Rae Ann would be so proud

Silly girl playing with her Dora toys.

Let's take a closer look.....

Baby brother is in his bed. Dora and her cousin Daisy are also taking naps, the sled dog is in a 'bed'....even the newspaper is resting happily on the lawn chair. Abuela is standing next to the dinner table, and Papi is sitting on the couch enjoying some cake. Oh, watch out Papi! Swiper is sneaking up behind you!! Swiper no swiping!

Gross! My poor roses. They're diseased, and apparently covered in aphids!
And this is why Rae Ann (and all the other hippies out there) would be so proud! I've actually wanted a clothes line for a long time, but I hate how stiff the clothes are when they come off the line. I guess I could just dry my own and hang everything else up, right? So, I just fashioned this rope to the swing set, the arbor, and the gazebo. Hey, it works. ;-) Now I just need to get some clothes pins.

I'm doing this to save money, reduce our energy use, and because Adam likes it. ;-) I'm afraid of what our electric bill will look like this month! With Daniel on the computer 24/7, and just extra people around, there's a lot more dish washing, laundry, and electricity running through the house.

Karaoke night

Our very good friend Tawny turned 30 on Sunday, so we took her out on Saturday night. Her boyfriend Duck (aka Ryan) was secretive about everything and he did a really great job! We had dinner at a very nice Italian Restaurant downtown, then came back to Gresham for Karaoke. We had planned to go to Tacho's (in Rockwood), but I guess there were 3....yes 3!......drive by shootings on Friday night. So, we went to Mt. Hood Lanes, it was actually really fun!

Adam warming up for his big night. He's always so fun and will sing a lot of songs....whereas, I'm more of a backup singer. ;-)

Duck and Tawny. This is them to a 'T'. Her, laughing hysterically at him, and Him, just sitting there looking cute. ;-)

The sweet couple. Happy 30th Tawny Monster!His first song? Primus, of course. Adam and Tawny were the most entertaining singers in the place! They rocked it!

Playing 'air guitar' on the mic stand.

Duck and Mel. Mel did a great job singing too! I've known these two since high school and we're still really close after so many years.

Happy Birthday Jeremiah

You might want to wear earplugs when you come to a Martin/Johnson/Johnson/Rice/Sager/Kriss/Brandvold birthday party!

Look below.

I updated/posted a blog I started a week or two ago. It's below the Father's Day post.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful Daddy's out there....especially MY Daddy (and yes, I still call him that), and to Adam!

I let her write and asked what she wrote, then I told her to write Happy Father's Day. On my Mother's Day foot & hand print cards (that I made w/her), she wrote 'I love you Natalie', 'Buggy like spiders', and 'Spiderman for Jeremiah'. I guess she forgot about Mother's day.

The ink didn't wipe off as well as I thought it would.

Debbie, you should use this ink on Jeremiah....he could be HULK for a couple days! ;-)

I've been a bit busy

We now have 2 more people living here. Well, not living here, but at least staying until they can get on their feet. They have no where else to go, so we're putting them up.


Daniel is my oldest nephew (21 yrs old, w/a wife + 2 boys + one on the way!!). He's staying in our War Room/Adam's Sewing Room/Rat's Nest.



Neeka is my oldest niece (19 yrs old, married and pregnant) has been sleeping on the couch.

It is difficult having 2 more people living in our 3 bedroom house (with a Great Dane roaming around), but I am enjoying it. I'm building an adult relationship with these kids that were born when I was just a kid. I was 8 when Daniel was born, and 11 when Neeka was born. It's nice to have a 'grown-up' relationship with them. It's nice to have Neeka around to keep an eye on Renee while I'm watering the plants, or taking a potty break (aka, 'me' break). It's nice to have Daniel here......um, for.......um.......just kidding! We just had Verizon Fios installed, so it was nice to have Daniel (a tech savvy nerd) explain things to me, answer questions when I couldn't, and just be here while 2 men were walking around my house.

Anyway, I've been busy cleaning up, trying to keep the house tidy, trying to keep my yard alive, trying to help them in any way that I can. So, that's why I've been a little slow on the blog. I'm still putting everyone's email into my address book so I can send that 'invite' when I go private. Daniel is in the War Room on the computer 24 hours a day, and Neeka and Chase (her husband who comes over to get his rear in gear) are using the lap top to send out (mostly his) resume, respond to adds on Craigslist, etc. Anyone know of any good jobs out there for these kids? Neeka knows she needs to work, but of course she's pregnant and is only going to get more pregnant. Chase has experience in apartment maintenance and labor, and Daniel is a big computer dork. If he could get a job 'playing games' all day it would be heaven......for him anyway.

I would appreciate some prayer (or, good thoughts from you Chels & Tawny, you heathens) for Daniel and Neeka and their little families. Also for Adam and I, and for 'me'. I love that we have such a big family, and I love to be able to help these kids (ahem, adults).....but, it is hard. ;-)

I'm working on it sweetie

Here's what an only child looks like on a Sunday afternoon (when all her cousins are busy or napping). We'll be trying again this fall, hopefully you'll have someone to play with ALL the time!!

Poor kid