Ice Storm Hits Pacific Northwest

An ice storm hit the Pacfic Northwest and knocked power out for several days.  Some of our friends were without power for 7 days.  Most of us were without power for just a few days.  Ice built up on the trees so much that they just shattered.  It was very impressive to watch and listen to. Uncle Adam took this picture.  The ice covering the branches was truly beautiful!  So many were without power that work crews had to be brought down from Canada and up from Oregon. 

Taylor turns 1!

Marianne Bolles De Carlo

Marianne passed away 29 October 2011 in Highland, UT from Colon Cancer.  She fought a good fight and did her best to beat the cancer.  She was peaceful knowing there were others waiting for her on the other side and that she had done her best. Her funeral was 5 November 2011 in Highland, UT.

We stayed with Kyle and Kamany in Utah and they watched the kids during the funeral services.  Kamany made a birthday cake for Tyson because his birthday was Sunday and we were traveling on that day.  She also let them draw on her windows with special crayons and markers.  Thank you, Aunt Kamany, for making a difficult situation fun for the kids!

Keith Auger Hebdon

17 December 1921 - 5 July 2011

Grandpa Keith Auger Hebdon had a series of strokes that left him unable to walk and talk.  He was in the hospital recovering and relearning how to eat and talk when he passed away due to the complications of the stroke.  He was a good man who helped many.  Grandma Hebdon loves the 4th of July so we feel he held on to share this one last one with her and made sure not to pass on that day.  His funeral was 9 July 2011 in Royal City, WA where he is buried.

Some funny things happened at the funeral.  His body was late showing up to his viewing.  Grandpa had the philosophy that if you were 5 minutes early, you were late.  So, when his body showed up over 15 mintues late, it was a bit comical.  The program for the funeral had several names mispelled.  When we got to the gravesite, the hole for his casket had been dug in the wrong place.  Grandma had forgotten she and Grandpa had purchased more than 3 plots in the cemetery when Uncle Hollis passed away at the age of 12.  Grandma had thought she was burying Grandpa next to Uncle Hollis but the funeral home and the cemetery planned for the two sites apart from Hollis would be for Grandma and Grandpa.  Once this was figured out, Grandma went ahead and buried Grandpa where the cemetery had dug the hole.  She was a good sport about the whole thing and it didn't take more than half an hour to figure it all out.

Memorial Day Weekend

We traveled to Eastern WA to visit Jason's brother and family.  We had a very enjoyable time.  We were stuck in stop and go traffic due to road construction and holiday weekend traffic but the kids did really well.  We didn't even watch a complete movie on the way there, even though it took us 6 hours. 

On the way there, we traveled past fields and saw rainbows, rain falling from distant clouds and much more.  This is what the kids thought of if all:

"That is really awesome to see the rain fall from a distance!" ~ Trevor

"Mommy, those are fields!  Are they Uncle Kory's mission field?" ~ BriAnn

"Mom, that rainbow is HUGE!  It's bigger than you are.  It's even bigger than Uncle Kory!" ~ Tyson

At one point, we were listening to Phil Vassar's "Just Another Day in Paradise" song.  The kids were jiving out with their glasses, the sun was presenting gorgeous rainbows, all were happy and it did feel a bit like paradise.  And, like the song, the paradise included chaos a little further down the road when kids had had enough of the car and started poking each other, complaining, crying...you get the picture.  Still, it was paradise aka some-times organized chaos!

While there, the guys went on horseback rides, we went to the park, bikes were ridden, games played and lots of rest and relaxation.  It was so nice to get away!  We even got a free bike rack for the back of the van out of the deal.  Thanks, Jared and Jess!

On the way home, we made up for not watching movies on the way there and watched 2 or three.  Taylor slept for 4 of the 5 hours it took us to get home.

Monday we decided to go for a little hike to get the boys ready for their pack trip with dad this summer.  We went to Nolte State Park and walked the trail twice, making a total of 2.8 miles.  The boys did great.  Trevor was slow and steady, Tyson practically ran the whole way and Jason stayed in the middle to keep an eye on both at the same time.

To top off the weekend, we had a BBQ with Jason's sisters and their families.  Good times!

May in a Moment (or more)

May in a moment or more...coming soon.

April Triathlon: Family Style

In April we visited my family in central WA, traveling to my parents' home first, spending the night, then traveling an hour to visit and have a BBQ with my brother Kevin and his family.  We then traveled another hour and visited my brother Kent and his family, having dinner with them.  After having fun, watching a baseball game, eating, visiting, listening to good music and more with several different family members in their homes, we made the 3-hour journey safely home.  The kids were quite the troopers and enjoyed seeing their cousins and being in their homes.  We plan to do it again, sometime.  Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics. :(