Weather Report?

Mom: So everyone in Oregon & Washington are predicted to get snow except us?!
I suppose California is sunny and warm.

How many inches does Prineville have? Or perhaps your power is out and you have created an igloo inthe backyard to keep warm?

Does anyone know their Christmas plans yet in terms of what days you are planning to be here. It would help with my activity and meal planning. Grandma Far Away already has the pool reserved for the 26th from 10 to 11:00, I think.

I was thinking of doing theme days like:
Asian Day: Take out Chinese food, pingpong tournament and sumo (pillow) wrestling.
Latin America Day: Soccer match, Tacos and ???

You get the idea. Maybe swimming could be Australia Day but I'm not having kangaroo.

I'm getting excited, but snow would really put me in the Christmas mood.

Greyson - say "Merry Christmas" to the Rudd clan from us.

Thanksgiving and Christmas

Well I had a fun time at Thanksgiving and the dogs didn't bother me. I was sick most of the week however so that wasn't much fun. But at least my mother was there to take care of me. I am feeling almost back to normal. I am probably the only one that hasn't been Christmas shopping yet. I was looking over my schedule for the holidays and I think I am going to take from Dec. 23rd through Jan. 1st off. I will probably be at mom and dads for 4 day of that. We are going to bring Ada to Sweet Home but plan on dropping her off at Field of Dreams for a slumber party. If any other dogs need a temporary home they could share a kennel room with her. She would probably like the company. Greyson and I may try to just stay in the Sweet Home motel for a couple nights when everyone is there. It is just more fun when we actually get some sleep. See you then.
-Mel

giving thanks

Had a great tg. 3 dogs indoors = 1 toddler and consequently round the clock dog issues. Got the old geezer dog with limited excretory controls (doberman). Got the little fox terrier, full of vigor, speed, and tennis ball obsession (also likes to piddle as a show of submission), and got our dog (Rhodesian ridgeback) big and strong and young, who with one whip of her 87 pound frame, literally knocks the tee tee out of the other two. It was quite the ordeal. The whine of the carpet shampooer is a fixture in my psyche.

Thank you for that, the pinochle trouncing, and the always delicious meals and hospitality. It was wonderful.

Grandma Faraway gift ideas

I think this would make a good subject. How about you Grandma??

white elephants

Jen was talking about bringing white elephant gifts, and I wanted to know the details like one for each member of the family - things around the house (gently used or bought )like an elvis wall clock, tacky but possibly funny or even wanted by some member of the family... am I getting this right? Are we opening these the day before Christmas??

Let us know and we'll come up with some good stuff.

the dogs by Christian

is it okay if I brought Greta for Christmas? I will pick up her dog poop and clean up any mess she makes,she will stay out side or in the garage if you let her come that is most of the time and if Marauia gets to go and Greta doesn't? Greta has this question - do you like there type not hers, and if you do, you just hurt her feelings. from Christian and Greta P.S. happy decisions

changed my mind- christian

Instead of x box March madness 2006- I want College Hoops 2k6 and it's about $30. And you're probably only going to get that deal at Wal Mart. I even want this more than Star Wars3 x box !!!

Christian
P.S. Happy Shopping

Christmas Wish List

The official Christmas wish list for Tim is as follows:

Any type of OSU Beaver apparel or merchandise
Scandisk Cruzer Titanium
I am always into the latest technological toys
Slippers - size 10 or 11
Wet-Dry Shop-Vac

That is the best I can do for now.

Tim

lunch time

I read these comments (Greyson’s leg hair and women’s rights) at my lunch- and I'm convinced my family is insane!  My fortune in my fortune cookie today says "you have great physical powers and an iron constitution"...not feeling it though.  Basketball has started and motherhood/teaching has not...so I'm ready to collapse.  I hope everyone has a great weekend- if I don't get a chance to blog again until Monday.  Evolution huh...don't get me started.  Thank God (:)) I don't live in Kansas.

greygerbil list

hi guys,

wanted games for xbox 360:
condemned: criminal origins (horror game)
call of duty 2
amped 3

more affordable:
vintage army ammo box (the tin kind with the cool closures and stencil on the sides). I'm designing one this term.
drum sticks
cymbals
copy of moby dick
Anything by charles dickens
Classics-best all-time fiction of any genre (I want to experience the best writing available)

outrageously priced:
snowboard lessons/rentals
more stable bench press bench (old one is getting a little scary)
epson 2200 (or whatever the latest is, which also happens to be cheaper)
a trip somewhere
double bass drum pedal
new coat (low profile–not too puffed, attractive, most importantly warm)

Hi everyone; wanted to say Hi from California!

