InstaFriday

Hello, my blog friends. The nephews have gone back home, the husband's basketball team camp is over, vacation bible school just finished, And I've made it up to season 5 of Friends while using my treadmill. (Which is unrelated but leads to the following...)

What's encouraging: after walking at a BRISK PACE for an hour last night, I ran for half a mile. Without stopping.

What's discouraging: I couldn't log it in my fitness pal because 4 mph is not listed as a jogging speed. Whatever, fitness pal. I was totally running.

Anyway, here are a few instagram shots from this past week.

 Things I'm loving: 

- zucchini by the bucketload. 

- homemade muesli (not homemade by me though because I have people for that)

- chocolate chip oatmeal cookies (homemade by me because I do have priorities)

- super cute mug filled with coconut m&ms from Vegas, Baby! (aka: Kelly and Dave, who were grateful I kept their boys alive while they were gone.)

What is it with Russell and birds?
He found this little baby and saved it from Miley, our wannabe bird dog, before reuniting it with it's mama, who was one chirp away from a birdy heart attack in the bushes nearby.

Today for the last day of vbs the kids performed a mini-concert for all the parents. It was so cute and included hand motions, a little dancing, and some loud interruptions from Blake who A) had to go potty midway through and announced it for all to hear while jumping up and down holding himself, and B) came running to say hi and give me a hug mid-song when he noticed me in the crowd. 

 Still taking the nap time snuggle shots. I can't seem to help myself.

When it doubt of what to do with five children: fill them up with sugary shaved ice and then let them loose on the trampoline, telling them it's nap time as soon as they come back inside. Mwahahaaa. The backyard suddenly became very interesting that day.

And now I'm ready to enjoy the weekend with my peeps. Happy what-the-freak-it's-almost-4th-of-July-already?!! Have a great one :)

Oh, hello!

I have a blog don't I?

You'd think I'd forgotten that fact with my patchy posting lately. Turns out summer break = blogging routine break, because I haven't been able to get myself on a regular writing schedule since the kids got out of school.

I've decided everyone's going to have to live with it though, because I'm all about EMBRACE THE SUMMER BREAK!

(And by everyone I mean my 5 or 6 dedicated readers. I love you, dedicated readers!)

I'm also all about keeping sane, and as I'm currently watching my two nephews for a few days while my sister and brother-in-law are gallivanting around Las Vegas for their anniversary, bringing the humans-under-age-11 count up to five, including one still in diapers, blogging isn't really my top priority right now anyway.

Here are my top priorities:
1. Keep the two 4-year-olds from battling to the death over who's the boss of who.
2. Remember that there is a child in diapers in my home now and that diapers need to be checked and changed on a semi-regular basis.
3. Train 10-year-old daughter in the art of changing diapers.
4. Hide all the chocolate.

Wish me luck!

InstaFriday

Oh Instagram, your little square photos with fun filters are so fun and simple to use. 

Yet it took me two full weeks to get these 10 pictures... a sign my life is pretty boring? Or that I'm just really forgetful?! 

Based on the fact that I just had to call a friend to cancel the plans for tomorrow morning that we made earlier today, because I had completely forgot all about the plans I already had for tomorrow morning that have been on my calendar for 3 weeks, I'm going to go with option #2. 

 My secret to treadmill success... watching Friends episodes on the laptop with subtitles on.

An hour went like that! (Of walking that is. I think I could run for maybe 7 minutes, if I really pushed it...)

My secret to summer break sanity: a little trick I learned from my friend Amanda. One cup a day per kid, returned to it's proper place on the counter after meals. 

It's working like magic too, no more 20-cup roundups!

 A princess and a hero at play. You'd never know it but Rapunzel and Captain America actually have a lot in common and get along just swimmingly.

 Hanging with Daddy at his summer bball tourney.

Hanging with my daddy on Father's Day.

 Fresh picked Oregon strawberries...

 that I turned into the BEST kind of jam, freezer jam!

 PB&B, my favorite since childhood.

Cuddling with my sweet, buzzed napper.

Conquered Turbo Jam and the 30 Day Shred this week with my friend Kristie, sweated a full bucket to prove it too.

And guess who was talked into against her better judgement gets to go work out at the track tonight with her husband? I do, I do! Yaay....

Happy weekend! 

