A Halloween Riddle

Birthday Bob

Kennah has mastered delayed gratification when it comes to her birthday parties. Mid-September is WAAAAAY too busy with soccer practices (or "trainings" as Slade calls them), Back-to-School diddies, and just adjusting to a structured life after a care-free summer. (Don't get me wrong, if she wanted the parties then, we would happily oblige. We are not cruel parents.)

But she loves the festivities that accompany October and happily obliges their many calls to her.

We were prepared for a rainy day, but it held off and we enjoyed the perfection of fall.

Crush x 3

Funny how this was only two months ago and they all have changed since then.

Sum, Sum, Summertime

Summer Vacation

A little late in posting. But not for the lack of good memories. We enjoyed every second of our time with Meghan, Ryan, Savanah and Laney! It was the PERFECT vacation from start to finish.

Time

is marching on. . .



Sawyer started junior high today. Gym uniform, algebra, locker combination, homeroom, and parental figures MILES from the school. He is most excited that school doesn't begin until almost 9:00 am. He plans to snooze longer than us all.




Avy and Kennah are both at Candy Lane this year and were happy to let me drive them to school. Tomorrow (and all future rain-free days) they plan to ride their bikes. No small task since their school is in another city. But Slade prepared them well this summer so it's time to see if they can do it.

Portland to Glacier

Portland to Glacier

At the beginning of July we set off on our summer vacation to Glacier National Park and then on to Winona, Minnesota for the "Watts Family Reunion" (i.e. visit Meghan and Ryan.) We attempted train travel and hoped the decision would be free of regret.

We left a rainy Portland (it was July 2nd for crying out loud--enough rain, already!) at 4:00 pm and rolled into Glacier the next morning around 9:00. If it hadn't been announced by the conductor, we would have not known, as the rain arrived with us hiding any evidence of mountains. We laughed at the irony. But as the day wore on and the clouds burned off, we began to see the amazing scenery. WOW! It was about 35 degrees at almost 7000 feet. The waterfalls were everywhere and cascaded down the ENTIRE mountain range. We hiked, were in awe over the CLEAR water and even saw a bear on a bluff. It was a fantastic day.

We caught the train out of Glacier the next morning at 9:00 and enjoyed the scenery on the outskirts of the park. There was a volunteer tour guide on the train that shared a lot of info on the area as well.

The kids were amazed at the tall sky and puffy clouds of Montana. We spent the day in the lounge car playing games and stepped off the train every few hours to stretch and breathe fresh air. After a night on the train, we awoke to the Mississippi River and soon reached our destination.

CARAVAN PALACE at the zoo

On the way home from work yesterday I heard a couple of French musicians interviewed on NPR (I am a public radio junkie.) The music sounded cool and I hoped to remember the band's name so Slade could check out the CD from our library.

But even better, at the end of the story they announced the band was performing in PORTLAND. THAT NIGHT. It's been a few years since we've been to zoo concerts so we considered it. And then we found ourselves there a few hours later.

After a fine dinner of popcorn and soda, Kennah and her friend, Abby, headed to the stage to hang with Slade. Sawyer did not.

The group was INCREDIBLE. It had a funky-jazzy-techno-(saaaaweeeeet!)-sound and beat. They were all great performers and made it impossible to not dance or smile!

(And here is my conservative mother commentary--the dancing was all great DANCING, not the pseudo-suggestive stuff that I don't want my kids mistaking for "dancing".)

We felt pretty lucky to have stumbled upon such a great concert on a perfect summer's eve. Especially after the previous evening's conversation with Kennah which in a condensed version:

Kennah: My friend wants me to go to Justin Beiber's concert tomorrow. She needs an adult to go too.

Us: We didn't know you liked Justin Beiber.

K: I don't. But she needs someone to go with her.

Us: Tickets are $50 for the nose bleeds to the side of the stage. Do you have $100 for your ticket and one for us. (We know she doesn't so we know we won't be subjected to teen-love-boy.)

K: No $$.

Us: So sorry.

So when we asked Abby (NOT the girl with Beiber fever) if she thought THIS music was better. She immediately responded, "This is so much more heartfelt" and showed us.

While waiting in line to meet the band and have CDs signed, this guy asked the girls what they liked and recorded their answers. They were not short of words or expressions.

The musicians were very playful and happy of the stage as well. Even with a language barrier, they each took time to write on the CD and talk with people.

And WE LOVE THEM!!

Relay 2010

Just a few images from yesterday's fun day at Relay for Life:

Sawyer took care of the game/fundraiser while drowning himself on orange crush soda and zombie stories.

We all took our turns dunking Avy. I don't know who had more fun or those doing the dunking!

Avy has been "training" for this portion of Relay. She definitely held her own in the watermelon eating contest.

Kennah and her dad were caught clucking through the chicken dance song. We didn't get to hang with them very much as Kennah participated in a soccer tournament this weekend and the majority of her games were on Saturday. They made their appearance, but Slade wisely took her home to sleep in her own bed.


Giovanni and Dominic quickly got into the Relay fun.

Jordan enjoys decorating the . . . luminaria bags?

Avy proudly poses next to her luminaria for Glenn. Avy sang 3 karaoke songs that night and was still going strong when Jenni, Sawyer and I fell asleep in the tent at 2:30. (It was just like sharing a room again with Jenni! Although we were too tired to have our "Annie" singing contest like we did back in the day.)

As always, Relay is a great time that I look forward to every year!

Baby

I wish she was mine, but I'll settle for being this little girl's "favorite aunt". (After all, I live with Slade and we know how things, all things, somehow turn into a competition.)

Congratulations Alisha and Steven C!

