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2018 and Another Go!
8 years ago
Sep 16, 2011
Post By: Dave
Sep 14, 2011
Post By: Mike
Graduation 23 SEP at 1000
So, this is the formal announcement. I know most of you won't be there, and that is understandable in these busy parenting days. If you are coming, I will need to know at least 3 days prior to put you on the gate access list. Nice to be done. Thanks.
Post By: Tracey
Summer Summary
(I started this blog weeks ago and finally put it on our family blog but decided I'd copy it onto here as well. Soon I'll post more about the house and school starting!)
It's been a whirl wind and impossible to really summarize but I'll give it a try. Of course it started with moving from Okinawa Japan the day after school ended in June. We stayed with friends and then moved in with Tom's parents. Life was instantly busy and fun and crazy and exhausting all at the same time. Amidst it all we continued to wait to close on our house in hopes of getting in before school started. While we waited we kept busy, here are a few highlights:
TRIP TO UTAH:
We enjoyed our time in Utah with tons to do and lots of family to visit. The mountains were beautiful, the sunshine warm, and wonderful memories made. What I learned:
Mom's cooking will always be the best
There is nothing as wonderful as the sound of cousins laughing together
Utah summers are the best, warm and dry
My parents are amazing and so full of fun and excitement, they kept us really entertained! 
NORTHWEST PASSAGE RAGNAR:
Tom's family is full of runners and this year for the first time they put together a Ragnar team consisting of his mom, some of her children and their spouses. Tom and I ended up joining the team taking the spots of a few people who couldn't do it and ended up having a blast. It was a 190 mile run starting on the border of Canada and winding down to Langley Washington. We each ran three different legs of the race with some eating and attempts at sleeping in between. It was great! Thank you to all the awesome family members who ran, drove and watched the kids so we could have so much fun! What I learned:
You can take a "shower" in the back seat of a suburban with a washcloth and towel
It's more comfortable to sleep in the car than outside on the cold sloped ground
Croissants with meat and cheese are delicious
"Killing" is good
You don't actually need a good nights sleep and good food in order to run
LAKE SHASTA HOUSEBOAT:
After only spending one month of summer here in Washington I was already done with it and can't believe they have the nerve to call it summer. I have a feeling this is payback because I spent so much time complaining about the heat in Okinawa. I continue to be cold almost daily. So our trip down to Northern California for a week at the end of July was much needed! It was hot and sunny everyday!! We stayed on a houseboat and had a fantastic time. We swam, skied, wake boarded, tubed, ate, sat, swam again and played games. It was blissful and will definitely be an annual tradition.
ALYSSA TURNED 4!!!
I can't believe my baby is 4. I am imagine I'll be saying that a lot in the years to come. She's is just the most fun and exciting little girl ever. She is all smiles and happiness and is just the best friend to her big sister. She loves to laugh and tries to tell jokes and do silly things. One of her favorite expressions is "that is freaky!" Scooby Doo is her favorite show and she is in love with ballet and dancing. Her and Danica play "mom and dad" all the time and Alyssa likes to be the mom and calls her daughter "honey" and "sweetie" all the time. She has a great imagination and loves to play with action figure type dolls, characters or animals. When she can't find any she will use whatever she can find and one day used a dew screws and little mom and dad dolls. At the park her favorite thing to do is the swing and she just learned to swim and things it's the best! Truly she just lights up our family and is so much fun to have around!!!
THE HOUSE:
In the interim we've enjoyed time just letting the kids ride their bikes, playing on a co-ed softball team, getting ready for the house with things like buying a washer and dryer, kitchen table, etc. Finally, after much drama and several ridiculous delays we closed on the house August 18th. We love it and can't wait to get settled!
Sep 12, 2011
Post By: Tom
Aluminum Man Triathlon
On Saturday the 10th, Adina, Peter, and myself were able to participate in the 24th, wait, check that, the 23rd annual Columbia Gorge Aluminum Man Sprint Triathlon. It was as beautiful a day as you could ask for. We headed out there early to get our packets and such. It was a beautiful ride out there as we passed over the Bridge of the Gods and through the lush vegetation that Washington and Oregon both have to offer. The race took place in The Dalles, OR, previously known only for its location on the 84 as you travel out to the east. There were 111 men and women participating in the event. It was composed of a 550 m open water swim in the Columbia River, a 13.2 mile bike ride, and a 5K. So, not great distances but when you put them all together and try to do it as quickly as you can, it can push you. We started at 930 am for the men and 935 am for the woman. Suffice to say, we all had a great time. The water was cool but very refreshing and nice. The bike ride was totally manageable and pretty through the country. Peter was constantly mocked as he rode his mountain bike amongst all the road bikes. The run could have been better but all in all we were all very happy with how we did. Since it was my first Triathlon I was not sure what to expect but I was able to do it much quicker than I thought and finish ahead of all the other people in my age group and get 17th overall. Adina was 4th in her age category and missed getting a medal by only feet. Next time she will be there. We will be there next year for anybody interested. Thank you Tracey for all the great pictures.
http://gallery.me.com/stinch#100157
Sep 10, 2011
Post By: Marnie
Tweet Tweet
As I am sure most have noticed, the activity on the blog has slowed down quite a bit since we all moved to the same area (ish).
