Summer to Fall

I just went through my pictures to find out what we've been up to since summer.  Here it is:

-Taylor turned 7 in July

-I completed P90X 9 (although I didn't follow the diet)

-Bren and Neil got married and moved to Bend, OR

-We went to Sun River with Jenny's family to visit the newlyweds

-I got some of my students to run a race with me...They did awesome!

-Peter kayaked Wooly Creek

-Taylor and I had a "Mommy-Daughter" Date

-A new family with five girls moved to the ranch!

-We took a family trip to the redwoods

-Halloween was a success

-Sakari got run over, but she's okay now

-And, it's a beautiful autumn on the ranch

Annika and Lauryn in Sun River

Together we took 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th at the Golden Bear Run

We went to the Wild Cat park, shopping in Grant's Pass, out to lunch, and to the Oregon Caves

 I just got a new camera for my birthday, so I hope that means that I'll be taking and posting more pictures. 

I've been awful at this thing called blogging.  I'll make my excuses later.  For now, let's see if these pictures will upload.

Lauryn's fourth birthday was on a rainy weekend and only one friend was able to join us.  We ate dirt cake and planted flowers.

Lauryn and Oliver, who graduated from preschool and is now a kindergartner at Junction.

The spread for Bren's wedding shower.

The ceremony venue for Bren's wedding.

I'm Back!

It has been a busy spring! But summer is finally here and now I just might have some time to get caught up on the blog before school starts again in August. First I need to figure out how to connect my camera to this computer... Here's one picture from our jazz concert night. Tina, our conductor, made the dresses for the girls. I'm wearing my granny's hat and my great grandmother's beaded sweater. Besides band concerts, we've had lots of field trips, River Olympics, bridal showers, graduation, and weddings to get ready for and attend.

Fall and Winter

We threw together these costumes for Halloween in about ten minutes with Heidi's help. Taylor was Little Red Riding Hood, and Lauryn was a pumpkin.

We had three litters of puppies at the ranch this fall. The dad was a stray dog from somewhere down the road. I'm happy to report that both of our dogs are fixed now and we'll have no more puppies. Peter and I found it difficult to get into the Christmas Spirit this year, so our Christmas Tree hunting was left up to Taylor and me. We hiked up to the shooting range, cut this cute tree down, carried it home, and decorated it one afternoon. We had some beautiful weather in January. One afternoon we took a hike up Clear Creek. This is at the 10-mile bridge.

Confessions of a New Twilight Saga Addict

I've spent the last three weeks of my life engrossed in the four books of the Twilight Saga, by Stephenie Meyer, like it was a true addiction; even now I'm feeling withdrawals. I was hesitant to read these books in the past for the following reasons:

1. Vampires? Really? I'll stick with my realistic fiction, thanks.
2. 500 plus pages per book? That will take me forever...
3. What's all the hype about? If I read them will I become obsessed too?

I started Twilight the day after Christmas and ignored my family and all responsibilities during that last week of vacation as I finished it and New Moon. Knowing that I was choosing to read over all other activities, I started to feel a little guilty. I would even sneak in a few minutes here and there, and if Peter came into the room, I'd hide the book, not wanting to see him roll his eyes at me again. Once he realized I was in it for the long haul and that the books seemed to be good for our love life, he didn't bug me about it anymore. In fact, he picked up Twilight and read it in a few days, both of us becoming sub-par parents.

Once school started again, I was eager and motivated to get all of my "chores" done as soon as I got home, so that, at 7:00PM, after putting the girls to bed, I could sit on the couch and read until 11PM, or whenever I started feeling guilty for staying up so late. I continued to neglect other things in my life; our band music arrived and I didn't practice my flute, I missed two weeks of volleyball because I wanted to finish Eclipse and then Breaking Dawn. I didn't allow myself to feel too bad about it, after all, I was enjoying my new routine too much.

Now that I'm done with the books and I've seen all three movies, I'm feeling a bit lost. I find that I'm not motivated to do any chores, and I spend lots of wasteful time on the internet or daydreaming about being a vampire. Last night, not finding anything to satisfy my mind, I picked up Breaking Dawn and reread the last chapter. Is this what it feels like to have an addiction? It does make me feel better to know that I'm not alone. There is quite a fan club out there for these books and for good reason. If you haven't read them yet, you should. Just beware that you will most likely leave your "real world" for a time, and you might have difficulty readjusting once you're through.

I Got a Job...

...and my blog has suffered the consequences. My teaching job was only three half days at first. Then it became five half days, and on the 24th of January it will be full-time. I'm very glad about it and I'm hoping that I will still be able to keep up with things at home. Here's a smattering of pictures since September:The first day of School for Taylor and me. I'm teaching the upper-grade class at Taylor's school, six miles down the road.A week after school started, Peter and I took the opportunity of a quiet weekend to get away. We left the girls with Heidi and Doug and camped at the mouth of, the appropriately named, Rock Creek. The next day we hiked up the creek for a few miles. We didn't get as far as we had hoped but were happy to make it to this beautiful pool:Lauryn ready for her first day of preschool. She attends the Head Start in Orleans three days a week and loves it.

Late in September, Jenny and James and their two adorable kids, Leo and Annika, came for a visit. This year the weather cooperated and we were able to go rafting.James and I kayaked. Despite the nice weather, it was very cold.

Summer Time...and the living is Easy

I can't believe that summer is coming to an end! School starts tomorrow for Taylor and me--I got a part-time teaching job at Taylor's school--and next week Lauryn will start preschool. Here are some pictures of our summer, which passed all too quickly. The girls at a birthday party.

My summer crafts: making lavender wreaths, wands, and saches.

The girls and I spent nearly every afternoon swimming. We'd go to the pool, pond, or a nearby creek or river.

The Fair! Why is it so much fun to see your children experience the things you loved as a kid?

A ride I've always wanted to try but never have. Taylor loved it.

Finally, a day on the river! We were so busy with guests this year that Lauryn and I didn't raft much.

Peter, teaching Taylor the art of rock-jumping.

Taylor going solo.