Open House

You are invited to an Open House/Housewarming Party!

Sunday, July 26, 2009
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Aaron & Amy Tolar’s Home
81690 Pleasant View Road

We were finally able to schedule the Open House Party for our Dream Home.  If you have followed the construction process and would like to see the final result, you are welcome to come.

Please e-mail me if you need directions or have any questions.

This & That

The most recent picture of all four of our girlies together.  It was the weekend of Erika’s graduation from EOU.  A spur of the moment picture, but I love it!

My parent’s pond is gorgeous, lush, and full of critters.  They have three different kinds of water lillies, but this one is my favorite.  It is so delicate and pretty, I love it!

My most very favorite flower in the whole wide world is the Butterfly Lilly.  (I know, great grammar!)  Unfortunately, their growing season is very short – probably two weeks at the most.  They are also very hard to find because they are wild.  On Father’s Day, we drove past some, and I hollered at Aaron to stop so I could take a picture of the Butterfly Lillies.  Reagan misheard me, and said, “Butterflies have Boobies?”  I had a hard time controling my laughter to explain to her what I had actually said.

  

Also from graduation weekend, my friend, Kari.  Running into each other was completely unexpected, but great, too!  It was nice to talk and catch up while we waited for my sister and her brother to graduate (they were both close to the very end).

Reagan is still young enough she won’t want to kill me for posting this picture from Father’s Day.  She has such a hard time keeping her pants up because she is so skinny.  Even though it’s not a perfect shot, I love the little plumber’s crack peeking out at me.    She’ll want to kill me for this when she’s a teenager, I know.

Summer has been great, but busy, for us so far, and I can’t believe how quickly it’s going.  We are taking our time, enjoying life together, and spending time together.  We love it!

Father’s Day

Our Father’s Day was perfect.  If you ask Aaron, he’ll say that the girls and I had to talk him into skipping the yard work for the day to go to the mountains.  We didn’t have to talk very hard – I think we just mentioned and he was on board.  We spent the day driving through the mountains, picking up great big rocks for our landscaping, and just hanging out.  Harley and Katelyn each got a .22 rifle for Christmas from Santa, so we took them with us and taught the girls how to use them.

    

We had a great day celebrating Aaron – Husband, Son, Dad, Step-Dad, and Friend.

There’s a Terrorist Cell

in my family . . .

Sure, they look sweet and innocent enough, but let me tell you, behind those sweet smiles, chubby cheeks, and innocent giggles are the well oiled workings of a full-blown terrorist cell better known as the “Baby Boo-Yahs”.  These three operatives have learned to terrorize, manipulate, torture, and tease the five members of the opposing nation (i.e. the three older brothers, Mom, and Dad).

This is Miss Lilian, otherwise known as “The Intimidator”, or “The Ringleader”.  Her best skill is organizing evil plans that leave absolutely no clues as to who formulated the plot to start with – that is until she brags about it days later on Nursery Broadcasts to her followers.  Do you see the evil mechanics working behind her eyes?

This operative is Kendric, also known as “The Brain”.  When he’s not defeating the opposition with his laser-blue eyes, he uses his sharp wit to force his targets into crippling fits of laughter.  He tells his foes to “just adapt” or “that’s just cweepy” to cause them to submit.  Look at those wheels turn . . .

“Madam Poopy-Pants”, aka Kayleigh, is known for filling her diaper and gassing the enemy into submission.  When asked why she doesn’t let anyone know about her situation, she tries to play it off with a simple comment like, “it was keeping me warm.”  Likely excuse!

When The Brain and Madam Poopy-Pants plot together, all hell breaks loose.  Toy boxes explode, older siblings run  in terror, and parents walk around with dazed looks in their eyes.

If you see any of these members of the Terrorist Cell “Baby Boo-Yahs”, turn and run for your life, you may not survive and encounter!

The Support System

which includes a couple of the speed bumps (blessings) in Erika’s path to earn her degree.  Her family has been a rock this entire time; supporting her, loving her, and cheering her on.  While she did the work that earned her public recognition, they did the work that allowed her to achieve her dreams.  They are fabulous!

Erika’s husband, Scotty, rearranged his work schedules countless times to fit her school schedule better.  When she wasn’t home with their kiddos, he was.  He’s her right hand.

Scotty and all six kids.  They did a great job of letting their mom study, sleep in after a late-night study session, and picking up the slack around the house so she didn’t have as much to stress over.

The whole family.

All the kiddos – from oldest to youngest – Tymek, Benjamin, Konrad, Lillian, Kayleigh, and Kendric.

The oldest three boys – Tymek, Konrad, and Benjamin.  The three older boys with Kendric, one of the twins.
 

Then came Lillian and the twins, Kayleigh and Kendric.
 

 Finally, the twins, Kayleigh and Kendric.
 
 

 Just for kicks, this picture of Benjamin.  I love how you can see his eyes focusing on the frog, but only his sweet little hand and the frog are in focus.

So – if any of you ever run into my sister, congratulate her on a job well done.  However, if you ever run into Scotty or any of the kids, thank them for being such a great support system for her that she was able to achieve her dream.

They are some of life’s real heroes.