We're all fine here. We've got a a brand new mall in Simi. It's all outdoors and called a "town center". It's just beautiful with koi ponds, statures, play areas, food and plenty of places to sit and people watch. Mom/Grandma/ Ruby and I walked it last Saturday.
I've never seen a mall with so many bences, tables, rocking chairs , not to mention a large two-sided open fireplace. Can't complain about the weather; in the 80's during November isn't bad.

Michelle and her husband just got back from visiting her sister and his fiance in Chicago. Their wedding is next June, and everyone is excited. Wish you could all join us. Hope to convince Mom/Grandma to go with us. She's very hesitant, even though I would fly back to Chicago with her and Michelle would fly back to California with her. But she is a reluctant long-distance traveler. She is Stephanie's only grandparent, so hope we can talk her into going.

So fun to read your entrys and the love in my brother's family is so obvious. Talk later. And if you ever feel that it is imposing to have your notes being read by me or grandma, just let me know. I'll understand.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving..... I know we're thankful for our family.
Fondly, Chris and Phil

remembered one more christmas item

Brown belt and black belt- with texture but not other colors…I need XL in women’s – most gap pants are low waisted so the belts have to be long.  I’d like something fairly nice quality because I bought one from Walmart- and have not been happy with it at all.  The one I got from Nordstroms Rack I wear all the time- but it’s got three different colors in it- and I’d like 2 that are just brown or just black.
-Jenn 

Melanie's wish list

Well, I feel sorry for who ever has me since I can't think of much that I really want. The one thing my father might enjoy shopping for might be a drill. The last project I did I had to use a screwdriver. I know the cordless are way to spendy but a cheap corded drill would be great.
As for my secret Santa:
-I like earrings, maybe some med/small silver hoops of some sort, just not too gaudy. They don't need to be expensive at all but good enough that they don't make my ears turn red and itch.
-I would like the Tae Bo workout that Traci says is good (check w/her to see which one). If you have a DVD burner like Greyson you could make that a pretty cheap present.
-I would like someone to reinforce my front porch so it is strong enough to hang a swing from.
-Any of the following games (board not video):Check out http://www.boardgamegeek.com/rankbrowse.php3 or
http://www.funagain.com/control/productaward/~award_year=2005/~award_type=IGA/#pagecontent
(I don't want Puerto Rico as we play that at some friends and want a different but similar game) There are lots of others for example:
2 Caylus 8.38
3 Euphrat & Tigris 8.35
4 Power Grid 8.16
5 Princes of Florence, The 8.16
6 El Grande 8.11
7 Macher, die 8.08
8 Wallenstein 8.02
9 Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage 8.02
10 Game of Thrones, A: A Clash of Kings Expansion 8.01
11 War of the Ring 7.99
12 Age of Steam Expansion #1 - England & Ireland 7.99
13 Paths of Glory

I will keep thinking on other ideas and post them when they come to me.
-Mel

My (Dad) ideas so far

It appears that Mom has been listening to some of my ideas about Christmas gifts for "me" from "you all". Anyway I want someone or all to create CD's from your own collections in the following categories: (1) LOVE SONGS (rock)- AS MANY AS POSSIBLE GIVEN INFINITE PREPARATION TIME.
(2) DO WOP SONGS - SAME
(3) COUNTRY - Love songs, cheating songs, Ronnie Milsap, George Strait, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc,etc. If you decide these are good ideas please remmber my hearing is going to the dogs so really complex (loud) and indistinct songs are hard for me to pick out the words.

My daughters gave me some of the above, but over time I ruined all but one by hiking and mowing with a CD player and finding that CDs that rub scratch. I threw the old ones away but Tim says that now you can repair them and I saw an ad where they can be covered and played with the protective cover on!?

