Friday, January 30, 2009

A Happy Camper

Yes, I am a happy camper today.

This is what I bought today.

I am going to have tomatoes this year.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Why I Hate Wrestling

I know I mentioned this before, but I really don't like wrestling. Just look at this picture. My poor baby is on the bottom and he is gasping for air.
hate wrestling
However, when he did it to the next guy and won, I could care less.

I will be glad when this sport is over. Put the helmet, pads and all the rest of the gear on. Run as Hard as you can head first into the guy in front of you. Football, that's a sport I understand.

p.s. If Anthony sees this picture I will be in trouble.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

He's 15

A at Park 2
My oldest baby is 15.

If I had to choose a few words to describe him it would be: kind, generous, thoughtful, obnoxious, loud and annoying.

I know that over the next couple of weeks, he will be the best kid possible. His learners permit hangs in the balance. Steve and I intend to take full advantage of it.

Happy birthday Anthony, We love you!!!!

Monday, January 19, 2009

3 Day Weekends

Oh, how I love them. My mood has improved since my last post. I think it has much to do with leaving town this weekend.
Wrestling Tourn. 1/09
Anthony has a wrestling tournament in Bend Oregon this weekend and we decided to make the trip. I am so glad we did. First off, the kids loved the hotel room. It had a fireplace in our room which they kept turning off and on. They only real problem with the trip was the drive. We hit a lot of freezing fog. I think out of all the weather conditions we experience, fog would be my least favorite.
Wrestling Tourn. 1/09
This was not a normal wrestling tournament for Anthony. He had to beat out guys on his own team to qualify to go. His weight class was raised to 140 and in my opinion "Thank Goodness". I know that someday I will have to explain healthy weight gain and loss to my daughter. I never in a million years would have thought I would have that conversation with my son. It is crazy what these boys are doing to their bodies. After this season is over, they will start trying to bulk up for football.
Wrestling Tourn. 1/09
Wrestling Tourn. 1/09
Back to the tournament. Anthony came in 7th place which is very good for him. His coach said it was the best he had seen him wrestle. I really do not like this sport. I don't like watching my baby being twisted and turned in all different directions. My answer is to sit up in the stands and take pictures. Which I think I took about 100 of just one match.
Wrestling Tourn. 1/09
Wrestling 1/09
There was a few bad sides of the trip. One, of course, was the fog. The new header picture for my blog was taken in Bend. That is what freezing fog does to the plants and trees. Absolutely gorgeous. Second bad thing, Megan and Jason really like Michael Jackson. His music from the 80's and they listened to it over and over. Here is their Thriller poise.
Wrestling Tourn. 1/09
Up coming events this week: Anthony turns 15 let the drivers permit negotiation's begin.Wrestling Tourn. 1/09

Friday, January 16, 2009

If You Can't Say Something Nice.....

It has just been one of those weeks. If it could go wrong then it did. I tried making a couple of posts to this blog, but I realized it was just a bunch of whining. Who needs to hear that.

The winner of "who had the crappiest week" would be Jason. I am not going to post the details but I will say how proud I am of this kid. Actually, of his brother and sister too, for being a support to him and not giving him a hard time. It's hell to grow up.

Steve and I have not been pleased with the school system here. I am not talking about the teachers, it's the Oregon school system that has me fried. Let's just say that by the end of this week we are almost sure that we will be pulling Jason out to home school him. This has not been an easy decision and one we are still working on. At this point we are not sure if Megan will continue at the school as well.

My thought has been this: The reason these kids are doing as well as they are, is because of what we are doing with them at home. With Jason, I am literally reteaching him what he has already done that day in school. Why not just cut out the hours he spends at school and teach him at home.

So that in a nut shell is what our week has been like. On a good note, Anthony is wrestling a higher weight class this weekend. This has been a power struggle with him and us for the last few weeks. We have finally convinced him that at 5'10" he is not suppose to be 125lbs. Since he moved up in weight the kid is in a much better mood. Well, better mood for a teenager. So, we are headed out of town tonight to watch him.

Here is a picture of the family bowling this past weekend. I will add at this point, that bowling on the Wii is not good practice for regular bowling.

Bowling

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

More Snow

Here are some pictures of what we look like today. This storm has lasted 3 days and has dropped over 2ft of snow. I believe that is the most I have seen since we have been here. The radio station mistakenly reported this morning that the schools where closed. Louise called parents again and closed the preschool. By 6:45 the radio reported the mistake and all schools where open. I have the day off today but the poor kids didn't.

Even though the snow is a pain I do love it. Especially when I get to be home and watch it through the front window. Have a good Tuesday.
2009_0106moresnow0002

believe it or not, Steve just dug out this car an hour before I took the picture


Down the street just after I shoveled again toady

The parking lot across the street
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Looking down the street. The pile of snow you see behind the truck is going right down the center of the street and it looks like that over town.

Monday, January 05, 2009

Good Snowy Morning

I think this is the most snow I have seen in one storm since I have lived here. I was awake this morning at 5:30am listening to the radio to see if the kids had school and if I had to work. The answer was NO!!!!! Yeahhhh

Most of the roads and highways are closed right now. As I type this, my neighbor is snow blowing out his motor home. As soon as the roads open they are headed south to place warmer then here.

Here are a couple of pictures.

Steve shoveling out the van
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Walk way up to the house
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View of the whole town from the college webcam. It is still snowing so you can't see the mountains.
salmon

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Gramps

I have lots of wonderful memories of Gramps. I don't know why this one always stands out in my mind. It was Anthony's baptism and Steve was video taping our guest. He came up to Gramps and Uncle Tony standing on the deck. Uncle Tony, not moving a muscle, says to Gramps "don't move and he will just go away." They both just stood there and stared at the camera and didn't move. It just cracks me up every time I think about it. Reminds me of the penguins in the movie Madagascar. Where they say "just smile and wave boys just smile and wave." My favorite quote.

We love you Gramps and you will be very missed.
gramps

Friday, January 02, 2009

New Year and Old Friends

I joined Facebook a couple of years ago but never really played on it. A couple of months ago I was bored and decided to see if I knew anyone there. It started with finding one person, that was cool. Through that person I found a couple of more. Today I have reconnected with old classmates, relatives and friends I haven't talked to in years. Some are just a couple of miles from us and others on the other side of the world. I told Steve to give it a try and he is reconnecting with people. This has been tons of fun.

While it has been fun getting back it touch with people, there has been one couple that has been on our minds for a while. Steve had been friends with Blake and his twin brother Mark since high school. For years after high school Blake and his wife Elaine remained very close friends of ours. We would spend weekends at each others house's and just had great times together.

Life happens and we both just started getting busy. Kids, jobs and moving, we just started getting together less and less. Until we lost complete contact.

A couple of days before Christmas Steve's Dad ran into Blake. Numbers where exchanged and contact has been made. I for one am so glad. We missed them and it is good to be talking to them again. Steve and I have been remembering different stories and laughing. The kids think we are nuts.

I pulled out an old photo album looking for some pictures. Sorry guys this is what I found. I need to find some of the pictures from the Halloween party at our apartment. You guys remember..... the boys and their costumes. And don't laugh to hard Mark. Steve is working on getting in touch with you too and I have a picture of you as batman.

1000 years ago

Gramps

Our thoughts and prayers are going to Gramps, Steve's grandfather. He took a fall on Christmas morning and cracked is neck. He has been in the hospital fighting pneumonia. Once he defeats that he will be looking at surgery for his neck. We love you Gramps!!!
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