Beauty

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Potential Turning to Reality

Aaron and I spent a good part of today in Tri-Cities at the Home & Garden Show looking at over a billion decisions we are going to have to make the closer and closer we get to our home-building dream. There were so many different vendors there with so many options, I think we left feeling more than overwhelmed with the decisions we are going to have to make in the near future. It is definitely going to be a daunting task!

One decision that is very easy for us is to use Insulated Concrete Formwork for our home’s structure. Basically, what will happen is that we will send our prints to the distributor, and in return, a life-sized three-dimensional puzzle will be sent back to us. We will put it together one floor at a time, and as each level is completed, the centers of the “puzzle pieces” are filled with concrete. Initially, it is a little more expensive than builidng with lumber, but once you add in the exterior wrapping (Tyvek), insulation, etc, it is a much more economical choice. In addition, the energy efficiency of homes built with ICF products is over twice that of a “stick-built” home.

So, when it’s time to build, we’ll be putting together HUGE puzzle pieces that look like this:

We both just really liked this waterfall and pond, so I thought I’d include it, as well.

Ramblings

Reagan is turning five on Tuesday. It is so hard for me to believe that my Baby Angel is going to be that old. I really think she should only be about 2 or 3, at least that’s what I wish she was ~ not really. As much as it makes me sad that she’s growing up so fast, I am so thrilled to be raising this quirky percocious little person. She is full of laughter, orneryness, and energy.

She got a new haircut today, and it is CUTE CUTE CUTE! Scott’s girlfriend, Brenda, cut it, and I love it! It really makes Reagan look much more like a big girl, and the cut suits her face well! I can’t wait until she’s back at our house so I can play around with fixing it!

The Birthday Girl

The theme for the week is definitely all things Tinkerbell. She is going through one of those stages where she really just loves one thing. Here’s a preview of what our house will be covered with this week:

Harley, Harley, Harley. My serious girl. She got to buy a new dress Saturday when Scott took the girls shopping, and it is very pretty. It really suits her. She loves wearing dresses, she’s a girly-girl. She really reminds me a lot of what my little sister, Erika, was like growing up. Always wearing a dress, whether she was playing in the mud or going to church, it didn’t matter, and that’s what Harley is like, too.

She has been practicing for the State Writing Test, and she chose to write about Scott (My Daddy) for her test. Scott gave this to me to read, and I was overcome with emotion. I am so happy that my girl can express how she feels so well, and that her hero is her dad. To me, there is no better hero for a little girl than her daddy, and this writing says it all for Harley. If you click on the image, it will enlarge so you can read it.

In case you are not able to read what Harley wrote about Scott, here it is:

“My Daddy

The thing I love very much is my dad. He is my role modle. When I grow up I whant to be just like him. He is the best dad in the world. I don’t know what I wuold do without him.

My dad is number one dad well he is to me. Have you ever felt like your dad is number one? Well i have. He gets mad a lot but I still love him anyway.

My dad is the only one I can trust. My dad stands up for him self. My dad is as cool as can be.

My dad is nice and he helps people when they are in need. My dad is the one I look up to. I love my daddy verry much.

The End”

Spring is in the air . . .

FINALLY!

Plants are starting to sprout, animals are becoming active, and the weather is starting to warm up a bit.

Reagan’s favorite ~ the Redwing Blackbird

And, remnants of last fall . . .

HAPPY SPRING!

So Much Potential

Bare land. Pretty plain, but with oh so much potential!

The past year and a half have been a real struggle for Aaron and I. We have both changed careers (for the better), and with that came a HUGE drop in income. We have managed to live extremely frugally and work hard to get back where we want to be, and soon, this bare land with so much potential, will be booming with activity.

We are almost ready to start building. Now, I don’t mean we’ll be building within the next month or two, but we are finally at a place in our lives where we can start thinking house plans, square footage, etc. Of course, each of the girls wants their own bedroom; no big surprise there (we’ll just have to see if they get their way). Aaron & I each have certain things that are “must haves”, for example, I want the Master Bedroom on the main floor with the girls’ rooms on the second floor. Aaron’s must have is a big shop.

Anyway, as reality sets in and we get closer and closer to drawing the potential out of this bare piece of land and turning it into our own little piece of paradise.

Off to Day Dream, I go . . .

Have I ever mentioned . . .

how AWESOME members of our little community are? We have a BRAND new High School, our very first year of Seniors, and all of our Varsity Sports Programs are in their infancy. Every week, no matter the weather, our community shows up to support the Irrigon Knights!

This year, our wrestling team qualified three boys for the state tournament. Late last night, we found out that two of the three placed first and second, and the third wrestled well but didn’t place. Mitch Freeman, who is new to Irrigon this year, held in for three rounds in the 189 pound division before losing by points 16-10. Rosario Rios, who is only in his second year EVER of wrestling, made it all the way through to the Championship Round of the 112 pound division, claiming Second Place. Finally, Frankie Torres, who went to the State Tournament last year, wrestled all the way to the top of the 119 pound division, claiming the State Championship!

Like I said, we all found out about their success late last night, and IMMEDIATELY, e-mails began flying around planning a big welcoming party with banners and a police escort from the edge of town to the school. OUR SCHOOL SUPPORTERS ARE AWESOME! At almost 1:00 p.m. today, the boys and their coaches arrived back into town.

Here are some images I managed to get:

(with their police escort)

(this is what was waiting for them at the school)

Mitch Freeman

Frankie Torres

Rosario Rios

Way to go, guys! We are proud of all of you!

More of Emma

These are from her game last Tuesday. She had 5 of the 7 points her team scored, it was pretty fun to watch.

This is my favorite picture of the night. She actually made this shot from OUTSIDE the 3-pt. line, and the referees counted it!

This one was her 2-pt. shot.

Technically, this picture sucks, but I love the mvement of it. I love that you can tell just by looking at it how fast she was moving. Her friend Yvette was setting a great screen behind her. It’s just awesome!

I’m very proud of her!

Donkey Basketball

What fun this was! Last night, the IJSHS Sophomore Class held Donkey Basketball as a fundraiser. They really put together a great show. I rode on the staff team, and I had a blast! It was such hard work trying to get the donkeys to go where you want!

There were four teams total, The Squires (Students), The Dream Team (Staff), Irrigon Fire Department, and Knights Pride Booster Club. There were two preliminary games the first was the Bosoter Club vs. the Fire Department, and the second was the Students vs. the Staff. Then the Championship game was the Students vs. the Booster Club. It was so much fun!

Some fun pictures from the night’s adventures:

(yeah, that’s me trying to drag my donkey towards the ball)

Andrew Timpy trying to get back on.

Dan Combes ~ Ride ‘em Cowboy!

The Championship Team

(Knights Pride Booster Club)

Todd Abercrombie, Avery Schock, Andrew Timpy, Danny Young, Dwight Osborne, Dan Combes, Ken Hackett, and Tera Thomas

Happy Valentine’s Day

This is what showed up for all the girlies in our family today:

The big bouquet of roses were hand-delivered by one very handsome, tall man to me at work. It was such a big surprise, I was shocked! They are gorgeous, and I actually only brought them home so I could take a picture of them ~ they are going right back on my desk tomorrow where I can enjoy them!

Each of the little girls in our family got one of these stuffed animals from Aaron & I, along with a few little treats. Aaron got each of them their own rose, as well. We had a great meal together here at the house, and a nice relaxing evening together.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Reagan’s Rock

Reagan and her “Rock”, Aaron. She sure loves him.

What a great guy to snuggle with and hang out with on a Saturday evening.