Journey to Clover

Scout Awards

2010-09-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

J's troop recently had an awards night. J advanced in rank and earned 4 merit badges. S gave out some of the awards and shared his appreciation on being educated about the benefit of sock liners. They can make or break a 12 mile hike.

Triathalon and Fun Run

2010-09-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

J again participated in a triathalon recently. He got 2nd in his age catagory. S participated in the fun run. Just when the fun run finished, the sky OPENED UP and we got soaked! So glad that the events were able to take place before the deluge!

2010-09-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

These posts are out of order. Sorry.

After dinner we went back to check the floats and found two more large fish. The last one and bigger one was MAD!

Fun day at the lake

2010-09-05T21:24:00.000-07:00

After jug fishing, we beached the boat and grilled hotdogs for dinner. When the sun went down, it got cold. I was so glad that we brought sweatshirts.

Redneck fishing adventure pays off!

2010-09-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

We went to the lake and took a friend with us to go "jug fishing". We caught over 16 lbs of catfish. It was soooo fun to see the float start bobbing up and down when there was a fish on the hook.

Flooding in the Neighborhood

2010-05-02T12:39:00.001-07:00

We had 7.34 inches of rain in a little more than 24 hours. Then during church it was a huge down pour. The water level in the back yard rose a foot. It's still raining and it is forecasted to continue to be heavy for several more hours.
The last picture is at the Weyerhauser plant at the end of the main road to our house.

2010-05-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

The second picture is a different perspective of our back yard.
The third picture is of a neighbor's garden. Yes, that is a VAN floating behind the trees.

2010-05-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

I took this standing on our front porch.

2010-05-02T12:23:00.001-07:00

This is our backyard...and the dog house that was in our back yard.

Amish/Mennonite Auction

2010-04-03T19:41:00.000-07:00

Today was the annual non-motorized farm implement auction. There were thousands of folks there. Along with farm equipment for sale, there are all sorts of poultry and rabbits. There were puppies and plants, boots and baskets, hand tools and honey. At any time, there were at least three auction rings going.

It's a really neat experience. We did not buy any bantan roosters, pheasants, ducks, guinea hens, fighting cocks, geese or peacocks (okay, there was only ONE peacok to purchase - I exaggerate.) We settled for some tomato plants, a jar of honey and multiple desserts.

Art award

2010-04-03T19:37:00.001-07:00

J was recently chosen as one of 500 (out of 20,000) students for a local award.

Here is an end-of-season photo of the team.

Arrow of Light

2010-04-03T19:31:00.001-07:00

J recently earned his Arrow of Light award and transitioned from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. We are very proud of him and he's on the road to some new and exciting adventures.

More snow fun!

2010-01-31T19:18:00.000-08:00

Who would have thought that we'd get 6 inches of snow? Yippee! It was great for sledding in the neighborhood retention area...not so good for making snowmen....okay for snowballs if you have the right tools (snow slinger from Eddie Bauer)...and great snow cream.

Snow Day!

2010-01-08T11:59:00.001-08:00

Very little snow in strategic conditions left area children out of school Thurs and Fri. Sarah played along with the big kids sledding. Our dog loves the snow....so much she ran off in it. What dog runs away only when there is snow on the ground?!?

Christmas Pics

2010-01-08T11:54:00.001-08:00

2009-12-18T05:28:00.000-08:00

J's basketball team is 3-0 this year. It's a great group of boys who really play well together - sharing the ball. I love to watch each boy improve over the season.

Sarah's birthday

2009-12-03T11:58:00.000-08:00

Apologies for the belated post. S is almost home free and I am mending from my pain management procedure (thanks to those of you who called to check on me).

We had Sarah's bday the day after S got out of the hospital. I could not have pulled it off with out the help of my mom and my great friend and neighbor C who helped to get the house/food/everything ready on time. J was a great help too. He's growing into a fine young man. Other friends arrived at the party with a gift in one hand and a frozen meal in another hand. Still others swung into gear to get the joint cleaned up and dishes washed at the end of the party. It makes you realize how blessed you are with a great group of friends.

