Happy 4th of July

Cassidy got her first 4th of July fireworks show last night as we celebrated our independence and freedom. Thanks to Sam and Cari scoping out the good spot and holding if for us, we had front row seats. Cass wasn't quite sure why she was getting woke up after she had gone to bed but I promised her it would be worth it and it was. Between the cheerios and pretties, she had a good time.

Wagons Ho!

Last week Cassidy and I had an amazing adventure. We left Saturday night to join Mom and Dad SE of Pendleton in Blue Mountains for the 28th annual Wagon Train Ride with the Pendleton Roundup. We were able to spend one night with my wonderful friend Lindsey and her family in Hepner before heading into the mountains...






We got to the mountains and the camp site Sunday night. Others rolled in through Monday with a total of 11 wagons/teams and over 100 outriders. We rode 4 days, the shortest being 12 miles, through some beautiful country. Wide open, rolling hills with huge ponderosa pine, elk, and surpisingly quite a few watering holes and creeks. Cassidy rode on the wagon with Mom and Dad while Tucker got used to all the noise and commotion. It took him a day and a half but then he was able to settle down and we were actually able to be Dad's outrider/helper. Cassidy couldn't have done better...she loved the bouncing, the rougher the road the better. She was even able to take her afternoon nap on the wagon.

We had a great trip, meeting lots of wonderful people, Cassidy got to spend lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa and I got to ride for 4 days! It couldn't have been any better.

Rain or Shine...

I've been getting some flack for not having more recent posts...at least I know people are checking! My only excuse is that the weather has been absolutely fantastic, we have a beautiful yard with lots of great projects and I don't come inside until I have to...about 10pm when it's dark. So here are some updates....

With teeth has come the new routine of brushing. Cassidy has really accepted the new "chore" with great excitement, mostly because it means more playing in water...she is able to do all the steps on her own but Mommy gets a turn to brush her teeth, just to make sure.

Grandma Margie came for a visit and had lots of quality time. Bath time was a favorite...check out all that hair!

Grandma showing nerves of steel reading a story during "naked time"

Grandma's girl

They got to spend an hour at the park while I went to a meeting. Here G'ma is showing her photography skills catching Cassidy in action. It still amazes me that she goes down the slide on her own. She even knows the route to get from the bottom of slide back to the top through the play equipment. She is getting so big!

Here is a shot of my garden, finally all planted complete with blueberries and raspberries! Even the seeds that Cass helped with have started to sprout...Fresh salads here we come....in another month or so!

We have also been working on putting on the last leg of the deck along the side of the house and building in the hot tub. Thank you to all all who helped move the beast out of the woods and into the sunshine!

We went to B'ham to help Jack celebrate his 1 year old birthday. Cassidy really liked Jack's present and Jack was gentleman enough to share. They get along so well it's great having them together, although I wouldn't be surprised if they were planning their great escape. We definitely have to keep our eye on them!


This month, Cassidy has really taken some big steps. She is now giving hugs and real kisses, even when asked. Her vocabulary has exploded, not what she is saying (still only a couple of words) but what she is able to understand and identify. She can show her head, eyes, mouth, ears, tummy, and feet, knows open and close, put away/clean up, bath time, give..., up, down, airplanes, outside, trees, and has started pointing to pictures in books of horses, dogs, cats, and cars. She amazes me every day with new words that I think to ask her to identify. She is consistently helping to get dressed, handing me her shirt, pants, socks, shoes and puts her arms up to get her shirt off. I'm sure she knows more that either I'm forgetting to mention or haven't thought to ask. She is changing every day.

Cassidy has also started dancing, but I'm still working on the videos..hopefully you'll see them soon.

So that's what we've been up to in a nutshell. Thanks for checking and I'll try to do better, Rain or Shine!

15 months

She's 15 months old!! At her check-up the doctor said Cassidy looks Fantastic and I have to agree. She is 30.5 in (50%) and 22.9 lbs (45%) strong, happy and healthy.

Happy Mother's Day

The yard is done and looks beautiful. We have been spending as much time out there as we can and all the "kids" love it! The pups keep rolling around on their backs and laying in the sun...Cassidy is all over the place and loves to be barefoot. She likes her new dirt piles too....we're going out this afternoon to plant the garden, my mother's day gift. Cassidy will be a big help diging...hopefully some seeds are in the dirt when we are done!

Chad and Jerry got back last night from their fishing trip. The fishing wasn't quite as good as they'd hoped, but they had a great time and did catch some nice ones. Sounds like going a little earlier would be better...although they already looked pretty bundled up.

YAHOO!!

It's amazing what a little green can do!! They aren't quite done and I already can't believe the difference. Due to the rain looks like we won't be able to finish until Saturday but at least I don't have to worry about keeping it watered....yet!

On another note, Chad and Jerry are off to Brewster and Rufus Woods Lake to catch the monster trout supposedly swimming in those waters and to try out Chad's new kicker engine. This is Chad's last weekend off for recovery and he definitely deserves to have a little fun!

Hope to show off the "big one" and the finished yard Sunday!

Yard Work!

The landscape crew came in on Thursday and in less than 2 days got the majority of the prep work done. After 40 yards of dirt (that's 4 dumptrucks with the pup trailer) we are now gently sloping all the way from the shop to the house, complete with a garden area and a flower beds. They have a little more prep to do today and will begin laying the sod down on Tuesday!!! We can't wait to finally have a nice yard, walk
barefoot through the grass and not worry about the "ouchies and yuckies".

Before....

Cassidy was very excited about her new Sandbox....

Almost ready for sod...