Cabin

The whole gang: Corrie, Matthew, Jeff, Vikki, Chesnie, Mattie, Keely, Rhett, Dallas, Codi

Mattie on the rope swing

Ches on the rope swing

Dallas flying off the rope swing, he was the only brave one

The girls on the sandy beach at the Trinity River

Mattie B at the Trinity River

The girls and their treasure

Looking for the Geo cache

Mattie and Keely having fun

Pile of kids at the cabin

Vikki and Codi playing badminton while Mattie and Rhett drive through

Mattie loves Rhett

Chesnie kicking the soccer ball, taking after mommy

Keely driving while Mattie chats on the phone

The girls making "soup"

This last weekend we went to our family cabin in the Trinity Mtns. Matthew's best friend Jeff and his family came along for the adventure. We got up there late Friday night and it was rainy so we all piled into the cabin and slept inside. The next morning we enjoyed a big breakfast and the skies had cleared so we went outside for some fun. The kids enjoyed playing in the sand, riding in the jeep, playing ball and especially badminton. Vikki and I took the kids Geo Caching and they had a great time finding treasures while the dads did some fishing. On Sunday we all went to the Trinity River. There we enjoyed the sand, the water and we even found a rope swing. Fun was had by all! We love the cabin and were so glad that we were able to share it with good friends.

Cherry Pickin'

The girls swimming with their babies

14 lbs of cherries

Chesnie and the ranch dog

The cherry pickers

Matthew hard at work

Mommy and sticky Ches

Look at those sticky hands

Mattie B climbing up to help pick

Mommy and Mattie B

Chesnie enjoying a juicy cherry

Mattie loves it

The girls perfecting the art of spitting the pits

They like to hide in the dryer

Mattie made an catapiller with a bananna, apples, raisins and pretzels

We love our fruit around here! We went and picked some cherries this last weekend. The girls enjoyed seeing goats and a few friendly dogs. Matthew picked most of the cherries. Everything I picked the girls ate. At one point I looked at Matthew's bin and said that we probably had enough. He didn't seem to think so. So I went to the van with the girls because they were tired of being sticky. Not to mention they decided to pet the dog after getting cherry juice all over their hands so not only were they sticky but they were hairy too! When we came back to Matthew Mattie said, "Dad that is enough, let's go!" He weighed the cherries and we had 14lbs! Yes, a little excessive. At least they were only $1.50/lb. We have been to this ranch quite a few times and have thus befriended the old man that lives there. He wanted to show Matthew his garden. The girls and I waited in the cool air conditioned car while Matthew checked out the garden. He came back with a bag full of chard, an arm full of bok choy and a elephant garlic the size of a softball! We were blessed.

Memorial Day

The girls and I at Twin Bridges and Mt. Lassen in the back (you just can't see it)

Matthew at the bridge

Eating the strawberry popsicle

Daddy's fish

Mattie enjoying a fresh strawberry

Picnic at Hat Creek

Ches and her feather at Grace Lake

Sleepy girls after their late night in the tent

Matthew and I ready for bed in the tent

Mattie and mamma

The girlies

Our first harvest-holy cabbage and tiny garlic

Enjoying homemade ice cream

Our cat Jersie checking out the tent

Backyard camping

I wanted to go away, Matthew didn't want to take another road trip. He wanted to stay home and get stuff done, I wanted to leave so that we could take a break from getting stuff done. I consented, he won. We put in a new lawn a few months ago and part of it was turning brown, it wasn't getting enough water. So Matthew had to put in more sprinklers, we had to stay home. So Saturday was spent putting and moving sprinklers. I was able to get a 3 mile walk in, alone and glorious. I took Matthew's Ipod and am amazed how quickly the miles pass when you are listening to music (David Cook's Permanent is amazing!) The girls swam in the pool and we all pitched in to help Matthew.

