He Hasn't Hurt Anyone Yet

4th of July Fun

Carson's Fortunate Day

Unfortunately, my boy woke up not feeling well on Monday.
Fortunately, he was able to power up and go to school.

Unfortunately, he forgot his Orca bus card.
But, fortunately, he knew the way to school, so he walked.

The route took much longer than he expected (4.6 miles).
Fortunately, the fresh air cleared his head.

Unfortunately, he missed all of 1st period.
Fortunately, he was able to learn for six other periods that day.

Bingham's Organic Valley (haystack)

Unfortunately, after school, Carson walked (remember - no Orca card) to Bike Lab at the Boys and Girls Club.
Fortunately, his instructor Lance, helped him fix Mom's bike, which Carson then rode home (3.8 miles).

Unfortunately, he was a little late for soccer practice Monday evening.
But fortunately, Carson loved every minute of the time he got.

Carson found out the shoes Mom purchased from Value Village for $7 were actually football shoes .

Rattlesnake Ridge

Fortunately, he hasn't been kicked out of a game yet.

Unfortunately, Carson could really hurt someone if keeps playing in those shoes.
Fortunately, he hasn't hurt anyone yet.

Unfortunately, Carson didn't get to play his
board game of choice, "Spy Alley" for Family Home Evening.
Fortunately, he showered and was in bed by 10:00.

Rattlesnake Lake

Glimpses

There have been a couple of times in the past week where I've appreciated "glimpses" of life as a mother.

I woke up one day and saw my youngest had gotten up earlier and taken care of her dolls. This is what I observed out the back deck.What had gone through her little mind? Did the dolls need some sun? Maybe they were out enjoying the fresh morning air. Such good friends they must be, to be willing to share a chair :-).

A week ago, my husband and I went to a fun show in Seattle, Jim Gaffigan. This was my first time in Key Arena, which is memorable. And, I just always love going into the city with Darren.

I was told, by my oldest son, about partway through the night that dinner (made by oldest daughter) was, "burnt rice-a-roni" and that they were all doing great.We came home to a pretty messy kitchen, but sleeping children, which is TOTALLY worth the cleanup. 

The evidence on the kitchen counter, of the rice-a-roni, made me smile, and the note sitting in the dish (notice the rice-a-roni shaped like an "O", another example of "glimpses" into the mind of a child) filled me with all kinds of love for these three kids I claim.

Just a small side note, the arrows are pointing to a small shard of glass, no problem really. I discovered the slightly chipped glass the next day.

Thus you see just a slight snapshot of a regular couple of days in my life :-).

Melissa Makes Everything Fun

Melissa (my older sister, closest in age to me) and I made sure to coordinate our trips to Idaho. We had always planned to be there at the same time for about two weeks.

These two girls played in Marci's camp trailer
for an entire afternoon. It was NOT a cool day,
they were as imaginative and cute as could be.
THANK YOU Marci for use of the trailer!

Basically, Melissa makes everything fun. There was one day I was really grouchy and Melissa kept saying, "What are we going to do to pull you out of the dumps." I think I was too distraught to care, but sure enough, she did it. I can't even remember just how, but she did.

Our kids get along great which is another bonus. In fact, I think all of the cousins get along well together which is so fun to see and maybe another reason we all just kept wanting to extend the family reunion another day :-).

I can't hardly stand this picture.
Cousin Love for sure - saying good bye to Savannah :-(

Some of the fun memories with Melissa's family in particular:

1. Running/Biking: we biked around the twin lakes just days after a huge fire burned a large section of fields on one side of the lake. We biked through Banida and then back home. Melissa fended the dogs (I think in three different places) for me. She's always been good that way, looking to protect little sis. I imagine there was some teasing about my attempts to "yell" at the dogs.

2. Just like in days of the past, we had a fun game night with the Mumfords. Carson beat Duke's Katie, which I can't believe (Perudo was the game, so fun) because she was really set up to win.

3. We teased Dad and got in as much special time with Mom as we could. I think this year my family kept better control of our ice-addiction, which didn't give Dad as much ammo to bug us :-).

4. We took our kids to the Twin Lakes, which is the first time I think I have EVER sat on a "beach" blanket (touching shoulders) with my sisters Marci and Melissa.

5. Going to church with family is always my favorite part of trips. Now that I'm so old, I think we must overwhelm the Clifton ward. There are so many of us. Yet, when other neighbor families visit home, there are also so. many. of. them. too. So, I guess it all evens out.

6. We took a trip down to Logan to relive some of our old haunts. Always an Aggie :-).

7. The top item on our list was to try and do a big hike up the canyon. And, that we did. For some reason, I wore my "city" clothes (which Melissa razzed me about) and that hike isn't the easiest, btw.

Wind Caves Hike, Logan Canyon

Melissa's kids are rock-stars just like their mother, they motored up and down the mountain like it was nothing.

8. Gaga Ball -- have you ever heard of it? You wouldn't believe what a fun and entertaining game this is. All I can say is, "google" it. The Fuller kids (and Uncle Erik, and Aunt Melissa) LOVED this game.

