First Soccer Games - 2009

Let the season begin!

Today it was supposed to be around 90°, and we had the first soccer games for Connor and Tegan. Connor played at 11:15am, so the heat wasn't to full strength yet. All the boys did get quite hot and drank lots of water. Tegan's game didn't start until 4pm - so it was plenty warm by then. Many of the girls on her team were overheated. Both teams looked great and had moments of good passing and shooting. Apparently the action with our kids didn't happen in front of Dad with the camera. Here are a couple of run-bys...

Connor going after the ball

Tegan going after the ball

Great Wolf Lodge

We had a family anniversary trip this year. For our 14th wedding anniversary, we traveled north for about two hours to Grand Mound, Washington. Located is this little town, just five miles north of Centralia, is a 'hotel' called Great Wolf Lodge. Not just a hotel, but rather a water park - with a hotel built for it. Your admission to the water park is your hotel room fee.

There was a special rate we got for the room - maybe 20% off. The rooms are quite spendy - check out the website yourself to see. And the food prices in the many on-site restaurants and in the park locations - whew. I guess this place must be one of those profit deals. Somebody has to pay the utility bill, I guess.

The fun was just as described on the website. Constant water, warm, and fun. But - what they won't tell you....it is crowded.

With around 400 rooms - and between 2 to 8 people per room....there are a lot of people running around the place. Also - you can start playing in the park at 1pm on the day of your check-in, even though check starts at 4pm. You can play the whole next day as well. So do the math....minimum of 2 people x 400 rooms = 800 people. More likely count is 4 people x 400 rooms = 1,600 people. Then figure that maybe 50% of the people are there after check-out... maybe not. So 1,000 to 2,000 people? I know that is not how many people are really in line for the Howlin' Tornado ride - but it sure feels like it.

It is also loud. Really loud. Constant water noises. Constant people having fun noises. Loud. You can't hear the voice on the people you are talking with more that 10 feet away.

Tegan running across the water

Connor uses his hands a little

Repositioning of the steps

This past weekend I finally got a latch installed on my new gate. I added a new gate up near the house when I was rebuilding the fence this past summer. My only problem is that I needed to move the steps I had built at the old gate location. I also had to get a latch installed on the new gate, and I just about finished up the fence/gate work as the November rains hit last fall.

I had to raise up the latch catch a few fractions of an inch, due to the way the latch fit together. A small piece of metal from the garage worked for this. I wasn't wearing work gloves at this point, which soon caused me some pain. As I was screwing in the first screw - it caught the metal, which began to rotate. So - at drill speed - the sharp corner of this piece of metal sliced a finger on my left hand holding the piece in place. A few drops of blood later, putting on some gloves, and a small scrap of wood kept the metal from spinning any more. The latch was now installed.

New latch - with the owie bad metal

In order to place the steps, I had to do a little digging first. Before I could do the digging, I needed to remove some of the ground cover plants. No problem here.

I then needed to remove some dirt near the curb so I could place some flat concrete blocks. I needed these to be the support at the bottom of the steps. Due to the slope up to our yard, I also needed to remove some dirt where the step hangers would be. More dirt also needed to be removed from the top of the bank for more concrete blocks to provide a firm foundation for the top of the steps. Since Sunday was over 80° - this was starting to feel like a hard summer's day worth of work. Connor was a big help to me. He managed to move the concrete blocks from the old stair location to the new. There were just about at his maximum strength - but he did it. That gave me more time to keep digging. But - I still ran out of time, though I did get the steps level and stable. I still need to do a little more construction - a small landing or one step up to the deck. I guess that will have to happen on another day.... But for now - we can get out the back fence without having to walk to the corner of the yard. This would have been really great all winter long when the grass was soaking wet each day. I also need to make the latch workable from both sides of the fence...a piece of string would work, but I am thinking of something a little more sturdy. Check back later for that solution.

Steps moved...not quite OSHA approved yet, but workable

Soccer 2009 - Warm!

