I’m 40 – Santa – Wishes

Oma’s 40! A birthday that lasted 4 days is a nice way to start a new decade. Friday was dinner with drinks, wii, dinner, more wii, and more drinks, with friends, plus a cheesecake. Saturday was recovery, but nice and relaxed. Sunday we met up with Oma’s family at the Outlet mall in Woodburn (meeting point about ½ way for both parties). We shopped, ate, shopped more… actually, Oma got cut off before she was ready to be done!!

Monday, the actual day, Oma had students singing the birthday song to her- nice way to start the day (even if they were silly and off-key about it). The evening was pizza and wii with the family and Sheila and Lori. First came a stack of cards (had no idea that they were being horded), all told, there were about 40 for the weekend. Thanks to all who sent one! The present was an electric throw blanket!!! The blanket is awesome, although Jo seems to use it more than I do.

We finally saw Santa. Met up with the “B” side of the family for the photo taking, oh, we still all had individual shots but it was just a time to meet up, visit and then all go out for a meal. Nice time.
Cole requested a photo of he and Santa alone this year. I told him that maybe next year we can do shots like that and he said ok. Then he said “when we get home could you cut this one down the middle so I can be with Santa alone?”
I think he is looking for a little independence?

We have had quite a lot of sickness in the house for over a month, mostly Momma but even the kids fell to it this past week. The three of us went to our doctors and are now all on recovery mode at last. Not a great way to start holiday but hopefully it will be gone soon.

The kid’s classroom drew pictures and made a “wish” statement that was put into a book for all of them to take home. Here is a scan of the kids drawing and their wish.

Jo’s wish will come true, her brother took care of this.

Cole will have to settle for more play dates with his buddies!

Happy Holiday to You!

Laughing and Fun, or is it?

Ok, I must laugh at myself at times and not just post the sillies of the kids and of Oma. So here goes my “what was I thinking” moment.

Oma brought home some new wipes for our computer screen and tv. I popped the top of her new wipes and gently pushed the first one through the hole after which I closed the lid and pulled the first one from its home and handed it to Oma. I noticed that the second wipe had pulled out too far out and it would not close. So I gently pushed it back into the container. Come on, I know some of you are saying “Hey, I’ve done that”…and if your not saying this to I know your lying! OH the pain… pain started to shoot through my finger… and my head started to hurt too as the painful realization of embarrassment was also immediately realized.

Ok, I laughed and tried to pull my finger from my entrapment but to no success, so Oma came to my rescue or so I had hoped. Even though she was barely containing her laughter (she didn’t try to contain, she just grabbed the camera) she tried to slide, pry, and even cut this lid off. I got to a point that I said “THIS IS NO LONGER FUNNY…I’M REALLY HURTING” and I ran to the garage and as quickly and carefully as I could cut the beast off!It took a couple of hours for my finger to become normal again…but my mental pain? I might need therapy to get over that part.

The kids had a day off that Oma did not, so I drove the twins to Oma’s school in the morning and they spent a day at work with her. OH MY GOSH did they all have a blast! Oma included. The kids created graham cracker houses and Jo watched a movie and Cole partook in as much gym as possible including scooters and dodgeball. When they called home toward the end of the day Jo was very excited to tell me about her house and the movie she watched. Cole told me that he played dodgeball with the big kids, got hit, and it was fun! They both fell asleep on the ride home that day. I think they earned that right.

This is how the kids started eating their houses that night. Mmmmm…dinner!

Watching football on tv, Cole has seen a few games that were played on real grass. He asked why those guys got so wet and muddy and we explained that this is how all football use to be played. Well when he got home during one of our rainy days he went straight to his room and came out ready to play football in the grass. His goal? Wet and muddy. Momma went out and tossed the ball around with him and made sure he was on the ground and in the mud as often as possible. He was a happy boy.


We all have different things that make us laugh and so I thought I would share one more thing that made Momma laugh.

This is Jo reading directions to Oma while putting together a small end table. If it was just Oma reading the directions and putting the table together, would I think it was funny? Well…yes, I would pull up my chair, pour some tea and watch the show. Having Oma trying to teach Jo? Really…Priceless.I had to snap a few shots of their progress…way fun…funny!





How is it going Oma?



It all came together and Jo had a very good time helping use tools and seeing a completed piece of furniture. Good project…for all of us.
:O)



Lastly, Cole just called me to the bathroom to point out that he has hair on his upper lip area. I asked him what this meant and he informed me that he was now growing a mustash. Already I asked? Yes I am, I am growing one!

How fast they grow up.

Yachats!

We spent a beach weekend with Tracy & Martha at their beach house. We had some great nighttime storms that shook the house and rattled the windows, but the days were as nice as they could be for the month of November.We took a quick walk on the beach the first morning, it was high tide so we couldn’t go very far, when Martha got wet over the top of her boots for the second or third time that morning we headed back to the house to clean up and head to the aquarium.

