I know it's been a long time. Truth is, I'm so overwhelmed with photos and stories of the rest of our eventful summer, that I don't even want to begin catching up. Maybe I won't catch up. Honestly, I could count on one hand the amount of hours I have spent sitting in front of my computer in the last several months. Every day holds a new adventure and the sunshine has been a non-stop reminder of how sitting at my computer desk should be last on my to-do list. This has been the sunniest coastal summer I can remember. Growing up here made me appreciate sunny days...as we don't often get too many. I think it's rained twice since the 4th of July...unreal.
Anyway, besides all the fun I had with my family, my summer was filled with change, sorrow, excitement, calamity, pain, and work.
Change:
Well, to make a long story short, Adam was finally rewarded with a promotion of sorts. After 10 grueling months of double- and triple-duty, he was offered two different jobs within GP. After a lot of prayer and weighing the pros and cons, he decided on taking a job for the pulp and paper division (North American Consumer Products) of Georgia Pacific. He's now the leader of Chemical Process Safety for the division. Yeah, he's kind of a big deal. I'm super proud of him and glad to see that his under-appreciated hard work and success is being recognized and rewarded.
Since beginning his transition in July, he's been traveling a lot. This will be a new "normal" for us as his new job requires 40-50% travel. However, when he's not traveling, he gets to work from home! That's right folks, he no longer works at Wauna Mill! As much as he will miss many of the people he worked with there, he's excited to be in a much more low-stress environment For now...and maybe even permanently...he has made himself an office down in his shop. So far it's working out nicely.
Sorrow:
I've been on a mini roller coaster of heartache and hope with a dear relative of mine. He's drug-addicted and beat down. Satan has gripped his soul and my heart breaks for him. By a series of God-ordained "coincidences" I was able to spend several moments with him on a handful of occasions...loving him and encouraging him the best way I know how. Currently, he's in jail...and sadly, I feel relieved. I continue to have hope and pray God's blessing over him.
Excitement:
For over a year I've been praying for a pastor to come to our area...someone to help us (me with other folks in the community) start a church. And through a long and detailed and amazing series of events, God has answered my prayer. Oh my goodness gracious...God has answered my prayer!
Calamity:
My dad had a big health scare! It's a long story that many already know. To sum it up, he grew a huge lump on his neck over the course of a few days and had an extreme headache. Our local hospital didn't know what it was so they sent him in an ambulance to OHSU. After some tests and a lot of waiting they thought he might even have cancer! In the end, doctors removed a very large thyroid cyst and half of his thyroid with it. It took a bit to recover and he's still plugging away. We are so thankful that God has restored him and his health!
Pain:
I hurt my foot!! About a week before Labor Day my dog barreled into me and my poor foot got the brunt of it. Basically, I lost a big chunk of skin and the rehab has been ridiculous! Initially, I let it scab over and hobbled around for a good week wearing one shoe. The bruising along with the road rash was painful. Anyway, when I got home from our Labor Day camp trip, the pain seemed to get worse daily. Every step I took made the scab pull away from my healthy skin and I could hardly walk. I tried passing the time by enjoying the sun, but the sun made it hurt sooo bad...even covered and wet! Long story short, I've had to keep the scab wet and the healing has been long. I can only wear special sandals...even flip-flops are painful. It's been nearly 4 weeks. It's looking WAY better...but I still have a bit before I can wear real shoes.
Other than that, Synnove badly bruised her tail bone when she fell out of a tree. And Soren was bit in the face by a dog (in the dog's defense...she was provoked...but still unfortunate). I'm glad we made it through another summer with no broken bones or hospital visits!
Work:
Andrea and I worked through the summer cleaning houses. We took a few weeks off in August, but I managed to find other things to occupy my days. Unfortunately, I didn't do one ounce of painting on our house (my intent)...but I did help a friend paint hers. Adam has been working during his "free" time on the fence for our field. He's also been tinkering around with his "new" car (ugh!).
Showing posts with label Adam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adam. Show all posts
Friday, September 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
It's on it's way...but Adam isn't here to set it up...
The day I've been longing for is finally here! I just checked Fed Ex tracking, and our new computer is set to arrive on my doorstep this afternoon! I hope to start blogging again because it will finally be easier...take MUCH less time!! It's gotten so bad, that I can no longer load pictures on my computer from my camera...and I've NEVER been able to load videos from my new camera. I rarely check Facebook on the computer because the page format is all messed up...not to mention the fact that I can type an entire paragraph before a single letter will show up on the screen. Lately, I've been doing most of my Internet surfing/business on my phone. No, we don't have 3G service at our house, but it's still often faster than the computer and certainly much less frustrating. It's hard to believe, but Adam and I bought our current computer in March of 2003...NINE years ago!!! It's been a good computer, despite 3 or 4 complete wipe-outs. Thank goodness for back-up hard drives! Anyway, I'm hoping that Adam will be able to carve out some time in his very busy schedule to set it up sometime within the next couple of days. We don't see him much these days. I wrote this back in October...
Well, he hits the 6-month mark this week. He's been doing two jobs since September, and 3 jobs since January when another manager quit. We know that God has a plan for Adam at work, and we're hoping that plan will reveal itself soon. Our lives have been put on hold until things get worked out. As always, in situations like this, things are complicated. I'm so very proud of Adam and his accomplishments in his career. He has done very well at climbing the ladder at an expedited pace. In fact, the company has put so much confidence in his work that he has been put in charge of the entire mill on the "weekend duty" rotation. This is a high accomplishment that he, unfortunately, is not recognized for or compensated for. Like I said, it's a complicated matter that continues to frustrate. This cannot go on for much longer as it is taking it's toll on Adam, or marriage, and our family. It's easy to grow apart when you are apart. Please, PLEASE don't take that as an indication that we are on the verge of disaster....that is NOT the case at ALL! We are merely a family feeling the effects of an overworked Adam.
"After an incredibly busy September, we were finally able
to breathe a little bit in October. Although, Adam has been busier than ever at
work. In late September his boss resigned and Adam was put in charge in the
interim. So far, he's been doing two very important jobs at the mill for 6 full
weeks...with no end in sight. He works 12-hour days and comes home to work on
the computer after the kids go to bed. Too bad he's not getting paid for two
jobs! We miss him, but he has still found moments here and there to spend
quality time with the kids."
Well, he hits the 6-month mark this week. He's been doing two jobs since September, and 3 jobs since January when another manager quit. We know that God has a plan for Adam at work, and we're hoping that plan will reveal itself soon. Our lives have been put on hold until things get worked out. As always, in situations like this, things are complicated. I'm so very proud of Adam and his accomplishments in his career. He has done very well at climbing the ladder at an expedited pace. In fact, the company has put so much confidence in his work that he has been put in charge of the entire mill on the "weekend duty" rotation. This is a high accomplishment that he, unfortunately, is not recognized for or compensated for. Like I said, it's a complicated matter that continues to frustrate. This cannot go on for much longer as it is taking it's toll on Adam, or marriage, and our family. It's easy to grow apart when you are apart. Please, PLEASE don't take that as an indication that we are on the verge of disaster....that is NOT the case at ALL! We are merely a family feeling the effects of an overworked Adam.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Some October
After an incredibly busy September, we were finally able to breathe a little bit in October. Although, Adam has been busier than ever at work. In late September his boss resigned and Adam was put in charge in the interim. So far, he's been doing two very important jobs at the mill for 6 full weeks...with no end in sight. He works 12-hour days and comes home to work on the computer after the kids go to bed. Too bad he's not getting paid for two jobs! We miss him, but he has still found moments here and there to spend quality time with the kids.
October is mushroom season, and Adam took the kids out three different times to search for chanterelles. We didn't hit the jackpot like last year, but we still found a bunch. Adam and the kids were even able to take Grandpa out to show him the secret spot!
Soren is an excellent mushroom finder. He found these under a log all by himself!
As usual, we had some gorgeous October days. I hosted my ladies bible study a couple of weeks in October, and it's always perfect when the sun is out because the loud children can go outside. Soren looks forward to his sister coming home from school (even though he denies it) so that he has a buddy to play with outside. I recall one afternoon, however, that Synnove played outside while Soren was engrossed in playing with his train set inside. This never happens. Synnove was determined to climb the maple tree higher than her brother can...I think she succeeded...
The kids also spent some good time with Grandpa in October. It's nice to have my parents in Warrenton because my kids like to spend time at their house while I grocery shop. One day, while I was shopping, Grandpa took the kids to the dollar store and then let them carve a couple of pumpkins. They were rotten by Halloween, so (of course) they carved more! Halloween pics to come.
These balloons were a dollar store find. Synnove had fun making her own clown creations!
Monday, September 26, 2011
The Enchanted Forest
From August 31st
It was the week before Labor Day weekend, and we were swamped with things to do. Adam had taken the week off to do some deer hunting (never happened) and to do the large scheduled maintenance project on the Honda. I had endless things going on...I recall some MK, school orientation, canning tuna, getting last minute parts for the Honda, and getting ready for camping. So, it greatly surprised me when Adam announces on Tuesday night that he wants to take the kids to the Enchanted Forest. He wasn't even halfway done with the car, and I was planning to be out camping by Thursday. I really wasn't keen on cramming one more event into our already packed week. But, despite my protest, Adam's stubbornness won (that's the nicest way I can think to describe it...lol!)
I was already set to meet my dad at his house at 9:00 the morning Adam had intended to leave to can tuna, so I convinced Adam to leave a couple of hours later so that I could be a part of the kids' adventure. He was happy to wait. It was just last September when Adam had decided he wanted to take the kids to the Enchanted Forest and we got into a car accident on the way. He wanted to make sure the kids got there before they were too old to appreciate it. I had never been, but Adam really enjoyed it as a kid.
So, at about 11:00 we began our 3-hour trek to Turner, OR in our 1980 Mercedes Benz. The kids, including Adam, thoroughly enjoyed themselves while I played photographer.
