Driving to AZ

All I can say is we have the best travelers for kids(even before DVD players and DS's)
Even our pets did great.. yes we brought the dog and cat and we all fit comfortably in the big truck much to Dax's pleasure because yes i will admit, it would of been tight in the expedition.. (the trade off for that truck is for me to get a brand new Camry or better my BMW before i am 40.) I get tired of telling everyone my dream car is a cannondale LOL. speaking of which and going off the blog shedule. i went on my long 70 mile to hill ridden bike ride last Sunday, It was awesome with only a few weeks of riding under my belt.(my ride season starts late because of our vacations i usually go strong from late July to October.. my goal this year is to gear up and ride through the winter, we shall see...

okay back to the drive.. it was great we stayed 1 night in sacramento and made great time. the cat cried from Scappoose to Grants pass then he was fine with a yelp every now and then.
we swam at the hotel and as you can see Jake is swimmimg laps.. he had one private lesson before the trip and Gina(the goddess od swimming) was impressed with his abilty, after a year of no swimmimg. i really want to make time anad get him lessons and maybe even the swim team down the road.. he;s great in the water. he likes to work on his backstroke and likes the breast stroke as well.



So that was our ride to Arizona... More to come later... FUN SUN and storms!!!!!!!!

I posted before i wrote... lucky me.. Thought i would go in reverse starting back in June, Dax was home with us for a good couple months before we got to vacation together. So we took advantage of our time and did some hiking, enjoyed our neighbors doing fire pit nights. (which is what there doing now and i need to get out there) and getting ready for the big AZ/CA trip.. The following pictures is of my yard is mainly to show my friend /Sherri(because she saw how it was before the work) and my parents, wait til you see the august pictures of the flowers/garden. Before my Yard had a slope so this is much better, we even have a space for a shed/playhouse or hot tub. (my preference) above that area where the bonus room window is we talked of doing a deck with french doors. now if we do end up staying that's something i for sure want to do, I'll have to choose between that or the kitchen as a 1st project... anyway out i go have a great evening more to come tomorrow......

May June Before our travels...

The worst Bloogger ever.....

I bet you all gave up on me except for miss Sherri, Thank you by the way... So here's the deal we have had an amazing funfilled summer, and i am excited to share it with everyone.. i am still uploaded and going through pictures from our CA trip and i am guessing at about the time the kids get back in school i can actually sit down and give a looooonnngg drawn out update.. lots of things to share and i believe i'll start with June and work my way to the present time.... so hang tight family and friends. i will get you updated one peice at a time... miss you all

Friday ( This that and Other)

Jake picked this hairstyle himself when we went to the hair salon I call it the " Maddox", I actually think a 6 year old can pull this off but not a 16 year old like my nephew Joey....Jake had show and tell today and i brought our kitty "Lucky" the kids had a blast petting him and asking questions and telling stories, it was also the last day of school(we still have Oaks Parks" field trip Tuesday. Jani threw a little party, they had treats and made wiener wraps and large sturdy airplanes that they each brought home thanks to Mo Janis husband. the day before the school rented a blow up jumpy thing(whatdoyoucallit) the kids loved jumping and playing in that as well. Jake had his last game last Tuesday, here you will see the final shots of Jake's T-ball career..Tanner came home from "Outdoor school" and had a blast we heard all about during a dinner of Chili and cornbread, we started to watch the Golden Compass but all of us became board. Sadly we are back to Oregon cold and rain and it will last through the weekend. I am just glad we didn't plan a camping trip no fun in the rain unless you have a camper.Maybe if it clears up we may do some hiking or the zoo, i told the kids we would do the Fire Pit one night if the weather cooperates. and yes Dax is going to be home tonight, and YES i cannot wait. If i started writing about how much i miss him you would be reading forever. We are very SIKED!!!! Have a great weekend, enjoy your families and be safe....

MY BOYS

God gave me the best of two worlds, when he gave me my boys.
one brown eyed curly hair one blue eyed blond hair. one who's the splitting image of his dad in looks but my personality,one who looks like me but has his dad's easy going attitude in life. both boys would do anything for anyone in there lives and put 100 percent effort in everything they do.. they are kind to animals and love being silly. They can be the best of friends but they also have there times they wont put up with each others nonsense. Jake misses you so much Tanner as do I.You told Jake monday, (now your the man of the house until i get back and dad gets back and he's doing his job well thanks to you. We love you and dad loves you and hopes your having fun this week. I am the luckiest mom in the world to have you both. To have all three of you.. MY BOYLE BOYS.. I will see you both Friday......

Last weekend Was....

My dream weather... It hit 95 degrees, and my switch came on.... I started at 8:30am Friday, (my perfect day)
Went for a one hour run, ran fast because i am insane and i run my best in the heat. The second i finished had a quick drink it was on to edging and weeding the entire front and back, then i mowed my perfect checkerboards. Jake got a ride home from school from Cody's mom, had a quick lunch then off to the Dutch Brothers for smoothie and mocha freeze and then to the flower shop where i spent god only knows allot of money on bushes,plants, roses and annuals, lots and lots..

Jake on the car ride to the store...
man, it's hot, it's so hot my underwear is sticking to my butt.... (mom) well get use to it because it's only hotter in PHX.. (Jake arriving at the store) oh i am use to it now mom i am good to go to PHX.. You had to be there because that's how he is about everything in life. He adapts and deals with things in stride...

got home visited the neighbors put the flowers where i wanted to plant got the shovels, miracle grow out, looked at the time and it was already 6pm. We had dinner a bath and met the neighbors outside for drink and conversation.. I love my neighbors we live in a very unique neighborhood where we all like to spend time together, one of the reasons i hate to leave here.


Sat. i took a day off to working out and made homemade waffles for the kids. did a load of laundry, vacuumed then went out front to plant and transplant some bulbs, had to get rid of a couple trees and are growing where they shouldn't be.(have you ever tried getting those things by the root?) very hard. by then it was 11am and off to a b-ball game. i went in my halter top and sweat shorts, i wasn't a pretty site but didn't care. i was on a mission to get everything planted today (Sat.) got home Tanner made us lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches (my boy) gotta love him. he went to mow the Lampmans yard and i spent the rest of the day planting the back... another 6pm day and i realize i have a wine party in Columbia city that the Gramens are throwing They live on the river in a gorgeous home and love when she throws a party. i shower get pretty up and drop Jake off at a friends and go to that. when i got home i see our neighbors fire pit out ready to go.. instead i head in watch million dollar baby with Tanner and crash out for the night..

Sun. 7am run (another good one) I go to church we have a homemade icecream party for our last day of sunday school. by 12pm i am useless for the rest of the day and a little cranky. I hang out outside but i am just dead to the world. i realize i over did it.. Way to much in one weekend and today i am still feeling it.. but the hard part is done and i also realize i havn't taken any pictures of my hard work to share on this blog.. i need to do that....My happiest part of the weekend was watching the kids have a water gun fight out front... i do have a picture of the little kids chasing Tanner.. too funny...






Monday the pool at the gym was open and me and the boys got to swim for a while. Jake hasn't missed a beat and jumped right in and remembers how to swim.. quite the little fish, i was happy to see that, being we may or may not have our own pool or will have a community pool in PHX. In the hot summer months we spend everyday swimming, pool, river, lake whatever we can find. Monday wa sour last day of perfect weather and it was a great way to end the perfect weather streak. Now we are back to the rain but atleast it's warmer out.. let's hope for another great weekend for all of us... Dax will be home so it will be wonderful no matter what...