Memorial Day Weekend

It is so nice that Juan has a job that he gets long weekends! But he pays for those by working long hours in the office and the jobsite! So we really enjoy our weekends together and spending time with him when we have him! We were able to go to Washington from Friday evening until Monday. We dropped off the kids at Seth and Heathers house on Friday and we went to dinner with my parents, Seth and Heather and Colby and Trisha at Outback. It will probably be a while until we go there again. Its a spendy place! We threw down $50 for both of us! I much prefer our two for 20 at Applebees or somewhere like that. Makes it much more affordable.

 

We spent the night on Friday at my parents house and spend Saturday playing at their house. The boys were in heaven! We headed to Othello at about 5 that evening to meet up with Ana and Jose and Vicky and Juan for Chinese food. Seems like that is becoming tradition to go there. Its Juans favorite so that is always a must when we come up.

 

 Juan mowed the lawn while he was there and the boys and I rode the 4 wheeler. Damon was loving it

 We went out and looked at the water skippers playing in the ditch. The boys thought they were pretty awesome. Keenan threw rocks in at them, and Niko was loving going back and forth on the log.

 Grandpa came in and joined the fun after he was done helping Seth with his rood on the shed hes building

 Keenan was quick to make sure Grandpa was ready to shoot bow and arrows with him.

 Keenan showing me where he got the arrows in the bear at

 The main reason we came down was because Jordan was getting baptized. We went and stayed at Anas house on Saturday and Sunday night. They just got a new house so that was super fun to see!

Seattle

I totally forgot to write about our quick Seattle trip! About a week before we left, Heather text me and told me we were going to Seattle with my parents and their family. I thought she has text the wrong person. But nope! We were Seattle bound! It was a nice, very quick trip! We drove up on Saturday morning and met up with them at about 10 o' clock. We walked pikes real quick, and then headed down the cobblestone street of the famous gum wall! So gross but yet we still had to get pictures and add our own gum to the wall! We went and ate at Red Robin then headed back up the steep hill to the gum wall. Grandpa had bought a cool gum dispenser where you could inscribe your name on each piece. So he gave us all some to add to the wall! We headed to Target where the kids had their money to spend! We then headed to the motel and checked in, then walked to the Pacific Science Center. By this time, we were all kinda tired. We were there a couple hours maybe, then we walked back to the hotel. The main reason they went up was because of Motorcross. So my dad, and Seth and his boys headed there. The rest of us headed down to the pool while we waited for our Chinese to arrive. Talk about crazy there though! There were 10 of us in a small hotel room eating! The next morning we all packed up and headed home! We were there a whole 24 hours! Juan and I did one more exploring idea and that was to go to Theo's chocolate factory. Not what I was expecting. The gift shop was small! And it wasn't all the great either! We then headed home and stopped at the Nike Outlet on our way home.

Taking a look back in time

Would I change how things have happened in our life? Well realistically yes, and we both totally agree on this. As we are watching Juans little or not so little anymore grow up, and have girlfriends they "love" it takes us back to when we met. We were the exact same age almost to a tee! Why do 14-15 yr olds think they know the world? How can they love someone? As we think back to when we were that age, Juan and I were so in "love." Only little did we know we were far from loving each other. Did we have deep feelings for each other? Absolutely. Being married almost ten years now, what we thought was love has grown to such a mature understanding and adoration for each other. Respect for each other, and the "your the only thing I think about" is bygons. Yes we think of each other multiple times a day. If I can stress anything to my kids is to enjoy your teenage years. I gave up that time in my life to enjoy friends, enjoy sports, date so many girls, dont get grounded! We did everything the absolute hardest way. But here we are, we are making it, we are treading on, and we are doing a dang good job of it! We have come so far! And that I am proud of. But I hope my kids will choose a different path. I gope they choose school first, and girls second.

Soccer has ended

The season has come to an end today! I am a little excited a little bummed. Excited because now.we wont be rushing to practice as soon as dad gets home on mondays and.wednesdays and games every Saturday but also.bummed because.I looked forward to talking with the parents during practice, (that social talk with adults I crave) but also because it was so good for Keenan! I loved getting him out of the house and running. The last two games I think he figured out the game and realized if you charge after the ball, you can take it away and score. He rocked it!. Scoring atleast 5-6 goals the last two games! He has some great foot work that I think will be his plus! He can turn that ball around and get it.going and around people. They had a pizza party after the game there at the field. They.were royally treated with treats! Pizza, pop, cookies, rice crispies, chips,.and fruit snacks! They were also given an award paper with a picture of the team and a note and gift from the coach. We had a great team!

1st grade!

Well I think this is a first! Damon.lasted a full year at one school! We still have a few weeks left but I was able to go on a field trip with him yesterday to Zenger Farms outside of Portland. My once a year opportunity to enjoy him without little brothers and not being in a hospital. We were able to see the vegetables they grow there, the bees, which was Damons favorite because they were flying above him and he loves things that fly! They also have chickens that they were able to touch. They grow a large variety of things and herbs also. They had a little wood cupboard.type of thing where they had worms for mulching. We went inside the barn to eat our lunch and then it was time for service. We opted out because we had already oushed his wheelchair down the.hill and back up and thats where.iur group was heading again.

Damon has a fantastic group of teachers working with him. His aid is awesome and will send me pics of him enjoying things at school. Its.neat to see that all the kids know him and interact with him.

Every friday they get to go to the Forest Grove aquatic center and go swimming! Highlight of his week im sure!

Trampoline Fun

We finally got a backyard toy! It has been way to long not having something for the kids to play on in our yard. I had been occassionally looking on craigslist for either a trampoline.our a play structure. Play structures are a little out of our price range at the moment and when I saw this Saturday morning I called soon! We were the first to call and were able to pick it up that afternoon! We didnt tell Keenan we were getting one until we were getting ready to head out. Keenan had a soccer game that morning and Juan was volunteering at the Intel open house for his work. We went over to meet up with Juan but.were there shortly because we needed to head to get the trampoline. Keenan wasn't ready to.leave but his reaction when Juan told him we were going to get a trampoline was great!! " What! A trampoline. Awesome!" He was so.excited! We headed over to Vickys to leave the boys and we took.Keenan with us to test it out. The fun thing about living here is driving to the mountains. We went to the mountains of Sherwood and there are some.gorgeous houses out there! I would love to live out there but its a bit of a drive for Juan and I can only imagine the property taxes out there! Well Keenan approved and we started to take it.aprt. So.happy that we finally have a trampoline! We got a sprinkler.to put under, neighbor kids already over and the fun began!