blog update

got a new baby blog update. Thanks again to the sharps for their excellent childcare while we were off to celebrate a friend's birthday, not to mention all the help, food, company, etc over the weekend!

Mosquito love

I stopped counting at 100, bites that is. Mosquito bites. I have itched all day long. My ankles are all puffy, my back looks like an acne prone high school boy. All mosquito bites. I woke up probably 20 different times last night and thought "I really, really itch." But did I scratch. No. Did that help. No. Am I scratching now. Yes. Does it help. No.

Beyond the itchy body everything is going well. Greyson and I got to go out to dinner on his birthday while Jenn and Nick watched the girls. We are hoping to recipricate on Brian's birthday next week. I am pretty much swamped at work but I am actually kind of liking my job lately, which is new for me. We have started playing volleyball in Stevenson at a park every week. The girls come along and play in their playpen. They do pretty well until it is bedtime and then we have to head home or the crying starts.

We have new neighbors that are pretty cool. They BBQ all the time and have invited us over for a couple tasty dinners and then sent home a plate for the next day as well.

Greyson and I are planning our first camping trip with the girls. I am not too excited just because we are going over to the coast and it will be a lot of driving and I am not sure how they will do. But I will give it a shot.

later-
Mel

Grandma's birthday

I had a wonderful time, guys. It was great seeing everyone. Thanks to the sharps for the world famous hospitality, amazing cooking, and fantastic pinochle hands.

G

Trip to lincoln city

So I was thinking about food and how to make it simple. I wondered if Brian could be in charge of BBQing hot dogs and hamburgers since he's so good at it. Mel, would you mind providing veggies and dip? Jen, how about some of your famous omeletes one morning...Greyson for fresh fruit...Tim for his delicious Costco lasagna and french bread. Mom, maybe some giant subs from Safeway. Grandma, pie of course. Dad you're always good for malt-o meal and maybe some muffins or scrambled eggs. I'll do a crepes morning and a roast dinner. We can all buy our assorted drinks and snacks not mentioned above. Feel free to revise, edit, add or ignore, but please tell me what you're wanting to bring or buy once we get there so we'll have at least an outline of a menu. Thanks,
Traci

Noah's Second Trip to California

I wanted to put on some pictures of our sweet birthday boy. This was actually his third birthday party, but we hope one of the best.

Grandpa and Grandma had such a wonderful vacation when Stephanie, Nate and Noah came to visit. The kids came out to Sacramento for Stephanie to be in a wedding. We had the pleasure of watching Noah during the reception and drove the next day to Monterey so they could visit old collge friends of Stephanie.

We then came home and took them out in the motorhome. Michelle joined us and we had a very fun time where we are members in Elizabeth Lake ( about 1 1/2 hrs away from Simi Valley). The way up to the RV area is very windy and made Stephanie a little nervous. Haven't even attempted to have Grandma Sharp take this road .Even though it was much colder than we expected, we all had such fun, just sharing time together and watching Noah be himself. He is just a delight and what a ball we had.

Michelle and some of her friends threw Stephanie a 30th birthday, and the next day they flew home. It was Mother's day and it was just the best vacation we could have wanted.

Hello to all.

