Where has the time gone?

Wow, I can't believe it's the end of May already!  We've still got lots of rain here in the Northwest, which is kind of odd, but not completely unheard of.  The girls are getting a little restless wanting to spend more time outside, but it's hard when the ground is soggy and the grass is wet.  Soon that will be a thing of the past sunny days will be upon us.

Since our last entry, the girls spent a Saturday in Vancouver and got to meet their cousins from Medford, OR, Derek and Brandon.  Derek was entered in a Karate Tournament held at the Convention Center at the Vancouver Hilton, and the rest of the family was there for support.  We didn't get to watch Derek compete, but after things settled down for the day we all went to dinner at Joe's Crab Shack on the Columbia River.

The 15th of May brought fun at the Nutter Foundation's "Dozer Days" at the Cemex Quarry just west of Camas.  It was a lot of fun, and the girls had a blast!  We weren't sure what "proper dress" should be, but wanted the girls to fit in, so we bought them some Carhartt pants, boots, and polo shirts.  Of course, the polos weren't too "manly", but we've got gorgeous girls to think about.

Participants get to ride into the event on an Articulated Hauler, basically a large dump truck with a hinge in the middle.

Fatima wasn't too keen on riding in the back of the hauler at first, but started to have a lot of fun when she saw the other kids laughing and smiling.

After riding the hauler, we began our wait to get on some of the equipment and move some dirt!

Maria and Fatima waiting in line for the Excavators (what I used to call a Back-hoe).  It was sunny, warm, and it got a little testy sometimes having to wait.  At the gate to the event, all the kids get "Hard Hats" to wear, and most - if not all - sponsors hand out stickers.  By the time kids leave, there isn't much yellow left on their hats.  We collected most of our stickers and put them in bags to be put on later.

Fatima with her "operator" picking it (dirt) up, and putting it down.

A cascade of dirt fell anywhere from mere inches to several feet above the ground.  There were smiles on everyone's faces for the duration!

Maria, picking it up...

And putting it down!

After the excavators, we decided to take a much needed lunch break.  The event had several sponsors, and the food this year was provided by Burgerville and a place called Vancouver Pizza.  And just because I say "provided" doesn't mean it was free.  I guess a better word would be offered.  The line for burgers was at least a half hour long, and the girls were dying for some food, so Valerie and I decided pizza would be the better choice.  The girls didn't seem to mind, but Valerie and I decided next year we'll wait for burgers.

Under the canopies, enjoying a slice of cheese pie!

Glad to be sitting, enjoying some food (getting it all over her hands and face too) and being happy Mom and Dad bought some cold water!

After lunch we decided to see what other "exhibits" were there and we quickly found the "Tire Crawl" sponsored by Les Schwab Tires.  When I think of Les Schwab, I normally think of cars and trucks, sometimes tractor trailers, but I guess if they want to compete with everyone they need to stock other industrial tires as well.  These tires were so big, I could have hidden in them!

The girls on a large tire, under the Les Schwab banner.

Most of the tires were lain horizontally, making stacking and climbing possible, but they had a couple of tires on end for kids to climb through.  It wasn't just fun to play in, but gave the girls a break from the sun as well.

Fatima, conquering the mound of tires to be "Queen of the Hill".

Maria, rising to the top!

Some of the sponsors had games for all the kids to play.  One of the financial institutions there had a  "Gold Coin" dig.  Kids used small excavator -type toys to dig up small gold coins and prizes.  However many coins the child got, the bank translated into a dollar amount for a new savings account.  The "prizes" (plastic rings and bouncy balls) were kept by the kids.  Maria did an excellent job on her own!

Fatima did well on her own, actually scoring more prizes than Maria; although it could have been because they kept stocking it with toys every time she pulled out the excavator!  Fatima was kind enough to share her bounty with big sister.

There were also lots of "Big Rigs" for the kids to climb in and honk horns and push buttons.

Another LONG row of excavators and bulldozers, large and small, along with a crane.  Kids got to sit in the cab of the crane, but it wasn't operating while we were there.

Maria on her bulldozer, pushing dirt, making a big pile.

Another shot of Maria on her dozer.  She really enjoyed honking the horn at mommy and daddy when she got close!

Fatima enjoyed driving the big dozer too, and enjoyed honking the horn just as much as her older sister!

Another shot of Fatima enjoying her ride.  Such concentration!

Other equipment they had on display included this CAT grader.  Very large, very heavy.

A front-end-loader parked next to a dump truck.  The rear wheels on the loader are about 6 or 7 feet tall.

Our family, at the end of a long, hot, dusty day in the quarry, standing next to an Articulated Hauler (weighing in at 49 tons, or was that 49 thousand pounds - either way, VERY heavy).

