The weekend

After the Kick-off I came home, took some meds and went to bed. Yep...it was 5pm on a Saturday night! I was just tired for some reason and in a funk. I also planned on staying in bed on Sunday, but Jamie nagged me until I went up to the lake with him. He wanted to make sure everything was okay with the boats and shed after the flooding, snow & storms. Moxie was VERY excited when we got to the campground and couldn't wait to get over to the island!

The small boat was okay!

everyone's decks were under water still - it had gone down 1ft overnight tho

(in the background) - the same deck over the summer

The goat house flooded - KC was shoveling it out

our tent didn't make it

the new 20" propane stove/oven

Lilly was so happy to see Moxie!

yards & docks were under water too

(in the background) - same deck/chairs over the summer

the same dock over the summer

As you can see, the tent didn't survive the snow, so visitors will have to bring their own from now on. Oh - T, can we borrow your tent again for Relay?? : ) It didn't take us long to get things out of the tent and cleaned up - luckily it was all stuff that could get wet.

RFL 2009 Kick-off Event

We held our Relay For Life of Hillsboro Kick-off Event on Saturday, January 10th. We have a GREAT group of youth that are always willing to help out, as well as new Committee members that are eager to plan. Of course, there are those of us on the Committee that are still volunteering several hours a month - but it's always nice to have 'new' opinions and thoughts!

It was a relief to hear so many people excited about the Relay moving to the Washington County Fair Complex. Most people just wanted to know more about the layout and are looking forward to all of the new opportunities that the Fair Complex will bring. I also heard many people excited about being able to have the Luminaria lining the track now. Hopefully they'll be patient with us as we continue to learn and make changes at the Fair Complex!

We also had a wondeful speaker - Diane Dennis, author of 'The Hourglass: How to Live as Time Flies By'. You can purchase her book from her website and Diane will donate $5.00 from each sale back to the Relay for Life of Hillsboro. To get more information about Diane and her book, go to http://www.coachdianed.com/. I bought the book and am enjoying it!

Girl Scout Cookie Time!!

It's Girl Scout Cookie time again!! Please let me know if you would like to support Junior Girl Scout Troop 1054 again this year. The price of cookies has gone up again this year ($4 per box) but the girls will also receive more ($.95 per box). My girls have not yet decided what they would like to earn money for, but they will be discussing it over the next month.

There is a NEW cookie again this year, the Dulce De Leche. Sadly, they have decided to discontinue the All About cookie in exchange. Cookies available are as follows:

SAMOA - Chewy and rich! Tender vanilla cookies, covered with caramel, rolled in toasted coconut, and striped with a rich, chocolaty coating. Approx. Count per pkg: 15

TREFOIL - Light and delicious! Delicate-tasting shortbread that is simple and satisfying. Approx. Count per pkg: 36

THIN MINT - Extra thin, extra minty! A thin wafer covered with a smooth chocolaty coating. Made with natural peppermint. Approx. Count per pkg: 28

TAGALONG - Wildly popular! Tasty cookies topped with creamy peanut butter and covered with a luscious chocolaty coating. Approx. Count per pkg: 15

DO-SI-DO - Peanutty excitement! “Naturally Good!” Crisp and crunchy oatmeal cookies with creamy peanut butter filling. No artificial color or flavor. Approx. Count per pkg: 20

LEMON CHALET - The height of lemon flavor! Uniquely designed to feature Our Chalet,
this delicious vanilla sandwich has a hint of cinnamon-ginger spice and a refreshing zesty lemon creme filling. Approx. Count per pkg: 20

SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP - All of the taste, none of the sugar! A classic favorite with real chocolate chips — now sugar free! Approx. Count per pkg: 15

DULCE DE LECHE - As fun to say as they are to eat! Inspired by the classic confections of Latin America, these sweet, indulgent cookies are rich with milk caramel chips and stripes.
Approx. Count per pkg: 15

You can also purchase cookies to be donated - we will be donating our cookies to the Oregon Food Bank.

an email

I got this email today and I totally understood it! Welcome to my life...

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This is how it manifests itself:
I decide to water my garden.
As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.
As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier.
I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.
I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.
But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.
I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left.
My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke I'd been drinking.
I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.
The Coke is getting warm, and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need water.
I put the Coke on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.
I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.
I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the lounge where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.
I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.
So, I set the remote back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day:
the car isn't washed
the bills aren't paid
there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter
the flowers don't have enough water,
there is still only 1 check in my check book,
I can't find the remote,
I can't find my glasses,
and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all damn day, and I'm really tired.
I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail....

