Kristin turned THIRTEEN yesterday. It's so hard to believe that we have a teenage girl in the house. With Ryan, it really didn't hit us...but with a girl...it surely hit home. I really don't recall my thirteenth birthday, but I do remember being a young teenager. She is so different from me. I was pretty boy focused, she is pretty centered on her friends, her books, and her walk with God. We are so proud of the young lady she is becoming. While there are still the typical things that go on in any teenagers life....we are very blessed as parents...and are very thankful that they are on a straight path.
Kristin had three longtime friends over last night. She invited Sydney, who we know from home school group, and Alexis & Tanya who have been around for a long time. These young ladies have been playing together through babies, barbies, and now it was pure "teenage girl" stuff. Music, nails, and giggling was the theme, and they had such a great time with each other. They started out with supper, and making mini pizzas. Kristin opened her gifts, and was so pleased with the gifts she got. She really felt her friends picked gifts that really suited her, and she said that is the most special gift...friends that really care. They danced, they did facials, they painted fingers and toes, and just had a great time being together. Bill & I headed to bed around 11, and we heard a few giggles after that, but they did great being quiet, and three staircases away was a good distance.
After breakfast, Bill, Ryan headed right out and got busy on the wood. Being the girls didn't get up until after 10, I stayed in and made breakfast for them, and then headed out. Ryan & Bill were cutting & splitting, so I hooked up the trailer on the tractor, and started loading wood. Being we got such a late start, I had to unload the cord that was left in the woodshed, so we could stack the new stuff behind it. I'm sure I pulled wood off the bottom back row that had to be 10 years old!!
We worked until almost 5, and then came in to get cleaned up. We are heading out to celebrate Kristin's birthday as a family. It's her pick for where to go. Not sure where yet, but we're off for a family fun adventure!!
Thursday (Oct 6) was one of Ryan's football games, and also Kristin's first photography class through 4-H. I headed to the game, while Bill went to pick up Kristin.
I arrived at the field just as the guys were coming out of the locker room. Ryan was chosen to be one of the captains for this game. He was pretty proud. I had no idea until the end of the game, or I'd have been pretty proud right there up front with him!! Regardless....this was a great game. Ryan played all 4 quarters and the improvement he has made is awesome. I give him tons of credit. The only football he ever touched before this was a nerf, or when Evan our good friend would toss the ball around with him. Football has never been watched in our house, as Bill nor I are into sports. I remember Ryan calling "Uncle Al" when he was 4 to find out the rules to basketball that he was watching on TV!! For him to be out there playing and having fun is a great joy to me. I was there through most of the first quarter by myself, and not having anyone to visit with in the stands, and no camera, I really got to watch what was going on. It was neat to see improvement, and a sense of pride in Ryan as he walked off the field...always watching to make sure we were watching. So cool!!
Kristin & Bill arrived, and Kristin shared some of her class, but she wasn't feeling well, as well as Bill, so they headed home at halftime, and left me to play with my camera which they brought from home (I came to the field straight from work). I found that I really need to work on my night pictures as well as the speed with which I am trying to capture. Always has been my week spot in photography. Guess I'm going to learn! It was a great game for Ryan, lots of play time, lots of pictures for Mom, and yes, I held my composure, and even remained seated when he was on the BOTTOM of a huge pile of guys!! The won 66-16.
We headed home, and Kristin & Bill were watching some TV....and Kristin & I chatted about her class. She was feeling better after having eaten, and was a flurry of "we did this, we did that..." She is one of the few with a point & shoot digital, so I think that I may break down, swap out my lens and let her take my SLR camera to class. She has been all over the place the last few weeks, in preparation of class, and after class last night & today, working on some of her pictures. These next three are hers along with the flowers at the top:
It of course has spurred me to shoot with her, so we had fun tonight after work, especially when she came in the house with the biggest chicken egg I have ever seen. WOW...I felt sad for the poor chicken.
Bill of course took my camera, and did a few pictures of his own...some turned out pretty fun...but some were typical Bill. I'll let you decide!!
Last but not least---I am GUILTY by association. Bill got his AARP card, and guess what came with it...one for me!! OK, so they can't know how old I am...they can't even spell my name right.
As the weekend is here...I know we will get some things done around the house, and maybe Kristin & I can take our camera's out and play some more. Look for more pics, coming soon!
Mid September on Wednesday, Bill suggested we take off for the weekend. We already had plans to go to Bend to see Charlie and spend the day on Sunday, and Bill offered to get us ready to go, as he was headed back to school the following week. We figured there was no way that we would get into the State Park between Sisters & Bend, but we gave it a shot. There was one site remaining. This is a park that has half tent sites, and half RV sites, so I figured it was a tent site. Further investigation proved it was one of our favorite sites!! I booked it, and Bill & Kristin got us packed to go. Bill came to get me from work, and we headed out HWY 126--while it was beautiful and a good grade for pulling trailer, it took us 2 1/2 hours from Eugene. Usually 90 minutes for us up 11% grade of Hwy 20. Probably the same amount of fuel!!
We set up and enjoyed Friday night, and had a good 'sleep in' on Saturday. We headed into Bend, and hit the TC store, and got to see Charlie and some of the guys for a few minutes. We ran some errands and then hit Pilot Butte and had our famous tailgate lunch. Back to camp later for a fire, and dinner over the fire.
Sunday we joined up with the TC crew for church,enjoyed a great service with them, and then headed back to tear down camp, and join the guys for the afternoon at the center. It turned out to be a beautiful weekend camping, and a great visit with Charlie.
The following week brought a pig roast at church. So much fun! You can check out the story by clicking here, which will take you to our church blog. You'll notice Bill in lots of the photos, as he got into helping with the pig!
On Thursday, the 29th, Ryan had a game. We see improvement each game as he gets the hang of things! Way to go Ryan...keep working! His football pictures also came back...nice job!
On the 30th, Bill's cousin Kathy (also known as Crickett) & husband Al came for the weekend from Texas. They were celebrating their 30th anniversary, and blessed us with a visit. It was so nice, as we've not had this quality of a visit since Ryan was 7 months old when we went to visit them in Maine. We've had short visits over the years at different family functions, but never get more than "how are things"...you get the brief 10 minute story of the highlights over the last year! It was so nice to sit around, visit, laugh and enjoy some time together. On Saturday, we had a leisurely breakfast at home, then took a tour of Sweet Home, visited the local waterfalls, McDowell Creek Falls, did some hiking through there, and then hit the local winery on Marks Ridge for some wine tasting, and beautiful scenery. We followed this up with dinner, and more visiting. On Sunday, we headed to the coast, where we spent a rainy day. We did enjoy lunch at Rogue Ales Pub House. Good food, great atmosphere, and a walk down through old town on the bay afterward. Too bad it was so rainy. We drove down the coast a ways, and finally parted with Crickett and Al in Florence. We are so happy they finally made it, and we sure appreciated the time they spent with us.
The rest of this week has found me either laying around, or in front of the computer. I've been home sick with a yucky fall cold, and determined to take care of myself this time as I am so afraid of pushing through like I always do, and ending up with pneumonia again. It was not fun, and it taught me a lesson in taking care of myself. It's been a lonely week,as it always is after company leaves.
