Some weekend updates

Starting to get sick

Poor little guy started to come down with the cold that a couple of other peeps around here had.

Spending time with Aunty Coco and apple juice make things feel better.

The Birthday Celebration

Jess had the day off so he picked up these kids from school and got to hang out for supper, presents and to take part in our first successful Skype session!

Harlan tried to Skype with his sister Naomi earlier on Friday. It sorta worked but we needed to get a few things tweaked on our end. Around 5 our time 8p.m. East coast time Hayden called to see if Logan and Alyssa would be able to get on. The proper protocols were followed and we got to talk to them in real time! We played musical chairs in front of the computer so everyone got a chance to see and talk. It was GREAT to see their new place and their faces as well.

Birthday Greetings

Danika's teacher helped her to make a card for her dad. She's such a Vanna White wanna be.

Wyatt created his own card. I guess the candles on the front would count as 10 years each since the inside says "Happy 20th birthday Love, Wyatt"

Out for dessert

"Happiness begins with dessert" I guess we'll see about that.

Jess, the kids, Hayden, Cameron, Charles, Courtney and I went down the street to Applebees to treat ourselves to dessert after a yummy pizza and beef brisket meal.

I think this is the first time that the actual food looked better than ad photo.

Triple Chocolate Meltdown for the birthday boy.

Happy Henry is HERE

What a goof. He's following in the Wyatt/Rowan footsteps when it comes to his attitude toward pictures and his silly faces. Also in his enjoyment of the Wii.

Henry, Anabelle and Cherise were here for a couple of hours while Kiel was working. They were just swinging through town on their way north. Henry got some game playing done.

Little Anabelle got some tummy time in while being serenaded by her very own Schroeder at the toy piano. It was hard to keep Gar-bear and his germ factory away from her as he has a love for babies recently. We managed to keep them several feet apart at all times. Hope nobody else comes down with this crud.

Belle-belle didn't want to show off for us but she has starting to roll over. Such a little sweet pea.

Gramma and the Sugarlump

Cell phone photo of Anabelle and me. My regular little camera isn't taking much better pictures these days. I have an extended warranty on the thing but have to send it away to have it replaced. How can I be without a camera for more than a couple of days?

What's in the oven?

Garrett has decide we're having baked balloons!

It's a good thing he can't reach the knobs! I'm going to have to check carefully inside the lower oven before I preheat it from now on. It's not a bad idea to check the top one too.

You never know what you'll find!

Happy Birthday Jess!

Today is Jess's 37th birthday!

The Jersey boy, turned Montana man who became our son-in-law and a great dad to 4 of our grandchildren is celebrating his birthday. I snagged the above picture from one of his friend's facebook pages. Don't know where it was taken but to me it depicts one facet of the many that make Jess... Jess! Outdoorsman, fisherman, hunter, snowboarder, son, brother, husband, father, Marine, hard worker and friend. The list goes on.

Awesome Dad

The capacity that we've seen him grow in during the past year is his Dad's heart. He's laid down those things that he'd like to do to spend time with the kids. He really connects with them.

Him and his Montana boy!

With Princess #1

And Princess #2.

He keeps them in line.

Then there's the little guy.

He's just wanting to PARTY!

Happy Birthday

Goodbye snow - Hello rain

Farewell snow

My snowguy is still sitting on the porch swing but the snow we got is now all gone and has been replaced by rain... almost 4 in. in the past 48 hours.

Water everywhere

This is on Fremont near Irving Park. The water covers both sides of the road, the sidewalks and part of the grass at the park. It's about a half block of deep water. I'm glad I wasn't on foot!

Hayden enjoying some more palatable water. Is Aquafina a Coke or Pepsi product?

Drip, drip, drip to dip, dip, dip

Garrett is getting to be more adventurous in his eating. Though raw baby carrots are not something he should be eating, he was using one as a scoop for Ranch dip. I took it away and gave him a few crackers and some broccoli. This is the first time I've seen him dip anything. I think it is the Lighthouse brand that he likes. It's pretty tasty.

Math genius in training

I caught him playing with this bead thing. He was just kicking at it to make the beads rattle but, to me, it looked like he was using his toes to count.

Growing up so fast

Every now and then I take photo of him and see in it the big kid that he's becoming. This is one of those pictures. Well it would be if you ignored the drool soaked shirt :P

His continuing battle cry

So many things to get into...so little time between naps.

He makes the most of his time, believe me.

Missing these little critters

4 out of 9 isn't enough

Even though we have daily contact with 4 of our grandchildren, it seems like the other 5 should be here as well. I am so thankful for each one of them. And especially for all of the times that we were able to be together in the past 7 1/2 years since the grandchildren started arriving.

Two towheads 4 hours away

Henry and Anabelle are within driving distance of us. That means we can see them if we could manage to get away for a weekend.

Henry is such a great little guy. I love watching him rock out with the toy guitars around here. Or play with the other toys. They always seem to go for the musical or noisy stuff.

I had his momma send me a recent picture of him and his sister since they all seem to be growing by leaps and bounds. He was getting ready to go swimming at a motel pool on a recent road trip. I'm looking forward to taking him and his family to the pool that Genevieve went to last weekend. That should be fun!

