Thursday, August 30, 2007 Long time no see!!!

Ok, so back in July Jenne Redfern scolded me because I hadn't posted in so long but, this summer has been crazy busy!!!! So, here is an update on this past summer and I am hoping to get back on a normal schedule now that school is starting back up.

JUNE:
As you all know I work at the elementary school that the boys attend. Well, last year I took a 5th grade boy and girl under my wing. They both have a very different home life than I was and am used to. It started that they needed some after school help with homework and staying out of trouble while home alone. So, they started riding the bus to our house after school so that I could keep them on track. Marc and I agreed that I would keep it up as long as it didn't affect our family and the boys.

"K" our "girl" as we call her, is a true blessing. She went hiking with us, out to dinner, to the local swimming pool and she went with us to mom and dad's imfamous Father's Day BBQ in Troutdale for the weekend, she just really fit in well and we enjoyed having a girl in the house. "D" on the other hand, our other boy, has a lot of past and present family issues, not to mention he is mostly unsupervised every day after school and most of the summer. He and I had some issues and we had to ask him not to come back. It is heart wrenching because I see him running around the neighborhood with kids he probably shouldn't be socializing with. But, what do you do? His teacher is awesome and has really supported me throughout the whole ordeal.

Then, in June, we started with Archery night at church. The Archery Outreach was every Thursday night for 12 weeks where men and women were invited for a BBQ and archery competition as a fellowship night. It was all based on donations and I was in charge of the BBQ portion. So, every week I cooked hamburgers, hot dogs and all of the accesories that go with that. Plus, I liked to add a few extra surprises every once in a while to mix things up. It was a huge commitment on my part but, I really enjoyed seeing everyone and knowing that they appreciated what their church family provided for them.

Mom and Dad came for the Sisters rodeo that month also, we did dinner and the usual just hanging out stuff, it was a lot of fun.

Beau had his birthday party on the 23rd. It was a pool party, so we had the new pool up and running and kept the hot tub open too. I bought a bunch of water balloons and squirt guns and everyone ran around on a cake and soda high!! They had so much fun!

June 28th marked the 2nd anniversary of Jeff Lucas' death. We still miss him very much and are getting closer and closer to reaching the goal for his memorial stadium at our high school.

JULY:
Mom and Dad went to round butte for the 4th of July. We met up with them for a couple of days and then Marc and I headed to Corbett on the eve of the 4th, leaving the boys with grandma and grandpa. I really wanted to be in Corbett for the 4th of July this year. We haven't been back on the 4th for almost 3 years. We had so much fun, of course we hit the beer garden on the 3rd. That is where everyone is on the eve of the 4th in Corbett. Then we hit the parade and fun festival on the 4th. And, who could miss the Corbett fireworks?? They get better and better every year. Thanks to Susan and Big Bear for all of the work they do. I know how much work it is because mom and dad were in charge for several years when I was younger.

Gene Hubbard and Sarah Wilson were married on the 7th. The wedding was beautiful and her dress was just gorgeous!!!

Then we started 2 weeks of swimming lessons and gymnastics camp. Those were the craziest weeks of the summer by far. I felt like I was living in the truck, running the boys all around town. But, they had fun and Beau got to get his cartwheel fix!!!

Then, the week after that they went to Vacation Bible School for 3 days. That was a nice break for me, I dropped them off at 9 and picked them up at 12:30. So, I was able to get some scrappin done.
The next week I helped cover at scrapadoodle so Debie could go on vacation and the boys hung out with Donna and/or Kathi.

AUGUST:
Marc's Uncle's step daughter-to-be was married on the 4th in Sandy. The wedding was beautiful, she had sunflowers everywhere, planted and in vases on the table. We got to see Marc's sister and brother in law and several other family friends we hadn't seen in a while. It was nice to get caught up on the family gossip.

Then, Donna's daughter and granddaughter came to visit from Cali for a few days. Beau was looking so forward to Emily coming he could barely contain himself!! They had so much fun and were basically inseperable for 3 days. Our family went to Suttle Lake for several days and Donna and the girls came to visit for a few hours. It was so nice to be able to see them again.

Amos & Lanell got married (finally) on the 18th! This was the best wedding we went to all summer! Not only because we were happy that they were finally getting married but, because Amos was actually smiling most of the night! Amos doesn't smile much! He is so serious!! We love him though and his brother Blair was able to come visit from the military.
This also marks the first night of meeting Tony's girlfriend!! She is very nice and I look forward to getting to know her better.

Then the week of the 20th, I finally finished the second Japanese album!! I actually got the OK on it and now I just have to reassemble it. Then it is on to the next one!!

Marc and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary on the 24th. He celebrated it out in the middle of nowhere hunting for deer and elk and I celebrated it out with the girls and a couple glasses of wine!! But, if you know the story of our wedding then you know why. If you don't know the story ask us, we love to tell it!!!

That puts us at this week:
I started work at the school this week. Just a little bit, orientation and welcome breakfast for district employees at the HS. This weekend we actually get to stay home although, I think I will be working at Michael's on Sat.

So, I am all caught up now, I am hoping to post at least once a week. If I don't hold up my end of the bargain then I give you permission to give me a hard time about it!!!

I'm outta here,
Nicki

Monday, May 21, 2007 Busy Life!!!