A supplement has been proposed to possibly get a little more frequent updates to and from the fam: Twitter.
Don't be scared. It's really a pretty great solution (idea courtesy of Mike). Everyone can only follow the other family members if you don't want to follow anyone else. And you can set the security settings so you control who sees your posts and can limit that to the family.
Twitter allows shorter updates and photo and link posting so you don't have to feel like you can't post unless you have a novel to write (but by all means, still post your novels here if you write them!) or a major announcement. Plus it is a lot easier to post to Twitter than the blog from your phone or iPad via the Twitter app.
Mom & Dad signed up today and I know that myself, Mike, Anne and Kimberly all have Twitter accounts already. Would love to see the rest of you on there!
Sep 7, 2011
Post By: Kimberly and Treven
McKenzie was right!
Most of you already know due to the world of text messages and Facebook, but I figured I would put on here for all who read our blog.
We had our ultrasound yesterday for the baby and found out that the baby is a GIRL!
We are so excited to have another little girl join our family. She was very stubborn and was moving SO much that the ultrasound tech couldn't really get everything she wanted to see. The US tech would almost get the picture of what she needed and then baby would start moving again. Because of that, we now get to see our baby girl again in about 4 weeks. Everything looked great on her and she is developing well.
For the first time, we don't know exactly what the name is going to be. We are going back and forth. One name that is being thrown around is Brie.
Well that is our news. :) Baby Girl to come on or around January 21st, 2012.
Sep 5, 2011
Post By: Marnie
My friend Nicole
As most of you know, my good friend and old roommate, Nicole Cannon, was in a terrible scooter accident on Saturday night. I wanted to share the latest update and this link to her family blog where her mom will be updating with the details of what is happening. Feel free to read and please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Here's the latest update:
UPDATE: Nicole is making slow progress. She moves her legs and arms and can respond to some simple commands. She gave us two thumbs up tonight!!! She remains in critical/very serious condition. Please pray now that her brain will continue to heal and she will get enough oxygen and blood to her brain to bring her out of her coma.
Aug 30, 2011
Post By: Mike
Board Game Night
We will be down in Portland this Saturday. Is anyone up for doing something together somewhere after about 2 p.m.? Let me or Brooke know...thanks!
EDIT: We will be staying at the crib Saturday to Sunday. Going to bring some board games. All are welcome. If nobody shows we will just play amongst ourselves.
Aug 20, 2011
Post By: Dave
Oyster
Team 'Never Nudes' - despite their day-long discomfort in their cut-offs, it made my day.
The Calamity Janes
Yea. Awesome.
Pioneer Courthouse Square - the transition point for the relay.
The elusive '21' - how did we miss that?!
Putting on some ink
Perfect weather. Ideal company. Great relay. A total blast.
Adina
Aug 9, 2011
Post By: Anne and Peter
Oyster Race - Men's Team
Everyone who is participating in the race,
We need to get the second team signed up ASAP. It is now $80 per person on the team so if we have the four men (Tom, Peter, Dave and Brent), it is looking at $320. Split between all 9 participants (Anne, Adina, Tracey, Marnie, Brooke, Tom, Peter, Dave, Brent), it will be $36 per person. We can sign us up but must get the money as soon as we sign up.
Guys I need your shirt size for the sign up.
Let me know if it will be a problem.
Thanks
Anne
Aug 7, 2011
Post By: Peter
1st location (one length) - 190 meters
2nd location (one length) - 140 meters
Post By: Tracey
2012
First of all I want to give a huge shout out to Anne to thank her for all her great work organizing this years trip. I know you put in a ton of time planning, coordinating and organizing and it was awesome. THANK YOU!!!!!!! The trip was a dream.
(I wrote this blog before I got Anne's email about next year... I guess it's on everyone's mind. Here is what we are thinking:)
I miss Lake Shasta so much already I have to look ahead to next year. We would love to do the houseboat again but in an effort to have enough space for everyone to come and to make it a little more affordable we are looking at renting this vacation house instead. We could just try it out for one year to see what we think, we hope there are still many more houseboats in our future but we can just change it up once in a while.
Here are few reasons this house in intriguing:
Still in the nice hot sunshine of Shasta
Located right on the water, we can walk down and swim and boat
Fun amenities at the house include volleyball, basketball, swing set, horse shoes, darts, pool table, air hockey, games
Fire pit with chairs all around for late night hang outs
Amphitheater for the talent show and water drinking and bug eating contests
Large living area but not too big so we still get that family "togetherness" feel
Half the people get to camp so there is still an opportunity for star gazing and the outdoor feel
Real showers
Flush toilets that don't stink
Sleeps 30, 5 bedrooms in the house plus cabins in the adjoining campsite
Read more on their website
Okay, so this is just a thought we are throwing out there. Cost would be less, somewhere around $5,000 for the week depending on how many people come and we don't have to pay for gas for the house! Check out the video and let us know what you think! Next summer can't come soon enough!
