Marin Lost Her First Tooth

Marin has been so anxious to lose a tooth. Andrew has lost eight, including one two days ago. She keeps asking me to wiggle her tooth. For about two weeks now, she has had pain when I brushed her bottom front teeth because one of the teeth was getting ready to fall out. Kevin decided that it was time to pull the tooth. I took before and after pictures to commemorate the occasion. She was so excited when it was out. She couldn't wait to see if the Tooth Fairy would visit her. She looks so cute with a missing tooth.

First Snow

This winter, although it's technically not winter yet, has been brutal in Portland. We began last weekend with snow. The roads were bad enough that they cancelled church. The kids went day by day, not knowing whether they would have school. It ended up that they were out this whole week because of the weather. Some kids on the east side had a couple of days of school but ours were out the full week. Now we've got another 2 1/2 weeks of Christmas break. Almost a month of vacation from school. Guess who will be ready for January 5th? We filled some of our time by making rocky road fudge, sugar cookies which we have yet to decorate, and candy cane cookies. The kids have eaten their fair share. We also built a beautiful snowman. The snow on one of the days was perfect for making snowmen. We are not done yet though. Tomorrow is forecast to have another 6-10" of snow with freezing rain on top of that for Sunday. I guess we won't have church again this Sunday. Kevin has been given a two week reprieve from his talk, which was supposed to be part of the Christmas program. They even cancelled our ward Christmas party this year. Ah, Portland weather.

Our First Born

Andrew was born eight years ago on a snowy evening. He was a week late and we were so excited that he was finally here. Andrew has grown into a fine young man. He is very intelligent. In fact, at his Parent-Teacher conference last month, the teacher told me that they just stopped testing his reading level when he got to a certain point because it was so high. She is also having him work on making a math encyclopedia for the class since he takes copious notes during math lessons. That's my boy. He does well in Taekwondo, soccer and baseball. He is currently a blue belt, working toward his purple stripe. He gets to break boards during class which is fun to watch. He is one of the highest ranks in his class, although he is the youngest. we are excited for him to get baptized in January. I can't believe that time has gone by so fast. He is still my little baby boy.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Andrew's Birthday Party

This year, Andrew decided he wanted to play laser tag with his friends. He had been to another friend's laser tag party last year and decided it was pretty cool. He invited seven friends--Morgan B., Paige, Sara, Kestrel, Tony, Elliott, and Taegan. Kevin played the first game with them. When they came back to the tables they were dripping with sweat and everyone looked like they had a blast. Before the laser tag began, the kids blew through quarters right and left playing various arcade games, winning tickets. Paige finished the day with 400 some odd tickets. She was the ticket winner. They had fun redeeming tickets for prizes. We had cake and ice cream in between games of laser tag and then followed up everything with presents. Andrew got several Lego sets, a couple of movies, a board game, carpet skates, a science kit, and a mood ring. Marin was at another birthday party during Andrew's. I think both of them had a terrific day. We also went out to Red Robin for dinner to celebrate. We will have his family party today, his actual birthday. He is dying to open up his presents.

The Ugly Turkey

Our children were invited by our neighbor to participate in another play this fall. They began practice right before Thanksgiving break. They were both turkeys in the play--turkey #3 and turkey #4. It was a really fun play that had a good meaning about not judging someone by how they look. The kids enjoyed practicing and performing the play. They decorated masks and a set. It was quite a production. Andrew has quite a gift for performing. Marin held her own as well, projecting her voice and remembering her lines. What a great way to channel all the talent in the neighborhood kids. Keep it up Mara.

Christmas Party/Tree 2008

The day started out with Kevin and I running the Ridgefield 10k. Keri and Marilyn did the 5k. Kevin and I both got PRs. It was really cold--infact, my left hand was still freezing at the end of the race thanks to the GPS watch. Nothing like metal to conduct cold right through the tips of my fingers. Then we literally raced back to get changed for Kevin's work Christmas party. Kevin had his party at a country club this year. They had it from 11 am to 3 pm. It was really fun. They started off the morning with cider for everyone. We mingled and chatted for a while. Then they took the firm picture, first with all the lawyers and then they added all the family members in. That was quite a trick. The guy taking the pictures stood on top of one of the tables. Afterward, they had a brunch buffet with pastries, juices, fruit, eggs, hashbrowns, sausage, french toast, bacon, etc. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals. We followed that up by an hour, give or take, of more mingling. During that hour, they had stations set up for the children to do activities. They could decorate a stocking, decorate sugar cookies, color, and play games. Santa came during that time and presented each child with a gift. Marin was none too happy when she got a Barbie that she already has. We smoothed it over by buying her another present that evening. At the end of the party, we play our traditional white elephant exchange. This year was quite heated. Every year, Rich Vial makes up new and exciting rules for the game. There were several presents that appeared to be quite appealing on the outside--two Victoria's Secret packages. There was also a bag that looked like Santa's that the kids were all clamoring to get. What helped/hurt the exchange was that the person who brought the gift gave a tantalizing description of what was in their package to try to get the buzz going about their gift. One of the hotly sought after gifts ended up being a pair of swim goggles, all because the description given about what they were was very cryptic. Andrew ended up with what he thought would be the ideal present--the Santa sack and then traded at the end for another gift he thought he wanted. Turns out he ended up with ugly Christmas candlesticks that he cried about on the way home. I tried to explain that is what you get at white elephant parties but it went over his head.

We also went and got our tree after the party. This year, I succeeded in getting Kevin to buy a tree that we didn't have to cut more than a foot off of to fit it in our house. Every year we pay for an eight foot or more tree and then cut off at least a foot so that we can fit our tree topper on top and put it in our tree stand that lifts it about 6 inches. Our tree is really pretty this year and we had great weather for going to get it. The place we go takes care to shake all the dead needles and then wraps it up tight. We just unwrap the twine when we put it in the stand and it fluffs right up. The kids had a blast hanging ornaments. It was a fun, but exhausting day.

Publishing House Tea

Each year that my kids have been in our school, they have had the opportunity to participate in a program called Publishing House. A writer was hired to run the program with parent volunteers as support. The plan is to have each child have access to Publishing House and for them to publish at least one book during the school year. I have been a volunteer in it all three years so far and love it. I think there is nothing better than helping kids learn to write well and gain confidence in their writing abilities. Twice a year, we have a Publishing House tea. Each class comes prepared with something for each child to read to their parents, friends, etc. Then the parents are invited to have coffee, tea, and cookies. The kids each get a cookie for their troubles and they love reading their writing to the parents--well most of them do. We try to encourage all the students to read at least something but some decline for varying reasons. Andrew has published many books over the course of three years. Marin published her first book last week. I am so proud of their writing efforts. The tea was held over two days. I was lucky enough that my kids' classes were scheduled back to back. They both read their work--Marin read two pieces. They were so cute.