Time Out for Women

Last month a few friends and I attended "Time Out for Women" in Seattle. We checked into a hotel downtown, ate dinner, and then went to the Benaroya Music Hall for the event.

That night and the next day there were several speakers and musicians who are members of our Church and gave messages to uplift and entertain thousands of women. My friends Mayte, Char, Michelle and I had a great time hanging out together, too. So much so that we were in desparate need of a nap upon returning home!

Home from Camp

Tristan came home from 5th grade camp this afternoon. He left Monday early and came home Wednesday afternoon. The camp is called Camp Casey on Whidbey Island (picture below). He got home, showered, ate, and then fell asleep! I haven't had a chance to talk with him much about it, but apparently he wore himself out! I know they ate tacos and lasagna; he didn't know anyone in his group but he made a friend; his high schooler counselor's name was Mikey; and his rocket took off far enough that he wasn't able to retrieve it! It's weird being home without one of my children, especially at night when he wasn't there in his bed. It was nice, though, to have a little one-on-one time with Karina. But we are glad T-bone is back home!

What we've been up to

Yes, I do realize it's been almost a month since I updated this thing. (Bad Facebook, bad!)
So here's a little of what we've been up to . . .

Basketball season is now almost over. Both Tristan and Karina are playing, and Jarrett is coaching both teams! He also refereed high school basketball this year, so he has been super busy! This is Karina's first year, and she's playing on a team with a few of her girlfriends, along with a few boys.

Every year the kids get out of school for "Mid-winter Break" (don't get me starte), or "President's Week." When airline tickets went on sale for half price, I couldn't resist the chance to go visit my family for a week.

These pictures are all in wacky order, but . . .

Here's Tristan and my brother, Rob, at a UOP women's basketball game. We had alot of fun watching this, although Karina enjoyed her Gameboy. ;)

Here are pictures of my brother Will's girls.

And the cousins having a "sleepover" in grandma's living room.

Here's a picture of us with my brother and Dad.

And Dad with Missy. Karina just loves to play with these little "toy" dogs.

It was a good, fun, relaxing trip. I also got to have lunch with 3 of my favorite girlfriends!

Movin on up!

Tristan is moving on to Boy Scouts! Before he turned 11 in December, he completed his Webelos Badge, Religious Knot and the piece de resistance - the Arrow of Light badge! That's the only one that can go on the Scout shirt, you know! We are very proud of his hard work and desire to learn and do all he needed to meet this goal. Now he has moved on to "big boy scouts," is learning how to tie all kinds of knots, and can hardly wait until 11 year old scout camp in June. (This reminds me that I need to transfer a few patches onto the Scout shirt!) Good job, Tristan!

The new president in the eyes of an 8 year-old

Yesterday Karina and her classmates each wrote a letter to the president about something they wanted to change or have the president do. Since I was working in the classroom later that day, her teacher showed me what she had written. It was something like this:
"Dear Mr. President, Could you please find some more medasins for canser? My uncle Cody and Aunt Alecia have canser and they need better medasin. . ." I was really touched. We've been praying as a family for Jarrett's cousin Cody, a 26 year old who is on hospice with melanoma, and Alecia, his 38 year-old cousin on the other side of the family who is currently undergoing chemo. We also pray for their families, that they might be comforted during this very tough time.

And on a lighter note, this evening Karina tells Jarrett and I, "Did you know I don't like Obama? . . . He made a rule that we can't eat peanut butter!"

We assured her that it wasn't the president's fault!

Warm getaway

Jarrett and I took a weeklong trip to Cabo San Lucas a few days after Christmas. It was so nice to be warm. I think a trip to someplace warm every winter is just part of the cost of living in Western Washington! Leave me a comment and tell me how you like this slideshow!

Yes, we did celebrate Christmas!

I'm late with my Christmas post (thanks for checking up with me, Shelly!). We will remember it as our first real white Christmas! It snowed and snowed on Christmas day!
We hosted the family Christmas Eve dinner at the request of Tristan. We had a traditional ham dinner with family members pitching in on the side dishes, and everything was delicious (especially the tried-and-true Costco ham!). After reading Luke 2, and playing the yearly pass-the-present game, we played Bunko. Somehow we even convinced Jarrett's dad to play!

On Christmas morning we got up and saw what Santa had brought. Jarrett's parents came over, too. The kids were very excited that Santa had brought each of them their #1 wish - a Nintendo DS for Tristan, and a "Bitty Baby" doll for Karina. After a nap we took our 4 wheel drive and picked up Cameron's family and went to Jack & Tammy's for a Prime Rib Christmas dinner. It was a great day.