Willkommen in Leavenworth

Monday and Tuesday, we spent time in snowy Leavenworth, WA. Ten years ago, Jaren and I spent our honeymoon enjoying the sights of this quaint, little Bovarian town up here in the mountains of Central Washington. We decided to come back up here for our ten-year anniversary. Despite the cold and the snow, the roads and passes were clear and we were able to enjoy Leavenworth without incident.We stayed in the same hotel, The Enzian Inn although we didn't opt for a Honeymoon Suite this time. We were okay with a regular room. The coolest thing about this hotel (besides its authentic Bovarian accommodations) is the full breakfast buffet. During which you can watch and listen to the blowing of the Alpen horn on the balcony.I can recall being very sick with the flu when we came on our honeymoon so I don't remember actually taking in all the sights and shops. But, this time we did. And, with Christmas being around the corner, the whole town is gorgeously lit up with all things Christmas!

The Soup Cellar was still our choice of lunch for the day (literally in a basement--as many shops and restaurants are. You have to walk down a good flight of stairs to get to them). Notice the "dollar bills" in the background hanging from the ceiling and in frames on the back wall.. Once upon a time, every customer who came in left a one dollar tip. Soon, people who visited would leave messages on "their dollar". The owners began hanging them everywhere in the restaurant. Jaren and I left one ten years ago with our "Honeymoon" message on it. But, we didn't even bother seeing if it was still around. Since the place is now under new ownership, they do not practice this tradition anymore.

The boys and other family joined us on Wednesday so that they could see why mom and dad enjoy this little town so much. We came home Tuesday night--again, the snow wasn't a huge problem.

So long Leavenworth--until we meet again...maybe in 2018.

We're not in Texas anymore Todo...

We arrived in Portland, OR Saturday afternoon only to learn that a snowstorm was headed our way. Not that we weren't already in one. We drove east to Pasco, WA. A trip that should have only taken us 3 hours. But, because of the snow and ice it was more like 5 hours. However, we were blessed to get here when we did because they closed the road a few hours after we drove through.Well, the boys wanted a White Christmas...we're sure to get one. There is more snow in the forecast tonight. So, here's to warmer climates as we "hunker down" and strive to enjoy the cold up here for Christmas!

For all of our Washington friends out there, WE ARE HERE!!

The World Race (right here on our driveway)

We had Aidan's 8th Birthday Party last Saturday and I must say it was a complete success. We went with a race car theme. And Jaren (with some minimal help) whipped up this pretty cool race track with a piece of plywood, some 1x2 boards and a few 2x4 boards. Yes, we certainly raced regular hotwheel cars down it too. But, the whole party was based around making the cars for the track. So, we cut out some wooden cars, drilled a hole in the middle for a marble to roll the cars down and we had marble cars. The boys we in charge of sanding the wood, giving it a name, decorating it and of course chasing the marbles as they rolled away (that was part of the fun). I video taped some of the races and the boys could watch them while we ate lunch.

We had awards for every car. So, not only did we have "The Fastest Car" but we also had "The Craziest Car" and "The Most Mysterious Car" and "The Most Colorful Car", etc. Everyone left the party a winner.

All in all, it was fun and I'm glad Aidan and his friends had a blast.

Happy 8th Birthday Aidan!

I'm going on an airplane...

Saturday we're headed to COLDER climates (that's putting in mildly) up north in the great state of Washington!! And, we're all getting psyched about it. So we have, several times, played I'm Going On An Airplane and I'm taking a ______________.

Here's a sample of some of the answers--alphabetically of course...cuz that's how the game is played.

"I'm going on an airplane and I'm taking a(n)...
Aidan
Baby
Crayons
Dollar
Elephant
Five Forts
Goat
Hunter
Igloo
Jaren
Kangaroo
Limo
Monkey
Nap
Olive
Person
Quarter
Rowboat
Song
TV
Umbrella
Volume control
Washington, state of
Xylophone
You
Zipper."

This will certainly make for an interesting plane ride...between the elephant and the rowboat...I dunno 'bout this....

If I had a Friday Favorite...

This would be it.

Aidan did not know I was taking this picture until after I took it.

Nothing's better than ending your day with some searching in the scriptures with The Friend as your companion. He can be such a good example for me.

The Morning After...

This is what was left in the morning after last night's snowfall. After a huge mug of hot chocolate Aidan wanted a piece of the snow. He ran outsid to play in what was left. It doesn't take much snow for him to be happy.

He enjoyed wiping the snow from the car.Someone down the street managed to build a pretty decent snowman. From the looks of it, they must have rolled up every piece of snow on their front lawn. Man, they were determined.And the boys were anxious to head to school in their winter apparel. They don't get to wear it often!Made for a fun morning.