9. Callie and Sadie entertained themselves on more than one occasion. The day we went hiking, these

sweet little girls, babysat themselves in the basement. We told them they couldn't bother Grandma, and they didn't. I think Grandpa gave them some goldfish crackers (we were gone from 1 in the afternoon till after 8) and maybe a Popsicle. He invited them to come up to the park when he needed to go outside, so he could keep an eye on them. He is a great babysitter :-).

10. Martin Harris Pageant -- Tawna set this up a few months ago. It was a rather windy evening, but fun to sit next to family and enjoy a pageant honoring an early church member.

My favorite way to enjoy Lagoon -- up on the sky ride, preferably all day. 

11. Lagoon -- Would you believe Melissa talked Janie and I into going to Gagoon (Jay Moyle coined that phrase)?! Amusement parks are on the bottom of my bucket lists. But, again, Melissa's spunky

Just refueling. 

So Much Fun!

personality helped us endure. I even screamed on some rides. The kids are still talking about Lagoon.






12. Melissa's Family - I love them all.

The Thankful Game

Friday Night Biking 

This morning on the way to school, Callie and I ended up making up a fun game. She was complaining that I was making her walk so I started saying things like, “Callie, how about instead saying, “Thanks Mom, for making me breakfast” or another of the things done to make her life better.

However, every single line I came up with, Callie added an “even though”. So, she would repeat what I asked of her and then add on something like, “Thanks for making me breakfast, even though you made me have milk in my oatmeal.” She did this so consistently that by the time we got up to the park, I started laughing. By the time we got to the crossing guard, she was smiling too so we switched roles and she started coaching me on what I need to be thankful for. One of the first things was, “Thanks for marrying Dad”. So, I said, “Thanks for marrying Dad, even though he is a big teaser.” We have decided to call this the “thankful” game.

“Thanks for taking us to Idaho . . . .even though

we didn’t get to stay at Grandma Moss’s longer”

“Thanks for signing me up for gymnastics . . . .even though

I didn’t get to be in the jets class.”

“Thanks for taking me on a Disney Cruise . . .even though it has been

So long, I am starting to forget how fun it was.”

“Thanks for letting me have so many stuffed kitties . . . .even though

What I really want is a real cat.”

I love my girl. This past Friday, as she biked up to school, I was behind her when she rode full-throttle into the back of a neighbor's hummer's trailer hitch. I was caught off guard and immediately worried she'd hurt herself and then aghast that she did it in the first place. In full Neil Fuller fashion, I asked her why she had done that. She simply answered, "It wouldn't move".

So Many Fun Pink Tents

Last story, Friday night I cajoled her into biking down through the park to dance class to avoid the 5:00 Friday evening traffic. It ended up seeming like we were in some kind of parade. Callie asked, "Why is everything so pink?" It turns out, we rode right through the finish line of that day's, "three-day Race for the Cure" route.

Look at the bags I was carrying!
She wasn't embarrassed of me, I don't think :-). 

Fight's On: Oregon Coast 10-Me 1

Yes, that's right, I declare war.

Ocean Shores Aug 2010

I have lived here for 12 years and make a trip to the coast about once a year. We have gone down to Neskowan, Rockaway, Cannon Beach, Seaside, Ocean Shores a couple of times, Forks/La Push/Rialto Beach, up to Victoria B.C. and finally I'm even counting Port Angeles in this fight. So, maybe the score isn't quite 10 to 1, but close.

Neskowan 2006

The one thing I know for sure is there has only been one time that I can remember having a warm day at the beach - THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

Spring Break on Seaside April 2013

C'mon weatherman, what is the problem here? When we've gone over mid-winter break, I cut some slack (Cannon Beach), I mean it was winter after all. Spring break on Seaside was perhaps wishful thinking a few years ago. But, August 26th, are you kidding me?

The whole drive down to Rockaway a few weekends ago, I was blissfully content with the outlook and the day ahead. The sky was a gorgeous blue, the temperature outside was living up to its promised 75 degrees or above. Ahhhh, we were FINALLY getting our turn.

It was even Darren's birthday.

We pulled into Rockaway Beach to meet my sister Jess, who was standing out to greet us with her son. Well, they were both wearing swimsuits, but she had on a jacket and her beautiful hair was flying all around. Oh no!! What could be happening?

Rockaway Hopefuls August 2017

It was a WINDY day at the beach, and I'm not talking about a nice warm Florida breeze, I'm talking about the sand-in-my-veggie-platter type of breeze.

My youngest doing a pretty good beach plank
August 2017

Yes, the water and waves were incredible (they really were), the scenery breath-taking really (I love how Oregon beaches seem to have some kind of rock structure sticking out of the water), and Erik dug a really cool gigantic hole in the sand. The kids managed to have some typical beach experiences. I just couldn't get over the fact we had been stymied yet again by that ole- Pacific Ocean Beach.

To top this story off, Darren somehow and by some kind of Pacific Ocean Beach beast, got a terrible (and I mean terrible - like his feet have been swollen all week) sunburn from his shins down to his bare feet.

Hawaii 2008

This fight aint over yet -- ahh, I just thought of a redeeming trip. It was Hawaii. OK, there was also a California trip with a good beach experience. Pacific Ocean Beast hasn't gotten the best of me just yet.

Rialto Beach - maybe La Push

(oh, and the one good Pacific Northwest Beach experience I can remember is when I took my kids clear out to Forks where we spent the day, I'm sure that was August too).                                     →→