Jack says WHA?

This weekend was going to be filled with Halloween goodness.  However, the weather did not cooperate with us.  No pumpkin patch this year, which is ok.  D had his drumming class on Saturday, so that cuts a huge amount of time out of the day.  Once we go home and had lunch, off to the store for pumpkins.  Unfortunately, on the way C got a call from work and had to be brought back to her car and off she went. I was brave and took the 3 kids to the store and picked out some GIANORMAS pumpkins!

Today, we carved those pumpkins and here are the results. 

Gut removal team

Mine and C's

CM's, D and CE's

For those who've noticed - I don't put names into my blog of most people.  ESPECIALLY children.  Because C decided to name her kids with C names, I have to include middle initials....CM = boy child, CE = girl child. D, of course, is my child

Thar She Blows!!

No, I didn't go swimming and wash up on the beach.  Har har har.  Instead, I was kidnapped for a Birthday weekend at the beach which included whale watching!! 

  Friday, I had a staff meeting at school and while I was there C came to my house, packed my clothes AND brought Oreo to a friends house for the weekend.  After my meeting, I was instructed to head to C's house.  She took my keys, sequestered me into the house and then after a few minutes ordered me into my car.  Yes, ordered.  We got onto the I-5 and headed south and ended up in Salem.  Hmmmm, where are we going.  C quickly programmed in an address which was located easily - the Oregon Lottery Offices.  HUH!?!  Why are we here?  She still wouldn't say.  Once we walked into the building, she produced a penny and 2 quarters.  Apparently, the lottery has a penny machine!

  After getting our FREE penny (yes, free at the Lottery office) we were off to another unknown destination.  This time we were on the river and heading to the carousel - which has a penny machine too!

I still had no idea where we were headed - the only answer I got was SOUTH.  So, I thought perhaps we were headed to Crater Lake because the only other clue I got was it was something I've never done before.  That is until we headed west after Salem.  We stopped at Spirit Mountain for another penny -Yep, they have a machine too, and used $40 to gamble in the penny slots.  We didn't win anything, but had fun trying!  While there we saw a woman win $1400 on the Lord of the Rings penny slot!  We pulled into Lincoln City after dark, unloaded the stuff at the hotel and went to Mo's for clam chowder bowls.  It was there, I learned that we had 12pm reservations for whale watching the next day.  I was beyond excited!

After a crappy hotel continental breakfast, we were off to locate all of the penny machines and do a bit of tourist shopping.  4 penny machines later, we were stepping onto the boat for our adventure.  SOOO much fun!

We saw about 6 whales that day!  One surprised us and spouted about 30 feet from the back of the boat where we were standing, but we were looking toward the front, so it kind of scared us!!  OMG, it was the greatest experience!  I knew that I didn't get sea sick, but C wasn't too sure.  There were a couple people on the boat tossing their breakfasts overboard, but she maintained her stomach.  YEAH!  However, C didn't feel great after the excursion, so we went back to the hotel for a nap (see my previous blog).  I then whoped some butt in 2 games of putt-putt golf  50-55 and then 54-55!!  WOO HOO!!  As we were trying to figure out where to go have dinner, we saw a beautiful sunset.

The next day was filled with stuff to see and do.  First stop, Newport Aquarium! 

Then we had to enjoy the weather and see the lighthouses.

Down in the cove you see in the picture above, you could walk through the tide pools and see/touch all the different creatures.  I'm much more adventuresome with the touching of creatures than C is.  While down there, we heard the park ranger encouraging people to lick a sea aenonomie - apparently it makes your tongue/mouth go numb.  I'm not allowed (not that I ever would) to lick one b/c I'm allergic to bee's.  THAT would be BAD!!  There are also a few harbor seals who live in the area too.

After leaving Newport, we headed back to Lincoln City to try our luck at Chinook Winds to see if we could win enough to make the weekend free!!  C was up $100, but then the damn Wicked Witch of the West took it all!  (her favorite penny slot is Wizard of Oz).  We arrived back to Vancouver after 9pm, tired and not looking forward to working the next day.  It was a wonderful weekend filled with laughter, excitement and adventure!  Thank you for a special birthday surprise!

Wat'er ya drinking?

C hasn't been feeling well for a few weeks now - very tired, bad headaches, cough.  Finally, she felt bad enough to head to the dr.  Well, after just a few short minutes, the Dr. stated that she was very dehydrated and needed an IV.  HA!  C and needles - NOT.  So, the Dr. reasoned with her and made her promise to drink at least 68oz of water per day to get her rehydrated.  She's been doing OK with the water intake - 68oz worth, no, but more than 1/2.  Since drinking more water, she's felt better.  Headaches are gone, her cough is residing (could be the meds with that one) and she's definitely not as tired.

