September Sun and Tacos!

Pool Time

We had a great time at the pool on Sunday. Mom and Scott came over to hang out with us.
I can't believe that this summer is going by so fast!
It was a great day!


Here is a picture of Bill and Allie in the pool

What a cute picture of the "Love Birds"....AWWWW

After the pool, I made some yummy tacos.
I just love this picture of 4 out of the 6 kids.
We missed you Jalen & Courtney!

Allie's First Football Game

LET THE GAMES BEGIN.....

Well, it's once again football season! Allie will be dancing at all of the half time shows at the Westview home football games. We are so excited because the team looks really good this year! Wow...These girls are all so pretty!

He is a picture of our team captains this year! From left to right

Josie - Junior Captain

Delaney - Junior Captain

Allie - Senior Captain

Ellie - Senior Captain

Another Teenager Driving!

WARNING....WARNING....

MATTHEW NOW HAS HIS PERMIT!

Matthew got his permit a few weeks ago. He has been doing a little bit of driving and Bill says that he does a really good job. He has been practicing on the Neon and Matthew is really looking forward to fixing it up that car with his Dad. Matthew turned 16 last March, but he will have to wait until January to get his license. Oregon law says that you have to have a permit for 6 months before you can get your license and you also need to have 100 hours of drive time with a parent. It will be nice when Matt can drive on his own so that he can take himself to school. Allie has late arrival this year, so she will be driving herself to school after Matthew already needs to be at school.

3 down....3 to go....

I'll go ahead and say it again!

Life moves really fast.

Congratulations Wayne & Jaylin

Wayne & Jaylin's Wedding

We went to Wayne & Jaylin's Wedding last Saturday in Astoria. It was a nice wedding and it was great to see friends that we haven't seen in quite some time.

We wish Wayne and Jaylin a lifetime of love and happiness.

Kacey Lee

FUN WITH KACEY LEE

Kelle and Kacey came over for dinner the other night. I can't believe how grown up Kacey is. She is turning into such an adorable little girl. We have really enjoyed being watching her grow up. Kelle brought all of the fixings so that Kacey could "create" her own pizza masterpiece. And what a masterpiece is was! After dinner we all sat around while Kacey entertained us with her funny, wild personality. Our face and stomachs hurt from laughing so hard at this little sweetie!

Here are a couple more pictures of our little sweetie....Miss Kacey Lee

WE LOVE YOU HONEY!

Aww...Memories

Anniversary Cruise 2007
(Just a little trip down memory lane)

I came across this picture of our cruise that we took about a year and a half ago. This is John and Sabrena. They are from Southern California and we met them when we took our cruise to Mexico in 2006. So, when Bill and I took our cruise in 2007 we had to make sure that John and Sabrena could be there with us to help us celebrate. They are such amazing people! We just love them to pieces! They have become our cruising buddies. We can't wait for the next time that we get to hang out with this wonderful couple! Good times!

Cheers to you John & Sabrena. Thanks for being our friends!

Welcome Baby Ethan

Introducing our new cousin....

Ethan Matthew Smith!

My cousin Heidi had a new baby a few days ago....Here he is!

August 3, 2008
8lbs 3oz
19 1/2"

We love you Ethan! We can't wait to meet you!

Happy Anniversary Aunt Darline & Uncle Ray!

Eureka Road Trip 2008

We had the best weekend! We took a road trip back to Eureka, California where I was born and raised until I was 10 years old. My Aunt Darline and Uncle Ray celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! Taylor, Matthew & Kaela were able to go down there with us. This picture was taken right after brunch before we left to drive home.

"CALL BOX!!!"

It has started to become a tradition that when our family takes road trips, one person will yell out "CALL BOX!!" and then the rest of the people in the car follow up with "Call Box". I really wish I knew how this started or the fascination with this simple yet fun activity, but I just don't have much of an explanation for it.

Taya & Kaela = BFF

During our first night in Eureka, we all went out to dinner at a great little Italian place called "Roy's Club". The food was excellent and we had a great time!

After dinner, we spent some time in the pool and the hot tub. I just love this picture of Aunt Stacy with her boys! Matthew & Taylor

The boys got all dressed up for the anniversary party! Taylor, your shirt was simply amazing! Both of you boys are such babe magnets!

We went to Arrington Apples for the anniversary party. It was such a beautiful apple orchard with tons of flowers everywhere. Aunt Darline & Uncle Ray renewed their vows and it was very sweet! They are such an inspiration to remind us all that marriage is a special gift!

After the ceremony, we all sat here and had a wonderful buffet lunch with Salmon, Ravioli, Salads, Fruits, etc...

Then the dancing started. Uncle Ray gave Kaela a good dance lesson and did a couple of laps around the dance floor with her. Good job Kaela....You are a natural!

