More Mural Progress

The mural is just about complete, although I'm likely to add more to it in months to come (and there still is the leaves to put up), but overall it looks pretty good.

I added some ivy and a flower box to one tower...



A moat on the other side...



And smaller towers and a crest in the middle...


The entire wall (including the still-yet-to-be-fixed hole in the wall)...


Jack enjoying some books under a tree...


Next step...painting the floors!

Mural Progress

I began the task of painting a mural in the playroom a YEAR ago. I just never seemed to find the time, or motivation, to finish it. Sometimes motivation has to be forced, and this was just such a time. I forced myself to tear out the horrible playroom carpeting and to tackle the remainder of the mural. Progress is finally being made.



After I finished the base (sky and grass), Michael contemplated the hole in the wall. A small crack in the plaster was too much of a temptation for the daycare children, who went to work trying to remove the wall during nap time.


Added some tree trunks...




And leaves...


Our fireplace is morphing into a castle...




My little helper...

The Fire Pit

Inspired by the fire pit at Grandpa's house (and the fun we had roasting marshmellows), Michael and I decided to make our own. In a matter of hours, we transformed a patch of dirt and weeds next to the deck into a nice place to hang out as a family. We enjoyed the fruit of our labors with a evening Smore's roast.

BEFORE:

Michael getting ready to move some dirt...by texting?


Dirt...


The Ol' Weed Patch...finally looking a bit more presentable


Our little helper...



AFTER:


The "Chimichunga" as we call it...


The Finished Product...


Lighting the fire...


Enjoying the fruits of our labor...

Images of the Fourth

Our Fourth of July was spent at my friend Katie's house. There was lots of good food, great company, tons of fire works, and happy kids.

Ben and Jack in their patriotic garb...



Playing outside...



Playing Guitar Hero...


Eating watermelon...


Setting off fireworks...

La Pine...Part Two

La Pine Positives:

1. The Great Outdoors.
2. The boys can play freely without worry because my father-in-law's acre is fully fenced.
3. Gorgeous lakes in every direction only a short drive away.
4. The boys LOVE it there and talk about it for months after we return, which equals great childhood memories.
5. My father-in-law foots the bill, insisting on providing all meals and paying for our gas. Free vacations are always good.
6. It's like camping, but we can shower and wash our clothes and have access to a real kitchen and indoor plumbing.

La Pine Negatives:

MOSQUITOES!!

The positives outweigh the negatives, so we will continue to venture there in the coming years. Until next time, we will have these memories...

Teenaged boys making weapons out of anything they can find...



and little brother's copying them...


The boys making friends with the wildlife (aka Grandpa's dogs)...


Lying on Grandpa's unusually lush lawn (for the High Desert anyway)...



The accommodations...





And the nights of roasting marshmallows around a fire pit...

La Pine 09...Part One

We made our second annual trip to the high desert town of La Pine Oregon to visit my father-in-law and to enjoy the great outdoors with the seven boys. We were quite the spectacle wherever we went, Michael and I with seven boys trailing behind. Besides being eaten alive by mosquitoes, we hung out at Twin Lakes...

where the kids played in the dirt...



and in the water...




tried their hands at fishing...



and paddling.





Randy going after one that tried to get away...


Success!


Ah, brotherly bonding...on a boat.

Honoring Jason

Today we traveled up to the Seattle area to celebrate our nephew Jason's graduation from high school and departure into the army (he leaves tomorrow for boot camp.) My sister-in-law outdid herself with decorations, food, activities. The kids had a blast.

The party was a Army theme, complete with tons of Army favors (parachute guys, army men, bubbles, etc.) which my boys were all over...


Ben, in particular, coveted these balloons...

and finally got them (and a static hair do)...



Owen finding joy in a squirt gun...


And Ben being patriotic...


Randy...


Jacob...


Jason(with blue cap), Tori, and Matt...


Our Seven Boys...


Michael with his brother, sister, and mom...


Face painting fun...









And Ben in Candy Heaven...