Perspective

On our 45 minute drive to Port Orchard Lila asked if Grandma Julie was my auntie when I was a little girl. I explained to her that Grandma Julie was married to my Daddy, (who lives in heaven now), so she was my step-mom.

Poor Lila, with concern on her face and eyes as wide as saucers says, "Yeah, but she's good now, right?"

Of course Lila was worried... where else has she heard the term step-mother? Only in the movie Cinderella. You wicked step-moms-you!

Love ya, Jules!

Jack-O-Kiddos

Lila came up with our pumpkin design this year...Evan loves Lila. It was really hard to get a good picture. So, here are 3, each with different lighting. I think the last one is best.

Mama, take a picture of his sweet little toes!

Makes you wanna kiss the little piggies.

Kyler's 1st Birthday

My brother's little boy recently turned one. They had a costume slash birthday party at his mom-in-law's, who happens to run a day care center. They live deep in Port Orchard and have quite a bit of land. So there were many fun opportunities for the little ones to have fun.

It was purely coincidental that Lila and Kyler were both Lions.

There was a huge pile of hay, probably 8'x6' that candy and Play-Doh was hidden in. That kept the kids busy for a good 30 minutes.

All Lila wanted was the Play-Doh, even though Evan was cheering her on for the Reese's P.B. Cups.

Evan waiting for the hay pile game to finish. Hoping for candy.

Lila made quick friends with Eli. Eli has a big brother that was giving Lila a hard time. He jumped on the teeter totter after his brother and was playing rough with Lila. Lila asked him nicely to please stop 3 times and Evan heard what was happening so he walked towards them and Lila yelled, "My brother is bigger than you!". The boy ran with out looking back. Nice to have the protection of a big brother.

Posing in front of the horses. Lila thought it was hilarious that they had clothes on.
Getting ready to dig in...

MMMMM...chocolate is good.

It was so much fun and wonderful to be with family that we don't see as often as we would like to. Bummer I had no pictures of Papa Jerry and Grandma Julie. They were there, I promise. We finally got to meet Jerry's son, Ryan, who fishes in Alaska. We really hit it off and it only took 11 years to happen.

Happy Birthday Kyler!

Thanks for the help!

So, after putting it off for way too long, it was that time again. The time to clean the fridge. Now don't get me wrong. My fridge never has any mystery foods in it or things that have expired long ago. I just like to take all the glass shelves and crispers out, take the door shelves apart and get the little crumblies that sneak in there.



So, I recruited Evan, (I have always done this alone). I'm nearly finished and Evan has been leaning on the counter the whole time telling me about school and church and how his teacher said his book report was the best she's ever gotten. (Hooray, A++!) Etc, etc...and I ask him how exactly he is helping. He, with out hesitation says, "Really put your back into it.", as I'm scrubbing the back wall of it. Thanks buddy, always there to help.



In the end he washed out the crisper drawers for me and emptied my cleaning water. He is a good kid. I can't remember when the last time was that I had to clean up supper and wash the dinner dishes. He does it without being asked. One of the perks of having a teenager!

I love you too...that's what that means, right?

Gotta love him!

Tim just sent me this from work...good for a guffaw!

US Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) reacts to almost heading the wrong way off the stage after shaking hands with Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) at the conclusion of the final presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, October 15, 2008.

Funny food

I think most parents do it,unbeknownst to them, forever changing the way a child perceives a certain type of food by giving it a special name. When I was little we had Kermit the Frog soup (split pea) and we ate it. Now, as an adult, if someone said the words frog and soup I would run for the hills. I also had conglomeration (mac n cheese w/ tuna and peas). My mom said I named that one.


When Evan was little he had Chinese burritos (egg rolls).


Lila has never been a fan of Swedish pancakes...GASP! But she will eat American pancakes. Now the cutest has to be the latest. She use to eat cooked broccoli, but now she only wants Papa broccoli (raw broccoli). She ate it for the first time raw while we were visiting and it stuck.


Hooray for Papa broccoli!

Colossians 3:12-14

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Watson's Pumpkin Jubilee

Every year, around this time, we go to Watson's Nursery for lunch from the Rotary Club, (while Mom gets lunch from the cafe inside, Mom doesn't do hot dogs), then off to the festivities.

Oh, Evan, you're so convincing. You're just riddled with fear.

