Snow! Snow! Snow!

Today was the day!It snowed all day, i don't think it stopped until about 4:00. I think I shoveled my sidewalks & driveway about 3 times! Clayton hoped that he didn't have school today, because it snowed. Sorry!
After school Connor started building a snow fort with his friends. it is pretty cool. They are making snow "bricks" out of my bread pans. I think it will take a little longer then they thought but it is cool! Claire loves the snow! She gets all bundled up & likes to ride her bike down the driveway, & try to stop, but of course she can't! It is really cute! Clayton likes to ride his bike in the snow & try to help Connor build a snow fort! He likes to jump on the tramp with all the snow too! I like to shovel the sidewalks before anyone can get the chance to step on the snow. I HATE to shovel after someone has stepped on the snow, then it gets smashed down & it is hard to do!(that is my little OCD thing, one of my few) I also love to watch the kids play!

Claire is also learning how to wink! I have it on video! It is so funny! i will have to figure out how to get that on the blog!

Snow Day!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Clayton has been busy!

OK! Last time Bill was home, he took Clayton to Office Depot. It is Clayton's FAVORITE place in the world! He is fascinated with office supplies! So they looked for a while & found the perfect stapler. I think that ever since Clayton started kindergarten, he has noticed all the things that his teacher uses, & he is amazed by them! So he got his stapler & a package of him "own" paper. Bill showed him how to make envelopes, so we have plenty of those & "books" (without any words or pictures) Some of the envelopes have a lot of staples & will not come undone any time soon! Next on his list is a stapler remover & permanent markers. I told him he would need to be 16 years old to get permanent markers, and I am not a big fan of the stapler remover! He goes through a "strip" of staples every day. I told him I could only refill it once a day!:0 It is fun to see him so excited about something so simple! It makes me try to look at what I need to make me happy! I think today it is a boy with his stapler!

 

Christmas Hula

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow? & Santa!

Today we were supposed to wake up to a HUGE snowstorm! A 4 out of 5. Well, we are awake & no snow. I need to learn not to tell my children the forecast, especially when it might involve snow! The only thing that made things OK was... SANTA riding on a firetruck- tossing out bags of candy! The kids heard the sirens @ about 8:30ish! So we stuck some clothes on & waited....for about an hour. I told them we were "SO Lucky to not have to wait in the snow!" When Santa came it was so cute to see kids come running out of their houses & to see everyone so excited! It didn't last too long & Santa didn't slow down much,but everyone was excited & happy! That's the goal. I love that our city does that!:)

Hairspray!!!!

It is true!!! Hairspray gets ink out of clothing! Yesterday before we went to the concert, Claire got a red pen & I don't know what happened, but it ended up leaking red ink ALL over her sweater( my favorite) We went to the concert, and by the time we got home I figured it was ruined! But... Thanks to the internet & HAIRSPRAY it came out! I was really excited about that!

Also on Monday,I was busy making Christmas things & I left to go pick up the kids from school. I put away my all my stuff & Clayton wanted to stay home. I debated for a while, then said OK! I was not gone long, but when I got home, Clayton was sitting on the couch with blood all over his hands! & in shock! I don't do well with blood & I kind of went into shock too! I figured out that he picked up a rolling cutter & sliced his finger! I took him to the Doctor. He ended up just having the sterilized strips put on& now he is as good as new. He did tell the Doctor that he "doesn't think he will ever touch one of those things ever again!" I have tried to get over the fact that I probably win "worst Mother of the Year" award. I am surprised how tough kids are.

Ryan Shoup & the Rubberband!

