Changes N Fun Stuff

Learning to Dance?!
Yes, it’s the Miley Cyrus Hoedown Throwdown how-to video the kids watch while learning the Hoedown Throwdown!

Pop it, lock it, polka dot it
Country fivin', hip hop hip
Put your arms in the sky, move side to side
Jump to the left, stick it, glide

Saturday Market with Rachelle
and Connie.

Jo LOVES to paint her face and look beautiful. She found a face painter at the market and had to have it. She was full of smiles after this.
Oh, and the walkabout with Rachelle and Connie was fun too.

MOVING!
The kids helped us pack.
Plastic, a safe thing to pack and when the instructions are “Find a lid for every container first” kept them busy for quite some time.
(Oma and I liked this)

Break!
Packing can only last so long before little peeps start to go crazy so we took the kids bowling for a couple hours.

The kids skills and strength have grown to where they don’t use the bumpers quite as often and now they are smart enough that they actually try to bounce the ball off the bumpers to pick up their spares. (Jo was the top bowler this day)

Moving Day
Not as many photos taken while working so hard. The kids did an awesome job moving boxes and non-stop work till the job was done. We are very proud of them!
They both rode in the moving truck which they thought neat!

We want to THANK all our friends who helped us move. If not for you I would be rolling around in a wheel chair right now. For reals Peeps! We had many of you come and move box after box and other stuff (trying not to say our crap) into our storage unit. Oh, our storage unit. Storage! Oh, yeah. We have no home yet. So most of our “stuff” is stacked in storage. Stacked? Yes, yes…Stacked VERY high indeed! (note to self, if there is still room to hold a dance inside a storage unit after you have moved all your stuff in that’s an ok thing. A storage unit piled wall to wall and floor to ceiling is not a good thing. There will be no pulling out our rubber boots for the rainy season. Winter jackets? I have no clue where you’re hiding and if I did I couldn’t get to you.) We are not looking for sympathy, we are doing well and will be just fine. It makes me wonder and laugh mostly.

Empty Home
Last D Street Family Porch Photo

Homeless – noun, persons who lack permanent housing.

(Ha Ha, this was the card we sent out to those who helped us move)

Squatter – noun, a person who settles on land or occupies property without title, right, or payment of rent.
We found a really nice place to squat.

Lil’s House
Ok, Tracy and Martha opened up their home to us, and when we say opened up their home we really mean it. We came with “stuff” (not storage stuff) but stuff nonetheless and they have welcomed us with open arms and many rooms to put our stuff.

Not only did they offer their home but as you saw a hot tub, lots of wild life because they live on a hill and the sights and lights of Eugene. And then there is Lil the dog. Lil gives lots of loves and cuddles. She also loves to play and is so strong that she pulls Cole around. Tracy and Martha say that Lil is happy to have two new puppies to play with.
(that would be Cole puppy and Jo puppy)

The kids have named our new home Lil’s House. So if you hear them say that you will know what they are talking about.


Martha pulled their Halloween stuff out for the kids to decorate the house. It didn’t take long to decorate but it never does when you have kids.
The front window really shows that Kids are living in Lil’s House.








The kids tried on some of their costumes that were also packed in with their Halloween decorations. Good times.

We stopped by to visit Dale and Francis this evening and got a full report on what has been going on at our old home including painting inside with all new colors, a large new fridge to name a few. We won’t miss much detail as time goes on. It was good to see Dale and Francis and we already have dinner plans with them in another week.

Life long friends/family/neighbors.

Homework - School Story – Birds

The kids brought home school work the very first day of school and we usually try to sit down first thing with a snack and get it done.

This night however the neighbor kids already beat-feet to our yard and started playing. Cole then said he was going to do his homework, Jo followed. Yeah! They both sat right here until they finished, even with all the other kids shooting hoops, running by and so on.

A School Story.

Cole: Second grade is hard. We have a welcome back packet that we have to do and it does not look big but it is. It’s printed on both sides and it’s big. I can’t find the O, it looks like it’s on the purse or the wheel but it’s not and then I can’t find the W either.

(this would be a picture search where they have to find hidden letters and numbers)






Jo: Oh, is it the picture with the school bus and the man and girl?


Cole: Yes.


Jo: Oh, I finished that one, it was easy.



Cole: Well it’s NOT easy and I can’t find the O even!

Jo: I could help you but you don’t sit at my table.


Cole: You can’t help me because that would be cheating, Jo. Jo, that would be cheating.

(Jo changes the subject)

Jo: Hey, Mom, I have not lost a reminder yet and I have six stars. When I get 15 stars I get to be a Star Reacher!

Mom: So you have not lost a reminder yet? That’s great Jo!

(Student starts each day with 5 reminders (beads or something) and if they end each day with at least one reminder left they earn a star. At 15 stars they become a Star Reacher and will get special school privileges.)

Mom: Cole, how are you doing with reminders? Have you lost any?


Cole: (A loooong stare at Mom) Well, I lost one but I didn’t “loose” it. Someone found a reminder on our table and they said it was probably mine so I didn’t loose it because I didn’t have it but it was there.

Mom: So you lost a reminder or you did not loose one?

Cole: YOU DON’T GET IT. Sheesh. … YOU DON’T KNOW, YOU’RE NOT IN SECOND GRADE AND IT’S HARD, YOU JUST DON’T GET IT!


Mom: (smiling and laughing inside but showing concern and love on outside, I hope) Well, Cole, I’d like to understand but your really not explaining it to me. Help me understand?

Cole: Just never mind, you don’t get it.

