Thursday, July 31, 2008

Delaney's birthday party

Sweet D's birthday party!
Make a wish Delaney Jo!

Cute kids
Duck-duck-goose. Such a fun day for all the kids & most of all Delaney!
Happy Birthday sweetie!




Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Oregon weekend


We set out for Portland to stay with our friends the Kempfs. About an hour in to the trip the van (my in-laws 1991 Ford Econoline Conversion van) was running hot. We made a stop in Tri-Cities to see what was going on. Apparently nothing was wrong. Well fast forward the rest of the weekend. About 90 outside, maybe more in places. Heater on full blast in the van to pull heat off the engine (easily felt like 100, my thongs even melted), windows down & overheating about every 2 hours. We kept refilling the radiator with water/coolant. Here is my husband's favorite line "I think we can limp it back". That is what we did. It was terrible!!! But we survived.

We made it to my friend from college's wedding in Bend. I/we had a ball. These reunions with such a cherished group of friends always goes by way too fast. My college friends are the kind that make your stomach hurt from laughing so hard when the weekend is over. Needless to say a good time was had by all. Rice looked so happy & so did his new bride Kris. So happy for them. Thanks to the Kempf's for making the trip fun as well. Always great to get together & watch our kids play.















Monday, July 14, 2008

4th of July


We have been on the move & I have been without my computer, therefor I am getting behind on my posts. So here is a big slide show to play catch up. I won't bore you with all the details. We have been on the go between Whitefish, Priest Lake, Spokane, & Bend. I am getting used to packing in laundry baskets (I think the most efficient way to go). The kids are also perfecting their traveling skills. All in all they travel very well......thank goodness.
Stay tuned for pictures & a couple highlights from a wedding in Bend on my next post.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Grandparents weekend at Priest Lake

Last weekend we were fortunate enough to get my in laws up to my parent's lake place at Priest Lake, ID. We are so happy both sets of grandparents live so close to one another. It is a rare event though when you can get both of their schedules to correspond. Also a rare event to see my father in law relaxing. We have concluded you must get him away from town in order for this to occur. Stephan's brother Danny was also able to come up. Ravenna & Hudson love their Uncle Danny. We were also able to get the "Ski Deck" running. Our boat always puts up a bit of a fight at the beginning of each season. This maiden voyage proved no different. A little JB Weld, and she was running like a top......well sort of. Stay tuned throughout the summer for more "Ski Deck" stories. She won't dissapoint!
We had a great weekend & the weather was fantastic....HOT! I love it!

Looking at Stephan's Fathers Day present. A Shutterfly book filled with pictures of the kiddos. Always a great inexpensive present.

Nana & Grandma relaxing in the morning.

A little impromptu dock party with the Coffee's, Monson's, Christoff's & Smith.

Playing with Uncle Danny.

Robbie & sweet little Delaney.

First swim of the season. A little cold, but felt good with it being so hot.

Nana & the little monkeys on the dock.

Grandma watching over the little ones. Hudson had his "motorcycle" in the water all weekend.
Our beautiful cabin.
Oh to be 2 again.
Bare buns on the beach.

Hudson's first tubing experience. He loved it! They kept asking for "more please" & "faster daddy."

The Byrd men.

A classic photo of our 2 children with their grandparents.

Friday, June 27, 2008

A fun Thursday

My friend Tracy's daughter had a pool party for her 5th birthday. There were lots of little kids, perfect weather, cake, toys & a few water balloons too. I think some of the moms enjoyed the water balloons more than the kids. Thanks to Tracy & her parents for hosting at their pool. Always great to see friends you don't see often enough.
Happy Birthday sweet Sami!

Singing to Sami.

Stefanie H. with little Delaney & Ravenna

Chowing down on cupcakes & ice cream.

Checking things out before they make their move.

Thursday AM we were able to meet up with friends of ours who adopted 3 year old Evan from China. Hudson & Evan share the similar birth defect of missing hand/limb. Hudson is missing his hand & Evan is missing his arm from just above the elbow. This is the second time we have got these 2 together & they seemed to really enjoy one another. They are both so handsome & close in age. I think this will be a great friendship for years to come. So thankful to live close to eachother so we can continue to get them together. Evan also has an older sister Anna & brother Brayden. Such a sweet family. Thanks again Steph for organizing.
Checking out the toys at Shadle Park.

