Why?

This is the bedroom floor of one of my boys...
I will not name him because his underwear are laying there and I do not want to embarrass him...
But I will tell you it is either Josh or Ty but since it could be both it really doesn't matter...


Please notice the empty hamper...
Why is it so difficult to throw it INTO the hamper?

Is there some magnetic force which prevents it?
Is it some "boy code?"
Is it some secret pact to drive mothers crazy...


Frychik

Bible Conference

There are some perks to my job...
While it was an exhausting weekend, it was fun!
While I missed my husband I loved sharing the weekend with my boys and their friends!
While I missed my own bed and there are challenges sharing a room with 10 teenage girls...it was fun!

Our meetings were held in an ampitheater.  Awesome music!

 This is Young Life's second location near Antelope, Oregon.  It just down the road from the other camp we have attended.  Which I thought was really great but I have now decided I like this one better!  It is simply amazing! Apparently they received 30 million dollars and this is what it will buy!  The accommodations are very nice and the water park is fantastic!

 Our lodging for the weekend....

 There is a nice balance of having the time to worship and learn about God with amazing music, speakers and activities there is also time to enjoy all the camp has to offer...namely the sand volleyball court!  This is my fierce vball team!

 We took 1st place in the tournament! Yes we did! Undefeated!

It was so fun to play with Josh! He is actually getting good at this sport! Obviously handed down from me :)

Ty's favorite thing was the "cliff diving" section of the water park.  He must have jumped 100 times.

 While I don't prefer the desert...it does have it's beauty...

One of my favorite "mom moments" of the trip was watching these two play together in the much hyped dodge ball tournament which takes place Sat. night.  They were intense! And focused! And on the same team!  I loved watching them communicate and work together!  Made my mom heart smile :)  After an intense championship game CAA came in 2nd in the dodge ball tournament

 The camp is an oasis of green in the middle of desert...

CAA on stage Sabbath sharing.

There were over 400 kids there this weekend and it was such a spiritual, fun filled weekend.  I'm looking forward to next year...

Frychik

Some pics

I wish I could spend the day taking pictures...
But I need to write a 5 page paper on Thomas Paine's Common Sense and then I'm off to Salem to root for the KODIAKS!

I hope you have a beautiful day!

Frychik

Loss

There was a time in my life when I could say that I didn't know anyone who had died...
I felt guilty somehow...
That time has long since past and sadly it is a growing list...
Yesterday I got one of those awful phone calls...

It is such a shock to the system to learn that someone you know has suddenly, tragically died.
It is such a harsh reminder of how temporary this life is.
Children, friends, family left behind.  Each grieving in their own way.  Each with a different size hole ripped into their hearts.

Take time today to love

Frychik

Squish Squash

So this weekend we did not have the 90 degree temps we have grown used to...
We had rain...
About the only time that Jeff and I have left to ride our bikes is on the weekends so we decided to tough it out

Saturday we took off in the afternoon and by mile 10, I was done!  It was 58 degrees and pouring and between the rooster tail my hubby was kicking up from his back tire to the massive spray each car spewed our way as they passed, my own back spray and the rain that fell from the sky I was soaked and freezing in record time.  Really if I had jumped into a pool I could not have been wetter!
So I whined...yes I did! I said I'm cold and I'm not having fun lets go home...

But by the time I got home I was feeling pretty proud for suffering 21 miles in the cold rain and I was feeling tough and proud and I had completely forgotten about the whimpering...

So on Sunday my hubby had a plan.  I love it when my man comes up with a plan.We had been invited to my Mom's house Sunday evening for all kinds of celebrating.  Jeff suggested we ride to her house since we now have the luxury of a teenage driver who could drive over with dry clothes and transportation home.
We guesstamated it to be about 30 miles (it was).  I was excited about this plan while it was cloudy there didn't seem to be any rain.  I have wanted to ride over the 205 bridge for some time and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

It rained..

A little at first...then just as we were riding onto the bridge the heavens opened up and it POURED! And the bridge traffic was really LOUD and I couldn't see a thing because I don't have wipers on my sunglasses...and I remember thinking to myself "this isn't as fun as I imagined it would be."

