Here are some of the pictures from the day:
Me and Nick playing Thomas, he got really carried away with track-building, clear out into the hallway!
Savannah and Ralph, goofing around after dinner!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thanksgiving 2008
We had a more quiet than usual Thanksgiving this year, it was really nice and we enjoyed the time together a lot. Nick and I even got in a good solid hour of playing Thomas the Tank Engine. We haven't done that for a long time.
Here are some of the pictures from the day:
Me and Nick playing Thomas, he got really carried away with track-building, clear out into the hallway!
Savannah and Ralph, goofing around after dinner!
Here are some of the pictures from the day:
Me and Nick playing Thomas, he got really carried away with track-building, clear out into the hallway!
Savannah and Ralph, goofing around after dinner!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Road Trip!!
Ralph and I haven't taken a vacation or even a weekend away since returning from Mexico in the summer of 2007. We decided it was long overdue so took a three day weekend and went to Ocean Shores. Haven't been there in a while and we had such a great time.
We took Beau with us for his first long trip in the car. We were a little concerned he'd jump all around or fall off onto the floor of the back seat, so we tucked a cozy blanket in the laundry basket, put him in on top of the blanket and hit the road. He didn't seem to mind at all, and went to sleep almost instantly. He woke up on the hilly curvy bit of road as you are nearing the cut-off for Ocean Shores and I thought for a minute he was going to be sick, but he made it just fine. Think he was mainly curious about the change in the ride!
We got to the beach just in time for lunch, so we stopped in at a restaurant we've eaten at before, Alec's, and Ralph had the razor clams and I had their great fish and chips. Yummy, then we shopped a tiny bit and checked into the hotel. It was right on the ocean and we had a first floor room with a patio so it made it easy to get Beau out for his walks, even though he didn't mind making a grand entrance through the lobby so everyone could ooohhh and aaaahhhhh over him.
We packed a backpack full of his stuff to reduce the stress of being in a strange place, even with us along. Being a rescue dog he definitely has separation issues, though we think he is bonding just fine he still gets a bit nervous in new situations. Once he settled into the room with his stuff and ours he was great!
The weather on Friday was stormy and chilly, so we only got in one short little walk down toward the beach before the wind and rain drove us back to the hotel. We settled in in front of the little fireplace and just relaxed and enjoyed the view!
Later we went to dinner in our hotel because it was literally a dark and stormy night and we didn't feel like getting out in the weather. We had a great meal, though the staff outnumbered the guests about 3 to 1, and those were just the ones we could see. No telling how many were in the back of the house! Might be a sign of the economy, or it might just be it was a stormy Friday! I had Butternut squash raviolis with toasted hazelnuts and Gorgonzola cheese and Ralph had oysters. Another yummy meal!
Our friends Bruce and Cherita joined us for breakfast Saturday morning and then we all took a long stroll down the beach. The day was beautiful, sunny and amazingly warm for November.
Beau was loving this new and unusual walk! He practically wore his little nose out sniffing everything he came across, and since it was stormy the night before there was a LOT to sniff! He was really fascinated by this big driftwood log and also by a crab that had been buried under the sand, and then a car drove over it and made it mad. It poked out from under the sand and was moving around and Beau wanted to get up close and personal with this nifty new critter. I kept him at a safe distance to he wouldn't get caught in this crabby crab's claws!
Later in the afternoon we went to Bruce and Cherita's hotel and got there just in time for a really pretty sunset.
They stayed at a resort/casino just up the beach from us, and the speed limit signs coming into the property are pretty funny, not 20 mph, not 25 mph, but 21 mph. As in Blackjack!
Then Ralph and Cherita did a tiny bit of pre-dinner gambling on penny slot machines while Bruce and I stood behind them cheering them on. We had a great visit with them over dinner at their hotel, Ralph and Bruce went for the prime rib, Cherita and I went for the sea scallops. Yum again!
Sunday morning was sunny but COLD. And though it was warm and toasty in our room Beau could hardly pry himself out of the king size bed.
