Keeping up With the Gailey's

Many of you probably know that my family (Mom, Dad and John) have moved to Hong Kong. My dad accepted a position with Coke and they're having him working the Pacific region. They've been having tons of fun so far. Every time I talk with them I get more and more jealous. We stay in touch through Skype and their Ooma internet phone.

For those of you who'd like to stay updated, my mom has a blog to document all of their Hong Kong adventures. Check it out at heidiinhongkong.blogspot.com. Beware, though, It'll make you jealous too!!

(Laura's spending 4 weeks in Hong Kong with them before she starts school again this fall. David is living with our grandparents, working, and going to school)

I'm a Scrapper!

I guess I've caught the blogging bug once again...I hope it lasts!

So, I've taken up digital scrapbooking. I've always been a scrapbooker of sorts, but I just haven't had time (or space!) the last two years to do paper scrapbooking. I learned about digital scrapbooking a long time ago and I knew I'd love it, but I just hadn't taken the plunge....til now!

I absolutely love it! I'm not an expert by any means, but it's such a fun, organized and clean way to scrapbook. Plus, I haven't spent a dime on it yet! There are TONS of freebies online, and I've been using those while I learn.

I've only been actively scrapping for about a month, but I've made about 20 cute layouts. I chose just a few to show you.







I got everything for these LOs at ShabbyPrincess.com or ShelBelleScraps.blogspot.com.

Beach, Cheese, Cupcakes and Jam!

It seems like I only get the urge to blog about once a month....and today is that once!

The Beach & Cheese
Several weeks ago we headed to the Oregon Coast with the Forsberg clan (including Maren, Blake and Braden who traveled over from Pullman). We rented a nice house just minutes from the beach. We had so much fun just hanging out...and eating out! We also toured the Tillamook Cheese Factory, which was pretty incredible. I had no idea there was such an intricate process to making cheese. While we were there we enjoyed some delicious Tillamook ice cream (of course!).

Baxter had to sleep in his crate at night...he was NOT happy.

Little Braden and Baxter absolutely loved each other.

The water was freezing, but Toren attempted boogie boarding anyway.

We also discovered a way to take Bax on bike rides. It's also an excellent way to tire him out.

And this was what he did the whole ride home. Being on vacation is exhausting...

Cupcakes
I took a cake decorating class with Cheryl (my mother-in-law) and Mallory (my sister-in-law). It was a 4-week course, and each week we learned different skills. I can't exactly say we were experts by the end, but we did make some pretty awesome cakes and cupcakes. Does anyone have a birthday coming up? I'm dying for an excuse to use my new skills...


Jam
To earn some money this summer, one of the young men in our ward picked and sold raspberries and marionberries from his backyard. We ordered a half-flat of both. But then we had so many berries we didn't know what to with all of them (and they were getting VERY ripe VERY fast in the hot weather). So, I decided to make some jam. My grandma and mom have made homemade jam for years, though I never took the time to learn from them. I did pretty well on my own though. I made about 12 jars and so far we've already gone through 3 of them. Now we're wishing we would have bought more berries! I guess now we know for next year.

Even my Eyeballs are SWEATING!

One Month Later....

Yes, I know it's been a month since I blogged last. The sad part is that I've had lots to blog about the last few weeks and I just haven't done it. It's time to redeem my blogging status.

Best Father's Day Gift
Dads are always the hardest to buy for. It's probably because they want the same thing every year: nothing. This year, though, we gave Toren's dad the best give ANYONE could ask for:

The tag is upside down, but you get idea. I can't say I've seen a happier father that I did this year. To make thing easier for Baxter, we're going to keep taking care of him at our house. We don't want to confuse the little guy.

Shakespearean Festival
My mom came down for a visit the last week of June. While she was here we wanted to do something fun and exciting -- something we wouldn't otherwise do on our own. So, we went to down to Ashland to experience the Shakespearean Festival. We had SO much fun. Of course we had to spend a little time at the Medford mall shopping, getting pedicures, and soaking up some 90-degree rays (how could we consider it a girls vacation if we didn't?).

We watched to plays at the festival: Much Ado About Nothing and Henry VII. They were both very good, but we were a little lost during the first 20 minutes while our ears adjusted to Shakespeare's writing style.

We also had a fun time walking around Ashland, visiting the quaint shops and admiring the hippies way of life. Thanks Mom for the fun mini-vacation!!

Sitting in the Elizabethan stage.

Forth of July
The fourth of July is 2nd favorite holiday (just behind Christmas, of course). There's just something magical about warm-weather BBQs, hanging out in camping chairs, and watching an colorful firework show. This year our Fourth of July meant eating out for dinner (I'm not really complaining about that one) and running from man-made bombs. Not exactly Magical. I'll let the pictures give you a glimpse at our evening.

He looks a little to excited to light that bomb.

We did watch the neighbors' fireworks and we set off a few non bombs of our own.

Baxter loved the fireworks, too. I think he's actually just depressed because I wouldn't let him off his leash.

Kalen with Rock-A-Bye-Baby. Our Grand Finale.

The Grand Finale. Thanks, Kalen, for keeping the 4th of July magic alive!

Farewell Sweet Mustache

The mustache has been shaved...finally.

Here's a final look for your viewing pleasure:

Good Riddance.

The 'Stache

It's true...Toren's growing a mustache.

Toren and the guys he works with all thought it would be really cool if they all grew mustaches.  The truth:  they all look ridiculous.  

I'll let you be the judge though (cast your vote in the poll!).