First 1/2 of August

Cousin Derian raised sheep again this year and had a GREAT showing at their County Fair.  Here she is showing her ewe named Whizo.

Reserve Champion in the middle weight class!

Good job with Whizo & Izso this year Derian.

It's a very long day for sheep, showmen and spectators when your sheep wins.  She had to  show again and again until almost dark.

So when the show was over the kids and I jetted to the midway to jump on a couple rides eat an elephant ear before we headed home.

Football Camp

Cole participated in his first football camp this summer.  One week of skills and seven on seven team games.

The week ended with awards given to the top player in each age group and medals to the top 7 on 7 team.  Cole's team won the most games this week and he was very proud!

Xena & Littlest Pet Shops

Jo found that the kitten likes to play in, out and though her Pet Shop play structures.

Very cute and entertaining for the three of them.

Tackle Football

Cole's first football uniform/practice jersey. He still plays for N. Eugene but at his age group they are named the Patriots not North Eugene.  Hmmm, NE, maybe that is why they are the Patriots.  Call me slow at times.

Potatoes anyone?

The story goes like this; I was cooking dinner one night and asked Jo to grab the potatoes.  She picked one up that was growing and had actually gone a little soft.  Jo asked me if she should toss it and I said off handedly, "Oh, go bury it in the yard and you can grow some potatoes."  So Jo did and this is her harvest!

The potatoes were quite tasty.

Summer School

Both kids do very well in school, however all the (blankety blank) state tests and government rules the schools have to follow don't allow the teaching we believe necessary for a complete education. For example, we taught the kids how to write in cursive.

Last summer Oma taught the kids 4th grade work in preparation for 4th grade. This summer we hired one of the teachers from their school and everyone's summer was much happier.

Teaching twice a week at Barns and Noble / Starbucks.

What you see here?!

On the date of 8/10/2012 Cole became taller than Jo for the first time ever.

We celebrated as Jo wept.  Oma and I don't really think this will last a life time for him so Cole will just have to hold onto the fact he was born first so therefore older.  By 8 minutes.

Circus

We got Jo back into her circus class as she needs to move and just really loves this activity

Silks, tightrope and the trapeze.

Archery

This was one of the activates the kids asked to do this summer.

Bricks

Oma bricked in the flower bed along the back of the house.

She did a fabulous job, even complimented by Gma Marie & Gpa Norman.

Day at the Young Belmont's

Good food, good conversations and even good weather.

Grabbed the bb gun to shoot at some soda cans on a string.  We had a hard time getting the gun out of Oma's hands she learned to enjoy shooting targets.

Football Practice

First week of practice requires no pads, only cleats and helmets.

Before practice, during & after practice.

Cole is a happy guy!

Oma, Jo and I picked blackberries while Cole was at his first practice. 

Requirement to eat a few off the plant as warm blackberries off the vine tastes like summer.  Came home with enough for a cobbler with leftovers for ice-cream and just eating from the bowl.

Doug and Xena

Xena: Oh, I found a tail. (paw - paw - paw)

Xena: Wait, I saw that leg move...I got it! (chew - paw - chew)

Xena: Mmm, the ear twitched! (chew - chew - chew)

Xena: HA!  You had no idea I was coming did you Doug! (chew - claw - paw)

Mom: Doug, you ok?

Xena: What?  I'm just laying here cuddling with Doug, were good.

Last 3/4 of July

Little over two years owning a piano and we finally had it tuned.

The kids have gotten use to hearing their music sound "out of tune" that now the piano is in tune they don't like how their music sounds. What good parents we are.  Brain washing them into thinking their playing actually sounded good and correct.

Hot Cocoa?

Yes, a little real cocoa powder can make some yummy chocolate balls!

Gooey Goodness!

Notice some thing different on Jo?

After much research on her part she got her ears pierced. 

She chose to have this done at a body piercing business instead of the "mall" experience.  Jo stated that using the gun didn't sound good to her and that the needle was less scary.

This is the first time I have ever seen a piercing heal with no issues.

Satin Love Orchestra

Heading to the park for this free concert, I wanted to do a little reading as well.  However, I was uncomfortable with my book choice in public.  So I asked Cole to do a little of his paper folding to make me a cover.

I keep hearing Mandy (Conkey) telling me to "Put the book down and stop reading that!"

Cole did a great job and I was able to sit in public with less embarrassment.

Now to the music!

We love going to the park and listening to this Groovy Music!

Sitting in the park, eating finger food for dinner and tapping our feet.

Now this is summer!

LCpl Andrew

Trish (Thank you) sent us items to help keep Andrew in our thoughts, and well, just keep him with us always!

