And a new year begins..

I apologize for my lack of posts. Its been busy here, as usual, and with a few extra things thrown into the mix. We are in the midst of house shopping and hope to soon have chosen something. Some big changes are in store for our family, stay tuned!!

Here are pictures from the first day of school. Ashlyne started kindergarten, Jordanna began 5th grade and Cortney is a big 6th grader this year! So far so good, they all like their teachers and are excited about a new year.

Ashlyne began soccer today as well. Today was her first practice and they have their first game on Saturday already! We got to go shopping for new cleats, shin guards, soccer socks, and shorts! I wish this shot has turned out a litle more clear, but its a good action shot none the less! She looks pretty intent on getting that ball eh??

This weekend kicks off football season for us! Tomorrow night our family will be at the HS Football game and Saturday is a big UW vs. Boise game that Craig and I are going to! WELCOME FALL!!!!

big girl :)

So last week brought some exciting changes for Laney (and all of us really). On Monday we took down her crib and put up her "big girl" toddler bed. And the next day, we took away her binky for good, and her bottle at bed time that she still had. Yep, cold turkey. It was over due.
It has actually gone so much better than I expected and it could have been so much worse. She had never even tried to get out of her crib, which is odd because she is a monkey everywhere else.
It was an adjustment, but she has done really well with it. I tell her it is time for bed and she whines a bit, but I just pick her up, put her in her bed and say goodnight. Some nights she whines a little bit, but within a few minutes she is quiet and we don't hear another peep out of her! That is amazing!! And she hasn't even mentioned her binky or bottle since the first day or two. So obviously she was ready- it was just a matter of me bucking up and doing it. :)
Now if I could just get her to check out the potty...

Boat Races 2007

This past weekend was Boat Race Weekend in the Tri-Cities. This has become an annual trip for Craig and I. Last year and this year we have stayed with our friends GR & Jenn that live in Kennewick. Its been a nice time to catch up, hang out and see some hydros! This year was especially nice as we were able to meet the 2 new additions to their family- a new puppy Lola and their son Ace. :) I was a big time slacker with pictures this weekend, I am pretty sure I was just preoccupied enjoying my kid free adult time! So there are only a few pictures....

Craig and I enjoying "Rum Barrels" at the Cedar restaurant on the Columbia River.The sun setting over the Columbia. Taken from the patio at the Cedar.
We were closer to the boats this year than we have ever been! It was almost scary how close we were...

Laci, GR and Tyler enjoying the sun and boats...

I'm burnt and hot...ha ha

and so is Craig...

Ocean Shores

I'm behind. again. Please forgive me. I know a lot of you have been waiting for new pictures. Sorry!! So here are lots of pictures from our overnight trip to the Ocean at Ocean Shores, WA on July 14. Craig, I, Cortney, Ashlyne and Delaney went.

The girls playing in the sand with brand new sand toys!

Craig and I (: Cortney and Dad and Mom

Laney was loving the sand!
The wind blowing in her hair...

Ashlyne diggin...

Cortney striking a pose for me..

This one is kind of blurry, but it captured a funny moment. Laney saw seagulls land on the sand right by here and she was cracking up!!

The water didn't feel that bad actually. The weather was a bit weird, rained a little, but muggy and warm...

I'd say the ocean was a big hit!!

Cortney wrote "Craig+Corina='heart'" in the sand.

Laney snuggling Daddy at dinner

Ashlyne turns 5!

We celebrated Ashlyne's 5th Birthday last Tuesday night at Chuck E. Cheese's. We had a great time with a big group of friends and family, including a few of Ashlyne's friends from preschool she hadn't seen since the end of May. She had a great day and is really looking forward to kindergarten!!

Happy 5th Birthday Ashlyne!!!

The kids were dancing with Chuck E. Cheese to a birthday song!

Ashlyne gave Chuck E a big hug!

High 5 Chuck E!! Ashlyne got a lot of cool gifts: a baby doll, a princess creativity set, a new dress, a new bike and lots of things to go with her bike. So many new things!

Thank you to everyone who joined us that day! It was a birthday to remember!

More pictures!

I forgot about these, from the day before the 4th... Here is Jordan and Alexis... (they were both a little sunburned from being out on the jetski's that day) Me and Misti :)

I was laying on the floor and Laney jumped on my back. She was saying "pee boo Mommy!"

she's so cute!!!

Delayed Update

So I am lattte updating I know. Its been busy over here! And I forgot how this photo uploading works, so these pictures are backwards! UGH...well here goes a ton of pictures.
First are pictures from our camping trip to Lake Cushman last weekend. We were there Thursday until Sunday. We had a double site and we had all 7 of our kids, plus our friends Adam and Nicole and their 5 kids, and our friend Devron, and Jordan's girlfriend Alexis. We had a great time! First up, Delaney figured out that grabbing handfuls of dirt and throwing them on herself and up in the air to land on herself was a lot of fun! ha ha...we were calling her Jungle baby!

Let's just say by the time we got home, I had to empty her bathwater twice before I got her clean! LOL...but she had a great time and was really good. This was her first camping trip since she was only a few months old.

Next up, a family picture. LOL...we were dirty and icky, but dang it, it was the first time we had all the kids camping with us, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a picture.

We had a great time swimming and playing the lake all day Friday and Saturday. We just lugged coolers down and spent the day. This is Jordan (standing behind everyone), Alex, Cole, Brittany, and Misti jumping in the lake.

Laney had a good time cruising around in the blow up boat with Daddy.

And playing on this "hot dog" that Adam and Cole brought.

Or just floating in a tube, as long as Misti didn't let go!

Ok, so the night before we left for camping was the 4th of July!!! My birthday and America's. We stayed home and lit off fireworks. GOOD TIMES!
Ashlyne, Misti and Laney watching Daddy light a sparkler:

This was pretty much where Laney spent most of her evening: on Misti's lap with her ears covered. She enjoyed the fireworks a lot actually, they were just loud.

What can I say about this one? It's LOVE :)

This is a rare moment.....Laney talks a lot about her "Bubbo" as she calls him, but she gets shy when he gets too close to her. So when she let him pick her up, Jordan said "get the camera!!"...lol... So sweet..

Sorry I was a week late, but I hope you enjoy the pictures! I have Ashlyne's 5th birthday pictures coming up.... :)