Just a few pictures from our wonderful day at the temple.....
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Let's hear it for the boys
Lucas officially has larger feet than his mother.
He will be playing the trombone in jazz band this year and the baritone in concert band.
He was called as his deacon quorum's secretary.
Aaron still reads to Lucas every night. A tradition they started when Lucas was a baby.
His favorite sacrament passing position is #7, the middle section of the back overflow.
He only has about 3 more inches until he catches up to me.
He told Aaron and I yesterday that when we got home from church he wanted us to go upstairs to take a nap so he could make dinner and watch Jonah. We had a yummy dinner on the deck of gourmet cheeses, crackers, and sliced turkey with a vase of fresh cut flowers from the backyard.
His best friends in Portland are his cousin Jack, Sam from church and Johnny from school.
I love that when we redecorated his room, Lucas still wanted a place for his stuffed animals. (I'm sure he would want me to clarify that he doesn't play with them, but I know they still have a place in his heart. :)
He loves Panda Express Orange Chicken with white rice.
I love how he steps up whenever Aaron is out of town. He offers to put Jonah to bed, carry things for me, and is generally extra helpful. Makes Aaron being gone more tolerable.
He is still into Bionicles, a LEGO robot building thingy, and is building a huge army of soldiers. Jonah loves them too but his guys always have some rare disorder giving them extra long legs, one lo.o.o.ong arm or a giraffe neck.
He loves fruit smoothies and asks for them almost everyday and he likes them extra sour.
Lucas is thinking of becoming a graphic designer when he grows up.
Jonah is loud, ever talking and overly friendly.
Whenever he gets taken out of sacrament meeting for unacceptable behavior, he always returns waving to 5-6 different "admiring fans" like some beauty queen in a parade. (Yes, this happens every week.)
Three different people have independently told me Jonah has "a personality and a half!"
Another described him as having a "3D personality. Always up in your face." I take that as positively as I can.
He loves ghosts, pretending to be a ghost and especially his I SPY Ghost book.
He loves to play games, match games, Candyland, Sorry, a VERY simplified Monopoly. But he does not like Hi Ho Cherry-O.
Jonah goes to swimming lessons now every Tues & Thurs. This kid is learning to be a fish.
Quote of the week to his Batman figure: "You hit me in the crunch, you naked peep!"
Translation: "You hit me in the crotch, you nincompoop!"
His figures are in constant peril, thrown in jail or fighting in battle and so are in constant need of rescue.
I have sung "Boom, Boom Ain't It Great to be Crazy" 2x a day (every nap and every bedtime) since beginning of May.
His new favorite activity is to get on his monkey rubber boots to go outside and "make a swamp." Basically turn on the hose and water the grass.
He is way into "big kisses" where he puckers up and lays one on you for more than is comfortable for most people. (Not me. I say bring it on.)
Jonah hates getting his hair washed but loves taking baths.
Randomly throughout the day, Soldier Jonah falls unconscious after being overcome in battle, waiting for Dr. Mommy to come pick him up and take him to the surgeon. (Aaron or Lucas, whoever is available). They must cut him open to fix whatever ails him and only then will the soldier awaken to loud rejoicings by all.
He consistently adds his own sticks to Lucas' stick collection from years ago. We must have 15-20 sticks in the house at any given time.
I couldn't be more blessed.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Anyone have a hose?
A few months ago I convinced Aaron, Genet and Mark to sign up for a race with me. I am SO not a runner but this race is one I could get into. I was planning on being in a lot better shape by then but I guess it ended up more of a kick off (yes, another one) to getting my mojo back.
We made a great team andecided to all stay together throughout the 5K that was filled with too many hills, and obsctales such as scaling walls, crawling under barbed wire, wading through chest COLD high water, climbing rope walls, jumping over fire and trudging (or swimming in Aaron's case)through waist height mud. You can check out the craziness here.
http://www.warriordash.com/
You couldn't ask for a better race partner than Aaron. He was everything I needed. Obnoxious, funny, encouraging, giving me a literal push when I needed it. Love that man!
We think we want to make this race an annual event. Anyone want to join us?
We made a great team andecided to all stay together throughout the 5K that was filled with too many hills, and obsctales such as scaling walls, crawling under barbed wire, wading through chest COLD high water, climbing rope walls, jumping over fire and trudging (or swimming in Aaron's case)through waist height mud. You can check out the craziness here.
http://www.warriordash.com/
You couldn't ask for a better race partner than Aaron. He was everything I needed. Obnoxious, funny, encouraging, giving me a literal push when I needed it. Love that man!
We think we want to make this race an annual event. Anyone want to join us?
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Prefences of a Preteen
When we broke it to Lucas that we were thinking of moving last year, we thought it might help the transition if we mentioned he could decorate his room any way he wanted. It took us a year but we finally got around to his room and its makeover.
In July Aaron was going to Seattle for a marathon of meetings and Lucas and I decided to jump on the project.
