On the Mend

Hopefully we are finally getting to the end of our colds. Colton seemed to be the worst because he always gets a bad cough. He slept better last night so I got some sleep finally:-) Steve just got a cough and a bad headache.
We are going into town this afternoon to get some groceries and just to get out of the house for a little while.
Colton did something pretty funny yesterday. I had just finished talk to Steve on the phone and I set the phone on the table and went to the restroom. While in there I heard the phone being dialed so I came out and took the phone from Colton who had the phone to his ear like he was talking. I looked at it and it was off so I went to hang it up when it rang. When I picked it up I heard "911, do you have an emergency.?" I was a little confused until she told me that someone had just called from our number. There is no quick dial on our phone so he actually dialed 911. Crazy little boy:-)
We've had quite a mixture of weather this week, from Rain to Snow to wind to beautiful spring like days. I took a few pictures.


Monday when we got home from town there was a lovely rainbow out our front door

Thursday morning we woke up to about an inch of snow and blue skies.

Here is Colton in his pajamas's with his messy curly hair:-)

Anna in her purple dress. She wanted to watch Cinderella on the computer then she fell asleep:-)

Ribit Ribit

I have a frog in my throat:-) This stupid cold has made me loose my voice. But I can still type:-)
We are getting ready to go meet Dad and James in Prineville. They are picking up Nathan and doing some shopping.
We found a new home for our Dog, Boscoe, yesterday. I felt terrible saying good bye but I think he will be very spoiled at his new home. Now we can leave without worrying about him running away.
It looks like it will be cold all week with a mix of Rain and Snow so we will be staying close to home.
Steve is back to work after 4 days off. Work is slowing at the mill but they are still going to have him come in 5 days a week and put his hours in. The did cut managements pay but at least he still has a job.
Colton and Anna have colds too. Colton is also teething so he has been running a fever on and off for the last three days. I hope it goes away soon, I don't think I can take to many more night with no sleep.
Well I better get the kids ready to go.

Home from Millican

The kids and I decided (or rather I did) to follow Steve and Nathan up to their camp at the Black Powder Rendezvous. It is about an hour and 15 minutes from here so it was a nice little trip. They are about 4 miles off the main road on a 1000 acres of private land. It is pretty much all juniper and sagebrush with mud in between:-) I thought that there would be 25-50 people there but Uncle Pete said they are expecting around 300! In past year they have had around 700 people there. It was funny to see the people walking around in the buckskins and coon skin caps. Anna was a little freaked:-) It was a good day and always nice to see Uncle Pete. Steve and Nathan are sleeping in a Canvas tent with a little wood stove in it and Pete is sleeping in his trailer. They are due back on Saturday evening.
We posted an ad online last night to find a new home for our Boxer. I feel sad about it but he jumps out all the time plus there are a few other issues. He's not mean or even aggressive. We've had him for about 3 months and we've broke some of his bad habits but he just isn't bonding well. I have a friend that wants him and I know that they can give him a good home but they already have a male boxer so they need to make sure they get along. Even though I want him to find another home I want it to be a good home so we already turned away a few people that I think just wanted him because he was free. Poor dog. I have major guilt giving him up but I think he needs to be with someone who can really spend a lot of time with him.
Well I better go feed the kids. I'm posting some pictures below:-)
Pete put one of his fur caps on Colton
Mt Jefferson on the trip home from Millican
This is Millican, no one lives there it is an old abandoned store and gas station along Highway 20
Nathan and Uncle Pete talking
Anna and Colton playing in the Snow
Colton, Steve, Anna and Nathan sitting in the tent checking out Uncle Pete's black powder rifle.

Going to town

This will be the fourth day on the road for me:-) I got used to staying in the house to much:-)
We are going to get the rest of the camping stuff for Nathan and Steve's Rendezvous. Won't be a long day, Colton is taking a nap so maybe he'll be in a good mood.
We went and visited Trina and the Kids for a couple hours yesterday. We met Dad and Nathan there, Nathan came home with us. We took Tyler back to Redmond on the way home. It was a busy day.
I thought I'd try uploading a video clip, let me know if you can't see it. This was from a couple weeks ago when we had a nice day and were out for a walk.