We had a great time at Dozer Days 2010, and look forward to going back in 2011.  As much as I would like to continue writing this episode, I have a lack of photos and good stories to share.  I hope to include more of our adventures in another blog, hopefully written sooner than later, because summer break fast approaches (only two more weeks of school) and we're looking forward at getting Maria and Fatima into some activities to help them pass the time.

However, before I go, one last moment of humor.  Recently, Maria picked up her new glasses from the eye doctor.  They're a beautiful pair of pink plastic framed lenses, similar to what she had.  Fatima decided she needed to be included with the rest of the family wearing glasses, and kindly informed Valerie the other day in the car that she (Fatima) needed new glasses because she couldn't see out of hers very well anymore.  This news was delivered very matter-of-fact like, with no hesitation or ounce of humor displayed.

I'm sure if Valerie had been driving at the time (thank goodness they were parked in a parking lot) she would have nearly wrecked the car from laughing so hard....

Wait for it...  Come on now, wait for it!!!

Of course, those aren't glasses at all, but a plastic headband Fatima was wearing that day to keep the hair out of her face.

Thanks for reading, until next time!

Good Behavior, Spirit Day, Safety Day, and Losing a Tooth...

So here I am, again, writing about the good behavior of our Daughters, more specifically, Maria (not to say Fatima doesn't have good behavior, but Maria is the one who's been recognized at school).  Maria got a certificate from the Principal recognizing her efforts of good behavior and good citizenship.

Fatima wanted to be included in the picture, but the certificate is all Maria.

Last Friday, April 30th, was also spirit day at school.  Kids were encouraged to wear their school colors (blue and gold) and they offered bags of popcorn for a quarter.  I remember going to this same school many years ago and getting the same bags of popcorn for a quarter.  Some things haven't changed!  Valerie was resourceful and creative enough to get some polo shirts and patches to make them something fun to wear.

It was a pretty nice day as well for the most part.  Not sure why the girls are so "rigid" standing there, but they were VERY excited to be wearing the shirts mommy made for them.

Saturday, May 1st, was a "safety day" here in town.  The firestation played host to several other agencies, including Life Flight (a helicopter rescue crew), as well as Kelso Police, Cowlitz County Health Department, and many more.  There were stations for each agency, and they handed out information regarding bike safety, water safety, gun safety and fire safety, as well as checking car seats and bike helmets.  There was a lot to see and fun to be had.  The girls got to sit inside the helicopter, fire truck, and stand in the bucket of the fire truck as well.  "Sparky" the fire dog was also there for photo opportunities!

The helicopter actually landed behind the firestation in their "free space".  Our main station was designed on a lot so the trucks wouldn't have to back-in after a call.  There's a large lot behind the station where trucks can be washed after a call, and it's apparently large enough for a helicopter to land.  Our life flight crew is stationed at the helipad, anchored on top of the parking garage outside our hospital.

Inside the helicopter, where they were told which buttons they could push, and which ones were hands off.

The "Bucket" of the truck.  The elastic for Fatima's fire helmet broke, which is why she isn't wearing it in the pictures, but it's been fixed and she loves wearing it.

Maybe we should make sure she has a license before we let her drive a big truck!

Maria got a chance to sit in the driver's seat as well.  Too bad they didn't get to honk the horn, but I suppose if they did it would have been annoying to the neighbors of the firestation.

At one point a firefighter offered to show the girls what equipment they had stashed behind one of the doors on the side of the truck.  It was great, except Fatima wasn't satisfied with just the one door.  She kept asking him to open door after door, and he was more than happy to oblige!

"Sparky" the fire dog, with our girls.  To the right of the picture, you can see the push-bars of a squad car provided by Kelso Police Department.

Over the last couple of weeks the girls have been showing us teeth which have become loose.  Maria has already lost her two bottom teeth, but now she's got her two top teeth which are loose as well as another one on the bottom (I believe it's one of her incisors).  Fatima had one of her bottom teeth get loose, and it was VERY loose, compared to Maria's teeth.  Valerie and I had her wiggle it and wiggle it until it got even more loose.  Then Tuesday night the girls had corn-on-the-cob with dinner and there was a "pop" and some blood.  The tooth didn't come out right then, but it was ready to.  Finally, Wednesday afternoon it happened!  Fatima's first tooth came out.  She didn't want it to happen for the longest time, thinking she would lose all her teeth and have nothing to eat with.  We assured her that wasn't the case, and if she put her tooth under her pillow the tooth-fairy would come and leave a surprise.

The "Twinkle-tooth" glows in the dark and has a special compartment for the tooth which has fallen out (or "fallen down" as Fatima continues to say).  The glow in the dark feature makes it easier for the tooth fairy to find.  The tooth fairy must have been involved in some profitable investments, since she's now paying a dollar per tooth.  I remember getting quarters...