Once we got through the whole park, the kids wanted to do it again
It was the week before Labor Day weekend, and we were swamped with things to do. Adam had taken the week off to do some deer hunting (never happened) and to do the large scheduled maintenance project on the Honda. I had endless things going on...I recall some MK, school orientation, canning tuna, getting last minute parts for the Honda, and getting ready for camping. So, it greatly surprised me when Adam announces on Tuesday night that he wants to take the kids to the Enchanted Forest. He wasn't even halfway done with the car, and I was planning to be out camping by Thursday. I really wasn't keen on cramming one more event into our already packed week. But, despite my protest, Adam's stubbornness won (that's the nicest way I can think to describe it...lol!)
I was already set to meet my dad at his house at 9:00 the morning Adam had intended to leave to can tuna, so I convinced Adam to leave a couple of hours later so that I could be a part of the kids' adventure. He was happy to wait. It was just last September when Adam had decided he wanted to take the kids to the Enchanted Forest and we got into a car accident on the way. He wanted to make sure the kids got there before they were too old to appreciate it. I had never been, but Adam really enjoyed it as a kid.
So, at about 11:00 we began our 3-hour trek to Turner, OR in our 1980 Mercedes Benz. The kids, including Adam, thoroughly enjoyed themselves while I played photographer.
Entering the park...
Once we got through the whole park, the kids wanted to do it again
Monday, July 11, 2011
Adam's Week Off
Once in a while it's fun to map out a detailed week-in-the-life....so forgive the length of this post.
When Adam takes time off, there is no rest at the Brown house. There is always places to go, people to see, and LOTS of things to do. Adam had planned to get a good handful of things done during his week off, mainly clean the embarrassingly messy shop. But, after evaluating his long list, he decided to do something else...[insert sarcastic remark here]. He actually worked really REALLY hard all week building a cool loft in the shop. No, building the loft wasn't top priority, but it was something he was excited to tackle. He did a professional job, and I'm quite proud of him. I don't have any pictures yet, but I will.
Adam's little vacation started on Saturday, June 25th. Adam worked in the shop while the kids and I went to a birthday party. Saturday was the beginning of a long trend of late nights. We left at 6PM for the 1.75 hour trek to Vancouver with a truckload of Adam's Mom's stuff that she has been storing at our house for the last 2 years. This needed to be done in order for Adam to start his loft project. Fortunately, the timing was perfect as Steve and my MIL's basement dwellers (Steve's son and wife) had just moved out and Patty had a place to actually put the stuff we were bringing. We made good use of the trip by planning to visit Home Depot just a mile away from their house on our way home. We didn't arrive at Steve and Patty's till 8 and Home Depot closed at 9. Steve and Adam went to Home Depot while Patty, the kids and I visited and played with sidewalk chalk. They got back from Home Depot a little after 9...just in time for us to head to Red Lobster for a late night dinner. The kids held up very well considering! I think we got home around midnight.
Sunday, June 26th was another very big day. Crossroads Church (the Svensen Friend's church) was having a 50-year anniversary celebration service just 2 miles down the road from our house. Adam and I don't attend that church, but I wanted to go to the celebration because my great grandparents (Warren and Ruth Thompson) started the church and eventually helped build the building. My great aunt and uncle (Naomi and Gene Brown *not the same "Browns"*) came up from Eugene for the celebration as well. Naomi brought great grandma's scrapbook from the start of the church and it was fun to look at photos and hear stories. Naomi and Gene were also celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary. They were actually the first couple to be married at the new church building.
FiFi and Weesie...matching eyes
Musta been and good one! (Gene and Naomi in background)
I think, due to technical difficulties, Grandpa didn't get to make his 76th birthday wish...
Synnove's side...
Soren's side...
When Adam takes time off, there is no rest at the Brown house. There is always places to go, people to see, and LOTS of things to do. Adam had planned to get a good handful of things done during his week off, mainly clean the embarrassingly messy shop. But, after evaluating his long list, he decided to do something else...[insert sarcastic remark here]. He actually worked really REALLY hard all week building a cool loft in the shop. No, building the loft wasn't top priority, but it was something he was excited to tackle. He did a professional job, and I'm quite proud of him. I don't have any pictures yet, but I will.
Adam's little vacation started on Saturday, June 25th. Adam worked in the shop while the kids and I went to a birthday party. Saturday was the beginning of a long trend of late nights. We left at 6PM for the 1.75 hour trek to Vancouver with a truckload of Adam's Mom's stuff that she has been storing at our house for the last 2 years. This needed to be done in order for Adam to start his loft project. Fortunately, the timing was perfect as Steve and my MIL's basement dwellers (Steve's son and wife) had just moved out and Patty had a place to actually put the stuff we were bringing. We made good use of the trip by planning to visit Home Depot just a mile away from their house on our way home. We didn't arrive at Steve and Patty's till 8 and Home Depot closed at 9. Steve and Adam went to Home Depot while Patty, the kids and I visited and played with sidewalk chalk. They got back from Home Depot a little after 9...just in time for us to head to Red Lobster for a late night dinner. The kids held up very well considering! I think we got home around midnight.
Sunday, June 26th was another very big day. Crossroads Church (the Svensen Friend's church) was having a 50-year anniversary celebration service just 2 miles down the road from our house. Adam and I don't attend that church, but I wanted to go to the celebration because my great grandparents (Warren and Ruth Thompson) started the church and eventually helped build the building. My great aunt and uncle (Naomi and Gene Brown *not the same "Browns"*) came up from Eugene for the celebration as well. Naomi brought great grandma's scrapbook from the start of the church and it was fun to look at photos and hear stories. Naomi and Gene were also celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary. They were actually the first couple to be married at the new church building.
After the celebration we all headed to Grandma and Grandpa Thompson's house for Grandpa's 76th birthday party for good food, family, and fellowship.
FiFi and Weesie...matching eyes
Musta been and good one! (Gene and Naomi in background)
I think, due to technical difficulties, Grandpa didn't get to make his 76th birthday wish...
On Monday, June 27th, we all spent the day at Uncle Don's cutting and splitting wood. Oh man...it was backbreaking work. My back was already sore from when I tweaked it packing furniture on Saturday. Adam worked ALL day, while I just helped from 11 till 5. It rained off and on all day and we worked later because Synnove's game got cancelled. I left at 5 to go home and shower before heading over to Kara's ("Miss Kara") house for a scrapbooking night. I got home at 1AM.
On Tuesday, June 28th Bible study got cancelled because of the poor weather. During the summer it's difficult doing BS on rainy days because all of our kids are out of school and having the kids play indoors would be insanity! I was glad because I had much to do at home to prep for camping. Adam worked on his loft. By early afternoon I had a pretty bad headache from working so hard the day before. I drugged myself up before being picked up by my mom at about 4:30 to go with Elise to Cornelius to pick up a nursery set she found on Craigslist. First, us three girls packed in Elise's oversized crew cab in Warrenton and drove 1.5 hours to Coastal Farm and Ranch in Cornelius before it closed at 7PM. We are all about efficiency, so it made sense to pick up 22 fence posts for the fence Adam and I will be building soon before picking up Elise's nursery set. After picking up the set, we headed to Walmart to pick up a few camping essentials and pulled into my driveway at roughly 10:30 to drop everything off. The nursery set was poorly painted, so I told Elise I would fix it up and paint it for her.
Wednesday, June 29th was mostly laundry and clean-up for me. The kids were always busy riding their 4-wheelers. In fact they had been riding non-stop since the week before when Synnove finally scored her "home run." Adam continued to work on the loft. At around 11:00 I headed to town to Elise's coffee shop to meet up with My great uncle Jim and his wife Corky. They were road-tripping the western USA visiting family here and there and everywhere. I don't think I left until 2. I had planned to go to the store to do camping shopping, but it was impractical as I didn't have enough time to get everything done before I needed to get back home to pick up my family and go to the movies to see "Cars 2" with my mom, Elise, and Chris. We got out of the movie close to 8PM...just in time to go to Home Depot to pick up more lumber for the loft. We closed the place down and arrived home just before 10. *Sigh*...another late night.
On Thursday, June 30th Adam headed out early to visit his Dad in Beaverton and make another trip to Coastal Farm and Ranch for more fence supplies. I was really dragging my feet. I really needed to head to town to do my camping shopping...but I wasn't feeling too great. My head was still aching and all I wanted to do was plant myself on the couch. The kids were perpetually outside riding 4-wheelers and using their imaginations. One thing I thought was pretty cute is that they made a storefront complete with signs and "inventory." This actually went on for several days and inventory ranged from huckleberries, to flowers, to tortilla chips.
Synnove's side...
Soren's side...
Adam didn't get back home till around 5. That evening I headed to Warrenton to do a MK delivery and finish my camping shopping. I was exhausted and felt pretty miserable. I was at the store for over 2 hours along with every other person doing last-minute 4th of July shopping. While I was there I called Kara to get a yummy dessert salad recipe. She didn't answer so I guessed what was in the salad. I didn't get home till after 9PM and she called me back when I was about 10 minutes from home. I had gotten every ingredient right except for ONE! Worst part was that it needed to be cooked, set overnight, then finished the next day! The store in Svensen closes at 8 and I wasn't about drive 20 minutes to the nearest store. So, I asked Adam to wake up at 8 the next morn to get it and I would try to make it without letting it set overnight. Being the nice husband that he is, he agreed. It ended up working out OK.
Friday, July 1st...CAMP DAY! The day started off without a headache...woo hoo! I hadn't packed a single thing and got busy right away. I thought we would try to leave early, but we found out that the road was being worked on so we wouldn't be able to get our trailer in for a few hours anyway. Adam was happy to stay home and work on the loft. The kids were soooo anxious to leave town and Synnove helped me pack things down to the trailer with her 4-wheeler. Amidst the bustle, I received 3 sales calls. Two were MK calls, while the other had to do with Young Living products. Those calls/consultations/deliveries sucked a good 2.5 hours out of my already busy day...however, I grossed about $250 in sales (WORTH IT!). Then, as if that wasn't enough, received two last minute t-ball calls where I had to contact all the parents with cancellation/game/picture information (I'm the "team mom"). I suppose it was a good thing we got delayed because I don't have cell service where we camp and there might have been a lot of angry uninformed people out there! We didn't get to camp till around 7.
