Well, Cole is down for a nap and Jonah is playing Lego Indiana Jones, which makes now the perfect time to blog. Ok, time for fun thing number three: My birthday! I have to admit, I feel a little funny blogging about my own birthday, but we had so much fun I just have to share. My birthday was on the 1st, which was Labor Day, which allowed for a little extra fun. My brother David was in town (fun to the extreme) and my awesome husband planned a great party for me and some of our closest buds: My parents and brother, The Schultz Family, the Egbert Family (who only partially came due to illness :( ) and the Ricks Family. We played fun games with the kids and had cake and ice cream.
But we didn't want the fun to end and since there was no school or work the next day the Ricks and Schultz spent the night!! We just rolled out sleeping bags and blankets and let the kids fall where they were. It was great. The whole night simply proved even more that you don't need booze to have a fabulous time.
The first game was an egg race with small wiffle balls instead of eggs. Sorry, groceries are just too expensive to waste. Here the teams ready themselves for the whistle.

Chip Schultz, as usual, does everything with style and grace. Fortunately, no bones were broken with this one.

Even when the game was over, the Tommy and Jonah would not give up. I love how they insisted on following the rules of not touching the "egg."

Speaking of style and grace, here is my brother David with my Dad getting ready for the three-legged race. Look at the length of those legs! Hardly a fair contest when compared with their competitors.

And these were the competitors: Jonah and Jack...

The birthday girl trying not to be too embarrassed that everyone in the house was singing to her and taking her picture...
I'm not sure who was more excited that I got a Wii: Me or the boys. Let's put it this way; it was in the house for two days before I had a turn to play it.

One of the finest gifts I have ever received in my life was given to me on this, my 31st birthday. It was a photo bag, but not just any photo bag. The Schultz family took time, love and care to put truly priceless photos in the bag for me. Photos that would make me laugh, cry and reminisce. Photos of Chip half naked when he was a teenager. No, I'm not kidding; your just going to have to believe me. Don't ask me to see it. I have been sworn to secrecy and was also asked to surrender said photos at the end of the evening. But the memory will live on forever. I know because the images are permanently burned into my cornea...

Thank you everyone for an awesome night. I will never forget it and am so grateful that I could share it with you. An especially big hug and kiss to my sweetie for giving me the best birthday gift ever: time with people I love.

Horray for the Big K!

OK friends. Time for fun thing number two: Jonah started Kindergarten. As many of you know, it was much harder on me than it was on him to leave Jonah that first day at the "big kid school." However, he ran out of class the first day and immediately asked me when he could ride the bus by himself. Apparently there is no separation anxiety there. My answer? "Heck No!"

Jonah's teacher is Mrs. Young and we already love her. She only stands about as tall as my shoulder and she is a firm believer in teaching the kids independence. Very cool.

I was a little embarrassed about asking Mrs. Young if I could take her picture, but she assured me that I was not the first one to ask.

Many moons ago when I started the first grade, my mom took my picture on the front porch of our apartment with my arm around my little brother. I just couldn't help but try to recreate the moment with my little guys.

Go White Pine Timberwolves! Kindergarten Rocks!!

Where to begin...

I have become so consumed with all that is going on around me that I don't even know where to begin when it comes to filling everyone in about the last 3 weeks. However, I'm going to give it a shot and will try to post something new and fun over the next few days. Too put it all in one post would make my head, and yours, explode.

So, fun thing number one: Our yearly camping trip with the Ricks family. This year it was in Stanley, Idaho. Did you know that even in the dead of August, when all around the country people are sweltering and sweating in 100 degree heat, the nights in Stanley get down to 28 degrees?! Can I just say @#$%^&*!! I like cool weather probably more than most, but give me a freaking break! So imagine with me, if you will, two families, 8 people: 4 adults, 4 children hopped up on s'mores and Capri Sun crammed into one small trailer. Add to that three children (Jonah, Tommy and Taylor) sleeping in the overhead bunk, Taylor sleeping perilously close to the edge. If you think any of us got a lick of real recuperative sleep, you are smoking crack. But let me tell ya, we had more fun than that proverbial barrel of monkeys. Enjoy the following pictures. I sure enjoyed taking them.

The kids went to a "Junior Rangers" class Saturday morning and learned about the local wildlife as well as "respecting nature." Here Tommy and Jonah hold their "warm fuzzies" that they made in class.

Here Cole accurately portrays how unbelievably cold the water was on the lake.

Jonah loves the water so much, by the end of the morning he was almost naked, only in his underwear, wading around and catching fish in a plastic cup. He'd bring them in to shore to show us moms sitting in lawn chairs in the sand, the cup shaking so badly from his shivering that some of the fish actually jumped out of the cup. Be free fishies!!

And of course, Nude Taylor, putting sand in her hair. She is such a little mermaid, you can't help but smile when she plays.

