Off to North Carolina!

After almost 2 full weeks getting to know our NW family, we crossed the country to meet up with Daddy in North Carolina- staying with some wonderful friends. They took us out on their Redneck Party Yacht one day after work. As we were getting ready to head out, we got to see some Coast Gaurd in action. All of a sudden the parkinglot around the boat ramp was filling up with ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars as well as base security, etc. One of the Small Boats came zooming in a short time later. Sadly, the woman they were rushing in was already gone, and the EMTs had to focus on her husband, who was understandably in shock. We sat on our friends' boat and watched, not because we wanted to but because we DIDN'T want to create any wake or get in the way or in any way make anything more difficult for those scrambling to help.

Heath was the skipper.

Clarissa was cold.
Daddy kept Austin from jumping over the side.

The kids had lots of fun looking at the waves the boat was making.

We tried to go swimming. Brett took each of the boys in, but they had to agree with Clarissa that it was too dang cold in the shade and the wind.

Expeditions in the NorthWest 4

Mom, Aunt Shanny, the boys and I (sorry you couldn't come oh wonderful Patricia!) set out on a quest to tricities (Kennewick area) to see what we could see. The new little Temple was the first stop.
Great place for a potty break (Stake Center across the parkinglot), though we didn't get to go inside. Shane was interested in the gold man on top. Though after such a long drive it was fleeting. He seems to share his Uncle Trace's fascination with GOLD. We spent some time shopping, found some fun deals on church clothes for the kids, started birthday/Christmas shopping, and got a bit lost on the way home. How much more fun can we handle! I thought it was cool that I got to- and was successful at driving in such a bustling place.

I AM THE CHAMPION!

(actually I'm kinda pitiful when it comes to cities, but I'm at peace with that.)

Expeditions in the NorthWest 3

Driving along one day, Shane noticed a BMX track along side the road. Kids with their bikes all over the place. This led to MULTIPLE discussions about where Shane's bike was, and how we couldn't go get it, etc. Nevertheless, he persisted in wanting to play at the track. We never had time (or a cool day) until the night we hit the train park. He remembered on the way home, so we stopped for a few minutes in the dark to play in the deserted dirt. Way fun!

Shane made "animal" tracks.
Exploring the soft dustiness.

Austin was less interested in the dirt as he was being OUT of the hot car.

He and that bottle of milk were best friends that day.

It was a fun and filthy evening.

Try it sometime!

Expeditions in the NorthWest 2

I wish I had my brain functioning when we were having tons of fun with my brothers (Michael, Ben and Spencer and the families) but I didn't- so no pictures. My apologies all y'all!

The boys and I did a few expeditions by ourselves in the "big"er city. One evening, after it had cooled off (late), we borrowed Gram-gram's car and went to a park- where there was a train!

You can't really see it, but Shane could...

And Austin HAD to follow Shane.
Cheese by the train. Sorry it's getting dark.

That white blur in the bottom left corner is Austin.

Typical.

The chian link fence and barbed wire around the whole thing were a bit of a bummer

Remember that one park in Corvallis that had the engine you could climb on?

Where was that? Can you still climb on it?

Stay tuned for more adventures of the dynamic duo-

Captain Underpants and Mr. Binky Face

Expeditions in the NorthWest 1 part 2

At the same park with the birds, we made some new friends who were slowly on thier way West.

Shane tried to help.

As did Austin.
The kids in the back seat were typical to a long trip.

Then they rode off into the sunset.

Expeditions in the NorthWest 1

Walla Walla has a cool bird zoo-thing at one of it's parks.

Albino Peacock- just like in the last Harry Potter book.
Lots of colorful plumage.

Oddly enough, Shane chose to commune with the plainest, fattest, but friendliest bird.

This sucker was very difficult to get a picture of-
he kept running off at the last second, so all you got was the tail in the shot.

Gram-gram's House

Blue skies were a difference that Shane thought needed documenation.
We met a handful of family-

and got a bit silly.

Aunt Patricia loaned us some old toys- totally fun ones!

Shane had a blast re-creating "Mr. Angry-Eyes"

(See Toy Story 2)

And we played in the water.

Shane being "soaking wet!"

Austin getting wet.

We also found some dirt to play in, making any kid's joy complete.

Cousin Joseph was fun to hang out with... is he texting?
teenagers...
Austin found a new skill...
that he expanded

to give everyone heart attacks at every oppertunity.

Tune in for more adventures of Thing 1 and Thing 2!

First Day of School

When I asked Shane to stop to take pictures before school, he insisted that this was THE way to do it.

Austin wanted a turn too.
But mom's a sneaky bugger and got one of him upright anyway.

Austin was all ready for school too.

Here we are at school.

A stop at the fish tank to visit Shane's old friends- the eels.

We got to the classroom and Shane didn't even pause to say bye.

Just went right to playing.

Austin was estatic at the end of that first day- he really missed Shane.

I love how much Shane loves school!

Catching Up With September

OK, I've got to catch y'all up on what all has happened this last month! Hang on!

Menu Calendar Project

So, we were visiting at our friends Heath and Clarissa's home. She had the neatest method set up for planning her menus for the week. I had more than just the one picture, but took them on my phone and the others didn't want to translate for some reason...

This is Clarissa's
And this one's mine.

Clarissa had 3x5 cards with each meal's ingredients listed.

I had this roladex sitting around...

The little dish cards are on individual magnets.

The misc. shopping list is on the side there.

And the top right corner has the cards for the week's meals to take shopping with me.
I used the papers and scraps I had around the house and I really like how it turned out.

Now, I just got to get it as a habit, and hopefully it will help us eat better, and save some money on groceries too.

Happy Labor Day!

I saw this on my friend's blog. She got it off Rocks in My Dryer, and I thought it was perfect to pirate (argh).
How long were your labors?
Kid #1: 10 hours (8 at the hospital)
Kid #2: 14 hours (only 1- 1 1/2 hours at the hospital)

How did you know you were in labor?
Kid #1: Intense contractions- couldn't sleep, couldn't read, couldn't watch TV.
Kid #2: Consistent regular contractions- I just knew.

Where did you deliver?
Kid #1: Room 21, Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center in Alaska.
Kid #2: Sitka Island Medical Center

Drugs?
Kid #1: Pitocin at the very end when my contractions stopped before the fun was done
Kid #2: Nothing.
PAIN meds: None, for either! All natural baby! It is the most empowering and incredible experience ever.

C-section? Nope

Who delivered?
Kid #1: Dr.Withrow
Kid #2: Dr. Chelius

My friend included a cute picture of her in labor. Such things don't exist for me. Mainly because I can never take a good picture of myself and my husband certainly doesn't think of those things.