And so it begins...: June 2015

So this year was kind of tricky...

Since the boys were going to camp on consecutive weekends it was hard to have them home (or all together) the last FEW weeks.
And since I am a great procrastinator by nature I of course waited until the LAST minute to do anything.
I had an idea of what I wanted to do, but I needed inspiration.

So I packed Brayden and August up and went to JoAnn fabrics...

Ohh...I just get so many great ideas when I walk through that place. I love the free flow of creativity!

Anyways...it was hard to kind of loosen the reigns and let the boys have a voice in this. I usually have it all planned out and just need them to contribute tiny bits...this time I really tried to involve them.

So after much deliberation and discussion Bray decided they should make Dad a t-shirt. We had a slight disagreement on the color...but then I remembered it was for them to do. NOT me to dictate. Bray wanted to do a teal shirt. He said that Brent had told him that teal was one of his favorite colors...and I was trying to tell Bray that no Dad does not like teal. I realized that I needed to stop, and I need to empower my children.

So we got a teal shirt.

I had brainstormed a couple ideas, and lucky me some other wonderful people had already thought of similar ones, so I was able to show Brayden and August and get their opinion.

Here is what we decided to put on the T-shirt:

I sewed a tree trunk out of felt and then made different color greens from fabric paint, and they each did their hand prints.
It turned out perfect. I was very excited.

The original inspiration:

Then for what I chose to do...

I wanted to do a picture of the boys.
Brent has commented on various occasions that he would like to go get our pictures done again.
(I need to find a good place for family photos!)

Because...I agree, but when I look at my picture wall my favorites are the ones that came from natural moments.
NOT posed and prepped for. The times where we captured an emotion or event that was significant to us, without a tripod and bunch of backdrops and lighting equipment.

That said...I tried to do some pics that were semi POSED and looked intentional.

I found some great ideas, but having the BOYS that I do they were not the most cooperative.
PLUS I love EVERY picture...
It is hard to choose.

After trying to get Bray to STOP doing a double chin, and August to keep his tongue in his mouth I finally just accepted that ONE of these would have to work.

I had Bray help me "edit" them and play around with different effects.
Finally we were ready to have it printed!

I bought a great 11x14 frame and ordered our print.
When I went to pick it up, however, it was a blow up of August's foot. She said that is how it was sent to her...
UGH!!! FRUSTRATION...
So I took the SD card with the pic on it and went to place after place and it would not fit in 11x14 and I really didn't want it poster size or on mounted canvas...Blah!

Finally at Rite Aid of all places it was able to fit on a 8x12! NOT 8x10 (which they make frames for in abundance...) and 8x12.

After unsuccessfully finding a frame in that size I just added some extra mounting/scrapbook paper to the frame I had previously bought and it looks just fine!

Of course Brent has had to work all week and weekend, so he still has not seen these.
He will be home Thursday night!
And his presents are waiting for him...

*Bray and Aug also picked out a card that sings the Lazy Song and has a Dad relaxing...

I am just so grateful for having such a wonderful example for our boys who shows them constantly how to live with integrity and humility.
He is selfless and loving, courageous and resilient.An exceptional husband and father.

And for that we try to honor him on Father's Day! (well...close enough to father's day)

This past weekend was kind of packed with stuff to do.
We headed to Portland on Friday morning after having a kind of lazy morning hanging out. We also made sure grandma and grandpa were set for us to be gone all weekend. In their pj's the boys went over and helped with the chores.
Mitch did all the laundry, and Bray did all the dishes. Grandma Kay had fallen and her ankle is taking A WHILE to heal. I've been having them help out A LOT.
I can tell it's rubbing off as habit cause the other day when they came home from the store Mitch ran over to see if they needed help unloading!
Anyways, back to this last weekend...My mom was watching August overnight and driving him to Portland Saturday morning. We walked August to his last day of school around 11am.
Then we went home and loaded in the car!
We went straight to Newberg for Abram's birthday meal.
I arrived in time to help Carleen finish up dinner and get the dessert ready.
The boys were happy to have this cousin time.
We then headed to Oaks Park for the roller skating section of the birthday party.
We skated from 7:00 - 10:30p...
Our feet were so sore by the time we were done.
It was a blast.

Abram and Becca during the couple skate...

Carleen, Eric and Elysia getting their skates together for a picture...

Eric showing how FLY you can look in roller skates...

I was so proud of Bray. He can give up on things pretty easy, especially if he hurts himself in the process, but he stuck to skating and by the end of the night he was a pro.

