finally well...

After a week and a half of illness in the house and my fever almost reaching 104, we are well. It's so nice to feel okay again.

Jared fishing the river. He has caught two cutthroat trout on his fly rod at this spot. He bought some waders so he can venture into the water waist deep and keep dry.
Lexi keeping herself entertained with bubbles...

Kyler doing some fishing as well.

Keeping myself entertained. I am almost done with this book, and I recommend it to everyone. (haha, I wondered why Lexi's pants were so muddy when we got home, then I saw this picture. I love how she stayed behind me so I didn't see her dig in the mud!)

I took this photo of the fog the other morning and it came out kind of interesting. I love the fog!

haha, this is so cute.

Today Kyler had a field trip to Oregon State University. I was so worried I wouldn't be well enough to go, but luckily I was. He was so happy to have me volunteer and I was so happy I could. I had 4 boys in my group, Tom, Angel, Jacob and my Kyler. They were, for the most part, pretty calm. We had so much fun. The students at OSU had so many experiments for them to try, reptiles to touch, art to see, and there were even some goodies involved.

While we were loading into the bus, Kyler said "I'm sitting with my mom!" He's not embarrassed to me a mama's boy. ;) At one point, he was hanging on me so much, Mrs. Taylor said "Kyler you're going to have to share your mom." then laughed. He was just so happy! As was I.

Here Angel is trying a static electricity ball, his hair stood straight up!

Do you remember these drinks?

The kids made "gel beads" which are what those little balls in the Orbitz drinks are made of. They had so much fun.

Kyler touching the boa constrictor.

Here all 4 boys are exploring the snakes and turtles. They even had 2 American alligators there.

Tom and Kyler with Pablo, the parrot.

Jacob searching for a buried mug with a radiation finder. I never knew how many household items contain radiation, odd.

During the bus ride back to school, I was able to talk to Kyler's "helping teacher" (she is currently going to school to become a teacher and is interning in his class), she told me Kyler is the strongest reader in the class and that his comprehension is incredible! She said "you should be very proud of him." And of course I am.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

aww...October...

Fall colors showing in our garden...
Jared and Kyler fishing. The kids and I left to get ready to carve pumpkins (along with the camera), and Jared caught his first cutthroat trout on his fly rod 2 minutes later! He got some camera phone pics, but it was too dark. Now he's more stoked than ever on fishing.

the hill in front of our house

Everywhere we go, we bring along a bag for litter. Here Lexi is picking up garbage. What good kids I have. So...if you are debating throwing your trash on the ground, consider this... a 5 year old may be picking up after you! That's not cool!

Pumpkin carving/painting time!

He painted a werewolf howling at the moon

She painted every inch of her pumpkins. When I told her

"I think you're finished."

She replied with

"Mom, I'm an artist, an artist is NEVER done painting!"

She even painted the stems!

Kyler pretended to eat the pumpkin pieces, he convinced Lexi that it tastes like candy. So, being who she is and will eat anything, she tasted it! She said

"EWWWW I tasted
it in REAL life KYLER! And it was NOT good!"

She was furious with him.

He decided to carve his big one. He HATES gutting it! haha

(dad helped!)

Almost done

Kyler's lit up

Our porch

On Tuesday, I volunteered at Kyler's school's health assessment for what was supposed to be 4 hours, but us moms kicked butt and did 4 hours worth of work in 2 1/2! Anyway, I walked home when I was done, took off my sweater, hung it up, took off my shoes, put them in the closet....then my phone rings. Who is it? Kyler! He says he's not feeling well, so I put my sweater and shoes back on and pick him up.

As soon as I brought him home, Lexi grabbed a blanket, covered him up, and snuggled with him. She kept saying

"aw poor Kyler."

She is such a little mama.

We find tree frogs in our garden daily, especially in the sugar plum tree!

Can you see these 2?

And another....

Our tree is showing fall colors now!