Discussing all things important to little boys.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

So much fun!

If you know me well enough you know I have my camera in my purse at all times. This digital age has allowed us (me) to document our everyday lives at the slightest whim. My husband is convinced the amount of photographs I have taken of our children is slightly rivaling Paris, Britney, etc... See he is from a family of 12 children. The few photos that survived his childhood through a house fire & quite frankly his parents being too busy with so many kids are few. There is no way to even get close to the amount of pictures Ravenna & Hudson have. I think deep down Stephan has some "childhood picture issues." However, I am not about to let that stop me from snapping away though.
On to my next point, the blog. I love to blog. I am addicted. So for those of you who follow along please bear/bare (not sure which one) with this next slide show....it's a long one. Keep in mind I cut it down significantly. One of the hardest parts is deciding what pictures to add. Really one of my biggest struggles in my daily life. I'm kidding! I know there are some of you who are just as addicted to your blogs/photo taking as me. I won't name any names, you know who you are.
I truly enjoy documenting my children's lives. Throw some family & friends into the mix & there you have our life.
ENJOY, we do!

Just a quick synopsis of this slide show:

  • My sister in law Tiffany participated in a sprint triathlon out in Medical Lake, WA. It was so fun to watch her. She has embraced this sport & all her training and hard work is evident & paying off. She placed first in her age group. Way to go Tiff!
  • My friends Kara & Rob's daughter Avery had her 2nd birthday party. They live out on Long Lake & had the perfect setting for such a fun party with so many kids. They had a bounce castle, water slide, kiddie pools, and 2 little battery powered 4 wheelers my children took a particular liking to. It was a perfect day & so fun to get parents & kids together at once. Thanks so much for such a fun party, the kids & I had a ball.
  • On Sunday my mom and aunt Barb had a shower for my cousin in law Kolby. She is having her 3rd little boy in August. Those are the pictures of Ravenna & Hudson in the daisies.
  • Since the weather has been so nice we got our little kiddie pool out. It provides plenty of entertainment for these little 2 year olds & some neighbor kids. It is a quick fix if we aren't at the lake.
  • The last set of pictures is of my sister in law's birthday party. Alicia or Aunty Lala turned 44 yesterday. Some of my other sister in laws brought the kids out to nana & papa's pool today for some fun time together. Alicia made it out after work for some good food, cake, presents & time with her nieces & nephews who love her so. Happy Birthday Aunty Lala! We love you!
  • On a side note, my father in law was actually seen in his swim shorts today and not putzing around his place. The only thing that slows him down is his grandkids. Good thing there were plenty of them out there today!


Saturday, June 21, 2008

Kelly, Kelly

My good friend from college Kelly (Simpson) came to visit from Portland. She just finished her school year teaching ESL to 6th graders. She is headed down to travel the Baja with her boyfriend for the month of July, but was able to squeeze in a little Priest Lake time & meet Hudson. Every time we get together it's like we never miss a beat. We catch up & continually laugh about our wonderfully great time in college at the University of Idaho. I love you dearly Simps! Thanks for such a great visit & have fun in Baja!


Getting some dinner at Cavanaugh Bay Resort.

Hudson, playing in the freezing water with Nolan & Brayden (his 2nd cousins). It's great to see these boys, cause we don't often enough. They all had a ball together.
Nolan is so good with the little kids. Ravenna especially loved Nolan.
Quasi Moto? No just Ravenna after being bit by a mosquito in the same place twice. The swelling is finally almost gone 3 days later. Poor little Boo!
Singing with grandma on Uncle Doug's swing.

Cute Kelly getting bundled up for the 4 wheeler ride back to the cabin.Kelly & Hudson looking north up Priest...so pretty!
Checking things out at the Leonard Paul Store in Coolin. Kelly's first time 4 wheeling, probably not her last....she loved it.
Down by the marina in Coolin.
Maybe these will help me see better through this swollen eye?
Showing off his new "Lightning McQueen" shorts from grandma & grandpa.