Last but not least, pictures of us at the ocean:
We took Beau with us for his first long trip in the car. We were a little concerned he'd jump all around or fall off onto the floor of the back seat, so we tucked a cozy blanket in the laundry basket, put him in on top of the blanket and hit the road. He didn't seem to mind at all, and went to sleep almost instantly. He woke up on the hilly curvy bit of road as you are nearing the cut-off for Ocean Shores and I thought for a minute he was going to be sick, but he made it just fine. Think he was mainly curious about the change in the ride!
We got to the beach just in time for lunch, so we stopped in at a restaurant we've eaten at before, Alec's, and Ralph had the razor clams and I had their great fish and chips. Yummy, then we shopped a tiny bit and checked into the hotel. It was right on the ocean and we had a first floor room with a patio so it made it easy to get Beau out for his walks, even though he didn't mind making a grand entrance through the lobby so everyone could ooohhh and aaaahhhhh over him.
We packed a backpack full of his stuff to reduce the stress of being in a strange place, even with us along. Being a rescue dog he definitely has separation issues, though we think he is bonding just fine he still gets a bit nervous in new situations. Once he settled into the room with his stuff and ours he was great!
The weather on Friday was stormy and chilly, so we only got in one short little walk down toward the beach before the wind and rain drove us back to the hotel. We settled in in front of the little fireplace and just relaxed and enjoyed the view!
Later we went to dinner in our hotel because it was literally a dark and stormy night and we didn't feel like getting out in the weather. We had a great meal, though the staff outnumbered the guests about 3 to 1, and those were just the ones we could see. No telling how many were in the back of the house! Might be a sign of the economy, or it might just be it was a stormy Friday! I had Butternut squash raviolis with toasted hazelnuts and Gorgonzola cheese and Ralph had oysters. Another yummy meal!
Our friends Bruce and Cherita joined us for breakfast Saturday morning and then we all took a long stroll down the beach. The day was beautiful, sunny and amazingly warm for November.
Beau was loving this new and unusual walk! He practically wore his little nose out sniffing everything he came across, and since it was stormy the night before there was a LOT to sniff! He was really fascinated by this big driftwood log and also by a crab that had been buried under the sand, and then a car drove over it and made it mad. It poked out from under the sand and was moving around and Beau wanted to get up close and personal with this nifty new critter. I kept him at a safe distance to he wouldn't get caught in this crabby crab's claws!
Later in the afternoon we went to Bruce and Cherita's hotel and got there just in time for a really pretty sunset.
They stayed at a resort/casino just up the beach from us, and the speed limit signs coming into the property are pretty funny, not 20 mph, not 25 mph, but 21 mph. As in Blackjack!
Then Ralph and Cherita did a tiny bit of pre-dinner gambling on penny slot machines while Bruce and I stood behind them cheering them on. We had a great visit with them over dinner at their hotel, Ralph and Bruce went for the prime rib, Cherita and I went for the sea scallops. Yum again!
Sunday morning was sunny but COLD. And though it was warm and toasty in our room Beau could hardly pry himself out of the king size bed.
Last but not least, pictures of us at the ocean:
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Elf Yourself 2008
Send your own ElfYourself eCards
Here's Aly:
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/
More of Aly's family:
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/
The kids, elfing:
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Small world - twice in one week!!
Small World, Part One:
While talking on the phone with his Aunt Donna in North Dakota she mentioned to Ralph that she had a letter from a man here in Washington. The letter had been sent to the high school in her small town, the gentleman was looking to connect with the family of some of his high school classmates, one of which was Donna's brother and Ralph's Uncle, John. She shared some of the letter, Ralph found it pretty interesting, especially the part where the writer is from our little town here. Less than a couple of miles from us. Aunt Donna wondered if Ralph would call the guy and try to catch him up on family stuff. Sure, no problem.
