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

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 - Tegan

Here are a few action shots from Tegan's soccer games from last fall. She is quite the soccer stars. Don't you dare blink and miss the action. Keep and eye on her!

It's Mine!

Looking for fear? Look elsewhere. No fear here!

Tegan - princess of the air

Changing the direction of the game - again, in the air

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.

This is the first hole I was digging to put in a new post. Surprise! The previous post was in concrete - and it just broke off. The concrete is 3 feet down. This hole is dug deep enough to where the concrete can be pushed side to side - but I can't pull it up!

Connor and Tegan hope Daddy gets back on the train before the "All aboard!" is called out...

Tegan, Daniel, and Connor had a great day in the sun at the Oregon Zoo.

Even with Daniel's help, Tegan still can't win the arm wrestling contest with a statue at the zoo.