I thought this would be great gifts that shouldn't cost hardly anything, totally personal, and I would be sooooooooooooo happy to have for Christmas.

Here is another idea: You guys know the large floral or blue mug that I drink coffee from are my favorites, BUT I have to reheat my coffee every couple of minutes in the microwave because I like it relatively hot and it cools down to much; so it is up and down, up and down. back and forth to the microwave.

There is a Samsung CD/VCR player at Costco that I have had my eye on. One thought we have had is for the kids to watch CDs/VHS in a warm garage this Christmas. Have mounted a 27" tv already.

Here is another idea that probably appeals to no one: gift certicates for "weed pulling in flower beds at Christmas". Great concept huh?!

How's this: a gift certicate for putting on four tubes of moss kill/30# of dry detergent early spring along the ridge lines of our house. This is a difficult strain for me. Perhaps if I start working out I can get some strength back and the new pills Traci got me to get from my doctor have really helped with the jerking and shaking of the hands. (I am a much faster typist now). Wished I had had in my teens, of well.

How"s this: A load of hemlock barkdust. Hemlock doesn't give people shivers.

How's this: Brain could rototill back by our fence. I probably spend $100 each spring to do this counting rental and truck gas to Corvallis (plus this is an almost all day job what with renting and driving, and rototilling). Brain you should never have shown me your rototiller, at first I thought it couldn't possible do "the Job", but actually it was light enough to be manageable and did very well here and at Traci's and Melanies garden.

How's this: Helping me design railings for both sides of bridge across creek, I purchase materials and we build together.

How's this: Purchase and plant a small ($5) rhody for back fence; one died of our original planting.

How's this: A gift certificate to Home Depot or Wal-Mart, my two favortite stores.

How's this: Move our birdbath in back to a better location and level. The birds seldom use and does not stand out.

How's this: Pegboard holders for screwdrivers, redo my pegboard and tools, or something like that.

I am going to update this list with more (hopefully really cheap ideas) of things I would really like that give people freedom to personalize.

traci gift ideas

The Who's Ultimate C.D. collection.
Black leather tall boots. (Riding Boots or small heels.) Sz.9
Fake or semi precious jewelry. Sz 6 ring - necklaces - earrings - any style to dress up a sweater, Ross has some fun stuff. Antique looking or blue, emerald, turqoise, etc.
sweats or workout shorts/cute tops. sm/med. on bottoms. med on tops. Make sure the sweats won't shrink or are talls.
Slippers sz 9 pastel pink or pastel aqua or white or a combo. Think light!
Fake nails - the "natural" sized kind. Is that an oxymoron?

Gift ideas for Mom/Janice/Grandma

I am hooked on sudoku and I see they make a little handheld one like Grandma Faraway has for solitaire.

Also, my t-shirts are all pretty shabby with fraying collars and holes in various places. It would be nice to have a new one and be able to throw some away. These can just be the utility work out type. A men's XL usually fits.

I would like someone to fix the TV remote in the bedroom. You have to push one number less in each place value to get the channel. For example, if you want channel 22, you have to enter 33. If you want chanel 8, you put in 9. If you want channel 45, you put in 54. I'm quite good at it now, but I think there must be a way to fix it.

I need more dumbbells beyond the one pair of 10 lb. ones I have. I'd like a 5 lb. set to do shoulders or a 14 lb. set for biceps.

I'd like a new charm for my charm bracelet.

Also, I used up all of my bubble bath. So any of that type of thing.

I have a pair of regular pull-on slippers but I can't find the pair of slides that Jennifer got me a year or two ago. In the winter I leave those by the side of my bed so I can slip into them if I have to get up in the night. I wear the others for serious walking around the house.

I would like a business card designed for me, but that would probably be too expense to have done by a professional.

I'd like a supply of small white towels to use while exercising.

Most of all, I am hoping my family will travel safely and enjoy each other's company at Christmas.

