Happy Birthday to a man who is so dedicated to our family. He treats me like a queen and always makes time to play with the boys. I am so glad he is part of my life and the father of my children. He truely is my best friend. I love you!
Forever and Always, Anne

The parks here are amazing! They are by far the best thing about this island...well, that's not completely true because I would probably say the same thing about the snorkeling, the aquarium and a few other things. But for the purpose of this tribute, we'll focus on parks. The parks are characterized by lots of amazing slides, teeter totters and climbing areas that all way too dangerous to exist in the states. Our favorites are the roller slides, they are tall and long and instead of a flat sliding surface it's little rollers that you sit on, we usually sit on cardboard because you go faster and it's more comfortable. Alyssa LOVES roller slides and goes all by herself!

On Wednesday we went to one of our favorites, it's called Dolphin Park because the play structure resembles a Dolphin. It has a zipline, rollerslide and these fun horses that you peddle in a circle. It is also right on the beach. The weather was so warm we took our beach gear and walked through the tide pools and played in the sand! It's been a little too warm lately and it making nervous for summer!!!






Our friends the Balls took us to the most amazing park ever, we can't decide what to call it but based on the picture we should probably call it The Slide Park. Amazing slides all built into the hill.

On the red bumpy one you actually catch air.

The HUGE cement one is great for the kids unless they sit on a board or something because then it becomes insanely fast. Tom slid down it on a board and went so fast I had to literally jump out of the way and watched as he blasted into the net of the playground and was luckily stopped. He ripped open the seam on the rear of his favorite shorts, too bad I didn't notice until we got home because we could have had a good time teasing him there!

There is another park we love, the Civic Center Park and it has a huge roller slide, a nice playground with unusual spinning things and The Drop Slide. I don't know if you can tell but, yes, it does go straight down and I had to watch several people do it before I concluded it was actually possible.

This is not the first entry dedicated to park and certainly not the last. Play on!

To my Lovely Wife,
Happy Birthday. You are a wonderful wife and mother. I can not believe that we have been together for half of our life. Your support, your friendship, your love, and of course your patience have been wonderful gifts you have given me, not to mention the fantastic gift you gave me this year in Noah. I am sure we all know you are glad to see some of the incidents of the last year go away, but they add to a colorful history of ours. I hope we can make this Birthday your Best (even though you are a little sick and have a bum toe). We love you soooo much.

Brent and Noah.

I've been meaning to post for awhile but things just seem to be getting busier and busier. Plus I wanted to wait until I had some pictures from the Oscar Party to share.

Oscar Party

The parties were a success. I had two parties back to back in different locations this year. I'm thinking next year they'll be in the same location. Moving was crazy.

Ok, it's fixed for all to see. This is when we went camping in Japan. Isaac was 7, Taylor was 4 and Parker was 3 (2), and Morgan was 7 or 8 months old. Sometimes just letting the camera run gets some great moments. We have been transferring a lot of videos lately. We forgot about some great stuff we got on film. Dave

Zarzyski. I don’t know where he gitz ‘em,
those things he calls his poems..
I suppose, sometimes he makes ‘em up,
then blows them as he roams..

I comes here two years ago on a dare,
Came from suburbia to try this Cowboy thang..
Gosh dang it and gull darn it,
he got to messin’ with my brain..

I thoughts I had the perfect jargon,
the ones they taught me in school..
But all theys ta got me doin’ now,
is buyin’ CD’s and sittin’ on a stool..

It ain’t my fault when all them words,
Start ‘ta chasin’ away my tools..
Of language and English and such
Ta be replaced by the Cowboy rules..





Okay, Okay Okay…I ain’t sayin’ it’s a bad thang,
ta give up my ocean trips to Tolvana..
When the Z throws them words at me,
I git ta feelin’ like I’m in Nirvana..

I likes it, I love it, the drawl and warm handshakes,
that ain’t a happenin’ wheres I comes from..
We’re way too busy fightin’ freeway gridlock,
breathin’ carbon emits and dealin’ with the scum..