Sunday

The weekend is going well so far. Tyler is staying with us until Monday. Steve and I had a nice dinner together on Friday while Ann and Tyler watched the kids.
Last night we spent the evening at Chris and Charity's, we had dinner and played 10,000 (a dice game). Brian and Heather were there too, we will see them all again this afternoon because they are having a Birthday party for Thomas, he turns 10 tomorrow. He and Steve share their birth date.
Nathan is coming up to stay tomorrow or Tuesday, then he and Steve will leave for the Black Powder Rendezvous on Thursday. It looks like it is going to be sunny for them but the high temp will be about 45. Brrrr. I'm glad the kids and I are staying home.
Not much to write about, maybe I'll post some pictures of the Birthday party later:-)

Date night

It's been awhile since Steve and I went anywhere together without the kids. Tonight Steve's mom is coming over to baby sit so that we can go to dinner! Steve's birthday is this weekend and then of course Valentines day! We very rarely eat out so this will be a big treat. We are going to our Favorite restaurant in Prineville. We have hear rumors that it might be closing so we want to go once more before it does. We've only been there 4 times in 5 years but every time the meals were great and the people fantastic! I hope tonight will be just as memorable. The food reminds me of the lovely dinners that Darrell and Jean and I cooked at the inn. It's nice to be reminded of my years with Darrell and Jean.
The clouds are dark but so far no snow so I think the kids and I will make a quick trip into town since we have been cooped up since Sunday:-)

Here's a picture of Steve and I on our Wedding Day at the Inn.

Wednesday

It was a rough week for Steve, His mill laid off more workers. Luckily he still has his job but a lot off people he works with are gone. Unemployment in our county is at 15% or higher. There have been so many lay offs and I'm sure there will be more. Some people are in better situations then others so they are volunteering for the lay offs just so that someone else that needs a job more then them can stay.
Our friend Randy wasn't on the list but volunteer because he is so close to retirement and his wife is still working. Steve's whole crew started crying when Randy told them he was leaving (mostly just the women cried but Steve said that the men got a little misty to:-). Randy has worked there since 1976.
We met a guy the other day that used to have his own family construction business and now that no one is building he is using his construction equipment to drive around central Oregon and haul away scrap metal for people. He is making a living at it, supporting his wife and 2 little kids.
The schools in our area have reduced the school year by 10 days and have canceled in Extra curricular activities for the Spring. They said that there enrollment didn't increase like they thought it would so they basically spent money they thought they would have. Now it looks like they will be laying off people too.
The problem is that people need to learn to be responsible when things are good not just when they get bad. If people were responsible in the good times there wouldn't be bad times. People get greedy and want everything they can get. The really sad thing is that almost everything in this country is so intertwined that when one things fails everything else follows.
On a lighter note:-) The sky is blue and the fog is burning off. If it get's a little warmer I might even take the kids to town and meet Steve for lunch.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Here of some pictures of what it looks like outside our house today:-)

At home...

The kids and I are staying home again today. It is starting to snow now and we are supposed to get a few inches over the next few days. Steve has a terrible cold but still had to go to work. He says it is starting to get a little better.
Eli and Heather's little girl Briellah Sunn Hurzeler was born 6:11 PM 02/09/09 strong and healthy 7.8lb 20 in. I'm very happy for them.
I'll probably take the kids to story time tomorrow and then we are supposed to meet some friends for lunch. Hopefully the roads won't be to bad. We missed the last 2 weeks because of our colds.
Next week will be a busy week. Steve is getting ready for his Black Powder Rendezvous. Nathan is going with him and they are going to meet Uncle Pete there.
Well I better get busy and do some laundry and cleaning. I think I'll bake some cookies....

The sun is shining!

The Sun is out but the clouds are supposed to roll in tonight and we are supposed to get snow on and off all week.
I'm so excited, my friend Heather is having her baby or maybe already has. They went into the hospital last night and I am dying to hear news! She is having a girl (they have a boy and a girl already). I am so happy for her and Eli!
The kids and I are staying home today. We took Tyler home last night and stopped by to visit Ann and Sid for a couple hours. They got a converter box so that they could get the local digital channels after canceling there cable.
I think I'll try to take the kids outside for a little while before the clouds start accumulating.

Home from Christmas Valley

Well we are home:-) We left about 6am yesterday and got
home at about 8:30pm. The trip only takes 2 1/2 hours if
we take the back road. We had a pretty good day. All the
flooring is down and they got the plumbing break under
the house fixed.
Mom and Alicia came out to visit with Sebastian, Leighton
and Kellie so all the kids played together. Tyler got his first
lesson laying wood flooring. I helped a little but kept getting interrupted by screaming kids or smashing my finger with
the hammer:-) Ann was happy to have the floor done so they can move in to their master bedroom.
Today we are all a little tired, so we are just hanging out at the house. We did bring home wire panel to make my garden so we laid those out this morning. Now we need some posts and Chicken wire (to keep the bunnies out) and we'll be almost ready for spring planting:-)
We are going to Redmond this afternoon to take Tyler home.
Then we might go visit Ann and Sid.
I'm attaching a few picture from our trip, The first is of
Mom holding Leighton and Alicia feeding little Kellie
yogurt:-)
The 2nd is of the lovely sunrise on the way to Christmas
Valley.
The 3rd is of Colton, Tyler and Anna sleeping on the way
there.
The 4th is of Tyler's 1st time laying wood flooring.
Better go make some lunch for the guys.

