No Water

A few of you have commented that our front yard didn't look 'THAAAAT' flooded... I would like to share with those that have never visited our home the big hole that is our front yard... it is now just over 45 ft long, 12 ft at its widest point and 5-6 ft deep. And the way the water rushes in, (it sounds like a waterfall sometimes) it is getting bigger through erosion.

Here is our front when it is dry:

Bragging Rights

First: Isabelle...
Genius!! She picked up one of her books, "Smooch and Smack" and sat in the nook in the side of the TV unit. A real strange look came over her face, she turned the book around (so the words were up right) and smiled... then kissed the picture which was of a dog kissing a frog. She can already read .... the pictures. ;)

Second: Eric
He is also a genius! He climbed in the attic, found where the leak was, and over the weekend (yeah, not raining!) climbed up on the roof, took off the broken times, fixed the hole and replaced the roof with new tiles!! No more leak!

New Season!

This morning, the 2008-09 Gymnastics season started for High School. Yes, still 5:30 am practices, which are wonderful!!!

Also this year, there are just under 40 girls trying out for the team, which ROCKS!!!

Wish us luck this year!

And now...

... there is a ceiling leak in the kitchen, coming out from one of the lights.


What's next???

Neighbors are Blessings!

Let's start at the beginning. The first November we lived here, the driveway (in 2 places) and the front yard, and a bit of the back yard flooded in two really bad rain storms. Luckily for the front yard (and us) there is a massive hole. Those that have visited us know the hole is big, VERY big! In the rainy season it fills up and continues on toward the house. Well, the past two years it hasn't been to bad... just about 5 feet closer to the house then edge of the hole.

Some may ask why a hole in the front? Well, it was the people who lived here before us, I guess, were thinking of making a pond and putting a bridge over it, for cars to drive over possibly?? Anyways, it is just a big hole in the front, to us, that has become a burn pit and is now, quite literally full of water, which is rising. There is actually a current in the front yard, which is nothing new in rainy season.

What is new, happening right now, is that the water was coming over the paved part of our driveway, towards the garage. Our neighbors across the way saw this, and offered to help, and we said YES PLEASE!!! They have big tractors and other pieces of large equipment and after about an hour of getting soaked and taking pictures, there is now a new current that runs off our property and into the wetlands. Of course, this new river that has been created does not really help the area with the hole, but extra water does not go into the hole to create more problems.

So now there are two currents running through our front... one into the big hole, and one across our driveway out into the wetlands... And it is still raining. The good news is that our garage and house are currently in the safety zone... hopefully this stays the case.

Enjoy the pics.

See the floating wood?? That is where our burn pit is and that is the left over wood from our Bonn fires over the summer...

Here is an after shot of our driveway... I didn't think to get one prior, but the green bucket by the bushy tree was sitting in water.

Standing on the curved of our driveway. In the front yard, on the far side of the hole the water went up to the most upward line of the boots.

This was on the paved part of our driveway about 10 feet from our cars.

Puddle Jumping anyone??

Prepping for the new river to run through

Ooops... Red tractor with bucket got stuck in a sippy hole in the back while trying to create the new mini river that leads water off our property, so we had to call up reinforcements... the yellow tractor with the 'triangle' There is a name for it, but I forgot. :(

Wetland... where hopefully the water will flow.

It is sill raining and they (news) is saying it is going to get worse. We'll see how our new little river works.

New Niece on the Way

A few days ago, I did a photo shoot (still practicing) with Kristy, who is expecting a new little girl and Sophia. I still need to work on some background ideas... plain seems to work best. Enjoy!

Family

Isabelle with cousin Michael

Michael, Aunt Betsy, Isabelle, Eric and Dave

Blanket

Isabelle now has a new favorite blanket that she will curl up with in her little sized rocking chair. Thank you Karen from Portalnd, for making her such a wonderful blanket, that is sooo soft and warm. You are most sweet!

Portland Bound

Beware... Book Ahead

Yes, that is us. This last weekend we went to Portland to visit family and a friend of mine from high school. It has been 12 years since I talked or saw my friend Karen and that was too long. We totally reconnected and started up without missing a beat, just as we were in high school. We were celebrating with her this weekend, as she is going to have a little girl in December! Zoe. The baby shower was wonderful. I got to spend time of course with Karen, but also her sister Patty and their mom, all who I haven't seen since graduating high school. It was so wonderful to see them again! Patty made these adorable baby buggy cakes that were pink with pink frosting, which Isabelle devoured.