I'm linking up to Jeanett here

Awkward & Awesome

Awkward
- Attempting to find the lawnmower keys that our 4-year-old "played with" and left somewhere in the lawn. The TWO ACRE lawn. (It's going to take a miracle. Or a metal detector - that might work too.)
- Trying to excuse the haphazard lawn mowing job that was the result of our 10-year-old's first ever attempt at using the riding mower (pre-key loss) to visiting guests, while not insulting said 10-year-old at the same time, because nothing is more important than encouraging this new-found love of helping out in the yard.
- The conversation I had with the barely-speaking-English foreign student that came to my door yesterday trying to sell educational books...
"No, I'm not interested, thank you."
"You busy?" 
"Well yes, AND I'm not interested." 
"Interested? Look dis page what makes flamingos pink.. it's the shrimp de eat! Dat is veerry interesting, no?"
"Very. But again, NO THANK YOU."
- Trying to move my body the day after doing the 30 Day Shred workout for the first time in almost a year. The pain, oh the hobbling pain!

Awesome
- Husbands who know how to hot-wire a riding mower. And fix the lawn.
- Mum making the local paper - with a front page cameo and a giant spread inside!

- Technology today. I've talked to Mum from the trail, texted back and forth and received cell pics of her at altitudes of over 7000 feet, and seen plenty of pictures and updates on her facebook fan page (that's right... my mother's a supastar!)
- A few days in a row of real, 80 degree, summer weather!
- All 3 kids finally getting into the swing of our summer schedule and sleeping in past 8 am (or as I like to call it, the rightful hour for mankind to wake at.)

For Father's Day

The kids brought Russ breakfast in bed.

And a card. 

And a special present that was really just from Mommy and that mommy was very, very excited to give Daddy.

(Daddy cleans up well for church!)

Something he'd been wanting for quite some time. 

The kids also filled these out; something I found off of... you'll never guess it... Pinterest! (Surprise, surprise.)

Kendall's:

 (I wish I weighed the same as daddy!)

Cooper's:

 (Daddy wishes he was that tall)

(Also both kids got his age wrong, he's 34, but mad props to them for attempting to spell Bureau!)

And Blake's, which I helped him fill out:

Daddy is 10 and 11 years old and as tall as a giraffe? Precious :)

We had a really nice day together, visiting with Russ's dad after church and ending with a barbecue dinner at my sister's for my dad.

At which I failed to take a single photo. So here's one I stole off Facebook from Kelly:

{The Wilson kids}

We're trying our best to keep Dad entertained while Mum's gone! And speaking of, we are getting lots of updates and she is doing awesome :)

Hope everyone had a lovely father's day!

Adventures in haircutting

Yesterday Russ buzzed both our boys' heads. Or at least he tried to, until the clippers died smack-dab in the middle of the job, sending me off in a panic to the nearest store in search of a new set.

Because no mama wants to leave her son's head looking like this:

YIKES.

(By the way, this is why we only buzz Cooper and Blake's heads if cutting their hair ourselves. We are in no way, shape, or form qualified for anything else.)

Luckily I found a new kit, with color-coded guide combs nonetheless, and Russ was able to do some real damage to the bathroom floor.

Unluckily, I was not back home in time to advise against the wisdom of putting the four-year-old in the bathtub with a floor full of hair right next to it.

Clean up from hell.

I was home in time to advise against the mohawk idea, but it didn't matter. I was out-voted 3-1.

Boys!

And so okay, I guess I think it's kinda cute, in a "baseball season ONLY" kind of way. But after that, it's gone! (And I'm sticking to my guns on that one.)

Kendall's Song

Some things to note about this video:

1. This was Kendall's first time playing her song for ANYBODY. I only heard it for the first time the morning this was filmed, and that was through her bedroom door because girlfriend was belting it out. The only reason I convinced her to play it later that afternoon was because her Grandma was leaving the next day on her summer-long hiking trip and I knew she would like to hear it at her going-away barbecue. Good thing Kendall was facing the wall in my parents living room or she would have seen the 20 or so people who ended up crowding in to listen!
2. She wrote the words and came up with the simple chords all on her own.
3. When she played it I totally cried and my heart just swelled. Not because I think she is this amazing singer or musician or anything (although I was kinda impressed), but because she wrote a worship song! Kendall loves the Lord and I love and am thankful for her tender heart!

Here are the words.

