A New Addition!

We have adopted a new family member, Sadie. She is a Shih Tzu that was very neglected and was in need of a good home. She has been such a wonderful dog. She and Emma play everyday and the kids love her. Rylee calls her "pretty girl"! Poor Adam and Jackson are now outnumbered!

Where does the time go?

So sorry, so sorry. I haven't blogged for awhile now. Shame on me! Well, I went to post this morning and guess what....drum roll.....I don't have my memory card to my camera! I left it at my grandma's. So I am posting without pictures. I probably am breaking some cardinal rule that says the only "true" bloggers post pictures too....well nanny, nanny this time I don't have pictures! Just close you eyes and imagine. Wait, open your eyes so you can finish the rest of this post!

Let's see......we have had Father's Day and Adam got a new BBQ. Yippy! We have gone camping twice now! The kids were mud balls but they were content to have sand in their underwear and dirt up there nose. If they're happy, mom's happy! The bathtub had a really gross and grimy black ring when they were finished scraping the dirt off!

What else? Um...Rylee found a praying mantis in our flower pot yesterday and it has become her new best friend. She couldn't wait this morning to go out and see if her "frying man-tees" was still there. Sure enough it was! Your world is right side up when you find a creepy bug!

We are leaving on Sunday for a week. We are camping in McCall this year. Usually we have a week's vacation at the Oregon coast, but the gas prices are crazy. It would deplete my parent's retirement fund to pull their trailer down there so we could camp! I would rather they keep their money so they don't have to live with us when they are old and needing their toenails cut for them!

So that about sums it up. Rylee is thrilled that her friend Sophia invited her to her birthday party. She can't wait for her own so she can invite all of her friends (Sophia included!). She even has invited kids off the street. You think I am joking, but this is no joke! What will I do when children from unknown places and planets shows up at my door? Do I turn them away or make my house into a orphanage? Hopefully, I won't have to find out. We have had a long talk about not inviting anyone until she asks me first!

I promise pictures next time!

Okay...now you can close your eyes and create pictues in your noggin about the Kramer post!

Better late than never!

I really am going to update our blog....I went to do that tonight and realized I left my camera in Jackson's room and well....he is sleeping for the night! Maybe I will have time tomorrow! Sorry.

Our June calendar is full!

Check out our crazy schedule!

June 2nd: Taylor's (My niece) B-day
June 5th: Suzi's B-day
June 7th: Jackson's B-day
June 15th: Jen's(My sister)Wedding Anniversary
June 16th: Our Wedding Anniversary (8 years, by the way!)

So, we had the kids' birthday party (Jackson & Taylor) and I made both of their cakes. (As you can see we had a Dora/Diego theme.) Soon we are celebrating my birthday...oh so not looking forward to being another year older!

Happy Birthday to Us!

On top of all of that, Rylee had her final recital yesterday at The Little Gym. She did great and was so excited to receive a rose from Daddy and Gigi.

Turn Up Your Volume!

Finally...I figured out how to add audio to our blog...whew! Thank you very much Katy Erickson!

Work, work, and more work!

Kramer Family Ditty
Old McKramer had a house
EIEIO
And with his house there came a yard
EIEIO
With a work, work here
And a plant, plant there
Here a weed, there a weed
Everywhere a mow, mow,
Old McKramer had a house
EIEIO!!!!!

So...we have been doing yard work. And the kids have been helping too! Jackson thought he would try out the dirt to see if it had enough nutrients for our new plants!

We are now camping professionals!

We made it! Jackson slept through the night in the tent...finally! They had a blast. We had 'smores and sang campfire songs then the kids actually went to sleep! Mountains here we come!

Welcome to Camp Kramer!

Well, my family has decided to start camping this summer. I grew up camping and was all for taking my kids into the wild blue yonder. We thought we would start with baby steps and try pitching a tent in the backyard and sleeping out there one night to get the kids used to it. So we set up the tent last weekend. What a joke! Jackson was so freaked out he kept crawling out of his sleeping bag to join mom and dad! We weren't going to start a bad habit and let him sleep with us......so we tried and tried and tried to get him to stay in his bed to no avail. Finally at midnight, Adam took him in the house to sleep in his own bed. Rylee and I finished the night in the tent. She did great and was so proud of herself for "camping". Needless to say, we are dumb......because we are trying it again tonight! Pray for us!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you hard working moms out there! My own mother's day was wonderful. We went "camping" at grandma and grandpa's house. Complete with 'smores, a camp fire, dutch oven cooking, and sleeping in the camp trailer! We had a blast! We even went fishing the next day...but we came back empty handed. Maybe next time!

