We're Off...

I have officially started my 8th year of teaching third grade (11th year of teaching). Kyndra has officially became a 1st grader. And Kylee has joined her buddies at pretty school.


-I love my new room (that would be my 6th new room at my school), I love my class, and I love all the sights, sounds, and smells of school in the fall (not to be confused with the springtime smells P.U.). And, I love love love my Promethean Board. I don't like leaving my girls!!! Thank goodness the day in the life of a teacher exceeds the speed of light and the aches of missing my girls aren't felt much during the day.


- Kyndra has been filled with anxiety about the school year. Her fears subsided a bit right after open house, but returned shortly after. I was worried for her (I don't know where her worrying comes from), but never fear she "LOVES" first grade. "It is better than the best!" Most of the details are unknown of course, but she has been playing school all afternoon with Kylee. I think I am getting a glimpse into her classroom. The discipline policy is clear in my mind as Kylee is not the greatest pupil. I do believe there is also some sort of sign language to use the restroom.

-Kylee, oh Kylee has started back to pretty school much to her dismay. She informed us that a lot of the kids in her class don't really like her. My curiosity sparked, I asked her why that was. She said she just couldn't understand why since she is the nicest girl in her class and the best listener. Hmmm, I just don't know why the kids are a little put off. That part is funny... the tear filled, clawmarked, screaming drop offs... NOT SO CUTE. Doesn't help with the guilt factor.

Here she is ready to go... this is not what she picked out to wear, but her choice outfit required ironing that was just not happening this morning... maybe tomorrow.

Back to school bash...


And now I must go, I am supposed to be cleaning the super dirty trailer for our upcoming Labor Day trip. Whose idea was it to plan a trip the first weekend after school starts??? I'm sure it will be just what the doctor ordered when the time comes.

Have a great first week of school all of you school goers and educators!

Busy Days...

Today was a busy, busy day. It seems like the one and only summer when I have a three and six year old is on fast forward all of a sudden. We are trying hard to meet our mounding obligations and still take the time for summer fun. Today was filled with cheerleader camp, delivering a hot blackberry cobbler to the police department, moving classrooms, piles of dishes, working on cartwheels in the backyard, picking our first homegrown tomatoes, multiple viewings of Beverly Hills Chihuahua, mac and cheese and eggs for dinner two hours late, watermelon, lawn mowing, etc...

I thought we had better stop and grab some shots in front of our Giant Sunflower patch. As you can see we only had one survivor, but he is strong.

Vacation 2009...

Two weeks flew by as we camped our way through this diverse state of ours from the coast of Newport to Mt. Hood. Here is a little recap A to Z style...

A-Alpine slide At Ski-Bowl's Adventure Park
B-Beverly Beach State Park, Beavers, Birds & Bats... evening programs in the parks
C-Cherry picking, Canoeing, Cousins, Castles
D-Devils Punch Bowl (where we liked to hang out at the beach)
E-Every Minute Packed With Action & Smiles
F-Fun with Family & Friends
G- Grandma & Grandpa, Giggles, Games by the Campfire
H-Hundreds of Miles Logged On Tony's bike, Hikes
I-Ice Cream at Volcano Cones in Government Camp
J-Jr. Ranger Kyndra (she completed all of her requirements & is official), Jazmyn (became a crazy swimmer dog)
K-Kyndra's Favorite Part... Everything, Kylee's Favorite Part... Feeding the Ducks
L- Lake... swimming, fishing, & paddling
M-Mo's, Monkey Bars (Kyndra crossed for the first time by herself), Miles of Walking
N-Neighbors... who joined us at Trillium Lake for their first family camp trip, YEAH!!!
O- Oregon Coast Aquarium, Octopus Trees, Outdoor Showers
P- oPossum Pouches... more Jr. Ranger activities
Q- Quiet Mornings... the girls and I slept in while Tony and Jazmyn explored
R- Reading... I finished my first book in practically forever, This Much I Know Is True
S- Silver Falls (We ALL completed a brutal three mile hike... Tony and I were so proud of the girls), Salt Water Taffy
T- Two Wheeled Bike... Kyndra lost the training wheels, Trillium Lake, Timberline Bike Climb
U- Unbelievable... Our little Kylee once so afraid of the ocean couldn't stay away!
V- Very Fast... our vacation days have come and gone, but the memories are endless
W- Whale Watching (Kyndra, Tony, and I)... one of the Grays surfaced within ten feet of our boat
X- eXtra Soil Setting On My Washer... thank goodness!
Y- Yummy Food... camp air just seems to add that perfect flavor to food, especially breakfast
Z- Zs On Tony's Feet... the tan lines his favorite river shoes make