Eric went out on the floor for the Beginner Rexers?!
Pretty much it was dance skating. There were some insanely good little kids there practically break dancing out there on skates. Carleen triple dog dared Eric to go out there and do it!

We got back to my sister Jen's house really late! Almost midnight. I dropped Mitch off so it was only Bray and I.
The next morning I had planned to go see my Honey Annette. My sister offered to take Bray to go see Jurassic World with her and my nephew...and of course Bray was super excited. (We OWN all the Jurassic movies, the boys love dinosaurs)
So child-LESS I got to go visit with Annette.
I got to her house just in time to have a visit with Karrie (one of her daughters) and Pat (her eldest son). We all went to go visit her son Mike at the assisted living place up the street.
Every time I see him his condition seems worse. Now the doctors do not believe he will ever come home.
After a short visit with Mike we headed to the Racoon Lodge for Spencer's high school graduation party.
Spence is going to be attending University of Oregon in the fall (booo) Still, I love that kid and was so happy for the sweet invite and pictures his mama sent me.
I didn't take much pictures because I was so excited to circulate and mingle with these fine folks!

One of my favorite pictures of Spencer. With Mitch and Jordan when they were barely two and still in diapers!

*One of the highlights I got to see BOB!
This let me brush up on my ASL (sign language) skills too.
He is as happy and sweet as ever.

After dropping Annette off at her house and getting a loaf of pumpkin and zucchini bread, I headed over to the NEXT graduation party.
My friend from high school, Michelle just graduated from OIT with her Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering.
At Gabriel Park we did a mock graduation. Everyone was invited to come up and say things to/about Michelle. It was sweet. Sadly August joined us there with my mom and he was pretty un-agreeable with sitting quiet while people said nice things. We ended up leaving early after my attempts to distract him were unsuccessful.
Still, what I got to witness was very sweet and special. I am so proud of her.

I'm in the middle holding the sign and Michelle is the one in the blue and white shirt on the far right.

I felt bad for Bray and the fifth grade not really doing anything to recognize their accomplishment of also hitting a milestone. I made sure to celebrate both Mitch and Bray letting them know the accomplishments. Mitch still felt like it was no big deal. Bray was pretty happy for the recognition.

Still, Bray was not too happy that right after school ended we were sending him to bible camp. He was worried about his friends that he made plans with...I tried to assure him it was only one week and then he'd be home most of the summer. (since I am taking a class 2 days a week) He slowly came around to the idea. He was just feeling like hes already done EVERYTHING he can at camp...until next year when he is old enough to do paint ball. Silly goose.
I always feel bad for Bray because he goes to camp solo. Mitch has three different cousins his age so all of the various camps we have sent him to, he has had someone there. Bray does fine by himself, he loves people and socializing. By the end of the day he's best friends with everyone...still there is that awkwardness right at the beginning that I wish I could save him from. Although, I know he is gaining valuable skills just by having these uncomfortable experiences. To thrive in life they have to learn autonomy.

We dropped Bray off at camp Monday morning at 9AM. G-Ma came with so she could check out the camp with us! We played Ga-Ga ball, carpet ball, air hockey, pool, ski ball, and went down the slides...

And, dropping Bray off at camp pics...

After dropping Bray off at camp on Monday we headed BACK to Tigard to get Grandma's friend. THEN we finally go to head home.
It was wonderful that when we got home Dad was home shortly after.
He had ridden his motorcycle...always a highlight for the boys.
August tried on the helmet and laid on the ground to test its protective capacity.

Then Grandpa took a turn on the Hog.

Dad was going to take him for a spin, but the helmet caused grandpa's claustrophobia to act up...needless to say that ride never took place. NO HELMET = NO RIDE. Poor grandpa.

Grandpa discovered there was a fairy tree in his front yard.
A tree with a magical hole that fairies sometimes stick special treats and surprises in.
Oh goodie!

The family across the street from us had their annual tent/camping sale this year. We went over and grabbed this brand new tent for $20.
Mitch set it up to show Dad the tent we bought.

August was incredibly excited at the notion of sleeping outside in the backyard!

We made smores and tucked the boys into the tent with the laptop. They watched Fred 3 where Fred goes to camp. August loves it. We slept with the house completely open so I could hear the boys all night...giggling. What a sweet older brother he has.

The smore making was fun, but the boys got a little crazy with the marshmallows.

The next morning Aug waddled in pretty early...
Mitch slept for quite awhile out there in that tent.
I tried to go out and sneak a pic, but I think I woke him up.