Today I kept Clayton home from school so we could go to the Ryan Shoup(Sp?)concert, that FM100 put on! I love to go & have been for the last 3 years! They put on a wonderful show & the kids love it! Someday I would love to go to a real show, I think it would be a lot of fun!
Bill & I also had a fun time in Washington a few weeks ago! It was very dark & cold! I remember how long the days were in the summer & it is very different in the winter! I would HATE to live there in the winter! It was weird to be back there without the kids too! I took some pictures of the forts that the kids had built. I think they are really cool!
We spent a lot of time @ the Funhouse this summer & I found out that the main lady that worked there, her name is Darleen, anyways, she was so great with the kids! She taught Kennedy how to make magnets, & how to play ping pong...So wonderful! One time she went off Island & bought Clayton sparkle pipe cleaners just for him! He looked at me & told me "Mom, Darleen is PERFECT!" I couldn't wait to tell her & I think he was right! Anyways, she died on an airplane from a heart attack! It is the craziest thing! She was only 33 years old & healthy! It was really sad to drive past the Funhouse, and know that she isn't there anymore!(we didn't tell Clayton,or Claire) I feel so grateful to know what we believe, that our families can be together when we die! I feel sad for people who don't have that knowledge!

Election Day!!!

This cold yucky day is election day! After we sent Clayton off to school, I explained to Claire that we were going to vote! I told her that we would go get a drink, and stop by the library(get her a book while we wait in line forever...)then go vote!
She was really upset,& as we were driving to the gas station she was crying & wondered"what kind of water we were going to use?" I had no idea what she was talking about! or why she was so upset! Then it hit me! She thought we were going to "BOAT" I listened to her & she was indeed saying "I don't want to boat..." She was probably wondering where we are going to "boat" & why, because it is not a nice day!)I tried to explain that I was saying "V...V...Vote" then commented on her great rhyming! She was excited about that!:)

better late than never

I know that our summer on Orcas was a LONG time ago, but I found these pictures of our flight & they made me really happy! I also really love this picture of all these starfish! I really think I need to live by the ocean! Enjoy

High School Musical 3 Senior Year!

Today Kennedy, some of her friends & us mom's went to see High School Musical 3! It was fun! If I remember right High School was NOTHING like the movie, but it was very entertaining, & I wonder how long it will be until the whole family has all the songs memorized! I am sure it wont be long! Connor stayed home to pass out candy & I took Clayton & Claire around the neighborhood! The McBride's surprised Clayton & Claire with a lego set & a My Little Pony for Claire! & of coarse full size candy bars! We also made homemade pizza! We love to hang out with them! They are a great family! Clayton thinks Tim(the dad) is one of his best friends! (Which I think he might be!)

Kennedy went trick-or-treating with her friends & came over later for pizza! Connor went to a party with the neighborhood kids. He said he had a good time, Then he got to have a sleepover! What better way to end a perfect Halloween?

"Starving" Pumpkins!

On Monday night we carved our pumpkins for FHE. As I was talking to the kids & taking pictures, Claire told me with a huge grin & a hand full of pumpkin seeds/mush that she was "starving" pumpkins! We had her say it again & we all laughed our heads off! Kids are so funny!
Connor was a wonderful help, taking on dads role of doing the actual "starving" He has really grow up!
The kids are very excited for Halloween! Kennedy & Claire are going to be Pirates & Clayton is going to be a Skeleton! Connor wants to pass out candy & then go to a Halloween Party! He is not into dressing up!

Connor's 1st Priesthood Meeting

This last weekend, Connor got the opportunity to go to the Conference Center with Marc,& Ryan! He had a great time. He wasn't sure what was going to go on & it did take up a lot of his Saturday!but, he was glad he went.
after picking him up @ the gas station we were driving home & I asked him what he thought? I asked him what his favorite talk was, and what did the prophet say...? Connor was very hesitant, & I wondered if he listened to anything. Then he said "I'm not sure I can talk about it." He wasn't sure that women could know what was going on, because there weren't any women! I had him call Marc & Connor asked him if it was OK to tell me what they said. Marc was surprised with his question, and let him know that he could talk about it! After that he had a lot of things to say. In fact I guess they talked about one of our relatives, I don't know the name but he had to have his leg amputated, and he still walked to work on the temple...anyways, Connor said the speaker looked up to his direction during the story & he knew that it was his family that they were talking about!

Hopefully next time Bill will be here to go with him!

Hula Concert (on Sep. 13th)

We had the girls Hula Concert on September 13th! I know that was a long time ago, but when I saw the pictures I knew I had to put them on here!

