Feb 27, 2011 Post By: Marnie

Oscar Party 2011

View and download all pictures here.

giving their best Brangelina

rocking the earring

Andrew enjoyed the Black Swan cookies a bit too much

Severed arms from 127 Hours

One of the six birthday kids at the party

Noah loved the Black Swans too

Post By: Jane

Lazy Week:P

Grandma Bennett was here for about 10 days and we had SUCH a fun time. And this week was our Mid-Winter break. I did three things

1. Babysit. I earned all of my money for Wicked in one week. I LOVE babysitting. It is so fun to play with little kids and especially since I have babysat them since they were babies.
2. Watch TV. I was watching Psych, my new favorite TV show.
3. Family. Although it was a lazy week, it was needed. It was the end of the trimester and a new one starts tomorrow. It was nice to be together as a family and not ALWAYS doing something. Just relaxing and talking.

I love ALL of my family so much. I cannot wait to see everyone this summer:)!

I read all of the blogs, almost every day, but I am making it a goal to blog more.

Post By: Marnie

a walk in the woods (with a spattering of running)

: finished!

WARNING: The following program contains moments of exaggeration and references to words more intense than bummers.

I feel an obligation to write about what I did yesterday morning. Mostly because there is a slim chance I will ever do something like that in the future.

So about a month ago my brother-in-law Peter casually mentioned in my parent's kitchen, "Hey, do you wanna do a mud run with us? It's the day before the Oscars." (yes, my life does somewhat revolve around the oscars this time of year)

Cue thought implant into my head.

About two weeks later, I'd signed up. Two weeks after that - I was in Salem sitting on my sister's couch and wondering why I was doing this. The race was sold as a mud run but due to an overly-hyped winter storm during last week, there were reports that it would be a snow run with 2-14 inches throughout the course. Oh and Anne did flash the elevation map of the course to me, which looked a bit like a line drawing of Everest.

The time had come. Yesterday morning we - me, my sister Anne and her husband Peter and my brother Dave and his wife Adina - headed up the mountain. As we drove the snow accumulated on the scenery outside the car and the outside temperature displayed inside the car was lowered. "Why are we doing this again?" was a common phrase uttered on that drive.

: nice hat, dave

: the hills are alive

: with the sound of music

When we got out of the car, it was 16 degrees and the road was icy but we made it over to the start line where there were about 170 people jumping around to keep their pulse going. We picked up some hot cocoa just so we could hold it to warm our hands and then carefully made it over to the start.

Everyone took off - this was my first trail run so I wasn't totally sure what to expect but I think the snow aided a bit in making it a single file line trudging through the forest. I started pretty strong but quickly had my energy expended from every step's concentration to not sprain my ankle and step in the exact footprint of those who went before. I was soon at the back of the pack and things got very quiet.

The incline started pretty much right away and continued for what felt like two miles. There were no mile markers and I had no watch or iPod so no sense of how much time had passed - I went back and forth throughout the run of thinking that was a good or bad thing. On the major incline I had two kills, which was somewhat encouraging to make me not be the absolute last person in the race. Every turn gave me hope that the incline would end and every turn curses (worse than bummers) were muttered under my breath towards the general race but also directed at my sister Anne.

The trail finally began to level out and I was so happy I actually put my head up so I could get a view of the things around me. I wish I'd had my camera - it really was beautiful. Trees covered in inches of snow. Branches fallen under the pressure and untouched powder everywhere. And yet, I knew I had a long way still to go.

I had a little bit of a decline so starting running down as much as I could without sliding down on the pounded snow and ice. Down at the bottom, I ran straight through a stream and then I could see two more people in my sights ahead. I also saw "the climb". That's what I've named it because it was basically a constant incline for probably two miles. More walking in footsteps, more cursing under my breath. It was at this point that I had movies flashing through my head - The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Poltergeist (when she's running down the hall and it just gets longer and longer) and, most of all, The Shining. I decided I would have totally died if Jack had been chasing me in that maze with the axe.