I've never seen any one smile while they scream. Good job Gracie.
Evan and a rat that wants to eat him, both enjoying iTunes. Rock on rat.
Face painting fun. Before...

And after!

A trip to Watson's wouldn't be complete with out a trip to Aunt Annie's and Uncle Pat's. If the weather is nice you can always count on Uncle Pat to sneak away with Lila for a rousing game of croquet. Lila won. Then, told Aunt Annie she needed to cut her grass.

Can't wait to carve those pumpkins and roast the seeds, spicy Cajun style. Yum!

When the boys are away...

Evan was at a field trip last night for school, visiting a college, then to a football game and Daddy was at work. The girls wanted to do something fun and something for them. We normally save cut out cookies for Christmas, but as Lila reminded me, cut out cookies are for any time! Speaking of time...they take FOREVER. Good deal we had to wait until 10pm to go get E. Lila, official frosting taster. Or is that frosting facial? Always hard to tell in the end.
The finished product. We are going to Grandma Ina's and Nana Lila's today so we made some special ones for their neighbors too.
The best for last. We love you Daddy!

Draft post

Apparently when you save a post and then put it up later it goes in chronological order. Who knew? Anyhoo, Tim posted under my latest. Make sure to check it out!

Thank you

For my beloved husband,

Thank you for being the wonderful man that you are. Thank you for waking up early every day to walk Lila to school so you get to see her, since you'll be at work when she gets home. Thank you that every day you have the house cleaned up while I am at work so when I walk in the door I can focus on other things. Thank you for your faithful phone call every night from work to check in on your family and to get the latest "report". Thank you for your commitment to your job and school. The list could go on and on...

Your love is not only out pouring through your words, but by all of your actions. I don't want a day to go by without you knowing how appreciated and loved you are by Bone, Gracie Goulie & Mrs. Timmy B.

We are so blessed we are yours!

Geology 179--Mt. St. Helens

This quarter I am taking a Geology class at T.C.C. I have all my science credits; but I needed to take a class to help finish my 7 elective credits. The nice thing about this class is that it only meets 3 times; all Saturdays during October. (the bad thing 7:00 AM/8:00AM start times--yuck!)


The title of the class is "Special topics in Geology-Volcanos and Earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest". On 10/4 we had a all day class--a little background info. on both topics. This past Sat. -10/11 we took our first feild trip. It was a visit to Mt. St. Helens. This was my first trip to the area since before the May 18th 1980 eruption.


Dr. Hitz, my professor, banging on some rock.








Entrance to Johnston Ridge visitor center.

Steam rising from the lava dome.

This is a volcanic 'bomb' that came from Mt. St. Helens.

Fall Garden

A dear friend at church gave me 3 golden mums today. They really added some cheer in replacing some faded summer annuals. Lila was the 1st to volunteer to help. It was very appreciated. When we were done she asked if she could take some pictures too. Below is what she took...

Mazzi & Emma through the fence. Sweet sisters, and good friends to Lila Grace.

Creative mind

We had a shoe box on top of the recycle and Lila insisted on keeping it for her "art". See, Lila can't go a day with out doing some kind of project or coloring or drawing. ie.-my fridge right now has the Washington Monument, a giant welcome sign, a wagon with many cars and of course the usual rainbows and flowers-all hand drawn. Now back to the show, literally. She made curtains, a stage and seating. What kind of show I asked? Um, hello...just a show, Mom! My apologies, sweet child.
Up close. "Dad" sitting in his chair enjoying himself. Hope you all are enjoying your show!

Ma, Pa...I'm headed to the outhouse!

Nisqually pioneer days was a few weeks ago and Grandpa invited us to go down and check it out. Lila really enjoyed it. Evan begrudgingly put on the jacket for this shot. I wonder if the Confederate Army rocked plaid shorts?


Lila wanted to pose with anyone that would stop and really got a kick out of watching things be done the "old fashioned" way. Now if I could only get her to sit through an episode of Little House on the Prairie.

Awww...

Evan goes to an afternoon, once a week, college prep class. Well, it was cancelled and I didn't know. So, after I picked up Lila from school I was surprised he was home and he said he had bought something for us. What could he have bought? Yep, Colonel Crunch Strawberry Shortcake ice cream bars. Lila said, "Awww Evan, you're such a sweet boy!"

Yes Evan, you're such a sweet boy. Thank you for thinking of others. You make your Mama very proud.