We're Back! Back in the Saddle Again!

Smile Everyone!
In Cabellas' on Saturday - Boise
Nothin' like a free museum to play in!

Goofing Off at TGIF
Favorite Restaurant #2. Jake decided since it was Friday, we
had to go to TGIF.

Playing at the Discovery Center - Boise
Hello! What an awesome place!
The kids were entertained for hours on Friday!
This is Jake practicing his wizard skills.

Too Darn Tame Geese!
A herd of them came up to visit us..This is near the Discovery Center,
and by Julia Davis Park. Awesome place.

Playing at Red Robin
Favorite Restaurant #3. Dude! They had all sorts of fun art on the walls.
Including a Led Zepplin poster!

Playing at Red Robin!
Sami took a series of very goofy photos of me.
I'll share them one of these days.
Killed me. We were laughing too darn loud.

Breakfast of Champions
Our fab hotel had a great free breakfast lounge.
Sami and I would sneak down each morning at 6am to get our warm drinks,
in our cozy clothes and slippers, and load up on goods,
and bring it back up to our room. Later all three of us would go down again for
real food! We did add waffles and fruit.

New Under Armor Getting Broke In
Oh did we shop!
REI (Under Armor, Gloves),
Target (Winter Clothes, and new Bath Towels), Big 5 (new swimsuit for Sami),
Archivers (2x - they kicked us out Thursday night
so we returned Saturday during the big holiday event)!
Toys R Us, Petco (the kids love to go
check out all the funky critters, it's a mini zoo) and lastly,
Cabella's to tour the displays.

Playing at Olive Garden
Favorite Restaurant #1
Oh the wine? That's mine!
***************

We are home!

We had such an awesome get away... We left Thursday, about noon, and our first stop was the kid's school - for teacher conferences. I banged those babies out (it was the reason the kids were out of school!). I am so glad I did the conferences before we left - I got to hear how marvelous both kids are! Jake is reading at a 6th grade level and already has all his points for next quarter, and he is a math wiz! Sami is a delight to her teachers, and she is also good at math and all subjects. Her main teacher wants to push her more.. Gosh! My little heart sang for my kids! So, along our 3 hour drive I was scheeming on how best to reward them....

Let's just say, we all had a great, relaxing, spoiled rotten trip doing the things we all love! Sami and Jake love to swim - so each morning and evening, they swam until they did not want to swim anymore! A first, really. Normally I pull them out after an hour. I'm getting smarter. This time I was the mom with her speedo and scrapbooking gear! I did a swim routine first, and then scrapbooked the majority of the time afterwards! Hello!!! What a brilliant idea (if I don't say so myself!)... And I got lots done (I am putting together Ali Edward's December Daily Album)! I was in heaven doing my thing and so were the kids! Oh the joy of it all...

One highlight was another parent, whom I actually know, was in the pool area with his 2 daughters (a popular get away place) told me I am a beautiful swimmer! Oh gosh... I tell you.. a girl sure forgets the things she is good at and has tucked away as part of her 'before kids and marriage' life! Note to self: Do more of the things that I am good at and love!!!!

We really had a wonderful time. The trip length was perfect. We left Thursday and came back Saturday late afternoon. No stress. Lots of laughs. Lots of peaceful moments.

I'll share all my scrabby pages in another post!

Hit the Road, Jack!

Hi friends!! Today is November 6th, a Thursday..

My kids are out of school until the 12th so we are 'hitting the road' for a little adventure... Just the three of us. On the way out of town I'll stop at the school for our Conferences - it's the end of the quarter, hence the ridiculously long break (couldn't they have added a few days to Thanksgiving instead????) Oh, and they only have 2 days of school next week.. Why bother I say? Why bother!

If I was really adventurous we would blow this Popsicle stand and really really really hit the road! Disneyland would be awesome, or someplace nice and toasty warm, or even St. Louis to see my little sis, or my favorite stomping grounds in Chico, CA. Actually, I did check into a CA trip but all my peeps are too darn busy for us! Fine.

So, we are packing the swim bag and snow gear... Just in case.

And, we woke to snow on the ground, and it is snowing as I type. Another reason we are not driving to CA! If it's snowing here, it's raining there... And I am not a 'drive in the pouring rain in the big city' kinda girl. Did that 2 years ago, and gee, way too many accidents on Hwy 17! CRAZY Californians!!! You guys are maniacs on the road!

