Skate time!

Today we took a trip to Oaks Park with our playgroup for some preschool skate time. It was an hour and a half of learning to skate for 6 year olds and younger. They tought them some basic balancing rules and such and then played some hokey pokey, did a choo choo train line, and then some on your own skate time. Then snack, then Chipper the squirel came out(a person in a big costume)...which Zach LOVED and wouldnt stop touching him. Chipper then did the chicken dance with all of them. And then they served cookies and milk to the kids for snack and then it was back on the floor for more skate time. Zach however, at that time, decided he was done and took off his skates and just ran around the rink with his cousin Gwen while Eli continued to master skating...and bruising of his bottom. He was such a trooper! The boy was doing so good for his first time on skates, but the poor kid would fall occasionally and it wasnt very pleasant. STRAIGHT down on his bottom every time. He would tear up, sometimes a real hurting cry, and get himself back up on his skates not wanting me to help him..and off he'd go again to try some more. It gave me such flashbacks to my days as a kid and loving the skate rink. I remember those awful falls, and not wanting to quit no matter how bad my bottom hurt. When it was time to leave, he was very sad and begged to stay. So I think we're going to have to go skating more often now...

Playing some catch up on blogging...

So the last month or so has gotten away with my time, and ive been neglecting my blog. oops. So this one may be a little bit longer than normal to catch things up. :)

The weather here has been crazy this month. Super cold. Were not really that far out here in Dundee at our house, but somehow we got more snow than those not too far from us. Eli had a few days of canceled school due to snow and ice. Jake even got a day off work due to the snow. The boys made a great snowman that stuck around almost a week. Eli was very sad to see him melt. On the day Jake was home we walked up our street to the top of our hill and did some sledding in the little grass area that will become a new walking park this summer. I was happily supprised at the amount of snow we were able to sled on. Eli took some fast spills just like he did up at the mountain last month and had himself a blast. We even got Zach unafraid and got him to sled a few times laughing and asking to go again. And unfortunatley I did not catch Jakes awesome run-jump-dive-sled move that almost broke his back on camera. It was a classic Jake move though, so I know you all will get a good chuckle out of just reading that line. Eli said it was much more fun to sled at home rather than driving so far all the way to the mountain. We definatley need to start getting more snow down here off the mountain. And YES that is our christmas tree in its stand on our back porch behind Zach...two months after Christmas. :)

I started a playgroup a few months ago. To get us out of the house more and to meet more mommies and families. Yesterday our group went to the AC Gilbert House in Salem. Much the same idea as the Portland Childrens Museum but in my opinion was WAY cooler. The kids all had a blast and cant wait to go back again soon. They had a "China" room, and so Eli had a great time looking around at all the interesting facts and items and knowing that Aunt Alisa and Uncle Ben were there right now. Zach had to potty durring this part so I took him and he durring his potty break said "Mommy we have to hurry! I want to go back to Aunt Alisas room!!" So cute. Eli just celebrated Chinese New Year at school on Wednesday with his class (and thanks to Aunt Alisa and Uncle Ben for the yummy snacks from Hong Kong to share with his friends! His teacher even used the mailing package to teach the kids where Hong Kong is and showed them on the map and put a pin up for where "Aunt Alisa and Uncle Ben live"...thank you guys for sending that stuff over, they all really enjoyed it! And a package will be coming your way shortly!!) So it was a fun time on our playdate yesterday. Here are some of the pictures from our day.

This was the best picture we could get of the kids...kind of hard to get every kid to say cheese happily all at the same time. haha! This HUGE rocking chair was so cool! I want one in my living room. :)
Zach and Jaxon having some "rice and tea" in the China room.

Eli wanted to show Aunt Alisa and Uncle Ben some Chinese symbols and stuff he saw in that room.

Eli surrounding himself in a big bubble.

Zach and Trenton in the castle stage.

Until the next blog...

Mt Hood

Every year we say we need to get up to the Mountain for some snow fun. So this weekend we decided to stop saying it and just go! Eli had so much fun flying down the hill on the sled. The video is just on the little hill, we found an even better and much faster hill later on. He was such a dare devil flying down on that sled alone. He took one big spill, rolling a few times with the sled and landing on his feet and yelled "wooohoooo!!! Was that cool?" What a little stunt junkie. Zach wasnt as fond of the sledding as big brother was. I did get him to go down the big hill twice with me, but after laughing on the ride down when we would come to a stop he woudl say "no more please". So the rest of the time he sat on Daddy eating snow balls and telling Eli to "be careful". I think he's more cautious natured like Mommy. :)

Here is a picture of 1 of the 2 times I got him on the sled...doesnt look to thrilled does he?

There were many spots that you would sink when walking, right up to Jake and I's hips! Many times the boys lower bodies just dissapeared into the ground. Here ELi is trying to crawl out!

Here is a small video of Eli sledding the little hill.

A song from Eli's christmas program at school!

Here is one of the many vidoes I took at Eli's Christmas program with his preschool class. Arent they just adorable!!!??

Octopus...???

Our boys are so awesome. The best eating children Ive ever met, especially Eli. Here are some pictures of them proudly showing off what mommy made for dinner the other night (yes, mommy made octopus...the vegetarian in the house cooks the best meat Ive heard!!).

They were especially excited for Aunt Alisa to see these pictures.

Some of our Christmas fun...more to come in a bit.

Santa came to visit all the kids at Eli's preschool Christmas program. He wasnt your typical long haired santa, which rose some suspision in the minds of one of Eli's classmates. He wispered to his mom "That is NOT Santa. We saw him yesterday and he had long hair and a different hat". Need less to say, his mom was worried he would blow Santa's cover. Luckily everything went over well and all the kids sat on his lap and told them what they wanted for Christmas.
We took an extended weekend and went to the beach with The Waibels. It was 4 days of fun times with the family! Us gals went shopping, we all ate lots of yummy foods, played with the kids, went to the beach, played some Wii. Its so much fun watching all the kids grow up and becoming such great friends. Here they all are having a little snack on the kitchen rug...their idea. And Pebbel cleaning up the crumbs for them. :)

We took a trip with all the kids to the Newport Aquarium for some sea fun. The kids had a great time looking at all the creatures. Check out the monsterous crabs behind them!!
Daddy found a hat in the gift shop and tried it on Zach, he's a sea anenami! No...we didnt buy the hat.

Eli falling off the bed.

Just wanted to test out a video to see if I COULD do it on here, so I can upload in future times. Thought this one was funny to start with. This is Eli trying to take on Daddy and it backfired and he bounced right off the bed. He was fine and stopped crying right after the camera stopped and started laughing. This was about 9 months ago probably. ENJOY!