Berry Picking

Check out a post Katie posted about our picking on Monday.

A Virtual Chill

For those wishing for cold weather I thought I would share this picture I found hidden on my camera yesterday. Remember the snow storm we had six months ago? Remember losing electricity and heat? Remember how cold it was? Now doesn't 93 seem not quite as bad(still hot, but maybe slightly cooler)?

PB & J

Nika and Christian are always asking to make their own PB & J, so this afternoon I let them. Nika did a wonderful job, but was disappointed that her sandwich didn't turn into the shape she had intended to cut. I turned from cleaning the kitchen to find Christian making his sandwich in an odd way. He put no Peanut Butter nor Jelly on his Bread, instead scooping out Jelly and Peanut Butter directly into his mouth, then licking the butter Knife.

Purple Paint

Here is a picture of Nika's Completed room. I didn't intend to match the curtains and wall so closely.

Fishing with PaPa Boyd

At Wizard Falls on the First day of fishing season all the kids are allowed to fish right out of the fish hatchery settling pond. PaPa Boyd has looked forward to the day the kids would be able to do this for years. The best thing of all is that the kids caught their fish with their own spiderman and Barbie fishing poles.

Christian caught a fish.

Nika Caught a fish. And we cooked them up for PaPa Boyd's Birthday Dinner

Fourth of July Bike ride

We got up early on the fourth of July to go for a bike ride. Matt pulled Nika and Christian in the trailer. It was the first time in years I was able to keep up. It just took 100 pounds of kids and trailer to slow the 33 year old down.

Visiting Washington

I visited My best friend from college. Liz has a sister (adopted) who is the same age as Nika. I had been wanting to meet Ester. All four kids climbed on the slide together. Isn't this a great picture?

Visiting Washington

Father's Day weekend we also visited my Dad in Washington. He really wanted to see Kyle before he went back to his Mom.

Visiting Washington

We went up to Matt's Parents for Father's day. Here is Christian, Kiley (cousin) and Nika.

Hanana Mon-Nika

This is Nika posing like Hanana Montana.

Check Out our Youtube Site

http://www.youtube.com/user/WildWestClan

The camping trip

As I said in one of the eariler post this camping trip was the best ever.

We ate Salmon, pasta, fiaetas, breakfast burritos, pancakes, and steak.

It poured as we broke camp on sunday.

Familes represented Zunigas (Josh and AJ), West (Matt, Meghan, Nika, and Christian), Rowles (Layth, Betsy, Soren, and Keiton), Lundes (Paul, Andrea, Benton, and Nathanial), Bowmans (Vance, Alicia, Karis, and Kellen), and the Hammonds (Craig, Megan, Kyler, Maddy, and Nora). 23 people, Five tents, Six Cars, Two Canopies, Two picnic tables, Five coolers, Three folding tables, 13+ bikes, one scooter, two boys learning to ride bikes, and hundreds of marshmellows.

All the kids had matching shirts one day.

We went on a group bike ride into Cottage Grove.

Made a ton of memories.

Thanks for the fun Guys.

Nika and Kyler

Kyler is Megan Hammond's son. This camping trip was the first for the Hammonds with this group. But Nika and Kyler had a special thing going, I think you can see it in Nika's eyes.

Camping Moms

I liked this picture especially. It is a picture of all the moms at the camping trip. I am so blessed by the wonderful friendship these girls offer me. In the top picture Betsy Rowles, Alicia Bowman, Megan Hammond (yes the confusion is crazy), and Andrea Lunde. I get around these girls and I feel so free like when I was in college.

Reading

We joined the Libraries summer reading program. We did really good at the beginning. Better get back into the grove. We have our eye on one of those cool book bags.

Good Bye Kyle

Well I have recieved many inquires on why I haven't been blogging. I imagine people are wondering my thoughts on Kyle leaving.

Well many of you know my nephew had been living with us. He came to live with us April 23rd (two days after Christian's 2nd Birthday), at the young age of 6 weeks. After about two weeks of increased unsupervised visits Kyle's Mom took him home to live with her in Albany on Thursday July 9th (the day before Matt's 33rd Birthday). To do the math he lived with us for 14 months and 2 weeks. Yes nearly his entire life.

Prior to this his Mother was having weekly 3 hour visits with him supervised, so he knew his mom well. I think he even looked forward to spend that time with her each week. Yesterday I received an update from the casework, say that he was "Happy."

We spent the first four days after Kyle left on a group camping trip, which has helped to keep our mind off that fact that he is gone. We often made remarks about how this years camping trip (we do this same camping trip every years with a several families) was the easiest. 2006 we had Christian 4 months, 2007 we had three kids (my niece Kiley was living with us), 2008 we had three kids (including a 5 month old Kyle), and this year 2009 just two kids, only a 3 year old and a 5 year old. I plan to continue to stay busy and keep my mind off him being gone. I bought paint for Nika and Christian's room, painted Nika's room (purple), plan to paint Christian's room next week (transformer Red), plan to go berry picking (I haven't done this since I was a child), and I plan to learn to can/make jelly.

With all that said, I am trying to keep myself busy. But I can feel it now, we miss him so very much. My heart is broken that my son Kyle is not with me. And I see little hope that we will see Kyle much. His mom, my sister-in-law, has carried a lot of resentment toward Matt and I. Over the last 3 1/2 years we have had one of her kids living with us 2 years one month.

Well please be praying for us (Matt, Meghan, Nika, Christian, Kyle, and Jamie (Kyle's Mom)), pray discernment of the caseworker (Kyle Shumaker (yes same first name), that Jamie can feed him, clothe him and provide shelter for him (she has made financial difficulties), and Health for Kyle and Jamie (Jamie has had several health trials the last year).

Last of all. Just because Kyle has left doesn't mean we won't see him again. If he does come back into care we are first in line for placement. Kyle's caseworker has promised me he will not allow Kyle to slip through the cracks. And if you ask God has proven time and time again that He watches over his children, especially Kyle.

Thank you for all of your love and support.

Meghan