Every year, Puyallup has their annual cider squeeze. It's buckets of fun! We go there, buy a bucket of apples and a couple of jugs, and use one of the many cider presses available and make our own cider. The kids loved it. Here are some pictures.
12.28.2010
Apples!
"Surely the apple is the noblest of fruits." -- Henry David Thoreau
Every year, Puyallup has their annual cider squeeze. It's buckets of fun! We go there, buy a bucket of apples and a couple of jugs, and use one of the many cider presses available and make our own cider. The kids loved it. Here are some pictures.
Every year, Puyallup has their annual cider squeeze. It's buckets of fun! We go there, buy a bucket of apples and a couple of jugs, and use one of the many cider presses available and make our own cider. The kids loved it. Here are some pictures.
12.24.2010
Fair time!
"All the really good ideas I ever had came to me while I was milking a cow." ~Grant Wood
Every year my kids wait for September to come. No, not because they're dying to go back to school, but because that is the time when new smells creep into our driveway. The smells are a mixture of fresh scones,cotton candy, hay, and horse manure. I've smelled these familiar scents at the same time every year my entire life. This is when we know it's fair time! The Puyallup fair is a pretty big thing around these parts. We usually go at least one full day. There are tons of animals to see and activities to do. There are a bunch of rides and games. But what's my favorite part of the fair you ask? THE FOOD! I can almost taste it now.
Please give me a moment...
Ok. Daydream is over. I usually come with a plan of what I'm going to eat. This usually includes hot fresh scones (the biscut ones) with raspberry jam, elephant ears, freshly made soft serve ice cream cones, roasted corn, fudge, and burgers piled with sauteed onions and mustard. Oh yeah. I'm drooling just typing about this stuff. When the fair is over, I feed my family salad for the next week to make up for the lack of nutrition I just exposed them to.
We took the kids this year and just let them lead. This meant we spent almost all day riding on rides and looking at animals. Now that I'm an adult, I like to wander around and look at all the collections that people have, the artwork, and the produce people have grown. I also like to visit the beekeepers society and dream of one day raising my own bees. There is a hypnotist show that's quite amusing that I like to see too. But, this year was the kid's year. For now I'll enjoy the fair through my kids eyes because I know that one day they will want to go with their friends instead of their parents.
Every year my kids wait for September to come. No, not because they're dying to go back to school, but because that is the time when new smells creep into our driveway. The smells are a mixture of fresh scones,cotton candy, hay, and horse manure. I've smelled these familiar scents at the same time every year my entire life. This is when we know it's fair time! The Puyallup fair is a pretty big thing around these parts. We usually go at least one full day. There are tons of animals to see and activities to do. There are a bunch of rides and games. But what's my favorite part of the fair you ask? THE FOOD! I can almost taste it now.
Please give me a moment...
Ok. Daydream is over. I usually come with a plan of what I'm going to eat. This usually includes hot fresh scones (the biscut ones) with raspberry jam, elephant ears, freshly made soft serve ice cream cones, roasted corn, fudge, and burgers piled with sauteed onions and mustard. Oh yeah. I'm drooling just typing about this stuff. When the fair is over, I feed my family salad for the next week to make up for the lack of nutrition I just exposed them to.
We took the kids this year and just let them lead. This meant we spent almost all day riding on rides and looking at animals. Now that I'm an adult, I like to wander around and look at all the collections that people have, the artwork, and the produce people have grown. I also like to visit the beekeepers society and dream of one day raising my own bees. There is a hypnotist show that's quite amusing that I like to see too. But, this year was the kid's year. For now I'll enjoy the fair through my kids eyes because I know that one day they will want to go with their friends instead of their parents.
12.23.2010
It's been a year!
"Fill the paper with the breathings of your heart". ~William Wordsworth
Wow. I looked at our blog, and noticed it's been a year since we've seen a post. It's been an incredibly busy year! I'm hoping to get back into blogging about our crazy and awesome life. I'll post a ton of pictures and catch y'all up on how our lives have changed over the last year.
Unfortunately...
I have a stack of presents waiting to be wrapped. So, here are a couple of highlights from the last year to hold you over:
1. Menchie's Frozen Yogurt opened up in two locations. Federal Way and Queen Anne. The third one is on it's way. This obviously has taken up the majority of our "spare" time. (who REALLY has spare time anyway when you have two little kids??) Menchie's is totally awesome. We love it.