A Wood Cutting We Will Go...

Tony, the girls, Jazmyn and I took a little trip to the woods south of Pilot Rock. We were on a mission to gather firewood for our big camping trip coming up next Tuesday. There really wasn't anywhere I would have rather been this afternoon than in this little spot in the woods with my family.
This log DID NOT end up in our pick up ready for our campfires... a little on the ambitious side don't you think Tony.

Jazmyn loved biting the long hairlike pieces of moss off the rocks and flinging them around. That's what I call a good time.

Kyndra LOVES to climb on fallen logs.

Kylee is telling me quite a story.

Jump Jazmyn Jump!!!

A little help daddy.

This is a snap.

I hope she didn't get any bugs in her teeth.

This is the good stuff in life!!!

Magone (Magoon) Lake...

We're here... first camping trip of the summer. Yes, Kylee's rain coat and the boots were necessities on this trip.

This "one" pair of binoculars were a big hit for the explorers.

The awesome sandy swimming hole was quickly renamed Treasure Island.

We traded in our 4-wheeler for this wonderful army green, Old Town canoe. We are ready for the lakes and some short river trips... YEAH!

We did have a few bites of Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout cooked over the campfire.

We spied lots of animals including this muskrat and family of ducks. A deer visited our camp and Tony got up close and personal with a beaver.

Gracie and Kylee hung out on the fishing deck to watch the great fishermen and girls.

What you can't see here is Amy aka. The Grumpy Old Troll at the other end of the bridge. Those of you lucky enough to be familiar with Dora are aware of that character that Amy graciously played. She was an expert riddle maker and the girls managed to solve them in order to continue on their journey.

A short dip in the chilly water.

Cuddling and shivering on the beach.

A little help please.

Magone Lake will definitely be a family favorite.

The Boys, The Bikes, and The Beach...

We've logged another great Reach the Beach weekend. Reach the Beach is Tony's favorite charity ride. Proceeds go to the American Lung Association. He proudly rides for his grandmother.

This year we were joined by an amazing group of friends. The boys choose Salem as their start point. They put in 80 miles by the time they reached Pacific City. We spent our first night in Salem and saw the boys off at the starting gates. The girls (friends included) and I went to the carousel on the waterfront in Salem. There is just something magical about carousels and the smiles on these faces.


SalemPacific City (The Beach)Tony and Ty have been training like crazy. It paid off because "they did not get passed." Of course their are no winners or losers, but "they did not get passed." They have surpassed the 1000 mile mark, only 200o more to go this season.Exploring the tide pools with daddy as mommy stood aside in paranoia of those sneaker waves.
Sea annnnnnnennnnnnammmmmmeeeeeees or something like that.

Cave dwelling.
Happy Times!!!
Going up...
Come on Abby, I'll pull ya up...
I don't know about this...
Coming down, slow motion...
Coming down, full speed ahead...
The weekend was topped off with a visit with cousins. Backyard sprinklers and plastic pools put a smile on every ones' face... and the BBQ was the icing on the cake... oh no wait we had carrot cake and strawberry cake, so I guess that was the icing.

Everybody wants to help baby Chloe...

Thanks to friends and family for an unforgettable weekend!!!