Nature or Nurture?

We teach by example whether we like it or not. I have to admit that I'm humbled by the times I realize exactly WHAT my example is teaching.

One: We try to distinguish individuals by their clothing color, not by hair, skin color, body type, etc...to avoid any form of stereotyping. Well, being color conscious, we tried to get Braden to drink orange juice the other morning, but he was adamant that it was 'Lello' juice, and until we acknowledged it as such, he wouldn't drink it.


Two: To kill time in Walmart while I waited for some medication, we browsed the magazine rack. Five rows deep and just above Braden's eye level was this Motocross magazine. He spotted it right away and was desperate to have it. I didn't want to get it for him and tried to pass off another little motorcycle pamphlet, but he was SO offended. "No Mom. That's street bikes. I need dirt bikes." Thank You Chris.

Three: Our neighbors gave us a bag of hand me down clothes and Brooklyn found a bikini in the bag. I tried to hide it in the DI pile, only to find her wearing it a short while later. When I told her it wasn't modest and we shouldn't be wearing it, she left the room to walk back in two minutes later with a shirt on top. When I asked her what she was doing, she said, "I put garments on top of my bra before I put the shirt on so it would be modest. Now I just need my deodorant, powder and gloss." Without waiting for a comment or permission, she waltzed into the bathroom and did just that.

September 19th - 12 years!

We celebrated #12 on the 19th. I look at this picture and think we still look the same. One of my babysitters didn't agree.


December 1996.

January 2007.

We started this anniversary with Chris taking the day off so "we" could go riding. You can see how much riding I do.

Then we headed south to Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Here we are 12 years later. From 2 to 6 and not much worse for the wear. I'd also like to say this is another WA moment...this is our last trip to Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock - aka: Goonies Rock before we leave.

What I'll miss about Washington

As my time here is the Evergreen State winds down, I'm looking at things differently, almost like I did when I first moved here. I'll probably make quite a few postings like this one, but...here's one of the things I'll miss about Washington: all the great fresh fruit and berries at the farmer's markets to just eat in the car on the way home, or for making jam.

The First Day of School! (Not Really)

Well, we started school two days after Labor Day and I never took pictures. The following days proved only to be more crazy, hectic, unpredictable, insane...you get the picture. So, here we have our "Second Full Week of School" pictures. This year we're focusing on independence. Everyone, even Braden, picked out their own clothes, did their own hair and got ready for the Day. Brody started 1st grade this year, Bailey 3rd, Brooklyn is getting "home schooled" for preschool, and Braden is in a preschool co-op. Brooklyn did start gymnastics though, which she is quite excited about.

Playing Catch Up

Okay...I have a TON of pictures that I haven't updated here, so I'm adding them all at once. Sorry!

ONE:
Here's a trip to a hike called Staircase in the Olympic Mountains. Neither Chris or Chad were on call that weekend, so we all went together with the kids. We were unceremoniously coerced across a fallen tree to cross the stream where a bridge had been washed out by floods last winter.




Ooh! Gross! Hairy caterpillar!!











TWO:
We put on our last and FINAL Ortho Retreat as 5th yr. residents. You can't hear me cheering, but I am! We went to Jim Creek Naval Recreation Center north of Seattle. It's an old naval communications camp turned campsite.



The sunset was amazing Saturday Night...

The sunrise Sunday morning was incredible too.

THREE:

Once again..."Trailor" and Braden left to their own devices is BAD. By the way, they did this all on their own; including the nails.

FOUR:
We've been reading the Box Car Children series this summer and my kids decided to make their own little 'house' in the green belt behind the backyard. Bailey took these pictures for me.

FYI: This stump is the toilet...which I found out after it had been used!



FIVE:
Stephanie, Beth, my friend Wendy and I took a walk down to the Sound on a little trail with the kids. (It was more like a traveling circus with 11 kids under the age of 8).

This boat was shipwrecked on it's way to Olympia in the 80's and they just decided to leave it.

This is an old loading dock for ships taking weapons to subs during WWII.





SIX:
The kids wanted to go camping, but Chris and I weren't up for it. So we compromised. A camp out in the backyard.

SEVEN:
The kids have been leaving scraps out back, and this is what I've ended up with. Hopefully he doesn't have rabies!