We should be back Saturday or Sunday. Or Monday or Tuesday. Depends on my mood and tolerance of two kids in the back of the car. And the snow. And the rain. We will see what the great world has up it's sleeves for our little trio.

So have a great next few days!!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig..

Our Resident Artist - She painted herself

On Easter We got to see a real bunny!
Guess what our next animal is going to be?

Sami painted everyone, this is our Easter host Eric! ARRRR

My 2peas buddy Sandy & Me
(I've got bags under my eyebags, too many sleepless nights!)

Copic Heaven!
Sami again, shares her artistic talent with us lower life forms

Sigh...

So. We came home 2 days early. For a variety of reasons.
Getting lost in downtown Seattle - on arrival.
The rain. The Cold.
I forgot to pack underwear. (But I made sure the kids had theirs!)
My son's teeth hurt.
Female issues. Please let me go home, lie down and hide for a few days.
'Stuff'.

However. Every cloud has a silver lining.
Here are the highlights:
Seeing distant relatives again
Easter Day at Eric & Piper's
Sami Face Painting everyone she could get her paints on!
The Pacific Science Center & The Butterfly House
Riding the Monorail
The kids beach combing
Making Carrot Cake - ala the Pioneer Woman's Recipe
Meeting Sandi, her critters and playing with her Copics
Starbucks stops along the way.
And that the kids seemed to have good time.


My apologies to my Portland trip hosts... I promise to come visit another time! I know you are disappointed. But, I needed to get home - mainly for 'personal reasons'.

I'll post more photos later... I'm tired. Wiped out. Need to sleep for a few days.

Just In Case You Don't Hear From Me!

Things are gonna get a little hectic around here... The kids and I are going to 'hit the road' early Saturday morning for Spring Break. This year our trip should be dubbed 'The Hydroplane Adventures'.

The weather forecast is: Snow and Rain for the next ten days. Snow and rain here... Rain at our destinations... This is no way to spend a Spring Break. Especially after a long, cold, snow laden winter! I thought I got my order in for sunshine. Seventy degree days, and perhaps a few 80's for good measure.. But, alas, Seattle and Portland are NOT cooperating. Dangity Dang Dang. July would have been a better time to visit the rainy cities, when we could truly appreciate the effects of cool weather. But heck, that ain't gonna happen. We have things to do on the Ranch in July!!

Oh well...
Rain gear is being packed. Umbrellas, too. Need new irrigation boots (we will call them rain boots around our city friends and family members!). Swimsuits, too. You never know. It is Spring Break for crying out loud! Besides, we have it on good authority that we have access to an indoor pool. Ta Da!

So, just in case you don't hear from me over the next few days, don't fret. I'm getting water logged, and eating as much seafood as I can! Yum.... this gal will be in heaven. Albeit, wet.

TTFN!!!!

Happy Feet! Some Arizona Goodness

Me & My Happy Feet - Mormon Loop Trail
Some photos from my Arizona mini-Vacation!
Yesterday morning Lynn took me on a hike... I huffed and puffed up the hill, and got to 'run' downhill! Apparently I can't walk and talk at the same time... Every time I would get deep into a conversation, Lynn had to tell me to get some 'happy feet' (aka, walk faster!)... funny... I say something similar to Jake, like 'Focus'! Lynn would be an awesome personal trainer.. I can't wait until our whole family can go back to Arizona for a visit! My pals are only 3 hours from the Grand Canyon.. actually, they seem to be 3 hours from every destination (Mexico, San Diego, Tombstone, etc.)... if my memory serves me right! So many adventure possibilities!


My pretty Arizona feet (thanks Rebs!)
Look! 'Nekid' toes! On Friday Rebecca treated me to a pedicure, manicure and dinner with her sorority alum group! She also took all the baby shower hostess' out for lunch. Pei Tai. Oh man. The food to be had in Arizona! And, it is so darn beautiful! Another fabulous taste of summer before winter... which has arrived here at home... It's windy, raining, and snowing... Our BBQ took a trip off the deck. Apparently it was speeding... It was on it's side in the yard; propane tank came unhooked (not the hose); burner knobs deknobbed, all the insides out, etc. NOT a pretty site! It is now retired in the garage...


