WolfWii Fathers Day School's out Getaway

We took the chance this weekend to escape to the coast and celebrate the start of summer. It just so happened to coincide with Fathers Day. This is a really long post so if your interest in our family is only so-so you should probably stop reading right now. Still here? OK, buckle up because these are some good pics.

Our first stop was at the end of the Lewis and Clark trail in Astoria, OR. Astoria is a little town built on a hill overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River as it flows into the Pacific Ocean. You might remember it from movies such as Goonies and Kindergarden Cop. At the top of the hill there is a historical song and dance about Lewis and Clark and some Native American paraphernalia. This is a picture of the kids dinking around by a replica canoe. I'm not sure if it is a L&C canoe or a Native American canoe. I was too tired from the drive up the hill to walk over and check it out.

Kenny is getting a good look at the Astoria bridge that crosses the Columbia over to Washington, Addie is getting a good look at Davis' head, and Jackson is getting a good look at Kenny's bum.
Our second stop was in Long Beach, WA where we got to check out the 2nd annual Doggie Olympics on the beach. You might be able to tell from the pictures but it seemed more like the humans were competing than the dogs. They were always the first ones through the hula hoop tunnel and had to drag the dogs through most of the rest of the course. I would be surprised if there is a 3rd annual Doggie Olympics.

Uh oh, someone's in trouble. You can bet his younger brother has sand in his hair and undies.

Click to enlarge this one and you'll see the kids are practicing their Thriller dance routine.

This is a classic Pacific Northwest beach picture complete with long pants, sweatshirts, and a bunch of kids running for their lives away from a skiff of freezing cold water.

Luke loved the water and could hardly be restrained.

He did finally have to be rescued or he would have turned into seagull bait.

The house we rented was actually 10 miles north of Long Beach in Ocean Park. At the end of the street there was a cute little trail that led through the dunes out to the ocean in a more secluded spot of the same beach. This shot is looking back towards a few of the houses near the shore.

Sidnee and I finally broke down and bought a Wii. We pulled it out to surprise the kids the first night we were there. As you can see it was a hit and we have regretting buying it every day since. I do enjoy having another bargaining chip in the constant battle to motivate snotty kids to do stuff. "I'll take the Wii back to the store..."

Two of my favorite people.I think this pic should go on my Father's Day resume.

My wonderful wife and I.

I asked Sid to give me a thoughtful pose and this is all she could come up with. It should come as no surprise that Sidnee was voted senior class clown in high school.

Jack hard at work.

Poor Lukey.

My Father's Day rubdown. If any of you have ever received a rubdown from a 5-7 year old you'll know that I was going for quantity over quality here.

Davis and Luke enjoying some Father's Day smores.

A beautiful Father's Day sunset.

I just really like this picture.

I must say this was my favorite Father's Day ever. There were no distractions to keep me from spending time with my family and enjoying their company. Thanks to Sidnee for putting this weekend together. It was a blast.

All In A Days Work

Saturday was a busy day and I love those days. I love to work all day long and actually see the fruit of our labors. (maybe I should give credit where credit is due, I am going to be bragging a bit, just so you know). The day started early for me, I had a lot to do. While I was off doing the things I needed to do, my better half was holding down the fort! He did the breakfast and clean up plus kids dressed and beds made. Then he helped me cut up fruit for the Relief Society lunch, loaded all the kids in the car, got two birthday gifts purchased and wrapped and was out of the house by 9:30 am. His goodness does not stop there my friend, oh no! He went to the farmers Market downtown and brought back these for me! What did I do to deserve these you might ask? Nothing. He just loves me and all my faults I guess.

Later after all outings were done we began the work on the yard. Dan's dad brought over his new, all wheel drive, fully loaded pressure washer and that is where the dirt hit the fan. Daniel got dirty fast. I am sure if you asked him, he had a blast (ha ha, get it)?

I got to go out with my girl friends at night and he was still working outside. I told him I would be home in time to help with baths and bedtime. The kids go to bed at 8pm and I didn't get home till 8:40. This is what I came home to.......