Grandpa Gift Ideas

LDS is interested in CD's - the more the better. Of course, I wants country, "hip hop" (I don't know what that is) and the golden oldie stuff from the 60's & 70's, perhaps even late 50's. He imagines himself listening to tunes while he works out. I'm hoping someone out there can just record some rather than actually purchasing. I'm not suggesting copyright violation, mind you.

wish list for Jenn

I want to try out that exercise machine- I’d like to find one that is sturdy- but simple enough to fold up and roll under something or behind something.  We don’t have much empty floor space- but I want to get into a regular exercise routine.  Back to the original reason for this message- for my secret santa:  some ideas

I’d like a dutch oven type pot- it should be able to sit directly on a burner and be large enough to cook a meal for 6 in it.

I’d like clothing- any pants, sweaters, etc….as long as they fit- I’m a 16 ultra long pant (38 inch) and a tall XL tops…not an easy task to find.

I’d like car seat covers that have bags/accessory kids stuff that hang from the back- for kids to put their garbage, toys, books, drawing stuff etc.

I’d like comfortable shoes or boots- size 12 that are brown.

Most of my items are over the budget unless found on sale- so I’m trying to think of other smaller items…I’m always in need of mascara, oil of olay lotion for my face,  any thick nice XL ¾ length sleeve shirts- preferably blacks, reds and whites for school colors. 

Well that’s a good list I think.  Brian will be posting his in the near future.

eco footprint

I took this little 2 minute test last summer and it really changed my thinking. Check it out and let me know what you think...

http://www.earthday.net/footprint/info.asp

an elliptical exerciser

Mom really wanted an elliptical exerciser and I enjoy planning and shopping, so ..... I diligently read articles from consumer reports on home gym equipment, specifically elliptical exercisers, visited manufacturers websites, called excercise equipment stores, dickered for best price, etc. Then Jan, Grandma Faraway, and I drove to Salem and tried out different models in two different brands recommended by CR. Janice didn't want handles and I wanted something sturdy (in case I should do any exercising) and so we purchased a Precor 21i which was one big step up from what I had been researching, but that is OK with me because I felt comfortable on it and Janice seemed happy too. We are waiting for it to be shipped to Salem to pick it up. Most of today I spent shopping for a horse stall rubber matt to go under this equipment, bought a 27 inch tv for the garage, a wall-mounting bracket, and cable to connect to our splitter in the garage to it. Tomorrow I hope to drill the holes and attach the bracket and then Jan & I can lift the tv into place. Love, Dad

puffy coat season

It's time for puffy coats. I see potential for an obnoxious puffy coat competition. Any takers? Maybe the winner could get the obnoxious puffy hat

brother-in-laws

Greyson makes me laugh.

rudd list

Ada: the new "Ridgeback Fantasies" squeeky chicken. It's all the rage. It's the ridgeback tickle me toy of 2k5.

dean family wish list

Gabriel:  GI Joe Sigma 6 toy, Conquer (squirrel vs. teddy bear  X-box game), GameBoyDonkeyKong game, nerf football

Nicholas:  how to draw Manga, Sigma 6 toy, lego set star wars, nerf balls used in PE (dodgeball)

Emma:  dora stuff, care bear read a story, my little pony, I’ll think more on her later

holiday shopping thoughts

Alright, we'll try this again. Just humor me. I like to get my shopping done before all the chaos starts. Make a list knowing it could quell a full blown panic attack. It's like starting with the charitable spirit early.

Tuck's list
dodge balls - the yellow ones that are soft that they use at P.E. ( Grandma Jan will know)
Nerf Football
WOW 2002 Christian Hits C.D.( MY favorite I've scratched from listening too much.)
Halo 2
Skateboard
Test Drive X box game
Light Saber


India's list
Kitchen toys with play food
joke book
Jeans from Old Navy Sz 10 slim - med. to dark blue
Rollerskates sz. 4
Home Decorating book with lots of pictures, like at Home Depot, etc.
Cat toys ( For all four of her babies )
Bubble Bath
Cranium for kids

Christian
The old Guesstures game...not the dvd one
Madagascar DVD
Pass the Pigs game like Aunt Mel has
Light Saber
March of Maddness 2006

water conservation

So gardening by the yard featured a potential solution (at least partially) for folks who are experiencing massive summer water bills. It involved a system of water collection barrels at the gutters. It was so smart. Some folks had one barrel, but you could really link as many of these in a sort of series as you want. When they fill, a simple bypass method can be used. Now what was really amazing about this is that a half an inch of rain yields either 200 or 400 gallons (on an average sized roof). This not only conserves water for when you really need it, saves money, saves fresh drinkable water, but it also relieves a tremendous strain on the sewer system. Larry, I really thought of you in particular on this.

