Down on the Farm

We had a great vacation last week (Aug 14-Aug 19). We went to the Sierra Foothills (Garden Valley, California, 47 miles from Lake Tahoe, CA), where our friends, Barbara & Rusty, have property. I went there every summer for much of my youth. When I didn't spend it on their farm, I went to their Bay Area home.

I wanted the boys to experience what I did as a kid. I wanted them to be able to see something other than a major US city (they've been to Vegas, San Francisco, and Seattle, Palm Springs). It's fun for me, being in cities, but I knew they'd enjoy something else. I also was sentimental to re-live my childhood, in a sense. I mean, I have actually spent time with the B&R in recent years. I see them all the time, but I think the last time I was on the farm was 2002.

Matthew brought Cornhol(io :), a game that people like to play in the city (SF in Chrissy Field)

The boys got to roast marshmallows; "sleep" in a tent; see the sheep; paddle the boat on the pond; and, spend some time with my oldest friends. Barbara was my babysitter from the time I was two years old, and I grew up with her, Rusty and their three boys. One of them lived with my mom when I was a teenager. I love B&R as if they were my mother and father. I adore them and their boys, and their boys' families. Again, the luckiest lady on the planet I am, to have such great people in my life!!

Elaine drove to the farm with us, and Dennis flew down to meet us for a few days.

Evening Art Project - Piggy Banks

I promised the boys a "toy" today. They had a good night last night (we spent the night at my mom's), so I told them I'd get them something...Finn was cute in that he said I could surprise him. Usually, he and Ashe want to go with me. They want to look at every single action figure; fondle each one; and, make me crazy waiting for them to pick SOMETHING. Today, Finn allowed me to surprise him: "Just don't get me any Star Wars Action Figures." Funny that he would specifically exclude those, but good enough.

I got them some cute little piggy (Ashe's was actually a cow - but Finn's was indeed a pig) banks. They were ceramic, came with paint & paintbrushes, and the boys painted them. The boys were VERY excited and started them immediately after receiving them. Yay! It's hard to find something, not associated with television or video games or some weird character (Bakugan - Pokemon - Ben 10), that these two monkeys like.

Summerteeth

Finn looks so freaking cute with these teeth missing!! He had a loose tooth since before school ended. He really wanted it out, but was nervous about messing with it too much. Finally, last Saturday night, we were at Sean's (Caver was out of town - in Lake Tahoe at a Yoga and Meditation Festival - Wanderlust - which is hilarious to me in itself, but, I digress!!). The boys were running through the sprinkler. Finn and Tucker had a collision and loosened BOTH of Finn's front teeth to the point where they were hanging. Luckily - they were baby teeth!!!

Tuesday the first tooth came out, and he most likely swallowed it...it came out in Finn's sleep - so he drew a picture of it for the Tooth Fairy. The second came out on Wednesday. He had that one in his hot little hand when he walked into my room and woke me that morning...sweet little thing. Isn't he so cute!!??

Ashe finished up summer league b-ball last Wednesday as well. His team won the game, 30-15. Ashe scored eight points!! He had a sweet hook shot that made it (see pic on the right - ashe is in blue to the left of the basket with his hand in the air as if he just shot a fresh hook shot ;) !). Wasn't the best shot selection, but he didn't have many options. Thankfully, it went in. I'm so happy he had fun in this league.

There are a couple of more pictures of the boys below from the day of the game, and the tooth losing...

Ashe shows off his beautiful choppers.

Finn before the second tooth loss - snaggle tooth.

Triops. The Grossest Thing Ever.

My son found these last month at a toy/novelty store in Spokane, Boo Radley's (a wonderful store - like a better Spencer's Gifts). It is literally a necessary destination for us on our annual trip to Spokane. The directions said they would hatch, and we'd have these great, prehistoric creatures called Triops. I thought of Sea Monkeys. I wasn't sure what to think, but Finn had to get them.

Dennis was completely skeptical and I pretty much was as well, but believed, because Finn believed.

Well, damn, if the stupid things didn't hatch. Now I have the grossest things on my hands. I have to clean the tank, and look at these things. We left for five nights to Kahneeta and didn't have anyone come feed them. The frickin' triops lived!!

