So Far This Summer...

We've gone out on the boat with the McCauley's and the Bohn's

Wes, Drew, Garrett and Austin Ashlyn, Jessica, Peyton and MarenLauren and MarenDrew and AustinJasonTara
Austin

We've spent some more time getting the house set up. (More pictures in our Picasa album)

We've played on the slip n' slide from Shaun Austin, Allison and Garrett (and Ashlyn running behind them)
Ashlyn, Jessica and Kylie

Had Grandma and Grandpa over to watch Up and friends over for movie night.

Roasted marshmallows in the fire pit just for fun
Lauren

Ashlyn

We've had friends over for sleepovers

Maren, Ashlyn, Abby and Lauren

We've had the other McCauley's over for family night and a barbecue

TysonMeMargaret Austin Jason and Matt brought over loungers from the pool to enjoy the lesson on.

The boys played a little pool in the game room over the garage.Braiden, Tyson and Austin

We played a "friendly" game of basketball in the pool
Margaret, Tyler, Jason

The little kids had frog races!

Mason, Ashlyn and Kimberlynn

And we had the family over to celebrate Jessica's birthday and spent more time in the pool. (birthday party with friends to come as soon as the work is done on the outbuildings)

Lauren, Jessica and AustinNotice Ashlyn at the bottom of the slide? "I'll catch you daddy!" Summer is in full swing and I'm lovin' it!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

Last weekend was Jason's dad's birthday. Danale had access to an awesome suite at a baseball game for the River Cats and invited us to come up and spend the weekend with them. It was the girls first baseball game and I think they may have been spoiled sitting in an air conditioned suite, eating cotton candy and all the food they could want.We did sit outside part of the time... in the shade with our our TVs to watch the replays. :-)I loved the way the city looked as the sun was setting.When the game was over, they had a fireworks show.Not the best picture, but you get the idea. :-) It was a really fun night!The next day, we took Danny to brunch to celebrate his birthday. It's always good to see him.

Ashlyn and Colton were so cute playing together!

The kiddos and us

Whiskeytown

Anytime I see a picture of Whiskeytown Lake, I feel peace. It feels like home and there is something so comforting about it. It's part of me.When I was growing up, I would look forward to going to Whiskeytown for months and as soon as we came home, it seemed I was counting down the days until we could go again.I loved playing in the trees and in the lake with my cousins and staying up late playing cards with my grandma and aunts and uncles. As I have become an adult and have a family of my own, Whiskeytown has changed for me, but it has made me more grateful for my parents and all that they did to keep the tradition alive. Sometimes, I question if it is worth all the time it takes to pack up my family to camp in a tent for a week or listen to the "how much longer"s on the 5 1/2 hour drive to get there, but as the sun sets over the lake, I feel peace. I feel at home and I'm glad we made the trip.

The kids love to go to Whiskeytown just as much as I did when I was a kid! Here are a few highlights from this year:
Sterling and Katie set up "The Amazing Race" for the kids.

Here they are getting ready to start.They were put in teams and had a bunch a fun tasks to complete, like naming all 50 states, correctly identifying Poison Oak, collect a certain number of acorns, name the birthdates of a certain number of relatives, some sort of rock toss and kayaking or canoeing across our cove of the lake and back. Wes and GarrettLauren helping Brynne get her life jacket onLauren, Brynne and JessicaAustin and Sequoia

The kids had a blast!

My mom found a baby dear on one of the little islands in the lake, so we took all of the kids out to see it.

It was so cute and really fast! I also learned that dear can swim! I had no idea. (Hey Melissa, can you email those pictures you took out on the island?)

We spent some time out on the old boat. It is the same boat that was around when I was a kid and somehow it hasn't been retired yet. It's like 95 in boat years, I'm sure! My Dad

Ashlyn Jason
Jason and Ashlyn

Playing Catch Up- Mother's Day Weekend

There are just a few things I want to post before I forget. I fell behind on blogging with the move, but since I use this as our family journal, I'm going back and playing catch up.

Mother's Day weekend was a really nice weekend. Skyler got baptized the Saturday before Mother's Day, so we loaded up the kids and spent the day in the bay area. His baptism wasn't until 4pm, so we met up with some of Jason's long time friends and had lunch at the park. The kids were happy to run around together while we chatted and oohh-ed over their darling new baby.

We got to church just in time for a quick change of clothes in the bathroom and sat down just in time for the baptism. Sam baptized Skyler and we all felt Ronna's presence as he was confirmed a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. We spent the rest of the evening having dinner and visiting with family. It was a beautiful day.

The next day was Mother's Day. The kids made me breakfast in bed (Austin took a few pictures)
Jessica

I got lots of very sweet cards and some yummy cupcakes!

I think Mother's Day is my favorite Sunday at church. :-) I love to hear the kids sing in the program and there are always great talks on motherhood. It always makes me want to be a better mother.

I know Mother's Day is supposed to be a day to celebrate mothers, but I just couldn't help feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for my kids. They are so incredibly good to me and I wouldn't know what to do without them. They are each so unique and incredible in their own way. I feel truly honored to be my children's mother.