Tegan and Connor had their fourth class this Monday. We had nice weather all weekend, and it continues to hold on for a few more days. This Monday was nice and clear and warm. No sweatshirts, long pants, or gloves this week. Tank tops and shorts were the attire this night. The high temp during the afternoon was at least 80° - most likely higher, but our Oregon Scientific thermometer was most likely in the sun - since it read around 89°.

Tegan's class gets a pointer in a scrimmage from their coach

The setting sun, Mt. Hood, and the warm breezes almost made up for the freezing time we had a week ago.

Can't wait to see what next week brings!

Soccer 2009 - Cold!

This past Monday night - spring soccer practice continued.

Connor and Tegan have their UK soccer classes Monday nights at Tualatin High School. The classes are held by soccer players from England. There was a week we missed because the players had to return to the UK to renew their visas - but we are back on track.

The first week - it snowed for a few minutes at the beginning. Temps in the 30°s.

The second week - it rained. A lot. A good soaking rain. Oh...and temps in the 30°s again.

The third week - it was summer! Temps started in the low 70°s maybe....it did get colder during the night, but I think we ended the night in the 60°s. Nice.

This week, week four. Summer had left without a "Goodbye!" or "Bye your leave" and winter returned without a single "Pardon me" or "Hope you don't mind". The thermometer in the van said it was about 42°. That might be nice if you are an active participant, like Tegan here...

Tegan in action during a scrimmage

Or like Connor - his class was from 6-7 pm. After his class is over he usually plays with a friend. But the friend was missing this night...so Connor decided to walk the track. Four laps later and he had walked a mile. Nice job!

Connor after practice, enjoying the setting sun

Brian - dressed for warmth, but still a little cold

The forecasts now put the temperature for next Monday at 80°. No rain. Maybe even time to wear shorts....hmmm...even for the parents on the sidelines. Stay tuned to see how it all turns out!

UK International Soccer Camps

Soccer 2008 Action Shots - Connor

Connor also had a great 2008 soccer season. Here are a few of his action shots. If you want to see more, stop by and check out our Picasa...we take quite a few shots. In the pile of photos - there are a few that just work out right!

Connor was a great defender

Chasing down the ball

Heading towards the goal

Connor gives a power kick

Safari Sams, just like Chuck E. Cheese?

A local place called Safari Sams is much like Chuck E Cheese. If you have kids less than 10 - you've probably been to a place like this more than once for a birthday party. Or maybe you just like the cheap tokens at Chuck E Cheese - and enjoy the cheap video games or the photo booth.

Brian and Connor on his 5th birthday

Safari Sams is a little more expensive thant Chuck's place. Most of the video games are more than one token, and there are probably less of them. There is indoor minature golf and a huge climbing, tunnel, play, obstacle course area. You do have to be a little bit older to get over the first obstacle in the 'Black Diamond' course - but you'll have fun. Even if you are a bit older than 9 years old....

Connor counts his tickets at his 6th birthday party

This looks easy - but don't be fooled

What kind of magnet is doing that?

What do you think? Would you rather play with a mouse, or a lion?

Or would you rather clean up the chocolate cake footprints from your whole house?

Connor loses a tooth...don't worry, we found it!

Today in church, Connor lost his 3rd tooth. Just after having a conversation with Mrs. Jane Van Ryn before the service about her grandson just having lost a tooth...


Just in time for school to start this week. And school photos to come in the next three or four weeks.

Ah...remember 1st grade photos?

Connor's first soccer practice

Connor had his first soccer practice this week, at 5:30pm on Monday. After last week with nice sunny days - the first rain in a few days began at 5:15pm. It really didn't matter to Connor. He was soaked to the skin after running around in the rain for an hour. The practice was held on the artificial turf of the Tualatin High School football field. So - even though everyone got wet, no one got muddy. Nice!


The soccer practice was a new thing for the Tualatin Soccer Club this year. It is an eight week camp run by the UK International Soccer Camp. Connor's coach is named Gaff - he is from northern England. The other coaches were from southern England and from London. The accent is very evident. Connor learned a lot. He had been playing soccer at recess at school, and this was the first time he was in an organized team sport. He has been doing gymnastics for a few years at Metro Gymnastics - and he loves that, too.


