White Water Rafting

My sister asked me before I came out on my trip to visit her in Oregon, if I would like to go white water rafting. I'm usually up for anything, so I said OK. I'm so glad I did, it was one of the most fun things I have ever done in my life. I can't wait to have an opportunity to do something like this again.

Our trip was a 6 1/2 hour day, 16 miles on the Deschutes River. We met in Maupin, OR and got on the river there. We went about 4 miles down and had a great lunch grilled for us and got to dry off a bit. The rest was mostly riding the river.

Remember, if you click on the pictures they will enlarge and you can see the OH CRAP! looks on our faces better!

My sister is in a pink hat and I am in a beige hat.

This is one of the rapids we hit, we all had to get down in the boat.
And this is why!

This was the first rapid we hit!

It was hit pretty hard!

Yep! I was the first one out of the boat!

My sister and another guy got me back in pretty quick.
Everyone, except my sister got thrown out at a different rapid.

We also got to swim (float, get tossed around) in some Class 2 rapids.
That was pretty fun too!

We had water fights with the other boats.
We had our guns. We had a blast.

At one point many people from the boats chose to cliff dive. NOT I!

A Good Day!

I am leaving today to visit my sister in Oregon for two weeks. My husband will come out for one of the weeks, while my mother-in-law is staying at our house watching the young ones. I have been a little worried, the basic Mom worry about leaving my kids, but I am looking forward to spending time with my sis.

I don't know how much I'll be able to blog, so I will keep the memory blog going on below.

My dear friend Stacey brightened my day by upping her written memory to a live memory for all to see go here. (We did have fun!!!)

Kind of Being Tagged At Your Own Will/Risk

Memory Lane

I got this off my friend Julieann's site and thought I have not been great at blogging lately, so I'd give this a try.

Here are the directions: 1. As you comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! 2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

No Butt Invasion!!!!

I had planned on having a lovely colonoscopy this past Tuesday. I had awhile of things not liking going into my belly and would try to escape as soon as possible, or just give pain and let me know they weren't happy in there. I was just like one of my kids and soon after going to the doctor, I really didn't have any more problems. But I had these procedures scheduled. I had the CT scan and that came back negative. I have been billed something awful for past medical stuff. So I called my insurance company before my colonoscopy and found out they don't pay for a anesthesiologist (thank goodness for spell check!), they are optional, except for a few states. I guess I live in a state that it is mandatory to have an anesthesiologist, but the insurance company doesn't care about that.

All and all, I called my Dr.'s office and mentioned I hadn't had any problems since about the time I left the Dr.'s office and wanted to know how important this test was. They said not so much, unless I start having problems again--they understood the insurance problem too. So I canceled my buttscope, and hope not to have to do it until after 50...maybe in the next few years my insurance will change their policy.

The saddest thing about this is my oldest was so concerned she was about in tears. She was very upset that we don't have any money and I might really need this procedure. My heart went out to her and I explained the Dr.'s said it was okay to cancel. She does really worry about things.

Happy 3rd Birthday Bobo!

My youngest is three, well technically tomorrow, but the celebration was this past weekend. Bobo wanted a pirate birthday, so that is what happened.

We started the festivities with each kid making their pirate flag. Decorating construction paper with pre-printed and cut pirate graphics. (You'd think I would clean off the bar before taking a picture? And for those who haven't seen my ugly green walls with pink countertops---TADA!)

Next we decked the kids out in homemade bandannas to appear more pirate like and practiced saying AAARRRRGGGH!!!


Then we moved on to pin the X on the X. Yes, my creativity was just flowing...I had planned on drawing treasure chests on the circles, because X marks the spot for treasure, but it was easier to put an X on the circles.


My husband read How I Became a Pirate to the kids. Then after that we followed a map to find gold. (baggies filled with some Rollos, Hershey's in gold wrappers and butterscotch.) With the gold there was a pinata waiting.


We made the pinata, then my husband spray painted it for us. Making the pinata became a family event. During our first go with the paper mache, the balloon popped and myself, the kids and the entire kitchen was covered with flour water mixture. It stuck good too! Lesson learned, do paper mache outside.

Then of course we did presents and had cake and ice cream. I had read somewhere to pre-scoop the ice cream in cupcake liners, so they were ready to go----such and awesome idea. Bobo requested the pirate treasure chest cake. So that is what that cake is supposed to be.

We had a great time. Thanks to all that were able to come and celebrate the birthday with us!

New Addition

We just got a new dog this past week. We have friends that breed beagles and we had been thinking about getting some kind of hound dog. They had a surprise litter and we now have a puppy. Yes, that means I have been a little more busy. Max Uno is his name.

Good News/Not Great News

There has been some good news over the last few days.

Our AC is fixed and it was a free fix! Very, very good news. (Now we hope it'll make it through the summer.)

My middle child, who reads at a decent level, but HATES to read. She would rather do almost anything other than read. She read her first full chapter book by herself today. I am so excited!!! She actually asked to take the book with her while going to a friend's house. My oldest, who usually is glued in a book had asked to take the DS. My middle child tells me, "Mom, we must be in an alternate reality, because I want to bring a book and sister wants to bring the DS." Very cute. I made a really big deal about her book reading, I splurged and let her pick out a new paperback book while at Wal-mart. She is quite happy!

The not so great news is that my insides haven't been acting right lately and I went to the Dr. today and he scheduled over the next two Tuesdays a CAT Scan and a colonoscopy.