A needed update, part 1 of 2.

First things first.  I apologize as it's been almost, if not, 7 months since we wrote a blog.  I will attempt to update everyone as best as possible in two parts.  Part 1 will quite possibly be the larger of the two and will start in May/June of 2010 and end with the first day of school in September 2010.  Second, I want to apologize for the "rotational aspect" of some of the photos.  I am unable to change the rotation after uploading to the website, and don't have the patience to start over and do it again.

In June, we had Family Pizza night.  Rather than order out, or get a take-and-bake, we rolled out our own dough and put together our own personal pizzas.  The girls had a blast, and the pizza tasted really good too!

Fatima, with the beginnings of her pizza.

Maria, starting with her sauce.

Adding the cheese...

And the cheese...

Me, almost finished with my pie.

Valerie and the girls, with mommy's finished pizza.

Mmmm, pepperoni and cheese.  I think there might be some
mushrooms on there too!

Pepperoni, ham, and cheese.  Maybe some mushrooms too!

At the end of the school year, Fatima and Maria made gifts for their teachers.  They painted some blocks of wood to look like fireworks and we added some festive decorations to complete the look.

The girls, standing on either side of their holiday creation.

Saturdays in June, when there was good weather, we spent outside.  Valerie took the girls to a strawberry farm near Ridgefield, WA, where the girls picked to their hearts content.

Look mommy, I haven't been eating them!

Full buckets mean lots of desserts this summer!

The girls LOVE the zoo and seeing all the animals.  We decided to buy a membership for the family and spend some time there.  The BIG exhibit this summer was Dinosaurs.  We started the day with lunch at the zoo's main restaurant, then went to see the giant lizards.

Fatima, ready and waiting for some grub.

Maria, waiting for the food.

This is somewhere before the Dinos.  I think it's in the "Great

Northwest" area of the zoo.

After exiting the "Great Northwest" we arrived at the petting
zoo.  Although there were goats and small cows, the girls weren't
interested in them.  They did want to sit on the wooden horses
though.

Pretty soon we got to see Dinosaurs.  This was only one of
many.  Some spit, some hissed, and others just stood there.

T-Rex was HUGE!

Fatima's FAVORITE animal is the penguin.  She had to have

her picture taken with all the penguins, and Maria couldn't be

left out.

The gift shop has two large bears outside the front doors.
The girls HAD to have their picture taken with the bears.

Father's Day 2010.  I started a diet in March/April and the 

Lunch pail I was using wasn't nearly large enough.  The girls

decided I needed a new one, and it's MORE than big enough!

Part of my diet included counting calories.  I got to be a

stickler, and NEEDED a food scale.  That was gift #2.

Not pictured is a Topsy Turvy Tomato planter.

Multomah Falls.  Amazing views, and a 1.3 mile hike to

the top!

A view of the sign and the large falls in the background.

The girls at the lowest portion of "the falls", just past the 

visitor's center and gift shop.

This is a little further up the trail, standing

just off to the side of the bridge which crosses

the lower falls.

There's small "caves" here and there at the

beginning of the trail.  The girls wanted their

picture taken inside one.

Fatima, at the first "resting point" on the trail.  This spot
overlooks the columbia river.

Valerie and Maria taking a break.  The trail was pretty steep,

and long, which made it a difficult morning.

The view from the top of the falls, looking DOWN.

It might have taken longer than we expected, but we all

made it!

Maria and Fatima at the top.  This looks out over the Columbia River.

The end of June, 2010, Fatima and Maria got to meet their

great-grandmother Carol!

For a few days before the 4th of July, there's a lot of activities

at the lake.  The girls dressed in their Red, White, and Blue to

go have some fun.

On the Fourth, they dressed up for church, again in their 

Red, White, and Blues!

July 5th is Maria's birthday.  She got to choose her breakfast, 

which was Banana Blueberry muffins.

Maria's cake.  Baked and Decorated by Valerie.

For dinner, Maria decided to have Hamburgers, French Fries,

and Root Beer.  Grandma Elodie and Grandpa Bill joined us.

The HAUL.  She got pretty much everything she wanted.

In July, the girls got to meet their other Great-grandmother,

Celice.  This is a Four Generation photo.

The girls also started Kung Fu classes in July and are doing

absolutely fabulous.  This is their second "private lesson"

where they got to break boards.  In the last 6 months they've

progressed well and were invited to audition for the "Black

Belt Club", which I am proud to announce they are now

members of.