I do usually get (or feel like I get) things done! I would have to add in there somewhere that I 'wrote a list'. I write lists of lists of lists tho...thank goodness for Post-its!

I'm falling apart!

I think I'm falling apart...and I'm only 33! So...my toe is feeling a bit better but it sore by the end of the day if I'm up and walking around at all. (I've been home by myself the last few days, so I'm moving around probably more than I should.) Most of the swelling and bruising has gone away tho - I keep it taped up. It still doesn't feel good to wear shoes - thankfully I have Crocs! My armpits hurt too much to use the crutches anymore...am I complaining now??

But then, last week, one of my bottom wisdom teeth started to bother me. I let it go for a while. Then...this Monday or Tuesday I started getting an ear ache and sore throat - I figured it had to do with my tooth so I called the my dentist. (Whom is in Forest Grove and is the only reason why I ever go back there anymore.) He is, of course, off on Wednesdays so he fit me in today. (I should also mention that my face was also swelling - I may have scared the people in my camera class.) It's not really my tooth, but I have an infection in the gums around the tooth - which is causing the ear ache and sore throat as well. He's been wanting to pull my wisdom teeth for years now - he may have a good reason now! I didn't get any pain killers (how dumb of me not to ask!) but he prescribed me some Penicillin and said it should be better in 48 hours. (Of course Penicillin has some terrible side effects for women.)

When do I get to go 'back to normal' - or whatever that is for me!!??

203 Posts!

I can't believe it - I'm on my 203rd post already!

Thanks for following my blog (both of you) I enjoy doing it! Even though I feel like this some days...

Boy, sometimes I look like that too!! (Okay...maybe there are 4 of you.) Just wait until I'm a famous photographer...then you'll read my blog!! : )

Garibaldi

So...after the roads finally opened back up, Makena and I made it to Garibaldi. It was just for Saturday and Sunday, but it was a good visit! My mom hasn't had a tree in a few years so we had to make it down there! I'm always calling her a 'humbug'.

smellies for momma

gold mining accessories for Papa

It started snowing again on the way home. I stopped to get some pictures of a waterfall. I did get a couple of good pictures, but ended up falling through a snow pile and hurting my broken toe. As I was hobbling back to the truck, Makena said that she was going to tell Jamie on me. (And she did! Jamie threatened to take away my camera.) I also had Makena take some pictures from the truck. I had to turn around a couple of times tho because we missed some good shots. We were laughing...it was fun! She took some really good pictures while I was driving - she said her face was freezing off tho so I let her roll up the window. : )

she's sticking her tongue out at me

yep...that's the waterfall

Some pictures

Here are a few pictures that I took at my momma's house last weekend. I was just playing around with some features, trying not to have to use my flash in the house. Hopefully by then end of my camera class, I'll actually know what to do instead of just hitting a bunch of buttons!

Momma's pretty tree

Santa under the tree

do you see the tree light reflecting on Santa? Do ya??

Can you see me in the ball? (Makena was laughing at me)

Focusing on the light bulb behind the pine cone ornament

Now focusing on the same pine cone ornament.

I wonder if I can get closer to her! : )

Fire!! (I was impressed with myself)

Isn't it cute?!? (Momma was laughing at me now)

Even though Makena was laughing at me while I was taking them...an my mom was laughing while looking at them (there were A LOT of pictures of the same thing)...I did actually plan the photos this way. (That's what good photographers do I guess!) : )

Camera Class

WOW...a lot of information in just 3 hours of my first camera class. The first thing the instructor said was the that first three classes were going to be the most confusing but to stick with it. I'm gonna!! I think once I start taking pictures (the same shot) changing the functions between each shot, I'll know more about what each function does. Until then...WOW... We do have one field trip at night - we go downtown to Pioneer Square. (ALWAYS a fun place for photos, day or night.) And we'll also be traveling to Sellwood very early on a Saturday morning. (He's suggesting Jan 31 but that's the day we have our Relay Casino Trip so I'm not sure how that's gonna work.)

Oh Kathy - now I know what the heck Karen Russell is talking about when she says f8 or f1.4!! But that's about all I know... : )

Makena's pictures

I'm so proud! After I was done 'playing' with my new camera at my mom's, Makena wanted to try it out. I didn't really see what she was doing until I went in to edit my uploaded photos yesterday. She had even already edited her pictures on the camera! She starts a photography class in Art next week, so I think we'll have some fun with that. (She thinks she's gonna borrow my new camera.)

the "original" shot

"fish-eye" editing

"Sepia" editing - with a little sparkle

Her own person

Makena is really enjoying shopping for clothes now. And she definitely is her own person! We had to run to Hot Topic yesterday to get the final goodies for this outfit...

