Explorers!

Hello, everyone!
I'm sorry I don't have more pics to put up right now, but I left the camera in the car, and Bray took it to the Academy today...but I promise to put more on tonight!
These few are of the patio out back of the condo-as you can see, it's enclosed by this lovely foliage, and a wall, so it's a great place for the kiddos to be outside! I can watch them through the kitchen window, so it's a nice 'freedom' for them-especially Hobbes.
Things are going great-Bray is already really busy, but he's loving it! He had to go to Seattle this past weekend, to perform for a fundraiser, and it went even better than planned! He met some people who might have apartment leads, so that was encouraging. Today is the 'Death by Aria' masterclass at the Music Academy. I am really sad I can't go (no babysitter!) as this is one of my favorites to go to. It is where each of the singers perform for the first time of the summer, and all the 'patrons' choose their favorites! It's pretty funny, but I love to hear all the different talents and voices! It is definitely another world...but the music is fabulous!
Charity arrives tomorrow, so I am really looking forward to seeing her! we haven't seen her since Christmas, so this will be a blast-not to mention, she's never been to California before!
Had she come yesterday, we could've gone downtown and seen Arnold Schwarzenegger in person-he was giving a speech-but oh, well, life is full of disappointments, right?:) I know my Dad would've gone anyways.:)
I-dare I say this-have not done any shopping besides groceries yet...I did walk on State Street with the kids(one of the most fabulous streets in the world...it holds a special place in my heart!) but I only bought 2 bubble blowers from World Market-those of you who know me well, you should be proud! But, that will probably change with Charity's arrival. Anyhow, there's a not-so-quick update for you all, and I will post the pics later. Love and miss you!

1st Day at the Beach!

We had a great, crazy time at the beach-we love California!

Maggie and Hobbes

Hobbes and Maggie, just hanging...

PJ Tickles!

It's been awhile since I put any videos on the blog, so here's a few from the past few months!

The Beach At Last!

Yesterday, after unpacking and finishing settling in, we took the kiddos to the beach...they LOVE it! Hobbes especially, was fascinated by the water and the waves, and Madeline loved playing in the sand. It was a ton of fun, and we managed to keep the sand-eating to a minimum!
We even saw a school of dolphins(is that the term) that were swimming really close to the shore! They were hanging around for quite awhile, and it was so amazing to see them jumping in and out of the water. (although, at first, all I saw was a fin in the water, and I couldn't tell if it was a dolphin or a shark! But, it was way too close to the shore to be a shark.:))Squatting to test the temperature of the water.

Putting sand in her bucket!

Running in the water with Daddy. (this lasted literally 2 hours!)

Run, boys, run!
Making friends already...course, they did have some cool sand toys!

Had to take a pic...the seagulls are even bolder in California than in Oregon-look how close it was!Splashing in the ocean!

I plan on framing these pics in a montage...Love it!

The Last Leg...

After we got to the hotel, at about 8pm, the kiddos were wired! I mean, my kids can get pretty hyped, but this was a level I had not yet seen, and possibly only reached once in my life! It lasted till about 10pm, when after tackling, tickling, chasing, throwing the ball, and running in circles with each other, Madeline sat down and literally conked out.
This made it difficult for Bray and I to get enough rest, and so we decided to try and make it to Santa Barbara by the end of the next day...which would mean about another 10-11 hours in the car. We started out feeling refreshed and ready to take on the challenge, and the kids did great again until about 2pm, when they really started to lose it. As we got closer to California, the temperature was rising, and so we all needed a break. When we were just about out of gas, we pulled into a small California town, and saw a great park with a river, and a playset, and we decided to take a break! It was perfect, and lasted us the rest of the trip!
The kids were so happy, that when they got back in the car, they played this game with a nerf ball where they threw it back and forth, hitting each other in the head, for nearly an hour! It was pretty hilarious!


We had not gotten lost or detoured the entire trip, but when we thought we were about 3 hours away, we accidentally took a wrong turn. We had an atlas with us, and so decided we could take another route, and possibly cut off some time, and still make it there. This worked fine until we realized we were driving on one of the windiest, most dangerous roads I have ever been on! It was gorgeous, and I kept thinking that, even though there was no standing room on the side of the road, Bill Church would have stopped and gotten some amazing photos! It was like something out of a Cary Grant or James Bond movie, with old tunnels and the sun streaming over the mountain tops.
However-it took us 2 and a half hours to go 20 miles. Yes, gorgeous, but not necessarily worth the time on a 20 hour drive...but, we made it there safe and sound, and are very thankful to be in such a gorgeous place and situation! We miss and love you all!

On the Road to California!!!

After we finally fit everything we possibly could into our car, we had my parents and sister help pack us in-both Madeline and I literally had no leg room-and we headed off to California!
The first day went pretty well, and I was amazed at how well the kiddos did. We did end up getting a portable DVD player before we left, and that saved us at the crucial times of trial!