Yes, it was quite a busy week. Adam didn't finish the loft...but he got the bulk of it done. Our busy-ness continued through last week and doesn't show any signs of stopping...
Friday, April 22, 2011
Soren the Artist
Like most kids, my kids (especially Synnove) love to make pictures and cards...hundreds of them! To be honest, it can be exhausting getting all of those papers with a few scribbles. Synnove isn't known to take her time on any drawing, and her coloring often starts out nice and turns to scribbles because she just wants done with it. I try to emphasize that I want them to take their time and make something worthy of the fridge (not in those exact words). Plus, they are expert paper wasters...am I supposed to be happy that I have umpteen clean white sheets of paper with the same one-color stick figure on them?
I suppose Synnove is really the main culprit when it comes to the mountain of papers I have to find places for. After a month of sitting in a pile on the counter, they secretly make their way to the recycling bin. Of course, I save the seemingly extra special ones. You know...the ones that the kids bring to you with thoughtfulness and a big smile on their face?
Soren isn't much of a draw-er or color-er. It's not that he doesn't do well at it, it's just something he doesn't love to do. I very much enjoy getting Soren's papers from Sunday school and preschool. I can really tell that he likes to take his time to get everything right. His serious and methodical nature shines in his artwork. When he started preschool in September, he was still struggling to hold the marker or crayon correctly. In fact, he held it in a way that made it nearly impossible for him to apply enough pressure to make a mark. Though it was difficult, he would take his time to stay in the lines and fill in the white space as well as he could. Watching him would warm my heart...still does. Since then, he's learned how to hold his crayon and has even learned to write his own name.
A few nights ago, the kids were downstairs making cards. Synnove had given Soren one of the blank greeting cards she had earned as a prize at school. When they came upstairs to present their cards, their faces were beaming. Synnove had made a nice card with scenery on it for me, and Soren had made a special one for Adam. Adam waited till we got to the dinner table to open his. And when he did Soren made sure to describe what he drew. He said something close to..."that's YOU dad! Those are the hairs on your tummy, and that's your stinky button!" See below...
We all laughed uncontrollably for several minutes! Soren wanted Adam to take his card to work so that he could show it to his coworkers. But Adam wanted to make sure it made it to the blog first :)
I suppose Synnove is really the main culprit when it comes to the mountain of papers I have to find places for. After a month of sitting in a pile on the counter, they secretly make their way to the recycling bin. Of course, I save the seemingly extra special ones. You know...the ones that the kids bring to you with thoughtfulness and a big smile on their face?
Soren isn't much of a draw-er or color-er. It's not that he doesn't do well at it, it's just something he doesn't love to do. I very much enjoy getting Soren's papers from Sunday school and preschool. I can really tell that he likes to take his time to get everything right. His serious and methodical nature shines in his artwork. When he started preschool in September, he was still struggling to hold the marker or crayon correctly. In fact, he held it in a way that made it nearly impossible for him to apply enough pressure to make a mark. Though it was difficult, he would take his time to stay in the lines and fill in the white space as well as he could. Watching him would warm my heart...still does. Since then, he's learned how to hold his crayon and has even learned to write his own name.
A few nights ago, the kids were downstairs making cards. Synnove had given Soren one of the blank greeting cards she had earned as a prize at school. When they came upstairs to present their cards, their faces were beaming. Synnove had made a nice card with scenery on it for me, and Soren had made a special one for Adam. Adam waited till we got to the dinner table to open his. And when he did Soren made sure to describe what he drew. He said something close to..."that's YOU dad! Those are the hairs on your tummy, and that's your stinky button!" See below...
We all laughed uncontrollably for several minutes! Soren wanted Adam to take his card to work so that he could show it to his coworkers. But Adam wanted to make sure it made it to the blog first :)Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Everyday...
It feels good to be getting back into the old routine after almost two months of sick. I suppose Soren's tummy has been the main focus for the last several weeks. Diet changes, patterns, and daily poop examinations have led me to believe he's having digestion issues. I've been trying some new things with his diet to help him with his digestion, and it seems to be starting to work. I'm saying a lot of prayers and keeping my fingers crossed! Meanwhile, he's been referred to OHSU and I've yet to hear from them about setting up a consultation. Synnove's insecurity has been slowly getting better. I'm so incredibly thankful! We still have a long way to go, but she finally lets me go outside without freaking out. She still opens the door every 30 seconds to check on me though :) Baby steps... Lucy ran off a few weeks ago and was gone for 15 loooong hours. She came back filthy, stinky, anxious, and completely freaked out. We've spent a lot of time with her in the last 2-3 weeks trying to get her back to being her old self. Long story short, we got a goat (more on that later). By the way, Lucy turns ONE tomorrow! And...she's getting spayed on Monday :( Adam has caught himself another bug. I've been praying hard and doing all that I can to boost our immune systems so that we don't get it as well. Poor guy has been on the couch for the better part of 3 days. I don't know that I've ever seen Adam so beat down with sickness. I'm pretty sure he already got the same flu Soren and I got last month...so this is something new. And what about Me? Well, I've been doing the usual laundry, dishes, errands, MAJOR bill paying (March sickness has put us in the poorhouse), Bible study, field trips, etc. Oh, and I learned how to make sock monkeys! I'm not finished with my first one yet, but it's gonna be super cute!
Here's a random picture from a couple of weeks ago. As usual, the kids were goofing off in the bathtub and they started playing with Synnove's hair bands. They were pretending to be nutcrackers...clever :) ***If there are any Blogger friends out there who know a trick on how to ensure your post doesn't get all smooshed together...I'd love to hear it! I'm so tired of these random 1-paragraph posts!***
Here's a random picture from a couple of weeks ago. As usual, the kids were goofing off in the bathtub and they started playing with Synnove's hair bands. They were pretending to be nutcrackers...clever :) ***If there are any Blogger friends out there who know a trick on how to ensure your post doesn't get all smooshed together...I'd love to hear it! I'm so tired of these random 1-paragraph posts!***
Monday, January 31, 2011
I'm Ready for a New Month
January has been full. It's January 31st, and yet it feels like March. Here's why...
I suppose the mayhem started in late December when Synnove contracted Molluscum. Thankfully, Soren had gotten a very mild case over the summer (at the time I had no idea what it was) and when I took him to the dermatologist for his forehead scarring from the accident I asked the Dr. about it. By that time, Soren's immune system had fought it off, but after a brief description, the Dr. knew exactly what it was. I had never heard of it, but learned it was very common. I'll skip the details. ANYway, I started noticing bumps on Synnove in early December, but didn't pay much attention because I knew what it was, and it was mild and harmless. It wasn't until about New Year's Eve that her few bumps exploded to hundreds and hundreds! Plus, they were creeping to her face, hands, and the bottoms of her feet. Frantic, I Googled treatment options. I already knew that there wasn't much for treatment other that cutting them off...but I researched for options. Molluscum is a virus that can attack the body for months to years! I was desperate for find a solution. I found a homeopathic treatment that was kinda spendy, but readily available at Walgreens. That night my mom picked up a bottle for me, and I started treatment right away. It was a long process and had to be done morning and night. Synnove was supposed to go back to school in just a couple of days and I had to get it under control because it's contagious.
In a couple of days, the bumps had slightly faded....enough for me to feel comfortable to send her to school. I told her not to scratch and to wash her hands often. She did. Synnove's case was on the verge of extreme...and the treatment we had was meant to be put on individual bumps without touching other skin, but we had to put it all over her body because the bumps were infinite! I went back to the internet for more answers. I happened upon some product reviews and a specific post where a gal talked about another natural remedy that worked for her son. I when to the natural foods store in town to see if I could find what she was talking about. I found one thing, but not the other. I started with Synnove right away (little sublingual pills called Thuja) and her bumps started vanishing within a few short days. It was miraculous! I was thanking God! Now she only has a few of the larger bumps and we continue to manage them with both medicines.
In the second week of January I started attending TWO Bible studies. One is a study though our church that meets 1/2 a mile up the road, and the other is a woman's study that meets on Tuesdays around lunchtime. I'm so excited to be a part of them! Not only are they a great way to delve deeper into the Bible and into spirituality, but they help me get connected with other Christians in my little community.
I attended the annual MK Seattle Sizzle Conference with Star Consultant perks. I also had the pleasure of cheering on my friend Andrea as she won Queen of Sales, Queen of recruiting, and Queen of Seattle Sizzle! It was the first time in the conference's history that there had ever been a triple queen! She is an incredible inspiration to all, a dear soul, and dear friend. She also earned directorship and her car! Believe-it-or-not, she only signed up 1 1/2 months before me! Mary Kay has been keeping me busy this month...especially with my latest "New Years Trade-In Sale." I actually made quite an impression with my fellow MK ladies with all the stuff I collected from my customers!
I was wrangled in to volunteer for the Knappa Schools Foundation annual auction fundraiser. I've been calling local businesses asking for donations and running all over town picking them all up. It's fantastic fun...ha ha. I finished most of my work last Friday...that's a big load off!
I started attending a new monthly scrapbooking group. I haven't scrapped since I was pregnant with Soren, and I've only scrapped up to Synnove's birth. Saying that I'm behind is a gross understatement.
Synnove turned 6 last week! I hosted TWO parties for her. I made tacos and cupcakes for 40 two weekends ago, and yesterday I had 4 of Synnove's friends over for a "glorified playdate." 5 6-year old girls together is quite the handful! Pics to come...
My Great Grandma Backe died last Thursday. It was just a few posts ago that I wrote about her 100th birthday! And it was only two short weeks ago that she finally asked Jesus to be her Savior. She is proof that it's never too late...what a miracle! The last handful of days have been spent driving back and forth to Warrenton for dinner and family time. It's a blessing, really...but the late nights are taking their toll...especially since everyone in my little family is....
