Stormy

It's been raining quite a bit here lately.....just in time for the kids to be inside during their vacation - he he!!!  After quite a storm the other day, a friend of mine and I went down to the river to get some pictures.  Here they are....

This is the confluence where the north and middle forks of the American river come together.  There was a lot of water rushing through there!!!
Those trees are on an island that you can usually see.  Not today!!!
This is a new sign they've recently put up.  Yeah, I'd say that's a good idea!!
Makes you realize how powerful water is!!
I love this picture, but I hate blogger!!  Blogger....why??  Why do you not let me put a picture that I've rotated into my blog correctly??  Soooo frustrating!!!  Anyway, (tilt your head) this is Foresthill Bridge as the fog is coming in and the sun is setting.  More rain is on the way, so we'll see if I get anymore cool pictues!! :)

Posted in: on Thursday, December 23, 2010 at at 4:19 PM 3 comments  

Pumpkin carving

Sometimes Blogger's new format drives me absolutely crazy and everything I want to do does not work out for me!!  That's one reason this post has been in my draft file for a month now!!  Oops!  Well, I'm finally getting to it again.....better late than never! :)
Here are the kids proudly displaying the pumpkins they are going to turn into jack-o-lanterns! 
The gang getting started cutting off lids and scraping out the insides. 
Just checking to see if there are any more "guts" in there!!
The kids wanted super elaborate designs and even printed ideas off the computer, but Bret always ends up having to do it for them.  He told the kids they were on their own this year, so here is Adam's design....
Briana's design....
Adam cutting out his design (whoo hoo.....getting to use a knife -- his favorite!!).
Here is everybody getting ready to light their own candle.
The final products!! 

Posted in: on Monday, November 22, 2010 at at 3:17 PM 2 comments  

Winter Concert

Briana is now old enough that she can participate in band at school.  And it worked out well since her piano teacher moved away this summer and we never started her anywhere else.  So....she's now playing the clarinet (or at least learning to play the clarinet!).  She has her first performance next month, so mark it on your calendars!!!  Details are:
     When:  Tuesday, December 14th at 7 pm  (Doors open at 6:45)
     Where:  Golden Sierra H.S.
     Cost:  Free!
Hope to see you there!!

Posted in: on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at at 7:19 PM 2 comments  

He lost it!!

Literally, not figuratively....

And saved it in his pocket to bring home so that he could "study" it. 

What a boy!

Posted in: on Monday, November 01, 2010 at at 7:54 PM 3 comments  

Got me thinking

Every day, Jeni and I talk to our students about a current event topic.  We find where that place is on the map, figure out which continent it's on, and so forth.  The kids love it!  While I was cruising the internet this morning looking for more articles, I came across this one. 

Interesting......because many of those exact same thoughts went through my mind three years ago.

I remember mentioning to my dad as we left the hospital after I was given my iodine-131 that nobody knew I was radioactive.  I felt normal, I looked normal, but a radiation detector might not have thought I was normal!  It was a little weird walking past all these people who had no idea I was actually radioactive!!

And here they are talking about it again.  I'll be interested to see if anything changes regarding the way this treatment is done or if it will remain status quo.  Hmm....something to think about.  In fact, I wonder if I've ever walked past a radioactive person before.

Posted in: on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at at 4:23 PM 2 comments  

Barn

Barns are notorious for having mice in them and since we don't have a cat, it seems like this could become a problem now that we have a barn.  However, I think we may have found the solution.  Look what just showed up....
Cute little fellow, and he seems like he would be good at keeping the rodent population in check!!

Speaking of the barn, I haven't put any new pictures up for a while.  Although the progress is slow, there IS progress going on. It's all framed up, garage doors are in, most of the roof is sheeted, and now the dormers are being build.  Coming along! 



Posted in: on Sunday, October 03, 2010 at at 10:29 AM 2 comments  

Our little fella

Fifteen years ago Bret and I brought home an adorable little puppy who had been abandoned in a box in a park.  We fell in love with the little guy right away.  Only a few short weeks later he was run over by our neighbor and we had to make the decision about what to do with him.  Of course, we were already deeply attached and decided we would somehow figure out a way to pay for whatever vet bills ensued.  He soon recovered from his injuries and two years later got a "sister" Nika.

