One Hundred and one Caches

Our goal is to find 100 caches by the end of the year.  We had 98 finds and decided to head out and see if we could find two more geocaches. We picked ones near Arielle's work so she could join the fun and still make it to work.

Do we look inconspicuous? 

I take random photos so passerbys think we're just crazy tourists and not geocachers. 

"Dressed to the Nines" - our 99th find.

 

 We had the coordinates of two more - surely we'd find our 100th.

It was odd to us that all of these were in residential areas - in people's YARDS. This is new to us. We're usually out at parks, woods etc.  Our next cache was titled, "For the Birds." It was a puzzle cache. We found it!  The owner came out to talk to us as we signed the log. This was also a first.  She gave us several ideas of other caches to check out in the area.

Our One Hundredth Find

Our last one was across the main road - but fairly close. We knew it was in someone's yard and our clue was "H2O."  Our gps sent us to a yard which had a pump handle for the mail box.....the gentleman working in the driveway didn't seem friendly and we were leery to start looking around his mailbox. It turns out the cache was across the street in a water meter......

 Our One Hundred and First Find! 

Success! We texted to see if Dad and Mom wanted to meet up. We didn't hear back, so we stopped by. Mom's house is Christmas central. We had a nice visit. Dad gave us little, tiny, teeny lights for our trailer tree.

Arielle headed to work. We headed home for dinner and Ishtar.....and spent some happy time watching the Carbanaro Effect You Tube Channel.

#WYFF Eugene, OR

 

Krista and Arielle worked today.  Krista enjoyed her last day of work  before her two week Christmas break.  Arielle works retail - there are no Christmas Breaks. ::grin::   Us five spent the day relaxing, playing Wii and window shopping for Fifth Wheels and Motor Homes.

We planned to make home-made pizza and then drive through a living nativity this evening.   What ended up happening was a bit different - but good.  Mom and Dad weren't able to come over. Bre had a dance recital for some of the girls in Kid's Rock - she invited Stacia to go with her. Arielle worked. Izaak is finishing up homework for a master's class. Both he and Bre are enrolled in a Master's program. 

Krista and I went ahead and made homemade pizza. We enjoyed a leisurely dinner, didn't feel like battling crowds so we delivered a gift for Krista and took advantage of the chance to view Christmas lights on the way. We came home to watch a movie and read a bit.  Perfect. 

This also happened.....Bre doesn't allow people to touch and rub her stomach. She said I could touch our little grand blessing. I touched Baby Girl and talked to her and she MOVED...she rolled over and put her bum up against my hands.  I moved my hands and she moved to find them again. The start of a fun relationship between Baby Girl and Granna.

Horribly fuzzy but too fun not to share!

 

It was such a BIG movement we could watch Bre's stomach roll and move.  It's fantastically great to be here to enjoy this fun first.  We would have run upstairs for the SD card and the real camera if we knew Baby Girl was going to entertain us. 

Yuuki approves of snuggly, rainy days in Oregon. 

Arielle got home from work and we enjoyed a mid-night chat before she and the boys watched movies and had popcorn. Evidently, working night shifts and college has turned our gal into a night owl - would never have seen THAT coming. 

Our feet are happy and content in Eugene, Oregon this Friday.

#WYFF (Where's Your Feet Friday) is sponsored by Fulltime Families. View more of our Friday exploits by clicking the #WYFF tab above. 

Magical Family Day

I have not taken near the photos I should be taking. I've  missed:

• Katie, Krista and Arielle - need a roomie shot. 
• The Progressive Dinner crowd. 
• Krista dressed in her outfit Michael brought from Afghanistan on her way to work. It's spirit week. She was Mallah.
• Arielle and Stacia snuggled on the couch - with me - watching "girl movies." 
• The Boys Christmas Shopping. 
• Dad in the back of a truck working on lights from the roof. 
• Mom and Dad over here for dinner and visiting. 

After everyone slowly got ready, we went separate ways.  We invited Mom and Dad to come over for Chili and Cornbread (one of Arielle's favorites) for dinner.  The boys went to get a van seat from Mom and Dad's garage and on to Christmas shopping. 

Arielle, Stacia and I headed to Winco to buy groceries for a few dinners. Arielle made my day when she asked if we could put left over chili in the freezer for her to eat later. She said she'd told her friends, "Mom is coming and we'll have real vegan meals."  I couldn't say no....and suggested a few other meals we could make and freeze for her and Krista to quickly grab (Veggie Pot Pie, Lentil Spinach hot pockets....).  We made enough Chili to feed us all and put these in the freezer...and Instant Pot and a crock pot full.  Yes, I DID bring my instant pot with me. 

We got home from Winco before the men made it home. We snuggled under blankets on the futon, watched The White Christmas, and ate popcorn. Arielle promptly fell asleep on my lap - it was magical. 