Almost 12 pounds of cuteness! Anabelle is one of the happiest babies I know. She is so personable. Much more interested in people than playthings.

Now with winter weather starting to set in, it'll be a month or more before we get to see them. Harlan is a fair weather traveler. Kiel is a bit more adventurous.

Please keep sending photos, texting and calling. Every little bit of contact helps us to know them better and miss them less.

Three are just this side of 3,000 miles away

Two little dollies and one Super Sonic Rowan are settling into a new phase of their family life in Virginia.

Katie is being indoctrinated at the hockey rink into being a Capitals fan. Evie is growing like a weed (a good one though).

Rowan is continuing to master Wii games and is open to new adventures.

My sister Kelly sent me these pictures of the kids playing at a mall play place. It is a bit more elaborate than ours at Lloyd Center but it's still quite similar.

We haven't gotten to Skype yet but have enjoyed getting text messages and phone photos. I've been looking into airfares to send Hayden and Cameron back there for 10 days or so this Spring. We'll see how that works out. Har and I would love to have been there for all the unpacking and helping get settled. They have done quite nicely with help from Kelly and her family.

Home sweet home (for now)

Logan sent this cell phone photo of their house with their new rig parked in front of it and Alyssa standing on the sidewalk. They are spending their first night there tonight. From all reports the kids are pretty excited seeing all of their familiar stuff set up in their rooms.

Vehicle faces

Alyssa was following Logan today and sent this picture of the back of his Xterra.

This vehicle always reminds me of a kid with a big wad of chewing gum in his cheek.

It would look more like it if it had a baseball cap on top of it but I don't think that is the look Logan is going for.

Turning into my Mother

When Kelly posted a bunch of pictures on facebook today I got all teary eyed looking through them. The kids are happy and active but I miss them like crazy.

They've been gone all of 3 weeks! This is going to be a long few years.

Hopefully they'll have internet by the end of the week.

Skype date? Soon.

Snow, schoolyard and sugar highs

Our "big" snow event

I took this picture tonight since I'm sure by morning it will have melted and turned to rain since there is a strong storm coming from the south bringing warmer temps. The snow actually started to fall after dark tonight. It is 32 degrees so the snow is very wet.

This morning the chickens and I woke to only a dusting of snow that quickly melted.

Soggy schoolyard

The school yard has suffered quite a bit with all of the rain we've had as well as the use and abuse it gets from all the kids. Two piles of bark dust were delivered today. It was hard not to let Wyatt and Genevieve play on those piles. Wyatt wanted me to take his picture so I made Genevieve pose for me too. Notice the standing water out in the field behind Genevieve. All of the grassy areas are muddy and slippery. They picked a great time to deliver the stuff.

Sugar stop at 7Eleven

I used to stop every once in a while at 7Eleven with Wyatt last year after school on our way back into town. Today I decided to swing by our local one to let them get them Slurpees.

I didn't want Garrett to have a drink to spill all over himself so I got him a doughnut. Not the best choice as he got quite a buzz from eating only 1/2 of it.

Not super sugar addicts

These guys are not constantly seeking sweets. They get a dessert a few times a week. These are the candy bags from Halloween that they are still working on finishing.

What is this?

Harlan and I like dark roasts of coffee. We haven't tried too many other kinds. I wonder how this blonde coffee is going to go over. If I had to pick one would I want "mellow & soft" or "bright & clean"?

Neither really suits me. I'm soft but not too mellow these days.

I think I'm pretty bright but define "clean".

I think I'd pick the one with the porch swing.

Veranda! That's fun to say!

Water in several forms and January changes

Kid's decor

As I was taking down Christmas decorations in the living room the kids were busy "decorating" in the music room. I'm happy that all of their treasures were collected in one place and not all over the floor! Miraculously, today...two days later, they are still gracing the piano.

Winter mix of weather

We made a quick stop at McD's after church. While we were there we had one of many little snow showers pass through.

They sure are pretty when they come but we rarely have any type of accumulation. The kids are anxious for a snow day. Don't think it's going to happen this year.

Later in the day I snapped this photo of totally liquid precipitation through the windshield of our van.

A friend's birthday Pool Party!

This is the very first time that Genevieve has attended a birthday party without having any of her siblings with her. Her friend Maya (second from left) turned six this week. The party was at East Portland Community Center & Pool. What a great facility!

There seems to be something for everyone. Nice shallow play place for young children with a shark slide, a lap pool, hot tub, and a water slide.

Little Miss Muffet loved it. She was literally the last one out of the pool after the whistle was blown. Playing in the water is a lot of work and it had been a long time since lunch so a stop at the snack machine was in order.

Out with the old ~ In with the new

The flower arrangement that Lyssa and Logan and the kids got me for my birthday several weeks ago had finally dried and died. I love the little nest basket and red bird so while I was waiting for Genevieve's party to be over I ran to do some grocery shopping. I grabbed a bouquet on the way out and VOILA I have a new arrangement to enjoy for a week or so!