Pictures...Finally!

The pictures loaded in HTML, so I will just give you the run down. The cute yellow house is where we live and we have an awesome flame orange Japanese Maple in the front that I have a couple pictures of. There is a picture of the downstairs family room, kitchen and "reading area". Things are still a huge mess because there is not one single linen cabinet in the entire house. So I have things that don't have a home yet. Sorry I took so long getting these up, I still can't find my cable to connect my camera to the computer--so I hooked up the photo printer and used the card slot--because of the delay, I was able to get the picture of the gigantic slug in the back yard--or what there is of it. See my hand next to it? Gross. Anyway, the back is about 4 feet deep and then there is a huge retaining wall straight up that is ivy, ferns, trees and tons of blackberry bushes. There are in season right now, so the kids are loving it. The dogs are adjusting well too. They pretty much stay on the porch most of the day and then venture out and explore when they are bored. They have already brought me back a ton of trash they have found. Since I took these pictures--which was Sunday, the leaves have changed drastically and it is like living in an Autumn post card. I love it here! The normal high has been between 58-62 degrees F. In the past 12 days, it has only rained twice. I will post more later! I have also included an adorable photo of my new nephew, Evan Magnus Ketcher!

WASHINGTON!!!

Wow! It is so beautiful here. Just wanted everyone to know that we are here and loving it! I will post pictures tonight of our house and the beautiful fall colors everywhere. We just got phone and internet today. Congrats to my brother John and wife Jen on their new baby boy, Evan!!! Love you guys!

Here is my mosaic!

I thought this was really cool! You should try it!

Gracie has arrived!

I had to post this so everyone will know that my new little niece has arrived! Gracie Nomena Dierlam was born this morning at 6:45am Alaska time, 5 lbs 9oz., 19 inches. She is here a few weeks early and Randi had to have an emergency c-section because of preeclampsia and then the baby started to become stressed. Anyway, both are doing fine, but they may keep Gracie up to two weeks just to make sure she is breathing good and gains some weight. So cute and tiny! Congrats Mike and Randi!

Summer recapped

Here's a quick recap of July---Uncle dan came to visit on July 2nd, we celebrated the 4th, on the 5th we had Robby's 7th birthday party, on the 6th, we went to Yosemite and Mariposa Grove to to see the waterfalls and giant sequoias, Uncle Dan left on the 7th, we rested on the 8th. It was crazy! We were exhausted, but so glad that Dan came to visit. The last time he was out to see us was when we blessed Robby. Here are some photos. Natalie being patriotic, Robby enjoying his party, the family in Yosemite, Indiana Jones, etc. Enjoy!





Yeah, I made that!

And all of that! Yum! Fruit salad, sweet & sour meatballs, teriyaki chicken, salsa...what more do you need?

Daa da da daaaaa, da da daaaa, daa da da daaaa, da da daaa daaa da.

Here is Yosemite Falls. It unfortunately was not at its full splendor.

Here is the Lower Falls, so dry!

This is Bridalveil Falls

Gorgeous!







Chillin' with Benelli

Fresh Mountain Air

We went camping this past weekend up at the Yosemite Lakes Thousand Trails campground just west of Yosemite National Park. It was awesome! I like camping as well as anyone, but after day two or three, I'm ready to go home. This place makes you want to stay forever! The campgrounds had awesome showers and activities galor! There was even miniature golf. The best part was that it was right on the Tuolumne River and it was only about waist deep in the deep spots and barely moving. The water was also amazingly clear. The kids had a great time swiming and playing in the dirt. Mark and I even caught our fair share of trout. Don't worry, they did get eaten(not by me, though!) Even when it is 90 degrees there, you step into the shade and it is so pleasant. You should go there, and often. I didn't even mind the drive home through Yosemite. We saw 4 waterfalls flowing including Yosemite Falls. Unfortunately, it wasn't at full glory. By the way, if you have a child that gets carsick(i.e. Natalie), do not take Highway 49 west of Mariposa unless you want your car to smell of vomit(and jellybeans--ugh)!

Hot weather...hot hair!

So Natalie's hair has been chopped off and it looks so cute! Here are the pics. Robby got a haircut too(just like all his other hair cuts) and wanted me to include him as well. Let me know what you think!