I felt like we rushed a bit viewing the animals, but then again we were with five year olds and they are always in a hurry to see the next thing. It was a good time to be there, feedings were happening so we got so see quite a bit of activity with the animals.




Here Tracy is helping Jo touch a sea anemone. I think Tracy was having more fun with this than Jo, and I know Jo had a blast!

Martha found this great dance along Crab Dancing video. Jo managed to move her hands like claws, Cole did his claws and moved his body a little bit. And Martha? Well she boogied out the crab dance better than any human could crab dance! We have video to prove it!

(for a little $$ we
will send it to you)

That night we roasted hotdogs for dinner and then made smoores for our desert. The kids are not huge smoore fans so that just left more for the adults.

On Sunday we boated out into the bay and did some crabbing. The boat was very full (understatement) with people and crab gear but we had a good time. It was a little choppy but not very cold, tons of boats had already dropped their gear in by the time we motored out there. But with Martha’s driving skills and Tracy manning the pots (with a little help from us) we dropped our pots in the mix. I really have no clue how Macy (Martha/Tracy) keep track of where they drop the pots with all the other floats out there too but they do and did! It was a good afternoon of fun.

Macy have some cool kites that have no sticks, they just stuff them into small bags that fit into your pocket. The kids got to fly them, but were disappointed when the wind died down, so the kites wouldn’t stay up. Next time maybe.

And here we are with our catch. Nine crab in about three hours and we got a few that were huge! Jo had a great time catching the crab but she has learned that she does not like the taste of crab even thoughshe was very excited to start cracking them open. I’d say sad really, but if she wants to catch them we will always have people around to eat her catch. Cole managed to pull all his crab meat out without eating any of it until he was done cracking (Oma could not control herself that much). Then he would take a handful of crab dip it all (including his hand) into the butter and stuffing it into his mouth. Four or five handfuls and he was done, butter dripping down his arm and face…those crab bibs were made for guys like Cole! Asked if he would like more and he said “No, I’m good”.

What a wonderful weekend!
Thank you Macy!

Time Away & Funnies

The kids had a good time trick or treating this year. They actually made it a few houses more than they did last year before getting tired. The neighbors treat them well, getting a coloring book, reading book, marking pens and some toys. Can we say spoiled? But I think if you have kept up with this blog you probably already knew that.Jo got to wear the Cat-Woman outfit that G’ma Marie made for cousin Derian a few years ago. She was very happy! Tried to make the whip crack often. I think she liked the feeling of power? We may be in trouble later on in life.

Cole stuck with Batman thank goodness. After watching The Great Pumpkin (Charlie Brown) he wanted to be a ghost. Momma was like “What?” You can be a pirate, Batman, Darth Vader, Spiderman, Superman and so many other things right now out of your room. Momma does not have a white sheet to make you a ghost. Go figure! He again at the last minute decided to be Batman without help from us.Momma took the kids out of town for a few days. A needed and wanted get away from life you might say. G’ma Marie and G’pa Norman took us up to Susan Creek waterfalls. It was a short hike that took us out of the fogged in town. The kids ran, played, fell often (Cole did any way) and wore themselves out! It was a good afternoon topped off with some greasy home fries and burgers at Munchies in Glide. Yummy!

Ok, here are just a couple fun shots of the kids and some funny things they have done or said.

Cole:
He has trouble saying the “r” sound.
Practicing saying the word “girl” he got frustrated and finally told us.

“I can just say woman”.

Using an outhouse he said through the door,

“I can’t reach the soap box Momma so I used the bar of soap down here” (the one in the urinal).

Momma could not get his hands clean enough after that.

Jo:
Asking Oma if she could use some dental floss.
“Can I floss my dental?”

Some people say

“Oh, dang it”
She says

“Oh, Parnables”

(we really have no idea)

A conversation:
Jo: The earth is farting.
Momma: What?!
Jo: You know, where we saw the elephants die,

the earth is farting there.
Momma: Oh, La Brea Tar Pits?

Jo: Yes, there, the earth farts.

Finding words and a place in my head

Lucy Lahr!
Aug. 23, 1962 – Oct 18, 2007

My dear friend, roommate, sister and many other words could describe Lucy. I have not been able to find the right ones as of late. My friend was killed by a hit and run driver on Oct. 18, 2007 and I am still lost for words and have not found a place in my head to file this information. This is the first time someone I care for so deeply has been ripped from my life and I hope deep down inside that it will be the last.

She made me laugh, grow, ponder, she pissed me off at times and she could challenge my way of thinking and living. She held me when I have cried and I got to listen to her talk about her day. The last words I remember saying to Lucy was “I love you”. I know some don’t say it often and maybe not at all but we did, every time we saw each other.

I love you Lucy and miss you.
Tina