Once we arrived in Oregon we stopped to regroup and figure out our route.  I had unwittingly stopped right next to a large mud puddle...now can I just pause to say that even though I have thought to myself MANY times how funny it would be to splash a pedestrian or biker while driving through a puddle I would NEVER do it...apparently others do not have the same limitations I do...
As we started to go I heard a car coming, revving even, and as I turned to look he hit the puddle and a tsunami wave of mud puddle water hit me full force.  Every last drop hit me.  As I yelled at the bugger and wished rotten milk and bed bugs upon him I reminded myself that I was already soaked and the JOKES ON HIM!!!

We arrived safe and sound and soaked to the bone but feeling proud of our accomplishment.  If anyone knows where I can purchase some eye protection with wiper blades please let me know ASAP.

Frychik

I am not a raging feminist!

So....

 I'm taking US Constitutional history, my second Masters class (yes, I'm taking this very slowly!) Taking an online class is a very different experience.  I am a face to face sort of person.  I don't typically like to chat on the phone I would rather get together and do something with you.   If I'm at work I would rather walk down to your office to ask you a question then send you an email.  I believe that says two things about me.  One, I'm social.  Two, I'm too impatient to wait for an answer and want you to have to deal with me right now...
So, while I like the convenience and flexibility of an online class I miss the social interaction. 
Schools try to combat that by having "forums" which are basically walls where questions are posted and you are to answer them and make comments on each others post.
There is a student in my class named Walter.  I've decided Walter and I are not going to get along very well.  He has labeled me as a raging feminist.  Well, he didn't actually say that but he certainly implied it.  The funny thing is that he completely misread what I had posted.  I have tremendous respect for the men who wrote the Constitution and yet some how Walter has decided that I don't....I will spare you from reading my riveting post but take my word for it!

So...

I have lost 17lbs.  I would like to keep them off and lose a few more.  I have made diet changes I can live with but I think what has really helped me is the bike riding.  The sun is setting too quickly these days to get a ride in with my man in the evenings and I don't want to ride alone...So, Jeff and I have started walk/jogging at Lewisville.  We run along the river and then up the hills on the back side.  Yes, up the hills, we race.  Then we walk down the hills while we desperately try to slow our breathing...its so much fun (not!)  I like bike riding much better!  How, oh how am I going to keep the lbs off this winter...

So...

Another school year is off an running.  I will admit to having a little apprehension with this class of sophomores.  But they have pleasantly surprised me.  I like them and things are going well.  I keep wondering when the "honeymoon" will end...It is so nice to teach the same thing I taught last year.  I'm not spending every evening writing power points and lesson plans.  I'm not being lazy its just great when the foundation is already laid...

So...

As I sit here typing my blog my husband is doing the dishes...don't tell Walter!

Frychik

This and That

Thanks to the heat last week I am enjoying piles of red delicious garden tomatoes...

I am enjoying lovely tomato sandwiches each day and I made a crust less garden quiche last night with 5 ingredients from my garden! (potatoes, basil, tomatoes, peppers and zucchini)

I am happy to share just come on by!

It is soccer season again and this year both of my boys are Kodiaks!  I love that they are playing on the same team again!
They have won their first two games!  Go Kodiaks!

Yes, I enjoyed every bite and I didn't feel sorry for him one bit!

I hope you have a splendid day!

Frychik

Time flies when you're having fun!

It was perfect!

Perfect friends, perfect weather, perfect location...

Sigh and now it's just memories....

Why does it take so long for something to arrive and then it is over so quickly!

We had a fantastic weekend with our lovely Georgia friends!
We ate too much, laughed too much, showed them the sights, kept them up way past their eastern timezone bedtimes and my husband spent the entire trip teasing Connie and trying to make her laugh...

After picking them up at Seatac we headed to dinner and then somehow timed it perfectly to catch the "sunset" ferry to Bainbridge...well Connie and I did but since we were in two cars and the boys were not as quick as the girls they missed the ferry by 1 minuet!
The ferry was gorgeous!  Full moon, city lit up, gorgeous sunset, me with my camera....and no SD card! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR So just picture it in your mind because I got nothin!

