Bald Eagles

On the last night of our trip we stayed at the Cape Fox Hotel in Ketchikan. These eagles were in a tree right outside our hotel room window.

It was so much fun taking photographs on this memorable trip! I will post a few more tomorrow.

Our vacation

Brothers

Merit Henry

Spending time with cousins on Heckman Lake

Lucy and Will

Merit and Isabel

Willem caught the first fish!

Look at this proud fisherman!

Ketchikan Memories

The Heckman Lake cabin.

Willem caught a trout the first evening we were there!

We're back!

We just arrived home tonight after a fun vacation. Ketchikan, Alaska is very pretty and the Heckman Lake cabin is so peaceful. I am anxious to post some pictures tomorrow. I feel like Willem and I are really happy to be home, but Vance and Merit could have stayed another week.

Leaving for Vacation

We leave on vacation today. We are headed to a remote cabin on a beautiful lake. One of the best things about this cabin is Vance's blackberry doesn't get service there. It will be a true work break for him. I am so excited to spend time with my family -- and Cary, Nate and the girls -- I'll make cards, play "would you rather" go for boat rides, knit..... I won't post for a while so see you in a week.

Playroom

The kitchen area is put together and ready for play in the boys playroom! The IKEA rack, baskets and cookware add a fun touch. I picked up the Little Tikes oven last week at Bargain Town - it was two bucks! It was dirty, I mean really dirty but nothing a little bleach water and good scrub couldn't fix. And more Grocery Outlet rugs to add to the fun!

Bathroom makeover

A little bathroom makeover, inspired by flowers. :) The bathroom connected to our bedroom has been quite plain and is also small. I really wanted to give it a makeover for little or no money. It has a great tiled shower and also tiled flour. I painted this cute night table white (I think it may need a second coat). Picked up a four dollar, purple rug at Grocery Outlet and gathered the glass bottles and dish I purchased last week at thrift stores. My whole inspiration - these beautiful blooming flowers in our yard! So of course I have bundles of these in three different vases. Tomorrow I will post the makeover I gave our playroom!

Senior Center

Have you walked into a Senior Center Thrift Store lately? Let me describe to you the sights, sounds and blessings we receive there. I am a book lover. Hardbacks are 50 cents, paperbacks 25 cents. What a fun treat to take my boys to the Senior Center Thrift Store and tell them they may each choose a book. When walking into the store, I smell old books, musty clothes and homemade soup. The center is connected to the store. There is always an elderly person working the regisiter, happy to see two energetic little boys and pleased to hear the pitter patter of their feet throughout the store. Yesterdays bargains were old childrens books, a few stoneware mugs, some bright fun cloth napkins and some old glass medicine bottles. Sometimes there are fun cabinets and chairs too. This old cabinet I purchased some time ago, but just this week painted it white and sanded the edges. When I think of the elderly in our community, I feel a longing to support them. Man, I feel so thankful and happy when I walk into that thrift store. I love how the loud noises and big smiles on my boys' faces are welcomed by the people working there. I'm happy that when I purchase something there the money goes towards a great cause. One of my goals during the second half of 2008 is to bless the elderly in our community.

Saturday Sweet Summer Fun

Neighborhood kids hanging out...

Weekend Fun

These summer days are so much fun. These boys are cracking me up. What will I do when I don't have little boys to pretend with, chase around, play NASCAR with and cuddle? In addition to just some fun hours of playing with these two, I have had a blast this week thrift store shopping, bike riding and hanging out with friends. I have had more free, fun time this week than I do some weeks and I am so thankful for it. Tonight the Moses Lake Pirates are playing the Bellingham Bells -- Vance, the boys and I plan to attend their game! My brother Matt is driving truck to Sunnyside tonight to deliver some equipment and plans to drive this way, meet us at the game afterwards and spend the night -- FUN! Matt will cheer for the Bells, our family for the Pirates. What do you bet Matt and Vance put a little money on the game? Just joking...

My friends have adorable children, what can I say?

Jocelynne

Sharing More Recent Photography

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for TODAY! This morning I was able to spend time with two amazing women (Marie and Marilynn) and then this evening I went to a baby shower for a sweet new mom at my dear friend Liz's. "Showering" a new mom always feels good and I am so thankful for friends!

Everyday I am thankful for our boys, for their health, for their fun spirits.

I'm thankful for our yard and the wonderful space to "play in."

God is good.

Chrysanthemums!

A number of weeks back, my friend Marie and I hit the local yard sales. One sale had tons of stuff, but no prices on anything. The woman in charge said "take an arm full for a $1" One of the things I had in my arms was a Chrysanthemum book. I don't grow Chrysanthemums, but the beautiful illustrations in this book screamed card making. The six pictured here probably took me 15 minutes total. This fabulous book (The Chrysanthemum Book Copyright 1964 ) allowed me to make some really pretty cards, quickly and inexpensively.

Card making Wednesday :)

Super simple, super fun. On the first set I did matching envelopes. I love bamboo (CTMH) cardstock along with a few other shades. I cut a 12x12 paper into 4" x 12" pieces, then cut those in half. So I had 6 4"x6" strips, folded them in half and it makes for a nice small note card.

And the inside......

Time to buy miniature furniture.

Goodwill Doll House

My Goodwill, Bargain Town purchases this week have really been fun! Yesterday I found this treasure. I showed it to my boys asking "should we buy THIS?!" Both of them said no. I assured Merit that we could find some action figures that would love to reside here....still no. I love having boys, but it is times like this I think maybe I need a daughter. :) Anyway, this $1.99 house was a steal and if I can't justify keeping it I do have eight nieces and lots of friends with little girls.

blooms

A quick, easy recipe for today

Quick Beef and Rice 1 pound ground beef or turkey 2 cups rice (white, short or long or brown rice)1 pkg onion soup mix 4 cups water (more if using brown rice)1 15 oz can cream of mushroom soup Brown the ground meat and drain if necessary. Add soup mix, rice and soup, and water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, till rice is done.
This recipe looked so quick and easy, yummy too. I love rice (white rice) and I always have hamburger in the freezer. I think Tuesday will be recipe day for a while. :) And tomorrow I will post some fun, simple handmade cards. So check back!

A retreat

A place to relax
beautiful sunset, calm summer night

Lazy Days of Summer

I love playing in the water with these boys! The Aquatic Center has been loads of fun!

Water Park Fun!

Brothers, but who would know?
My friend Christina's daughter
Merit, leaping in!
Checking out the pirate Treasure

Last weekend post

What a fun weekend this has been. Vance mowed the path down to Crab Creek and the front field on his grandpa's old tractor Friday night. We went to the dunes yesterday, we played in our yard, I went to church this morning. We just ate yummy BBQ'd sockeye. Now Merit is begging me to ride around with him while he drives the golf cart. He loves to look behind him to see "his dust" as he cruises. Five year olds are really fun.

Craft Room

This is where the magic happens, well some of the magic. (hee,hee) Crafting and card making are more hobbies I enjoy. I especially love to make cards for friends. This is my craft room. Look at the cute dancing monkey in the middle.

Sunday

Who is that behind the blankie? It's Willem! Look at that cute "I just woke up face!"

Fun, Goodwill purchases made over.

Table (about $3) and the $2.99 chair.

I love adding inexpensive, fun furniture to our home.

Photographing Life

An adorable, crying Mackenzie

Beautiful Molly

Pregnant belly, proud big sister

Photographing friends

Mackenzie

Bartas

Ella

Shaw kids