Burr!!! in California

Well, we've had some unwanted cold weather with rain. Does anyone feel sorry for us, in Simi Valley?
Actually it is cold when you're out doing puppy training after work, in the dark. And of course, a golden retriever puppy is quite warm in his fur. Then I am bundled up and ready to go in the house after 15 minutes ( quite a wimp, I am)

This last week end was very nice; took Murphy to the park to work with good distractions. He's trying so hard; but why can;t he just figure out how to sit straight, heel properly and then I wouldn't have to correct him so much.. Oh well, he's getting better and that's whats important.

Mom/ Grandma is looking for a smaller car to fit into her garage; she also wants all the bells and whistles. Even the Toyota Camry, Altima etc are not as small as she would like. And her Crown Victoria has such plush, comfortable front seats, that she is having trouble finding a nice good feeling seat. So the hunt is still on.

Michelle made a surprise to trip to Chicago to visit her sister last week end. Her friend was flying to Wisconsin for a bridal shower, so Michelle tagged along. Stephanie was very surprised and they had a nice visit. Of course, there was snow where Michelle was there; she sent lots of fun pictures to our phone, so it was fun to see the snow balls, and little dogs out trying to find somewhere to do their duty. And only finding cold snow.

Stephanie is 32 weeks pregnant and due April 14th. Could be an easter baby, or on the grandpa's birthday which is March 28th. So we are all VERY excited.

Good luck, melanie... hope you enjoy your pregnancy as much as Stephanie does.

Love to all,
Chris

Snow again

Well we had about 3 inches of snow when we woke up this morning. It proceeded to snow all day but it was 33 degrees out so it stayed at 3 inches but just got wetter and slushier. Ada and I bundled up and took our walk but I couldn't coax Greyson out into the "bad weather". Anything other than sun is bad weather to him I think.

Our hottub has been out of commission for the last couple months with a bad pump. We finally got it fixed last week and have been really enjoying it. And it is always fun to sit out in hot water when there is snow out. And don't worry, we have the temperature set way down so it is more like an extra large bathtub. That is all my news. I just wanted to brag about the snow (although I am really ready for spring).

-Mel

Sweet Home Update (from Mom)

Traci and I had a great trip to San Francisco. We flew out of Redmond so a very small airport with a 10-second wait at security. The plane was small and the wind was blowing, so it was a little bumpy for a ways and very noisy all the way.

We hit almost all the tourist attractions we had in mind plus a couple of fun restaurants Traci located in her travel book--China Town, Alcatraz tour, Fisherman's Wharf, Cable Cars, etc. She also managed to do some actual Writers Conference things, but I'll let her tell you about that.

We stayed at the Mark Hopkins which is a very fancy and large hotel at the top of Nob Hill. Since it was so large, we could spot it from quite a distance and get bearings on which way was home.

The drive home was a little hairy since a winter storm was coming in and I had to fight snow going home over the pass. I almost stopped at Sisters, but glad I didn't as it just snowed more overnight and would have been harder to get home. My little car putted right along without any slipping or sliding. I did have to pull over a couple of times to let more aggressive drivers go by.

That's about it. Back home and back to work. Fortunately, its a short week.

