Yes...I know it's June...

My hopes of becoming a better blogger are quickly fading. With school ending next week, I'm sure to have may more antidotes, but far less free time. (My apologies to you 2 or 3 faithful blog readers :) )

Last week I got the call my birth father had passed away. It was a call I always knew would come. We drove the 400 miles to Idaho to attend the funeral. I never dreamed it would be so difficult to say goodbye to someone I'd only seen 5 or 6 times in my entire life. I got to reconnect with my sister (and meet my niece and nephew). I hadn't seen her since she was 8, 20 years ago. I also got to see 9 of my aunts and uncles, most hadn't seen me since I was 6 months old. I was greeted with open arms and felt completely comfortable with everyone of them. It was truly a bitter sweet trip.

Now I am home, trying to settle back into my regular schedule. My tears have dried up as I think about my future with my reclaimed family and not what should have been in the past. I promise my next blog entry will be happy and up beat. Julie

It's May???

Holy cow!! It's May??? I can't believe my last update was in January. We have been busy. Our winter finally melted in March when Darrin and I were in Las Vegas for the NASCAR race. We has a fantastic time and enjoyed the 70 degree weather. Spring Break brought us more cold weather and snow. April was much the same with our last dusting of snow April 30th. It's been a crazy weather year so far.
We are now full swing into baseball season. Ben is going great this year. He's in the Trillium Cafe team again (our third year in the same dark green shirt). He's had some great hits and even had his picture in the paper while he was being the catch on opening day.
Molly is now registered for Kindergarten. She's pretty excited and seems more grown up everyday. I'm looking forward to 35 hours a week to myself.

Julie

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!!

I cannot believe I have a 7 year old!! He is such a joy. He has a wonderful sense of humor. He loves to draw and wants to be a pirate. Happy birthday BEN!!

Christmas is Coming!!

• I attempted to get a few pictures of Ben and Molly, in their new sweaters, before they headed to a movie with Grandma. This one was my favorite.

• I think it is a miracle my kids have not figured out there are presents under the tree. Maybe it's because we have a gate around the tree to keep Ruby from eating the tree, or garland, or lights, or ornaments, that they haven't noticed. No squeezing or shaking to try to figure out what's wrapped up. I could have used less tape.

Let it SNOW!!

• Oh my goodness. We have snow. Darrin is off to plow again. With our long drive way, he has to keep up on it or we would be stuck.
• Our Thanksgiving was good. MIL made a huge ham. Then we headed to Pacific City. The weather was fantastic. We stayed in a house with some friends who have kids in the same class as both Ben and Molly. Darrin enjoyed having a fishing buddy and I enjoyed having a shopping buddy (although, I'm pretty sure we would have gotten much more done WITHOUT 4 kids). We went to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Ben had to rush us through so he could get ice cream.
• Only 26 days left until Christmas. I guess I should figure out what to get the kids. Molly told Santa she wanted Princesses. Ben wants Lego's, or Lego's, and some Lego's. He loves to build and create elaborate scenes.

Happy Turkey Day!!

Molly has been singing:

I'm a little turkey, plump and wide.

Feet on the bottom, wings on the side.

When I walk I wobble, to and fro.

Hear me gobble as off I go!!

(gobble gobble gobble!!!)

Ben is just happy to have 5 days off from school.

Happy Halloween

My little princess and pirate are so excited today is Halloween. Molly was ready to go trick or treating at 7:30 this morning. Once again, the kids designed their own pumpkins. Notice Molly's has eyelashes? Ben's originally had 6 eyes. Luckily, he was easy to convince 3 would be enough as long as it had scary teeth.

Happy Halloween!!