OUR NEW HOUSE!!!

The end of August I bought a house! We have been busy packing, moving, unpacking, cleaning, painting, building, tearing out landscape.......anyway here are some photos of the process!


The house - Picture from the real estate listing.


Me right after I got the keys.....yeah I was a little happy.....


Lucy getting busy painting her room


Caymus working on his "Sky" in his room

My folks made it down and gave us some much needed help and wisdom in the yard.....We made an herb garden right off the back deck....


Lucy's room all painted.....she kinda has a thing for polka dots!


Caymus has a cool motorbike track on his walls now....we just need to find some wall decals of dirt bikes!


Yea rocking the tool belt.....



My dad and I tearing out some trees. NOT an easy job, but we did it and it looks great!



Come-along and pick ax came in real handy for this job!


The front of the house 3 weeks after moving in....we are making progress!


The kids and I in front of our sweet new home......My mom has named it "Cherish house".

Lummi Life

After a whole week of the kids and grandma all alone while Grandpa and I were off working our tails off....funny cause you just saw the conference blog and know the truth......we came back home and rescued her! And then Tio Reid came down too! So we had a great weekend on the island!

Reid is cleaning out his storage unit and I tagged along for some good times. Lots of memories as he dug through boxes.....some good laughs too. Here he is modeling some of Dads old ski gear....


Dad hooked me up with some tools....tool belt, skill saw, jig saw, his old (really really old) tool box loaded with tools. All this so I can get busy on our new house....stay tuned for more info on that one.....I think if I just strut around in this tool belt I will have handy boys lined up at my door wanting to help! he he he


Reid and I were on the loose.....bandito burrito and brass knuckles!!!!


This is what happens when you leave your phone un-attended......
My chicka! Such a beauty!
And a total goof ball! Her and mom are peas in a pod!
This lady is awesome! I love her so much!


Having some fun on the beach! These are some cool climbing rocks!


Crazy animals wanted to get in the car with me! I let them......and didn't regret it for a second! They may be wild, but they are mine!!!

Calgary Conference

We pulled off another conference!!! Some days I just dont know how we do it. But someone has to provide the refining community with amazing training and conferences!!!

Big Bear strutting his stuff in the Exhibit hall!


I had to add this because all the other pictures I added are of us playing dress up.....This is David, he works for a very large company and is a very good friend. We are having a serious conversation, trust me. Cant you tell by the look on his face that what I am saying is really important? I think so......good guy.


Everyone who went to the shoot out dinner.....actually this is almost everyone who came to the conference! We really had a great turn out! Oh and it did not rain!!!


Marlea the Red and Juniper Jane! Look out Oilsands, we are here for the coke drum....



And it looks like we were successful in steeling it!!!


Our awesome team with some outlaws......I really dig my job!!!

Family Camp

Way back over labor day weekend I packed up the kids and the dog and went camping for the weekend. My moms family has had a camp out every year for almost as long as I can remember. Its been 5 years since the last time I went, so I was due! There were only about 35 of us there....we have out grown any "real" campground. My Aunt has a connection with some folks who have property along the river, they keep up a nice private "camp" fully equipt with porta pottys, large tents, bbqs, fire pits, water.....Awesome place!!!
Lucy with the only other girl cousin! So adorable!


I am rocking the campground. I am not sure how much they loved having me around! I apparently laugh really loud and a lot.....and I think my red hair throws them off!!!


My girl! She is such a character!!! And she was really into playing Apples to Apples!!!


Caymus pretty much played on this bike all weekend! Next year I will bring his! He built jumps and caught air for 3 days solid!


This is our "family camp" picture. This year the Aunts had a great idea to take family pictures in front of our "homes". Very funny and a great memory to look back on!

Mom and Dads "house". Very sweet arnt they? The funny part is, they were the first in the family way back when to have a moter home......They have come full circle with the whole tent thing!!!


Moose got off his bike long enough to play in the river a little. Doesn't that look fun? I bet it was but that water was about 45 degrees!!!



Lucy got a ride with Uncle Ray on the antique 3 wheeler. She had a blast and begged anyone who would listen to take her for a ride!


Learned how to play dutch blitz, fun game. We played because we are dutch.....funny though the point of the game is to get rid of cards not hoard them...that doesn't sound very dutch to me!

Had a great time and bonded with some family I havent seen in ages. I will be back from now on if they like it or not!!!

First Day Of School!!!!

You got it! First day back! I am proud to introduce my 2nd grader Miss Lucy and my 1st grader Mr Caymus!!!










Both kids were so excited to get back to school. They love it and I am so glad. Its not just for the social part either, they really enjoy learning.
After school I got the full report on how much fun they had, they love their teachers, they both have several friends in class and they are so happy!!! Thats all a mama can ask for is happy kids!

Corn Festival!!!

Saturday was the Aumsville Corn Festival. Think small country town good old fashioned fun.
This marked my first 5k as well. It was a fun run and that's just what it was, fun. I did not train, and I had a horrible cold. But really it was fun. I ended up chatting it up some parents I know from school and we all kinda ran it together. I placed 3rd outta my age group....30-39. And my time was 26.57. So now I have a bench mark for all the future runs I will be doing!


After my run, we met up with our friends Tulah and Stephanie for the parade and festival. Good times were had by all!




And that really was the end of summer.........Glad we went out with a bang and had one heck of a good time! This has been an amazingly busy summer, but we sure did live it up!!!

Endless Summer....

Seaside or Bust!!!! For our last trip of this crazy busy summer, we headed west to Seaside for a few days of R&R with my parents. We stayed in an ocean front room a few blocks from the main drag. What fun!
The kids thought this was the coolest room ever!

As soon as Grandpa got there they were off to the beach for some kite flying. Mom and I headed right out to Safeway to load up on beer, wine and some food.

Some how these kids can get Grandma to do just about anything.....including going in the FREEZING cold pacific ocean! She apparently "tripped" and went in to the neck up! OOPS!



We had lunch (and dinner) at The Stand. This is the best mexican food any where north of the boarder! Reid worked here for several years and got me totally hooked! Ask just about anyone who lives anywhere near Seaside and they will confirm this! And if you haven't eaten there you should!

The real reason for this trip was to celebrate Caymus' birthday. He got to wear a crown and be king!

Riding bikes on the beach! A total must in their book! They had a blast!!!!




Hmmmmm this is how I slept for all 3 nights.....So sweet right?


Mom and I snuck out for some shopping.....and got caught!


Grandpa was responsible for the sunscreen application it looks like......


Awwwww yes! Cannon Beach! This is my favorite place on earth.
While in CB we had ice cream at the Local Scoop (now the Lazy Susan scoop and grill), checked out the Mariner Market and Birkenstock Store, ran into an old friend who I have missed terribly, stopped in my favorite quilt shop and bought some fabric and last but not least walked the beach!



My mom and I recreating a picture we took here some 29 years ago....the beach is the only thing that looks the same......



Me and my dad.

In addition to having a blast and some good bonding time, I got a new tattoo!

It means Big Bear. This is my "Daddy's Girl" Tattoo. I love you dad!!!