The Fruits of Their Labors

My children celebrated a momentous occasion this week - the eating of the first tomato off of our plants in the back yard. Jonah had been asking me all winter if we could plant a garden and, not wanting to dig up our already landscaped yard, we compromised and bought large oak barrels for our "starter garden." As I dragged the barrels from the trunk of my car to the back yard in the spring, cursing at myself for not waiting until Damon got home, I was doubtful that we would be able to grow anything. I have a horrible history of killing plants. It's hard enough keeping my children alive; other living things are just too much pressure. However, we pressed forward. One barrel became the home for two patio tomato plants, the other, with a trellis, for green beans. I dubbed Jonah the official waterer and watched as he became very dedicated to the cause. He learned to have patience, that the tomatoes were not going to appear overnight. Even worse were the green beans that went in as seeds. We had to wait even longer for that blessed first sprout.
Now three months have gone by and those little tiny tomato plants are heavily laden with golf-ball sized fruit. Still no beans on the beautiful vines, but we remain hopeful.
Last Sunday we had a lesson in Sunday School about faith, from Alma 32. We learned that faith, like our tomato plants, has to be nurtured. We can't go a day without watering our plants in the sweltering heat and likewise cannot go a day in our lives without doing the same for our spirit. I know for myself that I have days where I only need a small sip of "water" to strengthen me, but there are other days when only the hose on high will sustain me. The reward is when that fruit appears, ripens and we get to partake.
These two sweet boys were so thrilled to run into the kitchen holding up that perfect first tomato. Of course I had to rush them back outside to take their picture with it. Then we immediately came back inside, cut it in half, and I watched those little gardeners partake in the fruits of their labors. Gives you hope for the future doesn't it?

Goin' to the Chapel of Love!!

Last weekend we had a semi-family reunion in Portland when my cousin Rebeckah got married in the Portland Temple. If you've never been to that temple and you find yourself in the area, do yourself a favor and just walk around the grounds. It is gorgeous!! My cousins and I picked up right where we left off and that always includes lost of "making fun of Rachel." Oh, well. That's how they show me they love me...I hope.

The newlyweds, Rebeckah and Adam Orton. Aren't they cute? Boy, were Damon and I ever that young? Nope, we were younger...

We had a ball together and even had some grown up time as well. Burgandy, the daughter of my cousin Billy who is 14, who was very generous and patient, watched the little ones while myself, my cousins Daniel, Billy, and Joanna and our spouses went on a hike up to Punch Bowl Falls in the amazing Oregon forests.

These are our "Look Ma!" pictures as we laugh in the face of danger on the edge of the path going up to the falls. Pictured here are Billy and Rhonda, Joanna, Daniel and Heather, Me and Damon. Joanna's husband Steve is standing on the edge of the cliff taking the pictures. Way to take one for the team, Steve!

Here is myself, Daniel, his wife Heather, and Joanna on the opposite side of Punch Bowl Falls. The water is about the same temperature as a glass of ice water. We braved it across the knee deep water, loosing most of the feeling in our limbs about half way across. The smart ones stayed on the other side to take pictures.

Speaking of smart, this is what happens when guys get together and egg eachother on. One guy ends up doing something really crazy while the others look on laughing. Remember, this is ice cold water. I think Steve just wanted to make sure he ended up on my blog. Good thing he and his wife are done having kids...

I wish I could show you all of the fun things we did that weekend. Perhaps one of the most memorable activities was when half of our family (most of whom stayed together at Joanna's house) came down with something called the Norovirus on Saturday night. I later learned from a friend that Noro means "curse" in Japanese. No wonder! It is perhaps the most violent flu I've ever seen. Not to mention a real downer to the trip. It made its way through the family over the next week. We later found out that the PF Changs where we had the wedding lunch had been shut down the day after we ate there because there were so many complaints about people getting sick. It was serious enough that I ended up playing phone tag with the Washington County Department of Health for a couple of days. It was so contaigous that when we came home my mom and my best friend came down with it. Ah the guilt!!

However, it was a dynamite trip. Well worth the drive for sure and we definitely can't wait to do it again...without the crazy Japanese curse of course.

Shoot! I forgot about the 4th of July!!

In all of the excitement about our cruise, I failed to mark the fun 4th of July we had before we left for Mexico! It was one of those days where we actually had too many fun things to do and it was hard to pick which ones we would attend. We started off the day with a fun pancake breakfast at the church. It included a bike parade and Jonah rode his two wheeler for only the second time. As we were going down a slight hill, the bike started to gain some speed and Jonah started to panic a bit. I kept calling to him, "Step back on the pedals!" but he was too scared to hear me. Instead he bailed off the bike. That's right, he actually jumped off the bike and we all watched it go down the road without its rider. Not to mention, Jonah skinned up his knees pretty good, too. Oh, well. It makes for a good story and a good lesson, right?

Next, we went to a rockin' hot party at our friend the Schultz's. They sure know how to throw a party, that's for sure. There is nothing like barbeque and an inflatable water slide to make for Independence Day excitement. Here's Cole taking a little break with, what else? Candy!
Cole was a little bit wary of the water slide, but Jonah as adventurous as ever took to it like a duck to, well, water!!

And there was no way that Damon was going to let the kids have all of the fun. He borrowed some trunks and jumped right on there himself!