Ralph called, left a message and a few days later the gentleman called back. They had a lively conversation about North Dakota in general and Ralph's mom, aunts and uncles specifically and in the course of the conversation Ralph asked him where else he'd lived besides here and there in his 93 years on the planet. Centralia. Hmmmm, Ralph asked him if he was related to the family that had the business on the Galvin Road? Yep, that was them. Turns out one of this guy's sons was one of Ralph's best friends in high school. Whoa! So they've decided they need to get together for coffee and chat some more.
Small World, Part Two:
So, we are walking Beau before taking off for a family get-together and as always, we let him set the course. At this one corner he invariably turns left or goes straight. This day he make a hard right and we follow along to see what the new adventure will be. Mid-block a tiny little fluff of a dog comes charging out of a driveway to our right barking and growling like he's a big guy or something and Beau just ignores him. I'm reaching down to shoo the little dog away. As I stand back up, there is my friend Sharone that I haven't seen in at least 10 years. Whoa! We both worked at Meeker Mansion, she following my tenure there. We did a quick little catch-up standing in the driveway. She's now a pastor and the little dog belongs people in her parish who live here and she was just dropping them off on their way back from a mission conference in Portland. Since we both had little time we promised to Google one another and have e-mailed back and forth since then.
Never know where the twists and turns of life take you when you are willing to make a simple phone call or change your course.
While talking on the phone with his Aunt Donna in North Dakota she mentioned to Ralph that she had a letter from a man here in Washington. The letter had been sent to the high school in her small town, the gentleman was looking to connect with the family of some of his high school classmates, one of which was Donna's brother and Ralph's Uncle, John. She shared some of the letter, Ralph found it pretty interesting, especially the part where the writer is from our little town here. Less than a couple of miles from us. Aunt Donna wondered if Ralph would call the guy and try to catch him up on family stuff. Sure, no problem.
Ralph called, left a message and a few days later the gentleman called back. They had a lively conversation about North Dakota in general and Ralph's mom, aunts and uncles specifically and in the course of the conversation Ralph asked him where else he'd lived besides here and there in his 93 years on the planet. Centralia. Hmmmm, Ralph asked him if he was related to the family that had the business on the Galvin Road? Yep, that was them. Turns out one of this guy's sons was one of Ralph's best friends in high school. Whoa! So they've decided they need to get together for coffee and chat some more.
Small World, Part Two:
So, we are walking Beau before taking off for a family get-together and as always, we let him set the course. At this one corner he invariably turns left or goes straight. This day he make a hard right and we follow along to see what the new adventure will be. Mid-block a tiny little fluff of a dog comes charging out of a driveway to our right barking and growling like he's a big guy or something and Beau just ignores him. I'm reaching down to shoo the little dog away. As I stand back up, there is my friend Sharone that I haven't seen in at least 10 years. Whoa! We both worked at Meeker Mansion, she following my tenure there. We did a quick little catch-up standing in the driveway. She's now a pastor and the little dog belongs people in her parish who live here and she was just dropping them off on their way back from a mission conference in Portland. Since we both had little time we promised to Google one another and have e-mailed back and forth since then.
Never know where the twists and turns of life take you when you are willing to make a simple phone call or change your course.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Ryan's mohawk
We went to dinner the other night to celebrate Ronnie and TJ's birthdays and little Ryan stole the show with is great mohawk! Green highlights even! Isn't he the cutest?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Julia and Rachel
Our friends daughters on their trip to the pumpkin patch! Beautiful little ladies! We don't get to see them often and are thankful for pictures! They are growing so fast!!!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Evan and Ryan trick or treat
How cute and adorable are these two??? Ryan was the Blue Power Ranger, and very, very cool. Evan was the cutest little skeleton ever!!
Julie making a final adjustment to Ryan's costume
TJ and Billie Jo in a pre-trick or treating snuggle
One of our neighbor's spooky little garden
Julie making a final adjustment to Ryan's costume
TJ and Billie Jo in a pre-trick or treating snuggle
One of our neighbor's spooky little garden
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