Family Time at Manzanita

Taking it in

Here was the view of the sunset the other night from our house. The colors were sooo pretty.

Local Turtles

4 on the log

Our local lake has turtles. Of course no one believes us. Surprisingly they are fast. You can't get very close to them. They will poke their heads up and will bail off into the water if they see you getting close. Now that they have been lowering the lake my husband was able to snap some photos of them sunning themselves on the logs yesterday. At work I had some bets going and of course now it's time for them to pay up. Ahhhh, sometimes it is so good to be RIGHT.

What Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Living in Oregon...

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Oregon.

If you've worn shorts, sandals and a parka at the same time, you live in Oregon.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Oregon.

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Oregon..

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Oregon.

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Oregon.

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both doors unlocked, you live in Oregon

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Central, Southern or Eastern Oregon.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a 2 layers of clothes or under a raincoat, you live in Oregon.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow and ice, you live in Oregon.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Oregon.

If you feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash, you live in Oregon.

If you know more than 10 ways to order coffee, you live in Oregon.

If you know more people who own boats than air conditioners, you live in Oregon.

If you stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" signal, you live in Oregon

If you consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain, you live in Oregon.

If you can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Dutch Bros, you live in Oregon.

If you know the difference between Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon, you live in Oregon...

If you know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Abiqua, Issaquah, Oregon, Umpqua, Yakima and Willamette, you live in Oregon.

If you consider swimming an indoor sport, you live in Oregon.

If you know that Boring is a city and not just a feeling, you live in Oregon.

If you can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food, you live in Oregon.

If you never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho, you live in Oregon.

If you have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain, you live in Oregon.

If you think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists, you live in Oregon.

If you buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time, you live in Oregon.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

This flag is in a nearby town. It's extremely large and has raised quite a bit of controversy and the picture doesn't do it justice. It was flowing so pretty on my way home the other night I circled around the block so I could take a picture of it.

I love the 4th of July. I think I prefer it over Christmas. Going to the parade, lighting fireworks, watching fireworks. The warm weather (hopefully), the bbq's and block party's neighbors are having. The real patriotic feel. Seeing men and boys remove their hats when the flag is marched through the parade. Thinking about the soldiers over there right this very moment protecting our country.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
-Lee Greenwood 'God Bless The USA'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's a high school prom
It's a springstein song
It's a ride in a chevrolet
It's a man on the moon
And fireflies in June
Kids sellin lemonade
It's cities and farms
And open arms
One nation under god
It's america
-Rodney Atkins 'It's America'

Batter Up

Feels pretty good to be back out on the field. More mentally then physically. I took the last 5 years off and just started up last week on a co-ed team. I'm pretty rusty but it's all coming back to me.

I've been playing softball since I was 9 years old. Fast pitch until I graduated from high school then it was slow pitch after that. At one point I found myself playing on 3 different teams and though my last year I had slowed down, I found myself not enjoying it anymore. The team I put first was my competitive womens team. We even went as far as to Kingman AZ to play at Nationals. But 5 years ago I found myself feeling burned out and before the season had even started I was wanting it to be over already. I knew I needed to hang up my bag and take a break for awhile. So I took a break, had a baby and now with her being 2 years old I feel ready and wanting to do it.

I love this sport. I love the feel of the dirt, the fly balls, the big hits. Being a part of a team. Rounding the bases. Crossing home plate. Seeing the familiar faces. Seeing the same umpires. The feel of a great hit when it hits the 'sweet' spot. The happiness when you burn a guy and it goes over his head. Pride when you're part of a good play. Watching a teammate make an EXCELLENT play. Telling a teammate good hit or great catch. Putting daily life aside and showing up for an hour to let off some steam. It really is a great sport and it feels good to come to the field and hang my bag on the fence. I just want to keep it balanced and not let it take over my life like it had before. I think what I'm doing this season is a real nice balance.

Ok, I do have more going on in my life then just snapping pics of my dog but I know he is changing so quickly. I just sent the breeder this photo.

She loves staying in contact with all of her babies. I also let her know that he sleeps with us about every night. Every once in awhile we'll crate him but mostly he's on our bed. He has yet to try to jump off our bed or the couch. Which is nice because I always know where he is. We do let him down to roam around and he sure loves Mackenzie's stuffed animals and her binkies! He is always caught running out of her room with something he shouldn't have and he knows it. I did designate one animal for him to have. It's the little hamster from the Wonder Pets. Lenny I think? But one just doesn't seem to be enough.

We take him for walks and since he isn't leash trained yet he wants no part of it. We put him under the stroller in the basket. He loves it and so far hasn't tried to jump out. Who knows, he may just always ride under there. ha!

A wet Gremlin?

KODAK GIVEAWAY!!

I Heart Faces is doing a giveaway for this KODAK ESP-9 All-In-One Printer. This would be so handy to have, especially for my husband who prints a lot of things for his home business.

Go on over to I Heart Faces to enter for the giveaway.

Diesel update

Here are a couple recent pics of Diesel. We went to the Vet last Saturday and Dr was pleased with him and she thought he was doing quite well. He weighs just under 5 lbs and is almost 2 1/2 months old.

