Ballet!

Mom, will you PLEASE sign me up for ballet? {pronounced: bal-la-lea} I've been procrastinating this day for a FULL year now. Her cousin, Sam, and friend, Carly, started last year. My patient Madi waited (until 2 days before she started) for me to sign her up and go shopping for the oh so coveted leotard and slippers. She was tickled pink. The boys waited in the car for all of this - on purpose; I'm preparing them for dance recitals. She looks so cute with her ballerina buns and outfit - I'll have to take more pics of her soon. I'm rather surprised I like it so much, but when your darling daughter is in love, it's hard not to smile.

Could it be?

We've been wondering whether or not Cael would be a "lefty." As of now he's eating mostly left, kicking left and throwing ambidextrous. We have ZERO idea what the recipe is, but there is definitely something in the mix.

LEFTY KIDS: 3 RIGHTY KID: 1 (Jono)

I can tell when Cael hasn't had enough to drink in a day. It's amazing that it's actually captured in a picture. He leans in, closes his eyes and darts in for a one second gulp! Hot water, it must be yummy because it happens over and over again!
{as a side note: Can you say "little Mark!"}

CRAZY!

Last Thursday we headed for a late dinner. I had the three non-football players with me (common place), which means we all were going in. Unbuckling and the other menial tasks associated with getting out of the car took longer than "shot from a gun" Jono could take. When Madi, Cael & I walked in to an exceptionally busy Little Caesars, I was greeted by Jono at the cash register with a proud face. He cooly says, "I've already ordered," like this was normal... So, I paid for his order and we left.

Crazy Little Caesars for letting a six year old order after standing in "the shortest line there was" without even seeing an adult with whom he belonged.

Next time, I'll just send him in with the money!
My independent son leaves me feeling like he just might do okay with out me. I've heard mom's lament this as their children grow up, but I've racked my memory and I don't think any of them were talking about a SIX year old!
I couldn't find him at the church the other night. Everyone was asking if they needed to start a search party. They chilled when they could see I truly wasn't worried. He's so confident that I can't help but be confident in him. I said he's smart and I'm not worried - I'd just REALLY like to find him. So, our constant goal is - DUDE, just tell me!!!
I love this boy!

Football Season

A Daddy's dream comes true.

First time in pads and a helmet.

First real game.

A real smile even after losing for the first (but definitely not last) time.

They are 1-2 on the season, but Payton's having fun none-the-less. Mark is helping coach which is a 10 hour a week commitment. When people give me the "What? and you're okay with that 'look'" I let them know I signed up for this 10 1/2 years ago. I couldn't be happier Payton gets to share this with his Dad. Mark is passionate about football being a good experience and teaching the kids more than just the plays. He knows who he is has a lot to do with what he learned on a football field. So, it's a guaranteed in our life for many, many years - fall means football. It's a good thing we all love the sport.

First Day of School

Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. ~John Dewey

My boys are growing up! I'm nearing a mix up between mine and Payton's shirts and socks in the laundry. Ask him who's flip-flops I wear on quick trips out the door! His!
Payton started Third Grade and is keeping up just fine ;) And I assume he's happy there with Mrs. Kimber because when I ask him how school was everyday he says, "good." That's a period there at the end because that's really ALL he says. Some days I pry for an ounce of news, but mostly I move on to Jono. "How was school, Jono?" 3/5 days: "Bad!" I've figured out that this isn't in reference to the work or the teacher, Miss Jorgensen, but how the football game went at recess. All parents should have psychology degrees.
Madi started preschool this year. She doesn't travel far because I had a first day of school this year too. I have eight students (+ Cael, until after snack when I happily put him in his crib). Madi loves having her friends come to "play." I've enjoyed teaching again, but am glad it's only two days a week. I love preschoolers - life is so simple to them and happiness comes easily. Watching them learn and light up will never fail to put a smile on my face.

Alaska

Mark's in Alaska for work, or so he says :) We'll trade him being gone for a few days for the 50 lbs. of Halibut I hope he brings home!

House PROGRESSion #2

My awesome kids unloaded TWO monstrously heavy boxes of cultured stone that couldn't be budged until they were 90% empty. I borrowed Tom Page's truck and wanted to get it back to him asap, so I put the only available workers to work. I don't remember what I promised, maybe it had something to do with McDonald's. Anyhow, we were all mighty impressed with our muscles after we got the pallets unloaded.

We're getting closer on the house. A couple more weekends with our part-time contractors and we should be ready to hunker down for the winter. The lights have gone up since I took these pics and I need to post a dark picture because it's my favorite part. The railing and raw wood will be painted white next week.

We've heard we should take down the front trees so you can see our beautiful house, but I disagree. We think they add to the charm, knots and all. Maybe they just need a good trimming.

We love the new green board and batton siding and faux shake shingles.

Oregon! Zobrist Ranch & the Redwoods

We spent a wonderful week in Oregon with our friends, the Conk's, from Las Vegas. Kristin's parents have a place in White City, Oregon on the Rouge River. They invited us a few years ago, but one baby led to another and finally...this was our year to go! We drove the 13 hours there with an overnight stop in Reno. At the ranch the kids loved to roam on the Mules (the motorized variety :) ), swing by the river, follow the deer, visit the Llamas, play tennis for hours and hours, the list goes on!
The must have experience was rafting the Rouge. We all loaded up, minus the babies, with four blow-up Tahiti boats. We had seven minors amongst three adults. Mark ended up with Jono and Madison. Right away Madi was nervous. This was warranted as I watched she & Jono separate from the raft running the first little rapids. I screamed from behind thinking for sure they were overboard. Luckily, they came back down IN the boat. From then on out it was petrified howling. Poor Mark was sitting back so low, his boat looked like it was submersed on the puniest of waves. After his tailbone took a beating he attempted to ride it out on his knees which didn't work any better. When they made it to the ranch it was discovered that the bottom of his raft was completely flat and the sides weren't all that inflated either. Needless to say, 2nd time around: Mark had an inflated boat and Madi road with Kristin. They played like the rapids were the buckin' bulls she's so fond of and then they weren't so scary.
We took a side trip to the Humbolt State Park just East of Cresent City, CA. We walked through The Stout Grove and stood in awe of the redwoods. The kids loved this Paul Bunionish playground; they ran the highways of fallen redwoods and climbed and crawled through burned out trees. The way there was eventful in the car sick category, but I'm sure Payt and Madi (and Mark who hates cleaning it up) would agree- the experience was worth it. We continued onto the Pacific Coast and the dads and big kids SLID down to touch the ocean. The tide pools held treasures of star fish. It was 55*F there on the coast and as we climbed East to Medfore it was 95*F; Mother Nature's A/C.
To get the local's experience, they took us to Mill Creek Falls. We found a GPS "GeoCache" there - a first for us. The falls were breathtaking, but The Avenue of the Boulders was where the fun was. A rock you could slide down, tens of "slip and you're a goner" perches and a raging river with a man-made wading pool accented by a black sand beach. It was just our style.
I can't wait until we get to Vegas and slideshow Kristin's photomemoir and relive the whole trip. My pictures of Oregon are so sub-par! I became lackadaisical the moment I saw Kristin taking pictures. It was a vacation to remember for sure. Thanks Terry and Kristin for the good times!!! And thanks to the Zobrist's - we love your patch of paradise!!!

Where Cael lived; chasing balls from sun up till sun down

Pacific Ocean

The Stout Tree

How's that for tree climbin'?