2. Cameron is still working for Just Sports. He loves his job, and will probably never leave. He's busier than ever, but still makes time to be with his family and be the Young Men's President at Church. I don't know how he does it.
3. Greta turned 5! I really can't believe it. She's a super cute, super smart, super opinionated little girl. She loves to read and do math. (she chose math the other day over watching tv. Weird, huh?) Greta is in love with animals and babies. She also has a wild imagination and is a super big sister. She goes to a Montessori school for Kindergarten where she is thriving. I wish she would stop growing up so fast, though.
4. Austin turned 3! Actually, he will be 4 in April. It's hard to believe! He is a really amusing little boy. He has a heart of gold. He loves any kind of physical activity. He also loves to sing and dance. He also goes to Montessori school and is in the same class as Greta. They have an opportunity to grow close as brother and sister even as they are in school. I love that!
There's our live in a nutshell. This is going to have to do for now, because those presents are calling my name! Merry Christmas to all!!
12.13.2009
Story time
“Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
Michael Jordan
This woman is an inspiration to me everyday. You should read her story. It's quite interesting. Have a box of tissue nearby, and make sure you have waterproof mascara on.
Read her story here:
Stephanie Nielson - Chapter 1: The crash
Michael Jordan
This woman is an inspiration to me everyday. You should read her story. It's quite interesting. Have a box of tissue nearby, and make sure you have waterproof mascara on.
Read her story here:
Stephanie Nielson - Chapter 1: The crash
11.02.2009
"Character and personal force are the only investments worth anything” ~ Walt Whitman
I downloaded a new CD called "nearer". It's amazing. It has an awesome rendition of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" that I love. This morning, I got out the hymn book and read along to the text while listening to the acoustic version on my stereo. By the time it was over, the book was covered in tears. It's such a moving text. Here is the poem written by James Montgomery.
A poor wayfaring Man of grief
Hath often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief
That I could never answer nay.
I had not power to ask his name,
Whereto he went, or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye
That won my love; I knew not why.
Once, when my scanty meal was spread,
He entered; not a word he spake,
Just perishing for want of bread.
I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,
And ate, but gave me part again.
Mine was an angel’s portion then,
For while I fed with eager haste,
The crust was manna to my taste.
I spied him where a fountain burst
Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.
The heedless water mocked his thirst;
He heard it, saw it hurrying on.
I ran and raised the suff’rer up;
Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,
Dipped and returned it running o’er;
I drank and never thirsted more.
’Twas night; the floods were out; it blew
A winter hurricane aloof.
I heard his voice abroad and flew
To bid him welcome to my roof.
I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest
And laid him on my couch to rest;
Then made the earth my bed, and seemed
In Eden’s garden while I dreamed.
Stripped, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side.
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.
In pris’n I saw him next, condemned
To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
He asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, “I will!”
Then in a moment to my view
The stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in His hands I knew;
The Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name He named,
“Of Me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not, thou didst them unto Me.”
James Montgomery
Here is a neat video: (wow. I just said neat.) (and I didn't delete it) (and I'm doing this weird parenthesis thing)
I downloaded a new CD called "nearer". It's amazing. It has an awesome rendition of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" that I love. This morning, I got out the hymn book and read along to the text while listening to the acoustic version on my stereo. By the time it was over, the book was covered in tears. It's such a moving text. Here is the poem written by James Montgomery.
A poor wayfaring Man of grief
Hath often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief
That I could never answer nay.
I had not power to ask his name,
Whereto he went, or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye
That won my love; I knew not why.
Once, when my scanty meal was spread,
He entered; not a word he spake,
Just perishing for want of bread.
I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,
And ate, but gave me part again.
Mine was an angel’s portion then,
For while I fed with eager haste,
The crust was manna to my taste.
I spied him where a fountain burst
Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.
The heedless water mocked his thirst;
He heard it, saw it hurrying on.
I ran and raised the suff’rer up;
Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,
Dipped and returned it running o’er;
I drank and never thirsted more.
’Twas night; the floods were out; it blew
A winter hurricane aloof.
