Back To School Shop-Swim-Play Trip! August 2012

Saturday Morning:  We stopped at BELLA for Lemon Heads for the Drive

But first, on Friday Night I had to wait for  Sami and Jake to finish chores.  I arrived at 6pm.  They were in the house.

Putting up the hot wire for the next grazing cell - see the smoky sky? Lots of fires abound.

Coming Back to move the beef

Taking down the fence in front of the beef so they can move farther to the new fence line

After our successful day of shopping in Boise. 

Sami's New Nikes. 

Jake, chillaxing in a chair in the hotel room.  Next to his pullout bed.

I found a bunch of these 'Sami takes the camera' photos!  Stinker. 

Kills me, this one.

The water park!  I was trying to get them in the tube.  Rats.

Getting out

One more time?

Yeah, it's hard work, but someone has to do it!

I went through that enclosed tube.  Sami said 'you will look back in 50 years and say you did this'!  So glad she is confident I will live to 100!

Sami toward the end of our day

Jake, all tired out!

Another one of those Sami shots in the hotel room

Darn it!  That little scamp!  Check out her face! 

Notice the clock!  I am awake after 10pm!  NOW this I want to remember in 50 years! Party girl.

The drive home.  Kids asleep.  Me?  Wondering about those funky clouds

This past weekend was our annual 'go to the big city' and do our school shopping, stay in a hotel, go to the water part, etc. trip. In other words?  End of Summer vacation.  Packed into two days.

Things I want to remember:

Friday night, after a very long work week (site review from the State of Oregon and GOBHI at our offices), I was ready to just crash.  I went to pick the kids up at 6pm, and they were NOT ready.  As a matter of fact, they were still in the house but deciding if they should move the beef.  Their father was not answering the phone (on his way to Portland via an event in Elgin).  So.. Kids moved cattle.  Me?  I took photos.   My kids are so responsible!

Saturday
Sami woke on Saturday (still here at home) before 6am!  She was showered and ready to hit the road.  Me?  In bed until I heard the shower.  Jake?  In bed until the very last minute.  That girl loves to shop!  We stopped in Baker for gas and goodies at BELLA. 

Cost of the trip:  Close to $450 dollars for the items on the bed (minus Jake's new church shirts, which I swear are the same size as his smaller ones already hanging in the closet!).  Dang it does not go far, now does it?  Of course a $75 dollar pair of shoes sure takes a dent out of the budget, and a new belt.  I am sure I spent about the same amount for the 'vacation' portion of our trip: gas ($55 each way), food ($60 for Olive Garden - but we made that our lunch and dinner), water park ($69), and another $30 for food at the water park... and a few other money pits along the way. 

Sami's Favorites:  Hollister.  That girl loves that store.  And American Eagle.  She wanted the flower belt she saw last month when we stopped at the store.  So, she got it.  She was also on the hunt for neon skinny jeans, or jeggings.  Score!  Mint Green and Purple.  Her favorite?  A cozy cute pullover sweater from Hollister.

Jake's Favorites: All the Nike shorts he picked out at Kohl's.  Three pairs.  For some reason, he is on a shorts kick right now.  He only got one new pair of jeans.  Hey, he is 13.  His other jeans seem in good shape, and most boys are living in shorts right now - yeah, we will see how the winter goes.

Entertainment Highlights:  

• The Boise State Broncos had a free scrimmage game and free parking Saturday night!  So we went!  We lasted until half time.  I took photos with the phone but can not get them on my computer! Grrrr...It was hotter than heck on Saturday.  The game was at 7pm and I think it cooled down to 97degrees.  Summer, baby. Love it.  
• Smurf Turf:  The Broncos stadium!  We were right 'there' on the 50 yard line in the first bank of seats!  Great view. 
• The red setting sun Saturday night.  Man, was it gorgeous.  Due to all the fires and smoky skies.
• Sami taking funny photos.  She kills me.  Yeah, I am in my jammies in those hotel shots.  Not what you would call glamor shots. Oh well!
• Roaring Springs Water Park:  Always fun!  We got there right when it opened at 11am, had front row parking in the paved portion of the parking lot, and the lines were nice and short until 'more people' arrived!  The hardest part for me was just walking up all the stairs for the rides.
• Overcoming my claustrophobia:  I am not one for dark enclosed places.  I had to count when we went through the enclosed tube.  I had lessons last October when I had the MRI of my brain.  This was shorter and easier... Just had to keep on counting...

