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WA/ID Road Trip 2011: Bend, OR.

Sep 13th, 2011 by

July means one thing…road trip to WA/ID!  We decided to take a different route and go to Idaho first.  This provided the opportunity to explore new terrain!

We left around 9am, with the intention to make it to Bend, OR, by dinner.  I had packed a picnic lunch for us.  We stopped at a very nice rest stop to enjoy our picnic.  The only downside was a flock of pesky seagulls.  How they could be so far inland is beyond me.





We made it to Bend around 4pm.  What an awesome town!  Checked into our lodging and let the boys swim for a bit.  We drove to downtown Bend and walked around.  They had a street fair going on.  We walked that for a while.  Check out the BBQ!

A river runs through Bend…


 

Based on the recommendation of the hotel front desk agent, we went into this lovely little neighborhood that had a pizzeria/bistro/boutique grocery.  The neighborhood was full of craftsman homes, where neighbors walked with their dogs, and stopped to chat with each other.  The restaurant…Jackson’s Corner.

They have picnic tables in their backyard.  We dined outside, then the kids played with hula hoops that the restaurant had.  I actually got in on it too, and we all had a great time playing with them.

Pretty poppies…




Family shots out front…


 

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Visit from Jordan, Laura, Derrick, and Jessie

Sep 13th, 2011 by

Some of our WA state friends road tripped to California and went on a cruise out of San Diego.  We were one of their pit stops!  They spent a few fun nights with us.  It is so great to know young men who still have strong bodies that can handle the pummeling from our boys!

Laura and Jordan picked up a couple of super soakers for the boys.  So much fun!!


 

Derrick, Laura, and Jessie…

They visited at the same time as the boys vacation Bible school.  I gave them a tour of the event…

Back at home, it was pretty hot.  We cracked an egg on our sidewalk to see if it would cook.  It didn’t…

Cuties Derrick and Jessie…

 

More cuties Jordan and Laura…

 

Dad gets in on the action…

 

‘Minute to Win It’ is a big deal around here.  The boys are constantly coming up with different challenges.  Here, everyone is playing ‘Face the Cookie’.  You place an Oreo on your forehead and move the cookie down to your mouth, using just your facial muscles.  It was pretty hilarious!



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Dinner with the Bayers

Sep 13th, 2011 by

We hosted dinner for our good friends, Anton and Cynthia Bayer.  After dinner, Anton brought his golf clubs and gave us  a beginner lesson.  It was a fun night.

 

 

The boys, rolling down the course…

 

‘A’, sharing wisdom with Mrs. Bayer…

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Orchid

Sep 13th, 2011 by

I bought an orchid plant for David’s birthday back in March.  Typically, I would never do that because I kill everything, but the plant was only $9, so I figured it was worth the risk.   The lady I bought it from told me to pretty much ignore it; just place an ice cube one a week on the soil, and that’s it!  Well, it seemed to work.  All the flowers for the season bloomed.  Here is the last one…

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Buttercup Graduates

Sep 13th, 2011 by

The precious daughter of my longest held friend (42 years!) graduated from high school.  I flew up to Washington state to enjoy the ceremony and support mama Michelle.

 

The view of Sacramento rice fields…

Yes, Washington, there is sun above your clouds…

Flying into Seattle…

 

Look at the sweet gift from Michelle, waiting for me on my bed…(Thank you Buttercup, for giving up your room !)

 

 

We had such a special time together, chatting, shopping, dining out, chatting some more…

 

We met my mom for a nice lunch at U Village…

 

The graduation ceremony…

 

Michelle, Christina, and Grandma Judy…

 

Michelle and Buttercup…

Hugs from brother…

 

Sis and bro…

Me and Christina LEIGH (yes, her middle name is in my honor…)

 

Mt. Rainier on the flight home…

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Changes are Coming!

Jul 19th, 2011 by

I have not updated for a long time because I am in the process of getting my blog set up on a dedicated server. Everything up to now has been ported over and I don’t want to add more here. As soon as it is all complete, I will post the new address and then get busy with updating the blog!

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Interview with Boys

Jun 8th, 2011 by

Here are a few of the questions that were provided during a marriage retreat followup “date night” with the Bradleys.  We asked these questions to our spouses and shared answers.  I picked a few to ask the boys:

1) What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: HAWAII>  No question.
R: Hawaii, but also the Redwoods.

2)If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 5 things would you want to have with you?
Both yelled, “COCONUTS” simultaneously….
A: coconuts, a boat, my mom, my dad, and our cat Chelan (he added ‘R’ after ‘R’ didn’t add him on his list and he was upset over that)
R: boat, our cat Chelan, cherries, mom, dad, and ‘A’

3)If you could go back in time and undo one thing that you have done, what would it be?
A: When I broke my collarbone, I did not swim in the lake.  If I were to go back, I’d swim.  (When I suggested he choose not to break his collarbone, he responded, “no, I am glad I broke it, I just should have swam when I had the chance.”
R:Throwing a golfball at Dad’s leg and hitting him by accident.

4)If you could give super powers to your brother, what would they be?
A: To be any place at any time he wanted; to be multiple places at the same time.
R: To fly

5) Name 3 things that you think is most important to your brother
A: His mom, dad, and guitar
R: His parents, his cat, and God

6)What would you like to be on your tombstone?
A: I’m not going to have one; I’m going to be cremated.
R: I’m going to be cremated, but if I could I would choose to have a gold cup and writing that said something, and maybe one of my favorite books on it”

7)If you were given a million dollars and had to spend it on yourself, what would you buy?
A:I would buy a car and then ask to get my drivers license, the I would make myself look taller, and get a fake beard and glasses to look like a grownup.
R: Get a car to use when I’m grown up and maybe some Lego sets…
A: I’d get some Legos too.

8)If you could meet any three people in history, who might they be?
A: Jesus, George Washington, Peter from the Bible
R: Alexander the Great, Jesus, Julius Caesar (can you guess what we’ve been learning about?)

9)What do you feel like you’ve accomplished in your life?
A: Part of a never ending journey…
R: Martial arts testing for belts

10)What would you like to accomplish before you die?
A: Go farther into the journey
R: Getting my black belt

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I Give Up

Jun 8th, 2011 by

There comes a time when I am so tired of my own nagging voice, reminding the little and the big kids in the family to put their shoes away in the armoire.  Then, of course, I am convicted all the more when I see my own items through the house.

So, I give up.   No more nagging about where to put the shoes.  If you visit our house, chance are pretty good it will look like this:

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Kale Chips

Jun 8th, 2011 by

Thanks to my friend, Christie, we have a fun and healthy snack in the house!  I baked up a big batch of kale chips!
Kale Chips
1 bunch of fresh kale
3 cloves of garlic chopped
1 tsp of salt
1- 1 1/2 tsp oil lemon juice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Wash & tear kale into large chip sizes.
Lay on cookie sheet & drizzle oil, sprinkle salt & garlic on kale.
Put in oven & bake until crisp.
Eat & enjoy:)

They taste best hot from the oven…

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Inspirational Quote – William A. Ward

Jun 8th, 2011 by

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” -William A. Ward

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