Loving Nature...Especially with Family!

We decided for Memorial Weekend that we would go exploring Spokane and discover the wonders it has to offer and we found two places that would become our favorites. The first place we visited was Bear Lake. Awesome views, fun trails, great playground for the kids, picnic tables throughout, swimming for humans and dogs, fishing and watching the performance of the wildlife. I could never get a clear shots of any of the aviary creatures that were hunting on the lake but it was so amazing!

Off we go on our hike around the lake

My cute kids actually getting along that they are holding hands...SWEET!
My Hubby is having the time of his life!Floating docks are slippy but when you are gun ho that doesn't stop you.

Nature is a Masterpiece!

Love this photos...it truly show my kids' personality!

Enjoying our picnic in Nature.(Isaac is getting better and better in taking picture!)

Our sweet girl...that brings sunshine into our world!

My courage boy...who taught me the meaning of no FEAR!

My dreamer...anything he sets his mind on, he can do!

My crew...loves nature as much as we do!

My hubby who truly loves me that he'll stop to take a photo with me.(again, good job, IKE!)

Walking with each other...Priceless!

Then we visited Liberty Lake and it was also a great location; Awesome views, you can go camping, great playground for the kids, picnic tables, BBQ pits, great trails, dogs are allow on the trails, swimming, fishing, shade on your hike, ton of wildlife...great place...best part only 20 minute away.

The wonder of what was created for us!

My silly crew are ready to start our hike.

This is a great place for dog lovers...we lost count of how many dog we encounter on hike. AWESOME!

Our journey to the falls...we didn't make it but the hike was fun.

Life is good when you have a dog for a friend.

Throughout the whole hike, Nate was trying and catching butterflies.

We are totally happy that we were able to explore those places and can't wait to visit them again! Best of all we had fun!

A Gift to Always Cherish

I have won a homemade giveaway from my friend Cheri and was completely stunned when I received my gift. She had my blog published into a book for the year of 2008. It was great to have a hard copy of what I have posted and the comments people made on it...the whole family ohhh and ahhh when we looked and read the book. It truly touched my heart and it's a gift I will always cherish. Thank you so much Cheri for one of the best gift ever!If any you want to publish your blog into a book... click on Shared Book.

Another Year....

Blake and I both share our birthdays in the month of May...which means we are both the same age. We are only 16 days apart...which also means I get to be the younger spouse for those days. I can officially call him my old man. I love ribbing my hubby!!! Anyway for the first time since we been married his parents were able to celebrate their son's birthday on the actually date because they came to visit us in Spokane.
Blake decided that he wanted to show his parents some of the Lakes in Washington but we were sorely disappointed because of the lakes we went to were only access by a dock surrounded by trailers homes. We never seen a sight...we couldn't even walk around the lake at all! But I able to get this photo of Blake and his dad.
Blake with his Mama
Celebrating his birthday...cheese cake style.
As for me I had a wonderful day on my birthday...the weather cooperated and it's was beautiful! It started off with Blake making my favorite breakfast food...German Pancake! I went shopping and had lunch out with Mya. Happy Birthday was sung to me through out the day by my children...it was truly a great day!
Me and my oldest. Finally a real smile!
My sweet baby boy...his kisses are especially special.
My sassy girl...who helped me have a good day.
My silly and wonderful children. Having birthdays are great but it's more fun when you have your children who are so excited for you.

Being a Mother!

I often contemplate my childhood,
I am a mother now, and so I know
Hard work is mixed together with the fun;

Sacrifice, devotion, love and tears,
Your heart, your mind, your energy and soul--

When God made mothers, He took great care

To fill their hearts with love so rare.
Their children are their greatest prize;
You can see the great love in theirs' eyes.

Love is a mother’s gift
To their precious children, their hearts to lift.
Warm, tender and giving love
That grows them up healthy and happy.

"Mother" is such a simple word,
But to me there’s meaning seldom heard.
For everything I am today,
My mother’s love showed me the way.

