have u ever read any of hers?

Tea Party

Duchess Darla of Twinberry & La La Lady Tierra of Sleepy Hollow co-hosted a High Tea! Fun was had by all. A total of 18 of Hoodlands Royalty attended. Guest List:
The Lady Samantha of Brightwood
Royal Countess Kennedy of Windswept
Darling Duchess Tegan of LoloPass
Countess Carissa of Twinberry
Viscountess McKenna of The Village
The Lady Elayna of Snowdon
Duchess Darla of Twinberry
The Lady Mayra of Welches
The Lady Madison of Lolo Pass
Countess Taylor of Lolo Pass
Countess Kyra of Brightwood
Duchess Keturah of Brightwood
The Lady Lexi of Sandy
La La Lady Tierra of Sleepy Hollow
Duchess Sage of Fairway
The Lady Kiana of Brightwood
Viscountess Karissa of Brightwood
Duchess Jenny of Welches

Below: PINKY UP!!

Below: Kennedy initiating a toast in honor of the hostess' & even the servants!

Below: My dear friend Debbie shown here wearing a Royal Servants apron, tea towel, & tray. Debbie, Roxanne & I were kept nonstop busy by the distinguished guests who would summon us with a loud bell.

Easter 2010

Saturday Before Easter:
1. Woke up to white snow outside!
2. Worked on the baseball fields for 2 hours.
3. Easter Egg Hunt at Resort At The Mountain for the 1st time.
4. Out to lunch with Darla & her friend Samantha.
5. Whole family went out to Pa & Kris's for a nice ham dinner, lots of laughs & memories in the making!
6. Got home around 8:30 and started coloring our eggs.



Easter Sunday
1. Kids woke us super early as always
2. Easter egg hunt outside...which was neat because the new neighbor kids were hunting at the same time.
3. Got ready for church....everyone looked so schnazzy & dressed up. Forgot to take a pic tho.
4. Great msg at church & saw some new faces, which was a blessing!
5. Went out to eat a very non traditional Easter Feast including sushi.
6. Grey windy day...several of us still not feeling 100%...body aches, chills, cough

Duchess Darla...

...is hosting a High Tea on Sunday April 11th at 2pm. There are 16 girls (including Duchess', Countess', Lady, Viscountess, etc.,) that are attending. All the males of Twinberry will be in Estacada for the afternoon, leaving us ladies to partake in tea & delights. Debbie, Roxanne & I will be the Royal Servants. The distinguished guests even have a bell to summon us with. I am sewing unique aprons for us 3 servants. It should be a lot of fun. Between us 3 servants we have just enough tea sets. I will be making for the 1st time adorable petit fours.
Ive been busy assembling handmade little goody bags for the guests....they contain a cute wedding style thing of bubbles - a fluffy assorted colors mama chicken & baby, 3 bracelets, & a candy. Each goody bag cost no more than a dollar. Yep - Im thrrrrrrrifty! Each guest will be bringing her favorite finger food to share.
I am also making each royal guest a fancy cocktail ring made out of pipe cleaners (thank you Martha Stewart for the idea):

Rain drops drippin' down his nose....

doesnt even turn this boy away from his love of the game! Rain, snow, or shine he wants to play basketball. Click on the photo to see the actual rain drops all over my boy!

Taco Soup: It's What's For Dinner

3rd time Ive made this recipe, thanks to my friend Debbie.... no 2 times are the same though. This rendition had fresh zuccini sliced & put in. The whole family loves this soup....AND they get full with one helping! :-) Nice for the budget.

Too Busy To Blog Lately

Lots has been happening....
I recently applied to become a participant on The Biggest Loser, a weightloss show. It involved standing literally for 11 straight hours for a 36 second audition with a group of 14 other overweight hopefuls outside the Portland Convention Center pictured below: By the way it was pouring down rain & windy & cold. I was smart & brought an umbrella but dumb & forgot my coat.

Also consuming a lot of my time, besides the normal child rearing & housekeeping... is our Big 20th H.S. Reunion coming up this summer. I just finished stuffing the hundreds of envelopes.....they are all filled with the cute handmade invitations.
I can see an opportunity for a little bit of rest (pause between projects) in the near future. Yeah!
Darla has started her 2nd year of softball & Elijah is beginning baseball for the 1st time next week. We will basically be living at ball fields until mid June. Bring on the better weather. It was snowing today!