Friday, July 18, 2008
Our fun week
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Yesterday we went to the hospital to see Andrea, John and their new baby (11 lbs, 2 oz!).
Me holding Christian for the first time!
Me holding Christian for the first time!
Natalie was at a birthday party, but the boys were there and were very interested in the new baby. Zander asked me if we were going to have any more babies...he was really good with his new cousin and would love another sibling, but I think 3 is enough!
...but these tiny feet are ALMOST enough to make me reconsider.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Day out with Thomas
Last Sunday we drove out to see Tomas the Train who was stationed in Hood River. Each of our kids has got to ride on Thomas when they were about 2 years old. The first time when Natalie was 2 1/2 was just 3 days after Zander had his brain surgery. Then when Zander was 2 1/2, I was pregnant with Hayden. This time, instead of the whole family taking the train ride on Thomas, I took Hayden while Dan did all the other activities with the older 2. The price of the tickets to ride were significantly higher than before, so we agreed (although I would have loved for the other kids to come along to) that this would be Hayden's special day!
Hayden was seriously shocked...could it be true? Legos that make Thomas!...He was in train heaven! Next you see him all ready to go as he boards the train.
The kids had lots of fun with their balloon creations. The boys got swords with belts to hold them and Natalie got a unicorn. There were all kinds of fun trains to play with.
Zander and Hayden with Sir Topam Hat.
Looking out at the scenery. When the train started moving, he was so excited "Train moving," he said over and over, until he was distracted by his other favorite thing "TRACTOR, TRACTOR!!!"
He did this pose all on his own...I guess he thought is was pretty cool!
Here they are with Thomas.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Dan the Man
Dan and I are in full project mode this summer. It seems in the past two summers we have been so busy inviting people over to swim, that we really didn't get much done around here...So we have a lot of things that were falling behind.
We also pressure washed the metal patio furniture in preparation for painting it...we're giving the patio set a makeover and you can see the results on my Paper Caper's blog.
Yesterday Dan cut down the fir tree in the back that has been shading the pool beginning around 4 pm on. To cut the tree or leave the tree was something up for debate even when Dan's parents lived here. Although I liked the tree, I had to agree, it was really limiting the amount of time we could swim in the pool...what sold it for me was my hope that eventually we can put a little covered area like a gazebo or something back there in it's place!
The process of cutting a tree of this size down was no doubt stressful. Add to that, using a chainsaw that didn't want to cooperate, then borrowing another one from the neighbor, plus the fact that it stared to lean the wrong way...it was an exciting time at Ernstopia. Dan called his Dad up who came over to assess the situation. All that was really needed was a wedge and soon the tree was down. I saw it fall from inside the house and didn't even have time to get my camera rolling again...but was relieved to see the tree come down with only minimal damage...Now I can plant my raspberries!!! So Dad, can we borrow your wood chipper?
Here is our first burn from the burn pile back in June. After 2 years worth of yard debris had collected, it was getting heaped up pretty high. The other photo is of Dan showing off his amazing Bass collection. Dan isn't normally a fisherman, doesn't even have his own pole, but thanks to his brother Dylan who loaned him his pole, Dan caught somewhere in the neighborhood of 13 fish on his rafting trip down the John Day river last month...more than the guys who invited him along!
Last week we started pressure washing the patio by the pool. We didn't get very far on this chore last year so we were anxious to finish it up and apply the sealer, so the job won't be so time-consuming in years to come. Dan and I each spent 1- 2 hours a day each day last week pressure washing the patio and it's still not done, so you can see why we are motivated to get it all sealed this year.
We also pressure washed the metal patio furniture in preparation for painting it...we're giving the patio set a makeover and you can see the results on my Paper Caper's blog.
Going, Going, Gone!
Yesterday Dan cut down the fir tree in the back that has been shading the pool beginning around 4 pm on. To cut the tree or leave the tree was something up for debate even when Dan's parents lived here. Although I liked the tree, I had to agree, it was really limiting the amount of time we could swim in the pool...what sold it for me was my hope that eventually we can put a little covered area like a gazebo or something back there in it's place!
The process of cutting a tree of this size down was no doubt stressful. Add to that, using a chainsaw that didn't want to cooperate, then borrowing another one from the neighbor, plus the fact that it stared to lean the wrong way...it was an exciting time at Ernstopia. Dan called his Dad up who came over to assess the situation. All that was really needed was a wedge and soon the tree was down. I saw it fall from inside the house and didn't even have time to get my camera rolling again...but was relieved to see the tree come down with only minimal damage...Now I can plant my raspberries!!! So Dad, can we borrow your wood chipper?