Let it Snow??

Never thought I'd be blogging about this...
But, the boys thought it OH SO COOL that is was actually "snowing" today.

If you can conceivably call this snow. You CAN see the TINY snowflakes.(Not sure if this is a picture of falling snow or of my ugly patio)

Hunter was outside eating it as it fell onto the grill cover out back.

This proves that not everything in Texas is big!

Then again, as the night went on, the flakes got bigger...Three hours later...the snow stopped and left this nice blanket for the night. Not bad for Texas.

My Mini Mozarts

Yesterday, we hosted my very first piano recital for my students. It was a first not only for me but for my students as well. It was pretty casual, low-key and not so intimidating. I wanted it that way so none of us would feel too nervous. They all did a fantastic job and I was so impressed with how well it went.
This year I had less students then in the past partially due to the addition of little Robyn who takes up a bit more of my time at the moment. So, I have been unable to teach as many as I like (at one time I had over a dozen students).

I have to give a public "I LOVE YOU" to my wonderful husband who stuck by me and helped as I planned this event. Several hours before the recital he sent me 3 dozen roses to my front door wishing me luck!! I was completely surprised and speechless!! I think I just cried as I prepared them for a vase. The roses that you see on the table in the picture above are the ones he sent me. He's such an awesome guy!

Aidan playing Jingle Bells

I had to write up my own version of this piece because I was unable to find the perfect arrangement for him. NOTE: I missed the first few notes of Aidan's solo as he was too quick to get started...and I was a bit distracted being a piano teacher.

Anyway...our next recital is planned for June! I want it to be bigger and better. And I'm ready to enroll more students in January.

Open Wide!!!

For a while now Robyn's been wanting to eat about every two to three hours. That started to wear on me real fast. So, I gave in and decided to entertain the idea that maybe she's ready to try some cereal.She did a pretty good job. And she seemed to enjoy the new taste! But, after a while, the spoon AND the thumb were fighting for space in the mouth.Starting her on cereal just reminds me of how fast these little babes grow up...

These darn kids...

I was reading my brother's blog and he shared a thought so simple and complete. For some reason it stuck with me through my tears as I continued to read his comments.

"Thanks Lord for giving me these darn kids."Ditto.

Thanksgiving 1sts.

Every Thanksgiving we go to The Lake Livingston Lodge and just have lots of fun. Here were a few firsts that we got to be a a part of this year!Robyn's 1st Christmas Tree (we always help decorate it the Friday after Thanksgiving).A cousin caught her first fish (a 21 in. Drum)!!!Hunter and the younger cousins helped make their 1st salad using fresh spinach from Grandpa's garden.

If you're wondering about the swimsuits (Hunter's only wearing his)...Only in Texas can you go swimming in the lake on Thanksgiving.

Baby or Turkey?

I took the turkey out of the fridge to move some stuff around not realizing that I had set it next to Robyn. I just laughed...had to take this photo:
I can tell you right now that that Round Hill All Natural Young Turkey weighs several pounds more than Robyn. You'd get more meat from the Turkey anyway...so choose the turkey.

Playtime

A typical evening for us!

Aidan is seriously Robyn's own personal comedian. Whenever he's close or just simply walking by she always throws him a smile.

Sometimes she laughs and sometimes she's just absolutely content with the boys' efforts! I'm absolutely thrilled how much the boys want to help and be with her.

Although, they still refuse to help change her diaper...what's up with that??

Birthday Party Anxiety!

Okay, so do you remember that handsome picture of that young man on my previous post? Do you remember a post a while back that mentions that I'm a "party pooper?" Okay, I enjoy parties...when someone else is planning them! Well, I promised Aidan a party for his 8th birthday before we head up to Washington. The sheer thought of planning a birthday party just gives me a headache. Aidan's been to many parties. And, to be honest--very few of them are planned by the parent. Most of them are at some party place where the parent pays outrageous amounts of money for these children to bounce around on inflatables, eat LOTS of cake and...pizza. Not to mention the goody bags are just ridiculous. He would rather have a smaller party in his home. By the way, Aidan hates pizza (and hot dogs) and has never been impressed with those types of parties.

So, I've decided it's about time I gave in and "got over" this fear of birthday parties. I know, y'all are probably thinking how crazy I am for being afraid of a bunch of 8 yr. olds. The fact that most of them are bigger than me just doesn't mean anything, right? It's embarrassing that I fear a room full of 8 year olds that must be entertained! Sad but VERY true! Give me as many 3 yr. olds as you want and I can handle it just fine. But, once they get to be five or six...

I also know how much Aidan would love this party so as his mother, I feel it necessary to do this for him. Honestly he doesn't ask for much. And, it takes a lot to get him excited about anything. To see him excited about a party excites me so we're gonna do it.Took very little to excite Aidan for his 1st birthday...

