Ocean Shores

We really start getting pretty stir crazy this time of year. We have SO much rain, gray skies and no sunshine that it really will drive a person mad. So, we head off to the beach. The beach? In the rain? Heck yes we do. We just go. It's our way of sticking it to the weather.

Stop one - Albertson's for car snacks. Stop two - Gas station to fill up the tank and the ever important gas pop. Who can take a road trip without gas pop? Well, Aaron, but not anyone else. Then it's on the road.

Stop three - The Star Wars Store in Aberdeen. A Star Wars nerds dream come true!

 

What a fun store this is! The entire thing is just crammed full of treasures. Mostly Star Wars collection items, new and old, but there is a few sections of other pulp-culture items. Things like Star Trek, Simpsons, Nirvana (it is Aberdeen after all) and lots of LP's that Aaron always has a fun time going through. We probably spent a good hour here.

 

I don't know how we have never noticed this before, but on the way out we noticed that they have Hal Solo frozen in carbonate cemented into the doorway into the store. How cool is that!?

After a few hours of driving and exploring Star Wars paraphernalia we made it to the ocean. We even got a wonderful gift of sunshine!!! So beautiful! *Sigh* I LOVE sunshine! The last two times we have taken this drive we have won. We start out driving in rain and end with decent weather at the beach. So, take that mother nature!

We didn't stay incredibly long at the beach, an hour maybe, but it lifted all of our spirits. And, like Aaron likes to say - "It's not the destination but the journey that makes it fun". And, we really did have a fun time. Just being together is good enough for us!!

I just snapped these on the way home. It was too quiet in the back seat, so I needed to shake things up a little. I think the flash may have erased everyone's memories, but it was still funny!

Damon's Home!

We went to the airport last night and picked up Damon, at the god awful time of 10:30 p.m. I think it was 11:30 p.m. or later by the time we got him and got home, on a work/school night. But, we all wanted to see him since he has been gone for two months, so we all went. We did have fun sitting in Cell Phone parking helping Jeff to solve his video game puzzles.

Damon has spent the last two months at his Coast Guard A School, which was his advanced training. Whenever Damon is at our house, he and I are always up way before anyone else is after Aaron leaves for work, so we have a lot of time to have heart to heart talks. I really value that time with him to catch up on what's going on in his life. Today? We spent the morning talking mostly about his training, and man alive, I don't think I would have enjoyed myself! I would have cried like a little girl I think. 
 

He has been point blank pepper sprayed, had an eight inch tube shoved up his nasal passage, suffered through a tourniquet on his arm (apparently you are okay with this for up to 6 HOURS!! who knew. He had to have it on for 20 minutes) and had to be roughly handcuffed 7 times. And, the workouts. W-h-o-l-y  C-r-a-p. I would not be able to walk for a week.

I do think, all in all though, he enjoyed himself and is glad he is where he is in his life. He is now a Maritime Law Enforcement Officer for the Coast Guard. He is certified to perform CPR, carry a gun, and police our waters and keep them safe. Did I mention he could carry a gun?
 

We are very proud of Damon, he's doing great. The plan now, get a job, go to school for his AA and then go into Police Academy all while serving his Coast Guard Reserve duties.

Why Can't The Weatherman Be Right?!

At the beginning of the week we had a forecast of sunny weather with the highs in the upper 40's. Yahoo!! I could really use some sunshine about now. Living in the PNW makes for very long and wet fall/winter/spring.

It's about this time of year you start having thoughts of sticking your head in the oven just to get a little light and warmth. I have even contemplated going tanning once in a while, which is essentially sticking your body in a big oven and baking for a short time. Anything to get some warm light.

I am a creature of warmth. I migrate towards it. I am the one sitting out in the sunshine, while others are diving for the shade because it's too warm, soaking it all in. I love the feel of the sun on my skin, in my face and brightening my day. 