Sunday we went to church and then went to the new Trader Joe's in town. After lunch we all took a nap and then enjoyed eggplant and rice, a Miller family favorite. We also made home made ice cream, my grandma Burris' recipe. And since we have the new lawn Matthew thought it would be fun to camp out. Let me tell you, camping in your backyard is so much easier than hauling all your stuff to a camp site. The girls thought it was the greatest thing and we had a lakeside site (well pool side). Mattie told Matthew that this was going to be the best night she ever had. And when Matthew was setting up the tent and bringing the sleeping bags out Chesnie asked if she could go to sleep, it was only 6 o'clock. Note to self, you want the kids to go to bed early, set up a tent. But alas, with all the excitement the girls talked and laughed till 10pm. This is what memories are made of, something my mom would say. I remember begging my parents to be able to camp out in our yard so I am passing down a little bit of my childhood.

Monday we woke, not as early as Matthew wanted due to the late night, and got ready to go to the mountains for fishing. We packed our picnic lunch and headed out. First stop was Grace Lake in Shingletown. We weren't going to stop but Mattie was getting car sick and wanted out of the car. The lake was very crowded but we found a spot and fished. No fish were caught but the girls found lots of sticks and Ches found a large feather. We then went to the store to buy Mattie some Dramamine so she wouldn't get sick and headed to Hat Creek. There we had our picnic beside the river and the girls were more interested in putting in their feet and throwing rocks than fishing. So Matthew did all the fishing and actually caught one. Chesnie wanted to hold it and pet it and she even tried to kiss it. Gross! After a little more fishing by daddy we went to the store and the girls got a popsicle, a special treat, and loved every lick of it. Matthew and I enjoyed a quite trip home with two sleeping girls that were tuckered out from a great day.

So we may not have gone away but we did enjoy our family and the places that we call home and made some memories too!

May

Chesnie got a new scooter from Grandma and Grandpa (Mattie got one for Christmas)

The girls hanging upside down under a table at a wedding.

Trying to get all of them to look at the camera is impossible!

Mattie loves Samaria!

And so do I.

Chesnie wanted a duckling to swim in her pool.

A tough game of Uno with a 7 month old, 22 month old, 3 and a 4 year old.

Chesnie tuckered out at the gym.

The girls waiting for their turn on the trampoline.

Mattie and Jordan on the bars.

Chesnie with her birthday balloons on her birthday morning.

Angel food cake, this is the first birthday cake we have had for either of the girls and Ches loved it! Thanks grandma!

Eating her birthday pizza.

Chesnie turned 3 on May 5th. She is our little Cinco De Mayo baby and even has the dark skin to prove it. We had a Little Mermaid birthday all planned for Saturday before her birthday but unfortunately she was sick and it rained. My parents and Matthew's parents came up for the celebration though and Chesnie was happy to spend the time with them. She got to open presents all throughout the day. She got Charlotte's Web and watched it with grandma and grandpa. She requested pizza for dinner and enjoyed that very much. She also had angel food cake for dessert which is the first cake we have had for either girls birthday. She loved being able to blow out the candles and being sung to. On her actual birthday she wanted to go to the gym with her friends. It was the first time that we had been out since she was sick and Mattie had gotten the same cold. She enjoyed jumping on the trampolines, swinging from the rings and bars but she tuckered out at the end. She got a new scooter from grandma and grandpa and was so thrilled that it had a basket to carry all of her stuff. Now Mattie and her can ride around together on their princess scooters!

My best friend Kara and her two kids Caleb and Sam surprised us and came into town for Chesnie's birthday. We love them so much and miss them so very much. We had a great time with them here at our house. Mattie adores Samaria and was her little shadow. Even when Sam was nursing Mattie was right there beside her. She loves to help change her and hold her. She picked out Sam's clothes every day and then ran to her room to pick out something that she could wear that would match.

We went to Roseville this last weekend for a wedding. The girls were not thrilled about the 3 hour car trip but were excited to see Gma and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa again. They were really good for the wedding and enjoyed swinging on a bar under the table at the reception. Luckily we knew everyone at the table so no one minded the bumps and thumps and no one else could see them! Out of sight out of mind right?

Well, that is our May so far. More to come I am sure.