Ice Cream, You Scream!

Yes, in deed, we borrowed the ol' trusty ice cream maker from the 'rents. This is a hand crank beaut! The lock is broken on the handle so you have to sit on the bucket to keep the hand crank from coming off! Yes, sir, it makes the BEST ice cream I've ever tasted...to date that is!!! Claire and her buddy Rolando stayed for some cranking and then, left, although they didn't come back for the tasting either. So I can't complain! The kids loved the whole experience. They liked to crack the eggs, and pour the ice, and even loved to churn the ice cream. Easton screamed until he got a turn as well. That kid is crazy...can't imagine where he get's that from! hahahahahaha

Craft's Galore

My sis'n'law Taunya and I threw a craft party for some dedicated crafters'. It was really fun. This is what I made. I have to pat myself on the back because this craft just came to me. It was really fun to make. Everyone did amazing. Each craft was unique and done very well! Good job ladies...until next year!!!!!

Time Warp!

I did in fact go to my 10 year HS reunion. Some people said, "Oh UGh, That won't be fun.", others said "It was great talking to old friends.", I decided I wanted to go.
As Dallas and I were driving up I started to get nervous, and thought, "What the blank am I doing?" I started to get nervous thinking about all the judging and all the drama, for lack of a better word. So I went with the butterflies in my stomach. I had an absolutely wonderful time. I talked to people I knew and some I just recognized but didn't hang out with. I tried to talk to everyone. I think I liked my 10 year reunion more than I did HS. I mean, I liked HS, I had a lot of fun, lot's of great memories, but it was nice to be free of the barrier's I gave myself.
Everyone looked wonderful, it's amazing how we all come into our own and how each of us find who we are or we become who we want to be.
And yes, this is the photo of me getting my HS diploma! Cool, eh? Wink, wink! hahahahhahaa

Baby Kitties....MEoW

My sis-n-laws cat had baby kittens. I think there were 4. So we had to go and visit them. I have to admit, I AM NOT A CAT LOVER!, but I LOVE baby anything!!! So I of course loved these 'lil kitties. Aspen took a special liking to the orange and white striped kitten, 'lil Mac. Claire went with us but none of the pics turned out, they were too dark.

Deadly Rapids!

A bunch of friends and chums planned a White Water rafting extravaganza on the Deschutes! Their were several riggs that drove over. Our car was packed. Every seat was taken. It was so fun. We had Terry and Tiff, and Jon and Jill, and JR and ourselves of course! The mini was packed! Our friends Rachel and Kevin drove up in their truck. So it was the 9 of us that made up the members of our raft.
There were a lot of peeps from church as well, some we knew and some we didn't. I had a great time. The water was a bit too cold for me at first. I wasn't to thrilled to be dumped with bucket after bucket of cold frigid water, but nonetheless, I had an amazing day. There were three rafts filled with fun crazy people! I was really proud of myself too because I left my fear in the car and just went for it. One of the drops was really scary, and I thought I might fall out, but I clung to that raft like my life depended on it! Ha ahahahaha, I came home and I had a bruised butt, yes, both cheeks! hee hee
At one spot you can get out of your raft and hike to a 'lil area that has small rapids you can go down without a raft. I was proud, I jumped in and was spit out at the other end. I usually get to scared to do something like this because, well this is nothing new, I'm weak sauce! ha ha ha hahaha