Claire was so cute! Every time her teacher would smile, Claire would raise her eyebrows up so cute! & you could see how hard she was trying to do the dance right! I am so proud of her, I thought she would be too shy to dance in front of everyone, but she did it & was wonderful!

Kennedy is also a great dancer! she doesn't have a problem with getting in front of people to dance! She knows her hula & can shake it! She enjoys dancing & is good at it! This month the girls get to preform their dances @ the Scarecrow Festival, @ Thanksgiving Point! They will be there over UEA if anyone wants to come see!

Now to see if I can post some more pictures!

Kennedy's Day!

Today was a day for Kennedy! She was student of the month! We had a little assembly with all 6 3rd grade classes. Each teacher picked one student, and they each said why they picked that student.
Mrs.Rogerson said some wonderful things about Kennedy, like how she tries her hardest to learn new things, and how she is very open to accepting when she needs to try something different. Also how she is so kind to everyone & is a joy to have Kennedy in her class!

Kennedy got a certificate & a free ice cream @ Arctic Circle! There will also be a picture of them in the hall until next month! We are proud of her!

I'm BACK!!!

Wow! Time has gone by fast! The kids are back in school & Bill is back in Washington. Kennedy has her braces on (top & bottom) with an appliance that I get to turn every night. Connor has just finished fall tennis & is looking forward to having time to "PLAY" with his friends! Claire gets so bored when Clayton goes to school & Clayton is figuring out that there are friends to play with, not just a little sister.

I will try to keep up on my blogging & I will try to take more pictures! I am in the process of changing my background, but I need help. You will see soon if I figure it out!

The Cutest Blog on the Block :: Free Backgrounds

The Cutest Blog on the Block :: Free Backgrounds

WOW! Never say Never!

OK. We are winding tings down & are getting ready for our trip home. We are leaving EARLY Sat morning.
We went to church on Sunday & were invited to FHE on Monday night. We went to the McDonalds house & it was Beautiful! We had a BBQ & it was fun to get together with everyone! I love how the members are good friends with each other & do fun things together. Anyway, Brent McDonald happens to own an airplane & loves any chance he can get to go up in it! So...after FHE we worked out a plan to go up in his AIRPLANE!!!! Tuesday night we met him at the airport a little before 8:00pm! (We could only take 1 kid & we had Connor & Kennedy draw straws...Kennedy won! but decided to go swimming with Grandpa) So, were off! It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen! He flew us around for an hour! all over the San Juan Islands, with the sunset & we found the whales! They were breeching, and it looked like they were showing off for us! I was speechless almost the whole time! we have pictures, but they will have to wait far our computer @ home! Bill even flew the plane for a while! I feel so blessed! This trip has been so much more that I could ever imagine! I am sad to have it end, nut I know we will never forget it & I am also excited to go home!
Yesterday we spent the whole day swimming at one of the homes that Bills dad "home checks" It is a beautiful house & the pool looks over @ the ocean, with the ferrys passing, the gardens are perfect with a wonderful garden and a lot of fun things to do! We had a great time!
We will see everyone soon!

By mistake! I got some pictures on the blog! Scroll all the way down!

I finally got to see them!!!

SO, almost a whole week ago...

Last Sunday we went over to San Juan Island to go to church. We had to get up @ about 5:00am, to be dressed & at the ferry landing by 7:00. Church started @ 9:oo, and the kids got to go to primary, & have the welcome song sung to them.(Kennedy & Clayton loved it, CLAIRE not so much) I ended up teaching sunbeams & Bill had an allergy attack! Connor got to enjoy his 1st young mens! There primary had a totla of 7 kids & 4 of them are the Primary Presidents own children. Church was interesting, then after we had a big pot luck lunch.