(End of conversation pretty much)

Watching the Vaux’s Swifts!

A bunch of Oma’s co-workers met up to watch this event together. Some have seen this before and others experienced it for the first time. We try and catch it at least once a year as we eat a scoop of Prince Pucklers ice cream and enjoy a little family evening time.

While waiting around for the birds, Oma and I saw Cole trying out his new bed. You see our home has sold and we do not have a new home to go to yet.
Ok, we won’t be homeless but seeing Cole do this we laughed and thought it could look like our future home.

The Vaux Swifts heading
into the chimney.



A couple of hawks showed up for their evening meal of Vaux Swift which they got, this always adds to the excitement.

The chimney that the Swifts fly into is on the UO campus and this night the marching band was on the track field practicing. Jo was able to hang out here and watch along with listening!
Good times were had by all. Ok, probably not the two sacrificial Swifts but everyone else had a good time.

It’s a DUCK thing!

Martha & Tracy gave us the opening home game tickets, THANKS! We had a little discussion about who would be attending the game from our family and it was clear that Cole REALLY wanted to go.
Cole wanted to go to the stadium early, EARLY! His words were
“I want to see everything, when can we go?” So we headed there a couple hours before kick off and tried to do anything and everything before game time.

Field Goal

I know this is were the Ducks scout for future players!

Quarter Back

(Mom ate some free ice cream while Cole lined up to throw over and over again. Thank you Umpqua Dairy for the Duck Food)




Did I mention we tried everything?
We had a good time and because
we were there so early we just took
our time walking around and doing.











Our seats. Great View and the people around us were fun. We were however called the “Strangers” because we just didn’t look like the “Girls” who usually sit there. (Martha & Tracy they are looking forward to seeing you this season)

YELL – O!
He totally got into
the making noise
during the game.

Rain-It did rain on us a bit but one of the couples around us gave us cover because they know it Never Rains at Autzen Stadium and packed appropriate attire.

We watched part of the game down at the bottom
of our section sitting with Betsy and John.
Ducky came up through the stands right next to us.

Ducky grabbed Cole’s hat and ate it, just shoved his hat right into his duck bill and then stood there, hands on hips looking at Cole like “Whatcha gonna do now?” Cole laughed so hard.

John & Betsy!

Always a blast seeing them. Quite a different game experience sitting so close to the field.

What a YELL-O evening!
Oh, and the Ducks won! Go Ducks!

First Day - Grade 2

Excitement was in this air!

Jo was given a beautiful back to school bracelet from our
friend Lori and was very excited to wear it and show it off.

Cole just looks good and said that the Chucks
look great with his school cloths. (that wold be his shoes)

A kiss from Jo and a hand shake from Cole
as I left them in their classroom.

Summers End

Fair
Oma and our friend Lori took the kids to the fair this year and from what I was told they had a very good time. We were thinking this was the year that Jo would take off on the larger rides because she is a thrill seeker at times but she stuck to the small ones with Cole. They both rode the Space Ship, which was Cole’s largest ride to date.Cole was in a leg cast at the fair but it didn’t slow him down much at all. In fact the tread on the walking boot was almost worn smooth by the end of this day.

Speaking of his cast. Cole learned that taking a few quick steps on the parquet flooring and then sliding he could really shoot across the floor on his cast. Oma and I were laughing on the inside but we had to ask him to stop because he was scratching up the flooring. Dang parents!


Oma and Jo made some baked apples. Some with raisins and some with craisins. They were quite yummy!











Home For Sale
Our home went on the market and within two days of having the sign in the yard we had an offer. The house is now pending so we have really stepped up the effort to find a new larger home for us.

We love our little home and our wonderful neighbors. In fact Dale and Francis (our next door neighbors) told us to let the new owners know that the neighbors come with the sale of our home. We are sad to leave the street but know that we are taking life long family/friends with us. (Hoping we are half this lucky in our new neighborhood.)

With selling and moving comes packing.
We have all packed quite a bit and the kids did a fabulous job on their room. They will probably feel like it’s their birthday when they get all their toys back in another month or two.

Oma and the Vacuum Cleaner
The New Generation of Grandpa Chuck
A quick understanding of Grandpa Chuck (Jill’s Grandfather). He was a man that did many strange, if not stupid things. Such as requesting a new back scrubber for the shower only to be told that he had been using a toilet cleaning tool. With this said any time someone on Oma’s side of the family does a wacky thing you will here "Ok Chuck!”.

Well, while using the upholstery tool, Oma was wondering how well it worked, so she put it up to her head. After being slightly startled she looked at the tool to see a nice amount of hair wrapped around it.

Off to the bathroom to get a look in the mirror and found a bald spot! Wow, our vacuum sucks! At least she has a sense of humor about it.


Oh how we cried, laughing so hard and long. Oma’s family have stated that she has taken it one step beyond a Chuck thing and that he would be proud.










Eugene Celebration
Rain Rain can’t keep us away!
Jo and I made the trip to watch the parade this year in the rain along with quite a few other diehard parade watchers. Good time as always with some creative floats and Eugene type messages marching pass.

A True Oregonian Short Story
The rain held off pretty well during the parade so Jo and I were not very wet but on our walk back to the car it really started to down pour. We were getting soaked. As we reached the car it dawned on me that I was holding the compact umbrella that Jo brought. I didn’t even give it a second thought, just laughed about the fact I wasn’t using it and we finished walking to the car. A warm shower and some hot cocoa when we got home and we were good.

Celebration of Rain!Shorts and rain...LOVE IT!