Just Me!!

I love my family. They may drive me crazy at times, but there is nothing better than a Sunday after church get together. We did it when we were kids with my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents! I felt safe, well loved, and accepted in those precious moments spent together. Unfortunately we have very few Sundays where we are able to do this with our own growing families. In fact, sad to say half of the family doesn't even attend church on Sundays. We are trying to change that with our own family, but there are times due to my schedule that even we can't fit church in. When Mark and I were newly married we continued the church/lunch family time with his family. Due to a divorce in the family, the closeness we once shared ended. Divorce can change a whole family not just the ones immediately involved. Family is important. Our personal family is going through tough times and changes. It was these quiet moments we spent together last week laughing and talking that helps my own...

Sorry that I am off a couple of weeks on blogging. Life has been so busy lately. It will be so nice when the kids are back in school, and I bet a whole heck of a lot CHEAPER. Saturday, July 21st, was busy due to our own doing. We took the kids to see The Fame Riot at Louie G's in Fife. The kids had been waiting and wanting to see these guys do their thing forever. So when the "all ages" show came to the local pizzeria (where all the pizza's are named after the mafia), they were beyond excited. Val even wanted her hair done a certain way, just for the show. Luckily, YouTube has a variety of hair instructional videos and I was able to give her what she wanted, french braided side bangs! She looked like a rocker chick with her braided bangs, and her pink hair insert. Prior to the concert we woke up early and took the kids down to Owen's Beach boardwalk. We ended up walking all over Point Defiance, and then ended up at the Point Defiance Zoo, per Charlie's requ...

After dropping the older two kids off at Camp Gilead we took Charlie to Remlinger Farms. Groupon had a two for one a couple of weeks ago so this was planned in advance and our four year old was so excited to get "HER" day started. We spent the whole day playing, riding kiddie rides, and standing in line for pony rides. The farm was definitely not worth full price admission but for half price I was happy enough for the value we received. Let me just say though that those park workers need to either A. Get a personality, or B. Be required to show some enthusiasm since they are getting paid to work there. Everyone of the workers, minus the train operator, looked stoned out of their minds. Super, Weird. Luckily our four year old didn't notice! She drove us around on an old fashioned car track while we chilled in the back seat together. We even noticed that she was steering the car perfectly (it was on a track) as if her steering were controlling the car. When we got back to...

I remember when my mom, aunt and grandma dropped my cousins, sister, and myself off at camp when we were younger. They would haul us all down there, take our stuff to the cabins, and quickly head out for a day of shopping at Gilmans Village in Issaquah. I always wanted to go with them instead of going to camp, but was always told no. In the end I was glad that my mom ditched me, because I had a blast at Camp every year! At Camp Gilead we rode horses, played mini golf, swam, participated in Archery, and spent time at the chapel listening to Gods Word. Now it's my kids' turn! I love that they get a whole week away to make decisions for themselves, enjoy a safe fun filled environment, and they get to spend time growing Spiritually. Every year they amaze me by telling me about the choices they made at Camp! We missed them this past week, but are so proud of them for the time they spent away from us. The theme this year was, "Be Strong and Courageous" military style. On a...

The Nagel/Wegley clan is having some health issues. My BP was just recently crazy high, Mark had a Pilar cyst removed, and my brother is the hospital for an unknown cause. I went and had a long discussion with the Dr and a Pierce College nursing student about his Unknown diagnosis. We might be a little closer to figuring out what he has but it will be at least 4-5 more days until his biopsy comes back. Until then we got him showered and shampooed today, and now he is begging the Dr. for ice chips....both a positive sign! He is being fed via IV with PPN and lipids...yummy! Protonix, Zosyn, and potassium are his friends right now too.

I planted late this season. While my friends are harvesting I am still watching my beauties grow. I actually thought that I would never see a crop this year because I planted so late. Luckily the weather, my green thumb, and healthy soil has given the plants room to grow and produce. Next month I should be enjoying salads galore, summer squash, kale, carrots, peas, beans, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, spinach, and cucumbers! On my days off I spend as much time in my garden as possible pulling weeds, thinning, watering, and protecting the plants from pesky slugs and and one annoying little mole. On Pinterest I learned a thing or two about strawberries and the importance of clipping the off-shoots off so the strawberry can focus on the fruit rather than multiplying! The next day I made sure to get rid of them. I can already see a difference. I started watching a gardening show on HULU and am thinking that I might even start my own compost pile. My veggie crops d...

We took a "get ready for camp" break the other day and snuck away for a go cart race with the older two kids. Ethan hit a huge milestone and was able to race in this own car this year. Fast way to blow some cash, but so worth it. Later that night Mark and I went to see Katy Perry while the kids went with Kat and Jer to see Brave. Afterwards they took the kids to Cold Stone and gave us the kids back only when they were good and sugared up;)