The first day or two of August we travelled to Palm Springs

for a business retreat.  While Valerie and I spent some time

in meetings during the day, the girls and grandma Bev got

to play in the pool and watch movies in the hotel room!

The girls thought the Tiki masks were cool and wanted their

picture taken with them.

Valerie and I at the Luau dinner.

A view of the pool area at the Esmeralda Resort where we

stayed in Palm Springs.  The far end of the pool has a

"sand beach" with real sand!

Looking back at the resort near the entrance of the "beach".

Fatima, getting a little help bowling for the first time.  We 

had the bumpers up, just in case...

Maria is AWESOME at bowling, and even though the bumpers

were up, she didn't need them.  Not even once.  She beat us all

too.

August of 2010 also brought some great friends into town.

Actually, these friends are more like family.  "Aunt" Jenny

with Lincoln, "Uncle Mick", "Uncle" Derick, and us after

a wonderful breakfast at Stuffy's.

Mr. Jimmy is the children's instructor at Kung Fu.  The girls

wanted their picture taken with him at the "Relay For Life" 

this last summer.

Our family chose to participate in the relay for life and took

an hour and half to walk from 10 - 1130 PM.

Sea World, San Antonio, August 2010.

Fatima, Maria, Carmen (pink), and Isa.  Carmen and Isa are

our girl's cousins who live in Texas.

The girls before the killer whale show at Sea World.  Shamu

was COOL!

The girls, in front of the whale pool.

One of the Orcas from the show,  2/3 out of the water.

Another Orca, just showing off.

Maria and Fatima standing in front of a VW Beetle decorated

like a killer whale.  If you look close enough you can see the 

tail and dorsal fin.

Sea World has a small "water park" where families can "cool

off".

At the end of the day, we got to feed the dolphins!

A long hot day for the family.  I can't imagine how miserable

Shamu must have been.  I think it was 115 that day.

On the 20th of August we finalized our adoption in Travis 

County, Texas.  This is the four of us waiting for the Judge

to start the proceedings.

The four of us, with our attorney, were able to approach the

bench.  The girls were given the choice of one of several

stuffed animals to take home.  It was a VERY happy day.

The Judge was amazing, and we got the chance to have our

family picture taken with her.

The Judge let Fatima smack the gavel once or twice.  She hit

it so hard we all cringed...  The judge told Fatima she would

be an amazing Judge with her impressive "gavel skills".

Fatima replied, "I want to be a cop like my daddy and grandpa."

The Caldwell and Tucker girls.  Carmen,  Fatima (behind the

bear), Isa, Maria, and Peyton.

The Courts, in addition to stuffed bears, gave the family a 

GIANT chocolate chip cookie, decorated as you see here.

While we were in Texas, Fatima got an early birthday present.

Pierced ears.  Mommy gives a few encouraging words before

the BIG moment.

The BIG moment come and went without a single tear.  The

ladies at the shop decided to do both ears at the same time,

so if there were tears we wouldn't have to come back and

get the other ear done another day.

One of the last nights we spent in Texas we were fortunate

enough to spend eating dinner at the Salt Lick.  Yummm...

This restaurant is famous for their Barbeque, and they let

anyone who wants take pictures in front of their pit.

On our way home from dinner, we got to see REAL Texas

Longhorns.

Uncle Charlie and the Caldwell girls.

After we came home, the dogs were happy to see us.  So happy

they wouldn't stand still for a picture.

Fatima chose grapes and donuts for breakfast on her B'day.

Fatima in her Birthday outfit and hair-bows.

Fatima played the "fishing game" on her birthday, but has
more fun catching fish with her fingers than with the "pole".

Fatima's cake, complete with Strawberries and Blueberries.

Don't forget the Whip-Cream frosting!  Completely

"home-made" by Valerie.

Fatima's Birthday Haul.  Can you say, "Made out like a 

Bandit"?

Maria, first day of school, Sept 1, 2010.

Fatima, first day of school.

And so there you have it.  Part 1 of a much needed update.  I know I skipped some things here and there, but I wanted to make sure I hit the highlights.  I'll do my best to get Part 2 done soon (today?), depending on how much Valerie NAGS me to get it done.  There's some photos from the June - September time period I'll include in part 2 as well.