Hot Fun in the Summer Time

Hornings Hide out. Great Fishing, hiking not to mention good food. We went to Hornings with the Dowd family on a monday evening. The kids enjoyed fishing with their dads. Stacy and I stayed back and pre-pared dinner, sang to Stacy's lovely 80's music, Danced the electric slide and enjoyed peace and Quiet. The kids loved catching fish and were so proud of all that they caught.
Check out those Hotties... and I don't mean the fish!

Fish any one???????
These are two silly boys. Brendon is always doing bunny ears with Tanner. Can't see the bunny ears but they are there.
Good ol' Summer Fun in your own home. Tanner and Renee build a fort inside the house and wanted to sleep there. There plan was to have a big enough fort that Jeramie and I could fit. Well it was only big enough for the two of them, color books, pens, snugglies, babies, blankies, and the pillows... not much left for mom and dad.
Night night... Don't let the sleeping bag bugs bite.
Over the last year I taught Dance class. Every two months we changed to a different style. We started with Creative movement, ballet, tap and Jazz. The girls earned a trophy for sticking through it and we performed for the parents at the Gazeebo in the park. We had a lot of fun, I will miss my girls.
Laying one brick at a time. Jeramie, Sean and My Day layed brick to make and extended patio in our back yard. It took all day and by the time they were done their backs were hurting and they had blisters on their fingers. I (we) now have an extended living space out side and can enjoy the cool summer evenings. Thank you Men!!!!!
I love that we took out the grass where the rock is. Everything came together so nicely.
While the boys were working on the back patio I was making Freezer Jam. Hood strawberry Jam. I enjoyed doing this. My freezer is now full of JP's favorite Jam.
The kids entertained them selves with some good ol' LEGO fun. Tanner said that the item behind them is a basketball hoop.
Field day at Tanner's school. Last day good byes. Mr. Keifer is moving to the High School hopefully temporary. He will be missed going into this next year. Tanner enjoys Mr. K and so did I. He has a great program and teaches a dance section to the 6th graders. I was looking foward to helping him. Maybe another time.
Tanner showing me his knock out moves.
Congratulations Renee. You graduated from Pre-School. Renee said when she grows up she wants to be a "Singer". our little Hannah Montana in training.
Arrr maty, Tanner and Gabe soward fighting with their popsicles. Last day of school party.
Pirate scavanger hunt. We used Tanners pirate box to hide treasure and gave them a crypted map to find it. I wonder if they will find a secret hiding compartment that had money???
Tanner and Mrs. Ferrigan (Mrs. F) we will miss you next year. You are the best.
I made these thank yous for the Teachers on the last day of school. Vase's came from $ tree, wooden skewers and I cut the flowers on the cricut. Add a hershy kiss and some candy in the vase and you have a super cute thank you.
Pre- School Teacher Lisa, Renee, Teacher Patty. Renee's last day of school
Teacher Lisa, Austin, Tyler, Teacher Patty.
Renee and Julia on of her many girly friends.
Oh what cute boys. This was an emotional moment for their mommy as both the boys attended pre-school together this year. Tyler in the stripped shirt will be moving on to Kindergarden with Renee while Austin will go one more year to pre-school.
Renee and her buddy Austin
Renee and Tyler
So I mixed up the Baseball pics. But this is Tanner playing in the sprinkler after playing 3 games in 90 degree weather.
Tanner got his metal from Coach Dan. Dan was a wonderful coach with lots of patience. He worked well with all the kids. Tanner had a lot of fun this season.

The most INCREDIABLE Day!!!

On June 13, 2009 we started our day by getting up at 5am. Crazy but we were ready. Off at 6am to pick up the Dowds and Kara another friend. I was on a natural high just pinging off the walls. I don't think I needed any of that Gue. These are the preview pics just minutes before the race.
Jeramie and Pat were starting to get into the mind set about this point and Stacy was nervous although her smile tells a different story. I was just very spastic! We were all anxious and ready for the unexpected. With 3 months of preparation we were very ready.
Pat and Stacy we love these guys. They are our Rocks and have been great support. Thank you for doing this with us. I couldn't have imagined it any other way.
Me and My Hubbie. Can you believe it? We signed up for a Half Marathon 13.1 miles. We have 4 hrs to qualify. We can do it I know. The marathon has lots of very steep hills that you climb. We all know what goes up must go down. We live for the downs. Good Luck!!!!
Okay so you might ask what is in my shirt. It is the gue packets that you take along the way. I didn't have another pocket to spare so it went in my bra. Great place huh! Stacy is the BEST!! Thank you for being crazy with me.

