It's Raining, It's Pouring...

And we still walked to school (750 steps)! The boys were such troopers! They put on their slickers and boots, grabbed an umbrella (which Tanner didn't even want), and braved the elements! They love it! I just have to buy Cody some new galoshes, he had to wear Sydney's old Uggs (just until we got to school!). I need galoshes as well, and a new slicker! Target, here we come!

Furlough Friday!

Russell has one Furlough Friday each month. This last one happened to land on the same day Cody's school had an inservice day! We had a nice family outing to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. It was so cool! Cody and Tanner were too young for the Planetarium (recommended for 7+), and we never did line up for the Rainforest, but we still had plenty to see...

Watching the man rays...

The Philippine Coral Reef

African Penguins

The albino alligator was creepy and amazing!

It looked like it was made of plaster.
Watch out giraffe, there are two crazy alligators!!

Oh it's just our boys with their masks from their activity books! They each received one after playing in the Early Explorers Cove (kids play area).

Today's Lunch

Toasted bagel with cream cheese and a sprinkle of smoked Eagle Lake trout. YUM!
Thanks for the smoked trout, Jason!
P.S. It takes him seven hours to smoke the fish!!!

Basketball Season is Here!

Cody started CYS basketball! I can't believe it! I started in 4th grade, which was the earliest you could start back then. Now they start them in co-ed Kinderball! WOW!

There are 31 kids signed up! Holy cow!

Haley and Cody with their basketballs they received at the door!

Cody trying to dribble. He had no idea how to dribble, but was having a blast anyway!

Team manager Michelle (who called and asked me to come early and write each participant's name on their ball!) and coach Troy (my cousin!)!

Don't worry, Troy doesn't have to coach ALL of them all by himself. Kent Sakae (red shorts) is also a coach, and they have numerous parents out there helping! Whew!!

And guess who was assigned "official photographer" for the group? ANSELL! Well, actually, I volunteered him.

Excuse the Mess...

Here is our kitchen right now. Behind the couch and hanging tarps is our family room. We just had mold remediation done in there, which has left the room with no more drywall! The couch has been in the kitchen for 3 months now. I eat dinner sitting on the couch. Michelle and her kids came over for dinner and all wanted to sit on the couch to eat! I might miss that couch once it goes back into the family room. We might buy a half booth (diner style!) to go against the wall, but I'll miss lying down against the arm while Ansell eats dessert.

Happy Campers AGAIN!

We were so lucky to be invited to Donner Lake camping by Shelley and Blake! I've always wanted to go because I would see it on our way to Reno. It is even more beautiful than I thought!

Group shot of the boys. My boys seem to think it's "funny face" time. There are about 20 of these shots, and Tyler is standing perfectly posed in all of them!

Here's Shelley's family getting ready for their family picture. Her brother Kevin is standing with his fiance, Tracy. Her parents are sitting with the boys.

One of the highlights of the trip...crawdad fishing! My cousin Blake stuck a hot dog on a stick, put it in the water, and the crawdads came running from all directions! Tyler ate them like candy after they were boiled up like little lobsters!

Bryce with his s'more.

Tyler getting "fire hypnosis". A common occurrence at camping. Love it!

Dad Gummit!

Tanner enjoys chewing gum. He's been doing it for quite some time now. In fact, he enjoys it so much, that I caught him chewing some at McDonald's...but I hadn't given him any that day. Before I could ask where he got it, I noticed a thin strand of gum leading from his mouth to UNDER THE TABLE!!! As I fought the urge to vomit, I grabbed the gum out of his mouth with a napkin, and proceeded to wipe out his mouth (like it mattered by that point), just to make myself feel better.