This is one degree warmer than when I woke up this morning. Brrr.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Syd and me and Portland
Last week Mary and Ethan and Isabella took off for Utah, leaving Sydney and me behind for school and work. Since we heard our Louisiana uncle/brother was coming up to visit the folks, we packed up on Saturday and drove to Portland. Craig and Daryl were there too, making it the first time since all the boys were together in about 6 years. It was a pretty wild night: we had enchiladas AND viva la chicken!
Marc brought the newest addition to the Clifford crew. Sydney loved the new cousin, Kera:
On Sunday we went to the Clackamas ward and Sydney got to see some of her old friends. On the drive back home we stopped at Multnomah Falls, which looked really pretty all iced up. All I had was my cell phone camera, so I couldn't take any sweet shots. Not that our crusty 4 megapixel camera would have done much better.
Sydney did great, even on that long drive in Dad's lame Altima that has no DVD player.
Marc brought the newest addition to the Clifford crew. Sydney loved the new cousin, Kera:
On Sunday we went to the Clackamas ward and Sydney got to see some of her old friends. On the drive back home we stopped at Multnomah Falls, which looked really pretty all iced up. All I had was my cell phone camera, so I couldn't take any sweet shots. Not that our crusty 4 megapixel camera would have done much better.
Sydney did great, even on that long drive in Dad's lame Altima that has no DVD player.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Howlin', Screamin', Trunk-or-Treatin'
Earlier this month Mary and I ran another race in Tri-Cities. This one was a 10K called the "Howl-and-Scream Scram". Whenever we run a race, Sydney asks if we won.
"No."
"Did you come in 2nd?"
"No."
"Did you come in 3rd?"
Then we explain that the beauty of the sport of running is that you are really just competing against yourself, constantly trying to improve upon your previous times by daily effort and, occasionally, sacrifice. So most people are not there to win, just to enjoy the sport and feel good by getting out and doing the best they can.
"So you lost?"
. . .
One of the primary reasons that I am LDS is so that on Halloween I can take my kids to the church parking lot, have them walk around a circle of parked cars with their trunks opened and full of candy, and be done with the whole trick-or-treating thing within about 20 minutes. It really is beautiful. Yay, trunk-or-treating!
Sydney and Ethan sported costumes stitched up by Grandma Marjean, and Isabella was the third version of the monkey that has been around since Syd was a tyke. Mary and Stacy were witches. Dressed up as witches, is what I mean, of course.
"No."
"Did you come in 2nd?"
"No."
"Did you come in 3rd?"
Then we explain that the beauty of the sport of running is that you are really just competing against yourself, constantly trying to improve upon your previous times by daily effort and, occasionally, sacrifice. So most people are not there to win, just to enjoy the sport and feel good by getting out and doing the best they can.
"So you lost?"
. . .
One of the primary reasons that I am LDS is so that on Halloween I can take my kids to the church parking lot, have them walk around a circle of parked cars with their trunks opened and full of candy, and be done with the whole trick-or-treating thing within about 20 minutes. It really is beautiful. Yay, trunk-or-treating!
Sydney and Ethan sported costumes stitched up by Grandma Marjean, and Isabella was the third version of the monkey that has been around since Syd was a tyke. Mary and Stacy were witches. Dressed up as witches, is what I mean, of course.
Cannon Beach
Last month we took a long weekend and went to the Oregon coast. It is our favorite getaway for relaxation time. We did puzzles, read books, played with Legos, and played "Hungry, Hungry Hippos". We also spent some time on the beach playing in the water and making sandcastles, in spite of the frigid temps. The kids didn't seem to notice the chill:
Here is some HHH action. If you can make it through all 30 seconds of clack-clack-clakin' you'll see Isabella score a point.
Here is some HHH action. If you can make it through all 30 seconds of clack-clack-clakin' you'll see Isabella score a point.Sunday, September 27, 2009
Morning Burn and Night Glow
Yesterday morning Mary and I again took to the road and ran a 5K in Kennewick, the "Grape Crush Rush." Mary improved on her last race time and finished in 41:09. My time improved too at 21:48. Obviously, we did not take any pictures since all you would have seen is a blur and flash of colors as we ran by due to our excessive speed.
This weekend was the 20th Great Prosser Balloon Rally. During the week one of the balloonists came to Sydney's elementary school to wow the kids with his balloon. Mary took the younger kids too and struck up a conversation with the balloon pilot's wife and, in true Mary fashion, they became bosom buddies. Last night at "Night Glow", where some of the balloons park in the stadium and light their burners, Mary scored a sweet seat right on the field where the school balloon pilot and his wife were. We even helped them get the balloon and basket upright (note my backside in picture #3). We had a great time!
