No School Today!!!! (or tomorrow!)

Riley and Drew both got a 4 day weekend this week!!! Yipee!!!! Collin wasn't sure what to think when his sisters played with HIS toys and he got to go out and play in the backyard with them!!!

This was the first time he has climbed the playground and got to slide down the slide!!! He loved it and didn't want to stop!!! He actually did go down alone but I had to catch him and couldn't take a picture at the same time! He scratched his face while playing in the "forest" and fell down several times and bonked his head...I think he needs to be a fighter for Halloween...then we can say "you should see the other guy"!!! We get to spend the whole day together tomorrow too!!!

The Harvest is over!

All of the pomegranates have been removed from the tree and taken to the health food store that has been buying them from me!!! Les has been the chief picker...too many that needed a ladder to be reached! We picked on 3 different days and in 3 different weeks. This way I was able to supply the store with our gorgeous pomegranates and none went to waste!!! This was the first time I have tried to sell them and I have to say it was very successful...they paid 75 cents per piece and I made over $250.00!!! Les picked this one from in the middle and top of the tree! We were shocked at how large it was...the girls called it the giant pumpkin-pomegranate!!! I wouldn't let the girls carry it for fear that it would be dropped and I wouldn't get to take these pictures!

For perspective I decided that the tape measure and the quarter would help so that you could see the size!!!

Saturday!!! Soccer, Birthdays, Computers and Sleepovers!

Happy Birthday Riley!!! I can't believe you are already 10 years old!!! It was fun spending some time with you and I want you to know that we are very proud of you and love you very much.
Before Riley's birthday party we went to Drew's soccer game (which was a great game!) and then we went to Les' office to pick up his computer and move it home...the building is going into escrow on Monday and everything there is turned off! I cleaned out a couple of drawers on the desk and found a whole basket of writing utensils and change!!! I packed up a large box of videos while he loaded the car with the computer!!! We could (and will) spend many hours packing up his stuff but, instead Les decided to go and visit his brother George who has been very ill while I went and helped Melissa get ready for the party! After snacks, cake and present openning it was time to head out so that the REAL party could get started! Drew and Collin got to come home with us so that they weren't tortured by Riley's sleepover!!! We got home and I made the kids dino chicken nuggets for dinner and they got to play outside until it was almost dark! Then it was bathtime...they had a great time until Collin pooped and they had to make a fast exit from the tub!!! Oh well they were pretty pruney already!!! When it was bed time Collin & Drew were going to both sleep in the parlor but that wasn't working cause they are both used to sleeping in their own rooms so I moved Collin into the studio and they both slept the whole night with out a peep!!!! We all woke up in time to get ready for church and had a happy morning together!!!
It was a fun day for everyone I think!!!

My birthday

October 22 is my birthday and it was so nice to have phone calls and cards from my family and friends! I got flowers and a balloon (Collin was so cute with the balloon, he had a great time with it and didn't want to give it to me!!!) and Melissa hosted a little dinner for me that evening! Riley had a soccer game at 6:00. She played very well and her team won, so that was fun to watch!

Melissa had made a yummy Stombolli, Kim did a fab salad and Anita outdid herself with an amazing cake! I didn't get any pics of it, so you will have to look at Kim & Anita's blogs to see the cake! Thanks to everyone who made me feel special on my birthday!

Drew and Collin...

After picking Drew up from school on Tuesday we went to my house (instead of staying in Redding until it was time to pick Riley up from school). After lunch, Drew and Collin wanted to play in the backyard! Here are a few photos of what they did! Drew did a/b patterns with chock on the bricks while Collin played with a stick and took seeds out of a pomegranite that was open and in his reach!!! He was totally covered in juice and his socks had juice on the bottoms!!! He had had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch and his shorts were totally covered in pb&j...so that is why no pants!!! The gas prices have made it so that the girls don't get to spend any time at Grandma's house during the week. Hopefully that will change enough so that we can have more time in Anderson!
Drew's class at school had made bread that day and we baked it when we got home! It smelled great! They ate it with dinner that night!

last weekend...

Last Friday evening, all day on Saturday and Sunday morning, Kim and I got to work on our scrapbooks! We like to go out of town because it is nice to get away and not feel bad about the dishes that don't get done or people that don't get the usual attention!!! We have gone as far north as Lincoln City, Oregon and as far south as an oceanside cabin near the Hearst Castle! We have spent many hours driving to locations and this takes away from our scrapbooking time!!! We enjoy traveling together but that is beside the point!!! We have used hotels in Redding and almost did this time too...but, we decided we wanted to try the newest hotel in the area...which is Gaia in Anderson!!! Ha! Ha!!!

When I made the reservations the lady asked my home address and then she said...you live really close don't you!!! Yeah it is about 1 mile from my house!!!

We really liked the hotel. It is a Green Hotel....they even have gauges in the lobby which showed the electricity and water that is being used!!! Anyway, I took some pics of the stuff in the bathroom cause it is different than most hotels! The toilet had 2 buttons and depending on what the toilet was used for was what button you pushed! There were dispensers in there for lotion and hand soap plus the one in the shower for hair soap, conditioner, and body wash. No small bottles. But the shower was a bit difficult for me (yes I am a retard sometimes!!!) I couldn't figure out how to turn it on and Kim had gone out to get breakfast, so I just took a bath. bummer. Turned out there was a little ring on the faucet you had to pull down, oh well.....
We had a great time and got a lot done in our albums! It is never enough cause we take so many photos! But, since we don't get to spend as much time as we would like it was just great spending the time together! They had great Wi-Fi (very easy to use) and cable tv. The restaurant is supposed to open in November, it will be called the Swan Lake Bistro...they have a pond with 2 white and 2 black swans! Looks like it will be a place to go for special occasions because it is a bit pricey!

Drew-in-a-box!

Collin and Drew have a lot of fun playing together in the afternoon. Drew kept trying to bring this box out into the living room and I kept telling her to take it back to Collin's room! There was so much squeeling going on that I had to go and look to see what was happening! This was Drew's way of playing hide & go seek with Collin!!! They are so funny! This is actually the box to hold all of Collins toys!