Here is our first burn from the burn pile back in June. After 2 years worth of yard debris had collected, it was getting heaped up pretty high. The other photo is of Dan showing off his amazing Bass collection. Dan isn't normally a fisherman, doesn't even have his own pole, but thanks to his brother Dylan who loaned him his pole, Dan caught somewhere in the neighborhood of 13 fish on his rafting trip down the John Day river last month...more than the guys who invited him along!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
A look back in time
As I was cleaning out my files, I came across a four-paged paper I wrote when I was about Natalie's age, probably more like 8 years old. I'm pretty sure it was not from a school assignment because I remember writing a lot of stories at home. I even included three pages of floor plans for my "mansion!" It's called What I want to do when I grow up. It was pretty funny to read so I thought I would post it for your enjoyment too...all typos are intentional to show how I spelled the words when I wrote this as a kid.
When I grow-up I want to own a mansion with a white girl horse. It will have a big deck half 8 foot swimming pool other half picnick table with a big umbrella. I want it to be a three story house. The bottom floor will be the t.v. and gest rooms, the middle floor will be a kitchen and liveing room, the very top will be my bed room. There will be bathrooms with shouers on the top and bottom floors, the middle will be a bathtub.
There will be a elevator. I will have a big red barn for my hourse. It will have three windows with screens. I will also have a fifteen acer back yard and my front yard will be one acer. In the back yard there will be a swing set. I will have a garage with a big camping trailer. There will be enogh room for keeping things in. I want to have a big front pourch, I also want to live in the country. There will be big windows in the kitchen.
The room next to my bedroom will be my childs room. There will be a big and pretty garden on the two sides of the pourch. I want a lasy (Lassie) dog and a calico cat. I might have a fish pond with a neting around it so the cat can't get the fish. I want to have a baby girl, she will be in the room next to me. I will give her a cradle until she is old enough for a canopy bed.
In the kitchen I will have a dishwasher and a micerwave oven and a sink, some bilt in benches, coffee maker and a table, and of course some cobords.
Everyday I will feed the hourse hay and water. I might rase bunny rabbits too. I will plant a garden. It will have fruit bushes (exsept blackberrys) and I will have vegetablels (exspt spinch). I will have a sunflower plant too. When my little girl (if I have one) gets five, after school is out, I will take her to disneyland (if it is still there).
In the haul way between te gest room and the tv room will be a bar. I also want to be a teacher, I will teach first grade. I will do lots of pies and cakes and cookies. I hope I will have a lot of money left over. I want to have lots of juels. I am going to have six gards, one on corner of the house one by the front door, one by the back door. In the bar will be shampane and straws and cups and beer. In the gest room there will be three beds a sink, a closet and a wooly rug.
On the lawn there will be no weeds, just nice green grass. In the living room there will be a fire place, there will also be a couch , three chairs and a coffie table. Maybe I might have pitchers up. Also at the bar will be dr. Pepper
The kichen windows will have big curtains, the kitchen will also be colored light blue. The bar will be brown, the living room is green, my bedroom red, the gest room white, the tv room yellow, the childs room orange. In the tv room there will be a book shelf and a big color tv and on top of the book shelf will be a plant. The bathrooms will be purple. Also in the living room will be a three foot statue. In my bed room will be a canipy bed a clock and a closet and some dresser drorrs and a book shelf and a night stand. In the closet on the pole will be my fancy dresses on the bottom will be my shoes, sandles and roller scates. In the kitchen cobberds will be a baby dish, silverware, cups and glasses and boles and plates. The kidchen floor will be lanoleum. Heaters also and three telephones.
What I want to do when I grow Up
When I grow-up I want to own a mansion with a white girl horse. It will have a big deck half 8 foot swimming pool other half picnick table with a big umbrella. I want it to be a three story house. The bottom floor will be the t.v. and gest rooms, the middle floor will be a kitchen and liveing room, the very top will be my bed room. There will be bathrooms with shouers on the top and bottom floors, the middle will be a bathtub.
