A Gross Experience...a guest post by Tarryn

 

            A few weeks ago we cleaned Grandma's pool. This pool was the pool that had the frogs in it. Just the water had dried up so what was the green (and gave the texture to the water) was stuck to the bottom of the pool.  

 

      

         The only way to get the green slime off the bottom of the pool it had to soak. After we had put some water in the bottom of the pool we went to the creek. The water was freezing. We got lucky enough that the water in the creek was the water from the snow that had just melted (it is the 8th of June and it was around 95 degrees.) Josh, Tarryn and Andrew were the only ones that got in.

We got back and finished cleaning the pool and started filling it up. The kids played in the water until I made them come in and take a break from the sun.

 

Oh the catching up...

I sure have a lot to catch up on. Oh my!

 

I will just hit the highlights of the last few days. Joseph had his very first Pinwood Derby. He did a great job and really loved it. Andrew was on pins and needles the whole time...he wanted to do one too. I kept telling him, just wait, next year you get to do one too.

We had the occasion to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Etna to attend a wedding. We did so much more than just the wedding activities. We hunted frogs in Grandma's pool. There were so many of them. The water was gross so I thought I would get some fish nets and put them on long sticks so the kids didn't have to get in...well, they didn't stay out for long.

 

We caught a good 15 to 20 frogs and millions of tadpoles. It really was so much fun. In the end we put them all back until Grandma is ready to clean the pool and get it ready for summer. We will do it again soon!

 

Joseph was awarded student of the month for April. He did such a great job! We are pretty proud of him. He also won the "green card" drawing. What that means is that throughout the month the teachers, aids, secretaries, etc. watch for students with safe, responsible, or respectful behavior. The kids are rewarded with a green card to go into the drawing. At the month's assembly one student in each grade is drawn to have pizza with the principal. This month, Joseph won! He really had a great month.

 

Grandma's house has so much room to play outside and really enjoy the sunshine. Joseph got a BB gun for Christmas with the understanding that it was only to be used at Grandpa and Grandma's where there was room and space to be safe. It was a beautiful day so we had fun practicing. He is a really good shot too. We would shake old soda cans that were full and when they would get hit it created a geyser effect. Can't get much better than that. Especially when he hits every shot!

 

We recently purchased a chainsaw for Josh and he has been looking for chances to try it out. So when his grandma mentioned that she had a dead limb in one of her trees...up the tree he went. I think he likes his new toy, although it will create work now that we have a wood stove to prepare for.

Happy Easter...a Few Days Late

You know, I love spring. I have had a really busy month of March and really didn't want to make Easter outfits. But my dear sweet daughter has grown and really needed something to wear.

Not usually do my sewing creations come out and look the same way that they look in my brain. Well, today you see almost exactly what I saw in my brain. A pink, polka-dot dress.

 

Happy Spring!

Kid's Piano Recital

Recently Tarryn and Joseph participated in Grandma's piano recital. They worked super hard and learned their songs and were ready to play.

Joseph almost didn't participate. He had been super sick the week before and had developed a rather large lump on the side of his neck. If you look you can tell that he couldn't get his shirt buttoned up. Poor kid. But, by the next morning for church the swelling had gone down enough that he could get his shirt buttoned.

 

Both the kids did a great job and I look forward to seeing them improve even more.

Merry Christmas!

Tarryn's Trip...Part 2

What a different world that Souther California from our little town. It is was warm (in comparison at least), the flowers were blooming and I have never seen flowers like these. They are called Birds of Paradise.I'm sure plenty of other people already knew that. I didn't.

 

Jenny took us to San Clemente Pier and we played at the beach. It was a little decieving. Rainy and overcast at Jenny's house but beautiful and 70 degrees at the beach. The water was warm and the beach was beautiful. 

 

I had to take a picture of all the palm trees. I have never seen so many in one place.

 

While we were on the pier a crabbing boat was out gathering their goods. I had to laugh at the birds. Obviously they know the drill. They hovered very close to the boat and relocated when the boat went to the next spot.

After the pier you have to go play on the beach. We really enjoyed that! The sun was shining and I even shed my sweatshirt. And oh the water...it was wonderful. Cool, but definatly not like Oregon beaches. In case you were wondering my dear sweet girl is indeed wearing a brace on her arm. I am just greatful that it wasn't a cast. She recently went roller skating and fell just right, spraining her wrist. She is doing good now, no brace but soreness once in a while when she uses it too much.

Oh and one more thing...my girl with pin straight hair...it curls a bit in the humidity. I almost couldn't believe it.

Tarryn's Trip...Part 1

Tarryn and I recently took a trip to Los Angeles. Tarryn had worked hard and earned enough money to buy a plane ticket. So for her birthday this year we told her that we would buy my ticket and the two of us would go on a trip together.

