Camping on the 4th and so on...

It seems like it has been a long time since I last blogged, yet it was just 2 weeks ago...so, since then we have been so so busy. If you read other blogs you will see more too, we went camping with the rest of the family. We hit Crater Lake and Diamond Lake - had a great time, can't wait until next year.

Sara, Reese, and Jim at Diamond Lake


Carsten at camp


Justin on a hike with Daddy


The family at Crater Lake


Dad and Grandpa


Ger, Elaine, Dad, and Grandpa

We got home from camping and I worked Monday thru Wednesday and then left for a work conference on Thursday and was gone until Sunday afternoon. Yesterday (Sunday) we went grocery shopping, etc.

I had a great time at my conference....the conference was good...we were in LA...at the Universal Studios Hilton. The staff was awesome...they took care of our every need. The first night we went up to eat dinner at the Citiwalk...and there was a premeir (red carpet night) for "I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry"...we also saw Jessica Beal, Ray Ramano, Adam Sandler, and some other famous people that I don't know their names....(pictures to come soon)..The next 2 nights we went into Universal Studios and ate and did the stuff you do there....did the Studio Tour and saw where they film movies, etc...it was pretty cool to see that stuff. We ended our LA visit with the last ride of the night being Jurasic Park - it was AWESOME!!!! it was dark outside and right before you go down to hit the bottom of the water, it goes pitch black...and at night the dinosoars, etc look so real!

Todd and Justin did very well, with the help of Grammy on Thursday and Friday....they survived without me. On Saturday, Todd and Justin went to visit Grandma Nellie and Aunt Miranda, and Cousin Nellie....I hear they had a great time...wish I had been there to see the kids together. Little Nellie is now 6 1/2 months old with 2 teeth!

We are the proud owners of a new computer (well used - but new to us!). We got our new camera...those who were asking what we got - it is a Canon Powershot S5...and we LOVE it....but, when we brought it home to load onto our computer, out old computer wasn't enough for it to handle...luckly we were already in line to get one from Aunt Dana...and it works great. I am still working on trying to figure out how to get it hooked up via DSL, wish it was just plug it in and go, but you have to configure stuff, and that takes time (and with the help of a 5 1/2 month old, it doesn't happen too quickly!)....so, for now I got my pics on the laptop, made a cd, and then put them on the old computer to then upload to the web for you all to view....hope you enjoy...more to come soon!

Happy 4th of July

Yesterday was a great day to celebrate....

Here we are at B-Park.....Abigail and Justin...I think he about as big as Abigail is...

Tsiava...she didn't really want her picture taken, but I got some good shots...

Abigail....hanging out...

The family photo of the month

Then we were off to Grammy and Grampys for a BBQ and swim party. Justin LOVES the water...he would have been in there all afternoon if we let him.

so sweet...

5 months old.

Here we are swimming at Grammy and Grampy's house 2 weekends ago. Justin loves his swim tube thing.




Just Chillin


Mommy & Justin



These toes taste good.


Mr. Grump...for a minute....



Cutie pie


I love my entertainer...if I could just figure out how to get that in my mouth.


5 months old on Saturday, June 30th.....

Mommy & Daddy's new toy

We have been in the market for a new Dig. We finally got one this weekend. We have another one that works great and will be perfect for on the go..and for always with us, but we got a new Canon that works like a champ! You can get really close shots, take long videos...and much more.
The shutter speed is much quicker, so we can finally catch the smiles and giggles from the little one.







a bit smile after rolling over

A Visit from Grandma & Grandpa

Mom and Dad came down for the weekend. It was so nice to have them here. On Sunday, we ventured to Dennis & Mary house and then to Tony and Christie's house for a BBQ. It was so nice to spend time with the family that we only see about once a year.

Justin enjoyed seeing Grandma and Grandpa and can't wait to see them in just 2 weeks for the 4th!

The Room is done

We just finished Justin's room this week. Here are some pics.

A Very busy Saturday

Update on me...a little over a week ago I injured my shoulder - diagnosed with Acute Shoulder Bursitis. It was pretty painful for about a week, but after being out of work for a whole week and icing my shoulder for 30 minutes every 2 hours for 6 days solid, I am finally feeling like there is an end in site. I may just get back my arm. You see, I had decided to start working out again, so every night when Todd gets home from work, I take 30 minutes to do a quick workout...well, I started incorporating weights into it and injured myself...least that is all I can think I did. Anyway, after a whole weekend of intense pain, I made it to the Chiropractor on Monday...I was hoping for a quick adjustment and back to normal...not so...anyway, will be back to work tomorrow. looking forward to feeling better for sure!