Fort Stevens Holiday

So it was a while back that we went to the Fort Stevens campground at the coast. We were there from the 13th of July to the 19th. We went with Dallas' family. We had such a good time.
We went crabbing in 'lil boats. I feared that we'd tip over and we'd all end swimming back to the shore. ha ha, we didn't though. It sure would have been a good story though, dang it! The boat seemed, to me, to be very wobbly every time too many people got up all at once. It was hard to pull up the crabbing pots. They were so heavy and the rope hurt my hands. Note to self: Bring gloves next time! So worth it though. The meal we got from these 'lil wonders, was wonderful! Thank you Fred for taking us!!!!
We went to a Coast Guard Museum (I mean Life Guard Museum hee hee, inside joke). It was sweet!!!! It was really neat to see how ships get up and down the Columbia river hauling goods. I think the kids really liked playing in the emergency raft. We also went and saw the Goonie's house. I am a freak for this movie, I even brought this movie on our trip. Everyone borrowed it and watched it after going to the house. We also got to see the smart pal Data's house because it was right next door to the Goonie house. I was so crazy excited!!!!! It was interesting because you couldn't drive up to the house because so many people still come to see it! Claire and I used to, and still do, make Chunk impression's. We even made up a character to play opposite of Chunk, his name is Skinny. What a crazy broad I am!
Dallas did a little fishing, but came back empty handed. We did get the privilege of seeing a Bald Eagle flying by. It was beautiful!
Went to Tillamook and had ice cream, ate a very tasty lunch, and we watched them cut and package the cheese. The kids really liked to watch this process. I personally liked the cows that I made the kids stand in front of so I could take their picture. Aspen saw a friend from school here and so I snapped a photo of the two of them in the parking lot.
We had a bon fire on the beach, ate hot dogs and played in the sand. Andrea suggested lunch at the beach. Hats off to her, it was a beautiful day. It was very memorable. Although, Easton absolutely, down right hated the feel of sand under his feet. There's a picture I've posted of him and Dallas; it's easily recognized because Easton is crying. hahahahahhaha
Easton wore out his shoes on this trip. He pushed his car so much the rubber of his shoes started to fall off! He pushed his 'lil bike up this steep incline, paved with dirt, rocks and debris. Dallas and I couldn't believe he pushed it so far up. The kid was dedicated! ha ha
We road bikes of course. Dallas and I took the Ruckus for a spin to the South Jetty, this is where the ocean and the Columbia River meet. It was magnificent. It was breath taking.
We also did a little shopping at the down town Seaside shops, got some salt water taffy, of course! I also got a cute scarf from a secondhand shop. We also bought some really cute clothes from a secondhand store for the kids. And I of course had to go to the Oshkosh outlet. I likey that store!
Anywho, it was a super fun time and we can't wait to go again!!!!

Cascade Peaks Extravaganza

We had our annual camp-out with friends this summer, the 26th-30th of June. It was so much fun! Last year it was camping at the coast. Every year someone new is added to this adventure. This year Kevin and Rachel couldn't make it due to family wedding plans, but Johnny and Jill came, we also had some new recruits: the Allen's and the Parrish's.
We antique shopped, swam at the pools, went on a hike to Silver Falls (Dallas proposed to me here). Even the kiddies hiked up the trail. They were troopers. We took several bike rides, and everyone took turns on the infamous Ruckus, Dallas wrecked once. hahahahahahahaha, perhaps I shouldn't laugh but the visual of him flying down that dirt road and then all of a sudden, he was air-born and then just as quickly found himself slumped on the ground on the side of the dirt road. He had a couple scratches but was fine. We all had a really good laugh because we thought he did it on purpose. It looked fake like he was pulling a prank on us. We relaxed, played card games, roasted mallow's and had so much talking around the campfire.
We played on a rope swing and everyone took there turns flying through the air.
It was awful this year with mosquito's I have never before found even one 'skito but this year there were swarms. My favorite night was when the storm blew in and it started to rain. Dallas and I sat comfortably under the awning of our camp trailer eating peach cobbler. Everyone else ran for their tents. It wasn't too long 'til the recruits came out and sat with us. We sat peacefully by the campfire that night and the cool breeze blew all the 'skitos away. It was really hot the whole trip so the cool air was so sweet. One afternoon we all sat in the camp trailer with the air conditioning just blasting, all of us cramped in, It was so fun. The air-conditioner was our God send-without it, the weather would have made the trip miserable. Then there was the chick at the local grocery store. Her boobies were so large they laid and took a rest on the check out stand while she checked out. I can't imagine having boobs that big, it sure must be something. hee hee Good grief! Each of us girls bought a handmade bracelet from the local shop. They are each unique and are a different color, just like each of us. Whenever I wear the bracelet I think about this trip and my friendship with each of them.
I had so much fun and I am so grateful for good friends. They enhance our lives and make our journey through this life a spectacular fire works display. They are each beautiful and unique and I love each of them, yes, the dudes are included in this declared love! hahahahahahaha
PS The picks are all out of order, but all the nature shots are from the hike, I thought they were beautiful and wanted to share. Also I have no idea were the Allen couple picture is, I must not have taken one of them, maybe they were trying to put Ryley down for a nap. Anyway, sorry Clay and Linsey!