Painting the Bedroom

We have been in our home for 4.5 years now. Very slowly we are doing the decorating.

My room is pale & boring. I wanted to make it warm and comforting.

So finally my husband and I agreed on 2 colors, found some bedding, and got to work!

Before

So white & clinical...it's boring!

White, White, and more White

Eggplant & Spiced Cocoa, with matching bedding!

Hmmm, going to have to do something the night stand...some sanding & painting in my future.

Little Gwen enjoying the new bedding.

So, the walls are painted & I have new bedding.

Next on the list is to make new curtains, sand and paint the night stands, and buy decor for the walls.

That will probably take another 4.5 years...but that's okay!

L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial Park Camping

We went camping for the 1st trip of the camping season, back in April during Spring Break.

The destination: L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial Park in Oregon, about 40 minutes west of Portland.

We had a great spot: no immediate neighbors and right next to a playground area!

Looking down at our truck and trailer from the playground area.

Part of the playground! The boys had their own personal train to play on!

The campground is HUGE...approximately 2000 acres.

There were miles of trails for hiking, biking, running, and playing.



The boys on one of our hikes.

The campground even had an off-leash dog area for Gwen!

Levi playing fetch with Gwen.

 The boys spent 3 days playing, playing, and playing!

Levi on his 10,000th trip down the slide.

Alex and Levi digging in the gravel, while Gwen looks on.

Duncan got to relax.



 Best of all, we were only 30 minutes away from our friends in Beaverton, OR. We met them for dinner and an Oregon Timbers Soccer game. The boys were so excited, because we got to ride the commuter train into Portland!

Carpooling to the train station!

Alex and mommy at the soccer game.

This was by far the best trip in our camper. They boys didn't fight, there was no yelling, and everyone was on their best behavior.

The stars must have been in alignment for us!

We will definitely be going back to this campground.

Waiting....

I am very patiently waiting for the FedEx man to bring

me this:

The waiting is killing me. I can't wait to try the product

out & see if it really will make my hair do this:



It's been a long time...

Sometimes I wonder what I am doing wrong.

Some mom's seem to have it all down...always taking pictures, posting pictures, writing in their blogs, cooking/baking/sewing/etc.....Sometimes I just feel like I'm falling behind.

Oh, that's right -- I just have different priorities. Sometimes they take over. Last year it was the relay. I was good up until the relay.

After the Rainier to Ruston Way Relay last June, I was done in. I beat my body up really good. It took awhile to recover, both mentally & physically. I was just making it through the day. Always tired. Working out was hard, playing with the kids was hard. Ugh!

Good thing Alex's birthday was the day after the relay...I had already planned it!

My happy little boy turned 2!

Then Levi finished Kindergarten! He loved his teacher & made lots of friends.



There were several camping trips & family gatherings. We ended summer with our annual camping trip to our friends property in Quinault. We look forward to it every year. This year was FABULOUS! The weather was amazing...sunny the whole time.



Then suddenly we were into the new school year. Levi headed off to 1st grade. It has been a struggle, one that has had us seriously considering private school. Levi insisted on staying where he was, and at the moment things seem to be working out okay.

Then it was CHRISTMAS TIME!!! We went tree hunting, then tree decorating, then present wrapping. The whole family was at the house this year. It was a wonderful time!

We then celebrated Levi's 7th Birthday. Where did 7 years go? He was super excited about his soccer cake.

Sally and I started talking about a 1/2 Marathon. Lakefair this year is going to have one.

A friend at the Y turned me on a book...Eating Clean Stripped. 28 Days later, 9 pounds gone. Plus the Eating Clean lifestyle has brought me new found energy. That 1/2 Marathon is going to be awesome!

January brought a new workout class for me to lead -- R.I.P.P.E.D. Seriously the best workout ever! I have been teaching it now for 2 months, and I feel fantastic. My muscles are much stronger & my runs are getting faster because of it.

Things are looking better. The boys are happy and growing. Duncan is happy. I am finding my way. I am on the road to becoming a Personal Fitness Trainer. So that should be a fun post.

We also expanded our family..please welcome out new baby girl, Gwen:

Hello blog-land, sorry I have been gone for so long.