Jog-A-Thon

Yesterday Clifford participated in the Jog-A-Thon. The Jog-A-Thon is actually today, but since Clifford is in the Tuesday/Thursday kindergarten class, those students jogged yesterday in their P.E. class. I showed up early at his school so I could watch him jog and take pictures. The PTA president was there as well to help out. I guess she thought I was there to help volunteer to keep track on how many laps each child ran, as she gave me a marker and explained what I needed to do. All was good. I helped with Clifford's class, marking on the kids' wristbands as they completed each lap (only one other mom showed up as well to help with this). It was so much fun to watch all these little kids run around. I was able to snap a few pics of Clifford and his friend Grant jogging (Pete carpools with Grant's mom, Staci, to work. She wasn't able to come to watch, so I took some pics for her). Out of 25 laps, Clifford ran a total of 23 laps!! And with everyones help, he raised $46 in donations!!! I'm so proud of my big boy and his huge accomplishment on his first school fundraiser!!

Clifford heading outside with his class
Clifford is all smiles before the jog began
Andy they're off! Clifford is in the very front



Clifford and Grant starting to get exhausted
Clifford giving it his all on his last lap!
In line to go back to class

Yes to Pecans!!!

I just got back from taking Kristjan to the allergist. He can eat pecans too! Pete is super excited about this. I'll be baking up a batch of chocolate chip pecan cookies tomorrow!!

Yes to Pine Nuts!

Kristjan had his first oral challenge yesterday. He went in to be tested for pine nuts. We were informed the test could take up to 4 hours, but after an hour and a half, Kristjan was done with the testing. He had no reaction to pine nuts; however, the doctor informed us because we are just now introducing pine nuts to him, that Kristjan could eventually become allergic to them. We just have to make sure to monitor him. It's good news though. Now we can add pine nuts for some added protein to our diets. Next week Kristjan goes in to be tested for pecans. We'll keep you posted on the results.

Kristjan's First Day of (2nd yr) Preschool

This morning Kristjan went back to school. He started his second year of preschool. He was so excited. Friday I took him shopping for a new outfit for the first day. He LOVES the color purple, so he decided on a stripped grey/purple shirt to wear today. With his new tote bag in hand, off we went to school. Kristjan was the first student to go into class. He has two friends, Jorge and Morgan, from last year in his class, with the rest of the students being all new. When Pete and I picked him up after class, Kristjan had the biggest smile on his face and showed us his first project he made-a fruit loop necklace!

Clifford's First Stitches!!

While on our way home from our trip to Oregon, our friends Gordon and Michelle texted us and invited us to a bbq dinner for later that evening. We decided to swing by on our way home and have a delicious dinner with great friends (they also had a few other friends and family over as well). Everything was great: great food, great fun, great company. It was after 9pm when I went outside to tell Pete we needed to get going home. Everyone was sitting around the fire pit (which was made of concrete stones). Clifford was sitting in a chair, laughing with everyone (Ron, Michelle's dad, had put a 'fart machine' under Clifford's chair, and he thought it was the funniest thing, giggling away), when all of a sudden Clifford fell out of the chair and hit his head on the fire pit! Everyone immediately got up to help assist him. Ron, Michelle, Gordon and Pete carried Clifford into their kitchen to clean up the wound and to see how serious it was. I was standing back a ways, crying. Clifford had a small gash under his left eye. Gordon drove Pete and Clifford to the hospital while I stayed behind with Kristjan. A few hours later they returned. Clifford ended up with 3 stitches. Pete said Clifford was brave the entire time he received the stitches. The only times he did cry was when it initially happened (when he saw the blood, he thought his head had split open and you could see his brains!) and when the doctor gave him the numbing shot. My poor boy! This morning Clifford woke up, and he now also has a black, swollen eye!! In six days the stitches can come out.


Here's the video footage of Clifford's accident. For whatever reason, I can't upload videos in my blog. But I was able to upload it to my Facebook. Check out the link. I changed my privacy settings for this video as 'open to the public', so if for some reason you can't access it, let me know.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1576481859438&saved

La Grande, OR

Since before Labor Day weekend, my dad and Pati have been stuck in La Grande, OR due to their truck breaking down. Before their truck broke down, their plan was to come visit us up in Lynnwood after dropping off a load in Redmond, WA. My dad and I haven't seen each other since I was 13 years old (and that was our very first visit as well). Since coming back into contact with each other two years ago, his goal was to be able to come visit us during one of his shipments in Washington (though those jobs have been scarce for him to obtain). Everyone was excited all around when he called to tell us they would be coming to visit on that Thursday before Labor Day. And then everyone was devastated when the engine blew out of his truck! BUT all hope was not lost. On Friday after work, Pete called my dad to tell him we would be driving down to make a visit that weekend! So Saturday we got up early to make the long 6 hour drive down to La Grande. The visit was AWESOME!! We all had so much fun, and enjoyed being with each other. The visit was a short one, since we had to turn around to go back home the next afternoon, but it was completely worth it!!

