sometimes I feel like a strong work ethic is a curse. Do you ever feel that way? I think most if my family -all sides- have this. I do my best. And consistantly. Not just if it is a VIP client , or the boss is around. How is it that the majority of coworkers dont? And why is this eating at me? I want to raise the boys with this ethic. But is it worth it? And how? How do we instill this so called ethic!?!?

woke up yesterday to it snowing. before six am, charlie states, rather as a matter-of-factly, "yup, katy was right, it is snowing!" she sits right next to him in class. cute little blondey. i think she also shared with him this round of the cold/cough business. he started up with that seal barky cough again at night. this morning, about 530, (as the four of us are sardined into the bed) "mommy, i still have a bad cough and i can't lift anything heavy".  awww.
grandma mary gave brian and i a night out this week. was very nice. we did the holiday ale festival. was so fun to see the festivities! thank you grandma.
i am excited to wrap up school (at least one class this week) so i can focus on japan!

grandpa barge, i will play with the font color later! 

he wont stand still for a second! even for a picture!!!

they have really gotten into football! nothing has been broken. yet.

two cuties

he had to curl up next to me on the loveseat while i did homework late last night! after of course telling me all about the football game and other fun activities.

sorry to disappoint. But i promise, next year I will make sure to include pictures of all of us. Including the dog we will have by then. Maybe it will be on the tailgate if the truck we will also have by then!!

Isaiah was showing off to charlie's teacher today in class. He was telling her the time (when she would ask what hour.) he also wrote his name legible for her!

...oh what a relief it is! (no, not the "plop. plop. fizz.fizz" kind!)

i am SO very excited about this email i just read from grandma (gigi). the transition moving grandpa in to the VA home has been rough for everyone involved. grandpa was scared, anxious, and getting violent. who could blame him? he was admitted on Halloween.  and today, is the best message from grandma yet! ..here is part of it.
 12/1/2013 4:42 PM, Mary Edwards wrote:

Just to keep you updated he is doing great.  Loves being back in the Army,  "Has 17 men in his squad"  All young kids and says he really likes them.  I have to go and hunt him every time I go to visit.  He is making beds, helping some friend, etc.  Really really likes it there.  Wanted to know if he re-enlists for 4 years would I be around.  I am so thankful for the turn-around,  Not hard to go and visit this way.  Today he even walked  me to the door (which is kept locked), kissed me good-bye and 

turned around an went down the hall.   I think he is loosing weight but he says he is around 190 (?) and that is where he wants to stay.  You gotta appreciate the staff.  They all like him and will help me find him.  Had someone's shoes on.  Said he traded for them.  Had velcro closures and I know he hates to tie his shoes.  That seems to be usual as I find shoes (one) in his room all the time...

wonderful. just wonderful. thank you Lord!!

meanwhile. i have another relief. i have been beating myself up (i know aunt beth, i will stop..)about my scores in algebra last week. i dropped to a B for the first time (this time around anyway). i did horrible on my last quiz. then, as i just logged in to hit the books tonight, a message on the board (online classes) said that week eight's grades where wrong. and she fixed them. i am back up to a 95%!!!!!  thank goodness. this will help me get through the next couple weeks. .

winner winner chicken dinner. daddy took some photos while I was at work. we wanted to do a funny Christmas card. next year hopefully we can come up with a full family funny card. my idea this year was to set the boys, all three, on the couch with ipods, phones, whatever. and me on the side with my arms crossed and eyes rolled. and the next sequence photo be them tied up in Christmas lights and me on the side with a smile.

daddy is making great fish and chips with salmon and yam fries! my favorite.

yes. this activity makes me crazy anxious. i wont forget cousin katie jo's baby broke his femur (thigh bone)  jumping on their bed...at a year and a half!!!  AHHHH. ...how do mom's make it !?!  i can't believe more of us don't die of heart attacks or sheer anxiety!

 looking through ice

moose is working using his skills!

daddy helped too!

action even got involved

mission completion! thanks grandpa mike! ps. this is the bed dad built for luke..25 years ago? still rock solid! i told charlie "change of plans for earthquake! get in the bunk bed!" (previous plan was to crouch next to his other bed!) awesome dad! thank you. again and again! also. no one is allowed to sleep on the top until a railing is put in!

Isaiah has big sneezes! The other day, he sneezed right into my coffee cup. And laughed hard saying he bless-you'd into my coffee!

the crow pacing around a  sand castle ?!

one of charlie's photos, treasures of the evening?

chasing a sea gull

neither one got far!

yes, i purposefully capture other people's dogs in my pictures!!  i love the scarf mom! look at those waves!

pacific ocean, oregon coast, what time does the solar clock suggest?!

random naked kid. it was COLD. where are her clothes!!!!

we found a random abandoned sand castle. which they immediately destroyed!