Monday, July 28, 2008

Meet Pip

Isn't she just the cutest thing?
Pip is Tristan's new pet. Our family guideline is that when a child hits 10, if they show that they are responsible enough, then they are allowed their own pet. Tristan has really become a wonderful, responsible and respectable child and we've seen such growth in him the last year or so. So we let him get his pet a month early, so he'd have lots of time to spend with it. He's been very fond of Chase's pet rat, Peach, which he got just before he turned 10, so it was only natural the Tristan chose a rat for his pet (although we very nearly ended up with a Bearded Dragon instead! LOL).
He named her Pip because it fulfilled two purposes -- our family tradition of naming pets after characters from Disney movies (Pip is the cute little chipmunk in Enchanted) and it also fulfilled Tristan's wish to name it after a Pokemon character (Piplup).
Check her out ... little Pip is just about a month old and is a rex rat. She has a cream colored head and a white body with hair that is a bit wavy and whiskers that are all curly. It's adorable!!!
What's best is that she's such a neat and unique looking rat, very much like our Tristan. He's such a great pet owner already, spending lots of time with her and protecting her from our very inquisitive Violet kitty.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Camp Spirit



(Carissa is the one in the white skirt with her back to you in the top left photo.)

Carissa just returned from a weekend cheering at Camp Spirit. She learned several chants and cheers and a dance, which she performed with about 200 other Camp Spirit girls for an audience of about 500. Then she went to some of the games being played by the football camp participants and cheered them on. It was a long, hot weekend but she had a lot of fun. :)

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Check out the video bar on the left with all the awesome trailers of the upcoming Twilight movie. I can't wait!!!

Friday, July 18, 2008

It's a sad day ...

Today I say goodbye to one of my oldest friends... ScrapAddict. ScrapAddict is my "home" on the web. The reason I spend time online. I've spent 3 long and happy years on their design team. I've eagerly anticipated their monthly kits. I've happily shopped their presales. I've participated in crops, challenges and games. I've met some of my best scrapbook friends ever there. But it's time has come to an end. I'm so sad to see it go.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

I'm obsessed.

I can't stop. I can't sleep. I can't even scrap. I am absolutely, totally obsessed!

It all started with this, an innocent little book given to me by my best friend Jenn. It came with her glowing recommendation. I had, in fact, heard of this book before when my other best friend, Bek, mentioned it to me. She grew up in the real Forks, Washington, the setting for these stories, and had started reading the first book. So when Jenn brought this over I was prepared for a book that I would probably like. But it was nothing like that.

I started reading "Twilight" at Boy Scout camp. I was only there for 2 days with Chase and I took this book to keep me occupied while he was in his merit badges classes and hanging out with his friends. I remember opening the book after we'd settled in at the campsite. And from that moment on I couldn't put it down. It was absolutely pathetic! Yes, I read it while passing time. But I also read it while waiting in line for meals. I read it while I was supposed to be singing all those cheesy campfire songs with the boys. I read it while I should have been sleeping. I read it everywhere. I finished the 500 page book in the morning of the 2nd day and knew I had to read it again. I started it and got halfway through it a 2nd time before coming home.

The next day I had to go into town and stopped by the bookstore to pick up these:


the next two books in the series. I was in HEAVEN. I did nothing but read. I sat and read and read and read. I finished the first book in a few hours and started on the 2nd. I stayed up all night - literally all night- reading. The sun was coming up the next morning before I finally succumbed and went to sleep. And first thing this morning I woke up and started reading. No breakfast, no chores, no cleaning. Just reading. It didn't take any time before I was finished with them both.

And now I just sit here and wait. Sit here and wait for the 22 days, 1 hour, 37 minutes and 53 seconds before this comes out:

The fourth book in the series. The answers to all my questions. The tool with which to quench my burning desire to know the rest of the story.

I'm obsessed I tell you. Totally and utterly lost to this book series!




Friday, July 04, 2008

Happy 4th!!!

From all of us to you, Happy Independence Day!
Our day was busy, busy, busy but good nonetheless.


Chase and I had to be up at before 7am this morning so that he could go set up flags around the town. This is a Boy Scout event where they put up American flags outside of supporting businesses in town. He, with some help from me, set up about 20 flags around our city. It was quite a great experience for him, one that made him very proud of himself and his country. For each time he set up a flag he turned and saluted it before getting into the car and moving on to the next.


Of course, there was time for a quick sidetrack when we saw this


that is the most giant wish flower I have ever seen! Chase went and picked it and, after a few photos, was given the honors of blowing the wish flower.


Before blowing though, he made his wish. I heard him murmur it and asked him what he said. He wished to become and Eagle Scout with a silver palm. For those not in the BSA circle, the means the highest rank a Boy Scout can become with additional learning on top of that. Quite a goal for Chase, one that he holds for himself and one that he fervently hopes will come true. And I'm sure, with a lot of hard work, it will.


After we finished setting up flags we came home for a bit and outfitted everyone for the annual childrens parade. We decorated Carissa skates and Tristan's scooter with ribbons and they dressed in patriotic colors. Then it was off to the parade.


Chase walked in the honor guard with the Boy Scouts, carrying the American flag. He felt such honor to be allowed to carry the American flag and he proudly held it high the entire parade route.



Carissa and Tristan rode with the mass of kids in the parade. Then after the parade they all enjoyed some snow cones. As always, the kids enjoyed it.

After the parade we came home to wake Brian and spend a little time with him before he had to go to work. We were also able to meet him for dinner last night. He tried to come home to do fireworks with us but he saw so many people shooting off illegals so he had to try to chase them down. The kids and I did our measley little Oregon-legal fireworks
and we watched the fireworks that others had. There were fireworks going on for nearly 2 hours and by 11:00 we were all tired. We came in and headed to bed, having enjoyed another wonderful 4th of July.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

All I want for summer is my 2 front teeth ...

Carissa top two teeth have been wiggly for a very long time... since before Christmas. But Carissa wasn't very motivated to get them out so it took a very long time. A few days ago it had reached the point where one of them was just sooo wiggly and sitting all snaggle-tooth in her mouth. It really had to come out. So, with very little cooperation from Carissa, Brian pulled it. The good little tooth fairy came and left a few dollars in Carissa's tooth pillow.

A few days later while Carissa was brushing her teeth she asked me if her mouth was bleeding. Indeed it was, because her other top front tooth was gone. She didn't even know she had lost it. She did remember hitting her face on her friend's couch when she was over there playing, so we rushed over to look for the missing tooth. It took a few minutes on our hands and knees, but her tooth was finally located and returned to her.

The tooth fairy came for the 2nd time in 3 days and took her tooth. Carissa was left, yet again, with some money. But more than anything she was left with the cutest little toothless grin that you ever saw!