...SICK! Fevers, coughing, stuffy noses, vomit, pinkeye, earaches. We are finally on the mend, but the last 2-3 weeks have been misery. Soren has been the worst as he's been sick for most of January. Adam hasn't had this bad of a cold in as long as I've known him. Synnove, despite her molluscum and a mild case of pinkeye, has been blowing her nose the least. However, she did get the croup the same night Soren was throwing up with a 103 degree fever. I've been keeping the cold at bay for most of the last couple of weeks, but it caught up with me a few days ago. Yeah, it's a bad cold...but not NEARLY as bad as what Soren and Adam have been battling. We have gone through at LEAST 5 boxes of tissue (doesn't include all the toilet paper we've used) to blow our ever-stuffy noses.
Adam left for his annual conference in Georgia yesterday. I'm just praying that we continue to feel better, and life can return to a less-busy normal. We've got Bible study at my house, a funeral, a field trip, and snack duty.
I suppose the mayhem started in late December when Synnove contracted Molluscum. Thankfully, Soren had gotten a very mild case over the summer (at the time I had no idea what it was) and when I took him to the dermatologist for his forehead scarring from the accident I asked the Dr. about it. By that time, Soren's immune system had fought it off, but after a brief description, the Dr. knew exactly what it was. I had never heard of it, but learned it was very common. I'll skip the details. ANYway, I started noticing bumps on Synnove in early December, but didn't pay much attention because I knew what it was, and it was mild and harmless. It wasn't until about New Year's Eve that her few bumps exploded to hundreds and hundreds! Plus, they were creeping to her face, hands, and the bottoms of her feet. Frantic, I Googled treatment options. I already knew that there wasn't much for treatment other that cutting them off...but I researched for options. Molluscum is a virus that can attack the body for months to years! I was desperate for find a solution. I found a homeopathic treatment that was kinda spendy, but readily available at Walgreens. That night my mom picked up a bottle for me, and I started treatment right away. It was a long process and had to be done morning and night. Synnove was supposed to go back to school in just a couple of days and I had to get it under control because it's contagious.
In a couple of days, the bumps had slightly faded....enough for me to feel comfortable to send her to school. I told her not to scratch and to wash her hands often. She did. Synnove's case was on the verge of extreme...and the treatment we had was meant to be put on individual bumps without touching other skin, but we had to put it all over her body because the bumps were infinite! I went back to the internet for more answers. I happened upon some product reviews and a specific post where a gal talked about another natural remedy that worked for her son. I when to the natural foods store in town to see if I could find what she was talking about. I found one thing, but not the other. I started with Synnove right away (little sublingual pills called Thuja) and her bumps started vanishing within a few short days. It was miraculous! I was thanking God! Now she only has a few of the larger bumps and we continue to manage them with both medicines.
In the second week of January I started attending TWO Bible studies. One is a study though our church that meets 1/2 a mile up the road, and the other is a woman's study that meets on Tuesdays around lunchtime. I'm so excited to be a part of them! Not only are they a great way to delve deeper into the Bible and into spirituality, but they help me get connected with other Christians in my little community.
I attended the annual MK Seattle Sizzle Conference with Star Consultant perks. I also had the pleasure of cheering on my friend Andrea as she won Queen of Sales, Queen of recruiting, and Queen of Seattle Sizzle! It was the first time in the conference's history that there had ever been a triple queen! She is an incredible inspiration to all, a dear soul, and dear friend. She also earned directorship and her car! Believe-it-or-not, she only signed up 1 1/2 months before me! Mary Kay has been keeping me busy this month...especially with my latest "New Years Trade-In Sale." I actually made quite an impression with my fellow MK ladies with all the stuff I collected from my customers!
I was wrangled in to volunteer for the Knappa Schools Foundation annual auction fundraiser. I've been calling local businesses asking for donations and running all over town picking them all up. It's fantastic fun...ha ha. I finished most of my work last Friday...that's a big load off!
I started attending a new monthly scrapbooking group. I haven't scrapped since I was pregnant with Soren, and I've only scrapped up to Synnove's birth. Saying that I'm behind is a gross understatement.
Synnove turned 6 last week! I hosted TWO parties for her. I made tacos and cupcakes for 40 two weekends ago, and yesterday I had 4 of Synnove's friends over for a "glorified playdate." 5 6-year old girls together is quite the handful! Pics to come...
My Great Grandma Backe died last Thursday. It was just a few posts ago that I wrote about her 100th birthday! And it was only two short weeks ago that she finally asked Jesus to be her Savior. She is proof that it's never too late...what a miracle! The last handful of days have been spent driving back and forth to Warrenton for dinner and family time. It's a blessing, really...but the late nights are taking their toll...especially since everyone in my little family is....
...SICK! Fevers, coughing, stuffy noses, vomit, pinkeye, earaches. We are finally on the mend, but the last 2-3 weeks have been misery. Soren has been the worst as he's been sick for most of January. Adam hasn't had this bad of a cold in as long as I've known him. Synnove, despite her molluscum and a mild case of pinkeye, has been blowing her nose the least. However, she did get the croup the same night Soren was throwing up with a 103 degree fever. I've been keeping the cold at bay for most of the last couple of weeks, but it caught up with me a few days ago. Yeah, it's a bad cold...but not NEARLY as bad as what Soren and Adam have been battling. We have gone through at LEAST 5 boxes of tissue (doesn't include all the toilet paper we've used) to blow our ever-stuffy noses.
Adam left for his annual conference in Georgia yesterday. I'm just praying that we continue to feel better, and life can return to a less-busy normal. We've got Bible study at my house, a funeral, a field trip, and snack duty.
I love my life!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Milestones of Marriage
I think this week is going by too slowly. Surprisingly, my days haven't been filled to the brim with endless things to do. Correction: there is ALWAYS endless things to do! I suppose there's nothing pressing for me to do...so I've been sitting around...procrastinating. You know that feeling you get when life slows down a bit? Instead of doing the things that you've been meaning to do, you do nothing? Well, that's me this week. Synnove and Soren are out of school. Adam, though he was scheduled to take the entire week off, had to go to work yesterday and today. He will also be gone for most of tomorrow and the next day as well...doing things away from us. It all depresses me a bit.
My dear Adam...he's been so busy. Hunting, trapping, fixing, working, traveling, sleeping. *sigh*...I've been sitting here for the last 15 minutes thinking on what I want to say next. All I can come up with is this: Life is constant compromise. Adam is forever being pulled, and he does the best he can to balance the tugs.
Adam and I both reached 30 this year, and next month we will have been "together" for 11 years. We have established a rhythm...a cycle of give and take. It works for us. But, in the last year, our lives have changed dramatically. Maybe Adam doesn't feel it as much as I do, but it is undeniably different. Both of us have started new adventures. In the last year, Adam has started his own trapping business and has become a "rookie" Honda/Mitsubishi mechanic. And I have successfully established my business, and become the busy mom of a preschooler and kindergartner. As a result, dad, mom, husband, and wife duties have become exponentially more challenging. And, when posed with a choice of who comes first...the answer is always the same: the kids.
Weekends are full. They have been full since last March. We don't get a break. Adam and I tried to go on a date over the summer...lol! It never happened. Last Saturday we had a relatively plan-free day and sleeping in sounded divine. The kids got up at 7:00 and "snuggle time" was completely eliminated...let alone sleeping in. I know that there will come a day when I will miss the kids barging into our room screaming that one is chasing the other and that they need our help to save them. Today is not that day.
The last time Adam and I had some alone time together was the night before we picked up our "new" car in October. We arranged for the kids to stay at my parent's house because we had to get up early the next morning. I remember thinking it would be fun to go out that night, but we were both so pooped that we decided to pick up some groceries and spend the evening at home. We turned in early so that we could get up at 5AM to make the long drive to Salem. Fortunately, we made a fun day of it before rushing home to pick up the kids.
Heh...we take what we can get!
Marriage is a perfectly planned-out journey. If you do it the right way,after you get married, you spend all of your free time together and build a trust. You live together and learn that life can be blissful and challenging. Then, you have kids. You fall in love again and discover the balance between spouse and child. As your kids mature, the marriage should mature. You learn sacrifice, compromise, and the importance of communication. Your lives begin to separate and trials seem endless, but your marriage grows stronger because of the strong foundation you have established. You realize that your spouse is your constant and the love you have for them flourishes into a realm that no other person could fully understand. You grow old...you've found your soul mate...one of the greatest, if not the greatest, gifts you could ever receive.
Quite honestly, I love my life. I love my husband. I love my kids. And though I wish that Adam and I could spend more time together, I know that our relationship continues to grow. We get on each other's nerves, we wish things that aren't possible, we pursue, we pull away, and we doubt. But without those things, the moments of laughter, appreciation, love, and forgiveness wouldn't be as wonderful.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. I Corinthians 13:7
My dear Adam...he's been so busy. Hunting, trapping, fixing, working, traveling, sleeping. *sigh*...I've been sitting here for the last 15 minutes thinking on what I want to say next. All I can come up with is this: Life is constant compromise. Adam is forever being pulled, and he does the best he can to balance the tugs.
Adam and I both reached 30 this year, and next month we will have been "together" for 11 years. We have established a rhythm...a cycle of give and take. It works for us. But, in the last year, our lives have changed dramatically. Maybe Adam doesn't feel it as much as I do, but it is undeniably different. Both of us have started new adventures. In the last year, Adam has started his own trapping business and has become a "rookie" Honda/Mitsubishi mechanic. And I have successfully established my business, and become the busy mom of a preschooler and kindergartner. As a result, dad, mom, husband, and wife duties have become exponentially more challenging. And, when posed with a choice of who comes first...the answer is always the same: the kids.
Weekends are full. They have been full since last March. We don't get a break. Adam and I tried to go on a date over the summer...lol! It never happened. Last Saturday we had a relatively plan-free day and sleeping in sounded divine. The kids got up at 7:00 and "snuggle time" was completely eliminated...let alone sleeping in. I know that there will come a day when I will miss the kids barging into our room screaming that one is chasing the other and that they need our help to save them. Today is not that day.