Krista got home from work, as Arielle was leaving for work. The kids played Catan - Krista dominated. We ate dinner. We visited. Mom and Dad went home. 

Note the "guard fish" on the corner of the piano

They're all playing Snow Board Kids now....I'm blogging...we're waiting for Arielle to get home from work.  

We need to make a plan for tomorow. Maybe a light show at Hope Chapel, or a drive through Nativity in Elmira, or just pizza and games here at the house. 

Whole-Wheat Drop Biscuits (Vegan!)

These were good! Not quite the fluffy goodness of the white, butter-filled biscuits I have loved in the past....but good. You won't taste the applesauce. These are very low fat - the only fat coming in the non-dairy milk. I added some Italian spices and GARLIC. This is another Happy Herbivore recipe.  These were easy to make in my tiny trailer kitchen - they should be easy to make in your kitchen.

For more yummy eats (some vegan, some NOT) click the "Yummy Eats" tab under the cover photo.

We're in Oregon

Over the river and through the woods....yep....it was a good call by Weatherman Nate and Jennifer. Thanks, friend. It was good for us to leave on Wednesday rather than Saturday or Friday.  The roads weren't bad - but there was a feeling that snow was going to dump at any moment.

It was 30* when we stopped for lunch.  We are used to snow in the mountains but its usually not down to the valley and the road. 

 

It was a beautiful drive. I had a hard time leaving our tiny home on wheels in CA - but it's best for this trip. We certainly make better time without it. ::snort:: 

We are staying at Krista, Arielle and Katie's home this week. When we arrived Mom was at the girl's home,  cooking for a youth group progressive dinner which was going to be popping in at any moment. We pitched in, then sat and ate and visited with the kids when they arrived.  Krista left with the gang for the next house. We caught up with Arielle and Mom. Dad came over for a visit. Krista got home. Mom and Dad left. Bre stopped by (she had AWANA earlier). We visited a few more hours.  It's good to be with the Gherkins. 

We've arrived early - so we'll try to stay out of everyones way until THEIR holidays begin! LOL The boys will arrive after Christmas. 

WINNER - WooHoo

This young man - an adult Gherkin - Jamin - submitted the first five pages of a novel he is in the process of writing/editing to the American Christian Fiction Writer's (ACFW) First Impression Contest.

He entered in the Speculative category. This is for those "novels in which the science fiction, the future, other planets, a fantasy world, or paranormal happenings are a major element of the plot or setting. This category includes speculative, visionary, science fiction, paranormal, futuristic, allegory, and alternate history fiction."

He is writing  a story of redemption  - one he began writing in High School. Over time hes' learned more about redemption, the world, and writing.   During 2015 he rewrote the book and is in the process of editing it.

He is thrilled to receive the feedback of the judges. We are withholding the name of the book as he is planning to enter the entire book in an ACFW contest and they do not want his name associated with the book when it comes before the judges.

The next step after editing and contests is shopping a publisher. Yes, he tried the "find an agent and sell the proposal" route. There were no takers. So, he wrote the book -  while breaking track and cross country records at ASU, earning a Master's Degree and pursuing his second graduate degree at Texas A&M.

Go Jamin!!!

I always knew you were pure gold - even when others said you'd never learn to read! You certainly proved them wrong. ::snort::

Shameless Mommy Bragging moment - but HEY - get over it. I'm allowed a few moments....I do have nine children that should afford me more than the average bragging moments as needed. 

We're Moving Tomorrow

Beautiful morning walks at Beale are the norm. Yuuki often has to drag me out -  but I'm always glad to have gone.

It's been frosty and COLD - I need to find some winter clothes or move south. 

Speaking of WEATHER - there are hints and predictions of a storm moving in on Thursday and staying through Saturday.....percip down low and snow and ice on the passes.

Our plan was to get two weeks of school done this week, play with the S girls on Friday and leave early Saturday a.m.

This morning we began to seriously consider going to OR tomorrow. THEN we REMEMBERED Michael's meds weren't due in the pharmacy until Thursday afternoon. They have to order it and it takes 3 days. They won't order it until we're the exact days out AND Michael cannot miss a day or get it filled at Walmart in OR.

We prayed and kept moving towards leaving in the a.m.

Late this afternoon Michael decided to stop by the pharmacy and see if they had gotten the drug in. He requested it yesterday. We didn't expect them to be in, but hoped if they saw him they'd call us the minute it came in on Thursday.  THEY WERE IN.....and so.....

We are changing our plans and leaving in the a.m. It's been a whirlwind of a day.  We'll only get one week of school done this week - we'll take a couple of books to work on while we're gone and it will all be fine.

It will be great to be traveling again.

It will not be great to leave our tiny home behind - but we're leaving it behind this time for a variety of reasons.

It will be great to see Mom and Dad and the adult Gherkins. Three girls live in OR - two boys are going to meet us there before we come back here and Jared's plans are up in the air.