My actual birthday ~

I actually felt spoiled on my birthday...already having my big 50th birthday bash!! I got up and went to my first monday of the month quilt class at The Wild Rose....my favorite shop right now...they are sooo sweet there! This is my quilting friend Joan...I met her at one of my classes, so we always save each other a seat, and I look forward to visiting with her 2 Mondays of the month for classes!!
This is my favorite instructor Andria...I have learned sooo many new quilting skills from her, she's a hoot, and fun to take classes from!
Then I get this text from Trina saying she wanted to kidnap me for lunch to be ready....so up pulls Journey...who had successfully pulled Jaycee out of Jr. High early. (She wasn't on our list of people...and I am still surprised that they let her check Jaycee out...way to beat the system friend!!) She had made me this ADORABLE banner to hang in my studio...which I immediately did...it's soooo cute...it's fun having such talented friends!
We went to Anthony's on the water...MY FAVORITE place ever....their fish and chips is to die for and cole slaw...mmmmm I want some now!!
Of course we had to have dessert...I had creme brulet...my ALL TIME favorite EVER!!!! Especially there...no matter how full I am, I can't leave without this Amazing stuff!!

Needless to say...I felt sooo spoiled all weekend and on Monday...my actual birthday!!

Mother's Day

I HAVE THE BEST JOB,....BEING A MOTHER!!

And it was a very nice lazy day!! Church was nice....we go at 9 am which I've gotten used to...I'm not an early bird, but it is nice to come home and relax the rest of the afternoon. Since I'm not usually too hungry in the mornings, Kevin opted to make me brunch after church. It was delicious!! The best time to have breakfast food in my opinion!! I got 2 hanging flower plants from Kevin and the kids, and they are full & beautiful.

How is this daughter of mine growning so dang fast and becoming a young lady...not possible!!

She'll get her drivers permit in 4 months...yikes, that's frightening!! To teach another kid to drive....not sure I have it in me...ha ha! I'll never forget almost peeing my pants trying to teach Kaylee stick in the church parking lot.......we laughed our heads off!! Maybe Jaycee won't want to learn stick...I'm sure that'll be the case!!!
Sweet little Tanner Boy....he writes in my Mother's Day card..."Although I get mad at you, you are still the best Mom"...very well stated for a 10 year old!
Just 2 kids left at home...and there is still never a dull moment in this household!! Tanner is playing baseball, and his new soccer coach has decided to get a HEAD start on practices....like THIS saturday....ARE YOU kidding me...we have only had 2 baseball games!!!! One sport at a time coach!!! I think Jaycee would like to have private violin lessons...we'll see about that and just how serious she is. She is very musical...which I love!!
It's fun to look back on all my Mother's Days and see how little each of the kids were...so this picture tradition continues!!!

For Kaylee

Ok, so I know blogging isn't one of my talents these days....I will try and do better....especially when I have a little prompting from Kaylee dear!! Thanks! Tanner was so excited to have Kev come on his field trip to WSU on St. Patricks Day!!His school is a NO excuses school, and they are stressing "Everyone goes to college"....so it was a great day for his 4th grade class to be able to go! He trys to be fair and says 'Mom, you can come on the next one k?" works for me!! And...Miss Jaycee went on her 1st trip, flying all by herself this morning! She was a little nervous, and the lady at the check-in could tell and issued me a free pass to escort her to her gate, which worked out well! She called me every few minutes till she boarded the plane, then called when she landed in San Francisco, and when The Miller's met her at baggage claim. So All went well!! She's a very responsible daughter!! She's going to have a ball!!

So we decided to go on an overnighter in the motorhome up to Stampede Pass to snowmobile last weekend.....Kev checked the weather, and the passes were totally dry. We headed up at 6 pm.....Right before we reached the top of Snoqualmie Pass it started snowing like CRAZY!!! We watched I-90 go from 4 lanes to being totally shut down!!! Cars started sliding and spinning out and stopping in front of us, so we had no choice but to stop! Being on an incline...we also got stuck and our wheels were spinning!! Kevin almost jack knifed our motorhome and enclosed trailer!! (notice the photo above and our trailer totally sticking out!) We came within about a foot of running into a semi, but luckily we stopped sliding in time. Kevin stopped and put chains on...which by the way were NOT required. After we realized we weren't going anywhere...because of all the spinouts in front and beside us, Tan and I decided to go out and play in the snow. We were parked on I-90 for over an hour, Kevin helped cars get unstuck and after 2 snowplows came by, we braved the roads once again! Once he started going he didn't stop, and we arrived 4 1/2 hours later! Prayers being said all along the way!!! We can usually get to Stampede in 90 minutes!! I've NEVER seen such giant snowflakes in my life!! It snowed about 4 inches in the time we were parked on I-90....crazy stuff!! Once Kevin was relaxed...he peeks his head in the motorhome and said "I can't believe you're not taking pictures of this stuff" As I snapped a picture of him...ha ha! When we finally started moving again, Tanner said.."well that was quite an experience that I hope to NEVER have again!!" So that gave us a good teaching moment about ALWAYS being prepared....being a good scout....good times!!