A tu-tu of course! She's been looking at them for a while so we went shopping. She started wearing leg warmers and arm warmers a few months ago - I don't recall ever liking leg warmers but I'm not the one wearing them. : ) Plus, she enjoys expressing herself with her clothes - an not in a trashy way - gotta appreciate that as a mother! Looking cute Pook!

Blogger...arggg

So...I've edited a ton of pictures (cuz I took a ton of pictures) and was ready to load some of them on here to share. Well...Blogger decided it's not going to let me load pictures right now. I know, I know...we all have to be patient.

I have my first camera class tonight and I CAN'T WAIT!! It's a 10 week class - 3hrs every Wednesday night. And, it's just off of 185th on Walker Road - so I don't have to drive too far. I've gotten a few extra accessories for my camera - an extra battery, a larger memory card and some leashes for my lens caps. (Those lens caps can loose themselves very quickly!) I think I'm ready to learn!

Relay is moving!

Apparently a football invitational is coming to the Hillsboro Stadium the same weekend that the Relay For Life of Hillsboro 2009 was scheduled, so we had to move or change the date. The Committee decided to change the event site and I think it will be a great opportunity for us. We are moving to the Washington County Fairgrounds! This is a much larger site that will allow us to continue growing. There are more changes for us there as well (like tent stakes!) and we were planning to move there next year anyways. It's going to be a 'change' for the Committee as well to get everything organized, but I think it's going to be a good thing!

Our Kick-off Event is this Saturday (Jan. 10) at Witch Hazel Elementary from 2:00 to 4:00pm. Hope to see you there!!

Relay For Life of Hillsboro www.relayforlife.org/hillsboroor

Etsy accessories

My new camera strap has finally arrived and I love it! I have so much fun shopping on Etsy.com!

This is an iPod cozy that I had made for Makena for Christmas.

We were supposed to leave for Garibaldi this morning, but all of the roads in are flooded and closed. I'm hoping to be able to get there tomorrow so that Makena & I can spend time with family. Jamie decided to fly to Arizona at the last minute to go to the football game tomorrow with 'the other Jaime'. They will both be back on Sunday.

'Why I smiled today' - when Jamie looked outside about 12:30am this morning he saw the big beautiful snowflakes. I was happy to see snow on the ground again this morning.

New Year's Eve

Kylah came over to visit us for a while on New Year's Eve. She was very excited to play with us!

Kylah hid plastic eggs for Uncle Jamie to find

Then we all went over to Lindsey & Brandon's house - it was great to see people that I hadn't seen in such a long time! I'm glad I got to hobble on over - thanks for the invite guys!

see my cookie Auntie?

No Uncle Jamie, you can't have my cookie!

hope to see you again soon! (Lindsey was hiding from me)

You can't really see it, but Lindsey's bow said Happy New Year and blinked

Because I couldn't walk around much (the toe is getting better tho) I couldn't really get many pictures. I'll have to wait for Dylona to share...

Resolutions?

I remember that we spent one New Year's Eve at my grandfather's house and I wrote down a list of Resolutions. If I remember correctly, I was in middle school...I wish I had that list now! I don't think I've done a list since then, probably because I never to stick to them. (Sound familiar?) I was reading an article yesterday that asked "What resolution would you not make this year because you know you'll probably break it?" Hey...now that's a list I may be able to do! Another article that I read reminded me to continue to do the things in my life that I already enjoy doing but maybe do them more often. Those are going to be the things I look forward to doing in 2009!

Some other reminders:

• Shop with compassion (leapingbunny.com) - purchase cruelty-free products
• Volunteer - feel good about yourself while doing good things for others
• Do Unto Others - "do unto others as we would have them do unto us" (yes, this can be challenging sometimes, but in honoring others we honor ourselves)
• Avoid mental toxins - just as you wouldn't mindlessly slather toxins onto your skin or welcome chemicals in your food, be careful about what your brain absorbs
• Exercise - exercise to be healthy, not to change yourself

Whatever your Resolutions are, I wish you the best of luck with them!

Happy 2009!

Wishing everyone wonderful things in 2009!

Jamie, Amber & Makena