XOXOXO
Mom/Grandma/Janice

Dean family update

Well the trip to Sea and Sand RV park was great.  Both Saturday and Sunday morning were bright and sunny.  The fog on Saturday rolled in around 10 or so.  Gabe discovered that sea gulls can catch peanuts from the air.  We collected 40 or 50 rocks/agates at low tide…this time the high tide would come clear up to the rocks…if you weren’t paying attention you’d get soaked…I got caught both days- and watched several other couples get soaked or make a mad dash for the rocks.  I think Brian enjoyed building the fire and keeping it going the most.  Kalena was the usual handful- she got very frustrated when we tied up the white gate to block her from dashing away from our campsite- then she proceeded to find the way around the back side of the trailer…she would head straight for the puddles and of course stomp in them.  Inside the trailer it wasn’t much calmer- whoever designed this trailer did not have children- the stereo is low to the ground- and too much of a temptation for an almost 2 year old child.  If you heard beeping or static you knew Kalena was back at the stereo.  Luckily she hasn’t figured out yet how to open the fridge or the bathroom door.  Unfortunately she does know how to unlock and open the main trailer door- letting our JRT Mariah escape.  A deaf dog is difficult to call back.  Mariah was perfect the whole trip – no accidents or problems…except when she got into the trash and ate a half a cup of grease- this caused some throwing up in the truck ride home.  Nicholas was not happy about having to clean that up.  Emma still won’t come near the water- she just likes to play in the sand- she won’t even join me in the hot tub anymore.  I don’t know if it was the watching of Jaws or some nature show on sharks- but she does not like any type of water body.   We have scheduled two more camping trips- any one is welcome to join us- April 6^th-7^th at the Cannon Beach RV resort – we have a site right across from the playground and pool reserved.  May 11^th and 12^th at Cape Disappointment site 5.  We also have a small trailer- if some family members want to get their vehicles properly equipped for towing- they could borrow this and try out the trailer (moteling it) life.  Brian’s hunting trailer has three beds- but no bathroom.  The fridge is just an ice box- so good to store some drinks in.  Brian sold the Honda Civic- so that’s out of our driveway.  We are getting a nice tax return and purchasing a new wood stove for the down stairs.  I’m still trying to get my husband and father motivated to build the loft beds- I’ve sent several designs to my husband- I think the build it ourself plan will provide the sturdiest and cheapest option- but also the most difficult to get started…since I do not want to do the actual purchasing of the products…but I will provide the money and the design ideas…and plans- there are several free on the internet.  Although I keep looking on Craig’s list for them…but the good deals are always sold by the time I see the ad.  Well my students are taking a test today- so I had time to write this update.  Gabe’s last wrestling match is in the Portland area (I think) this Saturday.  Nicholas is playing indoor soccer on the weekends- his games are on Saturday at 10:30 am at the indoor soccer arena off of 162^nd. 

Pile burning

My father came up to deliver Jenn her b-day present and stopped by on Friday to help Greyson burn these huge piles of brush that they had cut down in the fall. When I got home from work all they had left was a large pile of coals. It had rained all day so they were both soaked and filthy (and my laundry room was soon a wet smelly mess). Luckily I decided to bring 2 pizzas home for dinner because no one was up for cooking. It was a fun visit with lots of movie watching (zombies and aliens), junk food eating and even one more small fire the next day that I started. But it was a beautiful sunny day on Saturday and I got the lawnchairs out to sit fireside.

Work is really busy and a bit stressful right now. I am doing environmental permitting and I have 2 deliverables do this Friday. My boss is editing my work today and yesterday and I am anxious to see what he will say. I also leave next Wednesday for Little Goose Dam. We are staying in Dayton, WA which is about an hour NE of the Tri-cities. The hotels in these little towns are never very nice and the lack of dinning options often gets tiresome. When I return from that 2 week trip I will be halfway done with the pregnancy and will go in for an ultrasound and should find out the sexes of these babies. My father seemed impressed by my small belly. It did seem to come out of nowhere.

How was everyone else's weekend,

-Mel

Finally got back in, again

Hi big brother and all,

I had a heck of a time getting back into this blog... and look at at I missed. Yes, Larry, I have started dog obedience lessons and it is okay, so far. This little puppy is still fond of biting and nipping at me.. but is getting better.

Our trainer uses the method the Walt Disney studios have used to train their movie dogs, so I hope it goes as well as it did with our other golden retriever, Raleigh. But Murphy is definitely a different puppy. Or we are too old for this... no, actually it is getting better.

Mom/ Grandma Sharp had a nice breakfast brunch up the one of our nice golf courses. Michelle and Christopher were there. It was very enjoyable; and then Mom and I started looking for a new, smaller car for her.

Gotta go, as Survivor starts soon... I don't know about the rest of you, but Phil and I are hooked. And have been since the beginning.

Hi to all, Love
Chris

Happy Birthday Jenn

Just wanted to send out a quick !!!Happy Birthday!!! to Jenn.

If anyone has a complete list of family birthdays/anniversaries could they email it out to me. I just can't keep up any more. Our family just seems to keep growing and growing.....

greyson's web site

I was extremely impressed with Greyson's restaurant web page and then his whole site. My daughter was in one of his snapshots! Ada appeared there too I think.

Tim is sending out resumes and continuing working towards his doctorate. As for me, I served ham sandwiches, applesauce, and big glasses of milk for dinner. I washed 9 loads of laundry in the last 2 days since I was sick. I helped clean the kitty litter, scrub the shower, and read all of The Banks of Plum Creek to Robin, my friend at the nursing home.

I wish Mother's could get grades. I think I'd have a 92% this week.

