Chicken coop

 The boys all pitched-in early this summer to build a coop for our new chickens. 

The work started out with just a few boards and a lot of clean up work.

 You cannot tell by this picture, but before the wood structure even began there were loads of obnoxious shurbs, trees, weeds and other plants growing over this area.  After it got cleared away, the hammer and nails started working in our favor.

The boys played on their new zip line next to Emile while he labored dillegently.  

 We made progress fast!

We finally let the chicks into their new home with their light where their future nesting boxes will be.  Emile also worked hard to install a pulley door for them to go out into their run.  You can see it in some of the following pictures.

 Here is a look at the finished product.  The run is on the side of the coop and goes all the way around the back.   The chickens have figured out how to fly up their top perches and look out the windows until morning.  The boys are anxiously awaiting the first eggs and we will finish the nesting boxes soon as the chickens are getting closer to laying eggs.

eleven

Emile and I have been married for eleven years.  I could tell you about how every year is filled with excitement and how much I love him, but instead I will tell you about how much fun I have spending right NOW with him.

My future is going to be filled with more of these moments.  

Moments that make me fall head over heals all over again.

 

 

It started with a special night at The Resort at the Mountain.  Not too far, but a small get-away that we had never done together.

And we played croquet like Tiger Woods.  

This is me and my victory "umph".  It was supposed to look like this....

 but instead it looked like this...

 Losing hurts so bad!

But a little redemption at the putting course brought him back to form.

Then we went up to Timberline for views, food, and some great conversation.  We actually had a very early date here about 14 years ago.  We looked a little different then... and I will spare myself the humiliation of pulling up that photo!

 The food was delicious, but the views were breathtaking.  We literally sat in front of the window and compared our food to the mountain in view.

 (this image taken from our dining table)

 We came back and enjoyed reviewing wedding pictures while relaxing next to a fire.

The mountain is not complete with a visit to the "Huck".  Which welcomed us with pancakes and eggs the next morning. 

 And finally... we burned off a few of those calories walking around just one of the many beautiful mountain lakes.  Wow!  Who wouldn't fall in love all over again?

Happy Anniversary Emile!  Here we go into another year of excitement and adventure!

xoxo

Girl Power!

 I added some females to the house!  Finally.. and it took no effort on my part to deliver them. 

We have been thinking for awhile about getting some chickens, and we finally decided to make the plunge this week.  We picked up 8 baby chicks from 2 different stores, so next time you are over feel free to say hello to Daisy, Peeps, Tweets, Sunny, Libby, Goldie, Roxy, and Pickles.

We drew them art work for their new diggs and wrote out some important rules.

Yes.. they are reading them Good Night stories. 

Next time you'll see the new coop (being built), and the chicks growing... and someday laying eggs!

Chicks Man!

Crazy about Spring

We love this man!  And we especially love celebrating his birthday! So we started early in the morning, we played all day, and partied into the night and the weekend!!!

 We went golfing as a family to make him smile.

 Ate cake with family

And he would be nothing with out these amazing people!

After all the celebrations, Trenton started finishing up his first year at Kingergarten. 

He had an amazing teacher who put on the most darling presentation together! Check it out below...

Kindergarten 2012 Program from Raina on Vimeo.

Simon's Preschool class finished up his year with a field trip to the most darling Alpaca farm!  Trenton got to tag along.

The boys got summer haircuts.  This is NOT what I expected Trenton's hair to look like... AT ALL.  But he knows he is still handsome despite the new do.

And one fun night we got dressed up for a disco party.  I think we rounded the rest of our time out with yard work and friends.

Now lets get to the Summer months!!

13.1 miles in a race

 I love that learning and self discovery don't stop as we age.  I have learned more about myself in the last year that I have since I my adolescence years.  Here are a few of my findings about good ol me:

1. I can make time for things I have a passion for.
2. I can heal my aches and pains with dedication and obsessive research
3. I can dig deep. 
4.  I get great pleasure from doing things that I never thought I COULD do.
5.  Friends are those who encourage and help me, and seeing my family can bring joy that is brilliant!

 I broke through my own limitations and ran 13.1 miles!

I started training several months ago, and found that running is not just putting one foot in front of the other.  You have to be willing to fight through the different ailments that will try to stop you.  For me, it was my IT Band, my Achilles, blisters, my calves, and running style (this was just what came up in a few months... imagine if I keep going!).  After some seriously hard work... I got here!

   The race started with over 14,000 people lined up on Front Street in downtown Portland.

  

A little enthused we stared running over the Hawthorne Bridge.

I saw my boys at about mile 5.5, and it was a well needed mental jolt!  Especially for the upcoming relentless hills!

 Then... the rest of the miles.  I saw one other friend on the side lines, and the rest was pounding the pavement and dodging all the people in front of me.  We were in a slower heat and so it was like swimming up river the entire race.  It slowed us down a little. 

 

(The below images are stolen from the internet)

At this point I was certain I was about to die!  I gave it everything I had left in me about 3/4 miles back because the people kept screaming that the finish was around the corner.  First of all, they were lying! Second...3/4 of a mile is a really long way when you're nauseated and going numb!

 

We did it! I barely remember this moment, but I'm smiling!

 

 Then we found our boys waiting for us.  Do I look happy or what? I think this is also when I found out that we ran the race in 2:04.  I'm super happy with that considering the people, hills, and it being our first!

 

Finishing friends are awesome!