Admittedly I prefer the warmth with it, but I will take sunshine and cold any day over the slate of gray we have 24/7 around here. So, when I saw the forecast I was extremely excited. Well, I'm still waiting. It has been just as dreary and wet as usual. Not even hardly a peek of sunshine has been seen.

Why can't the weatherman be right for once. Why do I even listen to them? Are they ever right? I suppose we are at least not having the "El nino" mayhem they have been trying to shove down our throats for the last few months. Oh the drama of the news caster.

At least I have Mexico in 7 1/2 weeks. Hang in there sister, you can make it! Maybe I'll bake for a while in that tanning bed after all.....

Canning Carrots

Jess needs to get some service hours for her culminating project for HS graduation and for some scholarships she is applying for. Of course, true to nature, she drug me along with her. That's okay, it was some good bonding time while we sat for 3 hours drying and labeling cans of carrots.

The King County Food Coalition teamed up with Northwest Harvest, the LDS Cannery, United Way of King County and Rotary First Harvest to can extra produce for the local food banks. We were down at the Kent LDS cannery, who was donating their facilities to the cause. Our jobs? I, with about 6 other people, dried all of the aluminum cans after coming out of the hot baths. What a wonderfully monotonous job! Jess then took the amazingly dry cans and fed them into the can labeler. I think she got the best job at the gig, but we still had a bunch of fun being together, serving others and meeting some fun people.

I almost brought home my sexy hair net thinking it might be a fun and kinky addition to my love life. Last minute I changed my mind. Oh well, we will be back again next week for our second session, maybe I'll change my mind then ;o). Wonder what we will be canning?

New Blog!

I am launching a new blog, everyone take a look! The first post will explain what it is and why I am doing it, but in a nutshell it is a resource that I am putting together of all my ideas, activities and thoughts that I have had over the years in raising my kids.

In a very short time Aaron and I will be empty nesters. Our kids will be off and starting lives of their own, and before I know it I'm sure starting their own families. I have been wanting to put together a resource for them to have while raising those families. Many of you are also in the middle, or even the beginnings, of your families.

I will not be linking this new blog to my facebook page like this blog is. That will mean if you want to follow it you will have to become a follower on the page itself. Maybe some day, if enough people would like, I will start a facebook page for it, but for now I am keeping it simple. Just putting some feelers our there, and if nothing else doing this for my kids, siblings and friends.

Let me know what you think. I only have one post up, but once I get it going I will start getting new things on regularly. Valentines day is just around the corner, so that will be my focus for a while. I'll be putting in some great date ideas and other fun stuff.

I am hoping for this to be quite interactive with all of you as well. A place to share ideas and experiences. So, please, share share share! And, if nothing else enjoy.

http://familystrong.blogspot.com/

Rec Room Remodel Complete!

We have lived in our house now for over 9 years, and for over 9 years Aaron has been wanting to redo our rec. room. The wood paneling is just SO dated and dark - plus, as most people know, our first home was a trailer and the paneling was just too traileresque. Not that the little trailer didn't serve us well, we loved it while we lived there, but we did always hate the walls.

So, since we had the 10 days holiday vacation we though that would be the perfect time to tackle this project. Of course it did end up taking more time and money than planned, projects like this always do, but it was worth it totally. We love our new little hang out! Complete with the new door to keep the heat in.

We still have a few other things we want to do to the room, mostly decorating wise, but it sure has a much more homey, relaxing feel to it now. We even rearranged things to make movie viewing and game playing more intimate. After all, that's what we do in this room. We closed it up quite a bit and like it much better.

The Twins Turn 4

We spent the evening Friday with the McConnell's celebrating the twins birthday. I can't believe they are 4 already! But, then again, I can't believe my kids are about ready to move out of the house.

Happy Birthday Finn and Owen! We had fun at your birthday party!

The New Coon Hangout

I guess our yard is the new hangout... This guy has been in our yard for hours just chillin' and napping. As long as he keeps to himself and out of our trash I'm okay with it.

New Years Eve with the Foster's