A Scrap of Life

Who could resist this cutie? Certainly not Tyten. He's her first Valentine... Tyten sends notes to Carissa every day. "Will you be my Valentine?" "I love you." She just giggles and shows them to me. Every sticker he earns he gives to her. She says "I don't know why he's always giving them to me," but she smiles while she says it. He insisted on buying her this special bear for Valentines Day. She adores it. He's sweet on her... and I think she likes it.

My baby is 8! Carissa had her birthday on January 29 and turned the grand old age of 8. She had quite a barrage of birthdays this year - at home with us and grandma on her actual birthday, then this party with all her friends 2 days later: followed by grandparents coming over the next day for her and grandpa over the day after that. The girl had more cake that week then she usually gets in a year. But alas, the celebrations have come and gone. Thank goodness! LOL Chase is totally into music these days. He found his MP3 player and since then this is what we see. He's sure growing up and growing into his own person. Tristan got new glasses. He actually ended up with the same exact frames as Brian did. He insisted I take photos of his new glasses. It only took me 2 months (and a reminder from him), but I finally did it. Speaking of glasses, check out these beauties: They donned these 3D glasses for some commercials during the Superbowl. We had a great time watching the Superbowl on o...

You can always tell when I've uploaded and edited photos because that's when I do an update. I just got done editing and I have lots of pictures to share. Here's what has been happening in our lives this past month. Chase got to be a ball boy at the Blazers game. This came about 4 days into the snowstorm and we were so worried about him being able to go. But we took our time and made it their safely. Chase had a great time. He got to rebound balls during warmups and half time and got some primo seats right next to where the TV cameras are. We all went and supported him by being there. It was a SUPERB game and Brandon Roy scored his big 52 points that night. Quite a fun and unique experience for a 12 year old. Our huge thanks go out to Leo Hillyer from Hillyer's Mid-City Ford in Woodburn, who sponsored Chase, and to Grandpa who organized the whole thing with Leo. The kids all had their school programs before the snow hit. Chase had a principle role in the 6th grade pro...

I haven't found much time to post lately, but I saw this quote today and just had to share it with you, especially my dog-loving friends and family members. I love my animals and especially my chocolate lab Tucker. So when I saw this quote I thought of him. He is your friend, your partner, Your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, To the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

A note from Aunt Patti reminded me that I haven't updated my blog in FOREVER. Life just seems to have done what it always does and has occupied my time. I haven't even had time to scrap lately... which is totally sad. Well, on the good news front Brian is back to work after his broken hand. He went back last week and I'm so glad that he's well again. We're starting to settle down into a routine again now that he's back, although I truly miss all the housework he did while he was off. The kids lives are what keep me most busy these days. Chase has swimming 3 days a week right now, trying to get him to a point where he can pass the BSA swim test and advance to his next rank. It's been a challenge but he's working very hard at it. He also has Boy Scouts once a week, where I serve as the advancement coordinator. Starting in the new year I'll be driving him to Portland for drama classes too. Tristan is the one with the busiest social schedule right now. I...

Seriously, I do. Not only is he up with me right now (at a startling 4:25 am) but we're splitting up and he's and braving WalMart alone on Black Friday. He's on a mission for a gift for his daughter from the big guy. I don't think he's ever done this before in our 14 years of marriage and I am just so thankful for him and the sacrifice he's making. He is NOT a morning person but is bravely traversing WalMart with throngs of people at 5am because he's just so wonderful. Gotta love it. I am headed to Fred Meyer now (the only other store in our area! LOL) for the half-price socks, robes, slippers, sheets, Christmas lights and whatever else I happen upon. Wish us luck finiding what we want this very early morning.

So the premier was great. Jenn and I went out for an appetizer and to sit and chat then wandered over to the theater about 11pm. We got in line with my friend and co-worker, Melinda, and her group. They saved us from being WAYYYYY in the back of that huge line. The newsstations were all there with their satellite trucks and cameras just taking pictures and talking to fans. Since it was filmed locally a few of the stars were there - two guys who played Quilete Indians (including the person who plans Sam Uley) and the woman who plays the waitress at the diner. I didn't care overmuch about that but it made it a little more fun. We got hustled into the theater about 11:20 and got settled into some great seats. The theater filled pretty quickly, despite the fact that it was HUGE. They opened a second theater to accomodate all the fans. As soon as the movie started everybody started screaming and clapping. Some of that continued throughout the show. There was quite a bit of ooohing and a...

We've had tickets for weeks and weeks and tonight is FINALLY the night! TWILIGHT!!! Jenn and I are going to Portland for a midnight showing tonight. I'm so excited! Of course, that means staying out until 3am and then getting up at 7am for work, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. Hopefully it's as wonderful as the books!

... since Halloween has long since come and gone, but the kids were all decked out and had a wonderful Halloween night. It was beautiful weather, dry and not too cold, so we spent time trick-or-treating our neighborhood and then stayed home to hand out candy. We had a budget-costume year and I spent under $10 all together. Carissa was a monarch butterfly so I purchased her wings and she wore black leggings, long-sleeve shirt and black w/white dot dress on top. A headband with pipe cleaners and pom-poms formed her antennae. Tristan was a ninja and wore an outfit that Uncle Jimmy brought back for him from a trip several years ago. I bought him a mask and a $1 glow stick sword. Chase wore his pig costume from 2 years ago, when he played Wilbur in Charlotte's Web. Easy and unique. Here they are all dressed up for the big night. :) Of course, Halloween isn't complete without some pumpkins. Here are their handmade creations this year. Chase made this nice face: Tristan, being told ...

Something that I saw on the Playground of Memories message board and thought I'd post here too. Here's my top 5 good and bad things for today. The Bad 1. DH broke his hand doing Taekwondo last week. He's grumpy and whiny and off work for 4-6 weeks. He's going to have to use all his stored time to get through the time off. 2. I have SO MUCH work at the preschool to do. Evals for conferences are top on my list along with curriculum for the coming weeks. SO MUCH WORK. 3. I have no time to scrapbook. I'm trying, really I am, but when I've got so much other work to do it's hard to concentrate on that. And I so want to scrapbook. 4. Tonight is the benefit for Tristan's best friend who is very sick (but doing better) and we really have no money to give to them. 5. Chase's teacher is seriously annoying me. At conferences I told her that he wasn't getting challenged and that I didn't want him to come home with A's on every assignment withou...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W4EBoQmWPs I am having a happy-happy, joy-joy moment because Bek is coming to visit! I haven't seen her in a year and a half, since she moved to Arizona, and she's coming back to the NW for a funeral. And while I'm sad that someone died, I am SOOOOO excited to see her. YIPPEE!!!

For love of a rat we stop everything when we realize the rat is sick. For love of a rat we spend $50 on vet bills to diagnose it's pneumonia. For love of a rat we give it shots in it's little tiny leg muscles twice a day. For love of a rat we do everything we can to make sure Tristan's best friend survives. All for love of a rat.

More good news from the friend front. Tristan's friend flew to San Diego to have surgery and that seemed to go well. He's on the mend. Not that he'll ever be quite the same but he is on his way up. We're so glad that he's doing better.

Happy Halloween from our family to yours. Hope you had a great one! Love, Chase the pig, Carissa the monarch butterfly and Tristan the ninja