Friday

I finished all my baking and cooking for the day:-) The cinnamon rolls were a big hit. They were supposed to be for breakfast tomorrow but they are half gone:-) Anna and Colton are napping. Anna played outside with Tyler for awhile and I think she was wore out.
We are supposed to get some snow showers tonight but nothing major. We are going the back way to Christmas Valley in the morning so I am hoping for good roads. Ann decided to go down tonight so that she can clean the floors before the kids get there.
Tyler and Steve are in the living room reading and listening to NPR. It is a very quiet Friday afternoon.
I'm praying for Heather she is due tomorrow and hoping for the baby to come this weekend.
It is also Kellie Jane's 1st Birthday today! Happy Birthday Kellie!

Baking...

I'm baking dinner rolls, Cinnamon Rolls and more dinner rolls:-) I love baking and lately I've been trying to find the perfect bread recipe. I tried 2 different kinds today and we'll see how they turn out. :-) We are leaving really early tomorrow so I thought Cinnamon Rolls would be a quick Breakfast.
My cold isn't to bad but Steve was feeling pretty yucky this morning. Steve got some books off of Craigslist so we drove to Redmond last night to pick them up. Tyler's birthday was on the 1st so we decided to drop off his gift on our way home. He said he didn't have school today so we asked him if he wanted to come over for the weekend so he did. So we'll take him home on Sunday.
I'll write more later, gotta set my Bread

Colds:-(

Well, it looks like we all officially have colds. I was up half the night with Colton. He always ends up with a croupy sounding cough. Anna seems to be getting better since she has had it for almost a week.
We were supposed to go to the Hurzeler's today for Jason and Carrie's going away party but I don't like spreading colds around. I was looking forward to seeing everyone. Hopefully we'll be able to see them before they leave on the 16th.
The clouds are rolling in this morning, it looks like rain. It's also starting to get windy. It is a good day to stay in and drink tea:-)
Hopefully we'll all be healthy enough to go to Christmas Valley on Saturday. If not then Steve will probably go by himself.
Steve smoked a big batch of jerky last night, Anna loves it! I think she could almost live on it. There is still some out there smoking, Steve takes it to work and shares it with his co-workers.
Here is a picture of me holding Kellie and Colton in December at Summer Lake

Hmmm...

The last few days the weather has been so nice. Temp's in the 50's, it feels like spring. I dug up my flower bed on Monday, it is to early to plant anything but it felt good to get the bed ready. I've got plans for my garden now. I am getting some bull wire to keep the dogs out and then I'll put chicken wire around the bottom to keep the rabbits out. I'm counting on the dogs to keep the deer out. The only thing left to worry about are the birds:-)
I'm going to Prineville today to meet Richard and the boys. They are coming up to get their dairy cow. I've got some clothes for Kellie and a few other things to send home with them.
Tomorrow is the going away party for Jason and Carrie so I'll pick Steve up after work and we'll head over to Bend.
Steve won't have to work again on Friday so we are going to do a little shopping. Saturday we'll be going to Christmas Valley to help Anne put flooring in part of their house. The next few days will be busy so might not have much time on the computer.
Well I better go get the kids ready for town. I attached a picture of Anna and Colton playing outside on Monday.

Monday's Monday's

Monday's are always kind of hard, Steve goes back to work. The kids are cranky after being out and about on the weekends. Staying up late and missing naps:-)
This morning Anna woke up with a cough and stuffy nose. I have tried to keep them germ free but I'm not sure that is possible. Last year they were sick all winter it seemed so I vowed I would try my best to keep them well this year. Oh well, they need to build their immune systems up and the only way that can really happen is for them to get sick occasionally.
We had a nice weekend, Steve had Friday off and then we had Chris and Charity over for dinner on Saturday, we played Scrabble and Steve beat me at it. That never happens! I'm a sore loser. Sunday Dawn and Jon came to visit, Dawn is 7 months pregnant now. They are having a boy and his name will be (is) Gabriel. Leah and Hannah are getting excited about their new baby brother.
Today the kids and I are staying home. I figure that Colton will probably get sick next so better to let them rest. Steve should be home around 4 so maybe we'll go out for a walk.
Hopefully the kids will be feeling better by Thursday so that we can go to Jason and Carrie's going away party at Robert and Peggy's. Jason and Carrie are moving to Alaska on the 16th.
Yesterday was Tyler's 16th birthday, Steve called him last night. Maybe we'll go take him out next weekend. He said his grade are not very good, I wish we could help but I don't think he cares. He hates school.
Well I better sign off and get a few things done while Colton is napping.