Spring break '09 - Nicholas' gone wild....

Here are the pictures - for some reason I can't add them into the text.... Either operator error or blogger thing...

Well, not really. It was pretty mellow but we had a great time.

I have been saying for the past few spring breaks that the boys and I would go to the beach for a couple days. This year, I booked us a room in Garibaldi for two nights. So this is how we spent our time....

Wednesday afternoon, we drove to Garibaldi and got into town about 4:30. Checked out the room and the boys were right to the pool. They spent a couple hours in there going from the pool to the hot tub and then back to the pool.... The pool really was just a big wading pool for my tall boys but they seemed to still have fun. Then we went out on the marina and found a restaurant for dinner. Couldn't believe I forgot my camera in the hotel. Missed some beautiful shots of the boats with the sun going down.

Thursday, we were off to Seaside. Oh boy - flashbacks of spring break during high school and college... Did we look that silly??? Kids riding those cycle cart things down the street - one texting, the other fixing her hair.... Another with 3 girls that couldn't turn the cart so they ended up on the side walk, out of the cart and trying to push it and turn it around... Boys and girls on every corner doing what every boy and girl does... Arcade full of smelly teenagers. Even had an Uggs siting!!! Several of them actually - what is the deal with these shoes???? We walked out to the turn around. Wow - Seaside has grown! What used to be a parking lot next to the Shilo is now a huge time share. The boys road the bumper cars and the tilt-a-whirl and hung out in the arcade for awhile. After grabbing some lunch at Subway, we were off to the go-karts. Oh my - the boys were in heaven. Jake had perma-grin on every lap and Lucas was Joe-Cool by driving with one hand on the wheel and one on his knee leaning out of the car! Then we headed towards Cannon Beach for just some playing on the beach time... Lucas braved the cold water and went in the waves. Then back to the hotel for some pool and then out to dinner.

Today, we had pretty yucky cold weather so we went to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for ice cream, Tillamook Smoker for jerky, and out to Oceanside for one last picture to end our road trip to the beach scrapbook! (Yes - already planning out the book of our trip....) But the boys played along for me and put up with the camera every time I had it out...

We got home this afternoon about 1:30. I sat in the chair and took a nap and the boys went to the man cave to play some video games...

Now to try to figure out dinner and maybe start some laundry. So have a nice night!

Til next time...
Laura

where have I been???

Obviously, I have not been checking my blog.... let alone updating it!

Well, this has been a pretty busy month so far. What have we been up to???

Besides work, work, work and more work... the boys have been going to the pool a lot in the evenings. Lucas has discovered the diving board and that he likes it. The first couple of times took him several walks out on the board and back and then out again and finally a bunch of people yelling at him to jump! Now he is thinking of trying the first platform... Jake is liking it down at his end of the pool just fine. He has been practicing his strokes, standing on his hands under water and doing summer salts. He really loves to swim under water.

The first weekend this month was the Portland scrapbook convention. So worked that with Boxer and we had a great show. Was busy and as usual always great to see the other vendors and the familiar faces in the crowds. Hometown show is always a fun one.

The second weekend, Tom and Jake went on the scout campout. Jake is soon to be Patrol Leader (or chief lost boy - as I call him... :) ) so it was good for him to go and help plan the campout. Poor guys got drenched though. It rained and the wind blew all weekend. Lucas and I drove up North to Hoodsport on Saturday for my friend's husband's memorial service.

Lucas even took a book along and was doing homework! Was a photo op for sure...

It was a very nice memorial and wonderful to see Claudia again. Just wish it was for a better circumstance. The service was actually on a boat docked at Alderbrook Resort on Hoods Canal. It was such a pretty area - if the weather was nicer, it probably would of been hard for me to leave. I really do love that area.

After the service, we went to Claudia's house for a bit. She lives near Lake Cushman - again in a lovely area. Just love all the trees. But secluded. She had 4 inches of snow that morning and the next day, there was 8 on the ground... But Claudia - you are in my thoughts....

Lucas and I were going to drive the long way home and drive along the coast, maybe find a place to stay for the night. I bought a map in Hoodsport and we were heading to Aberdeen. But before I knew it, I was seeing signs for Centralia - wrong way! Usually I am very good with maps - not sure where I took a wrong turn. So we ended up stopping for dinner and just driving home down the freeway. Then sunday, we went to a movie and then went to my parents for dinner. It was my dad's birthday.

One thursday night this month, we had family night at school. That was fun. Checked out the science fair projects and watched the first half of the basketball game. 8th graders playing the teachers. Teachers started out pretty good, but think they tired out the second half because I heard the students won...

This weekend.... yesterday I worked from home. Tom and the boys did stuff... Took the boys to the pool again in the afternoon. Today we drove up to Carlton and did some target shooting in the woods.We packed up the truck with a picnic lunch and just headed out. It was very pretty to just be out in the trees. It even snowed a bit and was pretty cold but it was a good day. I am surprised Jake is becoming quite the shot. Think he hit the target more than I did! Driving out in that area makes me really look at the real estate. There was one house for sale on 59 acres and was just perfect! Even had my wrap around porch. Now just to win that lottery!



Well, better get back to laundry and finishing up some projects for work . The boys made burgers for dinner tonight. Now just to get them to do the dishes after cooking...

This week, the boys are on Spring Break. They are out of school so much anymore, it just doesn't seem like Spring Break. The boys and I are going to take off to the beach for a couple days on Wednesday. Looking forward to that.

Will try to check in here more often!

Till next time then...
Laura

another year....

Tom and I celebrated our 17th Anniversary last night. But since we were married on the 29th of Feb, we have an anniversary every 4 years. So actually, we have only been married 4.25 years! Boy it sure seems longer than that though.... :) Aren't you supposed to still feel like newly weds at 4 years??? Well, KJ - you have been married how long? You and Tony still sound like newly weds after 25+ years?

Anyway, got the boys some movies and a pizza and we were off to Newport Bay. We got some gift cards in the mail so thought it would be perfect time to use. Well, 50 minute wait... So back to the house to get the card for Stanford's. Drive to Stanford's - 75 minute wait.... New plan - Red Lobster. We drive over to Red Lobster where we don't have a card and the wait is 45 minutes! At this point, I was just tired of driving around - so let's just wait... An hour later - we were having dinner. We were finished in less time that we waited! We should of just stayed at Newport Bay - we would of been home an hour earlier... Anyway, food was good though.

So Happy Anniversary, Tom. Next year -reservations!

Also sending out Birthday wishes to Stanley today! Hope you have a wonderful day and so glad that you are trying out #41 before me.... Happy Birthday!

Well, tons of things to get accomplished today. Checking email, facebook and blogs really aren't on the list so I should log off and get to work.

Enjoy your Sunday - til next time...
Laura