We had a suicide at the highschool...the parking lot, so the school had a lock down and it was just sad. They'd been tracking and helping this kid, and they said they just didn't see it coming. So lots of regrets. Hard to explain to my little ones.

Lainey finally gave Christian an OSU basketball as a belated Christmas gift. She broke up with him " because she wants to focus on basketball" and we thought she'd find some other poor chum, but she's stayed single and then she calls Christian up and invites him to shoot hoops with her at her house. She's got the poor boy confused. Tim told Christian to move on, not be at her beck and call, but he said he couldn't, "he likes her." Jeez!!!

I need to write so that someday, perhaps I'll have a real life and a real job...whatever those are. Until then, I'm the designated, chaffeur, maid, nanny, etc. I used to get paid for the nanny part. Man, those were the days.

Traci

Lying Low (from Mom)

Sure haven't heard from the Porters in a long time? What happening in Prineville. Heard on the news that your town is running out of water. That could out to be pretty inconvenient.

And Stevenson apparently has hillsides with housing sloughing off. Hope that isn't Archer Mountain.

Grandma Sharp had a birthday yesterday!

Jennifer has a birthday coming up in a few days. I ordered her a book she was interested in, but , like almost all my gifts to people, it will likely be late arriving.

Haven't heard much about the new puppy in Simi Valley. Is it all trained and guarding the house?

Hope you are all well.

OXOXOXOX
Mom/Grandma

Tuesday night date

So Greyson and I did dinner and a movie last night. First I dragged him out to the mall so I could get a new pair of jeans and was actually successful at finding something within a reasonable amount of time (which is rare for me). Then we went to see Pan's Labyrinth. It was kind of a dark mystical/fantasy movie and we both liked it. Afterwards we made the mistake of going to the Red Robin located nearby. I have not been to a Red Robin for dinner since I was in college. It was a zoo. There were kids everywhere, balloons, some guy dressed up in a bird costume and it was really noisy. We were seated almost immediately but then sat for what must have been 45min waiting for our food. They must have lost or forgot our order and when our food finally came it was only luke warm like it had been sitting lost under a heat lamp for a half hour. So I dropped the whole "my food is cold but I just want to eat and get out of here" line to the waitress and the manager came over and apologized and paid for our entire meal. So that made for a $15 date night which isn't bad. I don't think I will be going back to the old RR any time soon but the paying for the meal did redeem them somewhat.

We gave Ada 4 years to get over the whole barking when the doorbell rings issue. We don't mind if she barks when someone pulls up to our house or rings the doorbell. It is nice to be alerted to someones presence. But when we tell her it is alright she needs to quit. So after 4 patient years of trying different methods, being calm and reassuring, getting stern, etc. we are going to the shock collar training method. It was the only thing that really worked for chasing cats when she was younger. We put it on the very lowest setting so I don't think it really hurts that much but I have to say I am not going to test it on myself like Brian and Dad have done.

Ada has been going for walks with me. I usually make it out on days when it is not raining. On days that I don't go out I feel like I am going to fall asleep at my desk around noon. On sunny days I can even nudge Greyson out the door to get a little fresh air with me. Still no real belly on me. Makes me worry a little that these babies aren't growing. Yes, I am going to worry the whole time and you can't stop me.

-Mel

How was everyone's weekend?

Greyson and I went over to Jenn's for Emma's 4th birthday on Saturday. Emma was quite the chatter box and said she had a good birthday. The cake with strawberry frosting, homemade by Brian and Gabe, was quite tasty. I stayed home for superbowl Sunday but only caught the halftime show.

I have been trying to schedule my work schedule for this spring. I am usually gone over half of the weeks in spring and haven't been home for my birthday since I started this job. But this year I have enough office work to keep me home for all but about 2 weeks so that should be nice.

So has everyone figured out how to get a new account???

-Mel

To add new post

So read the post below and switch over. Once you do that, to add a new posting all you need to do is click "new post" in the upper right hand corner instead of going to the orange "B" in the other corner like you used to do. That method will still work but it takes longer.

If you have any questions send me an email or give me a call.

-Mel

New Google accounts

Just when everyone was finally all settled into blogging we are going to change things up. It looks like google bought out blogger.com and are requiring everyone to switch over from the blogger account to a google account. As "owner" of the blog they required me to do this first and then will require the rest of you to switch over as well if you want to post. All you need to do is follow the instructions and enter a email and password for your new Google account and everything else should look pretty much the same. Sorry that everyone has to switch but it is out of my control.

Mel