Sunday and Monday - Spring Break Ends

The kids and I attended the 0830 service at Calvary Temple. It is always fun to be "home" and this week was no exception.  My parents attend the 0830 service and we went out to breakfast with them and family friends - Jim and Jaimie- after service.

The kids and I went back to Mom and Dad's and visited while we waited for the girls to be done at their various churches - both serve as Children's Pastors.  Krista met us at Mom and Dad's and we headed for Valley River Mall to meet BreZaak. We spent the afternoon window shopping and talking as we walked. We had dinner together. We parted ways after dinner.

The kids and I went back to the hotel to pack up. Krista came with us. We may have begun a new addiction to the Food Channel. Alas, we don't have cable or television and I can't find the season to see which cook ends up winning at All Star Academy. ::snort::

We went back to Mom and Dads, but they were gone. We visited with Lori and waited for them to come home so we could say good bye.

We left the hotel on Monday at 0530 to head back to CA. I drove to Yreka and Arielle drove the second half of the trip home. I got the passes in the dark, rain and fog. She got the two lane "hwy" with semis and tractors. We laughed heartily at Samantha (Michael's GPS) which continued to tell us to watch for steep declines and sharp curves as we drove through the rather flat and predictable farmland of Northern California.

The  highlight of our trip was stopping for breakfast in Yreka at Black Bear's Dinner. Again.

An incident which broke my heart - I thought Arielle and I were sharing a moment of connection over deep worship - only to realize SHE was singing made up words about the song which was driving her crazy. So much for KLove. We will miss her when she moves out in June. Stacia continues to voice her determination not to leave home as soon as SHE turns 18 - she plans to live with us "forever." ::wink::

We were surprised Michael was home when we arrived. He was on quarters for much of last week and was home sick.

Happy Birthday Dad - Spring Break

The kids and I made plans to travel to Oregon to surprise Dad on his birthday back in early February. It worked out well for us that College Preview was the same weekend in the same town. LOL  Tonight, we headed to Roaring Rapids Pizza to meet up with Will (Brother) and Sherri, their son Drew, and their granddaughter Harmony. Bre was back in town and it was fun to see her and Izaak as well. Krista, our four at home kids, myself, and Nate (Brother) and Heather's two children - Mikhail and Nadia joined us too.  My parents and Lorri (cousin) came a bit later in the evening so we could "surprise" Dad. 

Stacia and Harmony on the Old Carousel

Zander prefers Pac Man

Dad and Sherri

Me, Dad and Will (brother)

Dad, Harmony and Will - 3 Generations

Dad and our present Kids - Stacia, Zander, Arielle, Nolan, Krista and Bre

 This is a fun shot! Dad with nine of his fourteen grandkids 

Nadia and Mikhael on left - Drew behind Krista

Mom and Dad

Arielle and Lorri

 We hadn't seen Bre all weekend - she was away at a Pastor's and Ministry Wives retreat.  The kids and I headed over to BreZaaks apartment to play Scene It.  It was a fun time to chill as a family.

Get Air - Spring Break - Day 7

Saturday morning Harmony was at Will and Sherri's so we organized some cousin time. What do you do when it's wet and gray in Oregon? You go to Get Air. Get Air is an indoor trampoline park. It was fantastic. The floors are covered with recessed trampolines, the walls are covered with trampolines and you can bounce to your heart's content for an hour - or more.  They even give a military discount. I forgot my real camera and had to settle for the phone camera - which didn't do a great job. We'll go back on another trip.

 

Sherri, Harmony, the kids, Krista, Mom and I made this trip.....if I lived here I'd be tempted to make this part of a workout regimen.

Out of focus - but gives you a sense of the room

 

Walking a tight rope over a trampoline

One of the favorites was a platform one stood on and jumped off of into a pit of foam squares. Nolan reported he couldn't touch the bottom. It was fun to watch them jump in and struggle back to the side of the pit. 

 

Trampoline basketball

Arielle

Nolan

This is a dodge ball room 

 

 Sherri took Zander and Stacia with her when our time was up so they could have more fun with Harmony.

The rest of us toured one of the duplex styles that Arielle and Krista may be moving into, and then headed back to hotel and home to rest up a bit and get ready for the evening.

Spring Break - College Preview - Day 6

 

We are very tired! Arielle spent the night fussing about Stacia stealing her pillows. Take a close look. If she'd put her head at the TOP of the bed she'd find her pillows. ::snort::

 

We dropped Arielle off at New Hope this morning for College Preview.  We're still processing. She has several ideas. I took the other three to Target (no sales tax here) for new jeans and shoes. SCORE.  We knew were back in Duck country.... 