After about an hour (exaggeration, I hope) the incline stopped and the course flattened out. I had two more kills on the incline so now I had four people behind me. The next little bit I think I stomped through about three different full running streams that crossed the trail and through that, I gained another kill.

I had to be getting close to the end at this point. I kept lifting my ear warmers to see if I could hear anything but every time - pure silence. I was pretty grateful all the animals were hibernating. Humans would be the only animals crazy enough to be out in this voluntarily.

Along this last bit there were yellow and blue trail markers on the side of the trail some with mileage on them. After I made it down a small decline, I saw one of these markers that said 6 miles. Yes! I only have half a mile to go! At this point I had had some minor rolls on both ankles so every time I started running I'd be fine until I got to a point where it wasn't packed down enough and my ankles would twist and turn like my legs were just so happy they weren't putting out the effort of lifting myself up a mountain, they would spaz out.

Well, I soon found that the previously mentioned mile marker was not talking about this particular trail. It was more like a mile and a half left. When I finally passed the photographer and did my "I am a serious runner" pose for his shots, I was so happy because I knew he wouldn't hike into this too far so I had to be close to the end.

After passing a snow angel that I knew had to be from someone in my group - it was Dave's - I was still alone in the forest with no sound around me. I finally looked forward and through I saw the glint of a windshield. I'm there! But, no, false alarm. Totally a mirage in the snow. But I wasn't too far - around another bend and I could faintly hear the loud speaker. I've never been so happy to hear a loud speaker.

I came around the last corner and had my family yelling like crazy and a camera in my face asking how I felt and if I was missing San Diego. My answer - yes.

: the finish line

: dave & adina - yes, he is in shorts

: anne & peter - the instigators

: me and anne - yes, I am shooting her

The course was totally crazy, so hard, absolutely freezing - but it was fun after all was said and done and I was sitting in a warm car.

Next race: Trout Lake Half Marathon, April 16th. here's praying for dry ground.

Post By: Kimberly and Treven

Snow day along with update

We had a snow day last Thursday so the daycare was closed that day. Before Treven went to work, we got all out snow clothes on and went out to a field behind our neighborhood. We had snowball fights, built a snowman, and made snow angels. The girls loved it! Melia was running all over the field then stopped and said, "Mom this is really tiring!" :) Then McKenzie got too cold so she wanted to go back inside so Treven let the girls kick down and stomp on the snowman we built. At least I got a picture before they did it. The majority of the snow melted by the afternoon. But we had so much fun in it in the morning.

: Starting the snowman

First actual house with snow... I love it!

: The girls and our Snowman

: McKenzie's First Snow Angel

: Melia's Snow Angel

I handed in my two weeks notice for the daycare. My last day in February 28th. I have loved this job and the kids that Ihave been able to teach. It just has come to the point where McKenzie is in my class and I have to pay to watch my own child. The childcare cost is like half of my paycheck as well. The work environment was getting worse and I would come home angry about things everyday. I decided to not wait until the end of March to quit. Treven said it is not worth the extra month of childcare and the headache of the month of work. Also the state licenser in coming in March for the daycare and I don't care to be there for all that stress. I feel so great about this decision. I will have more time at home with the girls and for myself.

Therefore, I am starting a new adventure in the job field. My friend Amy and I are opening a preschool on March 1st. It is called Tiny Peas Preschool. We are so excited! We have two classes, one is Monday/Wednesday and one is Tuesday/Thursday, that go from 9 am to 1 pm. We want no more than 10 kids per class so 20 kids total. We have 7 spots filled already, but some of those aren't starting until the end of March. We are starting it at an odd time for a preschool but we figure it helps us to get all the kinks and everything worked out before the next school year begins. We are a year round preschool though so we will have summer programs and that seems to be an advantage to our business.