The Graduation

My sister, Erika, graduated from Eastern Oregon University last weekend.  Her post-secondary education has been a winding path that started in Wisconsin, wound through Poland for several years, and finally culminated back in La Grande Saturday.  This adventure has taken her16 years, through the birth of her six children, and several other speed bumps along the way.  Through it all, she has persevered and, quite frankly, worked her tail off to earn her degree.  I am so very proud of her accomplishment; our whole family is.

One of the great honors she received was induction into the Pinnacle Honor Society – it is an honor society for non-tradiational students.  At the ceremony, my mom got to present Erika with her award because my mom was inducted into Pinnacle when she was in college.  Erika is the very first second generation Pinnacle member at EOU.

 

My dad and Erika walking in for the ceremony.
 

Dad and Erika waiting their turns.
  

Finally in line to get her degree.
 

My dad retired many years ago, but he still teaches some DDE courses and works on his bat research at the college.  He was allowed to walk with the faculty during graduation so he could present my sisters diploma to her.  After the big hug, they turned around and gave me these great grins!  Awesome!
 

The walk out.  Phew, it’s over!
 

Erika’s friend Ev and her husband Forrest organized a party for her after graduation, and Erika’s kids made the signs.  They were adorable!
 

Congratulations, Erika, we are all so very very proud of you!

You Can’t Say No To Me . . .

because I’m just too darn cute!

Or so she thinks anyway.

The Principal at IHS has said that phrase many times, “She’s just too darn cute to say ‘no’ to!”, or something similar.  The girls go with me to school in the mornings and then ride the bus from there to their own school, so they hang out in the office for about half an hour every morning.  For the past two years, Reagan has heard Craig say that many many times, and boy howdy has it sunk in!  She asked for something a week or so ago, and when I said no, she regurgitated his words perfectly!

The past month or so has really been a struggle with Miss Reagan.  She has been all out testing boundaries, pushing limits, defying authority, and asserting her independence.  I know it’s just a stage, but boy has it been rough.  My normally sweet (though mischievous), caring, energetic, fun-loving baby girl has turned into a little stinker with a capital “S”!  For now, I will take deep breaths, count to 10, and try not to strangle her before the end of the summer (and we’re only a week into it).

“Just too darn cute”? . . . my foot!  Just try me, little one!

Cinderella Story

In case you hadn’t seen any of my messages or heard some other way, the Irrigon High School Lady Knights Softball Team won the 2A/1A State Championship Game yesterday, beating Union High School Lady Cats 1-0!  Our whole family traveled to Corvallis to watch Breena in her very last high school softball game, and we were completely thrilled with the outcome!  I was able to get a media pass for the game, and I got to be in the bull pen during the game to take pictures.

Breena with pre-game jitters.

The team introduction.

The IHS catcher, Staci Stanger, made a terrific slide into second base, and luckily the Union player dropped the ball and she was called safe!
    

Kim catching a throw at first for an out.

Leslie dealing with the mire and muck while getting ready to move to the next base.

Our family celebrating after the game.

Breena’s mom, Tera, celebrating with one of her uncles, “WE WON!”

The team receiving their individual medals.

Even after receiving her medal, Breena was still in shock, and she could not believe what had just happened.  Even today, I don’t think reality has sunk in!

The two Seniors, Breena and Kim accepting the trophy and game ball from OSAA.

“We’re #1!”

The Official Scoreboard!

The Champions

There really isn’t much more to say about the game that hasn’t already been said.  The girls played a flawless game, and it was a perfect ending to the Cinderella Story of a season these girls had.

Gaston . . .

• 40 7th through 12th Grade Students
• 3 Chaperones
• 2 Yellow School Buses
• 14 hours (11 of which were driving)
• 1 Softball Game
• 2 Teams
• 1 Dream Season
• 1 Broken Down Bus
• 2.5 Hours Stranded

Yesterday was the IHS Softball Team’s Semifinal Game against Gaston, and they won 3-1!  The Lady Knights rocked it out again, and they are on their way to play at the 2A/1A State Championship Game at 1:00 p.m. Friday at the Oregon State University Softball Field in Corvallis.  The girls have had a fantastic season and are playing better than ever!

My day was a little different.  I was one of three of chaperones on a Rooter Bus headed from Irrigon to Gaston.  We broke down at the Wendy’s at the first exit in to Troutdale.  After two and a half hours of waiting, a bus from Forest Grove rescued us and took us the rest of the way to Gaston.  We arrived just AFTER the game ended, which was horrible, but we were able to celebrate with the girls, which was AWESOME!  The mechanic from Forest Grove arrived in Gaston with our original bus and we headed back to Irrigon.

It wasn’t the day we had all planned on, but it was a great day!  I didn’t get any pictures of the game, but I did get these two, which I think are just as fabulous as any picture of the action.

 

Great job, Lady Knights!

More From The Game

Click on a picture to view it larger.

Jessica made an awesome catch, but I was so excited watching the game I didn’t get my camera up in time and I cut off her head!

Kim waiting for a throw for the final out to win the game.  Look at that smile on her face – she’s excited!  On to the Semifinals at Gaston!