The last time Adam and I had some alone time together was the night before we picked up our "new" car in October. We arranged for the kids to stay at my parent's house because we had to get up early the next morning. I remember thinking it would be fun to go out that night, but we were both so pooped that we decided to pick up some groceries and spend the evening at home. We turned in early so that we could get up at 5AM to make the long drive to Salem. Fortunately, we made a fun day of it before rushing home to pick up the kids.
Heh...we take what we can get!
Marriage is a perfectly planned-out journey. If you do it the right way,after you get married, you spend all of your free time together and build a trust. You live together and learn that life can be blissful and challenging. Then, you have kids. You fall in love again and discover the balance between spouse and child. As your kids mature, the marriage should mature. You learn sacrifice, compromise, and the importance of communication. Your lives begin to separate and trials seem endless, but your marriage grows stronger because of the strong foundation you have established. You realize that your spouse is your constant and the love you have for them flourishes into a realm that no other person could fully understand. You grow old...you've found your soul mate...one of the greatest, if not the greatest, gifts you could ever receive.
Quite honestly, I love my life. I love my husband. I love my kids. And though I wish that Adam and I could spend more time together, I know that our relationship continues to grow. We get on each other's nerves, we wish things that aren't possible, we pursue, we pull away, and we doubt. But without those things, the moments of laughter, appreciation, love, and forgiveness wouldn't be as wonderful.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. I Corinthians 13:7
Monday, November 8, 2010
Mushroom Picking
From Sunday, October 17th:
It was a beautiful fall day, and we skipped church...one of the reasons being that Synnove was sick with a fever the day before. So, instead of spending a lazy day at home, Adam decided he wanted to take the kids out hunting for chanterelles. Adam and the kids got started mushroom hunting when my Dad took them out last fall. Adam has always been interested in mushrooms, but never found the time to start a new hobby (imagine that). Adam and the kids went out with the kids a few weeks prior and found quite a few, so he wanted to try his luck again.
I had never been, and had a great time on our little treasure hunt. I snapped quite a few pictures and found quite a few species of mushrooms. They are all so interesting and different. Of course, we stuck to what we knew, and only picked the chanterelles. We could have picked for hours, but decided that two bucket-fulls was MORE than enough. Thank goodness they are tasty, because we were drowning in mushrooms for over a week!
Adam let each of the kids have a semi-dull knife to cut their plunder. More mushrooms will grow if you leave part of the stem...and they are easier to clean!
Adam cleaned mushrooms for a looooong time. Below is only 2/3 of a bucket-full and we had TWO buckets! Thankfully, we found lots of takers.
It was a beautiful fall day, and we skipped church...one of the reasons being that Synnove was sick with a fever the day before. So, instead of spending a lazy day at home, Adam decided he wanted to take the kids out hunting for chanterelles. Adam and the kids got started mushroom hunting when my Dad took them out last fall. Adam has always been interested in mushrooms, but never found the time to start a new hobby (imagine that). Adam and the kids went out with the kids a few weeks prior and found quite a few, so he wanted to try his luck again.
I had never been, and had a great time on our little treasure hunt. I snapped quite a few pictures and found quite a few species of mushrooms. They are all so interesting and different. Of course, we stuck to what we knew, and only picked the chanterelles. We could have picked for hours, but decided that two bucket-fulls was MORE than enough. Thank goodness they are tasty, because we were drowning in mushrooms for over a week!
Adam let each of the kids have a semi-dull knife to cut their plunder. More mushrooms will grow if you leave part of the stem...and they are easier to clean!
Adam cleaned mushrooms for a looooong time. Below is only 2/3 of a bucket-full and we had TWO buckets! Thankfully, we found lots of takers.
Friday, October 29, 2010
My 30th Birthday Surprises
As most of you all know, I turned 30 last month...September 17th, to be exact. It was a pretty uneventful birthday filled with yummy chocolate cake, a heap of Facebook greetings, and a whopper of a migraine. I was feeling a bit better by evening, so Adam took the kids into town to pick up some take-out Fultano's Pizza (my request). The kids gave me a camera strap slipcover that I LOVE, and Adam said that his gift to me was on it's way via USPS. As usual, I had told him not to get me anything big, and I was perfectly happy to spend a quiet evening at home with my family. The next day was going to be busy, as I was helping out at Tonya and Chris's wedding! So, really, celebrating my birthday was not number one on my priority list.
Little did I know...Adam had a few surprises in store.
The next week I was looking forward to getting a phone call from my dear friend and former roommate Sarah. I hadn't talked to her in ages (at least a YEAR), and she had just gotten engaged and I wanted to hear all the details. She called. We talked. Then, the subject of getting together came up. For over a year now, my roommates and I have been trying to find a weekend to spend together, and it just hasn't happened. In August we were seriously considering September, and as September started coming to an end, I decided "enough is enough!" Sarah suggested the first weekend in October would be good and I told her I would ask Natalie. Mandy, our non-roommate friend wasn't going to be able to make it because another of our college friends was getting married.
That evening, I got a message from Nattie saying that she could make it. I was stoked!! I was texting both Sarah and Nat at the same time getting all the details worked out. I knew that Adam would be fine with it, but I finally asked..."hey honey, is it OK if I have some friends over for the first weekend in October?" Strangely, he responded..."what friends?" Long, sad story short, Adam had already asked them to come for that weekend for a birthday surprise! I was still VERY surprised and VERY touched that Adam would go to such lengths to make my birthday special. I couldn't believe I had unintentionally ruined it...I mean, really...I talk to Sarah once a year!!
The next weekend (September 25th-26th), we got in our car accident. We didn't go to church that Sunday because...well, we didn't feel up to it. Sunday evening my family showed up with pizza, salad, and cake. I thought they were there to cheer us up from the accident, but instead they were there because Adam had asked them to a few weeks prior. Because my birthday weekend was full of wedding and headache, he wanted to give me a surprise mini-party!
Adam was kinda bummed that my gift hadn't arrived in the mail yet. It actually got sent registered mail and was delivered to the post office. I picked it up the next week. Unfortunately, it was packaged in a bag sent from Great Britain and I could totally guess what it was. I was impressed he remembered the hint I gave him a few months prior! I couldn't wait to open it, as it was still going to be a surprise because I didn't know what design he picked. When he finally came home from work I ripped it open to find he'd picked one I loved! He bought me a Golla DSLR camera bag with a design only available overseas. I love it, love it, LOVE it! Super sturdy, durable, well-made, comfortable, and stylish. It's even got a zipper wallet compartment in the front so I can use it as my purse for travel! Plus, the inside is PINK!
Camera strap cover (an Etsy.com find)
Little did I know...Adam had a few surprises in store.
The next week I was looking forward to getting a phone call from my dear friend and former roommate Sarah. I hadn't talked to her in ages (at least a YEAR), and she had just gotten engaged and I wanted to hear all the details. She called. We talked. Then, the subject of getting together came up. For over a year now, my roommates and I have been trying to find a weekend to spend together, and it just hasn't happened. In August we were seriously considering September, and as September started coming to an end, I decided "enough is enough!" Sarah suggested the first weekend in October would be good and I told her I would ask Natalie. Mandy, our non-roommate friend wasn't going to be able to make it because another of our college friends was getting married.
That evening, I got a message from Nattie saying that she could make it. I was stoked!! I was texting both Sarah and Nat at the same time getting all the details worked out. I knew that Adam would be fine with it, but I finally asked..."hey honey, is it OK if I have some friends over for the first weekend in October?" Strangely, he responded..."what friends?" Long, sad story short, Adam had already asked them to come for that weekend for a birthday surprise! I was still VERY surprised and VERY touched that Adam would go to such lengths to make my birthday special. I couldn't believe I had unintentionally ruined it...I mean, really...I talk to Sarah once a year!!
The next weekend (September 25th-26th), we got in our car accident. We didn't go to church that Sunday because...well, we didn't feel up to it. Sunday evening my family showed up with pizza, salad, and cake. I thought they were there to cheer us up from the accident, but instead they were there because Adam had asked them to a few weeks prior. Because my birthday weekend was full of wedding and headache, he wanted to give me a surprise mini-party!
Adam was kinda bummed that my gift hadn't arrived in the mail yet. It actually got sent registered mail and was delivered to the post office. I picked it up the next week. Unfortunately, it was packaged in a bag sent from Great Britain and I could totally guess what it was. I was impressed he remembered the hint I gave him a few months prior! I couldn't wait to open it, as it was still going to be a surprise because I didn't know what design he picked. When he finally came home from work I ripped it open to find he'd picked one I loved! He bought me a Golla DSLR camera bag with a design only available overseas. I love it, love it, LOVE it! Super sturdy, durable, well-made, comfortable, and stylish. It's even got a zipper wallet compartment in the front so I can use it as my purse for travel! Plus, the inside is PINK!
Later that week we all got a bad cold. Mom had wanted to take me shopping for some new jeans for my birthday and we were having a hard time finding a day to do it. That Friday, though I was feeling miserable, was the only day that seemed to work. So, when Mom got off work, we packed up the kids and headed to Tanasbourne. We actually had a really nice time. Surprisingly enough, I found some pants that fit (among other things)! We ate at the Macaroni Grill and headed home late. Funny story...we got "accidentally" pulled over on the way home by the same cop that handled our car accident the weekend prior. I think he was a little embarrassed that he pulled over the wrong car. Still, the flashing blue and red was enough to get us worked up for the rest of the ride home.
The next day my roomies were coming! Adam had to go out of town to take care of some things, so the kids and I were left without a vehicle. We had the Montero, but because we forfeited Soren's car seat in the accident we couldn't take the kids (the boosters don't work in the Montero). Sarah and Nattie arrived around noon and the kids were in our faces for the rest of the day. They love guests and always want to be the center of attention...so, they were. I was bummed that Adam didn't come home earlier...and we didn't get to leave the house to have dinner till almost 7:00. Because it was late, the girls and I opted to not take the long drive into town, and instead have dinner at "The Logger." They found it quaint, to say the least...not to mention, it was homecoming night and all the kids were gussied up for a nice dinner at, none other than..."The Logger!" *sigh* The girls now want to make it a tradition...lol!
