Bear Hugs 2012-2013

Zac entered into his first official year as a pre-schooler at Bear Hugs!  It was a very social, academic and emotional time for our whole family for the whole year.  That about sums it up! 

Zac has a few good buddies and they do many things together: play soccer, work on many songs, write letters, read in the loft, cut their hair and eat snacks everyday from 8:30-11:00.  My mom picked him up everyday and they went about their own routine of lunch, garden work, nap time, "big trucks" and of course playing with Lucy and visiting with Ethel.  We are so blessed to have a great pre-school for him and day care everyday with my mom.  CJ often walked to Mimi's after school to join in the fun! 

Here are a few pictures that highlight our year!

Official pre-school picture

Bear Hugs 2012-2013

Mimi took this one of him on the slide down by "Mimi's Park".



Best buddies! 

Lucy and Zac

The day he cut his hair in pre-school.

Why? "Because we did it and the other kids were doing it."

Spring Break in Montana

We had to go back! 
March 23-March 29

Visiting Cara and her family is a blast for us all!  Instead of the hot weather, swimming and fun in the sun we had spring weather and a bit more girlie time.  Carlos stayed busy with Tommy working the ranch.  Cara and I tackled a few projects ourselves with help from CJ and Zac.  We collected rocks, made lots of yummy food and visited with Jonwyn at her school...who was not on break with us...boo hoo. We shopped, talked and laughed and of course...played Spades.  I will say it to the public...I was the one who lost the game for us.  Ugh!  Ready to go back for more Montana fun!

 On the way there...through the snowy pass!

4-wheeling!  CJ had a blast on the 4-wheeler too!  He would drive it down their hill (one mile round trip) to pick Jonwyn up from the bus. 

Gorgeous!

Looking off their front porch!

Breakfast!

CJ with Hannah and Skippy

Enjoying our coffee and morning chats! 

 Everyday Cara and I would sit and chat over coffee...Zac would join us for parts of the time and chime in. 

Ayres Angus Ranch

 

December and January Updates

It was a very fun month.  Lots of family and friends to visit with and share good times.  We had a fabulous holiday season. 

My mom hosted a holiday party at her house on the 21st and I can report that we all survived the end of the world just fine.  It truly was a pleasure to talk with her friends (some of them in their 70's and 80's) and listen to their perspective on, well...pretty much everything!  Those ladies are such a wealth of knowledge and opinions!  I am very grateful to have had such a wonderful time with them all! 

My boys were forever in a state of where are we going now?  What do I need to be dressed for? Do we get to stay up late again?  I am not the type of mother that sets a bedtime for my children during vacation.  We all love to see, hear and experience things after 8 pm.  And of course when we stay up late we all get to sleep in!  The coziness of just being home and enjoying the warmth of our couch and blankets was equaling wonderful to all the parties and excitement of the season. 

Carlos kept working through six holiday parties and numerous outings.  He joined in where he could and where he wanted... sometimes just opting to stay home by himself.  He does work long hours and most weekends, so staying home here-and-there was exactly what he needed!

We had a nice visit from Cara in MT and spend the day in Corvallis with Audrey then topped off by dinner out with all the OSU girls for Beth's birthday.  An after the holiday party is always a welcome!

New Year's was fun with exchange-student-from-Peru Vanessa joining in on all the festivities.  She showed up how eating 12 grapes at midnight is a custome in her country.  So, at 10 pm Steve was out shopping for grapes!  Sleepovers topped the winter break!  CJ was out at a friend's house for many hours or we hosted boys...super fun times! 

All in all 2013 is welcomed with open arms and an open heart. 

Happy New Year! 

Halloween

We hosted the traditional homemade stew and bread at our house while the kids came and went...on this very wet night.  As I stayed behind with some great wives (as the menfolk took all the kids around the blocks...) and passed out candy, I was amazed at the fact that we really don't get very many trick-or-treaters anymore.  It makes me a bit sad, but still fun to host great friends and family.

Happy Halloween!

Zac is down in front as a bat...the same costume Stevie wore, then CJ, then Jake and now Zac! 
Jake in the back-left as a skeleton, CJ as himself, Xander as a ninja and then Stevie in Oregon wear. 

Zac and Taylor...Bellybutton and Eyes!



Duniway Football

CJ is playing 7th grade football for his middle-school team, the Duniway Dragons.  He has really enjoyed playing this year...and well he has really enjoyed all of 7th grade.  He is busy with homework everynight and hanging out with friends.  We are proud of what he is doing this year.  Way to go CJ!



Stevie and CJ

They wore pink socks for October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Acting all goofy after a football game at Sonic.

Halloween Bash...Toddler Style

The Parkers threw a most fabulous Halloween Bash for all of Gwyn's friends and family's toddlers.  What a great day and of course Melissa was planned and prepared. 

As soon as the kids got there she had it all ready to go...Eyeball Toss, Snacks, Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin and general walking around and showing off their costumes!  Fabulous job Parker family!

Zac and Gracie...Bat and Rupunzel

Zac playing Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin...he ended up giving the pumpkin a nose!

Pete, Zac and Gracie

Jennifer, helping Zac out with pumpkin decorating.

Pumpkin decorating friends.

Gywn...the little Dutch girl.

The pumpkin creator's creation! Such a sad pumpkin.

The whole costumed crowd! 

One sad bat, one happy witch and one smiling Buzz Lightyear!

Fall Fun

Love this son of mine!  Pure joy!

So sweet and serious. 

So full of life and energy.

