Ansel in Basketball! His first year!!

My kids have been begging and begging me for years to sign them up for basketball and every year I miss the deadline.  But, luckily this year I knew someone doing basketball and they gave me the heads up on the deadline and we squeaked in just in time.

Ansel was ecstatic.  I think that I have mentioned before that this kid is a sports addict. He loves all sports and NEEDs to be active all the time.  He is actually really good at them all too.  It must be his drive and determination.  He is fearless and sport smart.  He started into basketball with kids that had been playing for 2 years prior to this one and quickly rose to the top.  He just gets sports I suppose.

A little hustler!!

Levi is 13!!! There is a teenager in the house!

Give it up for Levi!!  13 on the 13th!  That's right it is his golden birthday.  13 years ago this day he was born.  It was a Friday, yep, Friday the 13th!  November 13th! Forever making Friday the 13th a lucky day for our family.  He has been the shining star in the sky ever since!  I couldn't ask for a better 13 year old.  A straight A student, and athlete, an actor, an avid reader, a singer and piano player, a good example and a good friend.  The world is a better place because he is in it.

I love you Levi, with all my heart!

Keep going on the path you've chosen, you are going places!!

His one and only wish for his birthday:

Age of Empires...

Sigh...I guess he is a typical teenage boy after all! ;-)

Bonneville Fish Hatchery Field trip up the Gorge

Ansel had a field trip up the Gorge this fall, to the fish hatchery and to the river to see salmon spawning.  It was quite the trip.  It was making me sad the entire time because I kept thinking about Joe's Job opportunity down in California and what if we had to move from here.  We live in such a beautiful place and I really don't want to move back to California.  But the job is a great opportunity.  We will see what the promotion entails and whether it will be worth the sacrifice.

Ansel and his buddy Gavin

Learning about the fish, it was stinky

All the cute kids on the trip:

My sweet Ansel.  I love that kid.

The nasty dead Salmon that the guide was showing us.  He showed the eggs, heart, liver, everything... It was grossly fascinating  

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this kids face! 

 Exactly how I was feeling about the whole thing.

At the Sturgeon ponds

My boy and I

Ansel's whole class!

Good thing it was sunny the whole time!  Lucky for November.

And they are Gone!!

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!  

And.... They're both gone!  

Sayonara baby teeth, welcome to growing up!

Halloween 2011

Halloween started off with school parties during the day.  I was in charge of Ansel's, so I didn't get to go see Calder at his.  But we had a great time making masks, caramel apples, and pinning the nose on the scarecrow.

Kaelan working on his masterpiece:

And sampling the wares:

Ansel's turn to get dizzy and then try to pin the nose...

A little off the mark...

oh well, he wasn't the only one!

Brother buddies

After school was over we got the kids all made up in their costumes and headed down to a friends house for a party.  We ate delicious food and talked and then when the time came we all went out en masse to trick or treat.

Ansel as a Skeleton Pirate

Calder as a werewolf

Notice the "hair" on his arms and legs...It took FOREVER

KK wanted to be Scooby Doo....Again.

Luckily the costume is a little small this year so he will have to break out and try something new next year..

Levi the Mexican Hombre:

Hola! Ole!

The loot!

Looking good Calder!

Scary!

Happy Halloween!!!!

Savannah Oaks Bulb planting 2011

I was involved in a really great "local" walking field trip for the 4th graders.

We walked up the hill on which we live (the school in down the hill near the river) and planted bulbs in a park that is located on the side of the hill.

It had the most AMAZING views.  

The boys school from the hill:

Another view from the hill, of Willamette School and Willamette River.  This is the view I see everyday driving down the hill:

Isn't it stunning.  This place is seriously the most beautiful place to live.

Bulb planting time:

Calder's teacher, Mr. Anderson.

Great teacher! So glad Calder got him.

Kaelan wanted to help too!

Planting done, now everyone is waiting for their turn on the rope swings:

Kaelan's buddy, Jeffery

All the big kids love KK.

We had to leave early and on the way back we walked under the freeway overpass.  Kaelan could not pass up the opportunity to run up the cement incline and rest in the top, just under all the cars passing overhead.  

Yes, he is a trouble maker....