Me, Nattie, Sarah
We arrived back home to find an empty house. Part of the birthday surprise that I didn't know about was that Adam planned to take the kids and spend the night at my parents house. It was nice to stay up late and not have to worry about waking the kids with our laughter. We had a blast! Truly...it was just like old times.
In conclusion, my 30th birthday was flat-out awesome! Thanks to everyone, especially my sweetheart, for making this milestone a celebration to remember fondly.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Blog Post #200: The Last Week of Summer
I know it's a cliche, but time has flown by. Two years ago, when I started blogging, I didn't really think I would stick to it...but here I am. And, for some reason, people actually read what I write! Folks, these days, are fascinated by reality...whether it be extraordinary or mundane. I don't see my family as either, but somewhere in between. Still, you all keep reading...and I'll keep writing, regardless.
If I haven't mentioned it before, I'll say it again: This has been the busiest summer of my life. Much of it has been spent in the car traveling back and forth to town. That's one of the major downsides of living in the sticks. Even if I've got a quick errand to run, it turns into an all-day event. I've got to make the trip worth-while...right? Thankfully, I've got my reliable fuel efficient money saver to keep me on the go. Well...less than a month ago, that little car of mine broke down. Fortunately, it happened in a place where I could pull over and Aunt Alice was able to pick up the kids and I within a short 10 minutes of parking. Adam towed it home the next day and fixed it. I wish that was the end of the story.
The week before Labor Day weekend, Adam took the week off of work. He had some parts coming in the mail to fix the exhaust on his Montero. That project, along with the kick-off of hunting season, was going to keep him busy for most of the week. It was Monday afternoon, and I was just getting back from an overnight bachelorette party for Tonya. I can't remember, but I think I got home in time for Adam to take a trip to the auto parts store. I went up to the house to visit Lucy (we had had her for only 5 days) and found that the water to the hose was turned off. Then Adam came up behind me and informed me that the water was turned off completely. There were some guys doing some work on the waterline up the road and we just assumed it was an emergency shut-off. I was kinda miffed as it was a warm day and we hadn't received a call from the water company.
That night we were going to my parent's house for dinner...they were having an experimental moose roast. Monday also happened to be the day before my mom's 50th, so we celebrated with gifts. ANYway, before getting in the car at about 6:00, I decided I should call the water company to see what was up. Adam was dirty and sweaty and needed a shower, and I wanted to make sure I didn't need to bring some shower items to take to my mom and dad's to take a shower as well. I couldn't believe that the water was off all day and we hadn't gotten a call. The water company was closed and there was no emergency phone message. After some last-minute finagling with the water-main and a few trips up an down our driveway, we decided to go up the road to ask the guys still working on the waterline. On our way, the car started to make a rattling sound. We asked the water guys what was up. Turns out it was a planned water shut-off and we were not informed. UNbelievable. Anyway, they were actually turning the water back on as we drove back down to our house, and the car started rattling with a small vengeance. We parked it, popped the hood, and Adam discovered that what he fixed before was now broken again. It's been jacked up in the garage ever since. I was thankful, however, that we were able to make it up our driveway and we didn't need to town it home again. We can thank the stupid water company for that!
Having two out of our three vehicles out of service made for an interesting week. Either I or Adam had something going on every day that needed a vehicle. Plus, we were supposed to be going camping on Thursday. Adam and I were both on edge and getting very frustrated with each other over everything. Quite honestly, it was a terrible week...not a great way to spend a week off of work. On Tuesday, after Adam's morning hunt, the truck (either I or Adam driving) went back and forth from town to home 3 times for three different things...there was no way around it. That night I had my MK meeting (Tracy picked me up) and Adam needed to get a part welded at Don's. The kids ended up eating at the Logger Restaurant at 8:30 that night! They were so hungry that Adam let the kids eat pie before their actual food came. On Wednesday Adam tried to fix the car...and was unsuccessful. That night we drove the fam into Warrenton to attend an open house for Henry (my little bro) and his baby...the Warrenton High School Fish Hatchery. Henry has been getting some attention from news wires around the state for the new water filtration system he and his team developed. It's impressive! I have pictures on my camera upstairs...ha ha! After getting back home that night, I put the kids to bed while Adam worked till 2:30 AM to fix the exhaust on his Montero so that we could bring it camping the next day.
I'm pretty sure we slept in on Thursday, but I could be wrong. There was lots to do to get ready for camping...including a trip to Warrenton for groceries. At around noon, Adam took Lucy into town for her shots while I went to the store. The vet was closed for lunch, so I met Lucy and Adam at Elise's shop for a sandwich. *Sigh*...After all our packing and running around was done, we headed to Naselle and arrived just before it was too dark to set up camp.
Since getting home, the up-and-running '89 Montero has been the family sedan. We drive the truck as little as possible to save on gas. Our trouble with vehicles lately has put me over the edge. The Civic has given us a large handful of trouble this spring/summer (not just it's current problem). No, none of the problems have been huge, and all have been fixable...but it's getting tiresome. It's fortunate that Adam has been able to fix most of the problems on our "vintage" Honda, but time is precious, and Adam doesn't have much of it. I'm hoping for a vehicle maintenance-free fall, because, quite frankly, our cars have stolen our summer.
If I haven't mentioned it before, I'll say it again: This has been the busiest summer of my life. Much of it has been spent in the car traveling back and forth to town. That's one of the major downsides of living in the sticks. Even if I've got a quick errand to run, it turns into an all-day event. I've got to make the trip worth-while...right? Thankfully, I've got my reliable fuel efficient money saver to keep me on the go. Well...less than a month ago, that little car of mine broke down. Fortunately, it happened in a place where I could pull over and Aunt Alice was able to pick up the kids and I within a short 10 minutes of parking. Adam towed it home the next day and fixed it. I wish that was the end of the story.
The week before Labor Day weekend, Adam took the week off of work. He had some parts coming in the mail to fix the exhaust on his Montero. That project, along with the kick-off of hunting season, was going to keep him busy for most of the week. It was Monday afternoon, and I was just getting back from an overnight bachelorette party for Tonya. I can't remember, but I think I got home in time for Adam to take a trip to the auto parts store. I went up to the house to visit Lucy (we had had her for only 5 days) and found that the water to the hose was turned off. Then Adam came up behind me and informed me that the water was turned off completely. There were some guys doing some work on the waterline up the road and we just assumed it was an emergency shut-off. I was kinda miffed as it was a warm day and we hadn't received a call from the water company.
That night we were going to my parent's house for dinner...they were having an experimental moose roast. Monday also happened to be the day before my mom's 50th, so we celebrated with gifts. ANYway, before getting in the car at about 6:00, I decided I should call the water company to see what was up. Adam was dirty and sweaty and needed a shower, and I wanted to make sure I didn't need to bring some shower items to take to my mom and dad's to take a shower as well. I couldn't believe that the water was off all day and we hadn't gotten a call. The water company was closed and there was no emergency phone message. After some last-minute finagling with the water-main and a few trips up an down our driveway, we decided to go up the road to ask the guys still working on the waterline. On our way, the car started to make a rattling sound. We asked the water guys what was up. Turns out it was a planned water shut-off and we were not informed. UNbelievable. Anyway, they were actually turning the water back on as we drove back down to our house, and the car started rattling with a small vengeance. We parked it, popped the hood, and Adam discovered that what he fixed before was now broken again. It's been jacked up in the garage ever since. I was thankful, however, that we were able to make it up our driveway and we didn't need to town it home again. We can thank the stupid water company for that!
Having two out of our three vehicles out of service made for an interesting week. Either I or Adam had something going on every day that needed a vehicle. Plus, we were supposed to be going camping on Thursday. Adam and I were both on edge and getting very frustrated with each other over everything. Quite honestly, it was a terrible week...not a great way to spend a week off of work. On Tuesday, after Adam's morning hunt, the truck (either I or Adam driving) went back and forth from town to home 3 times for three different things...there was no way around it. That night I had my MK meeting (Tracy picked me up) and Adam needed to get a part welded at Don's. The kids ended up eating at the Logger Restaurant at 8:30 that night! They were so hungry that Adam let the kids eat pie before their actual food came. On Wednesday Adam tried to fix the car...and was unsuccessful. That night we drove the fam into Warrenton to attend an open house for Henry (my little bro) and his baby...the Warrenton High School Fish Hatchery. Henry has been getting some attention from news wires around the state for the new water filtration system he and his team developed. It's impressive! I have pictures on my camera upstairs...ha ha! After getting back home that night, I put the kids to bed while Adam worked till 2:30 AM to fix the exhaust on his Montero so that we could bring it camping the next day.
I'm pretty sure we slept in on Thursday, but I could be wrong. There was lots to do to get ready for camping...including a trip to Warrenton for groceries. At around noon, Adam took Lucy into town for her shots while I went to the store. The vet was closed for lunch, so I met Lucy and Adam at Elise's shop for a sandwich. *Sigh*...After all our packing and running around was done, we headed to Naselle and arrived just before it was too dark to set up camp.
Since getting home, the up-and-running '89 Montero has been the family sedan. We drive the truck as little as possible to save on gas. Our trouble with vehicles lately has put me over the edge. The Civic has given us a large handful of trouble this spring/summer (not just it's current problem). No, none of the problems have been huge, and all have been fixable...but it's getting tiresome. It's fortunate that Adam has been able to fix most of the problems on our "vintage" Honda, but time is precious, and Adam doesn't have much of it. I'm hoping for a vehicle maintenance-free fall, because, quite frankly, our cars have stolen our summer.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Readers Beware: Graphic Images
I wasn't going to blog about this, but the story is almost too unbelievable not to share. While my in-laws were visiting, in the wee hours of the morning, Adam woke to some "sounds" outside. He woke me up and told me he thought something was in the live trap he had set in the garage. We have a pesky raccoon who loves Charlie's food and have been trying to catch him for the last few weeks. I questioned how he would actually hear an animal trapped clear in the garage...but when it comes to animals, Adam has a pretty keen ear...even in a dead sleep. Anyway, he ran outside, only to return seconds later to retrieve a flashlight. I didn't know why he would need a flashlight in the garage...but whatever. Seconds after he went back outside, I heard a little squeal/scream. Adam then came rushing back in the door yelling profanities under his breath. He darted to the basement to retrieve the appropriate gun and came upstairs to load it. He then informed me that a mink was INSIDE Bunny-Him's cage trying to eat him! I couldn't believe it! I thought that maybe the kids had left his cage open...but no, the pesky varmint had literally "weaseled" it's way into the cage by half-way pulling out the food trough (not an easy task). And, for those who don't know, our bunny cages are at least 4 feet up off the ground.
