Squirrels

A while ago, like 2 or 3 weeks ago, I threw an apple into our backyard that was a bit soft in places. I figured that the birds or squirrels would enjoy the treat. And there it sat and sat and sat until today when it finally got noticed. Maybe it was the snow that brought out it's red color making it easier to see. Then I started to wonder if the apple had fermented and if it did was the squirrel that was eating it actually getting drunk? The squirrels are crazy enough on their own they don't need any alcohol, even in fermented apple form!

See the squirrel, just behind the tree giving me the evil eye?

It took a chunk off of the apple then ran up the tree to enjoy the food and the view.

It came back down for another bite and then noticed another squirrel moving in on it's apple territory. Not happy about that at all! Tail was swishing all crazy like and it was tucking the apple into it's belly.

The other squirrel got too close and to my surprise the one protecting it's food, grabbed the whole apple and shimmied up the tree. It was quick though, so it's head is just leaving the frame as I snapped the picture. You can see just a hint of the apple.

You will not get my apple!!
Sadly, my batteries went dead just as the other squirrel ran up the tree to try and claim some of the apple. The current apple holding squirrel tossed the fruit back down to the ground, ran around to the other side of the tree, down to the apple, grabbed it and took off for another part of our yard. It was actually quite funny.

You Can't Catch Me

I'm the gingerbread man! I made some gingerbread cookies this afternoon and we sat down as a family after dinner and decorated them. It was messy but lots of fun...we laughed a lot.

Getting started and working hard.

Noah decided on the spice drops for his first gingerbread man.

Look at those rosy red, wind burned, cheeks and split open chin. A bag of icing makes everything better.

Give Joel artistic freedom and look what happens...

Not sure if I was liking this one so...

I bit it's head off and it was yummy!

Still hard at work and about this time I am realizing that there are sprinkles everywhere!

The masterpieces...

The Snowy Siege

I wish, with a blog post title like Snowy Siege, that I had some cool pictures of snow forts or igloos or snowball fights but I do not. No, these are pictures of what happens to my tiny house when cold boys come in out of the frigid weather to play. I stood in one spot and took these three pictures. I decided NOT to take pictures of the boy's bedroom or playroom...it may have been just too much for some and didn't want to stress anyone during this holiday season.

I believe that this is four boys worth of snow clothing, an array of Nerf ammunition and a scooter just inside my front door.

Just on the other side of the couch to the right of the above picture we have a snack bowl on the table, a train set that takes up most of the floor along with some real estate under the couch, and a Nerf shooting Transformer.

Turn around from the top picture and peer into my dining room/kitchen area. Here we have first aid kit on the counter, Whoonu board game, fresh fruit snacks and a cool Nerf gun on my table. Now you know why all of the Nerf ammo was by my front door! Under the table is socks that I am sure are wet from playing outside and then there's Oliver who grabbed the scooter from the previous photo and took it for a spin. Santa hats, computer bags, lunch bags (how that ended up on the floor I do not know!), monster trucks and whatever else I can't make out are strewn about.

And because I'm a dork at times, here is Oliver's snow angel that I've crudely modified. It makes me laugh...

Frightful? No. Delightful? Yes!

Yeah! It's snowing! It's not accumulating much because it's dry, light snow and the east winds are blowing out of the gorge but it's still beautiful! Despite the fact that you can't really make a decent snowball and there isn't enough to really sled yet, Noah has been out trying all morning to do just that. I'm sure, if this weather persists, we will have more pictures but here is just a few to start.

Noah finds the few places that it does accumulate.

Oliver's attempt at a snow angel. Too bad it was in the street!

Snow isn't the only thing blowing around this morning.

Still in the gutter.

I fall down daddy!

Snowy roads, luckily they aren't that slick, not yet anyway.

I like this picture that Joel got because it kind of gives you an idea of how much the wind is blowing. The fuzziness of the picture is the snow swirling it's way down the road.

And Take 2! Take 3! Cut!

It's that time of year again and even though I came up with something that turned out really well (yours will be in your cards if I ever get them done) there are always those ones that didn't make the cut...

Seriously? How did I get both of you closing your eyes??

Hands off, now! You can torture your brother later.

No faces, smiles only and put your hands down. They want to see your cute faces not your dirty hands!

Okay, nice timing but put your hands DOWN!
Now, smile!

No, not your shirt...do you need a Kleenex?

No, you don't need a Kleenex, well then how about some floss?

That's it, we are done. You two better hope that I have something I can use or we will be right back here tomorrow trying again. Love you!

Are You Really 8?

I have been sans computer today so I didn't get a chance to post about our Noah turning 8 until now. I'm still surprised that we have an 8 year old already, it was only yesterday that we were bringing him home on those snowy roads! We had a lot of fun today. I got to be the mystery reader in his class. The kids know they have a reader coming in but they just don't know who. I emailed his teacher 5 clues for the kids to figure out, by clue 5, that it was me! I stayed and volunteered after reading, left for a bit then got to go back to his class and make a gingerbread house with him. I took him to the store to pick out a small gift on the way home and Joel is now making Noah his birthday dinner request...homemade pizza! I also found out, today, that Noah and Janet's daughter Madi have the same birth date!

That's my serious, bald little man then...

And here is my serious, buzz cut, young man now...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH WAYNE!!

