The dirt

I figured I'd quick update tonight, I'm sure most of you are sick of looking at the rat. :)

Here is a picture of our beloved Magnolia tree hanging precariously on the edge, waiting for its new retaining wall.

And here are 3 little boys, just home from school. Can you just imagine what's going through their minds?!?

Yup, you're right! How quickly could they get into that dirt!

Our backyard renovation has been a project in waiting until now. The retaining walls are collapsing and the posts are rotting out on our deck so with this springlike weather we've started some major demolition.

Wish us luck. The rain is back and you can guess what our backyard is now. :P

Just happened to catch this moment. One shot, that's all it took and that's all I got until they saw me.

The much anticipated end of B.E.A.R. week (Be Excited About Reading = no t.v./computer/electronics week), character parade at school on Friday. Once Friday morning rolled around, it was great, however reaching a decision on what character to be was not an easy one for anyone accept Holly. (you'll see why in a minute)

Joey started with, switched a couple times and came back to a pirate.

Tyler ended up as Batman (thanks, Kathy) but not before thinking about possibly being a dinosaur or R2D2.


And Lucas, dear, dear, Lucas. A week ago he wanted to be a shark, then it became a few other things until a trip to the library this afternoon and he wanted to be this, the Tiger Moth Ninja. I threw in the towel only to have it picked up again by dear, sweet, Mia. She took on the task (and they even did a big reveal) and she did a mighty fine job! Thank you, Mia!!

Finally, Holly. She saw this book in a recent book order and has been making her way through it. It's a book about Holly, a little puppy. She knew immediately what she wanted to be and wasn't changing her mind. (Thank YOU!!)

I happened to stop in her room at just the right time. The kids were all taking turns introducing their character and what book it was from.

Oh, and basketball is under way, too.



Everyone is playing but Mia. She's happy to just hang out at home on basketball night or come along when she wants. I do think she'd rather be at school playing with those rats, though.

The Rats

The fifth graders get to study a unit in science using rats so their class "adopted" 4 of them. Every day Mia comes home with stories how the rats got out at night and where in the school they've found them. And her teacher wonders why no parent has signed the form agreeing to take them over the weekends or to "adopt" them when the units over. :Pp

(Traci, the close up above is for you! You said you hadn't seen them yet, I'm sure you'll sleep well after seeing this!) :)

Smile!

We've had some awesome, spring like weather lately and I think it puts everyone in a good mood!


On Monday Mia and Holly thought it should be a create your own lunch day. So out of the cupboards came all kinds of stuff including the cookie cutters. They had more fun sitting around the table making lunch.

The picture below just cracks me up! They're all huddled around Mia's DS doing or listening to something funny.

Can you do this...

or this... (Actually, she is mid-cartwheel attempt. She's got her Mom's skills!) :)

OR THIS!!!!!!

We've moved on to homeschooling. The thought has never crossed my mind until watching these two at work. Spelling lists, math facts, Bible verses and ART all before 8:00 a.m. (and trust me, it still has not crossed my mind!) And a little side note to Uncle Dave. L, T and J feel your pain having older sisters who like to be in charge! :)


As the Californians are soaking wet we enjoyed another trip to the park. Thanks, guys, for swapping weather patterns with us. We'll take 60's in January!

A little hide and seek. I didn't do such a great job hiding as I was taking pictures.


And one more little funny! I took a picture of these monkeys messing around with Photo Booth.

It was actually a video but this is a shot of what it looked like from "the other side".

Life is good!

15 years

and 10 days is how long Eric and I have been married! We celebrated the occasion by spending a weekend on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia. We stayed in the tenthouse suites at the Rockwater Resort overlooking the ocean.

After driving through Vancouver, we hopped on the ferry. (B.C.'s ferries are WAYYYYY nicer than the sad little boats in Puget Sound and the views were spectacular, too!)

Look who we found hanging out in the Zen garden.

Actually, the Van Hulzens were needing a little break, too, so last minute they decided to join us on our little adventure. It was great fun since we don't get to see them much otherwise. (and you might all agree, Jon needs to get out a little more. :)

We spent a lot of time driving coffee and reading books.

They literally were tents. (Complete with fireplace and radiant heat floors)

Great way to celebrate the last 15 years and looking forward to 50 more!

Is January really almost half over?

This month just seems to be flying by and since I've been getting a little pressure to update I thought I'd do it today before I get any more flack! And since the "squeakiest wheel" has taken on Project Life this year (a photo-a-day) AND blogging each day I thought I'd update the ol' blog using my photos for my Project 365.  (Head on over to my Simply Enjoy site for the low down on Project Life/Project 365)    Sound good.   :)

New Years day was spent hanging out, playing Rock Band, Mario Cart and doing a little cupboard organization, too.

The next day, Saturday, Holly and Mia made it their goal to play board games ALL day. They did pretty well. Their stack on the kitchen table kept growing and growing as the day went on.

Monday was quite the crazy day. At around 3:00 Lucas was telling me about his mouth hurting. Within a few minutes I realized all 3 boys had the same tooth loose in their mouth. By bedtime both Joey's and Lucas' teeth were out. Tyler's is still holding on.

More Mario Cart...

I found this note by my desk on Wednesday night, the night before my birthday. Mia had made it as school she said and left it on my desk sometime before she headed off to bed. Love notes like these!

And yes, I did have a birthday last week (and we had our 15th anniversary, too! I'll post some pictures from our little weekend away soon!) Eric has a creative way of gift giving and "wrapping" gifts. :) I was blindfolded and the brought my gift to me. New boots I had been eyeing all winter down the street at Sole Obsession!

We went to Kyoto Steakhouse for dinner. Grandpa and Grandma VH were able to join us.

Working on their Spiderman workbooks from Grandma and Grandpa R.

Ahhh, the 6lb. 9 oz. can of pears is now back at Costco. How we've missed it! Those little cans just don't cut it over here!