I ♥ Smiles

I found this site "I ♥ Faces" on Facebook and this weeks challenge is {smiles}

Here's my entry.... I took this pic of my oldest daughter at the beach this weekend, she was falling over in the wind and laughing with glee.

I ♥ action shots of the kids!

TFL

went for a drive today- a pictorial story

so on scrapbookheaven.com the other day we were asked to list 5 things that make us smile, so while on a drive with the family today I decided to take pictures of things that made me smile. We had quite a drive!

1st stop Mary Adams beach on the Smith river :)

the kids climbed some rocks :)

we *ahem* leaned on rocks :)

headed to Brookings and ate lunch at the hungry clam...yummy :)

took pictures with a living statue, he was really cool :)

headed to Harris Beach...aaaahhhhh, I love this beach :)

played in a fort made of driftwood :)

threated to dunk a monkey in the ocean :)

got chased by a seaweed monster :)

ran from some waves :)

tried to make a sea-saw out of driftwood and a big rock :)

Him...Venti caramel frap extra caramel

Her...Venti green tea-ice tea 1/2 sweet {shaken not stirred} :)

SEE, I was there :)

The Great tree hunt, 2008

So this is the 1st year we have ever had a real Christmas tree. A friend from Church led us up the side of Mt Sanger, 6500 ft to find a Noble Fir. Its an 11 mile drive that takes over an hour. It was freezing when we left our house at 8am, but at the top of the mountain above the fog and in the bright sun it was warm and beautiful!

about half way up we stopped on a ridge to look down into our valley. It's hard to see in the pics, but the wall of fog makes a really dramatic drop into the valley {were the shadow is on the fog}

Unfortunately, my camera batteries died after taking the pics above.... so I don't have any pics of us looking for or finding the tree. But we had a blast hiking all over the side of the mountain looking for the "perfect" tree! back at home, out 10 foot tree had to be trimmed to 6 1/2 feet to fit in the house with a stand and starThe kiddos did all the decorating notice the bundles under the tree? Right after decorating the tree, all the kids wrapped presents for each other and us from there rooms. The gifts are wrapped in blankets, scarfs and colorings......... the season of giving :)

Autumn Afternoon

This Past weekend we took the kids on a day trip to the Oregon Caves. We had such a blast, even got a ranger to give us a mini cave tour with out having to pay for the full one. And, of course, I brought along my camera! Just couldn't pass up the chance to take some beautiful Fall pictures

{you can click on the pics to make them bigger}

changing Seasons

I just spent all day washing every piece of clothing my 5 kids own...... that's a lot of loads! We dumped out drawers, folded, sorted, packed away for winter and passed down sizes. I still need to get all of the boxed up winter clothes out of storage, but maybe later this week. I always dread this chore, but it feels so good when its all done, the drawers all neat and the hampers are empty {well for a few minutes anyways} The kids are so funny when its time to pass down clothes. The kid growing out of the item, is sad because they are all their favorites, and the new owner is so overjoyed to get their older siblings greatest treasure. Funny, isn't..... How kids don't make fun of hand me downs. My kids Love it, they also love finding one of a kind treasures at second hand shops

Hair Cuts

My Daughters and I decided to get some new hair cuts. The youngest {third pic} got her 1st ever hair cut and gave a huge pony tail to Locks of Love

*WARNGING*

This Horrible picture of me will self-destruct in 5...4....3.......{I wish}

garden goodness

okay, so its only two yellow cherry tomatoes..... but they are the first tomatoes to ripen, and oh were they good!!!!

the kids are loving going to the garden every morning to pick fresh pea, both pod peas and snap peas

My Beloved

I just wanted to say I love you Darlin!

{he wrote I ♥ you with a sparkler, and I got the ♥ on film}

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head
I bow Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!Amen !
If you aren't ashamed to do this,
please pass this on.
Jesus! said, ' If you are ashamed of me,'
I will be ashamedof you before my Father.
'Not ashamed.

lifes just a bowl full of cherries

Or, atleast a teacup full.....

the cherry trees have started to fill up with yumminess!

Hopefully we can get our fill of them before the birds do

more mouths to feed

Gabby
Fluffy

Mia

Our family has grown, again

hear me ROAR

Wooohoooo, I got my whole list done!!!!!!

I have two big ol' blisters and a bruised heal (flip flops aren't good gardening shoes)

but, its all done!

I even set the stakes into the garden all by myself with a fence post pounder.

now there is just one more thing to add to my "to do list".....

SCRAP!

hopefully I can get some done tonight, if I can get my fingers to work

this is the yummy picnic bread that I made for dinner last night.... not a crumb left



and here is the amish friendship bread,,,,yummy