On the wayback home, we took our time and stopped at the trees of mystery for a couple of pictures. Here is Paul Bunyun and "Babe" the Blue Ox. There was this man inside of Paul Bunyun that was talking to everyone. It was so cool!

There are not enough words to describe what is going on in this next photo....

Actually 2 words come to mind....

TEENAGE BOYS!!

Oh Lord....help me!

Camping 2008

Camping with our family - 2008

We had such a great time this past weekend! We went camping with in Olympia, Washington with Bill's family. It was so great to see everyone. We took up 5 camp sites with campers and tents. We had fun playing horseshoes, 500, texas holdem', baseball, swimming, bike riding and of course eating! Everyone made delicious food for the potluck each night!

Here is a picture of all of the 2nd cousins. It was hard to make a real tall pyramid, but you get the idea...

Parker and Matthew had fun playing guitar and providing us with hours of camp fire entertainment! If they get a record deal then this could be the picture on the CD cover....ha ha! Thanks boys! You both are so talented!

Here is a picture of everyone having dinner at our potluck!
What a good lookin family!!

Poor Matthew had to eat his corn on the cob with a knife because of his braces. Hang in there buddy! Only 6 more months left and I will make you all the corn on the cob that you can eat!

A HUGE thanks to Mom and Dad for bring their "Home away from Home". They have such a beautiful trailer and it made camping so much more enjoyable for those of us who weren't that excited to be roughin' it.

Bill and his cousin Brian

Matthew made me a crown out of pine branches and dandalions. Thanks sweetie!


After a fun game of horse shoes! Bill & Kaela

It was great to have Alex's boyfriend Alex with us. The kids had a great time swimming in the pool at the camp ground. I know what you are all thinking....Swimming while you are camping? I know...We really had it rough

July Birthdays 2008

Happy Birthday Taylor, Jalen & Courtney

We had a birthday party for Taylor, Jalen & Courtney on Sunday! Taylor turned 19 on July 12th and the twins will be 15 on July 17th! Stacy, Tyler and Papa Scott were able to come over and help us celebrate. Taylor's girlfriend Alana's birthday was Sunday too! Happy birthday Alana!

We had BBQ burgers and hot dogs. It was a really hot day, so we had root beer floats instead of cake for dessert. Of course there were cupcakes too!

Taylor will be moving into his new apartment on Wednesday. My baby boy is all grown up. For his birthday present, we got him some new dishes for his apartment. It looks like Taylor will be having some fabulous tea parties with his new dishes. Ha ha...yeah right..Who am I kidding. At least he has his pinky up...He's so proper.

I can't believe how fast the girls are growing up. They have been studying to take their drivers permit test. They are going to be sophomores in the fall. Life goes really fast! *Big Sigh*

Chloe was ready to PARTY!!

Allie's Senior Pictures!

We had Allie's pictures done at Moutainbrook Studios a few weeks ago and we got the proofs back yesterday! Only 1 word comes to mind immediately..... GORGEOUS!

I'm gushing with pride today! I want to show them to everyone! With every senior event that takes place with Allie, I'm feeling the little pings of sadness that she will be graduating this year. Life moves so fast, so it's important to try and slow it down and enjoy moments like this.

Also, she is a "rep" for this studio. This means that we get a discount on our portrait package if she gets some of her friends to go there.

Happy 4th of July!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

We had a very nice 4th of July! We went over to Mom & Scott's house for a BBQ with Stacy, Tyler, Matthew, Kaela, Allie, Taylor and his girlfriend Alana. Papa Scott made the most delicious ribs. We just couldn't stop talking about them (and eating them) ha ha

Alana, Taylor & Allie...Nice bib Tay (you will always be my baby boy)

After the BBQ, we went back and did some fireworks with Kaela. Of course, all of our other busy, social teenagers went off with their friends to go watch the fireworks. Although fireworks are not my favorite thing in the world, we still had fun with Kaela.

Bill & Kaela

We have been housesitting again for my in-laws for the past 4 days. They had a wonderful opportunity to go to Alaska and visit my father-in-laws daughter Cindy. They went fishing a caught a couple of really good looking halibuts. Mmmmm....Can't wait for dinner over at their house!

Taylor & Matt had a good time writing songs on the piano.

And of course, the 3 cockers....They are waiting ever so patiently for their treats! Katie, Joey & Stewart. Joey just loves going to Grammy & Bumpa's house to play with his cousins!

CURVES

I have a new summer job / 2nd job at Curves! I'm so excited! For those of you who might not be familiar with Curves, it is a womens only gym that incoporates cardio and strength traning on a curcuit. It's a fun 30 minute workout! This is going to be a great way to get in shape and make some extra money. I will be working through the summer until I go back to work at the school on August 11th. After that date, I will continue to work a few nights and weekends. It's going to be so great to get in shape! YEAH ME!