Date night with Paul and Tracy

First we went to a mexican resturant. Tracy loves tortillas! Paul loves tortillas too!

Then we went to see "Yes Man". Pual really enjoyed it while B was entirely un-entertained.

Tracy and me.

A little merlot to help me paint....

It helps me paint in a straight line. At this point anything will help! I am soooo sick of painting!

HO HO HO

Cameron wasn't feeling well and so he decided to take a quick nap on the couch all while wearing the Santa hat. Sooo cute!

Funny Boy

So Cameron left this note for Brandon. We do not know where he gets this stuff but boy is it funny! The spelling is wrong and the details may be hard to pic out........

Pies is suppose to be piece, and the two lumps are actually fingers as the piece sign with piece symbols in the finger nails. We didn't stumble upon this note until he was fast asleep. It made us laugh harder than we have in a while. I love this boy sooo much!

I love this!!!

A thought to learn from...

Begin forwarded message:
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so av ante garde on my patio. I am entitled to treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's,and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when so me body's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong. So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been,or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day(if I feel like it). MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER! FRIENDS FOREVER! Forward this to at least 7 people and see what happens.

And they were off....

For a journey to the center of the earth.

Happy Halloween Everyone.

Just wanted to wish you all a safe and happy Halloween from the Showalter family.....and yes....more crazy pics for you all!

Dance party 101

Yes....through the madness of watching all of these little monsters,we managed to have a dance party....and boy did we dance! Though Logan wanted to spin on the floor and show off his break dancing, he refrained (because of his injury) to just doing the robot. The boys had moves of their own which we have not quite come up with a name for. And the girls .....well the girls are like aliens....but they took home the trophy for best dressed and greatest moves. Oh what fun we have at Auntie Chelsea's house....that is when she isn't going totally crazy...hehehe

Thank you Jesus for Friday nights!

I feel like I can actually take a moment to breathe when Friday finally comes around. It is the one day the boys and I don't have to sit at the table and do and hour or so of homework, quickly feed them something healthy for dinner, and then off to bed we go. Seriously, and we are only at the beginning of the school year.

Here they are in the movie room watching a movie while playing their video games. Ain't life grand!

me and my girls.....

Happy 7th birthday boys!

Long time coming...

aahh...there is nothing like sitting by a camp fire! Cameron...taking a break from searching for water bugs and fish.

nothing like having your brother around to always play with.

All my boys!

This WAS the road we used to drive up to get to our favorite campsite before it was washed away by a land slide. So sad!!!

Cameron being "Cameron". I can always count on my boys to pose for the picture.

Lovin my "cama-lama-ding-dong"

Me and my peanut

The trip was much fun! We actually just got back from another....this time 3 days. In August we plan on going every weekend. Gretchen has a love for camping but just can't bring herself to do it without a grown male around so she will be going with us on the 9Th to Ruby Beach. There we will actually be going to a campsite where they have bathrooms and running water......weird!

Back in the saddle again....

As most of you know, B and I love our camping in the great northwest. Last summer we went 10 times (5 times by July). This year however, we have been living our busy lives and haven't been able to go even once. So now our car is packed and we are pumped! Olympic Mountains.....here we come! Oh yeah....and I know you are jealous and foaming at the mouth Ben.

One CRAZY Family!

It was Matea's Birthday and we all came full forse with our party shoes on. Like I said....one crazy family!

Jonathan, Logan, & Cameron.

Spencer and our favorite...Sam.

Me and my Spenc.

Two crazy Showalter ladies.

Matea on her Birthday...showing off her new mood ring.

So you can have your cake and eat it too.

Logan's normal way of eating.

Katelynn, Amanda, and Pristine

Hope Father's Day was happy!

Father's Day was the greatest! It was the most relaxing day we have had all year. Due to Keith and Kim's party the night before, we ended up sleeping in until 11am (even the kids), which never happens....EVER. Then we took a nap around 3 and woke up at 5:30. We ended our day at Judy and Lars' house. This picture I love....three generations.....and boy does papa love his boys!!! Today after school we went to my Dad's for a boat trip. What a beautiful day it was!
Well I hope you were all able to let your Dad's know what they mean to you. I know my Dad is the greatest.....and as the boys would say.....I wouldn't trade him for a kong fu ninja!

And the Madness Continues....

Will this madness ever end or have I just gone crazy? Brandon insists that we continue this crazy diet. Yes, it has brought us smaller pants and flatter stomachs, but I just don't know how much longer I can stand eating chicken and beans day in and day out. And to think that I began this loving beans more than any other food. Now the fact is that I can barely stand the sight of them. Keep me in your prayers....I may have lost my mind by the time you see me again!

Strange...yes you could say so!

So I decided to go on a quick walk with a friend before I picked the boys up from school. On this walk I saw a very strange thing hanging from a window......a leg.. As I have said before....Tacoma is still a place of weirdness! And you wonder why I don't want to move to the city!

Charo inspired "cup o' wine! sooo yummy!

Random Trip To Gretchen's

Mista Wogan.....you make me laugh.

Man I love this kid!

Spencer relaxing by the fire.

Brandon feeling the heat.

Brother and sister putting back a few.