Mink are aggressive little carnivores, and, when hungry will even attack small dogs. There was no way Adam was going to stick his hand in that cage, and our bunny was running out of time. Once the mink was taken care of, I went out to assess the damage. Both Adam and I questioned whether or not Bunny-Him was unharmed enough to be spared. I was surprise he hadn't died of shock! This was the second time Bunny-Him had been attacked. Last time, his cage had been torn down and rolled down the field by a couple of dogs. The dogs never managed to open the cage, but the poor bunny endured quite a scare.
His poor little face :(
Mink are aggressive little carnivores, and, when hungry will even attack small dogs. There was no way Adam was going to stick his hand in that cage, and our bunny was running out of time. Once the mink was taken care of, I went out to assess the damage. Both Adam and I questioned whether or not Bunny-Him was unharmed enough to be spared. I was surprise he hadn't died of shock! This was the second time Bunny-Him had been attacked. Last time, his cage had been torn down and rolled down the field by a couple of dogs. The dogs never managed to open the cage, but the poor bunny endured quite a scare.
Bunny-Him's face was quite bloody. I tried to take a picture, but he was having a hard time holding still. Because he's a lop and has a flat face, his nose is quite a bit lower than other bunnies, therefore his nose was still in tact. However, he was having some trouble breathing freely. Upon further investigation, we discovered that half of his right ear was missing! Poor little guy was in bad shape. We decided to wait till morning to reassess.
Bunny-Him's ear...
His poor little face :(
The next morning, I discretely went outside to check on him. I didn't want the kids to see him yet, so I was careful not to say anything. I took some celery with me, as I decided he would rather eat something fresh...and I wanted to see if he would eat it at all. I stuck my hand in the cage, and he reacted in his usual fashion. I gave him the celery, and he started in before I could put it down. I was happy, but still unsure. His breathing was still labored and his eye was starting to swell.
The next day, we took Aunt Alice's advice to apply some antibiotic cream. I was hesitant to do so as the wounds were starting to scab up and I didn't want the bunny to try to wipe the ointment off and aggravate his wounds. That was a few days ago, and he seems to be improving. Today is a hot day, and I'm still very concerned about his breathing. I don't know if his nose is actually damaged, or if it's just overly swollen. In hot weather, bunnies almost pant like dogs...but through their noses. So, Bunny-Him is going to have a rough day. I hope he heals.
After some research, Adam learned of the mink's particular breed, and that it was not native to Oregon. In fact, it was one of the many mink released by animal activists several months ago at a farm in Svensen. Check out this activist blog link regarding the story.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Friends and Bees
Last week my friend Margo was in town. She doesn't come into town very often...so I get to see her about once a year. Fortunately, she was able to get together on Monday (my ONLY free day!). Synnove, who remembers her girls, Abby and Norah, was excited to have visitors. And thank goodness Soren is well-adjusted to being the only boy, because that situation seems to happen often.
As usual, Margo and I chatted while the kids played. We had few meltdowns, and only a smidge of whine (pretty good if you ask me). Abby, Margo's oldest, is quite the "pretender" and got the kids together to create a party with snacks and games for Margo and I. We played "toss the plum" and "find the plum" and had a mini scavenger hunt.
Toeheads =)
As usual, Margo and I chatted while the kids played. We had few meltdowns, and only a smidge of whine (pretty good if you ask me). Abby, Margo's oldest, is quite the "pretender" and got the kids together to create a party with snacks and games for Margo and I. We played "toss the plum" and "find the plum" and had a mini scavenger hunt.
Self-portrait
Toeheads =)Later that day, Adam planned on spraying the massive yellow-jacket hive above our garage. We only discovered it a couple of weeks ago and were shocked at the size!! I wish I would have had my camera out when Adam went on the roof to spray it. Adam didn't want to get stung so he put on a white "Hazmat-type" suit (something he inherited from his old job), two pairs of gloves, and a motorcycle helmet with a full face cover. OH MY GOODNESS it was HILARIOUS! He looked like an under-puffed astronaut. He didn't kill all the bees with the 2 cans of spray so he's gonna have to go up there again. Maybe I'll get a picture next time!!??
Thursday, July 29, 2010
While Mom's Away...
While I was at Creation, Adam stayed home and played with the kids. He had planned a handful of things, including camping out in the field, and going on some hikes. On Friday they went and got some rocks for the house (landscaping? wall-building?) and discovered a field of foxgloves.
That night they pitched the tent in the field and Adam built a little coffee can cook stove for the kids to heat hot chocolate and roast marshmallows. They were so excited to sleep with Daddy outside...and Charlie. They left the waterproof top off the tent so they could sleep under the stars (sort of).
Soren as he woke up the next morning...drool and all...
That day they did chores around the house, went on another hike (I think) and then headed to the beach in Warrenton after a much needed nap. That night the kids begged Adam to sleep in the tent another night, but he was so tired from the night before that they ended up in the house.
The next morning they headed to church and I made it home 15 minutes after they got back. They were full of fun stories to tell me. I hope one day they realize what a rare and wonderful daddy they have.
On the way back, they stopped at Hunt's Market to pick up some necessary items for dinner. I was so busy last week that I didn't have time to go to the grocery store and left Adam with an empty fridge.
That night they pitched the tent in the field and Adam built a little coffee can cook stove for the kids to heat hot chocolate and roast marshmallows. They were so excited to sleep with Daddy outside...and Charlie. They left the waterproof top off the tent so they could sleep under the stars (sort of).
Soren as he woke up the next morning...drool and all...
That day they did chores around the house, went on another hike (I think) and then headed to the beach in Warrenton after a much needed nap. That night the kids begged Adam to sleep in the tent another night, but he was so tired from the night before that they ended up in the house.
The next morning they headed to church and I made it home 15 minutes after they got back. They were full of fun stories to tell me. I hope one day they realize what a rare and wonderful daddy they have.Monday, March 15, 2010
Surprise! Adam's 30!
Adam's thirtieth birthday had been on my mind for quite some time. I wanted to do something special, but I was having a hard time finding the time to plan anything. So, at the last minute, I decided to throw a small surprise party with just close family and friends. Fortunately, most everyone was going to be able to come! I spent all of last week planning, cleaning the house, and avoiding spilling the beans to Synnove (she just can't keep a secret). I actually had a very close call when I mentioned the party to some customers during one of my MK deliveries. Synnove got so excited and asked about the party. With some last minute clever thinking, I managed to avoid disaster and Synnove remained somewhat clueless. Phew!
Anyway, the plan was for everyone to be at my house before 1:00...just in time for Adam and I to get home from church. Murphy's Law kicked in at the last minute, and church didn't end until 1:00! I was already cranky with a throbbing headache, and to make matters worse, Adam told the kids that we could go see the elk after church. Ugh...I wanted to scream..."can't we just go home!!!" Adam even wanted to go to my parents' house after church to pick something up! Thankfully, he seemed OK with my emphatic "no, I'll pick it up tomorrow" response. I avoided every urge of frustration and just played it cool. I knew he might want to go out to eat after church, so I made up a fake plan the night before to go out on a birthday date that afternoon while Heidi watched the kids. I even pretended to look up movie times on my phone on the way home from church...when, actually, I was texting my family to start up the BBQ.
I was so happy to see that Adam was truly surprised when we pulled up the driveway. We ate burgers, visited, and watched Adam open some awesome gifts. Afterwards, we lit up 30 candles on the cake (homemade by Jeb!) and sang rather quickly as the wax oozed onto the frosting.
We finally got to meet Chris's darling girlfriend, Lindsey! Jeb and Chris are two of Adam's closest friends, and I was so happy they made the effort to come out!
Soren felt the need to help daddy with his gifts.
There were so many candles...small coals flew onto my shirt as he blew them out!
I didn't know how I was going to get a cake to the party seeing as I was going to be gone for the wedding for most of the weekend. I had arranged all the food...but I hadn't figured out the cake until Jeb offered to bring it! Hooray! My problems were solved and everything was arranged. It was a great surprise.
Anyway, the plan was for everyone to be at my house before 1:00...just in time for Adam and I to get home from church. Murphy's Law kicked in at the last minute, and church didn't end until 1:00! I was already cranky with a throbbing headache, and to make matters worse, Adam told the kids that we could go see the elk after church. Ugh...I wanted to scream..."can't we just go home!!!" Adam even wanted to go to my parents' house after church to pick something up! Thankfully, he seemed OK with my emphatic "no, I'll pick it up tomorrow" response. I avoided every urge of frustration and just played it cool. I knew he might want to go out to eat after church, so I made up a fake plan the night before to go out on a birthday date that afternoon while Heidi watched the kids. I even pretended to look up movie times on my phone on the way home from church...when, actually, I was texting my family to start up the BBQ.
I was so happy to see that Adam was truly surprised when we pulled up the driveway. We ate burgers, visited, and watched Adam open some awesome gifts. Afterwards, we lit up 30 candles on the cake (homemade by Jeb!) and sang rather quickly as the wax oozed onto the frosting.
Always gotta have the kid photo-op
We finally got to meet Chris's darling girlfriend, Lindsey! Jeb and Chris are two of Adam's closest friends, and I was so happy they made the effort to come out!
Soren felt the need to help daddy with his gifts.
There were so many candles...small coals flew onto my shirt as he blew them out!