Now, the big Z, et al…has got me thinkin’ and a dreamin’
What its like this life of sand and sage,
Startin’ to like the feelin’ of brotherly love
And doing away with all the daily rage…

I’m ta thinkin’ now with all them words he spits,
It ain’t such a bad thing, ya know , hearing him orate his poem..
The thoughts and memories that come back to me,
And make me cherish my parents, sisters, brother and Home






Who made my life such a wonderful journey,
That brought me here to enjoy this western family..
Of singers and prosers and ranchers and poets,
Is it possible I’ll be buyin’ boots before ya know it?

Its that Z guy in his Carribean blue shirt and wild flamingo tie,
That got me really believ’in there’s another life out here..
That got me to thinkin’ I really have a lot of pity,
For the suits, white shirts and Beamers livin’ in the city…

It must be that fast talk, that diction, that cowboy thinkin’,
That leather, the saddles, the sunsets and dawny rises..
The draw of the quiet, feelin’ the earth, wind and sky..
That gots my brain to thinkin’ I’d think this is where I’d like to die.

--Kenn Stinchfield January 2009 Elko, Nevada

Well, Adina's posting prompted me to post my mundane activities....

-Las Vegas was quite fun although it probably is not my favorite place to go. The best part of it was the Cirque De Soleil Love (Beatles) show. Pretty fun! I also was impressed with the Forum Shops and the Venetian Grand Canal. Although overall, the mode of dress, the smoke, the rampant materialism and the little cards being handed out and scattered all over the ground kind of turn me off. I did do my long run of 6 miles down the Las Vegas strip on Saturday morning. Definitely is a different experience than running here!
- Yesterday, I had a man come over to check our furnace and clean the fireplace...which fortunately now is consistently working! Also we had our last inspection for our repairs by our mortgage company.
- Then also yesterday, Melody called from the college and said that they needed some things done for a curriculum committee tomorrow. So I've had to spend about 4 1/2 hours putting that together over the two days. It means I have to use the Access database and restructure some reports due to changes in the submissions so it is a bit time consuming.
- That took me away from doing my taxes which is now my next task since I'm now just waiting for Melody's response to what I sent out.
- I was going to have Noah today but he is a sicky...as is Buffy now...and Anne, and Andrew, and McKenzie....hopefully all this sickness leaves me alone!

Love you all....love to hear what's going on with you even if it seems mundane to you!

Mom

In an effort to revive the blog, I will post the mundane...my day thus far.

• Intervals this morning - I'll feel it later. I enjoy them because they are different, but by the last interval, I am toast. Exhausting.
  
• I just booked a trip to Cabo in October. Our amigos, Brian & Paige, will join us for the journey. I am very excited.
• Finished a letter to the principal at the elementary school - hoping he'll welcome the idea of Dave visiting classrooms to provide flossing and brushing instruction to the kids. We want to hand out hygiene bags to all the kids and teachers - with Discovery Dental's name and phone number on them, of course.
• Also scheduled a massage for Dave and me tomorrow. We have appointments with Sean and Rico. Dave was not thrilled to have a guy 'rubbing him down', but I think he'll live. After all, I've always had females. Secretly, I hope Dave gets Rico. I don't think I could stifle a giggle...Rico...Suave.
  
• Also signed up Isaac for a trek this summer. We may arrive a day late to the lake, but we want him to participate. They just lowered the age so he can attend.

I'm off to have lunch with Dave. Hope everyone is well. Enjoyed the LV photos - it is a rough life you live, Kenn & Barb. My deepest sympathies. :)

Adina

Just some photos from our LV trip.