From the beginning Lucas had a very specific idea in his head about how his room would look, what colors to use, where he wanted the bed, how to hang pictures, etc. I've patted myself on my back for how much we compromised and made it work for both of us. :)
This is the "before." When I took the pic, we had already moved out a lot of his things but not that much. The previous owner had a thing for focus walls and so many of the rooms have multi-colored walls.
We hadn't hung anything up. So sad looking. :)
And this is where I forgot to get a before picture. But we completely reconfigured his closet. We added all the baskets and buckets ourselves.
Luke didn't have a whole lot that needed hanging up and that small black dresser was not cutting it with everything else.. The thick white lines in the picture below represent where the wooden dividers were, along with a lower clothes bar, We ended up taking a reciprocating saw to the divider all the way up to where the arrow is and took out the other bar.
The bottom shelf with the 3 black fabric boxes is actually the bookshelf we had in our Seattle family room turned on its side. We bought 5 black boxes and another white plastic bucket "system" from Ikea. It's been a great way to handle clothes and other stuff. Everything now has a home!
He wanted grey walls (great, since a lot of the new house has been painted grey) and then florescent green stripes. Again I like stripes but we ended up compromising with dark green instead of day-glo. Phew.
Anyway, here's the after. We painted stripes, hung black curtains that "had to have grommets" since that was what Lucas liked. We hung the Star Wars poster he got from his grandparents for Christmas and we took out the black dresser and shifted the bookcase to this opposite corner.
We added labels to all his baskets and buckets. Just vinyl and my Cricut paper cutter.
Works great.
Lucas wanted stripes all the way around the room but I lost steam. Lucas was fabulous at putting together lamps, his chair, his desk and his shelving. Basically did it all on his own. But painting was not his passion and I got left with most of the work. So I made the executive decision: no stripes around the whole room. BUT, I do think I might continue the strips around to the left past the bed and the shelves. It feels kind of abrupt to have the stripes just stop. We'll see if I get the energy to go back and paint more. Give me a few weeks.
We finally got him a desk with a new lamp and shelves for all his schoolwork and Lego/Bionicle building. For me "Storage" was the theme of the room and I made sure he had enough drawers, shelves, buckets and baskets for all his stuff.
The motorcycle picture above his bed was free since he won the poster at school from the book fair and the frame we literally received for a wedding present. There has been a number of pictures in the frame over the years, but I took those out and spray painted the original purple mat with its flower power picture to black and then added the poster.
View from corner.
So again here's the before...
And here's the after.
He loves it so that's all that matters.
From the beginning Lucas had a very specific idea in his head about how his room would look, what colors to use, where he wanted the bed, how to hang pictures, etc. I've patted myself on my back for how much we compromised and made it work for both of us. :)
This is the "before." When I took the pic, we had already moved out a lot of his things but not that much. The previous owner had a thing for focus walls and so many of the rooms have multi-colored walls.
We hadn't hung anything up. So sad looking. :)
And this is where I forgot to get a before picture. But we completely reconfigured his closet. We added all the baskets and buckets ourselves.
Luke didn't have a whole lot that needed hanging up and that small black dresser was not cutting it with everything else.. The thick white lines in the picture below represent where the wooden dividers were, along with a lower clothes bar, We ended up taking a reciprocating saw to the divider all the way up to where the arrow is and took out the other bar.
The bottom shelf with the 3 black fabric boxes is actually the bookshelf we had in our Seattle family room turned on its side. We bought 5 black boxes and another white plastic bucket "system" from Ikea. It's been a great way to handle clothes and other stuff. Everything now has a home!
Anyway, here's the after. We painted stripes, hung black curtains that "had to have grommets" since that was what Lucas liked. We hung the Star Wars poster he got from his grandparents for Christmas and we took out the black dresser and shifted the bookcase to this opposite corner.
We added labels to all his baskets and buckets. Just vinyl and my Cricut paper cutter.
Works great.
Lucas wanted stripes all the way around the room but I lost steam. Lucas was fabulous at putting together lamps, his chair, his desk and his shelving. Basically did it all on his own. But painting was not his passion and I got left with most of the work. So I made the executive decision: no stripes around the whole room. BUT, I do think I might continue the strips around to the left past the bed and the shelves. It feels kind of abrupt to have the stripes just stop. We'll see if I get the energy to go back and paint more. Give me a few weeks.
We finally got him a desk with a new lamp and shelves for all his schoolwork and Lego/Bionicle building. For me "Storage" was the theme of the room and I made sure he had enough drawers, shelves, buckets and baskets for all his stuff.
The motorcycle picture above his bed was free since he won the poster at school from the book fair and the frame we literally received for a wedding present. There has been a number of pictures in the frame over the years, but I took those out and spray painted the original purple mat with its flower power picture to black and then added the poster.
View from corner.
So again here's the before...
And here's the after.
He loves it so that's all that matters.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Quotes of the Week
Jonah and I were waiting in line at IKEA. He sat in the cart and I hugged him and kissed on his neck. (my favorite) He does his lovey-dovey, whisper voice and says...
"I love you so much." Looks me in the eyes and swears, ".I'll never let you down."
Aaron and I took him on a walk through the woods near our house. We went off the trail where it suddenly got bumpy. Jonah yells out with all his might, "Hold on to your brains, everyone!"