Moral of this story - DRINK YOUR WATER!!  I have increased my intake and do feel better - and as an added bonus, my skin looks great! 

D the Explorer

Everyday, D comes home with a 1/2 sheet of paper that his teacher has written a message on for the entire class.  Tells the date, how many days they've been in school and then asks them a question about the day.  Today she had written that it was Columbus Day and that he was an Explorer.  The question to the class was, if you were an explorer what would you explore? 

I reread the paper to D in the car and asked him about what he'd explore.  After a minute of thinking (see, my kid thinks before speaking - good thing he didn't get word vomit mouth from me) he said that he'd go and explore Florida.  Why?  Cuz Grandpa lives in Florida and I miss him.

Awwwwwww!!  What an awesome answer. 

41 with a big mouth

I know that I have left you wanting more camping story, how C tried to push me off a mountain, and other goodies from the last month, but those will come later. 

Today is my Birthday.  I'm 41.  A number that I can say without regret, overwhelming sadness, or even a whisper.  I'm 41 and really liking it.  I've had a great day which started with someone trying to let me sleep in, but 2 children later, that's impossible and was just fine with me.  I went to MC today and talked with people I hadn't seen in a while, then I was taken out to lunch by 2 friends (thanks again Girls)and home to rest on the couch before getting D off the bus.  After I took him into Portland to Daddy's house, I went to C's house for dinner.

That's when I opened my big giant mouth.  I have a problem with editing thoughts prior to them coming out of my mouth.  It's something that I work on on a daily basis.  My friend Nikki just blogged about being absolutely truthful to your partner about things or letting little white lies slip out.  Most of the time, I'm truthful, which isn't a bad thing at all, but it's my delivery that is poor and needing adjustment.  I need to THINK about my words prior to having them spill forth from my mouth!  The minute the words leap forth, I instantly know that they were NOT at all what I wanted to say or how I wanted to say them.  And I instantly regret it.  I am sorry for how my content came out tonight.  It was definitely NOT the time, place or how I wanted to tell you my thoughts. 

So, for my 41st year on this planet, I plan on working VERY hard at editing my content.  If I'm quiet when talking to you, it is not because I am not listening, perhaps I'm forming the words I want to say within my head first before spewing them out into the world.  Just as I reread my blogs prior to publishing, I need to rethink my thoughts before speaking.  That is just what I'm going to practice during this 41st year. 

Labor Day Camping - Day 2

Brrrr it's COOOLD!!  After freezing through the night and not getting much sleep because of it, I was up before anyone else, so I ran into town to Fred Meyers to purchase breakfast items (ummm, I kinda forgot ALL the fix'ns for French Toast breakfast).  While there, I decided to buy a blanket too cuz if I freeze again tonight like last night, I'll die!!  DONUTS and milk were purchased, so I didn't have to cook.  When I returned, I attempted to start a fire, but it had rained the night before and the wood was wet.   Slowly the gang emerged from the chalet and we started making plans for the day. 

After having some coffee, we were off to Rockaway Beach for some tourist fun!  As I have previously mentioned, Catrina and I collect smooshed pennies and we knew that there was a store in Rockaway that had a penny machine.   We headed into all the tourist shops, laughed, and had a great time. 

 

 After having a great time, we decided to head south for lunch and go to Tillamook.  On our way, Christian pointed us in the direction of a restaurant to have some great clam chowder soup and fried fish.  YUMMY!  After lunch, we were right on the water, so we mingled with the locals (they were a little stiff and scary), looked at the harbor, and sat to watch a seal lion beg for fish from the fishermen.

 

With bellies full, it was time to head to Cape Meares Lighthouse.  The views on the walk down to the lighthouse are spectacular!  A few months ago, a couple of men decided it would be "fun" to shoot out the windows of the lighthouse - thus ruining a landmark.  The men have been caught and are awaiting trial for their actions, but it has compromised the beauty of the lighthouse. 

Shot out windows

Next stop, Tillamook Cheese Factory!  We have renamed it to - Tillamook poop Factory.  While browsing in the gift shop, an older gentleman had an accident in the doorway of the factory.  Ummm, it wasn't just a small accident either and WHEW it stunk up the entire factory!!  Poor guy!  We didn't let it ruin our time, but we did spend a few extra minutes browsing the shop for the place to air out!  The line was way to long to enjoy ice-cream there, so we loaded back into the car and headed back up to Rockaway Beach.  Enjoyed ice-cream on a bench and just watched the people go by.  I made my famous chicken packet dinner that night, we sat around the campfire and headed to bed early.  Being a tourist is tiring!

Day 3 to come!