Manly FUN times!!!

Here is my MANLY hubby!!

 He took off to the coast for some fall fishing!

 At the beach, with some GORGEOUS fall weather.

 And they rocked it!!! 

 They filled coolers,

 and our freezer!  And I SWEAR it is the best fish I have EVER tasted!  And I grew up on fish!

 Look, at my MANLY hubby! (and bro and dad too!) 

Then after leaving us home alone, heads down to the coast AGAIN for some more MAN time.

 TROUBLE is a bunch of guys, quads, and a TOY hauler!

 Here he is-- race ready!!!

 TROUBLE with a Capital T!

 But I love that Corey has had time to RECHARGE and RECONNECT with hobbies and friends.

 We all need a break and our boys are so good and easy that now is the season in our family to go and do that!

On the other hand, I stayed home with 3 little MANLY men who always wanted to sleep in my bed.  Ummm... where will I sleep.  Ha, I just lug them back to their beds.

 And catch glimpses of them all snuggled up together for a quiet time, TOTALLY engaged in a book read by GABE!!!

 They are precious,and I do love being home withthe little men.

 I mean, I LOVE those sweet little faces!

 And they are manly!!

 We did our own fun projects too!

 Ya know, pumpkin painting and all!

So, what about you?  How has your fall been?  Do you leave your kids much?  How do you and your family stay engaged in hobbies and friends, and still focus on family?  It has been a long time coming for us!!!  :)

COWART Reunion

 

So we headed down to McMinnville , Oregon

 for a reunion on Corey's side.    It was so nice to see them all but again with divorce, it is never smooth or easy for Corey.

 But, knowing it was important to his Grandparents; we went. 

 We ate lots of food,

 had plenty of dessert,

 and enjoyed every last delicious bite.

 Corey was able to visit with his cousins and see their kids again.

 And see his grandparents, and talk more with them concerning his DAD.

 That situation- barring a miracle- is completely sad and surreal.

 But the little boys loved the food, park, kids, and grandparents.

 Still a gorgeous fall/summer day.

And time with grandparents you don't get back, and we are thrilled that our boys are able to see their GREAT grandparents-  their last complete set.

School- OH BOY!!!

Well, I am in DENIAL.

 

I have a first grader.  He is sweet and cute and smart.  I HATE that he is gone ALL day.

I mean the bus gets him at 8:07 and he doesn't get home until 3:57.  Yeah- that is 8-4 folks of him GONE.  And that is why I am sad.  I love my monkeys home with me.

 

 

But just look.  He is so ready.

 Here is Gabe on his first day of FIRST GRADE.

 Corey went to work late and we all saw him off.

 Gabe and Corey.

 Gabe's monkey pals...

 Me and my BIG man... who still seems like my baby... like yesterday folks...

 Here I am trying to be brave- but OH MAN - I miss him.

 And then COREY took him to school.

 Here he is after schoool with me anxiously awaiting for his arrival!!!

 But guess what they were ready...  it was must me NOT READY to have them grow up.

 And if that wasn't enough the next day my BABIES started 4 yr. old preschool

 They went to Little Lamb and BOY were they ready too.  They are so smart and kind, sweet and creative.  Their teachers love them and they are always the EXAMPLE of good behavior.

The verdict...  They all love school.  Praise God!! And now I am ready to have my life start changing as my daily schedule opens up more and more.

We have been busy this summer...

 Ahhh....  My  SWEET boys...

 Summer was amazing.  We had a SWINGING good time.

 We lived up the fun in pool, getting good and tan.

 We ate out and stalked the balloon guy at Old Spaghetti factory.

 Trekked down to Enchanted Forest in Salem.  It was like a fairy tale..  :)

 Corey taught our boys how to have more fun than just mom... like picking noses.

 We slid down secret passages ways, biked, and hiked our way through summer.

 We filled up our August because we weren't quite ready to say good bye to summer.

 So we visited the Oregon Coast often,

 Took our besties along too.

 We even had time to go with our life group to HUG POINT on the coast.

 That was a lot of kids for 3 families.  We are blessed by meeting with them.

 We kissed some monkeys,

 We toured submarines, and were reminded of all the men and women who sacrifice for our freedom and safety.

 We visited the moon, I mean bought a family year pass to OMSI (Oregon Musuem of Science and Industry) and watched IMAX films about tornadoes!

 We hung with cousins-- We have boys--  Nikki has the girls!

 I was a soccer mom for the first time, and Gabe did a soccer camp!

 And the highlight for our boys was the zipline Corey made from the treehouse to farthest tree.

So, as we go zipping into fall, school and routines.  We will be sad.  Not because we don't like FALL.  I adore fall, but summer is when I have all my kiddos  HERE, WITH ME, AND I LOVE IT.  Those boys are the best of me, and as a family WE ARE BEST WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER. 

 

SO CHEERS TO AN INCREDIBLE SUMMER.

 

ALRIGHT, WE ARE READY FOR FALL.