Tis' the season!

I can't believe it's the Christmas season once again! Where did this last year go? I am still recovering from last year and all that SNOW we had. I am praying we don't have a repeat.

One thing that excites me most is that my Peppermint Mocha creamer is back on store shelves. I am addicted to this stuff. If you haven't tried it I highly recommend you check it out. I wish they would make this a permanent flavor. Until then I will be keeping my fridge stocked with a few bottles to last me for a bit once Christmas is over.

Thanksgiving was great (pics are posted on Facebook), except for the fact Tyler had to work this year. We still had a great time and great food. Cheryl and I decided to be brave and head out in the wee hours of the morning to do some shopping. My cousins Amy and Brittney joined us as well as they have never experienced this. We ended up pulling an all nighter and of course every year I ask myself why I do this. I didn't think the deals were all that great and trying to get through the doors with 8 million other people who are rushing to get a crock pot that is $5 off retail price just doesn't make any sense. Of course I rant about this now (as I do every year), but I am sure next year I will be back out doing it all over again.

I got the house all decorated on the inside (still waiting to do the outside). Unfortunately the sneaky little mice somehow managed to find that one of my boxes wasn't sealed properly and ended up ruining a few things. Luckily this happened in our outdoor shed where the decorations are stored and not in my house, otherwise I would be dealing with a much bigger issue. The tree skirt and a few kitchen towels were all that were ruined, so the damage wasn't horrible. Stinkin' mice!

While I have a few spare moments....

So many things to do and so little time. I guess that's the life of a working mom. This blog has really taken a seat on the back burner. Thankfully I have been able to update my facebook with new pictures to share with everyone.

Summer was busy for us as Fall is now proving to be.

Tyler had his leg surgery a few weeks ago and is feeling a lot better. Still a little sore but definitely on the mend. It was a crazy week of shuffling Austin between my parents and daycare.

Last weekend we took advantage of the GORGEOUS weather and headed out to a local pumpkin patch in Vancouver. Bi-Zi Farms. It was a smaller place compared to the others we have been too, but there was just as much fun things for kids to do and it wasn't jam packed with a million people. Just the way I like it, as we have a toddler who tends to stray from time to time. We were there for over 3 hours and wore the little man out. Long nap and early bed night :)

Austin and I are headed for Tennessee in 1-1/2 weeks. He is overly excited to be going on "BAACATION" and to fly on an air plane. I am a little nervous on how this will go. Long flight with a toddler who likes to constantly be on the move and who only stays interested in things for about 2.2 seconds. We keep talking about how he needs to be a good boy and how he can't run on the airplane and needs to sit still next to mommy and Grandma. I don't know if it will sink in but I am praying all will go fairly smoothly. I am just ready to get out of town for a bit and enjoy time with family.

Our little country boy

I have a feeling he will be asking for one of these by next Christmas.

He picked out the BIG pumpkin all by himself

One cute little boy!

Oh and we might add a couple goats to his future Christmas list also.

Tyler got one in the bucket!

He did not like the feel of the pumpkin guts on his hands.........so he settled for coloring his instead.

Daddy's finished products. A little early to get them done. But we wanted to enjoy them for a bit before we leave.

Way behind

I am falling behind again. I can't believe it's been over a month since I have last updated. I think I have been in a blogging funk. Nothing overly exciting has been happening. Some BBQ's, Family stuff, being mommy, working, etc. I have hardly even picked up my camera. Sad.

Tyler managed to tear his minicus at work. So he hasn't been up to doing much. We are hoping he can get in next week for surgery.

Austin has been eating us out of house and home. A real big change for him. It used to be about 5 different foods he would touch and now he is eating everything and even veggies!! I swear he has grown about 6" in the last 2 months. We are still working on potty training. He is doing pretty good with it and feels like such a big boy.

Austin and I ( as well as my mom, Grandma and Aunt Cheryl) are heading on vacation next month to Tennessee to visit my sister and brother in-law. We are also planning on driving down to Atlanta and spending a couple days with my brother, sis in-law, and Taryn. Austin has been missing them so much and is quite anxious to "Ride big jet and go see Taryn" this is all he talks about all day long. It will be a much needed break from town. I am long overdue for some time off.

My mom took Austin in 2 weeks ago and got his 2 yr photos done. Apparently he did really good for the photographer. That wouldn't have happened had I taken him.

Recap

Summer time and sunshine has been keeping us on the go. I love this time of year, and can't believe that summer will be over in another month or so. Bums me out!

Austin is growing like a little weed and is as busy as ever. He amazes Tyler and I constantly with all the new things he is doing and saying. He can now count to 10 in both english and spanish, knows all the basic colors, the months, the days of the week, his birthday, knows the city and state we live in, can spell his name out loud, and the list goes on. I have one of the veggie tales cds in my car and we listen to this ALL the time. Austin can sing just about every song on there word for word. One of his favorites is "Jesus Loves Me" and loves to belt this one out as loud as he possibly can, and especially loves to do this in a packed grocery store :)

Austin has been showing a lot of interest in the toilet now that he has moved up to his new class at day care. He sees all his friends going and this has been getting him really motivated to pee in the toilet. He goes every night before bath time and sometimes in between. I am hoping to start working more with him in the Fall. Right now he only wants to do it on his terms. So there is hope he might possibly be potty trained by 3 yrs old!

We are getting ready to go on another camping trip this weekend, not sure if it will be the last for this summer or not. Plans seem to come up at the last minute these days.


This last weekend was a blast and we did a lot of family stuff. I will try and post that in the next couple days...or weeks haha!
Brittney and Amy at the walk/run for Ovarian Cancer

Part of the starting line

Jess' daughter, Cameran, is on the right with 2 of her cousins.

Hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's sucking on a popsicle

Austin has to "drive" Grampy's John Deere every time we go to their house. I think by next year he will be driving this on his own.

Swimming with mama at Kim and Neal's house

He loves horses

River Run

Last Saturday we kicked off the start of our "Heat Wave" with a raft trip down the Clackamas River. My old back yard growing up. Some of our good family friends John and Sandy have a house along the river so we gathered up a bunch of people and spent a day on the water and ended it with a BBQ at their house. It was crazy out there, there had to have been at least 4000 people on the water. We got caught up in a raft jam a few times,it was insane. I hadn't done this in a couple years but we had a ton of fun and plan on getting in at least 1 or 2 more trips before summer is over. It was nice for Tyler and I to get some time relaxing together while Austin hung out with Grandma and Grandpa J. The captain of the boat

Amy catching some rays

Cheryl and Tyler taking a break eating some grub

Me and my honey

Raft Jam....this was only a part of it

Getting ready to hit the water....sorry its a little out of order.

Part of the group hanging back

Another break

John leading the way

Playing Catch Up

All this nice and HOT weather has been keeping me away from playing on the computer. Enjoying it while it lasts, since summer is already half over :( I have so much to catch up on....and I probably should be doing some house cleaning instead....but here I am. Its OK to take a break every now and then isn't it?!

We have been busy-as usual and have had a lot going on the past couple weekends. Our nephews Tucker and Tanner were in town from Alaska the weekend after the 4Th. They had been spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Lyons and came to stay for a few days before they headed out on other family adventures.

We hadn't seen them since our trip to Alaska 2 yrs ago. When Austin was only 2 months. The boys all had a blast playing hard. Since it was hot they kept the water guns and hose going non stop. Austin now goes around using his fingers as guns....and every stick he finds is a sword. Oh the joys of boys! It was pretty comical watching them all run around.

We took the boys up to the Territorial Days festival. OK this really isn't a festival. Its more like one big hill billy gathering. This is the one time of year that some people only come out of their house for. No joke. Its actually a great place to "people watch." Just when you think you have seen it all you get caught by surprise. We didn't make it to the lawn mower races which I would have loved to have seen. Yes this is an actual sport in Amboy, and these people around our neck of the woods take this very seriously. There is a lot of time and money put into these mowers. Its very entertaining.

It was great seeing the kiddos and getting to spend time with them. We miss them already!

I had over 300 photos from the few days they were here. I should have made a slide show, but haven't gotten around to it.

Territorial Days

Daddy, Austin and Grandma

Grandma Madelon and her grandsons. Austin, Tucker, and Tanner

Austin wanted to ride the fire truck. Shocker!

Tucker and Tanner tearing it up on the gun range. Tyler just had to pull out the big guns....don't let the pictures freak you out. For those of you who don't know us well, we LOVE shooting.

Austin was having a blast watching. Someday little man will be able to....like many years. But for now he gets to sit on the sidelines.

Grandma had to show the boys up. I believe she shot better then all 4 of them :) Go Madelon!

Austin's newest 4 wheeler. I hadn't posted pics of this yet. Its obviously a little big for him but Daddy jumped the gun on this one. I am not sure who was more excited about it. Tyler or Austin? My vote is that it should sit in the shed for another year or two. He has a battery operated bike that works just fine.

Double squirt guns. I needed to get this on video. The kid thinks he is Rambo.

Tucker and Austin with their swords.

Harley dog.

Tanner and Harley

Tyler and Tucker

The boys ready for war

Tucker was showing Austin how to use the big soaker

Tanner

At least this wasn't visa versa. What can I say? This boy is a true country kid.

4th of July Rendevouz

Last Thursday my whole side of the family ( minus Dave, Carolyn, and Taryn) headed out to Lincoln City for the 4th of July weekend. Beautiful weather, good food ( in which I gained about 10 extra pounds), playing games, some major shopping (which just might have worked off that extra 10 pounds), a casino night, fireworks, beach time, games, lots of good laughs, and just plain ole fun in the sun. Oh and the guys went golfing one of those days. Obviously our family is always having some type of get togethers just about every other week, but its not often we get to do mini trips like this. My sister Jamie and her husband Marcus were in town and it had been a year since they were last here to visit.

Tyler didn't get to stay the whole time since there was that little minor thing called "work" but he got to spend a couple days with us. Austin spent most every minute outside (or climbing the stairs) and was right in his element. He is going to be one little beach bum. He didn't stay awake for the fireworks, nor did they wake him up, which I thought would considering how loud it was in the neighborhood. So Gram and I stayed back at the house while the rest of them had a bon fire at the beach. I was quite content sitting back in a nice warm house watching from the window. The rest of the clan ended up getting drizzled on and had a long walk back to the house.

Maybe next year we will get to do it again!

My sis Jamie, the little monkey, and Amy

My mom Robin and Tyler...he just loves pictures

These domino games always get so serious.

My dad Jim, mom and grampy catching some rays

Jamie and me

Amy and Austy

Cheryl, Zac, and Angie...they could hardly contain their excitement for the outlets

Aunt Vicki, Gram, and me. All this shopping wore us out, we had to stop for a coffee break before hitting more stores. Can I just say that the deals they were having were AWESOME!

The back of the van, and this wasn't even all of it.

Us girls really know how to shop

Austin got a gift from grandma for being a good boy while we were gone. Shopping isn't his thing anyway.

Playing with the poppits. Now these he thought were pretty cool.

He pushed this truck for over a mile on the sand. Why did I even bring the bucket and shovel?

Finally all that pushing wore him out, Grandma had to carry it back

This is how Gram and I spent the night watching fire works.

Austin thought the fireworks were great also.... :)