Anyway, here's a link to a disgusting pic of one "in the wild"....Thank goodness our's are nothing even close to these...but there's no question they're the same species....Below are pics of Finn's triops, and my nemises.

Would anybody like them??

Three of them. This shows the lovely red underside (the triops on the right) of these awful creatures.

Another view of three (of the five) triops.

Kah-Nee-Ta 2009

Gorgeous scenery and beautiful boys!

For most of last week, we were in Kah-Nee-Ta. It was a very relaxing time. Our original plan was to stay 3-4 nights, but we stayed for five: Wednesday - Monday (today). The Ealys came along as well. Caver was in Grants Pass for a few days prior, so she met us there. Sean rode with us...Caver ended up staying the fifth night with Cade & Tucker, but Sean drove my car home. He's such a workaholic!!

Kahneeta pretty much has swimming and a bar or two. There's "gambling" of course, but it's such a teeny tiny casino. It looks like no fun. I just went inside the casino for the snack bar and the tasty, tasty hot chocolate. I got addicted to it!! Got Finn addicted to it as well. The food choices are bad; and, the night life is a crack up. Thirty to fifty-something's living it up like they were in Vegas. They were a bit obnoxious (pathetic??).

The restaurant

We spent a couple of hours at the "big pool", the Village Pool. The one by the teepees, that can be used for day use. The one at the lodge was only for guests. It didn't really matter, though. Both were very crowded. A fun relaxing time.

The slide at the Village pool.





Dennis, top of stairs - checking to see if Finn made it down






Finn - coming off end of slide

Finn's First Phone Call

I don't know why I felt this was a milestone of sorts. It also struck me as sort of humorous. Finn's friend, Matthew, called tonight and wanted to talk to him. It was the cutest conversation ever. He's spoken with family on the phone but never to a school friend. It was cute to watch him talking on the phone and lying there like an adult would. At one point, he said "what should we talk about?" He didn't get it at first but they ended up talking for about ten minutes. Just like little old men.

Pictures From a Summer Walk

I took these the other night walking to Ashe's basketball game. I thought they were cute and wanted to share.

Update: So happy for Ashe.

This is an update on the previous blog: the stats are available. He had 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals. The final score was actually 24-18 (corrected from below). Wow. I'm proud of him, but I'm so happy FOR him. He felt good about himself. He felt confident. He finally knew he could do it in a game. Even though he can do it playing three-on-three with his dad and dad's friends - it was great that Ashe had confidence enough to step up and stay in the game. Good for you, Ashe.

14 Point Shoot Out

center in white, #24

Ashe had another game in his summer league tonight. Ashe's team won 22-16. Ashe scored 14 of his team's 22 points!!!! He had several steals and several rebounds. I don't know the exact stats yet. I couldn't believe it. I mean, I believe he's a good player, but this was a "career game", as Caver said. I'm so proud of him. These are from tonight's game.

ASHE IS NUMBER 24.


very corner of pic, far, far left

Explosions in the Sky

This was right before the craziness ensued.

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Our fourth of July was quite entertaining. Our plan was to do what we did last year - stay at the Residence Inn at Jantzen Beach to get a view of the big fireworks across the river. When the Fort Vancouver fireworks were canceled, we chose to stay home and do fireworks.

It was fun & interesting. The police even showed up. All of our's were legal, but our house (somehow!?!?!) became the place for our block to light off ALL fireworks - legal AND illegal.

The police showed up (near night's end - around 11:00 pm) in two unmarked vehicles (SUV and car) and were really nice. We all enjoyed the show, whether or not we were the ones actually lighting the wicks, so all agreed we'd pitch in for any fines (there were none). It put a bit of a damper on the evening, but was fun nonetheless...

Looking at these photos, it's no wonder we had police presence!! Also below are a few pictures of the groups of neighbors & their respective friends to give you an idea of the pah-tay.

Granny came to enjoy the fun with us...

Ever since Finn was really little, this was his favorite holiday. He just loves it. He confirmed last night that it still is.

This was our ALL LEGAL stuff...

Finn chats with Paul about his LEGAL fireworks.

These may or may not be legal (ahem).

Finn was beside himself.

Ashe was playing it pretty cool.