Sun River, Or

The Bugbee family (minus 1) headed to Sun River for a little rest and relaxtion before the chaos of school (and work) begins. Tyler, Alex and I got to enjoy the last days of summer with my parents and the Foster family. We spent 4 fabulous days biking (can't believe I didn't get any pictures of that), running, swimming, canoeing, deer watching, frog hunting, chipmunk spying, fort building, s'more making, hot tubing and just plain having fun. The only thing that could have made it better, both Tyler and I agree, was if Daddy was there to do all this with us.

Tyler was a bike riding fool on our trip. The first day we headed out to the pool, which should have been about a mile and a half away. Well, we got there and it was closed. We decided to head down to the other pool, seems simple enough. Uh, no. Colleen gave us wrong directions and we ended up biking around the entire resort... 6 miles! Tyler did not complian once. He is such a champ on his 2 wheels! The high light of the trip for him was catching frogs while out canoeing. He thought it was hilarious to put it near me and watch me scream. Me, not so much! When Tyler wasn't canoeing or riding his bike, or asking to ride his bike, he was in the pool.

Alex was a champ. He slept the entire 8 hours there with the exception of waking up to eat once. He had plently of entertainment from Claire, who couldn't keep her hands off him. Once again, she asked if she could keep him. Sorry Claire, I am a little partial to the boy! He also learned how to laugh while we were there. Now, I am not talking any little giggle, but real BIG belly laughs. This boy knows how to make us work for our laughs though, see here.

As for me, I spent the week relaxing, as much as you can when you are a single parent on vacation with 2 boys. I am enjoying every last minute I have with my boys before Tyler starts school and I head back to work (Septemeber 5th :( ) Colleen challanged me to a few runs of which I politely let her win! It was a fun time had by all. Next year will be even better when we have Dan here to enjoy it with us!

Alex's newest trick

The things we do to make our kids laugh!

Oh Daddy, we miss you!

The count down is seriously on. The boys and I have escaped to sunny Sun River to help pass the last 7 DAYS until Daddy gets home. I am quite sure this has been the longest 13 months of my life. I am also quite sure that I NEVER want to do this again. Although I am immensely proud of my husband and all that he has done for our country, I am just plain ready to have him home. And although having him home means a lot of readjusting and relearning I am SO READY! I probably get the "you must be so excited to have your husband come home" at least 10 times a day. And, yes I am! But, while I am very excited to have him home I am not quite sure anyone knows the stress that a deployment puts on a family. It will be a lot of work as we are both used to doing things "our way" and not having another to answer to. That being said, I am SO looking forward to having my lover, my best friend, my husband and the father of my children home, it will all be so worth it! I love you babe!

I am ready to experience a little of this...

(his homecoming after his first tour!)

and this...

and this...

and just maybe I will let you do a little of this...

3 month pictures

As much as everyone thinks the boys look a like, I am insistent that they have their own looks. When you compare the pictures you can definitely tell they are brothers but the similarities aren't so great when put side to side. As you can tell, my picture taking skills have improved a bit too.

PEPS... 4 years later

I can clearly remember the first PEPS meeting way back in May of 2005. I walked in and there it was, what my life had become, 10 women, 3 of which were sitting there struggling to feed their newborn wide open in all their glory. I have to admit I had that thought that I should run the other way and pretend that I had never been there. Boy am I glad I didn't. Although, we have lost a few along the way, this group of women is who have kept me sane in journey of raising a son. They are the ones that have been with me through the good and the bad, the think and the thin and encouraged me to keep going. I couldn't have asked for a bunch of funnier, more honest, more open, more amazing women. Although we had each come from different stages in life, we have managed to form a bond that, I am sure, will last a lifetime.

Because the children are all getting older and the schedules more crazy and siblings have taken over, we have settled for our monthly mom's night out and occasional play dates. Last night we met for MNO and in true PEPS fashion, we had a blast. We laughed, we cried, we drank and we had a great time. Thank you ladies for all of your love and support through 2 of the most difficult years of my life. I truly am grateful for having met you all and couldn't imagine my life without you. We truly are going to miss you Lisa and Shawna!

Then...

and now!!!

Oh no he didn't...

Oh, yes he did!

going,

going,

GONE!

Apparently his lack of naps got to him today and he decided the bath would be a nice place to rest. He wasn't so happy when we woke him up to wash him. That's what you get when you cat nap all day kiddo!

Oh man, here we go...

Tyler and I had a very interesting conversation today. It went a little like this...

Tyler: When the earth started how did everything get here, like the people and the tree and stuff?

Me: God made it all for us.

Tyler: But how did he make people?

Me: He is just kind of magic like that, I guess. He wanted us to have this beautiful earth to live on. Don't you think it is beautiful?

Tyler: Yes, but why did he make bad bugs?

The conversation went on for awhile with all the why's and hows. Tyler just blows me away with the questions that he asks me. I mean, come on, he is 4! I think he forgot that little fact.