Today's the day- our "End of the Summer Party"

Up and already preparing for our
1st Annual "End of the Summer Party". There will be a combination of family an friends. We are having a bounce house and lots of food.....

Weather has cooled down a bit, but todays forecast calls for 84 degrees, but our last few nights have been a little breezy!

I haven't prepared much for tonight, but if anyone knows me, I work best when I'm on a time limit! So, let the preparing begin :) I have a long list of things to buy and do. My hubby had to finish up a job today, so looks like, its just me this morning! My list kind of looks like this:

• First, a little breakfast!
• Put on my music! (does music motivates you?)
• Clean, clean, and more cleaning
• Buy carne asada meat
• Walmart- s'mores stuff
• Safeway- produce/water
• Have kids pick up toys and anything out of its place- inside and outside
• Mow front and back yard
• Make room for bouncy house
• more cleaning- because by 5pm, my little ones will manage to dirty the house again.
• Decorate
• Set up wii for dance off (my favorite- I usually win)

Anyways- you get the picture! I'm just excited that Summer is almost over and the kiddos return to school on Sept. 6. We love spending time with our family/friends and what better way is there, than to have a party to celebrate the end of the summer.

How has your summer been? Do any of you have such parties? I would love to hear, what your parties are like and if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Well, here we go- Here's to our first annual "End of the Summer Party" Wish me luck.....

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

DO NOT JUDGE

So as you all know, we have 7 children, which 5 of them are at a age where, they sometimes tend to judge. When I come across a conversation or a comment one might have all I think about is this picture below...

Don't get me wrong, I too find myself judging others. Sometimes a little more than I'd like. But through the power of prayer, I am reminded by our father in heaven, that this is not a trait he wants me to have.That I need to set a better example to our children and to all people in general.

This picture reminds me, wether it's the little negative comment about someone or if you've been offended by a person. STOP and try to remember that we might not always know what that person might be dealing with. Show compassion anyways to those who hurt you and try to be quick to forgive and move on.

This morning, my Hubby and I, kind of had a disagreement. (Here is a little background of what he does) We own and he operates a roofing company. Things are going great, busy, but GREAT! We have been busy with life, church, sports, summer, ect. Things get hectic!

This last week seemed like I only blinked once and it is Friday already. Anyways, to make a long story short, as we got up today and started getting ready for today, we failed to communicate all last week and he has a lot on his mind. I've been running around like a CRAZY lady, trying to get everything ready for school and the BIG party tomorrow. Well, he said something and I felt offended, so I started judging about how much I have doing all week, and he wasn't, blah, blah, blah. And he left a little upset.... That is NOT how I want my morning to start. So we (really he initiated the sorry) said our "sorry's" and as we made things better, he opened up. I didn't realize all he has been dealing with these last 2 weeks. Things that I don't know what it feels like to face, because I don't run our business, coach our kids baseball and football, do the hiring and firing of employees, ect. At that point all I could remember was this picture.

Like I said, wether its a big thing or little.. DO NOT JUDGE! You do not know what storm (little or small- a storm is different to every person) God has asked him to go through.....

I'm just thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who loves me enough to help me see others feelings... And forgive me for my actions. I hope you all have a good day and remember to stop and think before you might judge......

What's going on, you ask??

Thanks for stopping by, and checking out my new blog! Today we are just chilling, somewhat getting ready for school to start again-YAY!! It's been a 'LONG' Summer, full of good stuff. Lets see, here is a break down of our SUMMER......

We recently had our oldest Daughter, Ronni, Graduate High School!! Now, that was an amazing feeling, along with her just turning 18!! Talk about feeling old.... She just got her 1st job- Dutch Bros. So far she is loving it, besides the studying of the manual!! Which she said she felt like she was in school again :)

We've been camping alot with our extended family, here are a few of the most memerable: the Oregon Coast, we stayed during the ABNORMALLY good weather! We also stayed in a little town called Vernonia (i call it VER-no-WHERE). We camp there atleast 2 times a year, with our family and friends. My hubby and I also went to a sizzling "HOT" 111 degree town called UMATILLA...I don't know if I want to remember this trip! We went on a church activity called "TREK"- where the youth of our church, dress up as Pioneers, and pull a handcart for 26 miles, over a total of 4 days. Let me tell you, the heat and my Hypothyroidism, did NOT mix!!! We stayed from Sunday-Friday. A few times during that week, I literally thought I was going to die (not really) But, I pulled through and had the best spiritual experience ever. I was so PROUD of the youth of our church, and if weather permits (78 degress woud be perfect) I hope we get the chance of doing it again! 

Beides that, we bought old but new to us, wave runners. These last 2 weeks have been at the Willamette river and Hagg Lake. They were just what we needed!! The weather here in the Portland area has been awesome! Did you know that you have to take a boaters course, to operate these babies? A course that takes 4,5,6 hours to finish? Well, for me it took a long time, but my hubby busted it out in 3. Way to go honey!!

There is always something going on here at the Long Household.. Bewtween our neverending remodeling, to school activities/sports and Church, we got it going on!! 

Now, these last 2 weeks before school starts, we wil be finishing up our school clothes shopping. BUT first, we are having a "End of the Summer Party" this saturday. Family, fun filled BBQ, with a bounce house and all. My Husband will be serving up his FAMOUS Carne Asada, YUMMY!!! 

I have managed to get the school clothes shopping done, earlier than previous years- PAT ON THE BACK! Our baby Cali (she is 5) starts Kindergarten this year, sniff, sniff :( 
The thought of this, is a litlle bitter sweet.. All I can think about, is where did time go?? It just seems like yesterday, she was just a baby....

That's all for now, thanks for stopping by and I will post pictures of our adventues soon!!
Before I leave, I would like to know HOW YOUR HAS SUMMER BEEN? ANY FAMILY TRIPS? Special occasions? Please Share :)