A kitchen with all the dishes done,A yard mowed and edged beautifully,
the front step and driveway clean as a whistle, and looking like new,

the back yard mowed, pressure washed patio, and all clean and ready in case it rained in the night, and the playroom all picked up.

I don't know if you can see this but it is Davis in the window on the top bunk. The kids were all in their beds, clean, teeth brushed and tucked in for the night.

And this cute Hunk shoveling the sludge off the street. (notice the neighbor's yard behind him..... he mowed that too!) Let me just say we had a nice evening together. We watched a movie, ate marrionberry pie and folded laundry together.... it was so romantic.

Thanks for all your hard work and love for your family. Because of you, I have it all! (That is the end of my bragging. )

Luke Man Walking

We coaxed Luke into taking a few steps the other day but it was pretty short lived. Today he was a little more confident and cranked out at least five steps all by himself. We were having some technical difficulties with the video camera but we'll get it figured out tomorrow and post some footage.

I caught Luke peering over the keyboard the other day just trying to see what had monopolized his older brothers for hours. He didn't spend too long there as his brain is still young and not zombized (not a real word).

So the other night I was at the computer and it was around 9 PM. The kids had been asleep for about an hour. The next thing I know, Addie is standing right next to me with this silly grin on her face. I could tell she was only semi-functional/conscious by her glazed over eyes. I asked her if she needed to go potty and she shook her head. I sent her back to bed. Sidnee had been out partying (again) and didn't come home for another hour or so. When she went in to check on Luke, this is what she found...

Our psycho sleepwalker had climbed into bed with Luke and looked quite comfortable. Weird.

Portland Starlight Run

The Starlight Run is the first event of the annual Rose Festival in Portland, OR. It's a 5K (3.1 mile) run through the middle of downtown Portland. The run is the opening act for the Starlight Parade which also runs the same route beginning around 9:00 PM and concluding after 10. It is a "fun-run" in nature with all kinds of weirdos dressing up in costumes and trying to run the course. The picture you see below is from the Rose Festival website. No, that is not Sidnee in the coconut bra and no that is not me with the pasty white chest and green grass skirt. Sidnee has been running a lot lately and wanted to enter an actual race so I said I would do it with her. It was a really fun evening and the 250,000 people that lined the parade route were not intimidating at all. The costumes included a family dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Pacman and their kids as the ghosts. There were also numerous iPods and cross dressers running the race and no fun-run is complete without flashers in trench coats! Only in Portland (well, maybe not only in Portland but I am for sure not surprised to see it in this crazy liberal town).

A group of friends of ours were downtown that night for a birthday at a restaurant and decided to linger to check out the run and parade. Sidnee and I were hoping we could just do the run and not be seen by anyone we knew but it didn't happen that way. We passed them towards the beginning of the race so we were still looking good but the route brought us back by them a second time towards the end. I made sure to let Sidnee know so we could pick up our heads and knees and pretend like we weren't suffering. We ended up finishing the three miles in just over 33 minutes. One of them said they got a picture of us so I'll post it as soon as I get it.

Happy Birthday Luke!

Sidnee took care of the thoughtful/sentimental post yesterday so I will take care of the birthday pic post today. Here are a few shots of our darling baby boy from his birthday party yesterday. All the guests had arrived and he was still enjoying his mid-afternoon nap. You can tell by the look on his face in most of the pictures.

Who doesn't get excited about cute little Sesame Street books?

By the time the Mickey Mouse, twirling propeller, loud and obnoxious scoot bike came out he had started to warm up. Thanks a lot Ammie.

Kennedy was kind enough to help Luke blow out the candles. I'm sure he will find that as he gets older his sisters will have hot air to spare.

The frosting you see on the tip of his finger was about all he would do on his own. He had no interest in his cake and was, in fact, trying to fling off what little frosting he had on his finger. He gets that from me. Frosting is of the devil and I'm sure had no place in the great plan of happiness put forth in the pre-existence.

Happy Birthday Lukey!