And we are off. It was so cool to see all the runners getting in line. On our shoe we put a round ticker that is a timer. When you start the race as you cross the start line your time begins. I have to say waiting in line and counting down was so nerve wracking. I couldn't waite to begin. Remember I was just spastic the rest were calm. We all got our music ready and then they sounded the horn. It took a moment to get started with all the people in front of us. During the last 3 months every monday morning Stacy and I would go train. We chatted lots and never took our music. Every saturday morning we went with our hubbies and still chatted. Today we listened to the music and occasionally we would comment on things or laugh along the way. Not long after it started the boys passed us. Stacy and I ran a lot I mean a lot and when we wern't runnin' we were walking very fast. Jeramie and Pat ran for9 mil. with out stopping and by the time we were approaching the turn around point we saw the boys. It was awesome to see them. They were only less than 1 mile a way. It was so cool. What I loved the most was hearing all the runners as they breath and their feet. The noise was INCREDIABLE!!!!
We DID it!!!! Jeramie came in at 2 hrs,38 min I came in at 2 hrs, 48 min
WE are AWESOME!!!! We love every minute of it. This was truely the BEST!!!!
Pat came in at 2 hr, 36 min and stacy came in at 2 hr, 48 min. Great Job.
We finished together. Thank you Stacy for encouraging me that last leg of the race. I loved your energy. Her second wind kicked in about the 11th mile. She is amazing. Remember I had all the energy at the beginning. Well I started to climb down about the 11th mile.
These two are amazing. never having run like they did and WOW! we are so proud of our hubbies.
Great job JP! I love you, Thank you for doing this with me and supporting me in this. I am so greatful for all that you do and your accomplishment. Great Job!!!

Time to start working on the next one.... Yes no rest for the weary. We are kickin' it into high gear and next week we start training for the next one. :)

Where have those Peterson's been?

Marissa's Baptism was such a lovely day. We love you Rissa.

Some of the many flowers that bloomed in our yard. We loved all the color.


SUP YA'LL?

Our little lovelies at another dinner in the park. We love playing in the park.

Sending kisses to all of you. We miss you all!
Renee taking pictures of me. Opps the second picture got in by accident.

Stacy's older daughter Samantha and Renee are connected at the hip. They too are finding ways to stay warm
What a cute couple.
Hey did you know that if you throw rocks in a burning fire they will combust and shoot in the air. The boys learned the hard way. So Brendon got smart and put up a barrier. Way to go! P.S. Thank you JP for your boy scout skills. He built us a very nice fire to stay warm. We were just missing the smores'
This is my other half besides my hubbie. Stacy is a wonderful friend and can read my mind sooo well. Stacy and I never run out of things to say. She and I love training together cause as we chat the time just seems to fly by so fast.
A rather windy and cold day at the beach it was 60 degrees when it was 80 degrees at home. What!

Yikes! what if these were ALL our children. After stake conference we took off to enjoy the beach with the Dowd Family. The extra children are theirs.
The Portland Rose Festival always kicks off the season with fireworks. We joined up with friends and sat on the River prior to and had a picnic dinner. I am loving the out doors. I love time to relax with the kids and my Hubbie.

Happy Memorial Day. We cooked Breakfast in the park with some friends. Later Tanner and Renee played in the stream with friends.


About 6 months to a year Tanner asked his Daddy if he could help him build a Volcano. They did and Jeramie was asked by Tanner's Teacher to bring it in and set it off. Tanner is telling how they made the Volcano and loving it. He did a great JOB!
Tanner is pouring in the Baking Soda. Oh does it explode. The class loved it.
Check it out. The Volcano is releasing Lava

Our Family Funny Ha Ha's

Starting off this morning with a great one. I woke up at 5:20am like normal and got ready for class. I stepped out side and noticed that Rachel wasn't up as her house lights wern't on. It was freezing so I went back inside my house as I thought I must be too early this morning. I waited for about 5 min or so than went back out side. This was unsual Rachel never misses class. I thought the kids must be sick and she isn't going. I got in my car warmed it up and waited by her house for her to come out. 2nd thought maybe she was just late. I than left to pick up Melissa... What! her house lights wern't on which means she isn't going. I thought that this was strange. I looked at my car clock and it read 4:55 I was confused. 4:55 how could that be. My alarm woke me up at 5:20am. Surley someone messed with my the clock in the car. So I proceeded to drive to the school and found no one there. Ahh ha, it was than I realized someone must have been playing a late April fools day joke on me. I drove home and when I got in the house I looked at the clock and it read 5:06am. Crap! your joking, what now. do I go to sleep, watch tv, read ... I'll just fall asleep and than miss my class. So I went to my room and checked my clock... oooooops that late April fools joke was played by "ME". I did it. Last night setting the alarm I forwarded the clock 1hr. I caught a few winks than off to class for the second time. When I got there I was late, darn it.

