Is it really Friday already? This summer is going to be over in the blink of an eye.
I still can't believe my mother got on a wakeboard. And liked it.
Every year 'round these parts, they have the National Fiddler's Festival in Weiser. It's kind of a big deal. You know, for I-dee-ho.
With my hubby, being so adventurous and all, a Go-Getter with capital G's, we decided to go. I just love go-getters.
Here, we they sit, waiting for the parade to start.
It seems there are several parades such as these around here every year.....
Where the hometown high school cheerleaders and marching bands show off their stuff....
....and a lot of the good 'ol boys come out with their tractors....
...and people who sit in the back of a truck while they squirt all of us, very hot spectators, with a super soaker...
...and even ZEBRAS!
and in this particular parade several folks sitting and fiddlin' away on odd type floats.
Of course, the kids LOVE it. Who wouldn't? Everyone who comes through the parade line throw them all kinds of stuff.
They are constantly racing to fetch the most candy that's thrown out into the streets....
They even jump and wave their arms so that they will throw them MORE candy, Frisbees, water bottles, otter pops and lots of other neat stuff.
This was the second parade within a week that these little monkeys got to attend. They were pretty good at hollerin' by this time.
We then went over to one of the main parks in this po-dunk town and they were getting ready for a fireman challenge. All that was missing was Jeff Probst to announce the play by play.
There were two guys to a team and two teams competed against each other. Hoping for the best time in the end.
They had to run from water filled trash can to trash can and put on soaking wet fire gear
Then proceed to knock down those four little red water bottles you see, with a pump like squirt gun that was strapped to their backs. Here you can see team A was spanking team B.
Once they knocked over those bottles they both raced to the fire hydrants that were set up in the middle of the street and then tried to knock over the octagon shaped sign. You see all those amused spectators sitting on the curb next to the fireman? Keep these unfortunate souls in mind as you read on.
After watching 5-8 races, I wasn't too sure the people of Weiser could count on their firemen. The hoses got away from several of them as they tried to shoot the sign down. (Remember those people sitting on the curb?) I felt especially sorry for the little boy and his momma who were only feet away from this hose as it got away and pelted their body's for seconds longer than they would have liked, I'm sure.
Since it was a HOT day, a lot of the kids decided it would be fun to stand behind the octagon shaped signs, so that they could get wet. Here, you can see Dylan and Karly getting brave and wanting to chance the pelting themselves. What you can't see here, is Dawson....he, too, decided to brave the extremely strong stream of water. I'm pretty sure it didn't take very long for him to regret that decision....
In fact, it didn't take long at all. He was not happy. Not happy at all. Dylan on the other hand was a happy camper. Although I'm sure when he's about sixteen and looks back at this picture, he will not be happy. You know we all have them....those pictures that we'd like to burn. The ones that so clearly portray our wally (wolly? walle?) stages?
Even though it was extremely hot, and probably felt good, he would not look at me.
I tried and tried to get him to look at the camera, but he wasn't going for it. When little monkeys don't get naps, they are very cranky. In case you didn't know.
Before we left, we walked around, listened to several different bands, and enjoyed this the most.
A few guys standing under a tree jammin' acapella style. This guy in the middle with the blue hat was an awesome singer. Keith and I could have stood and listened for the whole afternoon. But Mr.-I-got-wet-and-love-to-whine put an end to that very quickly.
I absolutely LOVE this picture of Dawson. I can just hear him now….very excitedly yelling “BIGGER, BIGGER!!!”
You see, these little guys were sitting here watching a teenager jump on his motorcycle, and they thought it was thee coolest thing ever. Us, parents, not so much. I believe Wayde and Keith clapped, actually clapped, when he parked his bike at his camp next to us and disembarked.
This here, is the super duper Walmart special that only lasted three times. A whole three launches, but it was really cool while it lasted.
You can tell it was super duper, just look at his face!
I think even he liked it.
As I was watching said rocket launch, I caught this one pickin’ a big one.
I’ll spare you the treasure he found. ‘Cuz I’m nice like that. I do have it though, in case any are interested.
Little Miss Lanky. Does she not look like she’s grown a couple’a feet since my last post? Good golly Miss Molly.
I’m so thankful the Lord blessed me with a little girl. I just love her to pieces.
Wayde and Cora brought this cool “swing ball” game….kind of like tetherball/tennis. Even the adults had a few rounds.
Auntie Jill is officially “the coolest aunt ever” and Aubrey is “SO lucky to have such a cool aunt” according to Dylan. Little did we know that she just so happened to set up camp a stones throw away and rode up one day to find us lardin’ out by the river.
