In to Waterfalls this year it seems

So I have been planning trips to waterfalls this year, and am really excited to see which one I pick this weekend.  Not sure which one, but with all this rain, we can be sure that the flow will be high.  Last weekend, we went to:

aka Kamikaze Falls.  

This sign-post is two or so miles back on a logging road that is being taken over by forest again, so an easy round trip.

Sandy, always out front

and here taking us across a scree field, led us up to this

My friend Christopher came with us as well.  He is from Oregon originally, not too far from where my Grandpa Earls' dad settled when the family immigrated from Canada a way long time ago. 

An all-around good-natured kid.  

2 of 3 Birds

Visit today went well. Megan and Elizabeth, Dad and I, had fun at the train park.  William, if you ever read this, know I am missing you.  And know that I will wait.  I love you. The girls were asking for ice cream on the way back.  I told them that if they would sing me a song, I would buy them ice cream.  I started them off with, "woke up this morning, smiled with the rising sun," and they answered back, "three little birds, outside my doorstep, singing sweet songs, a melody pure and true," to which I answered, "singing, this is my message to you-ou-ou," and they said...wait for it..."baby don't worry, about a thing," Why? "cause every little thing is gonna be alright!"  Yeah, they got strawberry cheesquake blizzards at Dairy Queen!

In other news, its kind of a weird day outside.  Sandy went to a rubber stamp convention and just got back.  I didn't think I would get to see much of her today, so that's nice, its still pretty early.

I miss my birds

"woke up this morning, smile with the risin' sun, three little birds, outside my doorstep, singin' sweet songs, a melody pure and true, singin, this is my message to you

baby don't worry, about a thing, cause every little thing is gonna be alright"

more or less, those are the lyrics. man, I am achin'

A good joke!

Good morning, thinking of the kids this morning and came across this video of Elizabeth telling me a joke in the park a couple of months ago (complete with an explanation of the joke at the end).

I am Thor!  Thilly!

Hope

This past weekend, after a particularly rough couple of weeks, Sandy, Matt, and I went out to Shi-Shi beach just south of the Makah Indian Reservation and spent a couple of nights out there.   We arrived late evening in time to set up camp and watch the stars Friday, which I have to say was one of the more spectacular night sky visions that I have ever seen.  Two planets had aligned (Jupiter and Venus?) and were shining bright over the horizon, enough to light the water below, and the milky way was in full view.

On Saturday morning, of course I got up earlier than anyone else and walked around the beach and found a glass float.

Now, I have been going to the beach for many years and have never found one before so this was quite an event for me!  It was like God was telling me that if this fragile ball could survive the tossing and turning, so could I.  A message sorely needed.  

After that, it was pretty easy to sit around in the sunshine and do mostly nothing!

This video brought to you by those that chill

3 days of sunshine

This past weekend we pretty much had a chill weekend around home.  On Saturday, we went to the library in the morning and then headed to Alki to check out the beach there.    

 Megan in the sand

 Will, having fun throwing sticks out into the water

Elizabeth, chasing her shadow :)

Left there (with a back seat full of sand) and headed home for tuna melts and an afternoon movie...I was able to catch a short nap while they watched some cartoon about dragon hunters (I know its a sneaky way to catch a nap, and beg your forgiveness!)  After the show, we left for Golden Gardens to burn off some energy...

On Sunday, the kids cashed in their Christmas present from Sandy, which was a trip to Bullwinkle's for rides, pizza, and games!  More on that after I get pics from Sandy :)


Today the kids are out of school and we are doing laundry and such, and are getting ready to head South.  Its nice to have the opportunity to stay home with them when they don't have school.

skating, sledding, popcorn, wii, and other things

on 12/11 I wrote:
 I am making my way through the chore list today.  So far, its been a day of stirring beef stew, loading and unloading the dishwasher, Christmas cards, but none of that before getting my truck jump started and driving around charging it up.  I stopped by an auto parts store to have the battery tested.  I asked the guy if any of the batteries he tested ever passed the test.  Surprisingly, mine did.  It had 360 CCA's, in case you were wondering.  I should clean out the thing too...it's pretty bad.  I am afraid of what I might find though.


Never did post that one.


I tried again to post on 12/28, but apparently got off track then too!  


So I thought, well, its been over a month why not take a break from work and distract myself with this.  A lot has been going on.  I started a new contract position, where the work is definitely very cool.  Has to do with expanding community capacity with regards to adverse childhood experiences.  I am still doing my other gigs, too, so I am well over 40 hours a week.  I have been collecting some good tunes, too.  Listening now to The Black Keys and eating chocolate chip cookies post lunch.  Out the window it is a pretty day...I may go for a walk here shortly.  hey, federal prisoners get 15 minutes of natural sunlight a day, I should too.  


Went sledding last weekend.  Beware!  They are charging money to park at the sledding hill now.  I lucked out and someone leaving gave me their pass (all that clean living) but it can cost up to $30 to park there.  The bastards!  


Skyler stayed over with the kids last weekend.  He is a good kid, I guess they all are :)  Here is a video of the kids Will, Elizabeth, Megan, and Skyler.

We all had a really good time.  We went to the skate park on Saturday, too.  Watched a movie and played video games the rest of the time for the most part.  


Christmas went well, and so did New Years.  I think all total we had four Christmas' what with sets of grandparents, and such.  Sandy and I had NYE just ourselves.  Very nice.  We watched the space needle fireworks from the balcony.  Not as impressive as the 4th of July on the balcony, but it was still a pretty good display.   It was my first time trying to use the video camera, and it showed so no video of that.  I think it would be cool to get a tripod for such occassions.  


Gonna try to get a hike in this week.  Will be nice to get out.  Well, back to work for me.  More later, I'm sure.