Anyway, I have less than a month to come up with something.

Seriously, anybody...everybody...I need ideas!

Elder Fort

All the boys in the Sr. Primary are preparing to sing a verse of "Called to Serve" for the Primary Program. Last week when they practiced Aidan made an oh-so-important realization: he was the only one NOT wearing a full suit. And that disturbed him. So, he asked for one for his 8th Birthday. How many 7 yr. olds do you know ask for a suit for their birthday? I was cool with that! Then, Aidan told me that he "wanted to look like a missionary for the performance and missionaries wear suits." So, he got his new suit as an early birthday present so he could wear it for the Primary Program.

Words cannot express how proud I was at how handsome he looked in his new suit:

My New Outlet

These last two weeks my piano students began learning their pieces for our up and coming Christmas piano recital. Did I ever mention how much I LOVE Christmas music? I had such a blast searching for the piano music for these students that I found myself completely immersed in it. I decided I wanted some new Christmas music too! I love the piano arrangements that I come across. Some I toss out just because they aren't my style. And then there are some that I love playing so much because I get a major adrenaline rush every time I play them (even if they are riddled with mistakes). This morning I found my Christmas challenge for the season: Jon Schmidt's Christmas Medley (What Child is This, We Three Kings, Carol of the Bells). When I printed out the nine pages I started to get anxious. But, I just dove right in! And by the time I got to the end of page nine I had worked up quite a sweat! Total adrenaline rush...WOW! Okay, so the actual feeling is hard to explain...

With all the emotions that have been running through my veins as of late I desperately needed an outlet. I needed a new challenge of some sort. But, I was having a hard time finding it. If feels good to just let go. Playing and practicing a good piece of piano music does the trick for me!

Thanks Gayle for leading me to Jon Schmidt's music.

Robyn's Story Time

Oddly enough, Robyn does her best "storytelling" while on the changing table...


Every time she's up here, we always get to hear another chapter. Course, we're still anxiously waiting to find out if she gets her prince or not. Will she finally win his heart? Stay tuned...

The Fort Family

Okay, last year we just didn't bother. We did do one to go in the Christmas cards. But I wasn't very happy with that one. I was displeased enough that I didn't do anything more with that photo...it definitely wasn't getting framed.

So, we tried again. I'm not gonna say they're perfect...just that they are MUCH better than last year! And, I might actually get copies of these!

Yep, I'm talking about family pictures. This year we had some good friends take the pictures instead of me and that made things so much easier!
These pictures were taken by the playground at Jesse Jones Park.

The "Woobie"

woobie \'wu-bee\ n : small blanket roughly the size of a cloth diaper used in place of a regular sized blanket. Commonly used as a travel blanket that can be tucked and carried anywhere. It is widely used by younger children who suck their thumbs (namely those with the last name of Fort). Always handmade. Usually created with fleece fabric. Designs, size and colors must vary. Be prepared to create half a dozen of these small blankets. origin: the word is taken from the 1983 flop-of-a-movie called Mr. Mom starring Michael Keaton (though, in the movie the "woobie" in question was actually a very much loved blanket).

The First Woobie:
For Hunter's 1st birthday his mommy made him a very special blanket out of fleece complete with the perfect fringe. He loved this blanket and it was literally attached to him from that day forward. If the blanket ever got lost Hunter was unconsolable. Sometime shortly thereafter he became very sick. So much so, that in the middle of the night he vomited all over this very special blanket. After cleaning him up, the blanket had to go in the wash. But of course, Hunter would not calm down and go back to sleep without his blanket. So, his mom went to the fabric box, pulled out a small piece of fleece left over from making the original blanket, quickly cut some fringes around the edge and gave it to unhappy Hunter. Hunter calmed down and went right to sleep. And thus the "woobie" was born!!
Since then, Hunter has had several woobies. All made from various designs, but all fleece. The thing about these woobies is that they do get lost or left someplace. So, it's always good to have the materials (fleece and scissors) to quickly whip up another one. I always got tired of lugging around a big blanket to church, on the plane, etc. so the woobie was a great "replacement" blanket. Hunter has grown out of them but I still find a "lost woobie" every now and then (I have found two since we moved here in 2006: one tucked inside the couch). The woobie was definitely a vital part of Hunter's existence when he was a toddler.It became a big thing with us Forts. So much so that their Grandma Fort starting making woobies (the yellow one on the left of the picture is one made by her) and giving them as baby gifts. Naturally, she made one for Robyn. I write this post for this picture. You probably can't tell that she, on her own, has a corner of her 'woobie' tucked up between her chin and her thumb.And thus, a new era of "the woobie" has begun...

