Summer Update

Here is Ethan with his little friend "Kenzie"

Cousins at Cannon Beach

We were able to get to the sand castle contest! I somehow got a couple of these pics doubled up sorry.

Brandon at his finest

Grandpa Bob and Ethan-so cute

This was a "herd!" or "flock" (depending on who you are! You know who you are. The same people who don't believe in wild cows) of pelicans which was a first for me to see at the beach

Roasting Marshmellows

Tyler         ?????

Look how big a pelican is!

Cute Cousin Savanna

Brandon and Grace digging a massive hole!

Ethan "hot dog and marshmellow camping" was what he told me he wanted to do again

Cousin Annica

Cousins Alec and Parker

The View from our House in McCall ~ amazing huh? (thanks Mari)

Brandon

Trying to get Brandon to smile for a picture - whata goof

We have been having a lot of fun this summer and things are just starting to slow down a little.  We started out our summer with going to the beach for a week with Brian's family for a little family reunion.  It was tons of fun but we already miss everyone.  We then headed to McCall, ID for a week with my family to waterski and wakeboard etc.!  Tons of fun again and we miss those families now too.  Since then we have benn attending ward camp outs, BBQs, stuff like that.  We did get to go waterskiing this past weekend and down to the houseboat for some fun.  That is the plan from here on out----HOUSEBOAT FUN!  We got the jet skis running now and so things are a-go.  Tyler drove the jet ski this last weekend and he loved it.  Brandon and I went for a little ride also.  Tyler has tried to wakebaord a few times but still has a little more to go and he'll get it.  Both the older boys have wakesurfed with Brian and the like that.  Ethan is not going to the early beginning waterskier that the older boys were.  He is a bit more timid though he does like the tube!  The weather here in central oregon has been just great so we have been having a great time palying in the sun and water.  We love living here!
I have added a bunch of randon pics from our adventures.
So there are some things that  I would like to get written down so that I can go back some day and read and actually miss these things that I am not always grateful for as they occur: 

• Dirty door knobs.  I have a really hard time going in and out of doors around my house because of the grubby feeling they all have!  My boys are in and out and all about.  Once I clean them, they are dirty within minutes. (the kids and the door knobs)  I usually only try to get them clean at night before they go to bed.
• Messes. This is a given with kids and I know that.  I read a quote the other day that said, "A messy house is a sign of a wasted life."  How true, maybe, but I can't live in chaos and gunk so....
• Whining. Constant, insecent, whining from a 3 year old that needs naps but won't take them.  The same 3 year old that just went A-Wall about not being able to get out the front door due to the nasty orange cheeto build-up on his fingers, nicely illustrating why my door knobs suffer the way they do.
• Tape, paper, staples, and more tape.  Permanent markers that I hide in a new spot every 3 days.
• Otter pop or popcicle stains on the garage floor making it sticky with every other step that I take.
• Doing laundry only to fold it when it's dry and find that there are shirts riddled with stains that I didn't see the first time around and spraying them and throwing them back in for the next wash.  Thank goodness for spray and wash!
• Snacks....snacks.....SNACKS....the constant eating and SNACKING of my boys.....it's insane. The "I'm Hungry" that occurs just as I have finally finished cleaning the kitchen from the meal that we JUST finished.  No wonder a lot of moms are on Prozac.  Or working outside the home!  It must be easier that way right?
• Teasing.  More Teasing after being asked nicely to stop.  More even after being yelled at to stop, threatened even. Do I have to expand on that?  A sure road to insanity.
• Crying, whaling, gnashing of teeth
• Darkening the same room 3 times each day hoping that this time will be the blessed moment that my 3 year old will just take a little nap so that he can make it through the evening.  Unfortunately it is now 4:40pm and I just don't care because if he stays awake I don't know if he nor I can function.  Hopefully it's just a little nap so that he is not jumping ON me in MY bed tonight at 10pm when I want so much be alone!

I will be able to think of more later I am sure.  I always tell myself I am going to get these things down on paper because it's funny, a lot of it, after you have lived through it.  Not while your are dealing with it though.  And I don't want to forget it all!  I love my family and the challenges they bring but there are a lot of things that  I love that they do that are great.  Like the hugs, kisses, the little "I love yous" and ALL the funny things they say and do that make it all worth it.  I will have to try and list all of that someday too.  I have tried in previous posts to at least start!  I put in when I can remember it.