Every day he is getting more rowdy. I love him best when he's sleeping and not biting on my toes, legs, arms, you name it. He has yet to brave jumping off the couch or the bed. So far he's a big chicken but I know his feisty-ness will prevail.
When he is on the floor he has so many of Mackenzie's toys to chew on, its a huge smorgasbord! He's in chewy heaven!

We've gone for one walk but he rode under the stroller in the basket. He didn't seem to mind but I know it's just a matter of time before his curiosity gets the best of him and he bails out.

Still haven't taken him out anywhere. We are anxious to get him on the boat but right now, like any toddler, he won't understand how to make the most of it. Soon, very soon.

Winger & Deschanel

These aren't the 2 best pics that show the similarity but I was watching the Jim Carrey movie last name called Yes Man which has Zooey Deschannel in it and so much she reminded me of Debra Winger. Her looks and her mannerisms. I kept seeing the similarity. I had to google them to see if they were related at all and they don't seem to be. Has anyone else noticed this?

ABC's of Me

I first ran across this on Crystals blog You and Me Plus 3 and since then I have seen it on quite a few others. It's a fun way to read about your bloggie friends and learn some new things.

A - Age: 41...I actually don't feel that old but you can't hide from a number.
B - Bed size: Queen, longing for a King.
C - Chore you hate: putting the dishes away. In fact my husband and I both hate it so they tend to sit in the dishwasher until I finally break down and do it. (because the sink is filling up!)
D - Dog's name: Diesel, 8 week Mini Schnauzer.
E - Essential start your day item: I don't have one. I'm not really a creature of habit.
F - Favorite color: red and pink mostly but I like a lot of colors.
G - Gold or Silver: if we're talking about metals, then I'd say gold. If we're talking about color then I'd say silver.
H - Height: 5'6"
I - Instruments you play: none but I can play a few little diddy's on the piano. Can't everyone?
J - Job title: Administrative Specialist, wife and mom
K - Kids: 1 daughter and 2 stepchildren
L - Living arrangements: In Oregon with hubby and daughter. 1 cat and 1 dog.
M - Mom's name: Carol
N - Nicknames: Sis (from my Dad) and I have a Hag name, Franny
O - Overnight hospital stay: one time, when I had a c-section.
P - Pet Peeve: I have quite a few but here's one...letting flies in the house.
Q - Quote from a movie: I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special. Shelby (Julia Roberts) in Steel Magnolias about having a baby.
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 1 older brother, Randy
T - Time you wake up: 5:30 during the week and 7:30-8am on the weekends. Varies with a 2 year old.
U - Underwear: bikini style
V - Vegetable you dislike: onions and brussel sprouts
W - Ways/Reasons you run late: adding extra things and/or my daughter makes me late (hard to rush a 2 year old)
X - X-rays you've had: teeth and right wrist-chipped a bone in cheerleading.
Y - Yummy food you make: sex in the pan, gooey bars and I like making homemade pizza
Z - Zoo animals you like: elephants, polar bears and monkeys

Here's our new baby

We met with the breeder on Friday afternoon and brought home Diesel. I know all puppies are cute but there is something extra cute about him. I've never had a mini of anything so he seems super tiny. I love how jet black he is and that he has white on his chest, a little under his chin and on the tips of his toes. His hair is so silky and I like how it looks 'piecy' like it's been separated with hair wax. ha!

Ok, so on to his personality. Diesel is a little lovebug and doesn't like us out of his sight. I was making dinner Friday night while Steve was holding him and he kept tracking me with his head and following everything I was doing. Curious puppies!

We're not trusting him to put him down on the floors quite yet, only at feeding time. Mainly he is either on one of us or on his blanket on the couch. Or in his crate. He sleeps a lot, which I love him best then. ha! The first day when we got home with him he was very timid and also I thought maybe the car ride didn't agree with him. Since then he's gotten more rambunctious and a lot more used to us.

Our first night I took him into bed with me while I watched TV and he was sleeping. Steve came to bed and he took him out to go potty and when he brought him back he put him in his crate. That lasted all of about 5 minutes! He is such a softie. But he was too rowdy and I ended up putting him back in his crate. He whined a little but would stop anytime I talked to him and eventually he fell asleep and woke me up at 6:50! That was wayyy too early for a Saturday morning.

Last night I just brought him to bed with us and he slept all night and we only got up when Mackenzie woke me up at 8.

I know having a puppy can be a lot of tiring days/nights. I feel like I just brought home a newborn again!

Here are some pictures of him. Most the time it's hard to see anything on him because of the black.

Brunettes Unite!

Had a girls night last Wednesday at my house. The occasion was our friend Gabby was up from the San Diego area. We all went to high school together. All 4 of them were in the same class and I was the grade above them. So many people are amazed when they hear that we're still good friends after all these years. But I don't think it's as rare as one might think. Must be from growing up in a small town. Our classes were about 40 in size.



Debbie, Gabby w/ Lukas, Tammi, me and Kim.

SKYTYPERS

When we were in LA we looked up from lounging at the pool and saw this. 5 planes writing in the sky. It was pretty neat to see how perfect all the letters were.