Woke up to a gorgeous morning on Bainbridge Island and had breakfast at a lovely diner

Then we walked along the Marina...

Then we stopped at Paulsbo and picked up a little friend...which I quickly dispatched of...limb by limb (see FB pictures) YUMMY!

Then we went and visited some wildlife...I could totally relate to this guy after eating the guy above...

Encountered some hungry, slobbery, snotty "wildlife" ...

EWWWWWWWWWWWW! Look at the tongue!  I will admit to some screaming...

Stopped at a beautiful beach...

Drove up to Hurricane Ridge where the weather was perfect!  No wind, gorgeous sunset to the west and full moon rising to the east...Just incredible!  I assure you they just don't have stuff like this in Georgia...really why would they ever want to leave???



We had such a great visit with our friends!  It was very sad to see them go...



Bye Y'all...come back soon!

Frychik

I'm so Excited!

Today after teaching my classes and loading up 40 girls there bikes, tents, sleeping bags, suitcases, food, etc Jeff and I are headed to Seattle to meet up with our dear friends from Calhoun!

Last year when I was traumatized thinking I was moving to Florida they drove 8+ hours from Calhoun to spend the weekend with us in Florida which made the whole ordeal so much more enjoyable!  They are just those kind of friends!

 Before that trip they drove all the way down to the Atlanta airport to visit with me for an hour during my layover to Peru.
But this time they are headed our way! Well actually they have meetings in Victoria next week but they are coming out a few days early so we can all hang out in Seattle.

We love these guys so much and can't wait to have them on our side of the country!  They are good old southern folk and its just fun to get them out of their environment and into ours!

When Jeff and I moved to Calhoun we didn't know anyone.  We didn't have any family around and when Darrel and Connie heard that they said "you're our family" and we have been ever since!  They were so amazing to us as we (I) struggled with adjusting to southern living.

When we were all in Florida together Connie was spoiling my kids as usual and in particular was doting on Tyler at the moment asking him what he wanted etc and Ty looked at me and said "I love that woman!"  LOL!  Sadly, the boys can't join us they are heading out for Boys Club Campout.

So our weekend will be exploring Seattle and showing the sights off to our friends.

I hope your weekend has "adventure" in it!

Frychik

Adventure

So, last weekend was my birthday which meant I get to decide what I want to do for the day.
I of course, choose "Adventure"

Jeff and I like to hike and from being pregnant to carrying them, the boys have always joined us.
But as they grew and could no longer be carried their enthusiasm for hiking did not grow.
So in an effort to avoid the complaining I no longer called it a "hike" but an "adventure"...
It didn't take long for them to make the connection... bright boys

Not only did I get to choose what I wanted to do, but there was no whining allowed!
We headed to the Gorge to explore some "new to us" trails.  This is my favorite kind of adventure.  When you don't really know what will happen along the way.

 We started at Oneonta Gorge.  If you've been there you know that it is a narrow gorge with a small river flowing through it and a waterfall at the very end.  The water is glacier melt and extremely cold!

 Jeff, Josh and Ty all swam it.  I had my camera so I managed to do some tricky rock climbing in the name of protecting my camera....

Here we are at the end.  Of course to get back means to swim the ice water again...

We found a new trail that was called "Rock of Ages".  Having grown up here I was excited to discover this in a book.  I had never seen it before and I thought it sounded like a fun adventure...

 The hike was really, really steep! Like climbing a ladder steep (in some places).  My mom and her hubby joined us and we all made it to the arch and the incredible Gorge views.

Jeff and I then did another trail leading up another stream to what was supposed to be "triple falls" but there was only one fall?  But it was beautiful and it involved some waist deep ice water.  We felt so adventurous!

 There are several forest fires in the area which made for a smokey gorge with some beautiful lighting!

I have no words...

After our various hikes the 6 of us headed to Red Robin to celebrate birthdays.  When we told our waiter that 4 of the 6 of us had birthdays (Ty 29th, Me 3rd, Jeff 4th, and Mom 8th) she didn't bat an eye and we all were treated with birthday sundays and singing.

Today is my Mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom! You are an amazing, inspiring, strong woman and I'm so thankful you're my Mom!  Love you!

Frychik