staying in portland

The whole Porter clan will be spending Thursday and Friday night at the Oxford Suites near Janzen Beach. We're going to support our V.B. team at state. If any Aunts or Uncles or cousins want us/our kids to come visit let us know your schedule. Our hotel has a pool and hot tub! Tim and I will go to all the games, but the kids might get bored and want to play with their cousing. And you don't have to take them all. It might be cool for India is she had some "girl" time by herself with her relatives without the boys there. Is Ada busy, because India has some rubber boots she wants to try out on the trails.

Let us know and we can make some plans.

traci

And More Applesauce

Dad bought 5 bags of apples and we (he, Grandma FarAway and I) made a bunch more applesauce. We filled up every spare plastic container we owned between us. I don't dare have any leftovers in the near future because I have nothing to store it in.

I don't think this batch is quite as tasty as the last. I don't think the apples were quite as flavorful. Still, its much better than anything one can buy in a store and the apples were just $5 a bag.

I have mopped the kitchen floor twice but there are still sticky spots.

I'm trying NOT to think about snow. I always get disappointed if we don't get any.

Mom

gift ideas

If everyone could post some of their gift ideas, including kids since Tim lost all of the cousins slips, it would be very helpful. Grandmas and Parents please put your small and big wish lists too. I'll post my families when they get back from Church. Tuck and I are playing hookey since he still has a bad cough.

Tuck broke our fancy dining light with a bouncy ball, and India hit the living room fan light and broke a big piece of it last week. I'm not sure what her weapon was.

I want snow, but all we're getting is cold rain. Not much else is new. Trying to muster the energy to get ye old family picture taken. I finished off the pumpkin icecream and now am ready for the peppermint candy seasonal flawor.

How is Katia?

The Dean family woes

I had to smile as I read Traci’s or soggy pete’s day in the life with children.  Couples without patience and a good sense of humor- really should think twice..huh?   Emma has the flu….but with a dose of medicine is just well enough to cause trouble and be cranky.  She refuses to eat anything but candy- which is in ample supply in the boys’ bedroom after Halloween.  Kalena has taken to a high pitched scream as a general mode of communication- happy, sad or curious.  She’s just tall enough and strong enough to pull over chairs and stools- and all that gets stacked on top.  The big white plastic gate is up taking up a good portion of the living room after she reached for the pretty fire, leaving her with a nice blister on her thumb….(and just for the record- mom was not home at the time).  The boys are both having their dental/orthodontist night mares.  Nicholas had four teeth pulled and insists on the use of gas- adding an extra 50 dollars not covered by insurance with each visit.  Gabe has those lovely big front teeth- is this a Shull or a Sharp gene? He still has not reached the age where they’ve wanted to start the ortho work…Gabe has his own set of daily struggles with me though. He got a new kitten from the shelter- the first one he picked out (even after four hours of looking/trying to convince him maybe this wasn’t the most affectionate cat)…Boris-the one hundred dollar kitten- (now named Hunter) came home and promptly began to sneeze the next morning (like 80% of the shelter cats we looked at).  To top that event off- a student just had their cat give birth to a litter of FREE kittens- that were quite cute, friendly and not sick.  My play by play is not sequential- just high lights.  But I have to say I’m so thankful for each of my children…I think they are some of the cutest and brightest kids around.  When Emma isn’t telling me “she doesn’t like me” …she’s wanting to read stories, play make-believe and be my cleaning helper.  Nicholas’s reading teacher just visited my classroom and told me he is the nicest kid (her daughter Courtney- he talks about quite a bit…hmmm) and he’s the one who likes to just hang out with me, in the hot tub, up stairs on the couch…and reminds me that “he’s the one I’ve loved the longest”.  Kalena…well she’s a baby- and I’ve got that strange genetic program that dad thinks I should be frustrated by…but instead relish- that makes me like to just spend time holding and smelling her- that is when she will sit still.  Gabriel…the one that takes some true creativity in parenting---he and I have been working on our science and math challenges together.  I don’t have to ask about his homework- he’s proud of being in this special math group and I have to say the latest assignment on a magic square- had me stumped.  He lives his life with emotion- so I see the love the brightest in his eyes- and of course the defiance.  I announced the other day that the “family” would attend the Homecoming football game- no choices in the evenings events- he responded- what happened to my freedom.  I’m especially thankful for such a supportive husband- who has made dinner each night this week- and seems to know the right way to respond to Gabriel.  Well I should be grading papers.  So I’ll get back to the grind. 