Sarah also had a small celebration at her school the following week. I got the kids really sugared-up before they were picked up by their parents!

I'm doing okay...therapy twice a week. I spend my day deciding between pain or fog. Hopefully I'll get past the point soon where my muscles are spasming so much, then I won't have to take so many meds.

more fall break photos

2009-10-11T19:45:00.001-07:00

Fall Break ends well

2009-10-11T19:41:00.001-07:00

Sometimes life gives you a cool surprise. We met a really nice family two years ago in the Los Angeles Airport also on their way to China to adopt. We've kept in touch with them and stopped on the way home from fall break to visit them.

$20 gone

2009-10-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

As I logged on, I realized I did not post for the month of September. I suppose it was the shots in my back I was either preparing for or recovering from. Sorry!

I've never been much of a gambler, often losing my $10 limit at casinos, but I felt I had found the "no lose" bet when I wagered $20 that J could not get Nana to do a cannonball in the pool. Well, I lost $20.

Our other child

2009-08-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

In a weak moment, B-dog resorted to a sketchy relationship with a little red monster.

Cousin fun

2009-08-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

Gardening cousins

2009-08-26T20:02:00.001-07:00

Fish Hatchery

2009-08-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

We visited the fish hatchery while on vacation and learned a lot about the growth cycle of the rainbow trout. They are shipped to the hatchery as fertilized eggs. The first photo shows them at about the size of minnows. Then when they grow to fingerling size, they are moved to the outdoor tanks called "racetracks". Visitors are able to purchase fish food and feed the trout which are in various stages of growth before being transported to streams throughout the state for stocking.

I now know where the term "feeding frenzy" came from!

J first day of school

2009-08-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

Notice how B-dog is trying to block the door so J can't get out! She doesn't want him to go!!!

He had a great first week.

Rock House

2009-08-04T20:44:00.001-07:00

According to some website I found, this is the largest natural bridge east of the Rockies, spanning 104 feet. It is 300,000,000 years old, once used by Indians to bury their dead. It's really hard to find, but worth the effort.

Note the inscription of the high water mark in 1943. Since then, the Wolf Creek Dam has been built, allowing for flood control...hydroelectric power and recreation...but that's another post!

Vacation

2009-08-01T18:26:00.000-07:00

Trout fishing on the river; rainbow trout.

Lake Cumberland - BIG rock climbing. These rocks are usually under water, but the lake is about 30 feet lower than usual pool due to repairs on the dam.

Where did Summer go?

2009-08-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

No post for June and July because I was scared my computer might crash. It still might but I'm goin' for broke and posting anyway.

Conference Swim Meet:

Backstroke and breast stroke

Purple Turtle which is pushing in the winning coaches - so far we've never lost a meet or conference championship.

Conference championship trophy and two first-place medals.

School's End

2009-05-21T19:32:00.001-07:00

J ended school this year with field day and a bowling trip. Awards were held this afternoon. J earned an award for reading at least 100 AR points in Newberry Award books. He also made all A's for all four quarters. We were so proud! We celebrated with dinner at the restaurant of his choice. Way to go J!

Last den meeting of the year

2009-05-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

Nana fun

We have the best dog in the world...the most patient anyway!

And you wonder...

2009-04-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

where the stereotypes come from (check out the feet.)

Last minute

2009-04-27T06:20:00.000-07:00

opportunity to race in the district pinewood derby race. District does not have the program our pack has that tells time and mph so I do not have hard statistics to report, but Jack raced through the 6th round. It was nice since it's his last opportunity to race. He'll age out next year.

Gorgeous day

2009-04-24T11:45:00.001-07:00

today. Sarah got to try out her new BIG bubble wand.

Fashionista

2009-04-23T04:45:00.000-07:00

Sarah has begun to assert her opinion as to what she wears.