 

She had never been on an airplane before so that was a huge deal. Our airport is rather small. Okay really small. One security check, six gates, one small shop, you can walk the whole thing in about 5 minutes. Of course, never being past security before, she wanted to see it all. Thank goodness we had plenty of time. As we got back to our gate I told her a little about LAX. I have never been there before but I knew that it was much larger than our airport. So I had to laugh we went got off the plane in LA.

 

She looked around and asked, "Are you sure we are in the airport? It looks like we are in the mall!"

Tarryn picked Los Angeles because they have an American Girl store and we have family near there so we would have a place to stay and cousins to play with. I must say that I didn't complain that she wanted to go to the American Girl store. I still enjoy playing sewing for my doll that I got so many years ago. And yes Dad, she sits on my sewing table and hangs out with me.

 

First thing we did was drop Molly (Tarryn's doll) off at the salon to get her ears pierced. Then I let Tarryn lead the way. She went to every display, looked at every doll, every pair of shoes, and so on and so on. Then we went upstairs and did it all again with new displays. I must say, part of what I love is the historical factor that American Girl brings to their dolls. Yes they have the ones that you can design to look like you but most of them are a real girl that lived in a certain time in the past.

 

So upstairs is where they have the historical girls displays. They have a room for each girl. Of course we had to go to Mollly's. Molly is a young girl that lived in 1944 during World War 2. You read her stories and learn what a young girl would have done during that time.

I could totally go back and spend hours here. It was that fun. I almost think I had more fun than Tarryn did.

 

The store is located in The Grove in LA. Basically just a shopping center. We ate lunch at the Farmer's Market there and enjoyed the Christmas displays. 

 

This tree was nothing like I had ever seen before. You can tell that I don't spend much time in the "city." We first saw the tree from the top of a parking structure. It was gigantic. Then we got closer. It was even more gigantic. Just the wall that surrounds it was taller than Tarryn and I couldn't even get the whole tree in the picture. We took a peek inside that wall. I wanted to know if that tree was brought in or if it grew there. It was brought in. There were four or five electrical boxes in there to light it up, the ornament were large and the tree was full of them. I was kind of sad that we saw it in the daylight. I am sure that it is beautiful at night, all lit up.

 

We timed it just right to hear the clock at chime at 10. The men turn and bang the bells for each hour. You don't see things like this in our little town.

 

Also from the parking structure we could see the Hollywood sign. You know the one. Look close. We didn't exactly have the best weather while we were there.

 

We really had a great time. Can't wait to go back!

Halloween is here again...

And tomorrow it will be November. Hard to believe that already. Where did the year go? The holidays are just around the corner. But first a quick fashion show of the year's costumes. Most of my close friends and family know that Halloween is on of my favorite times of the year. I think because I get to do different things. Sometimes new things that I have never done before. It is really fun! I know...You think I am crazy...sometimes I do too. When I think of making five costumes each year, usually in a matter of a month or so (I don't plan ahead very good). This year all were new except for mine. I got put on the don't need a costume list this year. Then I put it on and it was too big. How did that happen?

It took Joseph a while to decide what he wanted to be. I try to let them be whatever they want...even if I have no idea how I am going to put it together. It always seems to work. He chose to be a spider.

 

Tarryn is much different in the deciding process. She makes a list years in advance about what she wants to be for what year. Dorothy has been on her list for about 2 years now. I think that her list is finished and she hasn't told me yet what she wants to be next year. Her shoes were quite the adventure but thanks to a great friend were found. I had gone all over town looking for red, sparkly shoes with little success...all too small (the girl has big feet). My friend and I were talking one morning about how I was looking for shoes and she called me about an hour later. She had found the shoes, in the right size. So she grabbed them for me. The costume just wouldn't be complete without the shoes. Thank you, Anne! 

 

Andrew had his heart set on being Harry Potter. That was no big deal and the glasses were found easily at the local Halloween store. He was a little bothered that I used my make-up (eye-liner) to put a scar on his forehead. I guess that attitude is normal for a 7 year old boy, right?

 

Off for some great adventure!

Fall time

Fall has finally come. The hot weather has left us, I had to turn the heat on and pumpkins and Halloween are making their appearance. We took the kids to the pumpkin patch, as we try to do each year. It is just fun. The kids each had their go with the clippers and picked out their perfect pumpkin. I even got a few little guys to decorate with. I just love fall.

 

 Other things we have been up to...

Playing with Grandma's kittens

 

And I have my very own chimney sweep. Josh has been trying to get our wood stove installed so that we can use it instead of electric heat. Can't wait for that!

Not Very surprising...

I think she has come to expect it. Every year since she started school, Tarryn has been the September Student of the Month for her class. I must say, it is one of those Proud Mom moments.

Great Job, Tarryn!