missing genetic trait

Today when I was in Target and my cell phone rang I sighed, reached for the phone and answered it. Not because I knew it was my oldest daughter calling me but the reason I knew she was calling me: "Mom, Emma hit me. Can you come home RIGHT now?" I put the phone away in my purse...it rings. "Hello?" Emma through tears says, "Mom, Makenzie kicked me really hard." I was heading to the register to check out when I got these calls so soon I was on my way home. On the way my thoughts were that, unlike MY mother, I don't have eyes in the back of my head. Do you remember your mom saying that to you when you were a kid? I do and I somehow missed that genetic trait. I HATE IT when they come running to me saying that one of their sisters hit them. Because in our house there will always be another story. Who do you believe? I have to take both of them at their word and they both get consequences. If I had that missing pair of additional eyes then I wouldn't miss all the stuff they seem to hide from me. But then again, maybe I don't want to see it.

pp. 190-192 of Eclipse

Edward Cullen is the absolute best! This is the most romantic part of the three books yet! My heart was leaping out of my chest and it's too late to call anyone and talk to them about this part of the book so I had to put it right here. Okay...now back to reading. It's getting really late but I can't put it down.

more musings

After the ceremony at the wedding there was a moment when the parents each said something to Sara and Lucien. After they were done anyone could stand up and say something if they wished. Micah (Sara's brother) stood up and said the one thing he learned while traveling the past 18 months was how important family was. And how great it is that you can go home to them. I agree with that as I'm sure all of you out there do as well. There is nothing like our families. They bring us our greatest joys as well as our greatest sorrows. I'm so grateful not only for my husband and children but also for my extended family. My cousins who are like siblings to me (because we grew up that way) and for my aunts and uncles who would do anything for me as I would do for them as well. I love that I can call any of my aunts at anytime and stay with them at a moment's notice. While at Sara's wedding I realized that Chris' family has become just as dear to me. I was soo incredibly happy to see Micah after a year and a half. And to meet his beautiful girlfriend. I fell in love with my nephews, Connor and Ian during the past week as we went camping and to the wedding. I truly wished they lived closer. I also love meeting my friends' families and being allowed a corner of space with their lives. We really are all connected in this great big world.

Okay I know my links down below aren't working. I guess I haven't figured out how to do them yet. sorry

Whata Weekend continued

After getting home at 2 in the morning I had to get up a few hours later to get ready for Chris' sister's wedding. I quickly showered and then Emma and I took off to get pedicures. This was a treat, something I rarely do and it was WONDERFUL. Emma loved it. She had a grin on her face the entire time. When we got back home we scrambled to finish getting ready and then we were off for Eugene. Sara and Lucien have been together for 10 years. They met in high school and have been together ever since. They are a great couple and we were all so happy when they decided to get married. The wedding was amazing. It was held at a small vineyard in Cheshire Oregon. The setting was gorgeous, the weather perfect and everyone had such a great time. I've never seen Sara look so beautiful. We arrived at 4, the wedding was at 5 and we stayed until the sun went down. After the ceremony there was a dinner catered by Holy Cow. It was amazing. I told Chris I wish I could come up with a really good reason to have them cater something for me. EVERYTHING was organic and beautiful and tasted so good. My favorite thing was this giant salad bowl they had. It was on a table by itself with several dressings to choose from as well as garden fresh cucumbers and bell peppers. Check out the bowl it was in. Below is a picture of the girls with their uncle Ross. He got home 2 weeks ago from his mission and they are so happy to have him home.

Whata Weekend

I've had the most incredible weekend. On friday Merilee and I drove to Sweet Home to the Oregon Jamboree. Although there were other performers at this event we only cared about the man in black. And no I'm not talking about Johnny Cash. I'm talking about Dierks Bentley. He has an amazing voice and he's not bad looking either. I love his music and I'm a devoted fan. Merilee decided (and I agreed) that our #1 goal for the evening was to get a picture with Dierks. I of course wholeheartedly agreed while inside my head I was thinking it was a long shot. You see this isn't Merilee's and I's first Dierks Bentley concert. It's our third, and we had been unsuccessful the previous two concerts. Although the first concert we could have gotten a picture if we HAD a camera with us. When we got there we found my cousin Kathy (thanks kax! ) and we found our seats she had saved for us. While Dierks was performing we moved up some on the side but got kicked out of that section. That is another whole story but I'm just going to tell you about AFTER the concert. The concert ends and we are hanging around, hanging around, watching them tear the stage apart. Dierks never comes out! We can see his tour bus through the gate but there is security everywhere. After about 40 minutes of hanging around after the place has cleared out we decide we will have to find another way in. So we walk out of the grounds and down a road into an area where motor homes are parked for people that are camping. Now we have one fence between us and nobody watching us. Merilee wanted to scale the fence but I wouldn't do it. It was one of those temporary fences and I know it would have toppled over when I attempted to climb it. So we leave the motor home area and to the right we see an opening in the secure gated area. Someone didn't close it all the way when they drove through it. So we just walk walk walk walk and next thing we know we are inside. The security guards were having a meeting in a tent right beside us so we walk along the fence behind some motor homes and then nonchalantly over to dierks' bus. He has three buses and we decided to stand between the two farthest from the security people. Seconds later the door of the bus opens and out walks Dierks with a member of his band. We ask him for a picture and he gives us one. Mission Accomplished.

Indian Mary

When I was a little girl growing up my best friend Tonya and another friend of ours would go to Indian Mary every summer to go camping. They would come home and I'd have to hear about how fun it was and how they couldn't wait until next summer. I always wanted to go too. I felt so jealous. I'm so blessed to have married into a rafting family. Because of that it has led to our own families' summer tradition of spending 3 days camping at Indian Mary. We camp for 2 nights and raft the rogue river 2 days. It's so much fun. I love hearing every year on the way home "when do we get to go again?" I mentioned the other day to my friend Tonya (we are still very close ) that we were going to Indian Mary soon. She said she was jealous that I get to go. HA!. I laughed at how life works. I'm so glad that my children get to experience the magic of Indian Mary now.

This year Chris' mom wanted all of her children there. So Chris' sister Melissa and her family flew out from Salt Lake, Cameron flew in from Minnesota, Aunt sue flew in from L.A. and Ross just got home from his mission two weeks ago. Two of his siblings couldn't make it. We missed you Micah and Matt! His sister Sara came for the day on Monday and rafted with us. It was fun spending time with everyone.

This year we also got to go rafting with our friends the Camerons. Merilee even got me to jump off a cliff! Last year I climbed up there to jump, looked down and chickened out. This year I couldn't chicken out because she jumped. I still wasn't as brave as she was because I went down to a lower ledge. But I DID IT!

my jump

Emma and grandpa Scott at Rainie Falls