Treven is preparing to start the interview process for manager at Dick's Sporting Goods. This would be a great blessing for our family. Please keep him in your prayers as he is going for this. He is working full time and going to school full time and is pretty much exhausted at the end of the day. He has half of spring semester left and then hopes that summer semester will be his last! We have a meeting with his counselor/adviser to make sure everything is going the way it should. (fingers crossed).

The girls are great and they are excited for the new preschool and for mom to be home more! Especially Melia. Well that is pretty much our life right now, there is the update. :)

Feb 26, 2011 Post By: Tom

Wow, That is all I have to say.

Feb 25, 2011 Post By: Buffy

Fun Times

This week has been a very fun one with Avery. Of course she is ALWAYS happy, but she has been hitting major milestones all at once it seems. I realize that if not written down, it will be quickly forgotten. Since the day I last blogged, she has become MUCH more mobile with her rudimentary crawl and ease of rolling. Just days before she was perfectly content to stay put.
We have just recently begun to sign to her when in the highchair with simple ones such as "more" and "finished". Though I remember Noah just staring at us for a few months, Avery has started to reciprocate and sign "more" back to us this week as well. She does it with a big smile as if to say, "yah I'm so cool!". Also, she is suddenly very good at feeding herself those baby snacks like puffs or yogurt bites as she just started getting them within the last 2 weeks. At first glance it would seem a baby has a carefree easy life, but in reality, they are incredibly busy with beginning to learn what will take them their entire childhood to learn!
Other than that, our family has been hit with yet another virus or bug... it's not been our year for good health. Mostly right now it's Noah and me with sore throats (like blow torches for me), coughs, and general fatigue/congestion. Fun times at our house!
For my birthday weekend, Brent has work off and our plan was to fit in running (I wish I felt good enough to), painting/decorating Avery's bedroom (we officially gave up on trying to do the shared bedroom thing with Noah as bad a sleeper as he is), and do a birthday date. Can this all get done? We can try right? Then Sunday is the Oscar party which I am supper excited to see what it's all about and you can't go wrong when it involves our fun bunch!
Well, Avery finally went to sleep so I better go put some sample paints up on her walls.
Love you guys.

Post By: Dave

Okay, okay, some pictures

I'm blogging! Hey good to hear from you all. Thanks for all the updates. How did we all stay in touch before blogger, facebook, email, cell phones, texting, ichat and dailymile? Maybe that is why between 1992 (when I left home) and around 2005 (when we got back to Japan) I really don't know much about what happened in all of your lives...at least the day to day things. Kind of weird.

So, when Adina and I went to Japan in the end of January the office was renovated, phase I. It took them 9 days to complete. They really did a bang up job. Very happy with the results. I'll include some pictures below. Just a couple more phases to go until I have it to a comfortable place. Patients love it. The team loves it. It is really nice to have your surroundings reflect the quality of work you perform.

I started surgically placing implants earlier this year and have had a very positive response to it. Very successful restorations and fun to do.

Can't wait for Tom and Tracey and family to arrive. It'll be great to have Tom here in the office. We are working hard to update everything to include him in the practice. New signage, ads, letterhead, business cards, etc.. I miss having another colleague to bounce things off of. And, he and I both seem to think/treat along the same lines. Really excited. We're building a great practice.

Don't forget, May 21st, the Washougal Schools Foundation Stride for Education. We are the title sponsor for this race day and will have a special tent set up to greet runners, with a second tent right next to it for family and friends to have a place to sit, eat, socialize, rest, etc.. I hope to see all of you there.

Here are the before pics:

Hallway facing East

Hallway facing East again

Hallway facing west

Old Wallpaper operatory

Some construction pics:

Bathroom 'gutting'

Scaffolding in the operatories

Mel, the superintendent wondering how he's going to accomplish this while I am in Japan

Some 'AFTER' pictures:

New bathroom! Everyones favorite improvement. Unfortunately I had to sacrifice my own private thinking/retreat/refocus area to make the bathroom twice the size to make it better.