Joshua's 3rd Birthday!!

No offense to anybody but the only person Josh wanted at his birthday was his friend JANE. These two have definitely got a love story in the making!

{My Little Sisters Wedding

On May 30th our baby sister, Monica (in blue) got married! The last of the Vrtiska girls...and there are eight of us! Crazy, crazy. We are all so happy and so very proud of our little sister and all of her accomplishments. And a BIG shout out to our MOTHER who has been the party planner, caterer, decorater and seamstress for all of our weddings! We love you!

Enjoying her last single night out in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Jeff had to work so it was me and my little man, Ryan. It was so nice having one on one with my son (Jeff's sister Robynn came and watched my other boys...thanks Roby!!).

The Groom...Daniel Steele Long.

Blowing the single life away.

Lovin' on the new brother-in-law!

The Vrtiska's (minus my hubby and my other 2 boys).

We love you Monica and Daniel!

Congratulations and I hope you're having a ball on

the honeymoon!

MOAB, UTAH

For Memorial weekend we met up with Jeff's brothers and their families in Arches. The boys had a ball with their cousins and we left feeling sad we don't live closer to family. It was a great trip!

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

This month Jeff had a conference in Boston and for Mother's Day he flew me out there to be with him! I couldn't have done it without the slew of friends that helped me with my kiddos! Thanks Tagan, Julie, Meghan, Tina and Lynn!! You guys rock!

The first day I arrived I think we must've walked at least 10 miles...and I did it in flip flops! Jeff warned me, but did I listen? There was so much to see. We tried to stay on the Freedom Trail to be sure and see all the historic sites, but every shop, every restaurant called my name.

One of hundreds of churches. There was a church on every street corner. Very beautiful, old churches.

This was our hotel, The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. It was right in the heart of downtown.

We managed to get tickets for the Broadway play Spring Awakening. Apparently it got rave reviews and we were told we MUST see it. All I can say is, "what in the world (with my jaw hanging wide open!)?" You'll have to google this play to find out what it's about!

This is Swan Lake. There are boats that give tours on the water and then drive right out of the water and give land tours. It's pretty cool.

Bunker Hill

Our cab ride to the airport. Farewell Boston! We had a ball!

My Ryan Turned FIVE

We are so blessed to have Ryan in our family.  He is the calm through our many storms!! We love you so much Ry!

CAMERA....GONE!

Well, I have a really sad story to share.  For Christmas this year, Jeff bought me the new

Nikon D 90 with a beautful new lens (http://gizmodo.com/5041567/first-official-nikon-d90-images-and-specs-leak).  I have been wanting a new camera like this for

a year now.  I loved it!  Get that..."loved."  Sadly I must report that the camera has gone MIA

since March 1st.  This is how it all played out:

Saturday, we leave for Denver to celebrate Jeff's 37th birthday.  Of course we bring my lovely new

camera along to catch all the birthday festivities.  We stay at the Hyatt downtown off Broadway...beautiful weather,  fabulous hotel....shooting pictures all the while.  We eat out, we capture "robot man" entertaining for money.  We board the train as the kids have been begging for a ride since we arrived.  The train takes off.  Joshua launches out of his seat.  I hear him crying but can't find him.  He's under the seat ahead of us with a big knot on his forehead.  Jeff takes the camera off from around his neck and sets it on the seat.  We tend to Joshua and realize it is our time to get off the train.  We exit the train and proceed to walk towards the hotel.  I see Wolf Camera and suggest we go buy some stuff for my new camera.  Jeff looks at me, "Where's the camera?" 

He runs to catch the train as it does a loop and circles back.  He jumps aboard and it's gone. Someone has stolen my brand new camera!!  His birthday starts off with a bang alright.  With no

pictures to prove it.

Bend, Oregon

We spent the past week in beautiful Bend, Oregon trying to decide if we're going to make the move.  Jeff has been offered a job there and there are so many reasons to take it...my family lives there, it's beautiful, it's an avid outdoorsmans dream to name a few.  Regardless, we are struggling with this big decision.  Here's a few pictures of our trip.  Thanks Debs and Hodge for taking in family so we could spend time with them!

The Royal Gorge

Yesterday we took the boys to Canon City to check out the worlds highest suspension bridge.

We took the gondola where we were 2,000 feet high and hopped aboard an incline

train where we rode straight down the mountain to the bottom of the canyon.   It was a beautiful 66 degrees!  

Daddy and his boys

Looking up at the gondola from the bottom of the canyon. 

Looking down into the canyon while riding the incline train

Joshua and daddy

Ethan and Ryan looking out of the gondola at 2,000 feet up

 

Ethan and Mom with worlds highest suspension bridge

BAKED OATMEAL

This year we decided to give out one of our favorite oatmeal recipes as gifts to our neighbors and friends.  It is so yummy warm or cold and serves as a meal or a snack.  Just pour a little milk

over it or eat it raw.  Either way, I think you'll like it!

3/4 C. oil                                                       1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla                                                 1 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 C. sugar                                                 1 C. milk

2 lg. eggs                                                       2 apples, cored and chopped

4 C. quick cooking oats (NOT instant)     1 C. craisins

2 tsp. baking powder                                  1 C. coconut

                                                                       Add any other dry fruit: 

                                                                       apricots, pineapple etc.

Mix oil, sugar, vanilla and eggs...beat until yellow and glossy.

Add remaining ingredients except fruit  Mix together.

After mixed add fruit.

Spread on a greased 9x13 cookie sheed and bake at 400 for 30-45 minutes depending on how

soft or crunchy you like it.  Can mix in pecans and walnuts after done cooking.  Enjoy!

  

What's Your Holiday Tradition?

It's been a month since I've posted so I hope somebody 

responds!

The one tradition we've done every year is leave cookies out for Santa 

and we make gingerbread houses.  It's fun but I'm needing some inspiration! 

I'm interested to know what some of your favorite holiday traditions are?  

Fall Family Pictures

The other day one of my amazing friends, Tina took me
and my brood out to see if we could capture just one good
picture of my family. In past photoshoots it has been a total
nightmare! Ethan won't smile, Ryan sticking his tongue out
and Joshua picking his nose! Well, I can't say we didn't get
any of those pictures, because we did, but mixed in with those
we got some awesome shots...thanks Tina!

IS IT HALLOWEEN YET?

The boys have been so excited for Halloween that they've been wearing their costumes nearly every day. Ryan is Optimus Prime, Ethan is Bumblebee and Joshua is Batman.

I

LET'S SING!

I captured a rare moment...the boys singing...nicely!

That fourth boy in the video is Ethan and Ryan's

friend Jackson. Close your ears when I bust in to
help the boys remember the song!