He learned some new skills and even has some homework - he was told to practice his drag-back technique. That is fun homework!

Tour de Cure Update #3

It has been winter here in Oregon. Some flirting with snow, but mostly rain. February was actually quite dry - not sure what is going on there, but it prevented flooding as the mountains have lots of snow.

So - our training for the upcoming Tour de Cure has been slow. We almost got out and biked some recently, but Brian has been sick on and off for the past two weeks and had no eneregy to do much more that sit and breathe.

Last night we were invited to Tegan and Connor's cousins' Lanee' and Cendra's birthday party. Cendra's birthday is in February and Lanee's is in March, but they sometimes have a party together. This year the party was at the Canby Swim Center. When we got there, we found out that they had setup the party as a fundraising event for our Tour de Cure team - Team Tegan and her Daddy! Both Cendra and Lanee' had asked for donations to our team instead of birthday gifts. And the grand total was just over $500! Hurrah! That is over 10% of our team goal of $5,000. We can't thank Cendra and Lanee' and the Bare family enough. Thank you!

And thanks to all who came and swam and ate pizza and cake and had a great time!

Tegan and Cendra enjoy the party

Jacob and a friend clown around

Everyone waits for cake!

Connor loves the pool and the pizza

Another Jib Jab Movie

Connor recently had his kindergarten classmate, Brody, over for a playdate recently. They decided they wanted to put together a dance number. Click here to see the show.

Another movie starring the Johnsons!

In the same spirit as the Office Max - Elf Yourself website - we are now starring in a snowball fight movie! Our nephew Kyle joins in on the fun.


Click here to view it.

We've been Elf'd!

We got an email from Aunt Paula - there is an Office Depot website where you can upload photos of yourself (and 3 more people) - and you become a singing elf group. You can even call a toll-free number and record a greeting. The message is available within seconds of hanging up the phone.

Here are the two elf groups we spent some time creating. Enjoy!


http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9582111846

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9586601784

Putting up the lights

Yesterday was a great day to put up the Christmas lights. We usually wait until after Thanksgiving, and by then it is usually raining. We had a nice sunny day, blue sky, and probably temps in the 40s-50s.

I did have some helpers...

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Mick put up the lights on the front yard fence, and I hung the icicle lights on the house. Still can't quite get up to hang any from the top story of the house...the ladder just isn't strong enough, and a little bit short to get up there safely.

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The lights did have a few burned out bulbs - so I replaced them before I hung the light strings....

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Maybe this wasn't the best method to get the lights out...or I should have unplugged them first.

Tour de Cure Training #2

We begun our training for the Tour de Cure. The Tour is on July 26, 2008. We've got over 8 months to go - and we're doing great! We drove our bikes to the Tualatin Community Park, and biked about 3.5 miles over the new bridge over the Tualatin River to Cook Park in Tigard. Mick and Tegan each rode their own bikes, while Connor rode the tag-a-log connected to Brian's bike.

It was a nice sunny day that was supposed to be rain - a perfect autumn day.
Check back for more training updates.

The fence is fixed

After 6 months - our backyard is again fenced in...

Yukon is still chained up, as he never met a fence he couldn't jump, dig under, crawl through, eat.....

 

Daddy's big helpers!

Here are Tegan and Connor - collecting rocks to use at the bottom of the fence post hole. We'll make sure these posts last more that 15 years this time....

 

Working on the fix

I took Kevin's advice and instead of putting the posts in the same spot, I replaced the end section that was 6 feet long, with one of the 8 feet sections. So - I had a two foot offset, and could leave the old concrete in the ground. Here is me digging one of the middle holes.

 

The middle and the far right post holes....how do I get these out of there? Build a scaffold with a smooth rod so I can pull them out? Tie balsa wood on them and flood the hole? Dynamite?

This is the middle post - the concrete crown is much wider - the hole must have been dug with a shovel and not a post-hole digger. This one I haven't completely dug out yet.