Last night Tanner, Renee and I were watching Dancing with the Stars. Renee fell asleep early and after putting her to bed Tanner and I cozyed on the couch with a quilt. At the commercial I was just looking at my sweet boy in Awe. I said "Tanner you are sooo cute what a Handsome boy you are" he said thanks mom. than he said "You know mom I get told that by girls at my school all the time". I said WHAT! By who. he said lots of girls they call me "Prince Charming". Than he proceeds to tell me they call him other things and when the do the lower their head and bat their eyes and that girly head tilt way. Oh know I think to my self. He says their a girl in 2nd grade and the others are in 1st. I laughed as he demonstrated the girly head tilt especially when he batted his eyes. Oh how funny.

On Easter morning Tanner discovered money in some of the eggs in his basket. Renee didn't know yet as she was in the bathroom. When she checked out her eggs one didn't make noise. Tanner told her to open it anyway. When she did she found a $1 bill. She than says "Darn it I was hoping for a $5 doller bill and all I got was a GEORGE WASHINGTON!

I just love the things my children do. Thank you Tanner and Renee for making my world ROCK!

Spring Break!

I just love spring break. No schedules, no running around, just me and the kids sleeping in playing and doing fun projects. We ventured up to Washington to visit friends and had a wonderful time as usual. We took the kids to a Dinosaur exhibit at the UW and saw the T-Rex, Triceratops, a Ground Sloth and long tooth lion. Tanner thought it was way cool. Renee had fun running around dancing and singing. I think that taking her to a dance exhibit will be the next stop. We always enjoy visiting Washington as that is where Jeramie and I started our marriage and lived for 3 yrs. It brought back many good memories.

The rest of spring break was very enjoyable as I got to spend time with my sister who I never get much time with. I loved that. I sure have grown to be very attached to her. But... still like my space.

So I have been focusing on the 1/2 marathon and am getting really excited. Something about running with a lot of ppl that gets me excited. I do have to say yesterday Stacy and I walked 5 miles of the 13 miles we have to walk/run in 4 hrs. We did great!!!! I know that on performance day we will be great. I haven't been this excited about something for a while.

This morning I was in pain from the walk yesterday and even at morning class felt like jell-o half the time. I made the comment "No pain no gain" My friend reminded me what gain we were wanting. I love the weight loss never do I ever want to go back to weight gain. I know that it is an everyday process. I am only 20 lb away from my goal weight and I am so happy. I have started working an putting together a book. I would love to write more about this experience. Not a long one but something quick that anyone could pick up and read with in a day or two.

Sorry for the babbeling.

Uhg Face Book!!!

I normally write my most intimate thoughts in my journal. I am feeling very claustrophobic. I think that the rain and cold weather is really getting to me. I have joined face book only cause one family member thought to go outside of the box. Thanks Ken. I have mixed emotions about this. I shared my frustration about it at boot camp this am. Sorry to those who got the brunt of it all. I have to say over the last week I have found two high school buddies and well wasn't all that thrilled. I am wondering if when you reconnect that you find your self remembering things you really wish you didn't. I have to say when looking up these friends I looked at them as friends. But... as time went on I remembered not so good times. So today I found a college friend. I admired him as a friend and today we found each other. It was neat to learn about him and his family. I have to say that it was a sweet moment. I think it is funny that as I have been married for 10 yrs I have really forgotten about the past. So here I ramble in not a great order. About face booking when you try to find someone and when you do they ask how are you what have you been up to. I say I am great blah blah blah. What I forget is that I am of value. Now don't get me wrong most of my answers have been that I'm married 10 yrs, two children, I live in Oregon, and that is about it. But hey why don't I say I make and create jewelry. I taught my self how to do it and never took a class. I teach dance and love it. like everyone has some major calling in life. I know I am rambling. I am just on a soap box about face book and today I liked it. It was nice to finally find a friend from the past that will always have a place in my heart. So sorry that you read this post. It was more for me.

3 months to get Ready

I am so excited to announce that on June 12,2009 Jeramie and I will be running/walking the Helvatia Marathon. It is a 13 mile marathon that starts at 8:00am. I don't care if it takes me all day to finish. I will cross the finish line. I am determined to start training this week. I can't wait to start this new journey. I will keep you posted on how it goes.