I am His child

By Kendall Halverson

(June 2012, age 10 ¾)

Verse One

Living life in darkness but He pulls us through

God is leading and I’ll follow too

Living life through Him, it’s what we do

He is salvation, my heart’s in Him

 Chorus

God is my healer, God is my guidance

God is love and I’m His child

Angel wings and voices sing

Heavenly praise and God above

I’m His Holy child

I’m His holy child

Verse Two

Suns still shining, God is near

The stars are His creation, we’ll praise His name

His promise a rainbow, God is with us

It is clear, God is here

Bridge

I am His child, we are His children

Living together, He is our father (x2) 

Hello, Summer vacation

Our first full week of summer break has officially begun and this morning I had the great pleasure of starting it off by getting up early to take Cooper to basketball camp and then getting pulled over for talking on my cell phone (checking in on Kendall, who had stayed home by herself).

No ticket but plenty of shame and embarrassment was the final result.

I'd say things can only go up from here.

We did have a fun weekend though. Russ and I went out Saturday night to celebrate our wedding anniversary (13 years!) and continued our tradition that we started last year of beginning our date with a relaxing hour-long couples massage.

{Headed out on our Anniversary date}

This is the only way to go, people. I am telling you, it's heavenly! I'll also tell you a way to go: try a new place every time so you can benefit from the new client introductory rate. This year Russ and I both got an hour massage for only $39.00 each!

We also tried a new restaurant - The Oswego Grill. It was very, very good and we ate way too much.

We finished the night with another late movie, What to Expect When You're Expecting. You really need to have had children to fully appreciate the humor in this movie. We both laughed out loud several times.

Sunday was Mum's send off BBQ, as she left this morning for the long drive down to Sierra City, California where she is starting her 1500 mile hike to Canada. Her good friend Kim was there with all of her family as well, as she is driving Mum down and pulling a trailer to stay in so she can meet Mum at spots along the trail to resupply her pack and do her laundry, etc. What an AWESOME friend right?!!

{Kim & Mum}

And I'm telling you, we know how to throw a going-away party right. Check out the dessert table.

We had the great idea to take a family picture with Mum and Dad before heading out at the end of the afternoon, but unfortunately this happened about half an hour after my brother had already left. So please imagine Jamin smiling in this picture as well.

Dave & Kelly and boys, Mum & dad, Russ and I with our 3, and our cousin Linley & husband Mike (with baby on the way!) 

I'm a little bit in denial right now that I'm not going to see my mother in what will feel like a very long time. Sure, it's only 3 months in the grand scheme of life. But this is coming from the girl who sees her mother at least a couple of times a week, calls or text messages her 9 days out of 10, and likes to shop with her on every occasion possible.

I'm going to miss her something mighty, is what I'm saying.

But YAY for adventure and living out your dreams! (I will stay supportive, I will stay supportive...)

Here's to a fun (and traffic ticket free) summer for all!

InstaFriday

A slice of life from the cell phone camera.

Enjoying easy summer salads.

Tumbled rocks that were picked from our Christmas tree field.

Russ thinks they're cool and likes to poke through and examine them all. I'm more of a,"there's a pile of rocks on my table... what am I supposed to do with them?" kind of girl. Can I find somewhere to sell the lot of them? Because that would be cool...

So my mother is about to leave on her 3 month hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. In true McGyver fashion she made herself these wind breakers and a stuff sack out of chemical suits from Lowes and decorated them with New Zealand emblems. Their weight? 2 ounces. 

And here's most of her food supply for the trip. My sister and I spent our spare time this week helping package it all up into individual meals and organizing them into odorless sacks. You know, because of BEARS and all.

(The reason the Pacific Crest Trail and I will never meet. Not alone at least.)

Kendall and friends at carnival night at church, celebrating the beginning of summer.

And here's where the celebrating really begins... last day of school! Woohoo!

Little did the kids know that they had a mother bent on a little more organization this summer. 

These magnetic dry erase boards were only $2.50 each at Walmart and they are now on the kitchen wall, ready to be filled out with daily chores that the kids can check off easily (and then erase and start over the next day). (Blake's will have pictures.) Weekly chores are going to be added to the magnets, which I can rotate around to different boards and keep on the fridge when not in use. 

I'm really excited about this, guys! 

And now, to blow your minds a little...

I, Jodi Halverson, saw this unpainted wood window thingy at a thrift store for $2.00 and thought, "I could spray paint that and put pictures behind it to make a cool wall hanging." 

And then like you, I laughed a little at myself and said, "yeah right, like that's going to happen."

But then I bought it anyway! I don't even know who I am right now. 

And with that, I wish you a fine weekend of fun and relaxation!

I'm linking up with Jeannett at