Walden Island Days 69 & 70

The Flahertys came out to 'Auntie Amber's Island' (what Kylah & Kallie call it) for couple of days. It was when Mother Nature decided to bring the 100 degrees to Oregon, so perfect timing!
We arrived at the lake around 10:30pm on Wednesday night. We brought with us a little 5cuft freezer - worked out great! We are trying to bring the least amount of stuff with us each time we go up - bringing less food really helps.

I got up on Thursday morning and walked around the island a bit. One of the neighbors is having someone clear out their yard and fix up their house. The yard was totally overgrown in blackberry bushes, but we kinda liked that! Apparently there used to be a beautiful English Garden there...I found some of the remains. Beautiful...

Then the Flahertys arrived! Jamie helped Jason & Dylona set up their tent while I kept the girls busy...my favorite part.

As soon as everything was done, we headed down to the refreshing water!

And then went boating and swimming.

Lily decided to come with us

Lily likes to give Moxie kisses...

Then we headed back for dinner.

Everyone needs a little 'hammock time'

it cooled down enough for a fire

Jamie and I made breakfast for everyone on Friday.

Kylah wanted to help too

Then we went for a walk...and enjoyed the slight overcast weather at the lake.

Kylah wanted a picture of me taking a picture of her : )

Then we headed back out to the boat to do some tubing.

Kallie even went out!

Kylah too!

and Dylona!

Kylah watching Mom & Dad

Jason drove so Jamie & I could go tubing too

Jason had to go back to work on Saturday, so they left Friday evening. We were exhausted from playing, so we went to bed early and watched a movie. Many reasons to smile!

Another week

Wow...another week down and no blogging...what has become of me?!? After being at the lake for almost a week...then home for a couple of days...then back to lake...I've been busy! : ) I have a ton of pictures to add, but that will have to wait until I can figure out where I put my laptop at. (It could be under a pile of papers on my desk or under laundry that needs to be done...who knows.)

I received the 2008 - 2009 CASA Report Card today:

• 97 new CASAs and 46 re-activated CASAs were assigned to new cases providing advocacy for 281 children!
• Our 431 active CASAs advocated for 891 children in Multnomah & Washington counties!
• CASAs donated over 103,000 hours of un-paid volunteer advocacy - the equivalent of 50 full-time employees - saving tax payers close to $1.8 million dollars!
• CASA volunteers successfully closed the cases of 216 kids!

Our Mission: We are advocates for the best interests of children who have been abused or neglected and are under the protection of the Juvenile Courts in Multnomah and Washington counties in Oregon. Our purpose is to secure a safe and permanent family for each child as quickly as possible.

Go to www.casahelpskids.org for more information. I have enjoyed my last 2 years as a CASA and will continue to do what I can for the CASA children that I have been assigned.

I'm off to look for my laptop...

Ardath Rodale

Ardath Rodale is a spiritual teacher, organic gardener, cancer survivor, mother of five and grandmother of eleven, chairman of the board of Rodale Inc., and co-chair of The Rodale Institute, with a long-standing commitment to promoting health and wellness. She is also the author of three wonderful books and has an article in every Prevention magazine. Prevention is the magazine I look most forward to finding in my mailbox each month.

I was reading Ardath's Prevention article last night and wanted to share part of it with you.

Now, more than ever, we need to listen and encourage the future leaders of our society to build on their gifts and strengths and to live with an adventurous spirit. In this way, we teach them to spread kindness, understanding, love, beauty, and joy to our families, our communities and the world.

We must embrace and encourage our youth to be the shining stars they deserve to be. Encourage them to be whatever they want when they grow up, so long as they enjoy it. Teach them to work with passion and dedications - to live healthy, active lives. And most important, appreciate their vision and creativities. Everyone has a talent - a gift to share with the world. Let's allow our children to dream big! Be bold! Go for it!

Remember to encourage the youth in your life.

Walden Island 66, 67 & 68

We left for the lake on Friday afternoon. Not any earlier or later than normal...but the trip took us 1 1/2 hours longer. We hit traffic off/on the entire trip. It was still hot when we got up to the lake, so we just made dinner and relaxed.

On Saturday, Jamie left at 6am for Washougal - for a motocross race. I had a busy day...I read an entire book, I floated in the lake for a few hours, I took a nap in the hammock, I took a walk and I then did some picture editing. I did do a little cleaning, but when you have less than 400 sq ft to clean it doesn't take long. Plus, it was just too hot to do much else! I made dinner before Jamie got back around 9pm and then we watched some episodes of our newest favorite show; The Deadliest Catch. Well...I actually watched movies until 3am...maybe I took too long of a nap!

We woke up to more heat on Sunday. It's usually about 10 degrees cooler at the lake, but not this weekend. Fine with me tho! One of the neighbors were borrowing The Monster, so we had an even better excuse to do nothing. We did a little yard work, swam around in the lake and visited with neighbors.

I honestly only took this picture at the lake this weekend.

These were the most colorful things we have growing on our property right now...dandelions. : ) Shortly after I took the picture, Jamie mowed the field and I sprayed it with weed killer. Sad...but it had to be done...

We're headed back up to the lake on Wednesday this week. The Flaherty's are coming to spend some with us on Thursday and Friday. I'll be coming home on Saturday for the Relay For Life of Beaverton. I haven't decided yet if I'll go back up to the lake...maybe, maybe not.

Happy Birthday Grandma Neena

Grandma Neena turned 29 again this year - doesn't she look great!?! We went to my Aunt & Uncle's house for a bbq to celebrate.

our gift was stuck in the bag : )
gotta save the tissue paper of course

Teri (my step-mom) comes in from Alaska each year to celebrate Granma's bdayThen I took a few pictures of the flowers & pond

trying to get the bee

A play day!

Kylah & Kallie came over to play for a few hours on Monday. Jamie brought us Cinnabon cinnamon rolls for a yummy breakfast.

Makena told the girls to just stab it with their fork and eat it : )

taking a little rest with Brandi & Moxie

Then Kallie and I went outside to water my garden. I gave her a spray bottle to help - she sprayed everything, including the cat!

Then Kallie found cookies in the pantry.

While Kylah & Makena raced on the Wii.

Walden Island 63, 64 & 65

TeaLee came up to the lake with us for a few days.

first they wanted to relax on the hammock

then decided to go for a walk
and some dancing on the dock

then Makena's iPod fell in to the lake - Jamie saved the day by finding it

then they played cards while I made some dinner

after dinner we watched the beautiful sunset

and went for another walk

Then Makena took my camera to take some pictures on her own.

Jamie and I got up early on Saturday to start digging before it got too hot out.

the water level keeps going down...

Jamie showing me what we were going to dig out

After more manual labor...we were off to play in the lake.

Makena & TeaLee tried jumping on the trampoline

then we had a 'floating party' with some neighbors
good times

We were able to relax a bit before leaving on Sunday. Makena wanted to take some more pictures...