I asked him to take the dirty clothes to the laundry chute. I get a salute and a "It would be my pleasure, sir." No. The pleasure is all mine.
Tonight Aaron was getting his PJ's on and he was whining he wasn't ready for bed. Aaron pointed out that the sun had gone to bed and now it was his turn. He fake-cried and whined, "I want the sun back."
Thursday, August 9, 2012
The wait is over!
"Unbound picks up immediately where Threads That Bind left off. Having failed to
bind Osadyn, the Berserkers must deal with the aftermath of Kara’s decision.
Madison and Rhys are left behind to continue her training while the other
Berserkers attempt to hunt down the remaining unbound Havoc.
Madison soon discovers her powers are even stranger than she had previously thought and that someone close to the Berserkers wants her dead. Seeking some sense of normalcy, Madison tries to blend back in at school with less-than-successful results and her attempts at a romantic relationship lead to consequences far worse than anyone could have imagined.
The Berserkers' world will be changed forever."
Madison soon discovers her powers are even stranger than she had previously thought and that someone close to the Berserkers wants her dead. Seeking some sense of normalcy, Madison tries to blend back in at school with less-than-successful results and her attempts at a romantic relationship lead to consequences far worse than anyone could have imagined.
The Berserkers' world will be changed forever."
***********************
My brother in law's second book is out and ready to read! It's a fast paced, YA fantasy that even if you are unfamiliar with that genre, you will love it. You can download your copy HERE
Or if you are new to the Havoc Chronicles, pick up the book that started it all, Threads That Bind HERE
Also, here's a link to Brant's website to keep you updated on all the latest book developments.
http://www.havocchronicles.com/
And if you look at the "About Me" section, you can check out my professional photographer debut!. (Basically I just took the picture of my handsome brother in law :)
And if you missed my riveting personal interview with the author, I have a link to that too.
Threads That Bind by Brant Williams
We could not be happier or more proud of his success!!
Monday, August 6, 2012
Aaaat last, my love has come along
(This is my second attempt at this post. More than a month ago Blogger wouldn't publish my finished and PERFECT post and then our resident preteen closed the page so he could play some game and I lost all my precious work. It's taken me while to get back to try again.)
Anyway....
I know a lot of the country has been melting in extreme heat and power outages for weeks, so I really have nothing to complain about It's just I had been counting the days until summer for months now and I'd been ready for some sun. All of June we were teased with intermittent days of sunny weather followed by cold and rainy yet again. On the freakin' 4th of July and I went to our ward picnic in long pants and a sweater. This week we've caught up by having some 95 degree days and with our air conditioner not cooperating, my need for heat is finally being satisfied.
In June we had the cousins come stay with us while my sister and her husband went on their stake's Trek. We took advantage of a sunny day and drove the 4 minutes down to a local strawberry patch to pick some yumminess.
Bennett was a good scout and filled his little basket quickly.
Lucas tried to teach Jonah the finer points of berry picking...
...but he only had eyes for playing in the outhouse. Seriously.
Sarah had a penchant for anything moldy or had to do with a bug.
And Paxton just ate whatever he got his hands on and then blew dandelions the rest of the time.
Lucas couldn't help but mug for the camera. (Takes after his mom at that age.)
But afterward he went to town and picked his weight in strawberries.
Jackson, my trooper, was the best and most focused. He picked only the best and was thorough and diligent.
I guess I have to appreciate all the Northwest rain because we get the best berries and my freezer full of homemade jam and whole blueberries attest to that fact.
Anyway....
I know a lot of the country has been melting in extreme heat and power outages for weeks, so I really have nothing to complain about It's just I had been counting the days until summer for months now and I'd been ready for some sun. All of June we were teased with intermittent days of sunny weather followed by cold and rainy yet again. On the freakin' 4th of July and I went to our ward picnic in long pants and a sweater. This week we've caught up by having some 95 degree days and with our air conditioner not cooperating, my need for heat is finally being satisfied.
In June we had the cousins come stay with us while my sister and her husband went on their stake's Trek. We took advantage of a sunny day and drove the 4 minutes down to a local strawberry patch to pick some yumminess.
Bennett was a good scout and filled his little basket quickly.
Lucas tried to teach Jonah the finer points of berry picking...
...but he only had eyes for playing in the outhouse. Seriously.
Sarah had a penchant for anything moldy or had to do with a bug.
 |
| Sorry, Genet, for letting her out with such crazy hair. I'm not good at "girl hair." :) |
And Paxton just ate whatever he got his hands on and then blew dandelions the rest of the time.
Lucas couldn't help but mug for the camera. (Takes after his mom at that age.)
 |
| This kid needs a haircut :) |
But afterward he went to town and picked his weight in strawberries.
Jackson, my trooper, was the best and most focused. He picked only the best and was thorough and diligent.
I guess I have to appreciate all the Northwest rain because we get the best berries and my freezer full of homemade jam and whole blueberries attest to that fact.
Next week my Arizona sister comes into town and we're going to do late raspberries and wild blackberries. Love it!
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