The next three years...

A semester here and a semester there, yikes! I will be attending college at the University of Oregon this winter (Jan. 4, 2010) and I am going year round 'til I finish/graduate. Being a mommy, wife, and college student can be pretty tricky, especially since I also worked and will work part-time. F.Y.I.; graduate college BEFORE you start a family! Unless of course you would like to take ~10 years to graduate...lol!
I am also going to take a Phlebotomy course and then take the state exam so that I can become licensed in the upcoming months. I need to come up with about 2 grand to pay for it first. Then if all goes as planned, I may go to grad school. There you have it; my life for the next three + years, in a nut-shell!

We beat the heat!

Well, today is "suppose" to be a little less hot. The past couple of days Phoenix, AZ, is the only place in the United States that has been hotter than Eugene, OR. That is pretty ridiculous sense our average temperature is 83'F for this time of year. The past two days it has been around 110'F. Yuck! I absolutely HATE extreme weather; that is one of the reasons why we moved here, to enjoy the mild climate. Well, since we set an all time record, I don't believe that this will continue. It is suppose to start cooling off and return to "normal" temperatures. WOOHOO! The other day I went and purchased some water toys so that the kids and I could cool off. I also purchased some Blue Bunny Ice-cream sandwiches. MMMmmm! Then yesterday we went over to Bill and Donna's for some fresh BBQed salmon and my homemade potato-salad. So in other words..."We beat the heat!"

My kiddos loved this seal. It sprayed water out of its spout and balanced a ball on the water-spout.

We also hooked up the sprinkler to spray the tramp. while the kids jumped on it.

Tyler and Dominique love there new little kiddie pool. I wanted something a little bigger, but every retail store was sold out of the"big ones." This one is 5 ft wide, so not too shabby! The kids and I had fun anyways!

Dominique has become quite the acrobat!

Splish~Splash!

Happy~n~Cool. Tyler jumpin' in the pool.

Takin' turns and havin' fun!

Tyler caught some serious air. I love this little guy.

Fun in the sun!

I couldn't help but post this picture. They only had a little spat during the three hours we were out side playing which is pretty good considering the fact that it was hot and they are brother and sister...lol!

Happy, Happy; Joy, Joy!

I can't wait until we get our new enclosure. It makes me a little frazzled when Tyler is on the tramp....no broken bones please. He has a blast though, so I guess I can hold my breath for a while...hehe.

Wooohooo!~

Look at 'em go!

Just cute and happy!

Dominique showin' off her new earrings. She isn't spoiled, she is just loved.

Dominique putting the beach ball onto the seal's water-spout.~ Fun, fun, and more fun ~

This little whale shoots a little spout of water as it swims through the pool. Tyler liked this little toy!

Even Dominique had fun in the pool...and it fit her just right. Next year we'll try to get a bigger pool though, lol.

A "BERRY" FUN DAY!

Last weekend we went berry picking. We took Tyler, Dominique, and Austin, (Dominique's friend) along with Kris and I. We road our bikes along the river trail until we found a blackberry patch full of berries! In 15 minutes, we picked 40 ounces of wild, organic, blackberries. MMMMmmm!

What a treat!

While picking we got poked a couple times, but it was worth it!

~WOW~

This pie was delicious, however, I am going to start buying pie crust. It is not worth the time and effort when it only costs a $1.50 for two premade crusts!

A little ice-cream on top...and walla!~

My kiddos were impressed! Kris liked my pie too!~

If Dominique likes it, you know it's good!

Sticky fingers...

More pies, jam, smoothies, etc...here we come!

Last weekend Kris and I invited Bill and Donna to our house for a BBQ. We made cabobs, homemade potato-salad, chips, and baked-beans. Bill and Donna brought desert...a D.Q. ice-cream cake. We had ourselves a feast, and boy was it tasty! They also brought the kids a bag of chocolates, a box of 50 pcs. of chalk, and huge sack of kids' movies. We definitly received the royal treatment, THANKS A MILLION! They also brought Kris and I a couple bottles of wine...mmmm....my favorite!

Red wine in the summer time!

After the BBQ they took us to the Lone Pine Farm. For a quarter you can purchase a hand-full of feed for the goats; this was a big hit for Dominique and Tyler!

These goats would even travel through a maze if you decided to ship their food around to the different levels. This goat was waitin' for some supper.

Tyler was so brave!

They also had a VERY nice set of play structures. The kids had a blast playing with Bill and Donna!

"To infinity, and beyond!"
Next time I better bring more quarters...Tyler would have fed these goats breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Dominique also had fun feeding the goats. The goats were friendly, well-kept, and happy to receive a snack.
Playin' and havin' fun! I better enjoy it while it lasts. . . cheap entertainment that is...lol!

Bill and Dominique and their swing-off.

Pretty impressive for a 60 yr. old man...shhh, don't tell him I told you his age.

We do have family here after all! WOOHOO!

Bill and Kris hangin' out and havin' fun. (* Bill is Joe Zito's brother.)



This is Brittany and Tyler playing...

you guessed it, BASKETBALL!
(*Brittany is Joe's Granddaughter.)


She shoots...she scores!
Is this considered traveling, interference, or cheating?

Bill and Donna had us over for a BBQ on July forth. Mmmm, it was delicious!

There were all sorts of goodies to choose from...the kiddos had a blast. Joe bought Tyler and Dominique a sprinkler type fun mat. They loved it and even Brittany joined in occasionally throughout the evening.

Dominique even got her fingers painted. WOW! She's a favorite here too...lol. (*It must be her big brown eyes and her spunkiness!)

Porland, OR. Rose Garden

Due to the beautiful summer weather I have been slacking a little when it comes to blogging. I thought that I would redeem myself and let everyone know what we have been up to lately. A couple weeks ago we went to the Portland Rose Garden. It was absolutely stunning. There were roses of every color and each smelled as beautiful as the next. There were acres upon acres of rose patches. This is a must see for anyone who comes to visit!!!

Tyler and Dominique had a blast running from flower to flower and indulging in the essence of the roses.There were a few fountains as well. This place is so peaceful, even Dominique couldn't take it all in.

The roses were just the right height so that Tyler could put his nose right in the flower...mmmm!

Dominique has to be the most photogenic person I know. You are gorgeous little girl. In fact you are a pretty as a rose!

It was a little warm outside and Tyler really wanted to take a dip it the fountain. Kris couldn't help it and well...as you can see Tyler was able to cool off by the help of his daddy...lol!

Dominique thought that it was pretty funny! I think that my face might have turned a shade of red.

My handsome little guy and his moment of Zen.

Dominique is such a nice big sister. Most of the time these guys are inseparable.

To top it off we came upon a lady playing the harp. Music is really big here. What a treat this was!

I could have pitched a tent and camped here for days!
This would be a great spot to study or read a book for sure!

There were plaques named after different gals; look I have my own!

This never gets old!

Roses of every shade and color!

My beautiful FAMILY! Wow; I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family!

We have so much fun together!

My love!

True Love!

Spunky and Cute!

Ah ha! Even Kris couldn't resist these gorgeous roses!

My kiddos!

Awwwwww...

Lookin' cute and havin' fun! She looks so peaceful.

Caught again!

There was also a gazeebo type thing in the middle where one could rest and take it all in!

Tyler is in the middle.

A close-up!

These roses look like candycanes...

These were my favorite; there were roses of mutliple colors on the same plant. Breathe taking hah!?

...even purple roses!

And now you were able to see a glimpse of this beautiful rose garden. You must come see it; like most things, it's better in person!