Land of Enchantment...with some Pinterest thrown in!

This summer has been filled with travel...
we've visited some exotic locations....
but we have especially enjoyed when we visit our children...

After Morgan and Jacob re-located to New Mexico,
we decided that we should take down her bedroom furniture and
other miscellaneous "stuff"

Morgan had introduced me to the Pinterest app
and also mentioned to her father how much
she would like a barn door headboard...
well, Ron loves a wood project so
we surprised her and Jacob with one.

Here he is putting the finishing touches on it

We bought new hardware and then made it "vintage"

I then finished it with Danish oil ...

and violá.... here's the masterpiece!

We rented a Penske truck and it filled it up--
I told Morgan that I guess it was time to take apart her room,
since she'd been gone for a few years...

and that's when she reminded me that
she had been married going on 5 years!!!
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

So I guess it's time to take down her high school memorabilia and
have that writing/ craft room I have always dreamed of!!



A photo of me driving the truck...
yes, I did drive--
....a little!

We saw some amazing scenery

We listened to books on tape...
and when I thought Ron was falling asleep,
I would crank up the tunes and
sing REALLY loud...
can you tell how much Ron appreciated that!

Another cool rock formation

See, look,
he is smiling a little...
he did enjoy my attempts at entertainment!

(and singing!)

When we arrived, Jacob's parents had us over for dinner
and Darrell offered Ron a chance to take his bike for a spin...
I have tried in our 32+ years to keep him off a motorcycle
(ask him about getting hit while riding one in high school)
but I know he will probably want one soon!

In addition to the headboard,
Ron and I had "found" a pallet for Morgan,
another Pinterest idea

and Ron found the perfect spot for it

Ron then hung the barn doors
(using a french cleat of course!)

and then Matea and Ron had to test it out

As a reward for all his hard work...
Jacob and Morgan took us out for some
authentic southwest food... yum!

After working so hard
Ron took some time to play with Matea....

And some snuggle time...

Matea loved Morgan's "Cinderella" bed
that we set up in the guest room
I forgot to take photos of the bed,
I was so busy taking them of Matea

But Matea was more thrilled with her nursery
after Morgan got done decorating it....
Here she is watching us put it all together...

The decorative wall....

The new curtains,
and subway name sign

Her heart mobile...

If you want to see more photos of her nursery,
check out Morgan's blog:

http://jacobandmorganrogers.blogspot.com/2011/08/pinterest-made-me-do-it.html


Ron had to fly back to work,
while I got to spend the week crafting and playing

Here's Ron and Matea one more time

We re-purposed Morgan's dresser for use in the
dining room as a sideboard

I had so much fun with Morgan and Jacob,
we went to Jacob's soccer games-
we created more crafts,
we went to Matea's doctor appointments and
made lots of trips to Hobby Lobby!!

I will miss my girls....(Morgan's a pro at doing most things one-handed!)

We had such a good time
that I think we need to do it more often....
hmmmm.....checking my calendar!


On my way home,
we flew over Lake Cle Elum

isn't that an amazing shot!
Next blog....
our Labor Day weekend with Michael's family

Summer flash back

I know I haven't finished my Spain blog...but I am soooo far behind
with the rest of the summer fun postings
that I decided if you want to see more Spain photos you
will have to come look at my book--
(when I get THAT done!)
We had such a great summer and I haven't had a chance to
record any of it--
so instead of feeling guilty...which I do...
I will just start and see how many blogs I can
get done by the end of the year....
So here is the blog about our family get together at our cabin--


Steven couldn't be with us--he was doing his internal medicine rotation
in San Francisco and
Jacob couldn't get away either since he had just started
his dental residency program in New Mexico--
but they were generous and
sent their wives and children (one in utero!)
So even though we missed the guys (Michael and Ron especially)
we were excited
to spend time with our girls!!

Here's is Matea checking out Aunt Meredith...
the last time they saw each other,
Matea was in the NICU
Matea warmed up to Meredith really fast...
watch for a cuddling photo later..

The Maxfield cousins....how we love these girls

gathering and eating

Matea is learning how to eat solids...
and she wears it well

Matea sporting the "cabin" shirt

Since girls outnumbered the boys this year
we decided to do it a little bit different--
this summer's reunion activities...
no paint balling...no ship sinking...
it was "CRAFT" time!!