Aubrey, who has camped with Auntie Jill lots of times, knew there were some 4-wheelers close by and asked her auntie if she could have a ride.
Of course, then everyone wanted one. I was glad Jill made the parents take their children. That way I got to ride it, too!
This one, actually, both of these guys were a bit nervous. Keifer was o.k. once he saw that it was like a SeaDoo and not like a motorcycle, where you have to change gears and such.
Oh and don’t worry Menders, I reminded Dylan that he, too, had an awesome aunt. We talked for a few minutes, I reminded him ever so gently of past activities…and he very quickly remember that YOU, too, were cool too. Love ya….uha
THIS was the home of the Cornwells. We don’t have a trailer. Yet.
Loungin’ and yappin’ the day away
Miss Donna did the girls’ hair the same, ‘cuz they love to be twinners.
Believe it or not, this is the cleanest his face looked all weekend. That GC dirt is some nasty stuff.
Even though we said we would never go back up to Idaho City, otherwise known as Bomb City, we did. We sure did. We visited the same football field last year and once again had a blast lighting off our own fireworks and watching 26 other shows.
Keifer visited a “real fireworks store” not just a stand and found REAL sparklers. You know, the really dangerous ones? The ones we used to use as kids and almost caught each other on fire with? Yep, those ones.
Yep, just as I remember when I was little. When those darn little sparks would hit you in the foot or on top of you head? Look closely and you’ll see Karly’s mistrustful look. She’s very very close to dropping it and taking off.
Here, we are watching the main fireworks show. Only there were umpteen other ones going on at the same time. We didn’t know where to look.
On our last morning, everyone was admiring Keith’s morning ‘do. This is pretty much what he looks like every morning. BUT, when you haven’t washed your hair in days, the mohawk ‘do is far more alive.
I promise, the water did NOT look this disgusting in person. My camera has put a nasty tint on it.
This was right before we were leaving. It’s so hard to say goodbye.
Goodbye to the dirt, marshmallows, campfires….
Goodbye to the most annoying pest on the whole earth…the ones who deplete your blood and leave you in misery for days….
Goodbye to the cold, cold water and the rocky river hikes…and the snakes.
Until next time.
Oh, and one more thing....HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNTIE LINDA!
Keith has a few customers up in McCall and decided to take the whole family with him (again) this past week.
Our first stop, of course, was his customer. But after work was done we ate at The Pancake House. I could sit for hours on this deck and look at the beautiful scenery.
Keith and I were bummed out that we forgot to take a picture of the food we ordered. It was consumed way before the thought even entered our brains. The pancake was the size of a very large dinner plate and the cinnamon roll, oh my heavens, was HUGE. I've never seen anything like it.
If you ever have the chance to stop in, you won't be disappointed.
This is what I get when I tell Dawson to "give me a cool pose" He's so, so cool.
Now this girl, on the other hand, knows how to pose. I don't say anything to her and this is what I get. It scares me, quite frankly.
My two babies growing up before my eyes. It's hard to believe they once fit in my womb. 
After 
Just like the old days.
You know...old days, as in a couple of years ago on our homeshores.
Dawson called me as I was photographing the others and said "Mom, take a pitcher of me, I'm Sandman". 
Then I had this brilliant idea for Dawson to hold Dylan's head and that maybe, just maybe it might look like this....
Then they ALL wanted to be buried....so Keifer and I whistled while we worked. Only I can't whistle.
**This was supposed to automatically publish on Friday, but for some reason, blogger is not working when it comes to scheduling posts?? So, we have a Flashback Friday on a Monday morning. We've been super busy camping and enjoying our summer. More on that later.
We're goin' back folks. Back to a time when our family was much smaller.
We've gained several members and lost one who started it all.
It has, indeed, been quite some time since I captured this video of my Chasey. I had intentions of posting it ever since we came home from California, but you know....time just gets away from you sometimes.
One of my favorite songs right now is The Lighthouse by Acapella...you may have heard it a time or two (or ten) while perusing my blog. Apparently, Chase also likes it a - lot. So much, in fact, that he picked the whole thing out by ear and learned to play it. Amazing, he is. The kid has an ear like you wouldn't believe.
While I stayed with the Winbergs for those many weeks, I used to hear them in my sleep...I would dream about the two songs that this one loved to play. He would sit at the piano 4-7 times a day and crank them out. Sometimes poppy, sometimes bluesy, and sometimes....just chasey.
Here is my little man (well, technically he's not mine) playing his most favoritest song ever.