I didn't know how I was going to get a cake to the party seeing as I was going to be gone for the wedding for most of the weekend. I had arranged all the food...but I hadn't figured out the cake until Jeb offered to bring it! Hooray! My problems were solved and everything was arranged. It was a great surprise.
Friday, October 23, 2009
10 Years Ago Today...
...I met my husband. It was not love at first sight, but I suppose it was love at fist "day"...if there is such a thing. I was invited by a friend who lived on my floor to go down to OSU for a football game. I had never been, so I thought it would be fun. I had a few friends down there and one of my roommates was planning to go down that same weekend. Anyway, a friend of Kristin's (the girl who asked me to go) was planning to pick us up early that Saturday morning since neither of us had a car. When we arrived, and finally walked into his (Brad's) dorm, life was only just beginning to stir. I was on guard, as I knew there would be many guys lurking about waiting for fresh meat to prey on...or at least that's what I was thinking.
We hopped on the elevator and were greeted by a grungy looking OSUer sporting an Eric Cartman t-shirt, pajama pants, glasses, and a vacuum. He tried talking with us, but I just gave him the eye. When we reached the 5th floor of Cauthorn Hall, I held my breath, for the stench of beer and vomit lingered in the air. To make matters worse, the grungy vacuum cleaner guy followed us all the way into the same room. I guess Brad and him were roommates. I vaguely remember a conversation about why he brought the vacuum...I may have thought he was the floor janitor. Anyway, he said that he had heard that "ladies" were visiting and so he thought he would make the room more presentable. Right then and there, grungy Eric Cartman guy scored quite a few points with me!
The happenings of the day are kinda fuzzy. I recall visiting Panda Express and playing a handful of games of Mario Cart. When game time came around, we started to head out. By this time, I had finally learned vacuum guy's name, Adam, and we were expecting him to come with us. But, to my surprise, he decided to skip the festivities to go study! Who studies on a Saturday night...at OSU??? Anyway, we go to the game and come back late. By that time, Adam had returned and we hung out in their dorm for a while. Adam and I talked, while Kristin and Brad flirted. It was unclear, but I thought Adam had a girlfriend. It was a disappointing thought, but I couldn't help thinking that this guy could be the one for me. I kid you not...I was more taken with this grungy Eric Cartman t-shirt vacuum guy than any other guy I have ever come in contact with. In just our short little conversation I learned how much we had in common, and how much I really wanted to get to know him more.
The next morning, I learned that Adam went to church. And, the points just keep piling up!! He came back in time to say goodbye before we left...and brought his girlfriend. She was thin, pretty, smart. And she made sure to let me know that Adam was "hers." I left feeling a bit bummed, but hopeful...especially since he took the time to escort us all out of the dorm and say goodbye. He even gave me a "look."
The rest, as they say, is history...good, bad, and even some ugly. However, I wouldn't trade a single moment. I love you Adam...happy 10th sort-of-anniversary!
Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!
We hopped on the elevator and were greeted by a grungy looking OSUer sporting an Eric Cartman t-shirt, pajama pants, glasses, and a vacuum. He tried talking with us, but I just gave him the eye. When we reached the 5th floor of Cauthorn Hall, I held my breath, for the stench of beer and vomit lingered in the air. To make matters worse, the grungy vacuum cleaner guy followed us all the way into the same room. I guess Brad and him were roommates. I vaguely remember a conversation about why he brought the vacuum...I may have thought he was the floor janitor. Anyway, he said that he had heard that "ladies" were visiting and so he thought he would make the room more presentable. Right then and there, grungy Eric Cartman guy scored quite a few points with me!
The happenings of the day are kinda fuzzy. I recall visiting Panda Express and playing a handful of games of Mario Cart. When game time came around, we started to head out. By this time, I had finally learned vacuum guy's name, Adam, and we were expecting him to come with us. But, to my surprise, he decided to skip the festivities to go study! Who studies on a Saturday night...at OSU??? Anyway, we go to the game and come back late. By that time, Adam had returned and we hung out in their dorm for a while. Adam and I talked, while Kristin and Brad flirted. It was unclear, but I thought Adam had a girlfriend. It was a disappointing thought, but I couldn't help thinking that this guy could be the one for me. I kid you not...I was more taken with this grungy Eric Cartman t-shirt vacuum guy than any other guy I have ever come in contact with. In just our short little conversation I learned how much we had in common, and how much I really wanted to get to know him more.
The next morning, I learned that Adam went to church. And, the points just keep piling up!! He came back in time to say goodbye before we left...and brought his girlfriend. She was thin, pretty, smart. And she made sure to let me know that Adam was "hers." I left feeling a bit bummed, but hopeful...especially since he took the time to escort us all out of the dorm and say goodbye. He even gave me a "look."
The rest, as they say, is history...good, bad, and even some ugly. However, I wouldn't trade a single moment. I love you Adam...happy 10th sort-of-anniversary!
Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
A Post to Satisfy My Mother
I know, I know...the lack of blog posts in the last couple of weeks has been disappointing. I wish I had something fun to share, but really, life has been pretty hum drum. No doubt, we've been keeping ourselves busy...so here's what we've been doing lately:
1.) Caulk. The rain was inevitably coming, so I had to kick it into high-gear and caulk our cracked siding. The garage side of the house sees the most weather, thankfully, and as a result, the garage siding (in places) has begun to rot. So, I suppose I caulked it back to life. Then, I primed it back to life. And one day when the rain stops, I'll paint it back to life.
2.) Adam repaired our deck door. Last winter, we discovered rain seeping it's way downstairs through a window. After some investigation, we found that the deck door was rotten in the corner and leaking into the basement. Hopefully, it's truly fixed. Oh, and I also did a good amount of caulking on the deck side of the house as well.
3.) I joined the preschool board. Nothing special, but I see it as a way to get involved with the community and meet people. Last Friday I baked cookies, baked a whole oven-full of potatoes, and volunteered at the preschool's annual "Salmon Corn Dinner." Home-grown corn and freshly caught BBQ'd cedar plank salmon...YUM-MY!
4.) Watched "The Proposal" with my Mom and her friends at the Columbian. I hadn't been there since junior high because of the scary owner/manager. It's been re-vamped as a somewhat run-down McMenamin's type theater for several years now. It was quite fun! Afterwards we had appetizers at Pier 11 Steakhouse (again, another place I hadn't been to since HS for their less than awesome food). The place is under new management and the food was delish!
5.) Adam left for Atlanta on Sunday for work. He won't be returning till this Saturday. Sad.
6.) Visited Faith. The Hollett family moved into downtown Vancouver over a month ago, and I was dying to see their new place. Adam had already been there with the kids on the day that I was doing the Shanghaied in Astoria "Fun Run" on the Astoria Riverwalk in support of my sister's coffee shop. It's a little coffee shop competition...I'll spare you the details. ANYway, Faith's place is adorable. It's probably somewhere around 100 years old and quite charming. The kids played (rather loudly), Faith and I visited, and she foiled my hair (again). All around, a good time.
7.) Auntie Weesie spent the night! Elise's husband is working nights this week for his boat operator's job, so she was free to hang out with us. We talked, watched 1/2 a movie, and turned in early. Elise and I don't spend enough time together, and it was nice not to have to spend another night alone.
8., 9., & 10.) Paint. Paint. Paint.
**I got halfway done with painting the bunny shelter.
**I painted Synnove's closet in preparation for her new floor. Originally, we left her closet paint-free because it was cedar. However, because we took her closet doors off (didn't work properly) and put up sheer white curtains, her closet is exposed. Having painted plank walls, a non-painted plank closet, and plank floors would just be distracting. Ugly. So, I fixed the problem.
**After MUCH delay, I finally finished Soren's dresser. Painting it was easy. It wasn't until I tried to replace the hardware that it got difficult. I thought I had checked the hole placement for the screws. I didn't. After it was painted AND lacquered, I realized I needed to drill new holes and patch the old ones. What a disaster. I finished it yesterday and achieved the look I was hoping for. Here's a pic of Soren's freshly painted dresser and a pic of the inspiration dresser at Pottery Barn Kids...
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Synnove and Soren go "Hunting"
Adam is always thinking up fun things for the kids to do outdoors. Even though he has TONS to do around the house, he takes the time to relax with the kids. They really enjoy their little adventures, and I enjoy a few moments of peace. On the day after we got home from camping, Adam took the kids "hunting" for whatever animals they could find. He had gone woodcutting that morning and stopped at the store on the way home to purchase a couple of play cap-rifles and some spice drops. Apparently, spice drops are a necessary hunting treat. As soon as the kids were up from nap, they were off to the woods. They hiked up some nearby mountain to a place where they could see the river. Adam said it was quite a hike for the kids, but they never once asked to be carried. Adam got some great pictures of the kids, below are just a few. By the way, they only saw a chipmunk :)
Shooting their guns
There is more than one pic of Synnove looking like this...ha ha! (See view!)
Stopping for a snack...
Hams
Friday, August 28, 2009
Chicken Run is DONE!
So, last year Adam built an awesome chicken coop, but the chickens are most happy roaming the yard digging holes in the flower beds and pooping all over the driveway. Adam decided to finally remedy that problem by building them a run. Fortunately, he was able to acquire some used materials at a very very good price and the building began sometime in July. Adam built the entire thing entirely by himself...I did absolutely nothing. He even lifted all those heavy poles all. by. him. self. ! I'm so proud of him, he did a wonderful job!
Adam finished it last weekend. The entire area is enclosed in either nylon net or cyclone fence all sewn together with wire. To me, it looks like an exhibit at the zoo!
In the beginning stages...
The horizontal beams, some cable, wire, and other hardware were the only thing we had to purchase retail. Everything else was recycled materials purchased from the Warrenton High School Fish Farm (old pheasant cages). Thanks Henry!
Adam finished it last weekend. The entire area is enclosed in either nylon net or cyclone fence all sewn together with wire. To me, it looks like an exhibit at the zoo!
I think Adam was pretty proud of his chicken guillotine (door). The door is attached to a pulley and can be opened or closed from the outside of the coop. The chickens found their way out in no time. 
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