28 May 2010

9 pounds 3 ounces

21.5 inches

It's that Time of Year

Less than 70 days until OC's Relay for Life! This is something we look forward to every year, esp. now that the kids are older--they know it's just what we do at the end of June.

Avy has been attending the monthly planning meetings with me and has MANY ideas on how she can participate. Last month she hit on the perfect one: she is going to have a bicycle decorating station where kids can pimp their ride before the children's parade (balloons, streamers, etc.) If you have any ideas (or items to donate) she would be thrilled to hear from you.

And you are welcome to join Stafford Smiles' team "We Need a Little Christmas". The event theme is "Party on, Dude!" Each team has picked a different celebration and ours is Christmas. (Hopefully it will help keep cool thoughts in the air.)

Bambino

N, M and K welcomed a sweet little thing. (If you call almost 11 pounds "little.")

Love Rocks!

Love Rocks!

Another Spring Break adventure . . .finding the perfect rock down at the beach.

Seattle Spring

Seattle Spring

Cause & Effect

Sawyer turned 12 the same week we had a few (major) changes in our ward's boundaries last month. So he stayed in Primary a few extra weeks through the transition of teachers and classes.

But yesterday he finally joined the older guys and adults. He was sitting next to his school principal, who told me later Sawyer leaned over and asked him, "Do we still get chocolate?"

Sadly, the chocolate-treat-filled days have come to a close for my little boy.

According to Avy

there are 3 main food groups:

the bubbles

the jellies

and

the LOVES

'Til We Meet Again . . .

Last night we said good-bye to Slade's parents for a year and a half. They are headed to NY for volunteer missionary service. BUT how do you say good-bye while feeling the pain? You spin it. So here's my "spin":

They are excited to a very fun adventure, together. And we are excited for them.

They have planned for this time for years. It is finally here.

They are very kind people who make everyone feel welcome. Many people are lucky to have the chance to be with them.

Oh, the stories they will have to tell!

Maybe this is just the excuse I need for the road trip of all road trips!?!

Slade would say to "live in the moment--to accept the now." And so I will not list the many things I will miss. My "now" definitely involves tears. But I can hear Dad saying, "It's a good thing." And it is!

The Upside of ILF

The first Christmas Slade and I were married, we spent the holiday with his family here in Oregon. We arrived over the mountains, by a miracle, to an ice-filled scene. Although beautiful, we spent a portion of the break without electricity. And most everyone had their turn of illness. And, in Steven C and my defense, this was our first year with in-laws.

How does one process such an event? By terming the phrase "In-law Fatigue (ILF)." A kind way of saying, "How do we deal with all these people and the mix of personalities?" Don't worry, it (now) carries with it an endearment to it.

But the beauty of ILF is that time takes care of many things. And you recognize that you are better because of the in-laws and their behaviors/ideas/habits/etc.

For example, we have spent the last 3 years celebrating Rosca de Reyes with Mauricio and Jenni. Never heard of it? Neither had we. But it takes place on the 12th day AFTER Christmas (January 6th.) It is a wonderful, easy holiday that involves drinking frothy Mexican hot cocoa and cutting into a wreath-shaped pastry. The pastry has candied fruit on top and represents the jewels and treasures the wise men brought to present to baby Jesus.

But there is more. A "baby" is baked inside the bread and the person who "finds" baby Jesus has the event at their house the next year.

Last week I found myself looking forward to this year's Rosca de Reyes. Jenni and I both had the vague memory that Kennah "found" Jesus last year. So we had our first Rosca de Reyes Wednesday evening. The bread (which usually was on the stale side--it's the idea that is important) was very fresh. In fact, Pollo had one of the very last ones out of the bakery's oven. Mmmmm!

But a little confusing as 6 babies were found this year!

And so, I snub my nose to ILF on this matter. I LOVE this addition to our family's holiday traditions!

Isn't She Lovely?

Really, the title should say, "Aren't THEY Lovely?" But not many songs written about multiples of love.

Thursday meant my mom has another year under her belt. She has done some amazing things in her life. She's raised 6 kids (all born within the same decade). I am not following in those footsteps. She has spent a portion of her life living her dream as a farmer. My black thumb and I will not be following in those footsteps. She has amazing sewing skills. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to follow in in those footsteps. She has patience and love for many four-legged animals. Again, not a match.

But there are many things that I have learned from her:

1. Creativity. I attempt it in my own little way. I think a portion of this comes from her ability to create a new homestead while moving every two years for many years.

2. To dream. She always wanted to be veterinarian, but didn't do that because "that's not what women do" back when she went to school. I think she has encouraged all her children to do what they love to keep us from having regrets. (There is more of that rebel spirit in there too!)

3. The love for road trips. I have happy memories driving across the country. It may have been out of necessity (who can afford to travel with 6 kids?) but regardless, I find myself with the hankering for a road trip every year.

My kids are lucky to know her and we are even luckier to just be a couple of miles away!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

A dozen . . .

years ago I was in denial.

I woke up in labor, 3 weeks before my due date. "False labor," we concluded. Slade took me to work (back in our student-one-car-days) where he helped me get comfortable. But I couldn't do too much from couch cushions on the floor so we went to the doctor's office where it was confirmed as the real deal. Slade skipped class that day and we enjoyed our last kid-free day together.

Eventually we made it to the hospital and even more eventually we met our silver-haired boy. Who knew you could feel so much for someone so small so fast?!

We've loved the 12 years since. Sawyer has a seriousness about him but can quickly revert to a funny little guy. He has particular tastes about things and life, but is willing give new things a shot here and there. Lately, he has shown some impressive maturity that must be coming with age. We can't wait to see what a dozen more years have in store for him.

Milk was $2.03/ gallon (somethings don't change much)
Movie Teickets were $6
Gasoline was $1.19 /gallon (somethings do)