More Camping

Two weeks ago we headed out on Thursday afternoon for camping. We went about 40 minutes away to a campground called Wiskey Springs. We planned on picking huckleberries and just having a fun weekend. The boys were so excited for our adventure and our dear friends would join us on Friday so we were looking forward to that. The first night was a little rough. I did not pack enough warm clothes because I did not figure that it would be freezing cold the end of August! Luke woke up at 3:30 in the morning and let's just say I was up for the day, or night, or morning whatever it was! He did not fall back to sleep until 5:30 and then Logan was up at 5:40 so that woke Luke up and oh my was it cold!!! We snuggled in our beds as long as the boys could handle and then begged daddy to build a fire. We warmed up and then headed out to pick some huckleberries. That was fun until Logan got a bee up his sweatshirt and got stung two different times. That ended that trip for the day because he was pretty upset. We had a fun afernoon exploring and riding bikes and then after dinner we waited for the Riders. They arrived around 7:30 and our kiddos were so excited. We got there tent set up and all the kids were in bed by 9 or so. Time for daddy's and mommy's to relax around the campfire. Sleep was much better in the Brown tent and I was so thankful for that. It was not so cold the next night so that was a good thing. Breakfast in the morning and then off huckleberry picking again. The kids had tons of fun picking and there were no bees this time. Lunch and rest, well nobody really rested but then we headed to Willow Lake for swimming which was also a blast! Everyone was pretty tired by Saturday night so off to bed after smores and again some down time by the fire. Even though you never get much sleep camping, everyone is always very dirty, and the facilities are not that great, it is still so much fun. I love that we have built such great memories for our kids and that we will remember the fun that we had. Since we have been back we have been peach picking, blackberry picking, oh and did I mention that Michael is also a fire fighter in his spare time. While picking blackberries last week at some friends, the neighbor had a burn barrel get out of hand and they did not even know it. Michael raced over and began using the garden hose to try and get it under control before the fire department got there. The neighbor did not even know that his fence and a bunch of decking was on fire. Michael saved the day! Now summer is coming to an end and the mornings and evenings are a little cooler. Logan starts preschool on Tuesday and we will be getting back into a routine. Fall is one of our families favorite time of the year. We already went to a football game this evening. Hope the end of summer finds you all well and that as we enter into a new school year and such that you all enjoy this time with your families.

Busy, Busy

Summer sure is flying by. I posted for Luke's B-day but have not had the time to sit and post since then. The week before Luke's B-day we had my two nephews, Drew and Ethan here from Portland for the week. They came last year for a week in the summer and we had such a great time so we decided to do it again. I cannot tell you what a great week we had with them. They are such wonderful boys and Logan and Luke loved having them here. Drew and Ethan are so good with my boys and even though my boys are much younger they are so patient playing with them and also helping me with them without me even asking. We did lots of swimming at friends, we went to the Lake one day and on the last day "Uncle Brownie"(that's what Drew and Ethan call him), took the big boys fishing and they had a great time. The week wrapped up quickly and I was sad to see the boys go. I think I could do 4 boys, what do ya think? I had to show of the cakes that I made for Luke's Birthday because it was so fun to make them and I was really happy with the way they turned out. We head out this afternoon to go camping for 3 days. We are looking forward to a fun weekend and our dear friends will join us tomorrow night so we are looking forward to that. Hope you all enjoy the last weeks of summer!

Happy Birthday Luke

Happy Birthday Luke

Two years ago today our sweet little Luke was born. What a sweet boy he is to us! He was a loud little newborn and was very fussy for the first couple of months but he was just showing us his personality. I cannot believe how the time has gone and that he is already 2 years old! We thank the Lord for him and what a fun little guy he is. Logan and him are so great together and I love having two boys. I love you Lukie and am so thankful to the Lord for giving you to your Daddy and I! My prayer is that you grow to be a strong man of God and that you love him with all of your heart. Happy Birthday little man.