Do-over! Do-over!

So when a person, a couple reach that stage where they think having a family would be a good idea, I want to go back there. And I want to travel the non-children route.

I took the children to get their head gear and all that, and Tuck has been sick, so we propped him up in the back of the van and took him with us. Tim has homecomeing week and so I get stuck with all of them. Then Tuck throws up in the van...not something we expected since his symptoms were mainly fever and a cough. Then we ride in this nauteous smell all the way to Bend and back. After we get back home, India has to go to the dentist and get Six teeth pulled, and her front gum slit open to make room for her other big tooth to come in since it's about a year behind. That's five shots and the aftermath of "how can you let them do this to me, your daughter. The pain mother! And now I have no teeth! How could you let them?!. We walk to the van, her mouth filled with gauze, and after a long conversation I convince her that it's better to get those teeth pulled because they were rotting, and two of them were keeping a big front tooth from coming in. And really you couldn't see all those baby teeth because they were hidden under her lips, (that's if she didn't smile) and so she's not happy with me, but thinks socially she might survive, "even though they've already teased me about missing so many teeth." And I'm thinking she'll have to chew everything with her four back teeth for a while, and how that might be interesting, but not sharing that with her. Then we go inside, and Christian is impressed with how many shots she endured, but says, "you've got no teeth now." and I shoot him the evil mother glare, but it's done. And India starts crying in earnest, looking in the bathroom mirror, glad that the blood is oozing out of her mouth and enhancing the whole drama. I ask her to rinse out her mouth and we'll put in new gauze, but she refuses, and lets the blood drip down on the sink and her clothes, crying and slobbering.

Tuck is coughing like crazy in the living room, and I know Tim won't be home until 7p.m. Then Christian says India is faking it and being a baby- which she kind of is- but that's not what we need. So I send him away, and India shoves a towel to her mouth and heads off to her room.

I make dinner, catch up on laundry, and all the while the children are bickering about whether to watch Old Yeller or the new Star Wars DVD. India gives me the silent treatment. Tucker takes a bath, leaving a big puddle which our super watercat Sherbert, plays in and then walks through leaving paw prints all over the clean floor. And the dog's shocker won't work, and she's barking, and Christian, the hypochondriac, thinks there's something wrong with his braces, and wants me to check. I check, and i see braces. He says there's something "back there" kind of pinching on his lip. I offer him some wax, but he declines because it's a more general pain, not a wire kind of hurt. Finally, after everything settles down, and India grants me a truce, Tim comes home.

He's all chipper and somehow I lose my temper with him because he asked if I was going to wash the kids' cool new shirts they got from the orthodontist. I'm thinking, he just doesn't get it. And he's thinking very bad thoughts of me because we don't speak. And I leave to the nursing home, and it is such relief to be with little old ladies who bless me for folding their blankets and shutting their blinds, and who tell me I'm sweet to visit all the time. And I feel slighly guitly that I'm escaping the madhouse in guise of kindness to lonely old people. And my best moment of the day is in telling Robin how awful my day has been, with all the details, and she gets this big grin on her face, and then we slip away from reality into Scarlet O' Hara and the big ball with the hansome Ashley who is about to announce his engagement to Melanie Hamilton.

Wanted: pictures

Dear sisters,
I am sitting at my office desk and notice that my pictures of my nephews and nieces are 2 years old. I have received other sports pictures but I would like the school pictures for my office. I like the 2.5 X 3.5" size. Just a hint. And I remember asking my mother for her school picture but haven't received that either.

I am eagerly awaiting someone to post some Halloween pictures also.