This weekend was the 20th Great Prosser Balloon Rally. During the week one of the balloonists came to Sydney's elementary school to wow the kids with his balloon. Mary took the younger kids too and struck up a conversation with the balloon pilot's wife and, in true Mary fashion, they became bosom buddies. Last night at "Night Glow", where some of the balloons park in the stadium and light their burners, Mary scored a sweet seat right on the field where the school balloon pilot and his wife were. We even helped them get the balloon and basket upright (note my backside in picture #3). We had a great time!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
1st Day in the 1st Grade
Sydney's first day of first grade was yesterday. It was a busy day with Ethan's birthday and all, but we did find time to take a picture. She already loves her teacher Mrs. Roberston and can't wait to learn more and enjoy time with friends.
Ethan is 4!
Happy Birthday Ethan!
Yesterday was a busy day. Ethan turned four years old and we had a lot of fun. As you may know, Ethan loves helping in the kitchen so he helped me make his cake. We started in the morning by making the cake (Texas sheet cake brownies) from scratch and then we let them cool while we went to Safeway to pick up the all-important birthday balloons.
Then we met our friends Andrew Gray (and Andrew's cousin) and Kali Giles at McDonald's for lunch and some fun play time. This was the only break I got all day - thanks Stacy and Kari for facilitating my only hour off my feet.
We came home to frost and decorate his cake. We had a Transportation theme to his birthday party this year. I won't bore you with the "I can't find the stupid cake pan I've been saving for a year to use for this birthday" story, but suffice it to say we had to be a little more creative with our cake vehicles than I had originally intended. To be honest, I think it was a bit more fun. When Sydney came home from school Ethan let her help us. The three of us each decorated a car and then I decided to make a motorcycle. Letting the kids help me decorate their cakes was something I started when Sydney turned five and I've really enjoyed the time with the kids. I think the kids just enjoy all the candy.
Ethan got a few fun gifts, including some airplane- and truck-shaped pancake molds from Ma Marne and Grandpa Gray (loves to cook, transportation theme - nice gift Ma Marne!).
And then the highlight of the day - a new bike! Ethan's been able to ride Sydney's bike for a while now, so we thought we'd get him one that actually had pedals and brakes (see May 14, 2009 post). Thanks to Grandma Terry and Grandpa John Babe for going in on his new bike! He hopped on and rode it right away, but he didn't know how to stop, so Dad was always close by.
This is where I get all mushy and write about why I'm so grateful for my Eafie, so if you don't want to read the mush, just skip down to the next post. Ethan is such a happy, snuggly guy. He has been from day one. I'm grateful for the four wonderful years he's been a part of our family. He's always there for a hug and a kiss and always first to ask if he can help in the kitchen. I'm eternally grateful that Heavenly Father entrusted him to us to raise.
Yesterday was a busy day. Ethan turned four years old and we had a lot of fun. As you may know, Ethan loves helping in the kitchen so he helped me make his cake. We started in the morning by making the cake (Texas sheet cake brownies) from scratch and then we let them cool while we went to Safeway to pick up the all-important birthday balloons.
Then we met our friends Andrew Gray (and Andrew's cousin) and Kali Giles at McDonald's for lunch and some fun play time. This was the only break I got all day - thanks Stacy and Kari for facilitating my only hour off my feet.
We came home to frost and decorate his cake. We had a Transportation theme to his birthday party this year. I won't bore you with the "I can't find the stupid cake pan I've been saving for a year to use for this birthday" story, but suffice it to say we had to be a little more creative with our cake vehicles than I had originally intended. To be honest, I think it was a bit more fun. When Sydney came home from school Ethan let her help us. The three of us each decorated a car and then I decided to make a motorcycle. Letting the kids help me decorate their cakes was something I started when Sydney turned five and I've really enjoyed the time with the kids. I think the kids just enjoy all the candy.
Ethan got a few fun gifts, including some airplane- and truck-shaped pancake molds from Ma Marne and Grandpa Gray (loves to cook, transportation theme - nice gift Ma Marne!).
And then the highlight of the day - a new bike! Ethan's been able to ride Sydney's bike for a while now, so we thought we'd get him one that actually had pedals and brakes (see May 14, 2009 post). Thanks to Grandma Terry and Grandpa John Babe for going in on his new bike! He hopped on and rode it right away, but he didn't know how to stop, so Dad was always close by.
This is where I get all mushy and write about why I'm so grateful for my Eafie, so if you don't want to read the mush, just skip down to the next post. Ethan is such a happy, snuggly guy. He has been from day one. I'm grateful for the four wonderful years he's been a part of our family. He's always there for a hug and a kiss and always first to ask if he can help in the kitchen. I'm eternally grateful that Heavenly Father entrusted him to us to raise.I love you Ethan!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