I furnished the supplies and instructions and
then I got to cuddle and play with the baby girls

Here's Matea and Lucy modeling one of the crafting projects

Riley and Emma were big enough to join in on the crafting...
here is Riley with Meredith learning how to make
a friendship bracelet...
she did it all by herself !!

Emma liked some of the crafting... the painting and coloring,
but she is more of an action girl and was waiting for our hike
Hence the walking stick

The older cousins were so good with the little girls
here are the results of one fluffy crafting project!!

Ron and Michael were very manly all week...
Ron had started building a woodshed
which he has named "Woodstock"
( he is really getting into this whole cabin naming thing!)
and so he and Michael were able to put the siding on it

Taking a crafting and building break,
we took the family into Roslyn to
our favorite pizza place--
Village Pizza--
we are addicted to their pizza, crust and honey drizzled on it!

The ...best...job....ever...
being a grandparent!

Now even though we have a lot of girls
we can still do "high adventure"
these girls love 4-wheeling...

Grandpa Ron with Emma in front and Riley in back--
look at that face!

in the evenings we were able to skype with Steven...
here is Matea having a lively exchange with her uncle!

Next day....hiking
a favorite family activity...

Cooper River is gorgeous

We had babies in back....

and babies in front....

and of course snacks for all

This is the spot where Ron later in the summer
did back flips off...
the girls call him the crazy grandpa...
i wonder why!

Lucy decided she was big enough to hike on her own two legs...
grandpa is trying to keep up!

giving Morgan a break....
kangaroo grandpa!

My sister Patty and her boys came up to spend the night
on their way to my nieces wedding...

here we are enjoying s'mores

Here's our newest cabin furniture...
the wooden swing...
Ron took the family out on the lake with
the boat and jet skis--
Hunter and I stayed at the cabin with the babies

Here's Logen with Meredith and Riley and Emma

Logen was adventurous and tubed

Ron following Logen ....just in case...

Ron and Riley...loving the lake

After success and fun on the tube, Logen was willing to try the jet skis--
way to go Logen!

On this day it was chilly on the lake...
the next day it was HOT...
Here is amazing Morgan--
getting ready for her first ride of the summer!

Jessica and Emma's turn on the jetski

Here's Hunter who stayed with me...
I think he had fun...until his batteries went dead and the
charger was in the locked car!

Matea was not feeling very good...
so we just snuggled while Lucy took her nap I think that first smores photo is out of order...
but I am too tired to re-arrange it--
so here is actually when we made smores...

One of Emma's favorite cabin desserts

yummmmmy

Matea and Meredith swinging and cuddling in the hammock

Next day was beautiful...no wind and HOT--
so we went out on the lake again...
Morgan was not feeling well,
so she stayed with Matea

Today Meredith felt it was warm enough to take
her baby for a ride!!

The lake was so calm and amazing!

Riley drove her dad around!!
Michael was "no hands"

Riley loves those jetskis!

Emma was the flag girl while grandpa wake surfed

A great family photo!!

Lucy decided it was HER turn to drive!

and then Emma took her turn at the wheel
look at that lake...not another boat in sight!

Lucy was content to read to grandma

After the morning on the lake...
back to crafting..
this time--Family Bird Houses

the girls painting their houses

Here are Michael and Jessica and the girl's birdhouses....
Here's the Rogers Family...complete with Matae's handprint

Here is Meredith and Steven's Red Sox/ Mariners House

And Ron and Michael completed their "crafting" project too--
what a great looking woodshed!!
and what Manly Men!
how we love you!

that night we had a fashion show with the girls modeling
the spanish fashions brought home by grandma and grandpa

and we got to talk/see Steven again....
Jacob did call during the week too..but no skype :(

After Michael's family had to return home we
took Meredith, Morgan and Matea to the Brick
for dinner before their flights in the morning

We decided that we couldn't change one family reunion activity..
The Maxfield Family Bocce Ball tournament--
and Matea was our cheering crowd...

So it was "the girls" against the "gramps"

Here's Morgan and I showing our form...

look at those throws--close!

Meredith and Ron were just as competitive!
But in the end the youngsters won...
opps, I meant--- WE won!!


We had a wonderful week--it went by so fast--
we missed our two boys--hopefully next year....
and we were excited to find out the news about
Steven and Meredith's baby on her return home for ultrasound
---they are having a boy!!
We can just imagine future reunions
with the 4 little girls and 1 boy stirring it all up--
it will be so much fun!!!

We love our family...we are grateful --we are blessed
thank you

it was so hard to say good-bye...