Let me start at the beginning of our trip... We left home, and drove south... easy enough. After about 3 hours we arrived at Eric's cousin's house (Michael) where I and Isabelle changed and then left again 15 minutes later. Eric stayed at the house with Michael to hang out. Isabelle and I were off, with directions in hand to the Spaghetti Factory in Portland. Off we go... driving just fine, on and off the HWY, taking the turns and then oh no... its a one way street and the directions say to go turn left and you can only go right. I go right. But I was lost and somehow, while trying to get un-lost in an unknown city find myself at the "National College of Natural Medicine." This is where I decided to call the restaurant and ask for help. About 25 minutes later... with 'Travis' on the phone with me the whole time he got me to the restaurant with the bright purple roof. And there spent a great baby shower for and with Karen!!

The way back was so easy. I followed Patty back to the HWY and knew my way from there. It was interesting though, when following her, I saw where I was lost originally, and figured out that one of the roads that the directions asked me to turn on no longer existed, and of course there was the one way road issue. MAP QUEST needs to update!!!!

Once back at Michael's, Isabelle and I napped for an hour, then went up the road to Aunt Betsy's to say hi, and drop off our bags. And then dragged (asked) Michael to come with us to dinner at Patty's house. Good Thing Too!!! We would have been completely lost without him. He even got turned around with the directions. (And it was dark). But we made it to Patty's where I met their family's and they met Eric and it was the best evening! Us girls reminisced and caught up with stories and pictures while the hubby's chatted, watched the many games on TV and played with the kids. Isabelle, the youngest and only girl, totally held her own. :) It was so cute!! We eventually left the fun, Isabelle rubbing her eyes was the cue to go, and went back to Betsy's and slept soundly... including Isabelle. We were surprised at how well Isabelle slept in a new place and room and all... She must have been tired!

The next morning, we woke up and I was off to Washington Square, an Oregon Mall that is very nice!!! to meet up with Karen and have some more girl talk and catch up. We also shopped a bit of course. I got there without a hitch too. Then back to the house when Eric and Michael went off Christmas shopping (no tax in OR). Around 6 we left to come back home, and made it safely.

I know there are no pictures here.... sorry, I left the camera in Isabelle's other bag, not the one I brought with me to the shower. So we have to wait till they get sent to me, then I will post.

Either way, Karen and Patty, we are so staying in touch now and not letting another 12 years get in the way. And there is only 3 hours between us... not far at all.

Congrats on Zoe, we all can't wait to meet her!

Charleston Bound

No, not us. My friend Katie and her hubby Tim left two weeks ago (driving) for Charleston, So. Carolina and arrived last week. Yes, they made it safely :) and found a new place to live that takes dogs! I want to wish you both well and I can't wait to visit you on the EAST coast!!

As soon as I can scan them, I will be posting old college pics up of us, Katie :) Some memories of us on the ol' WEST coast.

Miss you and Congratulations!!!

All In a Day Of Fun

The title says it all...

Isabelle LOVES her baby dolls... she caries them everywhere, feeds them, shares her drink with them, cuddles, dances, and jumps with them. It is so cute!

Future Trouble

We went and visited a friend and her baby, Paige. These two are going to be up to no good when they get bigger. You can just tell...

Choke Hold... aka a Big Hug

Trick or Treat!!

This halloween, Isabelle got to trick or treat at our door with our one, yes... one trick or treat visitor. (That is living in the country for you). 'Flash' came to the door and Isabelle actually said "Treeeee" and gave him many pieces of candy, one piece at a time.

Our little LadyBug was sooooo cute. Enjoy

We also tried to get some cute portraits of Isabelle. I am still working on this hobby of mine, but we shall see. The first background I used was black, and she did pretty good... but when I went for the white background, she had had enough, and unfortunately I didn't get any good ones. Turns out... the white would have worked better then the black. The things you learn after the fact. :)

Black background drowned out her feet...

Isabelle wanted to try her hand at taking a picture too...

Dinner Party

Yes, the season is here and the parties are starting. Last weekend we had friends over and Eric made this wonderful beef stew. His prep was awesome too... instead of normal bowls to eat the stew from he ... well take a look at what he did. He is so creative!!!

Before dinner though, we all went outside to show Jadon the goats, and Isabelle wanted to feed them (again). Just some cute daddy baby shots below.