CAMPING

We went camping last weekend and had a wonderful time. We went to Union Creek and it was our first time camping with the boys. Michael and I have done some camping before we had the boys so we were really looking forward to taking them. It was an amazing time and they had a blast! We arrived Thursday afternoon and setting up camp went well. Michael and I even got along as we put our tent together for the first time! We have always just had a small tent for the two of us but we got a new one and it fit us all just great. We had an easy dinner that night and after some playing decided to start the boys to bed. The first night sleeping did not go so well. Logan was so excited he could not sleep and I think Luke was a little scared. Logan did say "Mom, did you remember to bring my night light?" I think that Luke was wishing we brought his night light. Logan finally fell asleep around 9:30 and I finally got Luke to fall asleep with us about 10 but then he was up at 1:00 and pretty much up all night off and on. We were up early but the kids were excited to start the day and it was a little chilly so we built a fire and made pancakes and bacon. We hung around camp enjoying a few bike rides and exploring. After lunch Luke and Mommy had a 2 hour nap while Logan and Daddy went fishing. Logan was so excited because he caught 4 fish all on his own! After nap we went to Diamond Lake for some swimming and then headed back to camp for hot dogs and burgers. We had fun roasting marshmallows for smores and then it was off to bed. Everyone slept great the second night, I think they were so tired! It was so cold again on Saturday so we all bundled up and headed to a restaurant for breakfast. We went for another long bike ride and then it was time to pack up. Logan was sad to leave and asked when we could go camping again. We had such a great time as a family just hanging out together. Camping is a lot of work but it is a different kind of work then when you are at home. I so enjoyed just watching my boys and spending time with them. I miss things I think at home because I am so busy with life that I don't take the time to just watch them or do things with them. Even though we are home I am going to try and be better about spending the time with them, "camping" with them! Hope you are all enjoying your summer.

Fence Project

We have been pretty busy for the past 11 days! My dear Dad came down on Friday the 2oth. We had been planning this day for a long time and were very excited to have him come and replace our fence. Michael took the week off and the project began, oh as soon as my Dad got out of his car Friday afternoon. To make a long story short this was a HUGE project. My Dad does beautiful work and everything is done very well. We really had no idea that it would literally take 11 days with really no down time except for the night that it thundered and rained but we all decided it was God's way of saying we needed to rest that night. We are so very happy with the finished product. We finished all the tidbits last night by about 9 p.m and then my Dad went home today after spending some time with the boys because let's just say it was very hard for them to have Papa here and have him be so busy. They wanted to crawl all over him in the evenings but he was so tired and sore that it was hard. He was a trooper though and would read to them and such. We are so thankful to Dad for what he has done for us we could never have done it without him. I pray for you rest and relaxation Dad because you deserve it. We will spend the rest of the week just catching up with the many tasks that have taken a backseat because of our project and then enjoy a relaxing weekend. Hope you are all enjoying your summer.

Summer!!

Wow, I cannot believe that we are over halfway done with June. We have been busy, busy but it has all been very good. Michael and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary at the beginning of the month and had a fun four days in Las Vegas. Neither one of us had ever been there and with the cheap flights we thought that it would be a fun place to visit. We had a great time together and had never been away from the boys for this long. We both really missed them but enjoyed the time to relax, eat good food, talk, and just hang out. The boys had a fun filled week with our sweet Kelly who takes such good care of them when we are gone. The next week was just spent getting things back together from being gone and to get ready to go again! We left Father's Day Sunday and headed to Michael's Dad's to spend the week. Our church kid's camp was only five minutes from Papa Brown's so we camped at his house and went back and forth to camp throughout the week to help out. We had such a great time. I was in charge of crafts and Michael was the beach cop while the kids went boating at Lake of the Woods. Logan and Luke had such a great time doing so many fun things. Exploring the woods, playing in the creek, worshiping at chapel time with all the kiddos, ATV rides with Daddy and Papa, and of course all the love that all the little mother's at camp give! I loved that we as a family got to hang out at camp and that the boys got to experience some adventures. Logan's highlight was getting to ride the school bus with all the girls and Daddy as they went to the lake on Wednesday. It was a wonderful week to experience the Lord's creation and for Logan and Luke to see all the kids having fun and praising our Lord! It brought tears to my eyes all week as I saw all the boys and girls having so much fun and the wonderful counselers that took time out of there busy summers to invest in these kiddos. The Lord is good and he blessed my heart this week. Tomorrow my Dad arrives and he will stay at least a week because he is going to replace our fence for us. It is a big job and we are so thankful that he is coming to do it. The boys and I will try and stay out of the way as I know they will want to "help" but that will not be much help. I hope you all are having a great summer so far.