Junior Green Belt

Noah, a.k.a. NoJo received his junior green belt tonight during karate class. He has worked very hard to work his way up and we are very proud of him. He busted through those first few colors but is now having to work even harder to advance. Moves are harder, they have to be more precise and sharp, his attitude both in class and outside of class have to prove that he deserves a belt advancement. Saturday is the annual fall demonstration then it's back to working hard to earn that solid green belt!

Mr. K and Mr. B congratulating Noah at the end of class.

Class photo...lots of proud and happy faces.

This is Noah receiving his new belt. Mr. Kanthak doesn't fool around. It's kind of funny to watch the kids try and stand still while he is tying on the new belts.

Annual Fall Demonstration

Feel free to come join us!! Contact me if you need directions...

"Kanthak Karate is holding its annual Fall Demonstration on Saturday, December 13th at Shahala Middle School gym. These are always great events and are a lot of fun to watch. All family members, friends, neighbors and teachers are welcome to come and watch the event. Demos usually run close to an hour. We start with an all student warm up, then individual classes showcase the moves they have been learning over the last few months. Two students will be advancing to their black belt this demo, and we are inviting everyone to help celebrate this great achievement."

It's Too Bright!

Oliver says to me, "Mom, it's too bright I need my sunglasses." As I'm getting his sunglasses for him, I'm thinking to myself that I've fought him all summer long to wear sunglasses and he never would. Now that it's 40 degrees outside, slight overcast and at the time, not that bright, he wants his sunglasses? I didn't argue, just found the sunglasses and handed them to him, helped him put them on then hopped into the van to run some errands. We get to our first stop, I open up his door to help him get out and start laughing. "Oliver, what did you do to your sunglasses? I thought you said it was too bright. " He says, it IS too bright but now I see better." He wore his "sunglasses" through the store and to our other errands.

Quiz Winner!

All of you were correct in some way or another but the real answer that I was looking for was...

Oliver was not looking where he was going.

Here are the names folded for secrecy...

Here is the name Noah picked...

Congratulations Grandma Ricki!! I will send out your two bars of soap as soon as I take a trip to the post office.

Operation Nerf

Noah's birthday party was yesterday. He finally decided on having it at his karate school again. The fact that Mr. K agreed to end the party with a big Nerf battle helped that decision a little bit. Mr. K is Karl Kanthak of Kanthak Karate and he is the one that ran the party. They warmed up, learned about their safety zone, were chased by Mr. K wielding a bamboo sword and jumped over and wiped out the pads. Happy birthday was sung, presents opened, cupcakes eaten and juice drank but none of that compared to the Nerf battle. I lost official count but I think there were about 14 boys, 2 instructors and 1 dad all fighting it out. I heard later that even Gammy was taking a few sneak attack shots from the sidelines!

Getting warmed up...there were 6 more that joined the group shortly. Oliver didn't get to stay long but Mr. K let him go through the warm ups. This is Oliver showing us his horse stance prayer pose. The other kids from left to right are Jackson, Jacob, Besim and Cole.

Trevor jumping over the pads. Each kid got a chance then they would add another pad to the top of the pile and try again. Once the stack got too tall they got to run and wipe out on the pads anyway that they wanted.

One way to demand attention...stand at the front of class with a bamboo sword!

Noah G. being chased by Mr. K. He would have the kids run from him, duck, jump, etc. and smack the pad or pole as they ran by. Loud and scary - they loved it!!

Oh yeah, now we're getting to the good stuff. About half the kids on this side of the room, all geared up and getting instructions.

Here is the other half, Noah, Jack, Noah G. and Cade are all hiding behind the chair barricade.

Battle is on! Fire, fire, fire, run out and retrieve ammunition, reload while retreating and start again!

Mr. K getting in on the action.

At one point, Noah was put on the wall, all of the party goers then lined up, Nerf equipment fully loaded and when given the command, they ALL fired on Noah.

Had to put this photo in to prove that Joel was in on the battle too! Joel realized today that during combat he was essentially running lines. Up and back to retrieve the ammunition, go, go, go!

Just in case you wondering if the Nerf chaos has calmed since the party...

Noah's Birthday Present

Noah's birthday is actually on Friday the 12th but our busy schedule dictated that his party happen yesterday on the 6th. The boy has been asking for a decent skateboard for a while now, his $15 Spongebob skateboard just wasn't working for him anymore. So before the party yesterday, Joel took Noah to Bad Monkey Bikes, Boards & Skate to pick out his new skateboard. I asked Joel to take the camera and take a few pictures of Noah picking out his new board and I'm glad I did. Wade, of Bad Monkey Bikes, Boards & Skate shop, let Noah help him build it! How cool is that?

Wade is asking Noah what width he wants for his deck.
Noah chose the wider deck knowing that he still has a lot of growing to do.

This is after the skid tape has already been adhered to the other side. Noah is poking the holes on the under side through the skid tape so they know where to run the bolts.

Here he is pressing the bearings into the wheels.

Wade is installing the wheels. I like that you can see Noah's hands holding the other two wheels.

Noah got to install a wheel too.

I should have a picture of Noah, under this caption, of him holding his finished product. He got swept away to his party then left to spend the night with Ty and Jack so I will have to post that one later...