The "Rental"

Here are some pictures of our "rental."  The joke in our family right now is that we don't have a rental, it's more like a vacation home.  The kids, and both Justin and I, are loving the house.  It's fun to pretend we are "country folk!"  I must admit, I'm pretty green when it comes to this country living!  I know that I grew up on 2 acres out in the country, but we moved up from California when I was young, and I don't think California ever really left me.  My sister got all the "country" and the "city" stuck with me!  I had the trampoline in the middle of the horse pasture, and my sister took care of all the farm animals.  It was never really my thing.  So now, I'm being forced back into it, and I'm trying very hard to embrace it.  Luckily there are no animals for me to take care of yet, that would probably be considered animal abuse!  But, we have deer and wild turkey's in our backyard every morning.  I have to hold Camden back from trying to chase the turkey's.  I keep explaining to him, that they may turn around and try to chase HIM back! 

This is the back of the house

Living room area with the kids bedrooms upstairs

This is the living room taken from the 2nd story balcony.

Master bedroom

MOVING right along!

Well, our house is pending sale!  We couldn't be more excited.  The adventure now begins.

I have less than 3 weeks to pack up my house, and either decide if it should go to storage or to the house we are staying at.  Decisions, Decisions!

My kids are struggling with this a little.  NOT that we are leaving, but that it is taking SO long!  When we told them someone was buying the house, they wanted to move that day!  They don't like this waiting game.  I know I'll be a little teary when we leave this house.  We've always loved the house, it's the neighbors that we don't care much about.

Things are moving along with the new property as well.  We hope to be building in June (I say July, but Justin is really pushing for June).  It's going to be a busy summer.  I just hope the rain goes away soon, it feels like November around here!

Grant is backed up with baseball, we may be playing 5 nights straight once the weather turns around!

Mobile blogging!!
I just setup my phone to blog!
So, this is a test.

Grant's 9th Birthday!

Wow! First of all, I must apologize for how LONG it's been since I've last posted.

I'll try to be better, I promise!!

In March, Grant had his 9th Bday. He had a blast, he took 10 friends to Putter's and they got to play Lasertag!

Here is Grant with all his buddies. I must say, he probably has the greatest group of friends. I'm always impressed with all these boys. They are respectful of each other, polite, not obnoxious and SO MUCH FUN!!

He got some really cool gifts, like this "real" helicopter! It flies all over our park at home!

Camden can't wait to see what Grant gets, because he knows he's second in line to get to play with it when he gets home!! :)

The basketball sweatshirt he is wearing, was his gift from Shea. She picked it out, and he wears it ALL the time! That girl really knows her brother! :)

Just wanted to throw in a cute picture of the Bubs!


BEAVER CHEERLEADER!

Shea went to the OSU Cheerleading clinic this year. She had fun, but if you look closly at this picture, you can tell she is EXHAUSTED! It was almost 4 hours of cheering and learning material with NO breaks! We left and she couldn't stop talking about how HARD cheerleading is! AMEN SISTER! :)

She got to show off her cartwheels. This was probably her favorite part.

It was a country theme, so they learned a partner dance. It was very cute. I wish I could show you pictures from the performance at the game, but as I stated before, she was so exhausted, she said she didn't have enough energy to do it! Truth be told, I'm sure I could have convinced her to go, but I didn't really want to drive all the way back to Corvallis, find parking, sit through a Women's Basketball game, and watch her perform a 2 minute routine! Maybe next year.

(please don't judge me by the Women's basketball comment, I love Women's basketball, but I've sat through enough of those to last me a lifetime!) :)

And of course, she had to learn the traditional OOOOO - SSSSSS- UUUUU, Oregon State - fight fight fight!!!! Way to go Shea! GO BEAVS

Shea's 7th Birthday

Over the weekend, we celebrated Shea's 7th Birthday.  I took her and a few friends to a local "Tea Parlour" for lunch and cupcakes.  It was fun to watch the girls have a "real" tea party.

This is one HAPPY 7yr old!

A picture with her brothers.

All the girls dressed up and ready to go.

Shea and Tayler sharing their special treats!  It was amazing food, and the girls loved it!

"Happy Birthday to you..."

And Shea's big gift from her Nonna and Papa!  A new bike! :)

It's hard for me to believe she is already 7!  She is really growing up.  She has such a loving and giving spirit.  We are so proud of her, and couldn't be more in love with our little girl!

Happy Birthday Shea! 

Snow Day!!

Actually, I should say Snow Days, since we missed multiple days of school this week!

The kids woke up on Friday morning to more snow and no school again! 

Here is a picture from our family room, it was a beautiful morning!

Grant and Camden enjoying the view.

Our friends own a tree farm and invited us to go sledding.  

Camden had a blast on his little "red rider!"

Although, he did get tired of walking back up the hill.  

So Dad had to step in and become the "lift!"  :)

It's hard to tell, but Camden is actually going over a jump we made on the slope.

He thinks he is "FLYING" over this jump!!

Here is our one and only picture of Shea out there. 

 She didn't last long, she ended up in the truck with the heat on!

Grant got to have his first try at snowboarding!  He LOVED it!  

He is already asking us to buy him one!

Here he is going over the jump!

And Yes, they even convinced me to go on the snowboard.  It was really fun!  I was surprised at how fast I was going!  "Look out!  Here comes big Mama!!" 

Of course Justin had to get a picture of me falling too!   Ouch!

Camden turns 4!

We celebrated Camden's 4th birthday over the weekend.  I must admit that I was really struggling with this moment.  4 is not a baby anymore, he is growing up too fast!  Grant was 4 years old when Camden was born and I felt like he was so big.  Camden seems so little to me still, he can't possibly be as old as Grant was back then! :(  I think it all comes down to knowing that I will not be having another baby, and that he will always be "my baby."  I've never put much into the birth order concept until now, I can really see myself treating Camden very differently then I did both Grant or Shea when they were 4.    All in all, I know my struggles are in vain, because they will all grow up no matter what.  I'm just truly thankful that I can stay home to enjoy these last few years until he is in school too.

 

Here is Camden getting ready to open his presents.  He was so excited for each present.  I was really proud of him for taking time with each gift, and telling the "giver" thank you.

His first and maybe favorite present was this youth size Beaver hat!  He as worn it almost everyday since!

He had lots of help opening his gifts!

He kept telling us that he wanted "knight stuff" for his birthday.  I found this whole get-up at Ross for cheap!  He loved it!

Here he is patiently waiting for everyone to sing him his Birthday song! :)

Finally, I can lick the darn candles!

The next morning after his party, Camden came out of his room fully dressed in his armor.  Justin couldn't resist taking a picture!

Then on Sunday (Camden's actual birthday), Grant had his Mitey-Mite Bowl game.  They were playing a very tough Sheldon Eagle team.  It was a nail biter, but the Jaguars came out with a big victory!  It was a very exciting game, Grant threw a 25 yard touchdown pass to Levi!  He's been wanting to run that play successfully all year long!  Way to go Jags!