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom -I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.


Before I was a Mom -I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.


Before I was a Mom -I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.


Before I was a Mom -I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.



Before I was a Mom -I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.



Before I was a Mom -I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

-Author Unknown


Grandma's 31st mother's day!
2 Kids
4 Grandkids

Gigi's 51st mothers day!
3 Kids
5 Grandkids
4 Great-grandkids

Happy Mother's Day Grandma, Gigi, Aunt Jenny, Grandma K, and Grandma Phyllis! We love you! Rylee & Jackson

A Monet in the making!

Well...my sister talked me into taking painting class with her every week. She has been painting since she was 12, so I was a little nervous to be painting with such a master! This is a picture of my very first oil painting! I was excited that it actually looks the way it is supposed to...pretty much. I see a lot of flaws, but then I probably always will no matter how long I paint!

Photo Shoot!

Rylee had her pictures taken on Sunday at Portrait Innovations. She did pretty well...considering that mom had to practically stand on her head to get her to smile! Smile naturally that is! She has a fake smile that she inherited from her dad. Overall, they did a great job capturing her personality.

Kramer Household Update

I seriously thought our family was cursed! We have been sick so much lately that I did a thorough cleaning, blessed the house, did feng shui, and crossed my fingers, toes and eyes that we would not get sick for a loooong time! So far, so good!

We've been able to work on our yard and build our fence this past weekend...thanks Uncle BB (Brandon) for your help! We even went to the circus! What fun that was...the look on Jackson's face was priceless! Rylee has been to the circus before so it was old hat for her, but she still had a great time! She rode a pony and they got to see an elephant!

Whew! We made it!

Finally, both kids are getting well! Jackson is feeling much better, but we are skipping Rylee's dance class tomorrow...hopefully it will build their immune systems back up by not being around so many sick kids! Fingers crossed! We are soooo tired of being sick around here. Maybe spring and summer will be better!?! Needless to say, mom and dad are hanging by a thread. I think having a new born was easier than the last 4 nights! Jackson was up every hour! Repeat: EVERY HOUR FOR 4 NIGHTS! Thank God the worst is over...until next time!

Two Sick Monkeys!

Rylee is sick...

now Jackson!

We have had two sick kids! Rylee started last Wednesday with a 105 fever and headache...she went downhill from there. Now this morning, Jackson has a fever and when I went to get him, he was crying and said, "head, head"...apparently his head hurts too! Rylee if finally better...just in time to help me with "mister". She has been a big helper and when I can't sit with Jackson, she sits with him and holds his hand and tell him, "it's okay mister, sissy is here"! Sweet moments in troubled times!

Happy Easter!

Easter was eventful, to say the least. Rylee was really sick. She had a 105 temp and just laid there and cried. She was sick for a week and our Easter was spent in quarantine! Except for the Easter Bunny, of course! They were able to dye Easter eggs and that was about it!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today we had the leprechauns visit us. They bring small inexpensive gifts that are always green! This year he even left a trail of shamrocks! Rylee figured it was probably "because he had a hole in his pocket"! We also had shamrock tatoos "magically" appear in our mailbox.

Of course, what breakfast wouldn't be complete without green oatmeal and juice! Those tricky leprechauns!

what a big boy!

This week was big...Jackson got a big boy bed! We thought it would be good to get the bed and put it in his room along with his crib. That way he could get used to the bed. Well, we received the bed and Jackson would not get off. Apparently, he was excited for this new phase of his childhood. So that night we braved the unknown and let him sleep there! He did great! Slept all night, slept his entire nap, and slept the next night too! Needless to say, the crib has been taken down and Jackson is thrilled! Mom and Dad are a little sad because they no longer have a "baby"!

Same 'ol thing

Thought we would update our blog. Seems like everyday is the same. The highlight has been Hannah's birthday. Hannah is Rylee's best friend and cousin.(Jen's little girl.)They have quite the time playing and getting into trouble.

adam kramer

Adam is very busy at the moment. He is now the pharmacy manager at St. Luke's Hospital. He is involved in Toastmasters and seems to be doing well. His down time seems to be hanging with his family and terrorizing his kids. Rylee and Jackson idolize their dad,therefore, chaos arrives at the Kramer house when "daddy" comes home after a long day at work!

suzi kramer

Suzi is just doing the "mom" thing. Everyday rolls into the next, it seems, with very little variation. Hard work...no time to herself...pulling her hair out...and loving every minute. I guess that describes her life!