Gone Fishing 2009

The last weekend of April marked 35 or 36 years of the Houser family fishing trip. I've been going since the year after we got married, so that would be 15 years! Every year we take a picture of the kids by the sign (which has changed over the years! I'll see if I can find the old pics and scan.) This year, Jarrett's grandfather came along. At 82, it's surprising that this was the first time he'd ever been fishing!

Karina was interested in the nightcrawlers. But her favorite part of the trip is always playing with Aunt Melissa's puppies, Gizmo and Chloe.

Tristan, like his dad, loves to fish. For him, I think it's the pure luck and competition of catching the biggest fish that keeps him going. We got to take our own boat this year, and Jarrett spent a lot of time and money getting us outfitted just right. (Right down to the stereo and bringing the iPod!)

The weather was pretty darn good, but I only got the camera out here for the last day, and it was windy.

As usual, I was behind the camera. But if there were a picture of me on this trip, it might be of me reading a book from cover to cover, or eating M&Ms and playing games. And yes, I do fish and have the license to prove it! This trip takes a ton of preparation, as we pack our lives into a motorhome for 5 days, but it's always very relaxing and a great family tradition.

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!