So. After the water park (we lasted 4 hours), we drove home.  The kids were OUT!  So glad they still love to do things like this with me!  Sunday's temps were a lot cooler, by 20 degrees from Saturday, and it was overcast.  As we got closer to home, the temps dropped to about 75 degrees, and there were rain storms and wind!  Crazy weather.

This morning Jake texted me.  Wondering if he left is Ipod in the car.  (We go through this every now and then, he sends me on a wild goose chase, only to find his Ipod in some weird spot. Never fails).  What I did find:

• A pair of dirty black socks under his seat, along with his nice Nike shoes
• two Lemon Heads
• $90 in cash.  Yep.  Cold Cash.

When I texted him the list of my findings, he told me, the money is his and 'I am not kidding'.   So much for finders keepers! 

Annalia's Quinceanera - Sami's BFF! (LOTS of photos)

Candid shot of Annalia and her aunt, uncle and cousins.  I love the star hair cut!  All these guys are huge soccer players.  Her uncle was our favorite soccer coach.  He now coaches the high school boys in Baker, Oregon

The formal shot

Sami and Annalia.  Bffs!  These two beauties play soccer, basketball and track together.  This year they will be on the Baker High School Soccer team - even though they go to North Powder school.

The girls!

This one cracks me up of Sami.  I have seen that face on a relative before!

Exiting the church.  See that storm? That is the devil that caused a tornado warning later in the day! Check out Sami's hair.  She 'made me' watch a video the night before, practice, and then do her hair that morning. 

The girls!  (And the storm.  When we were in the church a HUGE hail storm hit!)

Auntie Em!  Let's get out of here!  (We drove to Idaho, actually).  Click on this photo to see her dress!  We did some repairs on her jacket while driving.  A McGiver trick with my scrapbook supplies!

Tee hee!  We got to take the princess to Idaho!!!!  Her hoop skirts had to be tucked in. 

In the hall

Directing Traffic!

More hall views

The Waltz. Oh my.  The most beautiful dance and music.  She started with the smallest ones first, twirling them as they passed her and then the line was formed.  From smallest couple to she and her chambelan.

Beauty.  Reminds me of Cinderella or Snow!

Father Daughter dance.  Beautiful

The wait for music

Tears were shed by both!

Last weekend Sami and I were honored guests at her closest friend's Quinceanera.  I say honored, because Sami was one of the 'padrinos' - a sponsor who was part of the team that gifted portions of the event so the parents don't have to pay for everything.  The event celebrates the 15th birthday of a girl - passing from childhood to a young woman.

Sami sponsored one of her bracelets.  We bought a silver chain with a '15' charm.  You should have seen all her jewels.  Lots of Black Hills gold.  Gorgeous.

Annalia is one of Sami's best and sweetest friends.  A soft spoken cutie who is an amazing athlete!  She is very respectful to her parents, she happily takes care of her little sister, and is a joy to have on any adventures that Sami invites her to. Her family is one of two that can take Sami with them on road trips across the state line. 

The weekend was dedicated to this event. 
 Friday night Sami had me practice braiding her hair. 
Saturday morning we left at 9:30 am for the church in North Powder, only 7 miles away, then drove to Wilder Idaho, about 2 hours away.
After the dinner, dances, and loud Mexican Cowboy Music (most of the men are ranch hands), we left the event at 10pm, drove on a two lane highway, with a lightening and thunder storm off in the distance and headed for a hotel in Caldwell, Idaho.
We were getting tucked into bed about 11pm when Sami announced she just read on Facebook there was a Tornado Warning declared for Baker, back home!
Yikes!
So.. there we were.. with the wind howling through the air conditioning unit - and me, wondering what the heck was going on back home and if we were safe!
We fell asleep.
Ha.
Next morning?  All the cars in the parking lot were covered with a mix of wet sand.  Weird!
That day?  We swam in the hotel pool, then shopped to our little hearts content in Boise.
All was safe!
Well, then another Tornado warning was issued later in the week for La Grande, Oregon where I work, on Wednesday night!
Crazy summer storms!