I truly had a wonderful Mother's Day! Blake and the kids treated me as a Queen. All my favorite dishes were made. I had a meeting after church and Blake kept the kids in their Church's clothes waiting for my arrival because he knew (without being told) that I wanted photos of the kids and myself.

I love being a Mother!

Banana the Monkey came to visit.....

Nathan was chosen to be the star for the week in his class and with that honor this monkey got to come home with him for a week. Nathan got to name him and Banana was chosen. Nathan is to show Banana around and document it with photos and a journal.

First thing Nate did was to introduce Banana to the Playstation and had a BLAST playing Lego Star War and Indiana Jones.

Banana and Bean became quick buddies...
But Bean got tried of Banana's clinging.
Banana bumped into another classmate of Nate at Isaac's Basketball game.
He even got to see a basketball legend, John Stockton.
Banana decided to bunk at night with Nate.
Both had restful nights without any nightmares.
He had fun riding in the car around Nate's neck.
He also liked hanging around Mya and Isaac.
He even got to participate in Isaac's "Pinewood Derby", he especially liked the racing stripes on Isaac's racer.
Off to experience culture at Isaac's music concert...the African drums were his favorite.
Banana has a fun filled adventure with Nathan and was very sad it had to end. We also was sad to see him go but we know he truly cherished the moments he had with us and he's off to new adventures.

Random Photos of General Conference Weekend

These are randoms photos of our General Conference weekend. The weather was finally starting to feel like Spring. On Saturday the kids played in our yard and allowed me to take some photos of them.
Nate being a good sport and sat down for me...so I can take this shot.
Mya doesn't have a problem letting me take photos of her.
The boys practicing soccer. (Isn't our dead grass...LOVELY!)
On Sunday, we decide to take Bean on his first walk on the leash and he didn't like it a bit.
But then he realize he didn't have a choice...either walk or be dragged.
Each of our kids took turns walking Bean and it's was Mya's turn.
He struggle a bit with Isaac but Isaac showed Bean who's boss.
Nate and Bean taking a stroll on this beautiful Spring afternoon.
Wait a photo of me and my little girl.

We wandered around our neighborhood and took Bean to the Dog Park. The kids and Bean had fun with the other dogs. It was truly a peaceful and quiet weekend.

Twelve years and counting....

We met in August 1996 behind my moving truck and who would have thought that our lives would change forever. We soon started dating and were engaged on December 27th 1996 and married April 18th, 1997. It was so quick but I don't regret any minute of it because you're my eternal companion. Three kids...8 moves later and I love you more than I loved you when we first got married. Heavenly Father has blessed me tremendously but especially with you...I'm eternally grateful!

Easter Weekend!

We had a great Easter Weekend and since I had tons of photos I decided to put them in collages. We started our weekend with a trip to Amber Lake in Cheney Washington for some fishing.
The weather was ideal and sunny. We didn't catch any fish every though we could see them and they were fat rainbows.
So I decided I would take some photos of the the kids and they really cooperated with me. My sweet Isaac has a hard time giving me a natural smile but he's a sweetheart for trying.
Nathan was such a sport and bared with me while I tried to get him to smile.
Mya didn't have a problem and gave me so many poses. She would tell me, "mom, take a picture of me."
I decided I should have some photos of me since I'm always behind the camera.

My kids are cute but very Cheesy.
On Saturday, we had a Primary Easter's Egg hunt and the kids had a blast except for Nathan. He had a soccer game to be at but I made it up to him on Easter morning.

I haven't decided when it became so difficult to try to take a photo with all your kids together but heck it's hard!!! But we truly had a great Easter even if the weekend it rained and it was colder than normal . Hoped everyone had a great Easter!

Where a Kid can be a Kid....

One of the things we did on our spring break was to head to Chuck E Cheese and we had a BLAST! It was the first time for the boys and Mya has been once before. The place was packed but they sure did have fun and it's now one of our family's favorite place to go especially when the weather outside is crappy! Thank Goodness for Chuck E Cheese!!!