Saturday morning we trecked to town to go to Abigail's birthday party. She is very cute. She enjoyed checking out all her cards.



The Relay was this weekend - Thank You for all that donated! Here is a picture of Steven (our student)...no pics of Mom & Dad this year, as we were behind the camera. It was a humid day to be out walking. We enjoyed seeing many friends at the relay and look forward to another successful year next year.

a video from the dinner table

Justin at the dinner table

This was Justin hanging out Saturday morning with Mom while she checked her email...



Justin in black & white.



Giving me the "What you looking at Mom" Look!

4 months

Look at me!!!

Today is the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. Justin and I are hanging out waiting for Daddy to get home from work.

Look what Justin can do now...he has great control of his head and can hold it up with his arms...




Justin can pretty much do a whole circle turn. If you leave him either on his tummy or his back, he will wiggle in circles...last night I thought Todd had moved him, but Todd said he didn't! The buns are in the air moving like crazy in this picture.

Weekend of fun...

Justin is hanging out with Daddy on Saturday before our big trip to town. Saturdays are almost always really busy with running all our errands for the week.



On Sunday we went to Grammy and Grampy's house for a BBQ. It was a surprise as Uncle Sam showed up to visit. Here is Justin in the pool for the first time. It was still a bit cold, so he only hung out in it for a few minutes.


Here are the boys going out to practice shoot....

Just having fun...

Justin and I get about an hour or so together before Daddy gets home every day. We enjoy playing together. Here we are trying to catch that cutie smile of his...but he is such a wiggle worm that I can't get him to sit still for the picture - so it is a bit blurry...



Mr. Drooler....Justin sits in his Bebe Pod while we are eating dinner or getting ready for dinner. Tonight he w

a busy weekend...

It was a crazy busy weekend. Saturday morning we got up and got ready to go to the Parade here in town. Justin started out with this outfit on, but then spit up on his shirt....



Outfit #2....happy as can be right now waiting for the parade to get started.


Doing pretty good, just didn't love the loud sirens and the motorcycles.


Justin got a BeBePod this weekend, so he can hang out and sit up. After the parade, we went to the big town to visit with Grandma and Uncle Steve and Aunt Melissa....it was great to finally meet up with them. Justin prefers to be sitting up so he can see everything that is going on...forget laying down or back, so this will help him out.


Today (Sunday)...we went to town again to have breakfast at IHOP with Great Grandma, Grandma and Grandpa, then off to the Park with Grandma Nellie, Aunt Miranda, soon to be Uncle Jason & his two girls.....Little Nellie (Below) was awake and just couldn't help but want to wake up Justin to play....oh just wait till next year and we will be having to chase them around the park.


Justin hanging out with Auntie Miranda.....he isn't too sure about this HAT that Mommy makes him wear, but he puts up with it for now.

Justin with his Teddy bear

Here is Justin on our last day before Mommy has to go back to work. We are enjoying the day just together. We will miss our time together, but lucky Justin is going to Grandma's and Mommy only works semi-part time.

Being a parent sure does change your life. It really is amazing how every aspect of life changes. I never thought I would want to be a stay at home mom, but now that the realization of going back to work is tomorrow - staying home would be wonderful...but for now, off to work I go in the AM. This will change our morning routine, no more sleeping in until 8am and hanging out in our PJ's till 10....it is off to work and Grammy's for the day. Justin will have fun feeding the animals and hanging out with Grammy for sure!

Justin still isn't full time in his own crib - mostly that is a mommyism. It is so much easier to feed him if he is in bed with us. Now that he is bigger, I don't mind him in bed with us....a little habit that developed while at my parents house for the month, and we haven't totally reverted back to having our own bed. So far, Justin stays in his crib for 1/2 the night and then the other with us.

Pics from our visit back home

I had a great visit at home with Mom and Dad......3 weeks was a long time away from Daddy, but wonderful to be with the family....here are some pictures..

Bunnies that would visit us every morning around breakfast.


Mom and I came home to a visitor. This one hung around for at least an hour.


We took Todd to the coast for a few hours, it was very windy and cold.


Grandma and Grandpa bought me this new toy...I LOVE it!