World's longest post!

Hi everyone!  I was just looking through my blog reading list and realized I hadn't posted the whole month of June!  Now almost 3 weeks of July are gone!  Where does the time keep going?   I thought I should probably do an update on everything and everyone.  I haven't really posted any good pics in awhile.  Let's do that first!  Now, there will be a slight overlap in time from the last recent pictures. I see that the most recent pics I've posted of the younger boys is in February.  However most of these are from December on up.  Enjoy!

Helping out daddy at work

12. 19 .11

Tuckered out

12. 27.11

   

        OSHA approved

       1. 18. 12

Looking sharp

2. 18. 12

                                               

 Sledding on the way to the Bend Sportsman Show

3. 9. 12

San Francisco Spring Break Trip

 3. 26. 12

Presents from Grammy's trip to Lousiana (couldn't rotate for whatever reason)

5. 23. 12

 Baby Jaguar masks we made one day

 5. 31. 12

  June 4th was Tyler's 5th birthday!!!! That means he starts school this year.  He is torn about if he really wants to go or not.  I think the only trouble is that he doesn't know what school is.  I tried explaining it to him, and he appeared to think it sounded tolerable.  He just doesn't know what to expect I think.  I'm, of course, nervous and excited for his first day of school.  I know he will love learning, as he enjoys asking questions and learning new things at home. I hope I've done a somewhat adequate job preparing him.

He requested an Angry Bird Birthday cake.  For those who don't know, it is a game that has people putting birds in slingshots and catapulting them towards structures with pigs sitting on them.  I don't get it myself so don't ask too much about it.  And no, I do not know why they are angry.  It's his favorite game and he loves to play on daddy's fancy phone.... and that's what he wanted, so by golly I gave it my best!!

Angry Bird birthday cake

cake pops

6. 4. 12

Really awesome pic Robert took upon arriving at work

My boys both wearing super hero pjs on the same night.  Nice!

6. 20. 12

Zonked

6. 26. 12

Leading the local 4th of July Parade

7. 4. 12

Anthony will be a Sophomore this coming school year.  He volunteered again at the BSA scout camp, at the fishing station.  I think that makes it his 3, maybe 4th yr helping out.  He got a really awesome letter of recommendation out of it too!  He's been out fishing a few times with dad, and if I'm not mistaken, he's the only one who came home with a catch.  He is rarely cocky unless provoked.  His dad and I  are really proud of the young man he is and the skilled fisherman he has proven to be.  Sturgeon is over, going into salmon now, and I know he is looking forward to it.  Anthony is also going on a week long camping excursion with Grampa Gene (aka Papa Gene).  I hope they can bond and catch up with one another.  

Chris is a chatty Kathy.  I know I need to post a vid, to show how verbal he really is.  His favorite thing to say is poop head.  Hey, I'm being truthful.  He really enjoys saying that, even when he's not mad.  I guess it could be worse, but it's really not my favorite thing to hear coming from my 2 yr olds mouth.  His second favorite thing to say is very loudly  'I DO IT MYSELF!'  Okay, okay, sheesh, I was only offering!

 Chris has been in the Potty Training process since January, and is good to go but wears a diaper at nite.  If he's too wound up or doesn't know where a bathroom is at a new location, sometimes he forgets to inform me of a need to go pee.  And for whatever reason he feels the need to regularly pee out of doors.  I have a suspicion about how that got started.  We successfully have car trips and shopping trips in regular under roos.  He was easy peasy to potty train.  Must be all the bathroom use he witnesses being a member of this family.

I got a chance to go South to my hometown and visit with my folks for a bit this summer.  We had all agreed to get together in June, to do a family celebration of life for my Grandfather Gordon Fruits (aka Poppy) who passed away in October.  It was really nice yet stressful to all be together.  Somehow, no matter how long I stay and visit, it never feels like I ever REALLY catch up with everyone.  I really missed talking to my Granny, and was sad that I never got a good chance to just chat with her the whole trip!  I will have to snag some pictures from someone of the get together too.  I brought my camera, but with 2 crazy kids to monitor I find the camera is usually an afterthought.

I was so happy to see my sisters in law, even if it was WAY to short of a visit.  Even shorter was my visit with my 2 older brothers who are both waiting to welcome additions to their little families in September!!!  Yay I get to be an Auntie again!  Boys and more boys!  :)  I do have a soft spot for precious baby boys.

I'm doing good, as is the hubs.  Just doing our best to keep up with the kids.  I've been on a health kick lately, probably driving everyone nuts, but it really does seem important to me.  Rob is still working at the marina, but has been trying to procure work at a Police Dept.

Robert and I had our 4th Anniversary July 13th.  He surprised me with a romantic date to the beach.  (We had agreed, NO gifts this year.  c'mon, we get ourselves what we want anyway, so it's no reason to go spend above and beyond our means right now.)  It was only a few hours, but it was really nice to just be together, without the chaos.  We had a bonfire, some wine and some s'mores.  All in all it was a humble yet romantic.

 It was also the 2 year anniversary of Chris's most recent heart surgery.  It's hard to believe that it's been 2 years since he had a procedure, seemed like it's all we ever did for awhile there.  We are very blessed that he has done so well with such a serious heart condition.  The only thing that makes Chris different from any other 2 year old is a foot long scar and the fact that he's doing everything they are doing with half the parts.  My heart aches for the parents who've lost their children to CHD or whose children struggle daily with everyday things.  I used to feel like other parents took their healthy kids for granted.  Now I feel like I sometimes take the miracle that Chris is for granted.  How quickly we forget how fragile life is, and how blessed we are for those who have been, are, and who will be part of our lives.  Love all my boys with all my heart!!!!!

So I think that's it for now.  That's all she wrote.

hugs

~Sis