Riley James Glenn Hampton

My brother Roddy and his wife Tricia had their baby boy Monday at 3:07am. Riley James Glenn Hampton was 7 lb 12 oz 19 in. Congrats!!!

First Day of Kindergarten!!

Today was Clifford's first day of kindergarten! I don't know who was more excited (and anxious)-him or me! We started the morning off with the boys waking up at 6:30am (normal for them). I made oatmeal and homemade blueberry muffins for breakfast. Clifford always wakes up in the morning saying 'I'm starving', yet he doesn't like to eat breakfast super early. Today was no different; he didn't want to eat all of his breakfast. I explained to him that he wouldn't get snacks at school like he did in preschool, and he would have to wait to eat again until lunch. After eating his muffin, he took a shower and got dressed. He decided to wear a new pair of jeans and his new 'ninja turtle' shirt. Once Clifford was dressed, he was excited to get going. School starts at about 8:35am; so he had about an hour to kill before we could leave. When it was time to go, Pete came home from work to pick us up and off we went. Clifford got into his class line, where he'll line up every class day. We walked with his class as they went to their classroom. Clifford did just fine. Pete let him know we were going to leave; Clifford waved bye, then turned his attention back to his teacher. I was a little sad. I didn't get a hug or kiss goodbye; there was no break downs of 'mommy don't leave!" (which, I know, is a good thing). I cried just a little out in the hallway where Clifford couldn't see me. It was tough. I swear, it feels just like yesterday he was a baby. Now he's in school!! The day went on ever so slowly for me. Once 3:05pm came, Clifford came out all smiles, slightly exhausted from his first day of school.

Clifford and his lunch! (turns out I will be tailoring his lunch a bit. he only ate his chips, juice and ding dong for lunch, skipping the sandwich and applesauce!)
Clifford wanted to pack up his own lunch
A hearty and healthy breakfast before school!
Clifford and Daddy
Proud mommy!
walking to school
waiting for school to start
Clifford in his classroom (he's sitting in the very front of the room)
Clifford waiting to be picked up from school
My big boy survived his first day of kindergarten!

Labor Day Weekend

To end our summer vacation, we went out on a backpacking trip back to Dorothy Lake. Daniel and his boys went along with us. The previous weekend, Pete, Daniel and Jessica went on a day hike to pack up and hide some of the camping gear, just to make the trip a little lighter for the guys since their goal was to paddle out to 'blueberry island' (the island they discovered and nicknamed that, since it's full of blueberry bushes). They stashed the raft and paddles in one spot, then put our tent, sleeping pads and other misc gear on the island itself. We crossed our fingers and prayed everything would still be there (which, luckily, it was). The hike itself was actually easy and short, considering the adult packs were packed to the rim. This was Dominick's first hiking trip using his first 'big boy' backpack (the other three boys just have their hydration packs). Dominick did pretty good; he only complained a little about the weight of his pack. Out of the three adult packs mine was the lightest (yet still very heavy), and both Pete and (mostly) Daniel were sweating like pigs on the trail. When we made it to our first stop, we were relieved to find that our raft was still in its hiding spot. The only issue with it was sometime during that week a rodent decided to take a nibble out of it. Pete had some 'fix anything' tape and patched the hole up. Once the raft was inflated, we loaded Daniel up with all our gear and he paddled off to the island while Pete, boys, and I finished hiking up the trail to our second location. We waited for Daniel to get to the island, unload the gear, then start the process of paddling everyone over to the island. Once we were all on the island, the fun began. The boys ran around and played; Pete and Daniel fished; and I picked blueberries. We stayed from Friday until Sunday morning. Other than the rain that started up on Saturday night (and didn't stop) and the long process of getting back and forth from the island, it was an awesome trip.



can you find the frog in this picture?













Daniel takes his fishing very seriously. And it shows-just look at the pictures! (I like making fun of him with all the different poses he does with the fish). On this trip he caught 5 trouts. He let each boy take a turn reeling in their own fish. Pete, however, didn't have very good luck catching any fish. UNTIL....







Pete finally caught a fish! He was so excited. Daniel climbed down to the waters edge with the net to catch it. While Pete is reeling it in, he makes the comment, "I think it's a big one, it's fighting me" (and it did look like it was hard for Pete to reel this fish in).

Pete caught a big one alright....he caught a stick!!! Daniel and I were laughing so hard at Pete. I tried to convince Pete to bring the stick home and let me mount it to the wall in our house so we could show off the 'big fish' he caught.
Poor Damien. First, he ended up with blisters on the back of his heels (one of which was huge and popped). Daniel had to clean the sores a couple of times each day, which Damien didn't like. Then, Damien accidentally cut his thumb on Daniel's knife. It took a while for the bleeding to stop.



The best part of this camping trip was the food. We ate good! Daniel caught 5 trout, which he fried up with some sauces and seasoning (yum!); Pete made blueberry muffins for breakfast, then a blueberry cobble for dessert using the blueberries I picked. One of our dinners (pic below) consisted of mashed potatoes and tacos!!