I heard his voice abroad and flew
To bid him welcome to my roof.
I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest
And laid him on my couch to rest;
Then made the earth my bed, and seemed
In Eden’s garden while I dreamed.
Stripped, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side.
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.
In pris’n I saw him next, condemned
To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
He asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, “I will!”
Then in a moment to my view
The stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in His hands I knew;
The Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name He named,
“Of Me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not, thou didst them unto Me.”
James Montgomery
Here is a neat video: (wow. I just said neat.) (and I didn't delete it) (and I'm doing this weird parenthesis thing)
10.28.2009
Summer vacation part 1
“The beach is in our blood. Everyone in our family returns to the beach instinctively, just like the sea turtles.”
--Sandy Archibald
We went on two vacations this summer. We decided this would be a good year to do "cheaper" vacations and choose places we could drive to. Both vacations involved a big group of family wherever we go... that's the way to do it!
For our first vacation this summer, we went to the Oregon coast for a family reunion. It was a lot of fun!!
You will see from the pictures that it was very foggy. It was pretty cold too... at the end of July!! On our drive home, though, it was record heat in Portland, OR. You will see our thermometer says 119 degrees outside. I've never experienced heat like that. It was hard to breathe. I wanted to turn the car around and go back to the ocean!
Cameron wanted to try crabbing this year. He has this little fantasy of catching tons of crabs and "taking them back to the cabin, boiling them, throw them in the middle of the table with some butter and chow down". Yep. I've heard that one a few times, I can even quote it. (we've been married too long, I guess. The stories are recycling themselves) Anyway, we had horrible luck. Why? The world may never know. Maybe next year.
We took the kids to the Sea Lion Caves. That place is awesome! The kids really enjoyed themselves. I could have watched those sea lions for hours. The last time I was there, I was newly pregnant and the smell made me really sick! This experience was much better!
The kids favorite activity at the coast was playing on the beach. It was hard for me to watch them get covered in sand, but even with fog and cold, they could have played out there all day. They had a blast.
It was great to visit with lots of relatives I don't see very often. I have a lot of great childhood memories on that same beach we stayed at. Not much changed over the years. I hope to create some great memories for my children, too.
--Sandy Archibald
We went on two vacations this summer. We decided this would be a good year to do "cheaper" vacations and choose places we could drive to. Both vacations involved a big group of family wherever we go... that's the way to do it!
For our first vacation this summer, we went to the Oregon coast for a family reunion. It was a lot of fun!!
You will see from the pictures that it was very foggy. It was pretty cold too... at the end of July!! On our drive home, though, it was record heat in Portland, OR. You will see our thermometer says 119 degrees outside. I've never experienced heat like that. It was hard to breathe. I wanted to turn the car around and go back to the ocean!
Cameron wanted to try crabbing this year. He has this little fantasy of catching tons of crabs and "taking them back to the cabin, boiling them, throw them in the middle of the table with some butter and chow down". Yep. I've heard that one a few times, I can even quote it. (we've been married too long, I guess. The stories are recycling themselves) Anyway, we had horrible luck. Why? The world may never know. Maybe next year.
We took the kids to the Sea Lion Caves. That place is awesome! The kids really enjoyed themselves. I could have watched those sea lions for hours. The last time I was there, I was newly pregnant and the smell made me really sick! This experience was much better!
The kids favorite activity at the coast was playing on the beach. It was hard for me to watch them get covered in sand, but even with fog and cold, they could have played out there all day. They had a blast.
It was great to visit with lots of relatives I don't see very often. I have a lot of great childhood memories on that same beach we stayed at. Not much changed over the years. I hope to create some great memories for my children, too.
10.26.2009
Mama's boy
“A boy is a magical creature - you can lock him out of your workshop, but you can't lock him out of your heart.” ~Allan Beck
I think he's the cutest little boy I ever did see -- and he has a personality to match!! I'm in love...
These are all pictures from our Yellowstone vacation this summer that I have been too overwhelmed to blog about. Too many pictures, too much to talk about.
I think he's the cutest little boy I ever did see -- and he has a personality to match!! I'm in love...
These are all pictures from our Yellowstone vacation this summer that I have been too overwhelmed to blog about. Too many pictures, too much to talk about.
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