Thanksgiving Road Trip

After the first leg of our trip we arrived in Grants Pass Oregon at my Dad's house. He and Joan welcomed us and we visited for a bit before heading to bed.

The next day, we went to Wildlife Images where both my Dad and Joan volunteer. Dad gave us a tour (just like he gives when he is acting as tour guide). It was a lot of fun.

After a full Saturday, Dad, Kurt and the girls and I hit the road to Santa Barbara on Sunday. We arrived at Mom and David's in Santa Barbara just in time for a late dinner.

We went to Hendry's beach when the tide was low and let the girls look at the tide pools. Nana and Grandpa David came, too. Got a couple of great pictures. :)

We spent some time moving my Grandma Kirk out of her apartment at Friendship Manor. It was nice to be able to visit with her. She enjoyed watching videos of Ashley's and Lauren's dance recitals.

When it started raining we decided to head out to Stearn's Warf and go to the Sea Center where they have touch tanks for the kids to play with the star fish and sea anenomes, etc.

We have lots more to do, but we are enjoying ourselves so far!! :) if the weather cooperates we will head to magic mountain next! :)

Santa Photos

Since I recently posted old Halloween photos, why not add some old Santa Photos, too? These are TOO cute!!

1998

1999
2000

2002

2003

How did they grow so fast?

Camera Phone Tour

I'm sitting at home, bored - waiting for the comcast guy to show up in the "window" of time I was given. So... I thought I'd post a few pictures I found on my phone that were worthy of keeping.

First is an AWESOME picture of Lauren at the orthodontist. She had something weird going on with her wire and it made her front tooth totally crooked!! The shades and the odd mouth-opener thingie completed her "look!" ;)

Next I found a cute one of the girls right after they got their hair cut. Lauren wanted to look like Taylor Swift - so my friend who cuts their hair curled it for her, too. Ashley got hers thinned since it is so naturally thick, then she staightened it a little, too. Funny that Ashley has naturally curly hair and wants it straight, while Lauren's is straight as a pin and she wants it curly!

This next set I found to be funny because I was taking TONS of pictures of the girls at the fair. Ashley got REALLY tired of me taking so many, so the look on her face in the last one one cracks me up. Doesn't that just say it all?

Now let's get one of Kurt and I in here, too. This is fron a night we went on a double date with some friends in Seattle. It was a fun night. The second one is the "gum wall" we found in post alley outside of Theater Sports. So gross!

Here is one from Ashley and my birthday - we were at Elke and Bryce's house without our camera, so the phone had to do! Also there is a video from the phone, too.

I went on a field trip with Lauren recently when the fall leaves were REALLY pretty. We had a great time and I loved how some of the pictures came out on my phone.

These last ones are from the recent flood that was going on in Sultan where I work at the church office. The water got awfully close to our front steps, but we were sandbagged and we are up fairly high - maybe four steps from the sidewalk. It could've been much worse. We served coffee, cocoa and cup-a-noodles to high schoolers who were sand-bagging and to some homeless who got flooded out - they live on the river in tents.

I gotta say... I'm actually pretty pleased with the photos I'm getting on this phone. Who knew!

After all that, still no Comcast guy. Grrr...

Deception Pass

We took a short little camping trip to Deception Pass. It was a nice trip away with just our family. There was hardly anyone else there - we almost had the whole campground to ourselves.

The bridge was so cool!

Kurt and Lauren were a little freaked out by the height.

This was our first time camping in our new camper. It went really well - even when it rained. At least we had somewhere to go. Not sure a tent will ever do for me again! ;)

We hiked to the beach a took a ton of pictures there.

Halloweens Past

I think time is moving WAY too fast. After seeing some adorable "tiny trick-or-treaters" tonight I thougth I would attempt to recapture some of the past by posting some old Halloween pictures of Ashley and Lauren.

2003 - Kim Possible and Sleeping Beauty

2004 - Snow White and a cheerleader

2005 - For some reason we don't have costume pictures from '05

2006 - a puppy and a grandma

2007 - Fern from Charlotte's web and a doctor

and of course... 2008 - Taylor Swift and a nerd

Backyard

Mom, this post is especially for you. Sorry it took me so to show these to you. Let me know what you think. :)

Here is a video showing the whole yard.