I am kicking myself right now for not stopping to take more pictures, but when you're in the moment, and both kids have finally fallen asleep after not sleeping at all until 4pm, you just want to keep going. We saw some pretty neat things-like a dog park-not a normal park for dogs, there was actually a building/inn that was a huge dog, and then there was a dog amusement park, with little rides and toys and everything! It's amazing what pet lovers will do.
Then there was the dead tree in the middle of Nevada, which, by the way, the only great thing about Nevada is that you can go at least 75 the whole way through...other than that it is a straight, dry, desert-like state....but, back to the tree. It was the only tree for miles around, and it had tons of shoes hanging from it. I was almost tempted to find a shoe I didn't care about, and leave my mark, so to speak.:)
Here are a few pics from the first day, and the first 'big' stop at some random town in Nevada. (oh, another cultural note-every town in Nevada, no matter if the population was only 25, had a casino in it....hmmm). However, this town had ice cream that was similar to McDonald's, so we had to get some!




We ended up stopping in Winnemucca for the night, after a 10 hour day in the car! Thank the Lord for safety and very cooperative kiddos!

Last Days in Moscow-Pt. 2

Reading with Great Grandma Garfield...

Found in Funny Places...

This past Sunday morning, I felt like I was in one of those dreams where you want to get across the room, and you can't move an inch! For some reason, everything was moving in slow motion before church, but then all of a sudden I heard screaming! Hobbes had been with me, so we both ran out to the family room, only to find Madeline, stuffed into her push-toy...Hobbes decided to be a kind brother, and give her a ride-which of course, helped her aggravation at being stuck! I had to laugh-life throws you curves, and the chaotic moments can oftentimes be the most hilarious!

Trying to calm her down-he gave her her pacifier and a kiss-so sweet! (at times:)
The other evening, Hobbes decided to play a game with Kathryn by climbing up on our exercise ball, and jumping into her lap-Bray and I were surprised, we didn't know Hobbes had such good balance-or that Kathryn's lap could take that much abuse!
A Boy's Best Friend-
As much as I don't want a pet right now, I must admit to some sadness at leaving Maggie, Carolyn's dog. Hobbes truly adores her..and they have been playmates every day for nearly a month! The first thing he does in the morning is go out and greet her in his high, bright voice. He loves giving her commands, and playing 'keep-away' with her ball...I know he'll be sad to leave her-but maybe someday we can get a dog of our own-when Hobbes can do all the upkeep!:)
Looking through the screen.
Playing on the bench...
Hobbes decided to be Ampa one morning, and put on his Michigan cap (sorry Steve!), and go outside to mow the lawn-all before even getting dressed in the morning! Wow, Ampa is efficient!

Ampa and Madeline-
The past week or so, my Dad has truly been Madeline's favorite person-even over me! She has chosen him over all of us, whether for reading books, being held, fed or just played with! It's pretty cute...course she knows she can get anything from him, so maybe that's the reason why!:)
Here's a few pics of them just goofing off. Two peas in a pod, you might say!

Last Days in Moscow-Pt.1

After the fluke snow of the early week, the weather finally warmed up, and so we decided to go to the Aquatic Center one last time! (or actually first time for this summer, but you get my drift!) It was hard to keep Hobbes contained, as he adores any amount of water, even the tiniest rain puddle, and this huge play place full of water was just too much! Madeline was a little more timid, and is similar to Bray in that, if the water is not lukewarm, bath water-temperatures, she only touches it with her toes, and then stands right outside of it! Oh well, I got some fun pics anyway!
Deciding if she wants to put her toes into the water at all...Waiting to see what Big Bro will do...
This is what he chose to do-run through all the fountains and kick them, to make the water go 'higher.' Doesn't he look like such a big boy?
Daddy helping Hobbes squirt kids with the squirt gun.:)

This is what Madeline enjoyed the most-and she looked so grown-up and funny, I had to take pictures! I mean, who sunbathes at 1years old?I guess our little prima donna does!Clapping for Hobbes, jumping in the fountains.

SO cute!

Farewell Party At Kathryn & Mike's!

Yesterday Kathryn and Mike held a goodbye party for us, as we take off tomorrow morning bright and early for California!) We had a good turnout, and it was fun to see everyone one last time! Here are some pics from the fun.(Kathryn took most of them, but a few are from my camera.)The cookie table-YUM!
My Grandma flew down for the week-in time to see us for a few days, so we got a pic of all the 'Garfield' women!
Hobbes really wanted to get in Mike's canoe, so they pulled it out and had a pretend adventure-but Hobbes wasn't fooled, he kept asking where the water was!

The 3 sisters-and no, we didn't plan the matching color scheme!
Madeline, showing off, entertaining...you know, being the life of the party.
For Mrs.L-the 3 Christ Church office girls...or 'Dream Team.':)
The current Dream Team.
Bray, scaring everyone by throwing Madeline several feet in the air-which she loves!Kathryn thought it'd be fun to make Madeline look like she's flying-so here's the flying baby!
Shawna and I-the last pic of us together before she's a mom! (I'll have to wait to see her baby till I visit!)
A typical pose.

Laura and I-or in Kathryn's words, Kathryn's amazing photography.
Ummm...Mike got ahold of my camera.
Mike, waving goodbye-a fitting end.