Our Ellie Update

I do want to write a little Ellie Birthday Blog, but... it is Valentine's Day and we have spent the day celebrating Ellie's B-day and now it is time to spend the evening with my Valentine. He's finally home! I did want to let everyone know that the meeting on Thursday was a complete success. There might be a few kinks we will need to work out in our meeting in two weeks, but Ellyn is going to get everything I asked for. She will have an in class aide and an after school program. Both aides will come from the specific company that I requested, it could even be the same aide that stays with her all day. The staff at Central Coast Kids and Family are all highly qualified. They have to have a BA, which doesn't mean everything but it means that this is their focus and their long term goal, not a filler job. Ellyn's speech and OT are going to beefed up, we will have a coordination team that meets twice a month so that we are all on the same page at home and school. I know we will still have to work hard and also, that this is going to take another month or two to set up completely, but we got it all!!!!! Thank you everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers. I felt them. I couldn't have done it without my friend Meghan. She had done all of the legwork already for her son, researching services in the area, refreshed in all the legaleze that I hadn't had much time to read up on again since last Spring, she even came to the meeting with me for support. She was Awesome!

The results of all of Ellyn's assessments were kind of disheartening. At this point they say she is functioning at 30% of the full developmental level for her age group. The psychologist suggested that Ellyn might have slight mental retardation. Ellyn's occupational therapist spoke up and said that she didn't think so, that Ellyn just hadn't had the help that other kids in the program had experienced since a young age. It is exactly what I was about to say and I did. We just have to give this kid a chance. She has NEVER had what she needed, okay, for a summer up in Washington when she was two. Let's do it right and see what happens. If she is, so be it, but let's not go there yet.

Okay- obviously it has been awhile since I started that post. Things are still going well. A couple of kinks have cropped up but we are working on them. Thank goodness Mike has been home this week. I have spent hours on the phone and hours in meetings. Tomorrow I go to an all day training. I'm so grateful I have Jane and Mike.

Yes, it is wonderful having Mike home. It has been busy, even with him home most of the week and Jane and Sadie home for mid winter break. We did get to go hiking with the two oldest and Sawyer one day while Ellyn was at school and he took those three again another day while I was in a meeting.

Attempt number 3- I'm posting, finished or not or this will never get out. Off to SCERTS training- the program we will be using for Ellyn- lots of love. Me

It's the long lost Dave!  I don't think I have written much on here for several months. Embarrassing.  I don't have much exciting to say, but I will fill you in on what is going on in our lives.

Kim, it is your birthday already here so we hope you have a great one! We love you.  

We missed you this morning before we went to run. I have a hard time remembering that you are a day ahead of us so we really should have tried last night. I hope you had a good one...and that the package arrived!

I remember how worried everyone was about my mental state when you were born. I guess the day before a woman had had a fourth boy and went bonkers! I really have always enjoyed having the four of you in a row. It turned out just right and was no biggy since I was planning on having more children anyway! I remember singing on our way to your preschool at the college in Seattle....I remember you running around the couch with Nstops....I remember you being so concerned that you were NEVER going to grow when you were about 14!

You are such a great person in so many ways...a great son, a great husband, a great father...and I'm sure a great dentist. We love you!!!

Mom (and Dad, who is taking a shower so he can get to work on time!)

-- Post From My iPhone

-- Post From My iPhone

So, if you didn't know Lorie Davis from Southfield,, then forget it but at least Brian, Mom, and I have eternal entertainment guaranteed.

www.grandma-lorie.blogspot.com

Enjoy!




-- Post From My iPhone

http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do?displayContent=184701

Woohoo!! So as I am sure you all already know, Adam made it to the Top 36 on American Idol! Now it is up to you guys to vote for him and tell everyone you know to vote for him! I don't think he is on next week but when he is on, be sure to watch. Thanks!! :)

Kids Are Quick
____________________________________

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America .
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?
CLASS: Maria.
____________________________________

TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.
____________________________________________

TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
__________________________________

TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
_______________________________________

TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with ' I. '
MILLIE: I is..
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.'
MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the
alphabet.'
________________________________

TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry
tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand.
______________________________________

TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
______________________________

TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as
your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.
___________________________________

TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher
__________________________________

On Thursday I have to go in and meet with all of Ellyn's educators. I'm asking for some big things that Ellyn really needs (an in class aide and an after school home program). We have huge budget issues here in California right now. Prayers would be great. Lots of love to all.

We decided to cut Melia's hair because it finally got longer in the front... She did really well. She was a little scared but my friend who was doing the cut calmed her down... Hope you enjoy