Happy Poolside Feet ... Rebecca & Lynn's Backyard
We dined outside! Breakfast one morning, cocktails one evening... Their yard has palm trees, all sorts of plants, cool stuff to look at, and tunes! Heaven....


Rebecca's feet! (Bella is saying hi, too!)



Our First Hike - Hole in the Rock
Lots of great scenery and places to play in this land of enchantment! This spot is right by the zoo!

I am home now. The trip was awesome! Left here on Thursday, at 8am, returned last night about 8pm. I am so glad I drove home last night from Boise instead of this morning! The weather here is horrid! I am sitting here in my winter home attire ... as in fleece. My happy feet are now in socks... but I know they are there and the adventures they had!

Ramblings. This, That and The Jet Plane!

Just In Case Rebecca is Casing my Blog!
This Photo is a preview of what she can expect for the weekends activities!

OK. I've been up since 4am, cranking out 'tons of work' which included our Ranch Newsletter, printing labels, soliciting donations from businesses in Downtown Baker for the Haines School Chili Feed Raffle in February (say that 10 times fast!), and of course, grocery shopping, shopping, and shopping! Phew! Maybe I snuck in one adult beverage. A Corona - prep work for the weekend activities. Anyway, please be advised, I am on a rambling rose ramble!

So, Sami has just informed me she is writing a book. (wonder who she get's that from!)... Anyway, she is downstairs on the kid's computer writing a story. She said it is about a princess, who finds a bunch of other princesses, and they go off into the woods and become outlaws. ROTFL!

(side note: she wants to know how to spell 'peculiar' -which she called 'petiliar' which, again, must be her version of two words put together, and I sent her to the dictionary. Apparently the dictionary is her Daddy. Pushover!)

Hmm.. Her stories underlying theme? Like, say, City girl goes Country? Or, a coming of age story? Shedding of one's youthful bright eyed Disney-esque (I made up this word - think I'll copyright that one) and interring the stages of Preadolescence? So many possibilities! Great book idea, though. I can't wait to read it! No doubt she will publish her novel long before I do. And she is only 9!

Speaking of princesses, I am leaving tomorrow at 8:00 am, heading to Boise to catch a plane, and jet setting to the Phoenix Arizona area for the Princess Baby Shower! Yeah, baby. This is the shower for my good pal Rebecca, who is a princess. I am the Duchess. Our friend Lisa is the Countess (Rebecca emailed me and reminded me - so I do believe she is casing my blog!). Too bad I don't arrive on that Arizona soil until 5:30 pm. If all goes well in Utah! HA! Thank God I'm not flying United... Dealt with them in 2000 when they were on strike. Been mad at them ever since. Dogs.

I have lots of show and tell items to share - but will post them after the shower! I made more goodies of the Bella variety that coordinate with the invites - remember those? The packet of 60 I cranked out during SOF week? They have relatives in other forms. Too bad I can't take a paper cutter on the airplane. I'll be up for hours tonight doing some 'prep' work! Reminds me of those all nighters back in Chico, CA when I was so very young.

Back to computers: Every family member is in front of a computer right now! Sick, eh? Sami is writing her book (as mentioned), Jake is playing a game, Dick is working, and I am also working! I love this kind of work. I would have to say we are all doing something we are truly passionate about. Jake is the only one on a timer. We monitor the computer game playing thing. I should be on a timer. The artichokes have been done for well over 30 minutes, and are sitting on the stove, waiting patiently for their grand appearance. OH! And the CMA awards are on tonight!

So, eventually I have to pack. Rumor has it the temps will be in the 80s - 90s. Oh, man. The sunshine mother ship is definitely calling my name! Is this Carma? After having to deal with the central heat spider zone, our 18 degree mornings, and breaking ice for the critters, I feel that I am being handed the 'Golden Girl Ticket'! Yippy! Miss Rebs has scheduled us for pedis and minis on Friday. Should I take my cowgirl boots? They are pretty cool! Seriously. They are Ariat Fat Babys, and have an ostrich leather 'look' lower portion and sea-breeze blue upper with stars! Or how about my faux turquoise studded flip flops? Decisions, Decisions..

OK friends! I'll catch you all later when I return on Monday! Happy trails to you all!

Yep. Gotta go. The Dinner police are calling me.