When we left church we headed out to Lime Kiln Point, where the National Whale Watching Park is. I have been there about 10 times & have never seen anything. (We went on my birthday & I had even said a prayer that "according to my faith" I would see a whale) Needless to say I saw nothing. Well, I thought "maybe...it's Sunday...We went to church....maybe" I asked the people at the lighthouse & they told me that they had passes by about 1 1/2 hours earlier & they might be back by, or thet will go around in their pattern that they do. I sat on the picnic table and stared out into the beautiful ocean! It really was nice just sitting there, then I satrted hearing my kids screaming that someone was in someones space, blah,blah! & we saw a bunch of boats stopped and in a semi circle.(a sure sign of whales!) but I didn't have any binoculars, & they were too far away. Everyone would say"Oh! I saw one! Did you see it?...." I don't know if anyone really did, so we took off. I was almost in tears(I was, but thanks to sunglasses, nobody saw me) We started leaving & out of our window we saw the boats again, & people standing on the side of the road. I told Bill to stop the car, I was getting out & I didn't care when he came back to get me!(the road is so narrow & there isn't anywhere to pull over) So I got out & Bill took off! I saw them! They were hard to see but I did see them! Then the boats started to move & I went to find Bill. Soon Bill came back & said"Kennedy saw them first! Then we all saw them up close! Right off the side of the side of the road!" We took off & they had moved on. again we went further dow the road & we saw them again! This time closer & it was AMAZING!!! It really was unbelivable! I didnt have my camera, but Bill took some pictures when I was off by myself! It sound silly, but it was a dream come true for me!
Connor finished his day camp, and we are starting to start thinking about comming home. We are leaving here on Aug 9 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BECKY!!!) & we are excited & sad to come home!

SAILING!!!!

This morning we woke up early, packed our lunch & met Grandpa down @ Westsound Marina. Today is the day we got to go sailing! Grandpa's boat is a 32' sailboat & it is beautiful!!! It is old but he & a buddy have done a lot of work on it, and the kids loved that you could go down underneath an lay down, eat @ a table & even go to the bathroom.

Our goal today was to catch crabs! We set out the crab pot with rotton fish, and set the cage down and went off sailing all around Westsound! It is amazing how powerful wind is! & how graceful a sailboat can be, it is also very exciting when you have to change the sails &everyone has to be involved! I could be out there all day!

About 1 1/2 hours later we returned & pulled up our crab cage! There were about 8 crabs! We had to measure them & make sure they were not too small & not female. ( I have no idea how to tell that!) We ended up with 2 crabs. & reset the pots & now we are headed back to see what we can get this time! I hope we like crab, because I think that is what we are having for dinner! Gotta run!

How long has it been?

So, I DON't remember how long it has been, but i think it has been a while! My mom & dad decided to make a rip out here! & we were all so excited to see them! I thing we have been here so long, it felt kind of weird to be the tour guide & not be " on tour".  We spent a lot of time at the beach, & one night Kennedy went to Anacortis, to spend the night with Grandma & Grandpa. That meant ferry rides & no competition with siblings! Mom & dads stay went too fast, & we are happy they came! 

   Bill took me to Victoria, Canada for my birthday! It was so beautiful! We took a 2 1/2 hr boat ride to get there & they were celebrating 150 years of "Beautiful British Columbia" so, there was a lot going on. Tons of street vendors, and fancy shops. It had been a long time for me to see a store like McDonalds, or Starbucks. We went to Buchard Gardens & saw the fireworks show! The gardens were amazing. We didn't plan enough time there, but we had a good time! The kids would have hated it!  A lady took our picture, and she dropped my camera. Now I am trying to figure out what I am going to do, I need a camera.... The kids had a great time with Grandpa! He took them swimming @ a house that he does his island watch. They have a wonderful house & a great pool & hot tub! They had picnics & got ice cream. I don't think they missed us too bad!

 We signed up Connor for camp Orcaila (a 2 week day camp) It is really cool & he is having a great time. He & Kennedy really miss their friends! I do too! We wish you could all come up here!

 While we were in Canada, Kennedy slept over @ a "cousins" house, she had a fun time,but she got bitten by a Hobo, or Brown Recluse Spider! we noticed a blister on her foot and she said it hurt. She was also not feeling well. We had a magazine with symptoms of spider bites & we knew right away that was what it was. She told the dad @ the sleepover that something had hurt her & he put on a band aid & sent her on her way. Bill gave her a blessing & we took her to the doctor the next day. The Doctor said it was a spider bite & of the 50 patients she has seen for spider bites,,, she was the first! She told us to watch it & come back if it was getting bigger, or changed color. It is getting smaller every day & I think it was a great experience for Kennedy to get a blessing, and see that we are not in this life all by ourselves. & the Lord will help us even with a silly spider bite! (that could have been much worse!)