Later that evening we hooked up with Buddie and Boppo and went to the city's 4th of July parade. I would stand in the heat and tolerate way too many politician's floats to see the Highlanders play their bag pipes. I always get a little misty when they play "It's a Long Way to Tiperary."

After the parade we went back to Grandpa's house to have our own little fireworks celebration. Here's Boppo showing Jonah that you have to pull really hard on those little champagne poppers. Thanks to Boppo for teaching my 5 year old the finer nuances of explosives.

No matter how loud or how late, the Sutherlands are always up for a party!

Happy late 4th of July everyone!!

Viva Mexico!!

Well, we did it! Damon and I actually took a vacation alone. I couldn't believe it when we were packing. Still didn't believe it when we were on the plane and was just starting to come around by the time we boarded our cruise ship. But boy was it awesome! We went on a cruise to the Mexican Riveria which included stops at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Villarta. I hope you enjoy the pictures. We sure took a lot of them. Everything was beautiful; we just wanted to remember all of it.

One of the first things you have to do when you get on a cruise ship is prove that you can get off of it in a hurry. An alarm is sounded, you go to your cabin, put on your lifejacket and report to a designated area on the main deck. I got to be the "line leader" for my group. It all took me back to the first grade...

The first day of the cruise we were on the ship the whole day. It gave Damon the opportunity to climb the rock wall on the ship. He was like a spider he was so fast and quickly rang the bell at the top.
A triumphant Damon.

Damon on Lover's Beach in Cabo San Lucas. This is the side of the island the guide told us NOT to swim in. This tide coming in is as close as I would let Damon go.
Here's Joanna as beautiful as a supermodel at a cave entrance on Lover's Beach. The guide told us that in this cave, two come in and three come out. Hmmm....
Our guide was brave enough to let me drive the boat. Hang on everyone!!
This is Damon laughing in the face of death as he watches me drive the boat to Lover's Beach.
A view of Lover's Beach from the ship. We took those little boats on the bottom right, called tenders, to the shore.

Me trying to strike a pose on Lover's Beach in Cabo San Lucas. Steve is that guy in the back yelling "Shark!!"

The four of us on the deck of the ship at sunset. After we saw this picture, we noticed the sunset was so perfect, we didn't think anyone would believe it was real! This is the same deck were we saw dolphins and whales swimming alongside the boat. It was absolutely a gift from Heavenly Father to see those beautiful creatures in the wild.
Who are these sexy people?
When we woke up in Mazatlan, the weather was rainy and overcast. However, that has never stopped us in the past. We got off that ship as fast as we could, found someone with a boat and paid him $30 to take us to this island, Deer Island, and loan us a kayak and oars (of course), lifejackets and snorkeling gear. We were alone on this beach for about 2 hours before our fellow tourist found us. The ocean was as warm as a bathtub. Gorgeous!!

Here's Damon being his handsome self in Puerto Villarta. We learned that you never go anywhere without your swimsuit.
I just loved this statue right on the pier in Puerto Villarta. I wish I knew what it was for. This picture doesn't nearly do it justice.
Damon and I went for a walk through some of the residential area in Puerto Villarta. This little gazebo and worn out table were nestled under a beautiful lush canopy of trees. You can see by my bedragled hairstyle that it had been raining quite a bit. That didn't stop us from doing anything!
This hacienda was part of a large ranch where we went horseback riding. They also made tequila here as well. We did not sample, but were very eager to see the different flavors and how they are made.
Here Steve, Joanna and Damon (and myself behind the camera) stand outside our ship as we wait for our bus to get the ranch for our horseback riding lesson. Can you see the fear in Joanna's face? She was very brave on our ride, even when her horse bit Steve's horse in the rear end and Steve's horse kicked Joanna's horse right back.

Damon and I with our Head Waiter Thawnee, from Thailand. He was always sure to stop by after we had dinner and chat with us about our day, what we were doing the next day and of course always willing to bring one or two extra desserts!! The crew of the ship work for 5 months straight before getting two months off to go home and visit their families.
Every night we were greeted by a new towel animal in our cabin. I loved it so much I wanted to take some of the fun home to the kids. I went to a demonstration to learn how to make them myself. Bathtime became a lot more fun at our house.
In Puerto Villarta we went to a fabulous restaraunt called "The Blue Shimp." The four of us ordered the shrimp boat which came with 4 different kinds of shrimp in a flaming pirate ship. Definitely worth the 1,050 pesos!!
Of course we had to have margaritas, virgin style of course. Here is Joanna sipping her coconut margarita. We had a great time ordering them until we discovered that they still charged us $6.50 a piece even though they did not have alcohol in them. Oops...
You can tell I got a little bit of sun, eh? Here is Damon and I in Puerto Villarta goofing around a bit.

This is a fraction of our wonderful 10th Anniversary celebration. We had so much fun and were so glad that my cousin Joanna and her husband Steve tolerated us for 7 whole days. But you know what? None of it was as fun as coming home to our sweet babies that we missed so much.