We added two "real" children to the mix and became one big happy family. 

Over the years, he limped a little more, went completely deaf, and started sleeping more and more hours each day -- not exactly the watch dog he started off as but still an important part of our family.

Today a tragic accident took him from us and left a little hole in our hearts.  We have always been surprised that he has lived as long as he has especially with everything he has been through, and he was a trooper up until the very end.  In the past year and a half, we have lost three of our dogs and it doesn't get any easier.  He will be missed!

Posted in: on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at at 7:42 PM 3 comments  

Soccer studs

The soccer season is well underway now.  Adam has played four games in the past three weeks and his team is in first place.  They are doing really well.  He's having a great time!

Briana's team has played two games now.  She is now on an all girls team this year and they play teams from other leagues.  It's quite a change from what she's been doing before.  Bret is coaching them, and although they have lost both of their games, they are definitely making progress and learning to work together.  She looks like a little midget out there, but she gets right in there and goes up against girls much taller and bigger than her.
Thanks to everybody who has come by to cheer them on.  There is plenty more opportunity if you want to make a game! :)

Posted in: on at at 11:53 AM 1 comments  

Boo boo

Car door + finger = ouch!!!!

Posted in: on Wednesday, September 08, 2010 at at 5:05 PM 3 comments  

Brie's soccer schedule

Got Brie's schedule finally, so here it is:

9/11 @ 12:00 PM - Lotus Park
9/18 @ 2:00 PM - Pleasant Grove Middle School
9/25 @ 4:30 PM - Golden Sierra High School
10/2 @ 1:00 PM - Herbert Green Middle School
10/9 @ 9:30 AM - Herbert Green Middle School
10/16 @ 9:30 AM - Golden Sierra H.S.
10/23 @ 3:30 PM - Pleasant Grove Middle School
10/30 @ 11:00 AM - Golden Sierra H.S.
11/6 @ 3:30 PM - Pleasant Grove Middle School
11/13 @ 11:00 AM - Golden Sierra H.S.

Hope to see you there!! :)

Posted in: on Saturday, September 04, 2010 at at 10:34 AM 1 comments  

Adam's soccer schedule

We just had our first soccer game!  Adam's team started off a little shaky and the other team quickly scored two goals.  Then we came back and it was 3-2!  In the last second of the game the other team scored again, and we finished with a tie score!  Great job for their first game playing actual positions (which they are still learning!).

Adam was up trying to score a goal right before half-time, but the goalie ended up stopping the ball.  He tried to kick it back in to play, but it bounced off Adam's face first.  Ouch!  He decided he wanted to go back in as goalie rather than risk getting hit again.  He actually did a good job and stopped several goals, although it can get a little boring down there when the action is on the other end of the field, and sometimes you just end up chit chatting with your buddy and don't really know the action is starting to come back your way!!  Should be a great season though. 

All of his games will again be at District Field in Georgetown on the following dates:
9/11 - 12:30
9/18 - 9:00 and 11:20
9/25 - 1:40
10/2 - 12:30
10/9 - 10:10
10/16 - 1:40
10/23 - TBD
10/30 - TBD
11/6 - TBD

Briana's team plays off the Divide this year, so we are still waiting for her schedule.  Her first game will be on 9/11.  When we find out when and where, I'll be sure to post her information as well.

Posted in: on Sunday, August 29, 2010 at at 12:09 PM 0 comments  

First day of school 10-11

Here is the first day of school.  Briana's backpack was so heavy she is doubled over in the pictures because the thing weighs more than she does.  Luckily she left most of the stuff with her teacher and has since lightened her load, but the girl is going to have serious back problems! 
Adam and Addie (together in class again!)
Adam checking in with the help of his new teacher Mrs. H -- he loves her!!
Brie and her teacher Mrs. Remillard -- she's having the best time so far!
Brie and Taylor
We're all to a great school year so far.  One week down.....

Posted in: on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at at 2:48 PM 2 comments  

It's hot!!!