We've got some more events planned for the next couple of weekends, which I'll be sure to blog about as soon as I can.  I've been studying recently to pass some federal exams, which keeps me busy and extremely confused.  Last Saturday, the 1st, I passed my Series 6 exam and this Saturday I take my Series 63.  As soon as I get this second exam passed and get some paperwork processed, I'll be sure to let everyone know the meaning behind them.

Until next time...

Easter, Great Wolf Lodge, and Lincoln Logs - It's been awhile.

It's been awhile since I've had the chance to sit and write, even though I think about it often and would like to get it taken care of.  As the title suggests, this blog covers Easter (and the day before we call "Egg Day"), a trip to the indoor water park at the Great Wolf Lodge, and the ever so-great playthings, Lincoln Logs!

"Egg Day", while not an official holiday, is the day before Easter.  As I grew up we began to see the commercialization of every holiday increase significantly.  In order for my siblings and I to remember the reason for the actual holiday, we began to celebrate Egg Day the day before Easter.  After all, Easter isn't about bunnies and chocolate eggs, or hunting for boiled and vividly colored or plastic eggs filled with candy and toys.  Easter is about the Savior and his sacrifice for us.  Valerie and I decided it would be a wonderful opportunity to carry on this tradition with our children.  Not being as creative as she, I left the details up to Valerie on where to hide things and any "clues" to get from one point to the other. 

After the girls "rest time" was over for the day, but before they got up and out of bed, the doorbell rang several times.  The front door was opened, closed relatively hard to make some noise, and in very surprised voices, Valerie and I stated our disbelief that a large rabbit would leave a bag on our porch.  We got the girls out of their room and began trying to figure out what was going on.  There was a short message from the Egg Day Bunny which directed the girls to read a book about the Easter Holiday, and then to follow the clues in order to find what he had left.  Before they could start their hunt, they had to put on their "ears", it kept them in tune with where the eggs might have been hidden.  It was fun to see Maria and Fatima go from room to room following the clues, gathering eggs, and trying to find out what the final "surprise" was going to be.

The ears!  So CUTE!!!

The clues weren't very difficult, since we're dealing with younger children, and there weren't too many - I think maybe 6 in all.  In every room there were two eggs for each girl and a clue that led them to another room.  At the end, a large basket (small laundry basket) was decorated and filled with some candy, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and other goodies (fun stuff, not just food items) for the girls.

Maria and Fatima listen intently to Valerie as they check out the bags for the hunt and their first clue!

At the end of the hunt, a basket (small laundry basket decorated with stickers, etc.) filled with some candy, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and other goodies (not just candy, but trinkets to play with) was found and the girls LOVED it!

The basket also included some candy for Valerie and some sugar free goodies for me!  How thoughtful of that mysterious rabbit!

Fatima and Maria check out the HAUL of eggs...  Each got a total of 14!  Some had candy, others trinkets, and one even had glitter infused Silly Putty!

After egg day, we spent Easter with my parents. We had a great Easter dinner with ham and mashed potatoes, fruit salad, veggies.  YUM!

On April 10th we were met here in town by Valerie's oldest sister Jessica and her three daughters, Tiana 15, Shaely 11, and Sydnee 7, as well as Grandma Bev (Valerie's mom).  That afternoon we drove to the Great Wolf Lodge and got to play at the indoor water park!

From left to right: Maria, Fatima, Sydnee, Shaely, Tiana.  Of course, there is the lifeguard walking along the deck, and the boy to the right of the frame, but I don't know their names.

Uncle Daniel and Cousin Jordan met us a little while after we got checked in, and we all had fun in the water park.

Jordan, is Jessica's oldest.  16 and at least 6' 3"!

That night we had dinner at the buffet in the resort, and went to bed.  I had to get up and go to work the next morning, but the girls got to stay and have another day of fun!

After such a long day, it wasn't easy to stay awake, even at the dinner table.

Fatima couldn't help it either.  It wasn't long and she was out!

Wiley the Wolf tells stories every night at the resort.  While I wasn't there for it, I know the kids learned "Stomp Stomp, Clap Clap, Oooowwwww!!!"

Maria, Fatima, and Sydnee getting silly before story-time starts.

Sydnee, Jessica, Fatima, Maria, and Grandma Bev in the lobby of the lodge.

Day 2 in the water park with uncle Daniel!  They're getting sprayed by one of the many water features.

Maria and Fatima on one of the water features in the "kiddie pool", where the water is about 10 degrees warmer than everywhere else.  Going from the larger pools to the small one is like getting out of a bathtub and into a hot tub, only not to that temperature extreme.  I believe the temperature of the "kiddie pool" is somewhere in the 80s.