**at least it WAS his favorite, like, two months ago. I'm sure he's picked up several more since then. He probably stole them from Kyle. Hee hee. By ear, of course.
One thing Keith misses a whole bunch is being able to jam with others. Others who play musical instruments. When we go to Cali or Oregon, he spends a lot of his time playing. Here is a video of him and Chase playing a Jack Johnson song.
**again, this is several weeks old. I'm a total slacker.
After listening to Lauren's precious little voice over and over (and over) I was reminded of a video I've seen in the past.
At one point during her message, she says "It's my birthday today" and the way she says "today" totally brought it all back. Feef? I know you know what I'm talking about.
I'm sure for those of you who have spent any time in a nail salon can totally and completely relate to this...
We called to wish Lauren a happy birthday yesterday. She's already THREE! I can't believe that little girl is three years old.
Anyhoo...we left her a message and then she called back and left us one. I think I've listened to this little message at least twenty six times.
By the end of the night, I may reach fifty. It's that cute.
I sure do miss her.
It seems my kids like Post-it notes. It wasn't very long ago that my eldest left me a darling little note such as this....
I was in the kitchen the other day, when Karly came in and told me that she left me a "special gift" on the front porch. Since I was busy with nasty salmonella causing goo on my hands, I didn't stop right away and go out. She danced around and just couldn't stand the waiting...so I washed up and went out the garage door and around to the front. This is what I saw.
I told her to sit down by said gifts so I could capture her cuteness. Although, her hair could have most definitely been styled in a cuter way...at least she doesn't look like Orphan Annie. 'Cuz she does sometimes ;o)
I immediately put the flower in my hair and then, she too, wanted one.
This was definitely reason to bring the camera out.
Which then caused my littlest monster to want to take a picture. Which is pretty much anytime he sees a camera. He did a swell job, don'tcha think? We actually have heads!
And then it was Karly's turn. Between the three of them, and myself, of course, my camera gets used a LOT.Ever since we moved in, last November, we've been looking forward to seeing our strawberries bloom. Bloom? Blossom? Germinate? Sprout? Whatever you call it....
We've had such fun harvesting our berries this week. Although they are small and not the sweet California strawberries we're used to...it is still lots of fun to pick/eat them right in your own backyard!
Dylan and I gathered a bunch the other day...
I had to thump him a few times for behavior such as this. Not really.
Here are the three of them taking in the wonderfulness of the homegrown beauties.
Later that evening we served them like this for dessert! It seems a few of my readers are questioning my ability to decipher who's who.
In my recent Flashback Friday, I posted this picture...
I commented that it was "my studmufin" and it seems, a couple of my followers, who will go un-named at this time, think that it is not "my studmuffin", but one that belongs to someone else...
I thought I would post a few more pictures from the same session, with the same shorts, board, gloves and, um, body.
Here's another...
And another....Oh, how I miss these trips....
My brother pullin' a tight right....
And brave enough to even try this! I'm not sure if he landed this one or not, or any...but it was a blast to watch.
Actually, that's not even true. I sat as Nervous Nelly watching and biting my fingernails. I couldn't wait until he was done...and safe...and in the boat.
I'm just like that. Nervous.
And, of course, my studmuffin. Although not quite brave enough to try the flip, still quite studly.
I miss those houseboatin'-lake floatin'-wakeboardin'-sun bathin' days a whole lot. Every time we drive through Vegas, (which as of late? very frequently) I hear Lake Mead calling my name.
But, it just wouldn't be the same.
Our captain is missing and it just wouldn't be the same.
****update - I feel rather akward doing this but, it seems I must clear something up...This is most definitely NOT my house. It was a picture that someone emailed me and I thought it was a crackup. I instanly thought of Jeff Foxworthy and his "Redneck song" and I thought I'd post it. As a joke. If I ever have that wallpaper in my house, or a Jiffy Pop (for crying out loud) as a smoke alarm? Please, someone shoot me.
I can hear Jeff Foxworthy now...
Today is our anniversary. 13 years has come and gone in the blink of an eye.
We went out on a much needed date the other night....
We sat in Starbucks at the end of the night like a couple of teenagers...and took some silly pictures
Just him, being his goofy self. Showing off his *gasp* favorite Cornwell trait.
Perhaps he was imagining that he was Edward Cullen? He does like to do that from time to time. And, yes, he read it.
Someone once told me a long time ago, when we first got married that "we didn't even know what love was yet, just wait". At the time, I thought, no, way...I totally know what love is...but they were right. The longer we're together, the more I love him.