Firefighter's Pancake Breakfast

Every year our local fire department has a pancake breakfast fundraiser and every year that we go I take pictures of the kids and blog about it, so here are the boys enjoying firetruck rides after a great pancake breakfast.  I am not sure if CJ is going to handle another ride in the firetruck, but he went this year for his brother.  So sweet.  Thank you firefighters for all that you do for our community!

Anna is 33!

Anna's birthday dinner and dessert really has had not changed for several years.  She loves Corn Surprise (elbow macaroni, hamburger, corn and stewed tomatoes) with Cherry-Chip Cake for dessert.  The kids all love hanging out together and celebrating Anna's day!  Happy Birthday Anna!

A Celebration of Life

Here we are together to give our love to Katherine as we celebrate her late husband's life.  The day was beautiful.  The setting was perfect.  The music was outstanding.  The outpouring of support for this wonderful family was pure love.  Love you Katherine! 



Race for the Cure

We walked for the cure!  Heather hosted Kari, Bethany and I up at the condo in Portland.  We had a wonderful time eating, talking and walking.  In fact, it was up for discussion...did we walk more or talk more over the 24-hour period.  Bethany provided the fun pink accessories and the weather was perfect...blue skies and a hint of fall in the air.  Wonderful and for a cause that is near and dear to all of us.

My first race of 2012; walked with some great friends.

Kari, Paige and Heather.  Lots of pink, lots of smiles and lots of good times!

Zac's First Day of Pre-School at Bear Hugs

Zac started preschool this year at Bear Hugs.  After the first day he complained that he didn't have homework and that the teacher didn't call going outside "recess"...I think he has some very high expectations for his school and I love it!  He is such a big boy.  He enjoys exploring, trying new things and he is happy.  Let's have a great year Zac! 

Zac loved wearing his backpack to school. 

Such a big boy!

Enjoying the blocks!

Audrey!

My great friend Audrey was the last one to turn the 4-0 and she did it up just right.  The OSU girls came over a quick girls-night-out and sleepover.  We went to Kame for some delicious Japanese food and drinks then hit a few more "hot" spots in McMinnville.  Funny part during dinner..Heather grabbed a very large lump of wasabi with her chopsticks and popped it into her mouth...thinking it was an avocado! Needless to say it didn't take very long for her to realize her mistake.  Ouch!  So, at breakfast the next morning, Audrey reenacted Heather's mix-up...with butter!  Ugh! 

Basically, nothing has changed in 20 years of friendship; laughter, goofing off, having fun and being a little bit crazy! 

Summer Memories

This summer was a busy one for us!  We traveled more than usual; going to Montana and Seattle for long weekends.  I taught two classes for PSU.  Carlos worked long hours...making hay while the sun shines!  CJ was in baseball for what seemed like forever and Zac was playing inside, outside and all over on playdates.  Sometimes it seemed our front door revolved 24/7.  We did make time to relax and enjoy ourselves in the middle of trying to finish up our backyard AND remodel our back bathroom.  Why we decided to tackle two major projects in one summer is just crazy! 

This summer we also had to put our beloved dog to rest.  Cloie has been our family before we had a house to call our own, before kids and before "life, practically 15 years to the day.  Isn't that always the case...they should rewrite the song, "first comes dog, then comes baby...".  It was such a hard month, week, day, afternoon, second...for all of us.  Our life here at home is just not the same.  She was loved and will be missed dearly. 

Love you Cloie! 

Tearful goodbyes!

CJ and Zac with Asia and Jeremy up at the Turners...campout weekends.  Fun for the whole family...Mom usually stays home and gets some project done.

Zac found a handprint of mine from 1973...and his hand fits!  We were the same age.  Crazy!

Zac and Gywn checking out the new Imagine Play indoor playground.  Super fun!

CJ and Zac goofing around!

Bethany and I took a day and went to Hood River to check out Viento Wines!  Their new tasting room is really looking great!  Can't wait to go back for the grand opening! 

And...here is the "never-ending-project"...our backyard.  It is getting there...

Seattle

We took a long weekend to Seattle to visit my brother Troy, his kids and my dad (who was flying up from Texas).  It was beautiful!  We had excellent hotel accomadations, Troy did a wonderful job hosting and leading us around to all the star attractions, Zac loved being in "another" hotel (remember the trip coming home from Montana) and CJ just loved hotel life.  We all got along (another first) and we ate, drank and talked until we were fat and happy.  It was a great weekend had by all. 

Just turned 16 and has her first cute car! So proud of my niece Taylor!

My dad and all the kids at Pike Place Market.

Love this place!

Cousins...and best buddies!

All the cousins...some are acting goofy.

CJ was a little freaked out on the Seattle Ferris Wheel...I was too at first.

Deadliest Catch's, The Wizard in port for some repairs.

CJ took this picture!  Cool huh?

I took this one!  Cool huh?

Two peas...one pod.  Love my son!

 

Yep, that's Cole!

The Duck Tour...super fun!  Yes, my mom was with us on the weekend.  It was great to have the family all together.

No, the Space Needle is not shooting lasers, but it sure looked like it.  The blue skies, sunshine and warm weather did not go unnoticed by us...it was beautiful!

On the Duck Tour, taking a picture of the Ferris Wheel.  Hard to imagine we were on that!

My dad, Carlos and Zac.  Love this picture.

Happy 4th Birthday Zac!  He loved his Ironman cake (Thanks Troy!) and all the cousins were awesome!

My mom, dad, Troy and I.  It was really special to me to say my mom and my dad all weekend...usually don't get to say that.  I love my family.

My dad and I.

Following Taylor home down I-5.  She was a champ. 

 

Until we meet again Seattle; you were good to us.  Thank you!