Necklaces which the three of us wear, a replacement "My Son is a Marine" sticker for my truck and a Service Flag showing that I have a family member serving during war.

 Andrew is in our daily thoughts and Cole asks questions often about Andrew.  Why the Marines? Why war? Why mechanic?  ...and other choices Andrew has made in his young life.

Much Pride.

Xena, Welcome Home

Oma picked up a 6 week old kitten that she named Xena, Warrior Princess.

The name choice was due to her lack of fear towards large dogs.

Xena bonded quickly with Doug and Doug seems to really enjoy her as well.

 

Jo and her High Heals

I just thought this was darn funny.

Doug and his new summer cut.

We will definitely do this cut again at the beginning of next summer.

And how are the animals getting along?

They enjoy each other and Doug is quite gentle with Xena even when he picks her up by the scruff  to move her back out into the open for more playing.

1/4th of July

Jo was interested in how to draw Mickey after seeing all the photos from Disney World.  So I used the memory on how we were taught at the Disney class to teach her.

AWESOME!  She is such a good student and was very proud of her Mickey.

Paper Thompson Rifle w/clip

We are going to have to take stock in scotch tape and paper.  Cole sure creates impressive guns with detail and movable parts.

Another tooth!

Jo wrote to the Tooth Fairy again asking what she looked like and the tooth fair wrote back!

Jo said she is going to ask the Tooth Fairy next time if she could have a picture of her.  Oma and I will see if we can't catch the Fairy in the act of putting that gold coin under the pillow.

Time for a kiddy pool for Doug.

Ok, it turns out that Doug isn't thrilled with water yet but his best buddy Leroy and Jo love the pool.  We will just have to work with Doug and loving water.

Happy 4th!

Their Loot

Those loud ones are horrible! Their called screaming cats or screaming whistles, or screaming *^#(@&!

We also learned that Doug does not much like fireworks.  Poor guy.  We took care of him though.

We then drove to the side of the Expressway like many other spectators and watched the big fireworks after the local rodeo.

Maybe next year we will just go to the Rodeo and enjoy that too.

Family trip to Mt Hood

We met up with the S side of the family for a day in the sun.

Always wanted to try out the Alpine Slide and what a gorgeous day to do it!

Dan (in blue) and then ALL the kids.

(left to right) Cole, Sam, Jo, Lanna, Maggie, Chloe and Jordyn.

The Hamster Balls were a HUGE hit with the kids.

Climb inside and run to make them roll in about a foot of water.

Yes, the kids fell through the holes many times and ended up soaked, and loving it.

Carol and Dan with Mt Hood in the background.

WHAT? Sandy photo bombing!

Lot's of laughs and good family fun.

Jo was the only one who rock climbed.

She climbed up almost as fast as she came down only run to the next activity.

Family picture with Mt Hood.

Kids are sure growing up.

The trampoline bungee was also a hit.

Lanna, Sam and Jo.

Thanks, Bets, for planning this day!

BS Family w/ Jordyn & Uncle Don, Cousin Betsy with Chloe and Sam.

Welcome to Epcot!

Our last full day at Walt Disney World was spent eating our way through Epcot.  We did see quite a few people drinking their way around the world and by the time they were in Canada they were quite "happy".

I didn't really grasp what the Epcot park was like.  I knew it was set up with countries around the world but it still didn't make complete sense.  Oh, I understand now and it was a wonderful way to end our trip.

Started off with tasting drinks from around the world.

They all tasted GREAT!

Ok, not really.

Italy was REALLY bad tasting to all five of us.

However we all enjoyed the soda from Germany.

Still sporting my poncho as Debby was still here.

Or, rather, I was told to take my poncho off as the sun did smile on us this whole day.

Sunny and warm all day!!

And we played a little in each country as well as ate.

 See, no wet heads and still smiling after many days.

This was France and the food was delish!

I just really like this photo of Riley and Mandy.

So I'm posting it.

When I say we ate around the world I wasn't kidding.

We only bought samplers and shared with each other so we could keep eating around the world.  Heck, even Riley was all over tasting each food by this day.  (I don't think he will just be a steak and potato's guy any more.)

Our Moracan Dinner

Waiting for the evening show over the water.

This was a wonderful show with lots of lights and fireworks.  I think the best show is still the Hollywood Disney park.  But all very different and very fun.

Our day of departure we walked around Down Towne Disney a little.  Did a little shopping and just kept it casual and not hurry.

The cartoons came to life in Lego's.  Just amazing!

And time to leave our home away from home.

What a vacation to remember!

The best group of goofballs to vacation with as we came, we saw and we left our mark on some of the employees I'm sure!

Thank you Trish, Andrew, Mandy & Riley!