In the past week, it seems we have been battling illness after illness. Lexi started Saturday with a fever and body aches. Sunday she was better. Monday she was worse and even vomited. Tuesday, Kyler had body aches and a fever. Wednesday he was well and I was feverish along with what I believe to be a kidney infection (it's very common with the women in my family in their 20's). All 4 of us have sore throats, Jared's had his for a few weeks now. So frustrating...hope we can get back on track soon.

Kyler has a field trip to Oregon State University on October 21st. I signed up to volunteer! Yay!

Kyler is having a school fundraiser, it only lasts a few short weeks, so PLEASE check out qsp.com. Magazine subscriptions are up to 83% off from what you'd normally pay. When you shop it will ask his school name which is Riverview Elementary along with his code which is FLO1. Please help him out, as we do not know many people here. You can order through me and just mail a check to me if you'd prefer that method as well. Thanks to Marissa and Pat for already doing so, we greatly appreciate your support!!! If you have any questions regarding it, let me know!!

Have a great week everyone!

feeling like home...

Today, we came home to find a package waiting on our door step...Samantha, my AWESOME friend from CA, sent the kids a package just to make them feel special. Thanks Sam, it was SO sweet. The kids are thrilled.
Lexi got all "princessed up" and put on a Hannah Montana concert for us.
Kyler is so excited for all of his Hotwheels (couldn't fit 'em all in the pic) and he LOVES his book. He's all about science, this kid.

We went to a local pumpkin patch today. We had such a good time!

Our pumpkins:

picking his little pumpkin:

picking her "baby" pumpkin:

her big one!

his big one!

haha, too cute!

Jared, Kyler and Lexi

me, Kyler and Lexi

they had some GIANT pumpkins!

HAHA...Jared posing

Our hay ride:

petting the lambs, they aren't even 1 month old. They are adorable! Lexi was in love with them.

The corn/sunflower maze:

Lexi said she was a witch flying on her broom:

Lexi was begging daddy to carry her!

I love sunflowers.

she stopped to pose, of course:

they are my world:

posing for mom, I wonder if they ever get tired of my constant picture taking? Oh well, one day they'll appreciate the fact that I never missed a moment. ;)

entering the maze. I love Kyler's pose here!

this morning, daddy teaching Lexi how to tie her shoes, too sweet.

Yesterday, after the kids sleep over, Lexi played ALL DAY, so by the time she came home, she was exhausted! She passed out on the couch and I caught her "sleep picking" haha!

The kids VERY FIRST SLEEP OVER! (besides cousins of course)

Lexi and Alysin playing dollhouse:

Kyler, Alysin and Tigh playing video games:

Lexi singing as Alysin is dancing!
Lexi (5), Alysin(7) and Tigh(6). See how tall Lexi is??

checking on her pumpkin

checking on his...

decorating the house:

This week has really sealed the deal for me, as far as this place feeling like HOME...having the kids feel comfortable and have friends right next door and around the corner is amazing. The kids had a blast being able to FINALLY have a sleep over! As I had fun listening to their laughter.

I took a volunteer training course at Kyler's school, which is new to me. I have volunteered every year Kyler has been in school and nothing like this was required. But here, they do a full back ground check and "prep" you on what to expect and what is expected of you. Most of it was pretty much common sense, however I thought it was nice to have everyone on the same page. And it is VERY comforting to know that they do a background check on the parents. Tuesday, I am supposed to help with the school's health assessment from 8 am to noon. Kyler's excited to have me help out again.

We had a blast today, going to the pumpkin patch. I am in love with how rural our area is. Everyone is so friendly and seems to know one another, eventually I hope to know more people as well.

I noticed how TALL Kyler is today. As I was fixing his hair, I glanced in the mirror and was stunned to see he is up to my collar bone! He's 7!! This boy will pass me up in no time. Bizarre to watch your children grow so quickly, I'm trying to savor every moment.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!