$10 GOES A LONG WAY...FOR SUMMERTIME FUN

With this HOT weather we've been having, and due to my husband being against slip-n-slides and pools (his lawn is too precious) - the boys and I took a trip to the Dollar Tree for water fun.They are having a blast with their 29" water blaster tubes, the water buckets to refill their toys with (or just to dump on eachother), their squirt guns, the two packages of water balloons, and their splash balls. All for $10 - nothing like cheap entertainment!

VACATION - Day 6 (and what I got to do)...

Hopefully I didn't go overboard with the "suspense" of what I got to do on our vacation. I started thinking about it and what if you're all like, "That's it??" "She made us wait for that?" Well, the real reason behind the "suspense" is I was hoping for someone to email me pictures and video of me before I did the post - but I don't want to wait anymore. I'm too excited! You'll just have to click on the link to see pictures of me doing what I did...

I went on a Tamarack Zipline Tour!!!

This is what the brochure says about the tour: "Explore the mountain in a unique, thrilling, action packed, Zipline tour. Experience the rush and listen to the cable sing as we guide you over 4,425 feet of incredible terrain. We'll send you down 8 different ziplines, soaring over creeks, canyons, and forest as you come to rest on a platform high above the ground in a majestic ponderosa pine. This incredible tour gives you a bird’s eye view of the surrounding mountains, meadows, lakes and forest. We give you the opportunity to fly by a cable, in a tour full of adrenalin and adventure through Tamarack’s rugged mountain terrain. Fly from your comfort zone and try it because going against all those primitive reflexes and rationales is exactly what make this adrenaline rush rock!"

I LOVED IT!!!

I was really nervous and tried calling the church in McCall to find a babysitter so Mick could go with me (he really wanted to go), but their phone was busy the whole time. So, I headed out by myself Thursday (day 6) and was hoping there would be another loner in my group that I could hook up with. But, no - the rest of my group was all family (2 men, 2 teenage boys, 3 teenage girls, and a 9-year old boy). Which made me even more nervous because none of them looked nervous at all! But they ended up being really nice and "adopted" me as they put it and even took pictures and videos of me with their cameras. It was soooooo much fun! I totally want to do it again!

And just a little "bragging" - I was the first one to go on the highest, longest zipline AND I jumped backwards out of the treehouse zipline (which they say is the scariest of all 8) and the guide told me he had never seen a girl jump backwards off of it. I told them I'd do anything to have a good story to tell my boys. I did scream on the zipline that went 50 mph - to me that one was the scariest. Anyway, here is the link to look at pictures. I'm pictures 1-3 and 96-101. http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpage.aspx?pi=0KLU00JV000000&po=0

*Warning: the pictures are NOT flattering

VACATION - Day 3, 4, and 5

We went swimming on Monday (day 3) and had family movie night. Nothing too exciting. Actually, we didn't do anything too exciting Tuesday (day 4) either. I took the boys swimming some more while Mick golfed at his first golf course (Tamarack). Then we had another family movie night.

On Wednesday (day 5) we were planning on riding the chairlift to the top of the mountain at Brundage Mountain Resort, but it wasn't open until July. So, after our scenic drive around Payette Lake, stopping to admire waterfalls...

stopping to throw rocks...

We decided to go on our second hike to Goose Creek Falls. What we didn't realize was that this hike was not mostly flat like our earlier hike. It was mostly downhill on the way to the falls (1 1/4 mile) and then uphill the way back (I guess that's obvious). Needless to say, it took us about 2 1/2 hours to do it. We only spent probably 5 minutes at the falls because there was no flat spot to really sit and enjoy it. Thank goodness we found some walking sticks to help us. This picture was taken at the beginning of the hike - notice the smiles. I guess it's kind of hard to see - my camera's old and not the greatest, but I'm excited to say that I just ordered a new digital camera today. YEAH! A little too late for this vacation, but I'm excited to use it.Here is a picture of the falls. The ledge made me VERY nervous, but it was beautiful.When we got back to our condo we went swimming AGAIN and took the boys out to Chinese food on the lake. Great view with delicious food - can't beat that.

VACATION - Day 1 and 2

After a LONG drive Saturday - we finally made it to McCall, Idaho. It ended up being longer than we were planning because we got stuck behind a Sherrif that for some reason wouldn't pass the slow truck in front of him and we didn't know if we were "allowed" to pass two cars at once. So, it was slow and long. And then it seemed even longer because I forgot the battery to our portable t.v. and someone took apart our cord that plugs into the lighter. Aaaaah! I even bought new movies to keep the kids attention better. Their MP3 players and Gameboys kept them preoccupied for awhile, but the movies would have been nice. We tried the old school travel games that we all used to play, but when there's four boys side by side - tensions seem to rise. You know, "He's touching me"..."He's looking at me"..."I'm hungry"..."Are we there yet?" But we finally made it to our condo unharmed (barely - Mick stopped a couple of times for some "disciplining").

Sunday we went on a couple of hikes at Ponderosa State Park. The first hike was to an outlook point. The boys got a little close to the edge for me to look out.Then they saw some flowers that they wanted to pick for their Mom. :)

This is one of my favorite pictures of my favorite boys on our trip. Maybe Christmas card material (am I thinking too far ahead?). The views were beautiful! The boys seemed to enjoy it - but Jake was really scared because there was a sign at the entrance saying to watch out for bears (so Jake and I held hands the whole time - except when I was taking pictures). Our second hike was around marsh land. It was my kind of hike - mostly flat. We saw lots of birds and ants on our hike, but as we were driving out of the park - Mick spotted a deer. We stopped to video and take pictures and then we noticed there were two fawns and two mama deer. We were able to video one of the fawns nursing. It was cool!