Scout Camping

2009-04-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

S led a scout campout this weekend. The boys earned several badges. One fun activity was planting seedlings, something S did 30+ years ago when he was a scout.

The boys cooked their own meal: the "cowboy" or "hobo" meal where you put a hamburger patty, potatoes, carrots and onion in tin foil and place it in the coals. It was amazing how many boys who said they weren't going to eat it actually enjoyed it.

Rain came Saturday night. The true campers stayed the course and hung their tents to dry the next day.

Easter

2009-04-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

A very patient brother sits with his sister and the Easter Bunny.

Two Sarahs

Bucket Head girl

Opening Easter baskets

Easter clothes.

Pretty Girl Playdate!

2009-04-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I met our buddies, ER and her mommy at a local play place today. I still marvel that we were blessed enough to adopt at the same time as my sorority sister and her husband, and another family from our area. How wonderful it will be for these girls to grow up knowing one another, the families enjoying one another. God is good.

Tombstone, the town to tough to die

2009-03-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

Sorry it took so long for me to post the last installment of our trip. It's taken longer to return to normal this trip.

Tombstone was definitely one of the highlights of the trip - a real, live western town. The shoot out at the OK Corral was neat. Jack said he could have spent a whole day there.

Bisbee

2009-03-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

We visited the old mining town of Bisbee, AZ and took a mine tour. Our guide was actually a retired miner so we learned a great deal from Sonny.

Lake Havasu

2009-03-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

We spent some time in beautiful Lake Havasu City, AZ with my aunt and uncle. The spring breakers were out in force. Several arrests (not us!) We got a stomach bug while we were there that put us down for a few days. However we managed to have a great time. The folks there are as nice as the scenery is beautiful.

Hoover Dam

2009-03-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

is wicked awesome. The bypass around it that they're building is amazing. I'll have to go back and drive over the bridge. It's beautiful scenery.

Basketball pictures

2009-03-07T17:33:00.000-08:00

J's team played in the championship game for the lower bracket in his division today (that's a lot of conditions!) They got second. The boys played great and we met some really cool people and spent a season with some other cool people we already new.

Blue and Gold Banquet

2009-03-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

Photos of the banquet where J earned his Webelo rank.

Life is good.

2009-02-26T13:07:00.000-08:00

This is what the "Life is Good" company was thinking of when they coined the phrase, right?

March Madness - almost

2009-02-26T13:00:00.001-08:00

Basketball tournament time. J's team won their first tourney game with some last-second free throws. Another game tonight. Blue and Gold Banquet tomorrow. Science Fair project due Monday. Busy week.

Dog Whisperer

2009-01-29T11:22:00.000-08:00

Move over Caesar Millan! There's a new dog whisperer in town!

Snow Daze!

2009-01-28T09:34:00.001-08:00

A lazy snow day watching TV in mom and dad's bed.

Snow fun with snow puppy! B-dog loves to catch snowballs!

Mom- do you recognize the coat that you bought S in high school?!?

Ice Storm Photos

2009-01-27T17:31:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year

2009-01-27T12:58:00.001-08:00

We celebrated CNY a day early at a local Chinese restaurant that has a side room we can reserve for our group of Families with Children from China (FCC). We had a nice group of people brave the cold for our gathering.
It was nice that there was a young man the same age as J to "hang out" with.
It was a challenge to get the little girls to sit still for a photo.

Visit

2009-01-27T12:55:00.000-08:00

Mom, Sarah and I went south to visit my great aunt. She got a kick out of Sarah, especially when Sarah would steal french fries off my aunt's plate!

Pinewood Derby

2009-01-27T12:45:00.000-08:00

J was 4th in the Cub Scout Pack for the Pinewood Derby. They have a wicked awesome track that gives immediate run times and calculates track speeds (over 200 mph).

Presents!

2009-01-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve on the Beach

2009-01-18T15:03:00.000-08:00

When it's 80 degrees on Christmas Eve, you just gotta go to the beach. We all had fun despite the cold water.

