Our TJ is almost mobile. This last couple days we have been seeing lots of push ups, but no movement.

Chloe made a new cousin friend. Chloe and Mckenna were so cute at Grandpa Ken's house. Chloe keeps asking about her cousin Kenna.

Camping in Forks WA

Here are the kids pretending to sleep.

On the way to the campground we stopped at Crescent lake. We have decided it would be the perfect place to have a vacation home. BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL!
Just put this pic in cause Halle looked kind of odd


Our fam went camping this last weekend with some close friends to Mora beach which is in Forks WA. It just so happened that we were there when Breaking Dawn the new book from the twilight series came out. Every little store and restaraunt had some Bella burgers or Edward accesories. I picked up my copy bright and early on Saturday from the local Forks Thriftway. Back to our camping trip. Our first night was a complete rain out , however my parents and friends went to town and bought up all the tarps in the store and we stayed dry. The beach had all of these beautiful rocks. When the rocks got wet they turned colors. When we camp we're not usually camera pretty but we take pics anyway.

Milestone

This past week was my birthday. 28 is now here. You know when you were younger and everyone seemed alot older than you, well I have reached the other end of that scenario. Not that everyone is younger, just that I am alot older. My family has been having a weight loss challenge. I have lost about 3 pounds. woohoo! Pretty good for me since I have never lost weight except by giving birth and that month or two after. Anyway to the point for my birthday three of my close friends brought me not so wonderful presents for my goal. Cupcakes, rice krispie treats, almond clutsters (a whole big container) and a big box of Sees candies (in all my fav flavors.) Oh and my mom took me out to my old fav restaraunt Sakura's and Tony took me out to my new fav restaraunt The Samurai. That was my very fattening birthday.

Oh and for a milestone on TJ. His first word was mom, then he said no, then dad, but yesterday he kept saying mom over and over and that is new and it just made my day. Here is a picture of him making one of my fav faces. He looks like a little gummer when he sucks his lips in.

Jam

Me and my mom made yummy raspberry jam. It was my first time making jam and I was quite proud of myself. Her is a picture of me and mom, not the best pic we have ever taken. Oh and the next pic is of an apron that I wore, it was given to me when my Great Grandma Mcbride died and I just love it. And last the finished product.

This week was a normal summer week with visiting with friends, library trips, Super Saturday at church, garage sales, and Halle's soccer camp. Which by the way sitting in the grass for 3 hours a day is not such a good idea for my allergies. Half of our family is suffering from sinus pressure and lots of snot. (gross) However we went to Northwest Trek this week with our friends the Lamb family and it was the perfect day for it. Thursday was overcast in the morning and all of the animals were out. Halle enjoyed taking pictures of all the animals. Heres a picture of Chloe, Laney and their friend Preslee. Then a picture of Kristen and Chloe. I only have one lap and T.J. was occupying it so Kristen helped me out and held Chloe. The last picture I just put it in because I never have any pictures of me and my kids.

T.J. is now 6 months old, and he had decided to sit. He still falls every once in awhile but he recovers quickly. He's not a newborn anymore.

Our baby nephew Christopher or in our words The B.C. came to visit recently. B.C. and T.J. were playing on Grandma's couch and I noticed they were holding hands it was so cute. They would grab hands and then let go at least 3 times. Heres a picture.

On Sunday Laney comes up to me after church and says "Mom I have a loose tooth, feel it mom" So not really thinking much of it I feel it and sure enough it is loose. It brought back all the sadness of Laney graduating from preschool and growing up way to quickly. So yesterday we were at our friends the Kimballs and Laney and her friend Emersen collided heads and out popped Laney's tooth. Trying to get a picture of her tooth was pretty funny here are a few of the tries at getting a cute one. Not sure if we ever reached cuteness.

So we are a little behind bur for the fourth we started our festivities hanging with the Chappells at a neighborhood party. Food, visiting and play for the kids. We finished up the day at the home of Rick and Kylynns for more food and a very cool fireworks show.

We
just got back from our vacation to California. I am very proud of myself. I never drive anywhere because I don't like riding in the car, however with a family of 6 airfare is rather pricey so. I took the kids with the assistance of my momma and drove 15 hours through the night(which is the only way to drive with my children.) to see my brother Lin and Sister in law Linda and their 5 children. Thats right 9 children in one 3 bedroom home. You would think it would be kinda crazy there but it wasn't. We went to the Cheese Cake Factory and the waitress complimented us on how well behaved our kids were. We went to Alcatras, this cool theme park Great America, the boardwalk and the beach front. It was a great vacation. The weather however was just like normal Washington weather. Cloudy and high 60's low 70's.


Here is a picture of all of the cousins. The little boy in the middle with the stripes is not one of ours. When we went to the beach TJ loved eating the sand. I was so proud of Laney because just before it was time to go she finally went in the water. She is very afraid of water. She usually spends her time up in the dry sand building castles and collecting shells.

My sister in law Laura and brother Chris got us this sooo cute outfit. I cant stop taking pictures of him in it.

TJ is starting to eat. We have one of those mesh feeder things, which is a must have for babies, but our baby loves to eat just like his family. I asked Tony to feed TJ some melon and when I looked over at them he had given it to him with a fork. Daddy's think so differently than Mommy's.

Our Halle baby performed in her 2nd Piano recital. She doesn't think she wants to play the piano anymore but Mom and Dad aren't going to let her give up just yet. Mean parents Huh? Right after her recital we had to jet out of there and change clothes in the car for her final softball game of the season. Last year her team was undefeated and this year they won all of their games except for the last one. They lost. However they are still co-champions. Wins and losses aren't that big of a deal to Halle yet.

Halle is quite the little sportster. This season it's softball. Right now her team is 7-0. Tonight we had a game, yes in the rain and cold and wind. Halle pitched for the first time ever and she had 3 strike outs and one walk. We were so proud of her. Her games are so much fun. Her first time up to bat this season she hit a homerun. She hits alot of doubles. She is so lucky to have an awesome coach named John Meers. All of the kids on her team play well.

Laney graduated from pre-school last Thursday. About a day before I started to get this sick sad feeling. I just can't believe that she is going to be in Kindergarten next year. I can't kick the sad feeling. Overdramatic I know. I asked Laney if she was sad at her graduation. She said " I'm a little bit sad and a lot happy." Here are a couple pictures of her big day. The kids sang cute songs and alphabet rhymes. The last picture is of Laney and Teacher Patsy.