There will be a elevator. I will have a big red barn for my hourse. It will have three windows with screens. I will also have a fifteen acer back yard and my front yard will be one acer. In the back yard there will be a swing set. I will have a garage with a big camping trailer. There will be enogh room for keeping things in. I want to have a big front pourch, I also want to live in the country. There will be big windows in the kitchen.
The room next to my bedroom will be my childs room. There will be a big and pretty garden on the two sides of the pourch. I want a lasy (Lassie) dog and a calico cat. I might have a fish pond with a neting around it so the cat can't get the fish. I want to have a baby girl, she will be in the room next to me. I will give her a cradle until she is old enough for a canopy bed.
In the kitchen I will have a dishwasher and a micerwave oven and a sink, some bilt in benches, coffee maker and a table, and of course some cobords.
Everyday I will feed the hourse hay and water. I might rase bunny rabbits too. I will plant a garden. It will have fruit bushes (exsept blackberrys) and I will have vegetablels (exspt spinch). I will have a sunflower plant too. When my little girl (if I have one) gets five, after school is out, I will take her to disneyland (if it is still there).
In the haul way between te gest room and the tv room will be a bar. I also want to be a teacher, I will teach first grade. I will do lots of pies and cakes and cookies. I hope I will have a lot of money left over. I want to have lots of juels. I am going to have six gards, one on corner of the house one by the front door, one by the back door. In the bar will be shampane and straws and cups and beer. In the gest room there will be three beds a sink, a closet and a wooly rug.
On the lawn there will be no weeds, just nice green grass. In the living room there will be a fire place, there will also be a couch , three chairs and a coffie table. Maybe I might have pitchers up. Also at the bar will be dr. Pepper
The kichen windows will have big curtains, the kitchen will also be colored light blue. The bar will be brown, the living room is green, my bedroom red, the gest room white, the tv room yellow, the childs room orange. In the tv room there will be a book shelf and a big color tv and on top of the book shelf will be a plant. The bathrooms will be purple. Also in the living room will be a three foot statue. In my bed room will be a canipy bed a clock and a closet and some dresser drorrs and a book shelf and a night stand. In the closet on the pole will be my fancy dresses on the bottom will be my shoes, sandles and roller scates. In the kitchen cobberds will be a baby dish, silverware, cups and glasses and boles and plates. The kidchen floor will be lanoleum. Heaters also and three telephones.
Check it out
Zander wanted to make his own blog...So here it is:
You can find it at zanderernst.blogspot.com. Right now only a few family members have access (I think), but if you would like to be added to the list, write me a note in the comments section (include your email address) and I will add you too!
You can find it at zanderernst.blogspot.com. Right now only a few family members have access (I think), but if you would like to be added to the list, write me a note in the comments section (include your email address) and I will add you too!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Going up to Seattle
We spent the whole next day in the water park. We were even allowed to use the park after we checked out of our room...so we did!
We went down all the slides and floated in the wave pool until we were water logged and ready for our next adventure.
Before leaving we checked out "Scoops" a spa just for kids under 12. It was darling! Here is Natalie sitting on the pedicure (ice cream sundae shaped) bench. The boys spent some time in the arcade while Natalie and I picked out our souvenirs. Next stop Seattle...
Dan was able to get a room on trade that was just 2 blocks from the Space Needle...so we walked around a lot.
We spent an afternoon hanging out at Pike's Place Market. Got some fresh berries to enjoy as well as a nice fish and chips meal. Dan also found some cool Scrooge McDuck comic books to add to his collection. The kids love it when he reads them his old comics.
Hayden had a ball splashing everywhere. He couldn't get enough.
We went down all the slides and floated in the wave pool until we were water logged and ready for our next adventure.
Dan was able to get a room on trade that was just 2 blocks from the Space Needle...so we walked around a lot.
Not sure what these cool structures are called but they are part of the science exhibit there. We took the Monorail to downtown Seattle and did some shopping.
Here are the kids and I posing on some of the sculptures near the Space Needle.
We spent an afternoon hanging out at Pike's Place Market. Got some fresh berries to enjoy as well as a nice fish and chips meal. Dan also found some cool Scrooge McDuck comic books to add to his collection. The kids love it when he reads them his old comics.
Andy and Taly drove down to spend the afternoon with us. We went up to the top of the Space Needle. That was fun...I haven't done that in years.
I think we had the most fun trying on all the sunglasses in the gift shop!
I think we had the most fun trying on all the sunglasses in the gift shop!
One night I stepped out and got some great night pictures of the Space Needle.
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