Family Camping 7/23-7/25 2010

L to R: Bishop Badger, Pres. Smith, Jayson, Roy Johnson, and Dave

Sasha, Kellyn Bennett, and Kjersten Ness....my beauties!

Kellyn and Sasha

Sasha and Kellyn

Kaitlyn Johnson, Sasha, and Kellyn

Bishop Bennett getting ready to score a run!

Dave running to second base!

Dave hitting the ball getting ready to run to first base.

Here comes the ball!

Two Bishops!

The Coach! Love Papa Johnson

Bishop Bennett and Jodi Hjelm

Dave

Rob Sheridan, Sasha and Jayson

Both of my boys in red!

Dave Pearson and Dave Mathison

Rob Sheridan hugging Sasha

L to R: Bishop Bennett, Jayson, Sasha and Dave

Dave

Sasha getting ready to bat!

We went to Camp Nisqually over the Pioneer Weekend and had a BLAST. We played baseball, stayed up late, helped serve dinner for 500 people ( really, we did), went to church outside, and got to know our church friends much better. Can't wait till next year. Enjoy the pictures!

Another trip to North Idaho

L to R: Back row: Jean & Lewis Mace ( Aunt and Uncle) Judy Mace ( cousin), John (boyfriend of another cousin), Me
Bottom Row L to R: Sarah and Heather ( cousin, girlfriend of John)

Sarah taking a picture of herself taking a picture. Kinda a neat picture, don't ya think?
She smashed her finger a day or so before this picture. It really was swollen and purple, but not broken.

Ellie the wonder dog.

My beautiful cousin Deb. She always lets us stay at her house. Now we lovingly call her home the "Hotel Pryor". The rates are fabulous and the meals divine...LOL

I went to Coeur d' Alene over the 4th of July and had a blast. Here are some more pictures of my extended family. I really wish that we lived closer to them all.

Ricky Raccoon

We had a super exciting night last night. At 0400, Mercy and Daisy starting barking like they needed to go outside to go potty. So, I stumbled out of bed and let them out. No sooner had they cleared the doorway when all heck broke loose. They both go tearing out to the corner of the yard. I hear barking, shrieking, hissing and all sorts of loud mayhem. This poor little fellow was in the middle of my dogs. They chased him up the fence. Mercy managed to push her way through the fence and was running free. Luckily Daisy came when I called her. I had to go wake up Dave so that he could help me corral Mercy back inside. This poor little raccoon was up hiding on our porch rail ledge. I thought he would escape once the dogs came in and went back to sleep. This was NOT the case. When I went to go take the dogs out to go potty later on, this little dude was still shaking and hadn't moved an inch. So, of course I have to take pictures of him. He looks so cute and adorable...but let me tell you...he was a hissing mess. When Sasha woke up, she came outside to see what all the fuss was about. She gets this crazy look in her eye and says..." Can we keep him? He is so cute and cuddly. He can sleep with me and I can show him to all of my friend. We can train him. I am going to name him Phillip. " NOT! We tried to scare him off the porch with no luck. Then we tried to remove him by putting him in a box....nope, didn't work either. We then got the broom out and shoved him down to the grass. He scampered across the yard and promptly climbed my cherry tree right to the very top. So help me, if he eats all of my almost ripe bing cherries....I will get him myself and not be very happy.

I went to Coeur d' Alene

Me on the Boardwalk on Lake Coeur d'Alene

Me and Sarah at Lake Coeur d'Alene

Sarah and I ran away to north Idaho this past weekend for some much needed Mother/Daughter fun. Since Dave and Jayson are at Boy Scout camp this week and Sasha is at EFY, we decided to go on a fun mini vacation over the 4th of July. We stayed at my cousin Debbie's house and had a BLAST. We laughed, giggled, and laughed some more. I will post more pictures in a day or two after I get things all organized and put away.

Every parent should watch this!

I normally wouldn't put a video on my blog unless it had to do with my kids doing something funny/amazing or a concert or something, but I recently watched this on You Tube for a college class that I am taking and it really struck a chord with me. It comes as seven 9 minute segments. I have loaded the first segment here, and then when you get to the end of the video, you will see how to see the other six segments. It is called Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood. You do NOT have to watch all segments at once. I didn't either. I am forever a changed parent because of this. There were so many things here that I never thought of. Of course, this is only one perspective, but it certainly makes me think.

My weekend project!

After: Notice the new dining room chandelier, tablecloth (found at Goodwill), and the candle holder centerpiece ( found at Ross)

Before: Not really matching anything. Just random things

Dave got rid of the old fireplace. He fixed the huge hole and now we can put the couch in front of it. It sure makes the room bigger to not have to adjust for the hearth.

Me painting, which I HATE!

Tessa looking WAY too happy to begin painting.

I hate painting but knew that this gross room needed some serious help. So, Tessa came over and lent her awesome decorating and painting talents. I love my new room. Now, to get the living room done.

Back to School Again !

Just thought that I would post a picture of me and what I am thinking as an older student. Don't get me wrong, I really love going back to college, it is just that I should have done this when I was young with no family or other responsibilities. But, I have a great support system in place with Dave and the kids, and it makes it much more do able. It is just a bummer that since it is summer, I have to have my nose in a book instead of being carefree. It's all good though. I like school.