Front Yard Campers - July 7, 2012

Casa de Coleman

View from the side front door (the one we use)

Pack it up girls! See the mountains in the background?  Heaven.

View from the 'front' of the house - which faces the paved road and due to city rules, is a useless entry since there is no access via car!

View from the 'other' front side of the house - which faces the west (aka mountains)

Ta Da!  Two houses!  One for campers, one for those who like their beds

Just thought I would share the campsite from Saturday night! 

Sami and one of her bff's camped out.

Allow me to digress:  Last summer I bought this tent for the kids and I for our adventures as a family of 3.  Along with a queen size air mattress. And an automatic pump.  Turns out if the three of you are in the tent, the kids manage to roll their mom off the air mattress.  True story.  We went camping at Phillips Lake last September, and I started out on the mattress with Sami.  I woke on the floor.  And Jake was on the mattress.  Good thing there is room for another mattress of the same size.  Stinker.

Back to this story: On Saturday night the girls had to 'brave' a storm that came through.  Poor little things.  It was quite the wind storm.  It took out about 3 of the tent stakes that were holding down the fly.  I went out to check on them about 10 pm or so, and Sami just wanted to make sure the storm was over.  They were a bit spooked, but brave!  After that, it was a calm night and party time for them.  All the windows to the house were then opened and I could hear them clear back at my room.  Whispering was not in their vocabulary. Sound travels in the summer!  I went out and gave them the heads up.

Next morning?  When it was clean up time I found a stash of snacks had made its way to the tent:  A donut container, empty M&M wrapper and empty Hershey Bar container (single serving sizes, don't worry!).  Yep.  Like I said.  A party! 

Aw, the joys of sleepovers.

Sunday?  Was a recovery day for all.  Jake came down with a cold, and I wasn't feeling very hot.  Wait.  I was feeling VERY hot.  And miserable.  It was a 97 degree day. 

But still lovin' summer! 

July Photos - Lovin' Summer!

Jump!  I wanted to get all three, but this is as good as it got. 

Jake, with a red belly from crawling up on the deck

Playing games

Our little camp sight.  Just for the day

Water balloons back at home

The girls having their water balloon fight

Post water hits

Filling balloons

Storm Coming In!

Yesterday the kids and I (and one of Sami's friends) went to Pilcher Creek Reservoir, which, is only 14 miles from  my little casa.  Summer has arrived and we are going to play as much as we can in any 'new' water places we can find (my goal).  It was a battle dragging Jake away from the house.  He would rather stay home and play on the computer - he took my old laptop and has been working on bringing it up to 2012 standards from 2006. It's a project.  But, I am determined that he has a life outside, he can work on the darn computer in the winter, right?  He tried staying home during the 4th of July festivities as well.  I am dragging him out, and once he is out, he is having fun.

We had never been before to Pilcher Creek Reservoir before.  We have lived here (in the area) for 13 years and with my new 'life' I am taking steps to make sure we explore our area and get out!   As a full-time working mom, I am trying to make sure the kids have a summer and some great memories to look back on.  Afterall,  in just 5 short years, they will be both out of the house(s) and on their own - and making their own adventures. 

So, I am working on a bucket list for us.  The top photos are from Pilcher Creek, and the lower ones are from my front yard - the girls having a waterballoon fight, and the view of a storm coming in.  The girls also setup the tent in the front yard and were good sports while the storm ripped through the area.  Later, they admitted they were scared!  But both girls are 'tough' and they stuck it out! 

Right now, it's a little after 8am and they are out still there now, sleeping off their evening of late night antics and boat loads of junk food. 

Next on the docket?  Chocolate Chip Pancakes.

You only live once!  

Have a great day!  We are expecting highs of about 95 degrees and more evening thunderstorms.

Summer is the BEST!