Family Christmas in Florida

2009-01-18T14:54:00.000-08:00

2009-01-18T14:41:00.000-08:00

Holiday Happenings

2008-12-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

Santa and Mrs. Claus stopped by our house today to pick up gifts we'd purchased for an angel we adopted. Sarah would not get up into the sleigh to say hello. Maybe next year. :)

J can make some pretty great balloon sculptures - a backpack can also double as an angel's halo.

2008-11-28T07:24:00.000-08:00

What a good looking group!

There's a wise guy among us.

Sarah likes pie!

2008-11-23T14:24:00.000-08:00

Sarah learns about static electricity with a little help from a big brother and a balloon.
Sarah has a new doll from her auntie and family.
Mom and dad head out for a charity formal.

I do! (I'm two!)

2008-11-10T19:19:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful party as Sarah turned two. We were surrounded by friends who supported us along our journey to get her (and even a few who were there!) Thanks to everyone who made it a fun, enjoyable evening.

Decorating for the holidays.

2008-11-10T19:15:00.001-08:00

Some people celebrate the holidays by hanging decorations from trees. So does our dog.

Bad kitty. Don't come back to Brandi's yard.

2008-11-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

Sarah's boyfriend's younger brother. If he's this handsome you can imagine the older brother!

Catalog shopping with Nana.

Going to J's football game.

Halloween night. Ladybug fairy and Indiana Jones

Halloween Preparations

2008-11-05T11:41:00.001-08:00

Halloween parade at school.

Every good Trick-or-Treater must have training from a seasoned trick-or-treater.

J made the best halloween cookies in the world.

We're so proud...

2008-10-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

of J making honor roll!

2008-10-27T19:02:00.000-07:00

If you give a mom a muffin....

2008-10-16T15:11:00.001-07:00

If you give a mom a muffin, she'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She'll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee. She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the washer, she'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper. She will get out a pound of hamburger. She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With A Pound Of Hamburger.) The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. She'll smell something funny. She'll change the two-year-old. While she is changing the two-year-old the phone will ring. Her five-year-old will answer and hang up. She'll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee. Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. She will pour herself some. And chances are, if she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Fall Break Fun

2008-10-13T18:42:00.001-07:00

2008-10-13T18:38:00.000-07:00

2008-10-13T18:32:00.000-07:00

WE spent fall break in the mountains with friends. The scenery was beautiful and we had a perfect getaway. Baby squirrels fell between the walls of our room in the cabin. The maintenance man had to make a hole with a hammer to get them out. The boys thought they were cute and soft.

Auction photos

2008-09-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

The Great Wagon Race

2008-09-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

Orchard visit

2008-09-20T15:47:00.001-07:00

The orchard had fried pies and ice cream, but the peaches were all done for the season. The kids had fun anyway.

photo

2008-09-12T15:35:00.001-07:00

Sept 11

2008-09-12T15:27:00.001-07:00

Sarah wore red, white and blue in honor of the Sept 11 anniversary. She looks so old in this picture.

Fun in...

2008-09-12T15:24:00.001-07:00

a gift bag! Who needs toys?

Coupon queen

2008-09-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

I gave Sarah some coupons to "file".

Triathalon

2008-09-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

J competed in his second triathalon. He came in 11th overall. We're so proud. Yet another thing he's done that his parents haven't.

Early birthday

2008-08-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

J celebrated his birthday early so he could have a swim party. Everyone had a great time.

First big boo boo

2008-08-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

Sarah wiped out in the baby pool at the Families with Children from China gathering. To be quite honest, I'm surprised it's taken this long considering how active she is. There was a nurse practitioner there who helped us decide that stitches were not going to be the best choice. Ice helped avoid bruising and it's already healing.

2008-08-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

Farmer Sarah goes to the orchard.

Sarah's first day of school

2008-08-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

First day of school

2008-08-11T19:08:00.000-07:00

Championship Swim Meet

2008-08-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

Conference champs 4 years in a row!

