princess-bride-dancer-on-a-shopping-trip

Remember back when you were a kid? When you didn't even know to think about what

others thought about you? When you'd play dress-up and put a little bit of everything on plus a little more and it was okay? When you really thought that you were a princess-bride-dancer-on-a-shopping-trip and why wasn't everyone else coming along too?

I miss those days.

Friday

On Friday afternoon, we headed up to Lake Owyhee.

Our group included the four of us, Mom (Dad had to work), Max, Amanda,

Matt, and Ron and Carol (Amanda's parents).

This is Emma's favorite spot on the boat.

Sorry, Matt...I had to include this one.
He didn't know I was taking this as he gazed off.
Wonder what he's thinking?!

Uncle Matt

My little fish

Matt wake boarding

Ron and Carol

A very tired Emmalee

Amanda!

Ryan on the knee-board

Emma got to drive the boat

Ryan had so much fun. Max and Amanda have taken Ryan on the boat

a couple of times this summer. He's been on the knee board, but there has always been someone in the water to get him started. This time, he decided that he wanted to

try to get up on his own. He did it on the first try! He had such a look of determination on

his face. He tried really hard to crest the wake, but he just wasn't heavy enough.

Emma caught her first fish!

She, Ron and Carol were in the front of the boat. Each

time we stopped to get someone else in the water, she and Ron would pull out the fishing pole.

It was pretty funny to watch...one second the fish was coming over the edge of the boat, and the next second she was on her way to the back of the boat...

as far away from the fish as possible.

Saturday

It's been years...lots of years...since I've been to Lake Owyhee.

On Saturday morning, Max, Amanda, Matt and Ryan headed down to the

boat at 6 a.m. I wanted to take a few photos of them heading out.

If there are views like this every morning, I might

be convinced to go there more often!

there they go

Matt on the wake board

After breakfast, we left Matt here (yep, that's him

under the blanket...he can sleep anywhere!) and Amanda

napping in the tent, and the rest of us headed out to

go fishing.

I had forgotten how beautiful the lake is!

Carol (Amanda's mom) helped Emma fish.

Ron (Amanda's dad) caught a couple of fish.

Max's catch

Mom relaxing

The kids fell asleep on the way home from the lake.

We put them on the bed while we unloaded the car and

got ready to head to Jon's friend Kristi's house for a pool party.

They were so exhausted...it was incredibly hard to wake them up!

There's more fun to be had today, though.

Saturday night...

...we spent at Jon's friend Kristi's house playing in the pool.

Emma hitched a ride on Uncle Jon

there were scary things in the water

this pool starts at 3 feet and goes to 10-11 feet deep. It was the

perfect place to be on a hot summer day

If you know Ryan's history with deep water, this will amaze you. He took several years of

lessons when we lived in Portland. He got to the point where he could swim across the big pool (12 feet deep) on his own. Then, one morning at swim lessons, something happened. I didn't see anything and neither did the instructor, but he developed an intense fear of deep water. Up until Saturday, he could swim like a fish in water where he knew he could reach but wouldn't get into anything deeper than four feet. I had gone inside for a drink...when I came back out, Bob told me to look at Ryan. He was simming across the pool, over the 10 feet deep water! I was so excited for him. By the end of the evening, Kristi had taught him to do flips off of the diving board. Fear conquered!

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

~~one generation teaching another~~

~~we love uncles who get down on the floor with us~~

~~they make good toy-holders~~

Roughing it

We've been roughing it this week.

Bedtime snacks of banana slices with peanut butter and raisins

have been eaten outside where it's still over 90 at 9:30 p.m.

Our downstairs was invaded tonight by a strange orange object.

We bought a new tent in preparation for Boring I. We now have

an opportunity to put it to use this weekend, so we decided to make sure

we could put it together. It was still close to 100 tonight at 9:30 when we started. So, we decided that we'd put it up in the living room. Surely it would fit! Only just barely, and we have a pretty big space down there. The kids, of course, love it.

Bedtime stories were read, songs were sang, and it was off to sleep...in the tent...

in the living room.

Christmas is Coming

Did that title get your attention?

I know...it's a long ways off...

unless you're trying to do a handcrafted Christmas and have

a very large family and wonderful friends.

So, my question to you is...

if you knew you were getting a handcrafted Christmas

present, what would you want it to be?

Cards? A small scrapbook? Crayon rolls with matching bags for your kids?

Aprons? Bags? A perpetual birthday card box? Food?

If you look back through my posts, you'll see some of the items I've made

in the past. If you're a friend on Facebook, look in my

handcrafted album.

I need to know what people like, and I also need some new ideas!

Thanks so much for your help!!

A little snippit

We've been enjoying summer this week!

Mostly, we've been enjoying it by staying inside.

Here are a few photos from this week.

Wow, Uncle Matt, those are big muscles...

...but mine are bigger!

Aaahhh...quiet time. The kids are covering my walls with

masterpieces. Priceless artwork!

Enjoying fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies.

~~~

Yep, that's all for now. I can't remember the last time my post only had

three photos! I'm sure you're all breathing a sigh of relief! :)

~~~

Off to make fudge for my big brother. This is normally a Christmas-time-only treat,

but he did ask nicely. If you live close enough, you might just get

a little treat delivered to your door. I don't want any leftovers at my house!