Thursday, January 28, 2010

Pet Peeves and Good Impressions

I was chatting with some friends about pet peeves and they were cracking up at a few of mine. It got me thinking of things that bug me as well as things that impress me. My family will know most of these about me already......Here's a few: Actually this feels familiar becasue I remember aunt Lee wondering what I was referring to as "fuzzy teeth".

PEEVES

*People who let clutter rule thier lives. Throw it out. I don't understand what's so hard about that.
*The crusty, spilled in, smelly fridge. That's a given.
*Kids who take huge portions at gathering and parents who don't monitor it.
*Friends who read my blog on a regular basis and never leave a comment...or even more weird is to read the comments, make a comment to me about a comment someone left me and still not leave their own.
*Having the TV on. Or at least having it on when no one is watching it, or when people are trying to talk to one another. Turn it off!!!
*Fuzzy teeth (plaque)

Impressed By:
*Scriptorians.
*Someone who has mastered a musical instrument.
*Upbeat positive people who don't compare themselves to others.
* Perfect pearly white straight teeth.
*Anyone who can sew.
*People who don't eat goodies....and I know a few! That's actually crazy to me!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

ringlets and races

Last Sunday Kennedy was invited to a baptism preview. I could hardly believe that my little girl would be old enough to be baptized and start going to activity days!
Brody gets into the "cheese" action whenever I have the camera out.
She is staying little enough to let me curl her hair in raggy ringy's for church though.

The other birthday treat I gave myself was to sign up for the Vancouver Lake half marathon with my friend Cyndee and her husband Tim. Cindy and I finished in 1:35, a 7:18 average pace.... each getting an award for placing in the top 3 of our age bracket. There were several other friends from our club there as well. This was at the end....after we'd be drenched with rain!!!!

Cyndee and I have been running partners for years and this was the first event we've done together....in the past we've just supported each other in the others endevours. She wanted to qualify for the NYC marathon by doing this half in 1:44. I am in a younger bracket and my time had to be 1:39, so she would run this time with me. Neither of us trained properly and felt a decent amount of apprehension about our initial goal. The odds were against us since our only training runs had been a few 8 milers. Sooo it was a pleasant surprise to us both when we finished minutes ahead of our initial goal in 1:35! She took 2nd in her age group and I took 3rd in mine. It was a great run but the last mile at a 7:05 pace about did me in!!! Her hubby Tim finished about 10 sec ahead of us.







Sunday, January 10, 2010

Roping the Moon.

When my mom came on her last visit we were just starting to look at the Elmer's house. She came through with me, and upon seeing her "guest rooms" and private bath.....became my #1 supporter in purchasing the home. I tell my friends you'd think I'd had a baby when my mother made comments the weekend we moved such as "I wish I could be there to help. Take lots of pictures! When I come I will cook, clean, tend the kids...whatever you need me to do!"

True to her word she came prepared to work! Deep cleaned ALL the wood blinds and shutters (and there are many). Wiped down and paint touch up on woodwork trim, doors, mouldings. Scoured the guest bathroom, painted my bathroom cupboards white and washed curtains. Not to mention playing with the kids, cooking, and buying general items i "needed" for this house :> Mom told Kenna she'd curl her hair in raggy ringlets just like when I was a little girl. Hmm, why is Kennedy more willing to let Annie do it than me?
Mom bought the girls a few books and spent time in front of the fire reading with them one on one. How I wish I had her built in for that!


We had a snow storm on one of the days I worked. The girls were very nervous when I didn't arrive home at my usual time. I let them play outside until midnight, having a snowball fight with Griffin followed by hot cocoa and cookies.

On Dec. 30th Camdyn turned 10. She invited a group of friends to go bowling at Big Al's then come to our home for games by Annie, and cake.


On Dec 31st Griffin invited 3 friends over for a New Years party and sleepover. We all had a nice array of appetizers, played a fun round of hide n seek with all the lights out in the house along with a few other games I had for them. They retired to Griffin's room and the bonus room until midnight when they came out for the first annual polar plunge (my idea!) Boy were they gigged about that!
The pool was freezing! The girls wanted to do it so bad, but I wouldn't let them. The boys said they felt their bodies were "burning" after they got out because it was so cold! I made them cocoa then went to bed. Mom and I loved how we couldn't hear a thing when they were on the other side of the house. Yes!
Todd worked a 48 hour shift on the 31st and 1st. When he got off work on the 2nd he and I left at noon to stay downtown at the Marriott while Annie watched the kids. We had such a nice time, and boy were we ready for a break from those kids and the business of the last few weeks! I drug Todd with me to an antique hardware store for more parts to fix a few doors, shopped in the Pearl, ate at Macaroni Grill and checked into our hotel with plenty of the evening to spare.
We stayed here last New Years with the kids. The seperate bedroom is a must with a kitchen to boot!
Todd loves the breakfast! It's the main motivater for our 9 mile morning run the next day meandering through the various districts of downtown.
After checking in I was craving a McD's vanilla cone, so.....
We walked up the waterfront, to Pioneer Square, to the McD's at PSU. All the Christmas lights and Tree downtown were still lit which was a bonus. It was so nice out that we walked for quite some time before hitting the hot tub and playing cards for candy!
I'm in love with all the original vintage hardware in this house. Several screws were stripped or missing various pieces, not fitting tight in the door.

Bobby is my new best friend at Hippo Hardware. He calls me "the cool girl from Camas" and loves that I appreciate all of his knowlege and expertise. I just took a bunch of pictures, brought in the handles and said "help me!"
Last night we took kids to a Portland Winterhawks game. My co-workers husband is the asst coach and she scored awesome seats for us! We rode the Max in. Brody was entertained by the fights from the players and the snacks I brought!
We walked back to the car since it was another nice evening outside. When it's not raining, and not windy, it's nice!
Poor Todd had worked a 48 hour shift, got home at 8:00 a.m. and left at 8:30 to drive Griffin to a soccer tourny in Seattle. Got home at 5:30 p.m. and we left for the game. He is a wonderful provider, husband, father and friend. When we got married 15 1/2 years ago we had this song
with a line "she thinks I could rope the moon. In her eyes there is nothing I can't do." Amazing how that is SO much more applicable today than it was back then.