Play date

2008-08-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

Sarah just wanted to help Emma Rose up, again and again and again.

Oh heck. Let's both fall down.

This is how J enjoys the lake....

2008-08-03T20:40:00.001-07:00

...this is how Sarah does.

2008-08-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

Pool fun

2008-07-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

Sarah jumped right in and kicked her way almost to the top. She would sit on the bottom of the pool with Dad and J, and jump in with and to the cousins.

Beach fun

2008-07-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

In her usual style, Sarah hit the beach with gusto, running in until a wave knocked her down. After that she was only a slight bit more cautious. She has no fear. She loved hunting for shells and chasing the seagulls.

Family Fun

2008-07-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

We had a nice summer vacation trip to visit family, granparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

2008-07-12T05:50:00.000-07:00

Garden
first haircut
Doggies
Friends we love

2008-07-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

J's swim meet - finishing breast stroke.

First trip to the lake. We were able to stay about an hour and a half before a storm blew up and we had to get off the water. Sarah seems to like it.

First harvest from our garden - a radish the size of a dime. Delicious.

2008-06-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

2008-06-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

Friday

2008-06-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

We're still not sure if Sarah is a righty or a lefty. To be sure, she keeps crayons in BOTH hands.

Mom and J tried to plant the garden but got soaked by a pop-up thunderstorm.

Sarah, the Homeowner

2008-06-10T19:03:00.001-07:00

Sarah has a new playhouse with a picnic table attached. She enjoyed serving plastic food and being served. She thinks she's just one of the boys.

He did it!

2008-06-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

J is now a level 2 first degree black belt. This is different from the probationary black belt he earned 18 weeks ago.
We are SO proud of him!

Lots of postings - scroll down

2008-05-31T19:26:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you could not imagine how truly blessed you are? It's been a year since my dad died and God has amazing healing powers. We lost my dad but gained Sarah. I turned 40 and see everything clearer now.

Today was an amazing day. J was testing for his L1, 2nd degree black belt. He got a terrible sunburn on Thursday at the pool. (I will never take his word that he already has sunscreen on again - ha!) He was hurting so bad that he did not want to test. But he had worked so hard to prepare. I shared Philipians 4:13 with him, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." When we finished, J said, "I'm going to pass today!" God did not take away his pain from the sunburn, but He gave him the strength to get through it. J passed his form and board-breaking. Sparring is subjective so we'll find out about it soon. I've never been so proud of him.

At the neighborhood street party J got to ride the dunking booth. Sarah liked the inflatable bouncy castle. I hope to find pictures from someone who had a camera there. duh. hat-rack moment. It was so much fun to have my mom (and neighbor!) there with us. It was a hot-humid evening. Walking home you could smell the honey-suckle.

I marvel at how lucky we are to have the kids we have and the life we have. I see the hand of God in it daily. My wish is that you do too.

Memorial Day weekend

2008-05-31T19:17:00.000-07:00

We attended a family reunion over the weekend. It was SO well done. The cousin incharge thought of everything, down to the life-size picture of my great-great-grandfather with whom we could get our picture made. J was constantly busy and loved playing with his cousins even if they just met. Sarah was worn out each day.

Last photo is of Sarah's first ice cream cone (with us).

2008-05-31T19:14:00.000-07:00

Awards day: J received recognition for his outstanding reading and honor roll all 4 quarters.

Sarah learned how to feed Dolly her bottle.

2008-05-31T19:07:00.000-07:00

Field day: Little Sister has to be just like her brother.

Scout family camp out. Mom and Sarah went home after supper. Dad and J stayed all night. It's amazing how many trains come through our town over night.

Workin' at the Car Wash

2008-05-11T05:44:00.000-07:00

Sarah will wash your car if you're not picky about where the soap ends up. :)

On this Mother's Day I'm thankful to my mother for her patience with me and her unconditional love and to my spouse's mother who raised my husband to be a great husband and father.