3 Day Weekend

We enjoyed our 3 day holiday camping at the Cowlitz river.

After the floods and rain, this was the first time we had been to the Cowlitz since November. The water was quite high and part of the bank fell into the water. In the picture there should also be fence along the water side too... oooops!

The weather was sunny but COLD. Both mornings we got up and the hoses were frozen (no water for a shower).

The kids rode bikes and picked up all the branches that fell in the wind.

Jack and Jesse enjoyed playing with a new toy.

From the river you can see both Mt. St. Helens and also Mt. Rainier. We all decided that next time we go down, we will have to make a trip to the Mt. St. Helen's visitor center. As close as we get each time, we have yet to take the kids there.

Our Crazy Life!

This is a typical "day in the life" at our house. At school, Garret and Katie participated in "Take Your Favorite Stuffed Animal to School" day. Garret brought Bruno and Katie brought Bruiser (on her shoulder, look closely).

A photo from the entrance of school toward the building...in the distance, Mt. Rainier. I guess this is why they call it "Foothills Elementary"... I wish I was a better photographer, the view is beautiful!

A typical afterschool meeting for me... I think I had something every night this week! This was science training with my teammates, Heidi and Nancy. We were debating the specific elements of a "glo-stick"...don't ask!


Conner had an "end of the season" wrestling tournament Wed. & Thur. I tried to get a picture of him on the mat... but as most of his season went, it was quick and over and I missed it. His coach was Mr. Ruddiger. He had a good time and enjoyed himself for the most part, I think it was harder than he thought. For a kid that hasn't tried sports since t-ball... he did great!

Katie went to a bowling birthday party for her friend Emily. She had a fun time. I think the Wii inspired her to "throw some pins down"...

I went to a baby shower for my friend Denise. She is having a baby in a week or so... She teaches at school with me, here is a photo of all of the Foothills staff.

Amanda, Tracy, Denise, Laurie (front row), Sarah and Me (back row)

We played some funny games and had good food, all inspired by a Sports Theme (it's a BOY!). One game we played was called "Who broke their water?" In the bottom of every cup, frozen ice and a plastic baby inside...I just about threw my cup.

(do you see the teeny plastic baby??)

Well, not all of this happened on the same exact day, but I feel sometimes like I am going in a hundred different directions. The kids keep Marc and I on our toes!

South Prarie Creek (NO, River?)

With all this freaky, wacky weather... I thought I would post some photos of South Prarie Creek which runs near our house (just down the road). Thanks to my neighbor Krystal who braved going down there past the ROAD CLOSED signs to snap these photos. I used to drive by this house every day to take Katie to daycare.

The creek itself is usually on the right side of the photos. The fork of the creek near the house in the photo is actually the road. I will add some "after" photos this weekend. This road has been closed before for flooding...but NEVER this bad!

The superintendent of our school district actually lives on a road right after this house and he was "stuck" there for a couple days. Conner's bus usually comes this way and had to go around everyday which meant he was last to school for awhile.

*1-16-09 I added the "after" photos for comparison. You can see they are doing some road repair...adding big rocks and sucking out the silt from the drainage system.

More Friends...

We enjoyed a visit this week from our friends the Vandeleurs. We used to live across the street from them and have enjoyed a decade+ long friendship with their family. When we first met, Daron was 3 years old and now she attends the UW as a freshman. My how they have grown!

Conner and Jordyn are a couple weeks apart in age. Both of them will be going to High School next year (yikes!).

My Merry Maids

Having three kids is A LOT of work! But, I am starting to reap the reward of having "older" children now. During the holiday, we all chipped in to help clean the house. Katie is my window washer. She enjoys spraying the Windex and wiping it up. She even writes it on the grocery list when we run out. Conner is the dishwasher unloader and garbage/recycling coordinator.

Garret is my best helper (shhh), he is the vacuumer and mops the floor too. Now... I just need to teach them how to do the laundry and clean the bathrooms!

New Year's Eve at the Ranch

We spent New Year's Eve at the Lucky Ladner Ranch. What a great time we all had! The kids enjoyed playing, running, and generally being together whether it was snowball fights, or Wii Rockband, or watching a movie. The adults enjoyed good conversation and a few drinks from the bar.

Chrissy & Chris grooving to the music!

Jay, Conner and Garret in a serious battle on the Xbox!

Katie and Maya...hottub in the snow?

Jimmy on the pedal, Cyndie on drums, Katie on guitar, and Jackie on vocals. Some serious Rockband wannabes... they only got booed off the stage twice before finishing a great set here.

A visit from a large Elf for Hawkman.

Katie took a little nap in the motorhome on the way home. I guess staying up until midnight was pretty late for her!

A visit with friends

Our kids really enjoy visiting their cousins and friends. If we go anywhere... they always ask if they are coming too. We spent a great evening at the Bays exchanging gifts, food and laughter.

The kids were trying out Kendra's new gift, Guitar Hero World Tour (and yes, the big people tried it out too!). They enjoyed exchanging gifts with each other and having a jam session.

A visit with Santa (sort of...)

Every year without fail since Conner was born... I have trekked the kid(s) to the Supermall to visit Santa and have a photo. Last year we stood in line for 1.5 hours. This year, we tried. The weather did not cooperate and even though we did get there, Santa was napping. So, here is the photo I got near Santa's chair. The lovely elves would not even let us sit in the chair for the photo.

And... to top it all off, I bumped Katie in the head with my elbow and she cried the whole time. We were a bit unprepared with wardrobe issues too. Anyway, maybe next year will be better.

Christmas at Home!

This year we stayed at home on Christmas day. My Dad came over to visit us for the week also. The kids had been sleeping late ALL week. But Christmas morning they got up at 7:00 am. (not too early I realize but not their usual 8:30 am, sigh!) I did make them stop for a few photos along the way. Here they are waiting at the top of the stairs...

Here are the stockings Santa stuffed with care.

Here is the Wii Santa left for everyone!

Jack even got a new bed and a stuffed duck which he loves.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we went to Grandma and Grandpa Gill's house. Grandma always complains her house is too small but I think we all like it that way. The food was delicious: Prime rib, potatoes and all the trimmings! We always enjoy celebrating the holiday with friends and family.

Katie and her Auntie Audrey

Tracy the Elf

Grandma & Chip

Snow Fun!

The boys enjoyed visiting Tyler and Jay one day during break. They made a large snow fort. They claim they could ALL climb into this. Christmas time with snow was a big highlight at our house.

Church Christmas Program

We ventured out on Dec. 21st after the big snow storm to church. The kids were supposed to all be in the Christmas Pageant. Well...not too many people made it to church that day, so there was a lot of last minute changes and "punting" ... if you will. Katie was an angel. She did not have a speaking part, but she did sing several songs. Garret was a "kid" and had parts to say. At the last minute they gave him several more things to say in front of the crowd of people. Alas... our boy is not much for acting/performing and started to cry when it was his turn to go up front. So, mom to the rescue, and he sat with us while big brother said his parts. Conner had many speaking parts, mostly because he can read and showed up! He did a great job. Of course, I forgot my camera, so this is from someone else.

Katie is on the far left in this photo. On a side note... the cow was quite hilarious. He ran around the whole time and was quite entertaining!