  I am still trying to figure out the picture thing. but as my mom said" Pictures don't do justice!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR!!!!

Today is Connors birthday@ we started the day off with a little bit of rain & a 4th of July parade, on the 5th! This was a much more traditional parade, we even sang the National anthem,& we said the Pledge! (even the part "under God") They also had a little bit of candy! Grandpa came & we had a great time.

Bill is hanging out @ the Funhouse with the kids & we are meeting later for a birthday dinner for Connor later! Complete with Costco cheesecake! (Connors favorite!)

Yesterday we celebrated the 4th by going up to Mountain Lake, in Moran state park, and went out in the kyak( I know it is spelled wrong), the Grandpa built! The kids all loved it & I did too! I really need to learn how to get pictures on here! Tha lake was beautiful green/blue! & I think Claire loved the boat the most! I was surprised! She had no fear about tipping over & was so sad when we would bring her back into the dock! We had a rope tied onto it so we could bring the kids back!

After the lake & wonderful picnic we went home to rest, then off to fireworks @ Indian Island! We sat on the grass of Eastsound Park, and they launch the fireworks off of a small island! There were sailboats all around and a band playing! It was really cool! I could really get the hand of living here! Bill... not so much.

He can't stand all the hippies & "leftists" Oh well!

We have been here 2 weeks, and time is going too fast! We hope everyone is doing well & would love to hear from you! I just found out that my mom & dad are on there way up here! It will be great to see them!

Happy 4th of July (late) to everyone!!!

I have just a second @ the library. We went to church on Sunday, here @ the library & there were 13 people. including kids! It was interesting! especially(?) when it was time to sing the hymns. They broadcast church from another island & we listen to it on the phone. I need to work on my confidence as singer!!!!

The kids have had a great time @ the "Funhouse" where they can get online, make crafts, do science projects, and a ton of ohter things! in fact I have to go get Con & Ken right now!

I will find more time with a computer soon! We miss everyone, but are having a wonderful!!!! time!

We are getting the hang of things!

We have made it! It was a very long drive & I don't recomend it for everyone!, but I'm sure there were some memories made! (good & bad!)

On Sat. morning we headed down to the farmers market,& reserved our spot to watch the "Summer Solstice" parade! WOW! Was the interesting! Clayton was waiting for them to throw out candy, but as Eileen said "this is a bunch of nuts & berries group." We had a better chance of them throught out pot! I had Bill take some pictures, but I am not sure how to get them on the computer.

Sunday we went to grandpas house for a BBQ & we aere able to wash our clothes. It was a lot of fun to hang out with grandpa & the kids Love him!

Monday we headed for the beach & i found one in the "city" of Eastsound. It was low tide & we were able to walk across a sandbar onto another island. The kids found tidepools with a bunch of starfish! & tiny crabs everywhere! I think we found our favorite beach already & I'm sure we wil be spending a lot of time there!

The weather has been pretty cool (about 65) but today it should warm up to about 75!

If anyone wants to write to us you can @
Bill& Karen Dean
General Delivery
Eastsound, WA
98245-9999

We would love to hear from you!

& if anyone-(Heather) would send me a ward list that would be wonderful!!!
Until net library trip!

We are getting the hang of things!

Day before the big trip!

We have been waiting for this day for MONTHS!!!! Now we are down to counting down the hours. Kennedy told me that we could put her to bed "at like, 3:00. So I can get enough sleep, to wake up so early" We are planning on leaving our house @ 3:00am, and getting to Pendelton,OR by 2:30ish. And have plenty of time to run wild & swim @ the hotel. I will be surprised if they make it past 8:oo that night!

Even Bill is a little "giddy" It will be so great to get out of here for a while! The weather is too hot for Bill!