Silly Hammie

Hammie has taken to burying his bones out back. He is what 11-yrs now and this is very new for him since being with us. Here he is nudging it under the playhouse/fence area. The other is his nose after the fact. Silly Hammie.

A study of Hammie...by Jack

Hammie reading


Hammie resting

Dog days of summer...

Ahh August! It has been a great summer. Here are some photos of one late afternoon...the boys enjoyed a sprinkler, squirt guns and popsicles. The days I most enjoy being a mom.

A marathon trip...

Travis, Mitchell, Jack, Kaitlin, RJ
RJ, Mitchell, Travis, Jack
Jack & RJ at aquarium
Jack w/ Natalie, I believe eating her fingers
RJ and Natalie
Ms. Natalie

Last photo of the trip...need I say more.

We just got back from a road trip, done of course, Erwin style.

Friday-May 9: gym, swimming lessons, lunch w/ Phillip, pick Lexi up from dr where Connor was being seen for injury, laundry, pack, laundry, load car, clean house, load car, volunteer at school carnival, Phillip loads dog and Jack, picks up dinner, RJ and I at school and the mad dash to La Grande begins...check in really late, struggle w/ a newbie at hotel check in...sleep as much as possible in as little time as possible.

Saturday-May 10: drive to Bruneau, met newest niece- Ainsley- beautiful I might add, paint, play, hang out w/ cousins and grandparents.

Sunday- May 11: (mothers day) paint, run, great dinner w/ the tribe- Sid, Judy, Grammy, Aunt Mary, Russells crew and Phillips crew, have a great time w/ the cousins, eat a wonderful dinner.

Monday- May 12: do a ton of stuff in too little time, Jack went w/ Grandpa to feed cows- mind you it was very exciting yet intimidating- grandpa had to bring him back before going to feed across the way- as soon as he left, Jack melted down into tears because he was left behind. Boys took Gramma out for lunch and shopping. Drove to UT, sadly missing Jess. Got into UT at about 11p due to road improvements. Enjoyed listening to the kids goof off in the tent Kim and Shaun set up for them while having a couple of full strength drinks in their "kitchenette" of a bar:)

Tuesday- May 13: Aquarium in the morning, broke Kim's car DVD player (very nice player in a very nice new car) on the way to lunch, Phillip visited w/ Ken.

Wednesday- May 14: Whole family went to visit Ken, had a great time, great lunch and really enjoyed catching up. Kids ran the rec room w/ their video games and TV time...met up w/ Kim and Shaun at the Hogle Zoo- saw an albino alligator- rather odd really, enjoyed rush hour SL style and had a great pizza dinner until Jack knocked over a glass of water then turned around to see what he did and knocked it onto the floor- it was a beautiful sound when it hit the hardwood floor! We rock!

Thursday- May 15: RJ and Jack are totally exhausted and really not user friendly so Phillip took Ken to the dr apt minus Mama E. Boys and I enjoyed a park visit w/ Kim and Natalie until RJ took a metal pole in the forehead, causing a large bump and hard bite to the lip, matching fat lips for the boys since Jack had a mishap w/ the wall earlier in the morning getting dressed. Gotta love having boys! Apt for Ken went great! They removed the staples and the incision looks amazing. He will be sitting up in about 3 weeks and will be done w/ the antibiotics about the 9th of June. He will be heading home around the beginning to middle of June. He is of course very bored but looking amazing for what he is going through.

Phillip and I watched Miss Natalie while the rents went for dinner...it was rather quiet really, she is an easy baby and doesn't even fuss, lucky parents;)

Friday- May 16: Visit Ken on way out of town, make it about one hour out, Phillip and I switch so I can drive and at about Bringham, going around 85mph RJ lost his lunch- half out the car window the rest on his dad...long drive to grandmas with the windows down. Couldn't meet w/ Jess again as we all smelled like, well we smelled.

Saturday- May 17: (my birthday) we ruin grandpa's TV by making it digital vs analog, finished laundry, picked up the dog- he had a great visit w/ Sid and Judy- he even went out into the fields w/ Sid and had a great time- mind you the smell back to Portland was better then from UT to Bruneau but it's debatable how much better. We wrapped up the drive in time to defrost Conney dogs and put them on the grill because if we eat out in the next 10 days it will be more then our little tummies can manage. On the last four miles Phillip and I were laughing so hard because we realized that we were that family. You know National Lampoon, that family. Hammie climbed into the seat w/ the kids and layed on RJ's lap, by then we had run out of snacks, water and our minds- before we hit Troutdale.

It was wonderful to see everyone- although we are seriously bummed that we missed Jess not once but twice- and we were so glad to have time w/ Ken. Amazing- simply amazing.

Spring Break

So I finally am taking pictures. Must be spring!

We went to the beach for the weekend the last couple days of spring break. Honestly I ran out of things to do in Portland that I had coupons for...shhhh.

It was a wild weather weekend. We left Friday morning and hit a ton of snow on the pass. When Phillip drove over that afternoon it was clear as a bell. Hmmm, I had the kids, dog and snow and he had a quiet clear drive. Bitter but not sure who at, him for working and being blessed or me for not being patient and leaving w/out him.

Here are photos of how it really is to live in the pacific northwest. If it is cold, wet and raining, just wear boots. Hammie dog loves swimming in the ocean, especially when chasing other dogs. We also hit the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Yes that is Phillip at the top of an anchor. He was showing RJ that you could climb the chain. I tried not to freak out and just take a picture but I admit, I have a weak constitution...when it comes to my boys.

Enjoy the walk through the pics. I know there are a few.

Hammie

Phillip caught a sleeping hound...it is hard to get a photo of him like this as he is usually mugging for the camera and getting right in the middle of most shots. He was wiped out from a long walk with the boys last night. Such a love!

Hammie is our new dog, we rescued him about two years ago. He is ten, or there abouts, and has settled into Erwin life pretty well. He has gotten to tollerate Jack pretty well and loves RJ. Jack can't get enough of the dog, he even takes him on his walks, really, Hammie will walk w/ Jack holding the leash saying, "walk" the whole time. We had to hire a trainer awhile back and she worked miracles w/ us, apparently Hammie was not the problem, such a suprise;)

RJ is enjoying another week of VBS (vacation bible school). There are so many churches in the area that we put a cap on four this summer. I think next summer there will only be three. They last about a week and are only mornings but it gets him out of the house and so far no sign of him being overchurched.

Jack is just taggin along this week, playing catch up with his sleep and me on the errands.

Phillip has had a much better week of things at work. He has been able to work some things out and has a choice of a couple of positions so he can stay with the company. He has a couple weeks to decide so he has been spending a lot of time being very thoughtful. Your prayers have been answered and we cannot thank you enough! It was very upsetting last week and we are just so grateful for your support and love during this challenging moment.

H2C is in three/four weeks and I am ready. Well, mostly. I think it is all mental now. I am set w/ my equipment and gear. Just need to test a couple of electorlyte tablets and salt tablets in the next few weeks. I have found an energy bar I like, hard to do you would be amazed and I have the right shoes finally.

Kitchen cabinets come next wednesday! I cannot wait, we are all sick of eating out, literally.

All our love...