I LOVE spending time with Kev....I remember thinking when he proposed to me thinking....WOW, lucky me.., to spend the rest of my life with this spontaneous wonderful Man!!

Jaycee spent the night with a friend, so it was just the 3 of us this trip! When we finally got to Stampede at midnight...we just had to take a night ride....and SOOO glad we did....riding in over a foot of FRESH POWDER is like heaven on earth!!!

Tanner loves this white stuff as much as we do!! Lots of memories made in the snow!!

Doing good...

I love this quote!

I just realized that I need to take tanner shopping for his valentines...he's not into the cutsie homemade ones that I used to make with Jaycee, which is good...but really~all the kids care about is the candy anyway!!

New Year!

SERIOUSLY...how can this be! As I was browsing through my blogs, I realized that each year I blog less and less...so this year I will top my blogs in the past and hopefully keep up! We spent New Years Eve with our friends at the Hawkins house, Sandbergs & Harvards were there, and we played games...ate, ate, and ate! So much fun with these guys!! Then the next morning at 7 AM...we headed to the mountains to snowmobile! And we were soooo glad that we did....I mean, just LOOK at this view we had all day riding in this beauty!!! Really, it was breathtaking!!

Kevin is proud to welcome his new DRAGON sled to our trailer this year. He sold his other one, and loves this machine!!

It was FREEZING cold up there, but we had an excellent time, and the memories always out weigh the cold!
NEXT......December was a memorable time! The 9 of us flew to Puerto Vallarta Mexico and spent a week there at a fabulous all enclusive resort. We ate, ate, and ate, layed in the sun, rode the Mexican roller coaster (the city bus) did some site seeing, visited the flea market and wheeled and dealed a little, the kids had an encounter with the dolphins, Kev and I dove the murky waters, we snorkeled, and enjoyed each others company! The virgin drinks were memorable as well, as we continually had to check to see if they really were virgin!!

This was our view from our room....so beautiful to wake up to each morning with the sun shining bright and always a pleasantly warm day! The weather was just right...never too hot! And the relaxing was perfect!!!
It was fun eating together, and sampling all the wonderful foods that were at our fingertips!
And the best part....wearing shorts in December and NO shoes...or flip flops!
These animals were amazing to watch!! I seemed to catch all three of them in the air at one time...surprised myself! COOL...

Alot to do just staying at the resort as well...Shaylin and Tanner played a little tennis, we played bocce ball and shuffleboard, and did it all!

Kaylee, Jaycee and Shaylin on our balcony.

Wishing Ryan and Darin could have joined us, but maybe another time!!

Definately a trip we will never forget!!!

Another Soccer Season finished!

Tanner's favorite position this year was the Stopper, and he was AWESOME at it...we've never seen him play so aggressively, and it was cool to watch!! He actually made a goal the last game from the defense position...half way up the field...kicked it, and it dropped right in the goal! I don't think the goalie on the other team was expecting the ball to be kicked that far....really an awesome goal for TAN!! I told him it was because he was wearing the magic beanie hat that I knitted for him the night before...but I'm not sure he bought that!!

Tanner sure has a great coach and such a fun team and we love the Family's!! We are always sad to see the season end, because we miss visiting with the Parent's...and of course their team is way fun to watch! This year they had an excellent season! They won 8 games, tied one and only lost one~they actually seemed to get it...their passing and defense was awesome, and they really work great together as a team!! BUT....9-10 year old boys will be BOYS!!! This picture proves that indeed!! Good blackmailing at a later date I'd say! He decided to take a break from basketball this year so that we could do more snowmobiling. Kev got him a new sled this year, and he is so excited to try it out!!
In fact...today Puyallup got their 1st snowfall of the year...if this keeps up, we will have some good snow this year!! YAY!!!!

Because Tanner has such an awesome DAD...Kevin arranged for the boys to be picked up at their last soccer game and have a one hour LIMO ride, then be dropped off at Dairy Queen for their team party!! The boys were beyond EXCITED...look at their faces when Kevin told them what was waiting for them!! Too cute!!
Here's the group that rode in the Limo!!

Tanner actually knew about the surprise, and he kept a SECRET for 3 weeks...didn't telll a soul!! Kevin had this limo in his shop for a week doing some body work on it, so Tanner and I checked it out before it left Center Collision... Tanner loved it!!!
Cool license plate!

Handsome looking guys wouldn't you say!?

This was at Dairy queen...Victor had these shirts made for the boys....and they were definately 1st to the ball this season!!!

Till next year....soccer's through!

Ellie

Who'd have known that this little thing could make 2 kids laugh sooo hard?! They love to play with her and watch her climb. Jaycee takes such good care of her, and is good to share with Tanner. It's so cute to watch her eat cabbage....those tiny little fingers..adorable!
Jaycee with Ellie
Tanner and Ellie

She had alot of energy today! Climbin all over the place!

They keep trying to talk me into a dog...I tell them if I would have wanted another kid...I would have had one...I think 6 is enough!! They say I have every excuse in the world why we can't get a dog! I'm such a mean Mom...I guess. Ellie is the perfect pet!!!