Aunt Chris, Sis/ Chris

Porterts

So normally I don't like watching baseball, but Tucker is a real go-getter. He does still have his problem of keeping track of his things. Mostly his uniform socks. Well, just one sock. So he has his long striped sock and then he gets one of Tim's socks and pulls it up as high as he can. The fans love it. I just shake my head. He plays first base because he can catch well and he plays shorts stop because he can field - third base because he can throw accurately to first base- then usually three innings of pitching. He's kind of wild (like the movie Bull Durham) but when he's on he really fires it in there.
India's track coach said she's a great long distance runner because she has a nice smooth stride. One practice the coach had her run the 4oometer. India wasn't thrilled. The coach was impressed but told me India didn't talk to her the rest of the practice. Her teacher said she's very bright when she's not socializing with the other kids. Hmmm.
Christian plays with the High Schoolers and is an awesome shooters as well as making great moves to penetrate the key and dish it to the big guys. Of course he keeps waiting for his growth spurt. He is very popular and has a cute, smart and atheletic girlfriend. The sit together at all Tuck's baseball games and go to the movies on group dates.
Tim loves his job. Last year's graduation was a joke I guess, so they had the kids dress up and got many compliments from the community. Tim gave a terrific speech. He has a crazy schedule this summer and is already doing lots of summer tourneys. He will be co-coaching with a highly negative coach; we'll see how that goes. We're having to hire a nanny/high-schooler because he will be gone over five weeks this summer and I need my sleep during the day. The kids have an unlimited swimming pass, unlimited golfing, and many kids that like to play Xbox, that singing/guitar/drums game, and then they have a trampoline across the street that they play some sort of jumping basketball game where they rigged a hoop. Oh and the baseball field just a few blocks away and bikes.
I still enjoy my job and now we have two night people. One can't speak English, but the other is a highly intellecual young man that helps me pass the time away. I'm pasty white and refuse to wear my shorts until that changes. Vain I know. I've made a few really good friends and though I'm not writing, I kicked everyone out of my writing room. I will have fresh flowers, my own stereo system, decorations that I like and no-one stealing my pens or leaving dorito bags on my shelf.
Can't wait to see everyone at the reunion.
Love Traci and family.

Dean family update

Our apologies- we have not been good bloggers lately.  I need to get my boys into this role.  We have a new addition to the family- Gabriel picked out his puppy- Mia- she is a bogle….what’s a bogle you might ask- well it is a beagle/boxer mix.  These breeds were my two favorites – as far as with children.  Mia appears more beagle then boxer- other than a slightly shorter snout and some wrinkles in her face.  The puppy keeps everyone busy chasing her as she scampers off with something that shouldn’t be chewed up or monitoring potential need for her to be outside for a potty break.

 Other updates:

Kalena is on her way to being potty trained.  She uses the bathroom more often than not now.  Her feet seem to be catching up in size with Emma’s.  Kalena is still a daddy’s girl.  I’m hoping over the summer to change this.

Emma is a sponge in her learning- I’m always amazed at the things coming from her- she showed me the sign for rain and told me this is her preschool’s “language” for rain.  She’s still spends a lot of time with me- we discussed solids, liquids and gases in the hot tub yesterday.  I think she was actually getting it- when she asked what was inside the float tube in the hot tub. 

Nicholas just got his report card- said he has a natural talent in science- but he doesn’t “like” it, he tells me.  All high marks- lowest was LA with a B… he doesn’t like to study for spelling tests.  Spelling does not come naturally to him- reminds me of my youngest sister.

Gabriel, he’s a very responsible pet owner- and is attentive- I might sign him up for puppy kindergarten- but we’ll see how he does on his own- he thinks it is a waste of money.  He is very into his friends- using his cell phone to text.  He is in between sports-  He starts football in August. 

Brian continues to work his insane schedule that starts at 1 or 2 in the morning.  He continues to dream about a boat purchase- one of them is now the background on our computer.  He’s making a raised bed for me- and has been busy getting our trailer ready for our camping trip this weekend. It looks like we are headed out to Goldendale area- the Columbia Hills site (rated a 10 by my book) was not impressive…Brian stayed there on Tuesday night- but brought our trailer back- so we are going to try to find something better by leaving early tomorrow morning. 

As far as me- I’m sooooo looking forward to summer.  School keeps me very busy.  Well I need to get back to work. 

Beach trip

We took our trip to the beach this last weekend. We stayed in Long beach, WA in a townhouse type thing. It was really nice and the weather was unbeatable. Go to the baby blog for more pictures.

When we got back all of our flowers had burst out including the lilacs, rhodys, azaleas. Our lilacs have some bad disease that is starting to spread. If anyone knows how to get rid of it let me know. We went down to check our garden and only a few things are up so far. However the birds are going crazy. The feeders are full of grossbeaks, finches, sparrows and towees (sp?).

We are still very busy around here. I am considering whether to work another field job that would take me away from home for another week in two weeks from now. I feel a bit obligated to do this job because all the other experienced fish taggers are already working a job in Canada that week so it is either me or drag the office manager off the east coast to tag. Maybe I will try to drag Greyson and the girls with me.

That is all. Hope everyone is doing well.

Mel