Stay tuned for what I got to do...is the suspense getting to you?? :)

Scenery at Ponderosa State Park (our first hike)

WE'RE BACK...

We just got back from our family vacation to beautiful McCall, Idaho. And as some of you know, I was wondering what we were going to do in McCall. Well, we hiked, hiked some more, swam, swam some more, saw waterfalls, saw some more, watched wildlife, had family movie nights, played family games, Mick golfed 3 times, and I got to go on a...you'll have to wait and see. :)

*Just a little summary - more to come. I just wanted to get back in the blogging world. I missed it!

MY GUYS...

I just have to say I LOVE having a houseful of boys! Yesterday at church a member of our Bishopric came over to greet us and he said, "Hello Brother McDonald, Brother McDonald, Brother McDonald, man this is easy...Brother McDonald, Brother McDonald and Sister McDonald." I was just imagining how powerful it will be when they all have the priesthood dressed in their white shirts and ties. I can't wait to be surrounded by them all. I wonder if they'll still fight to be the one sitting next to me or on my lap or holding my hand.

I SURE HOPE SO!

"I Thought You Were Somebody Else..."

Have you ever been "mistaken" for someone else? People always seem to think they know me from somewhere... I don't know if that means I'm plain or ordinary looking or what, but it finally paid off Friday night. Mick and I decided to try out...

(next to P.F. Chang's)

When we got out of the car, a man starts walking over to me in the parking lot. He gets within 5 feet of me and says, "Oh, I thought you were someone else. You look just like someone I work with. You have the same hair and everything." I go on to tell him that I get that all the time from people and we just sort of small talked on our way to the restraunt. The door greeter assumed that we were with eachother and when they realized that we weren't, one greeter took this man's party of four and explains how the night's going to work and another greeter starts telling Mick and I that the restraunt doesn't open until Monday and we could come back then. He explains to us that they were doing a practice run with the employee's friends and family - which included a FREE meal (drink, dinner, and dessert) for anyone that was invited. This VERY KIND AND THOUGHTFUL man overheard them telling us we'd have to come back and stretched his arm back and handed me an invitation. Next thing I knew we were being shuttled in and treated to a DELICIOUS FREE meal! All because this man took time to notice us. It's so nice to know that there are still people out there like this man. He didn't have to do it - he just did. Mick and I (and our stomachs) thanked this man over an over again!!

YOUR TRASH MAY BE MY TREASURE

As some of you may know - I LOVE going to yard sales and thrift stores! After being inspired by her post, I decided to post some of my favorite finds. I think I got a little carried away - it's a little long (and I could have added a lot more). Bear with me... I just get so excited about it all!!

I found this great coffee table at a yard sale ($25) this weekend - now I need to decide what color to re-do it in. Any ideas? I love the lines on the top - it's hard to see them in this picture.

These are some of my most recent finds. I found the scale at a yard sale and the antique kitchen utensils at the Richland Goodwill.

I found this great table ($6) at the old Kennewick St. Vincent and painted and distressed it. I found the chair ($10) and the lamp ($3) at yard sales.

I love this! I bought it at a yard sale and painted it and distressed it. (Anyone remember it at Becky Muir's house before she moved? It was green.)

I found this recently at a yard sale ($25) - I'm picturing painting it white (distressed - of course) and putting chicken coop wire in the openings of the doors and changing the knobs. Think it'll be really cute!

I paid more for this at a yard sale than I usually would ($35) because I knew I wanted it for a coffee table and figured I'd probably spend that much on a "real" one.

This table was $3 at a yard sale (I painted it and distressed it). The canisters and clock I found at a yard sale (I can't remember how much) and I found the candle holders at the Pasco Goodwill for $1 each.

I found this trunk at the Richland Goodwill for $6 and the crate at a yard sale for $.75 and painted and distressed it.

I got this at a yard sale for $3 and painted and distressed it. Great place to store the kids coloring books, notebooks, and supplies.

I bought the little suitcase for $3 at a yard sale and the big suitcase for $5 at Richland Goodwill.

I bought this table at St. Vincent in Kennewick ($6) and painted and distressed it and the suitcase at a yard sale ($8).

I love chairs. I got this one at a yard sale for $10.

I bought this chair at Goodwill ($6) and painted and distressed it.

I found the chair ($5) - it used to be in better shape, the neighbor kids like to pick at the leather and lantern ($8) at a yard sale. I got the milk can from St. Vincent in Pasco.

This chair was free at a yard sale and I bought the pail at a Utah DI for $5 and the wreath for $1.

Phew! We're done with my little show-and-tell. I seriously love finding things and decorating the house for cheap. I can't wait until Fridays come around to hit the yard sales!! Anybody have anything they want to sell me?? :)

A "New" Boy in Our Home...

Jake obviously needed a haircut - but I refused to pay for another one (he's the only one I take somewhere to get cut) and I've been too busy lately to do it myself. But yesterday I decided he NEEDED one now - so I got out the clippers. I knew I wanted it short for summer - and this was the "style" he chose. He's always been "envious" of his straight-haired brothers (although Davis's hair has gotten curly now that it's long) and this is the closest he can get to it. He at least has Bennett fooled. I asked Bennett what he thought of Jake's new haircut and he said, "I LIKE it! It looks like mine!" Jake wanted me to take pictures (I was planning on it anyway) so we could put it on the blog. Funny how kids enjoy this blogging stuff too.

Say goodbye to those curls...

Going...Going...

Look at all the hair...

Gone! What do you think? Jake seems to like it. When he walked by the mirror, he did a double-take at himself and said, "Handsome!" :)