We stopped so I could have a nice visit with Sherri (sister in law) and then we dropped by Mom and Dad's for a quick visit.  Our next appointment was back across town to pick up Arielle.

Arielle went to meet a potential roommate. Lori, my cousin, and I went to pick up Chinese food. We brought it to Mom and Dad's, the girls arrived, Izaak arrived, Nadia showed up and we had  dinner!

The kids played a round of Disney Scene It and now we're back at the motel settling in....too late to get cookies....

SPRING BREAK - ROAD TRIP PART 2 - DAY 5

We left California bright and early. I drove six of the hours. Arielle drove the final two hours. It took us nine hours.  The roads were great - other than the two semis that zipped in front of me without signaling...yes, I did honk. 

 

Note I left the seat in Michael's laid back position

 We stopped at a couple of rest areas but didn't really STOP until Yreka -  the halfway mark. The kids wanted breakfast at Black Bear Diners. We've noted we like the one in Yreka better than the one in Redding.

No photos - but we checked into our hotel. So happy to have one room free.  We went over and surprised Grandpa.

When Krista got off work she joined us. She was scheduled to work at a health fair at her place of employment, one of the local middle schools.  The school just happens to be the same public school where I went to 7-9th grade. Lots more bars but all else looks the same.  Stacia dutifully went from station to station getting her passport stamped. Here we learn that the food industry uses yellow, red and orange in their advertising because these colors make you hungry. LOL

 

Krista was assigned with safety and crowd control for the fire dancing. Believe it or not, we were informed this is good for your health. ::snort:: We got the sense they are used to preforming in much less clothing.

 

This man burned his arm and singed his hair...

 

This man caught his pants on fire - I.am.not.making.this.up!  The photos of his pants on fire had to be deleted - unfortunately he is into gangsta style and it showed much of his body I don't want to remember!

 

This performer is one of the science teachers at the school

 

 

We were totally wiped out and came home to sleep after the health and wellness fair. 

Spring Break - Road Trip

I suppose it's endearing, but it's starting to freak me out. Michael has taught Nolan how to change a tire, the chains and tools are in the van, the oil is changed.....and if we don't hit a "spring snow storm," we'll be fine.  Long time friends KNOW my record with passes and snow...and so I'm praying for nice weather...and no flights off  mountain tops. Seriously.

Nolan has been instructed that of the three adults going on this trip (Arielle, himself and me) HE is the one that stays awake. The significance being  WE are the drivers. He's riding shot gun and is tasked with talking - a lot.

Shoot! What could happen on a road trip???? ::sigh::

Bags are packed. We had enough hotel points  to get one hotel room free and we'll pay for the other - not the hotel we wanted to stay at....but on the other hand not the cheapest hotel either. I found one at 1/2 this price on West 6th and Michael said, "No."

The kids and I are heading to Oregon. Shhhhh....we may be surprising my Dad....but Mom knows we're coming....

For those unaware, the last really big road trip I took, without Michael, included a 9. earthquake, a tsunami,  communication black out from the family, and 8 days trying to hop a ride home. 

The chances of repeating that are VERY slim...and this time I have all the Gherkins with ME.....maybe that's why Michael is making sure I have tools, water, food, sleeping bag.... maybe it's why Stacia keeps asking, "Why can't we take the train?"

Arielle and I are confident. Krista does this alone - we've got it. It's time to do this thing -  get out there and have adventures. ::ye haw::

Spring Break - Day 4

Our Wednesdays are made for chapel...... CWOC treated us to a scrumptious breakfast at PWOC.... after studies we had a PWOC board meeting.

Michael went to the doctor and now has a couple more referrals - all part of retiring - and is on quarters for 3 days - not part of retiring.  He's got some bad crud....

After the board meeting the kids and I had hair cuts. The gal my appointment was with was having a longer than expected coloring....and so I had a gal who hasn't cut my hair before.  I've learned to say I want a "Mom Bob"....so I said that....and that has never resulted in razors and thinning and such...but there you have it....

I'm pretty sure I should quit allowing close-ups or at the very least shouldn't smile for them. ::snort::

The older three headed for PYOC. As Michael is sick, and we are leaving for five days, Stacia and I stayed home.  We talked about our day and then I worked on some projects I need to have done before I leave - Prot News and such.... and now I need to go pack....because I'm determined to load the kids into the van and leave at 0darkthirty....debating if I should plot a route or just put in Mom and Dad's address in the GPS and go.

Arielle will have a college preview day on Friday in OR.

CWOC = Catholic Women of the Chapel
PWOC = Protestant Women of the Chapel
PYOC = Protestant Youth of the Chapel
Prot News = Protestant Parish weekly bulletin/newsletter