The kids and I had to leave today, because it's just too hot.  So we hit up the air-conditioned stores and got some school supplies.  What did Bret do -- stay home and work on the roof!  Good idea!  It's 100 degrees today, and he's out of beer. *shudder*

While the kids were picking up some school duds, I decided I needed a new dress for Bret's reunion this weekend.  And maybe I can even use it again for my reunion in November.  Anywho....I couldn't decide, so I'm putting it out there to you.  Which one do you think would be best?  The reunion is at the Power's Mansion (sounds ritzy!), but as Bret pointed out, "I didn't know there was a mansion in Auburn."  We shall see.

Don't pay any attention to my rat nest hairdo or the fact that I don't have shoes on or the fact that I'm sweating like a pig because it's 100 degrees and we don't have air conditioning (sure wish my husband was a contractor or engineer or someone who knew how to fix things!!!), which outfit do you think I should wear?

Outfit #1 -- blue to match my eyes and totally comfy

Outfit #2 -- cute but will totally require Spanx
Outfit #3 -- similar to #1 but black and shorter
What do you think -- do tell!?

Posted in: on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at at 6:56 PM 6 comments  

Last Softball Tournament

This weekend is the last All Stars Tournament for this year.  It will be down in Elk Grove at the Elk Grove Regional Park on Saturday, July 10th.  The first game is at 12:45 and the second one is at 2:30.  If they win a game, they will play again on Sunday, but most likely we will be done on Saturday.

Directions to the park are: South on 5 or 99 to Elk Grove Blvd, go left (east) onto Elk Grove Blvd, turn right (south) onto E. Stockton Blvd. to the park.

She will be playing on Temporary Field 2.  Park in lots P-3 or P-4 (parking is limited).

It feels like summer is quickly coming to an end, so it will be nice to have some time without softball practices and tournaments!!!  We can actually go on a family vacation -- Maui here we come!!!

Posted in: on Friday, July 09, 2010 at at 1:45 PM 5 comments  

Father's Day

Father's Day started off with a softball game for Briana down in Rocklin and then a trip up to Loon Lake with the McComb family.  When we arrived we were greeted by a fox -- who would've thought!!!  Apparently Dennis has been catching critters nightly at his house, and the night before he had trapped a fox.  He decided to relocate it to Loon Lake, so we all watched as he got ready for the release.
The fox wasn't too sure what was going on.  He ran down the hill a bit, stopped and looked around.  We all thought he might run back and climb back in the trap.  But, he eventually headed off over the hill, hopefully to find a nice little home in the mountains.
The day was going to be spent kayaking, and since Todd, Dennis, and Robb all own their own kayaks the only person left out was Bret.  I thought it might be fun for him to have one of his own, so his Father's Day gift was his own inflatable kayak.  Todd drove it up for me, so when we arrived we leaned it up against the Jeep and Adam (eagerly!!) led him over for his surprise!
It was a beautiful day, but a little chilly!!!!!
Luckily we had seasoned pros around who knew exactly how to inflate the kayak, so here is Bret and Adam giving it a go.
Todd set up the BBQ and we had a delicious meal out on a big rock slab.  Not too shabby!!!
Here's most of the gang chowing down. 
Adam definitely enjoyed his burger!!!  Look at the size of that thing -- it's practically as big as his head!
Then we hit the water.  Brie rode with Robb, and she was an awesome rower/paddler/oarer (?).  So awesome in fact that the next day she was freaking out because her "lungs" hurt.  I told her those were stomach muscles she doesn't ever use that had gotten a little overworked the day before.  I don't think she's ever been sore like that before.  It's a great workout!! 
Todd & Brenda, Dennis & Anne, Austin & Alexxa, Robb & Brie
We went for quite a while.  Here we are having finally found one of the inflows into the lake. 
Here's a little waterfall we found.
Adam on a rock island.  He's pretty trusting still that we would actually come back for him!! :)
And finally, we had to get a family shot before we left.  It was so beautiful there, snow still on the ground in spots, gorgeous scenery, a brilliant blue lake.  Can't wait until the next time!!

Posted in: on Thursday, July 01, 2010 at at 6:33 PM 4 comments  

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