What a crazy and hectic life I live lately!! We had a great time in Hood River, but after unpacking Marc headed to California for three days for work. It is hard to believe that our little "redneck" boy from Corbett went to California on a BUSINESS TRIP!!!! I think the whole trip was worth it for him when they bought him a $50.00 T-bone at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Portland! A meat and Potato guy my man is!!!

This past weekend we went on a much needed vacation to the beach. It was so much fun, we hadn't been to the beach in about 4 years. It is a little farther for us to get there from here than it used to be from Corbett. We headed through Salem to Lincoln City and stayed the night there. Of course the hotel had to have a pool! The boys (including Marc) had a blast in the pool alone. Marc said that we could have just rented a room in a Bend hotel that has a pool and the boys would have been just as happy! It's true but, they had so much fun clamming!!! Marc and Beau got a huge Big Blue clam. Beau was so proud of it he was showing it to all of the other clammers there. Pretty soon there was a whole group of people digging in the same area as us.
Of course we had to go to the taffy shop that we went to as I was growing up. they have the best taffy in town! We shopped, a lot! The boys were looking for the "perfect" gift for their Girl Friends ( notice it's not GIRLFRIEND, I was informed that they are "just girls that are friends"!!!
We visited the wax museum, Ripley's believe it or not and the Undersea gardens. I have to say that I was disappointed in all three of them. I think the only update that any of them have had in the 30 something years I have been going there is that they added a Lord of the Rings display at the wax museum. Other than that they all had just about the same thing they have always had. I wish we would have spent our money on the Oregon Coast Aquarium instead.
We went to a cool glass blowing place. we wanted to have the boys blow their own glass floats nut, it was $65.00 each person! So, we just sat and watched them make all kinds of beautiful floats.
Scrapbook news
I finally finished one of the Japanese albums, it was shipped last week! Pam also asked me to do some invitations for her so, I printed the invitations and envelopes an mailed them Friday before we left.
I am taking a break from Scrap-A-Doodle for the Summer. Debie and I agreed that people (myself included) will be too busy during the summer break to do classes. So, I will spend some time this summer coming up with some new designs.
Marc is on call all Memorial Day weekend, so we can't go out of town so, I think I will join some friends at a scrapbook weekend retreat. It is kind of an impromptu get together, but it is with some friends I haven't been able to scrap with before. It should be a lot of fun.I probably should get myself organized.
Anyhow, talk at ya soon!!
Don't forget, you can leave comments after my posts, just click on the link at the bottom of the post.
Nicole

Sunday, May 13, 2007 Happy Mother's Day!!!

Happy Mother's day to all the moms out there!!
What an awesome day at church today! There were 8 baptisms and one incredible testimony from one of Marc's new friends, Dennis!!

It's a beautiful day again today, and I get to choose what we are going to do the rest of the day. I think we are going to hike Smith Rock or Pilot Butte!
Wish us luck!

May 9, 2007 Summer's Almost here!!!

What a beautiful week it has been in Bend!

Friday, we dropped the boys off for a weekend of fun at Grandma and Grandpa Haines' house, then we headed East.

Marc and I spent the weekend in Hood River for the Hunter's Ed Conference and had a wonderful time!! There was a welcome cocktail party Friday night and we were able to connect with some people from all across the state and visit with people involved in Fishing Ed and Bow Hunter's Education.

Saturday, Marc was in classes all day so, what was a girl to do with so much free time? I finished a complete 8 X 8 mini "all about me" scrapbook in one day!! I watched a chick flick, read a book, got a facial, and a manicure and a pedicure!!
I have not relaxed so much since Mexico last year with mom!! It was wonderful!!!

Saturday night there was a banquet with dinner, and an auction and awards ceremony. It was neat to see how many men and women have served as volunteers for 25 years and more!! One guy I talked to has been a volunteer for more than 40 years!!! It is amazing how committed these people are to the education of our hunters!!

It was back to reality and work on Monday. Marc had a hunter's ed class on Monday night and the boys and I went to dinner at the church with the Strength team. It was so neat to hear their testimonies and how far some of them have come to get to where they are now. One guy even spent 2 years and 14 days in jail! That was until the chaplain, a petite little old lady, witnessed to him.

Marc bought me an i pod as an early Mother's day gift. Anyone who knows me well knows my obsession with music. It has been a big part of my life for a very long time! I sing with commercials, with the radio and I have even been known to sing with elevator music! I have been wanting an i pod for a long time but, couldn't bring myself to splurge on such an expensive gift for myself. So, the last few days I have been loading my Cd's onto the computer and downloading music from the Internet. I am loving it!!! The only thing now is that I still sing but, the boys can't hear the music, only me singing. Oh, well, such is life!! :)

Until next time.......

Thursday, May 3, 2007 Marc's Birthday!!

Today Marc turns 36!!!

We went to see the Strength team last night at church and they were awesome!!! They burned wood and broke bricks, bent a horshoe into a heart shape and blew up cans of soda!! It was so much fun and what's even better is many people committed their lives to the Lord!!
The boys brought home a couple of souvenirs, broken bats and boards that they had autographed. It was definitely worth staying out until 9:30 on a school night!

Not much to talk about today, just getting ready for the weekend in Hood River. I will let ya'll know how it goes on Monday!