The Cub Scout Follows Akela.

The proud moment when Aidan begins his journey into Scouts is fast approaching. So, we agreed it was about time we started thinking about how we, as parents, could be involved. This past Saturday was the first real preparatory experience that Jaren and I have had the privilege of experiencing. We attended some Cub Scout training known as Akela's Trail. While there we attended various classes from "Flag Etiquette" to Puppetry skills; Rocketry to Games. All geared to help any parents or leaders learn and teach in Cub Scouts. We had an awesome experience!! We're finally starting to get our feet wet in the world of Scouting. I'm afraid we'll drown in it all! Definitely a wonderful group to be a part of. And, I think after all these years of not being a part of Scouts, Jaren is excited to once again put on the uniform.

And, I have two words for Alice and Gene Hamilton...YOU ROCK! Gene and Alice Hamilton @ Akela's Trail

They put together this entire event and it was phenomenal. I've been around Alice as she's been planning for this. While I could offer opinions or an ear that would listen I never really knew what she was doing with all this information. So, it was great to finally be a part of the finished product and to understand what they had been working on all these many months. WOW--I learned so much about the Cub Scouts! The coolest big sister in the whole, wide world!!

Now I completely understand why they have such a passion for this organization. And to think at one time I thought she was just crazy for devoting so much time and energy to Scouts! But, I get it now! How blessed we are to have such wonderful people so heavily involved!

If you want a place to belong--Cub Scouts is the place to go!

Left hand on yellow!

I guess Jess knows a lot of Ashleys....

I have actually been tagged twice concerning folders and pictures. The first is the 4th folder with my 4th picture. Course, I have folders within folders within folders before I get to any pictures. I just picked the 4th one every time:This picture was taken back in the Fall of 2004. So, Aidan would have been 3. Twister used to be one of his most favorite games. He would fall down on purpose after a while. The best part was spinning the arrow and calling out the instructions. Aidan always felt so important.

This next tag was for locating the 6th picture in your 6th folder. I'm including this tag as well because I was pleasantly surprised at what picture came up: Yeah, all you see is a picture of pumpkins. Well, not only is it quite fitting for the season, but this was the VERY FIRST PICTURE I ever took with my brand new camera that we purchased back in Oct. 2006. So it has some sentimental value to me. But these pumpkins sure do look nice don't they?

"Brown, paper packages..."

So, I was preparing for Hunter's birthday celebration this weekend with family (yeah, his birthday was last week--but the actual party is this weekend) and I realized that I didn't have any birthday wrapping paper!! Oh no! I needed to get the presents wrapped ASAP before he came home from school and I was running out of time.

In my rummaging I found my good supply of brown, packaging paper (the kind you mail presents with). Sure enough, just as I find this I immediately started singing, "Brown paper packages tied up with..." So of course I had to get the "string" to finish out the thought! And so, it goes:How ironic that all of Hunter's brown packages are all perfectly square.

We'll see if these "brown, paper packages tied up with string" will become a few of Hunter's favorite things...

Even now, hours later, that song is still going on in my head!!!

The Blood-sucker!

I feel like this is just an absolute stupid thing to blog about. But, by the time Friday rolls around and I need to think up something to post I always use a thought that's been following me for the last week. This week, it'll have to be those pesky, blood-sucking insects that we call:

The MosquitoSince Ike, they have been absolutely terrible. Normally, they aren't an issue. Yeah, they are a part of life living down here in Southeast Texas. To put it bluntly: Mosquitoes LOVE me!!! I can be outside (sometimes inside) for 1 minute, and I'll get three or four bites. For me I have to think, "Would I spray myself down in repellent for just one minute of outside time or just bare the few bites that I'll get that will go away in an hour?!" I typically choose to get bitten! It happens everyday. The other day I was outside with Hunter for maybe five minutes. I came inside knowing that I had a fair amount of bites. Okay, I lost count at 45. Definitely a new record for me. Took me a while to overcome that agony (all the while I'm chanting to myself, "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" for not spraying myself down).

I've also learned that these pests love Robyn just as much. For a few days I'd notice these red bumps here and there on her body. It took me a while to figure out that they were mosquito bites. I felt like a horrible mom! I've since become more careful and try to minimize the mosquito bites on her.

So, this blood-sucker is on the top of my list of major annoyances right now. Believe me, they WILL find me! What I don't understand is why none of the boys in my house (including Jaren) NEVER get bitten!! That is so unfair...

But, honestly--with all complaining aside--I won't let these pesky insects come between me and my love for being outdoors. So, insect repellent and I have become the best of friends. I know there are other ways to deal with insects besides spraying this cheap perfume all over you but...whatever.