August has been a very busy month!!

We had Steve's Family Reuninon. The kids loved playing with their cousins that they don't get to see often enough.



Jeremy visited from New York!!


We went to the zoo with Jeremy and Grandma Betsy. It was a perfect day for the zoo!

The kids loved the train ride!





Grandpa and Grandma took the kids and I to Longbeach for the Kite Festival. It was a fun time!



The kids loved playing in the sand and flying their kits. Presley was even doing tricks with his kite.

Cowlitz County Fair

One tradition that I will continue with my kids is going to the fair. It is fun to see the animals, especially the babies. This year we saw baby pigs and goats. Zoe and Presley got to pet the goat. This year the kids also put a painting into the kids crafts exhibit. We went to see if they got a ribbon. Zoe was so excited she got two ribbons (a blue and purple one!) Presley got a green ribbon. Zoe is already talking about what she wants to put in the fair next year.



We also ate fair food and got kettle corn to go. I'm such a bad mom though, I told Zoe she couldn't go on the rides because you had to be eight. Those things are sooo darn expensive, it is ridiculous!! We found other ways to have fun. :)

The kids even made it into the local paper for being the first to enter the craft tent at the fair on Thursday. :) They decorated potatoes.


"Presley Fortner, 3, peered through his mop of red hair, concentrating as he pushed a button into one of the globs of glue on his potato.

Beside him, his sister Zoe, 4, spelled her name in bright letters across her tuber.

The Fortner kids, of Kelso, were the first to stop by the kids' craft tent noon Thursday at the Cowlitz County Fair, which opened its four-day run under sunny skies and moderate temperatures after the annual kids parade."
Presley was all about the glue!!

I made Strawberry Jam!!

I have been wanting to make jam for a very long time. It reminds me of my Grandma Myrtle, she was the best jam maker. I finally made myself do it (with Steve's help). Now I want to make more!!

Our 6th Anniversary!

Steve and I celebrated out 6th Anniversary on July 31st! I can hardly believe six years went by so quickly. Lots has changed in six years but Steve and I have made it through. The movies make it look so easy.

To celebrate Steve took me to a cabin by Mt. St. Helens called Eco Park. It was so much fun minus the critter that decided it wanted in our cabin at 2 in the morning and the hornets nest in the cabin when we first arrived. I can laugh now... but not at the time.

We did lots in a short time... we went horse back riding and I had a beautiful horse. We played board games and took lots of walks too. We also drove up to the mountain. I hadn't done that since I was in high school. Steve almost had me talked into a helicopter ride (I am really scared of heights) if it didn't cost so much (maybe next time!)

I feel so blessed to have met and married such an awesome person!