 At a doctor's appointment recently the girls discovered "Lincoln Logs".  I don't know if they'd ever been intoduced to them before this particular day, but both of them seemed pretty intrigued.  Valerie and I decided it would be good to get them a set when we could.  A few days ago we surprised the girls with a brand new and complete set of Lincoln Logs, and they put the whole set together.  They've had a lot of fun playing with it ever since!

Still the same as I remember, though maybe updated slightly for "ingredients"; however, they're still made of real wood!  In some of the literature that came with our set, it looks like there might be a "pastel" set we might consider looking for.  Valerie claims there are pink logs as well, and though I haven't seen them myself, wouldn't be averse to getting them for our girls.

Today is school picure day, so barring any copyright laws that might prohibit their release, or anything which might be considered a safety issue, I might be able to post their new school photos soon.  I'll try to keep everyone updated better, but I'm finding it gets harder and harder and I can't find a reasonable explanation.

Until next time, stay safe and be well!

Spring Break

This last week has been spring break for us in Washington.  We didn't have a trip planned per se, but we ended up going to the Oregon Coast.  Mt. Hood would have been great, but they've had a LOT of snow recently, and we're not prepared as a family to endure the cold and ice.  This week the girls also went to the dentist to have their teeth cleaned.

The last day of school before any break is always an "early out" day.  Since our kindergarten classes are only half-day, the classes alternate on who goes for early out.  This last week it was the PM classes turn, so our girls went at 8:45 in the morning and got picked up at 1:15.  They both had a lot of fun, got to each lunch at school, and came home with "Spirit Day" popcorn!  I asked the girls if they thought they might need a nap, since they didn't get their "rest time" earlier, and both answered NO very quickly.

Do kids really understand the impact of not getting a nap earlier in the day?  I don't think so.  Both had been up since about 6:30 that morning, gone to almost a full day of school, and near defiantly declared NO NAPS!  Sure...  no naps.

The dentist has their patients wear sunglasses while their teeth are being cleaned and the bright lights are on.  These glasses make our girls look so cool!  Good news, NO cavities, and our first loose tooth!

When we stopped by to see Maria, she had already finished having her teeth cleaned.  Such a great smile, and NO cavities!  The dentist did say she was going to be cutting some molars soon, so to watch out for some pain and sensitivity.

This is outside the Astoria Column (<-- click-able link) looking toward the Pacific Ocean.  The picture was set up rather nicely, but the wind was blowing so hard the girls hoods wouldn't stay put.  In fact, it was so windy up on the point we thought we might blow away!

The Astoria Column, looking east, toward the interior of the US.

It was so wet at the coast, on our way to the restroom from the car we got absolutely drenched.  You can't tell from the picture, but the backside of our pants is completely soaked.  I figured I'd be driving home sitting on a plastic sack to keep the seat dry.  Fortunately it was windy enough my pants dried out before I had to drive home.

At the end of the "Prom" is a statue of Lewis and Clark, famous explorers who spent time on the Oregon and Washington coast during 1805 - 1806.

Also on the Prom is the Seaside Aquarium.  For a dollar, you can purchase "Seal Food" (raw fish which has been cut into several pieces) and feed several seals they have.  It's lot of fun, but be careful...  you might get wet!  Maria did a good job of hurling fish chunks over the fence VERY quickly.  She didn't want to hold onto them any longer than needs be.

Fatima also was a good chunk hurler.  I have to admit though, Mom did a good job of choosing which chunks to give the girls.  They couldn't have too many guts hanging off, and definitely no heads.  Pieces with plenty of fin worked well, because the fins weren't so slimy.

The girls enjoyed the inside of the aquarium.  There were lots of fish to look at, as well as crabs, shrimp, octopi, and eel!

There was a "touch pool" as well, and though hesitant at first, both girls ended up touching starfish and sea anemone.

To top off our day at the coast, the girls got to ride an antique carousel.  Things we're going great, until the ride started moving.  Maria did fine, but Fatima was a little concerned and didn't smile through the entire ride.  Once it was over, she was more than happy to smile for the camera again.

Fatima chose to ride this black cat, which looks like it has a fish in it's mouth.  I wish I could have gotten a picture of her while the ride was moving.  She wasn't nearly as happy.

Maria enjoyed everything, from animal selection, to ride, to getting off the horse at the end.  It was good to see her smile so big!

Spring break is over, with one hurdle left, and that's Easter.  We'll celebrate "Egg Day" tomorrow, with a ceremonial (or not so much so) hunt for a treasure basket.  The girls will don ears and follow clues that Valerie has set up until they find their goodies.  I don't know how much "outside" searching they'll do, because the weather isn't cooperating as much as we'd like, but it should be fun nonetheless.  We'll see how long the hunt goes, and I'll try to get pictures and share them in our next blog.

Until then, enjoy.