Danny and Kimmie came to visit!!

My brother Dan and his new wife Kim came down from Nome, Alaska. They live up there in the wilderness, he working for a hotel, and she working as an evidence clerk for the state. We don't see them much, so it was so nice for them to be here for 3 whole weeks! We got to spend an entire day with them doing movies, eating out and bowling one of the days. Another day we celebrated their first year anniversary with a big BBQ at my parents house (we got to meet her family), and there were several days of hanging out, playing games, and spending time together thrown in there! Danny and Kimmie, we're so sorry to see you go back home and we're going to miss you! Someday I'd love to go visit them (and also my Uncle and Eskimo auntie and cousins) and see all the places I've heard about, do some fishing. Maybe someday!!

A night of camping - In the backyard!

What have we been doing lately?? A whole lot of nothing! The kids were getting stir-crazy, I can tell they're ready for a change. Keira especially, she needs school to start! This week we couldn't get a spot at the campground we wanted, so we pitched the tent in the backyard! We spent an entire evening BBQing dinner and roasting marshmallows, telling stories, reading books, singing songs and spending quality time as a family. The kids had lots of fun! In the morning it was FREEZING! We all came in at the crack of dawn. Daddy ran to Jack-in-the-box for breakfast bowls for all of us and we spent the morning huddled together watching cartoons.

A reverse stutter?

OK, I just have to share! Keanu's going thru this weird phase. I call it "reverse stuttering" where he repeats the last consanant of the last word of his sentences. SO CUTE, but weird. Example: "I want some juice-s-s-s-s" -or- "What's that-t-t-t-t?" Oh the joys of having a toddler!

Yes!! Our new patio is finished!

The last week has been pretty hectic! Jeff's brother & nephew came over the mountains with us and have been staying with us building us this patio, putting in a new window, and doing odd jobs around the house. I've been waiting all summer trying to find someone who had the time to either pour us a cement patio or use patio blocks to make us one. I have to say I'm glad I used the blocks, they look nice. Although it's not completely level (we did the best we could but we're not professionals or anything!) I think it looks great!

Notice the big wheel & baby push toy? The boys love riding around on it! We barbecued on it for the first time for dinner tonight, and in the next week or so we'll be off to find a good deal on patio furniture. Hooray, and thank you Randy and Tim for coming all the way over here to work for us!

That cop was a real dummy!!

no. For real! Entering Ocean Shores we noticed a police speed trap. Then we passed that same cop a few hours later. Then on our way home, that cop was STILL there! Turns out they put a dummy in the drivers seat, hehehe!!! For all those tourists who don't know any better! Looks real doesn't it?

Our trip to the beach!!

We had a blast at the beach! This week our family went with Grandma Woody (Jeff's mom) and Auntie Lea (his sis) to Ocean Shores. It was windy, but we still had lots of fun! We visited the lighthouse, walked the beach searching for shells, played in the sand making sand castles, got our feet wet, went shopping, and added to a driftwood fort (not to mention lots of playing in it!) We all had a blast!