Below the mantel

Above the mantel

One great day

We thought a drive to Pendleton would be beautiful today (snow on mountains and everything). It was a little foggy for the drive to be perfect, but we went to the Tamastslikt museum and saw an amazing percussionist (who played a beautiful song on a plastic hubcap he'd picked up by the road on the way here) and an even more amazing Native American storyteller (who told some spellbinding stories especially for Ethan, who asked "Do Indians ever use songs to tell stories?"). After this we were starving (it was about 5 and we'd missed lunch), so we went to a cafe in Pendleton and had super good pizza. And root beer. Mmmmmmm. While a bunch of banjo, bass and fiddle players played folk music. On the way home the moon was huge and gorgeous...and deserved a better camera.

Crazy Hair Day

Much improved departure time

Things are definitely looking up.

So nice to come home to

For a while I was thinking we needed a dog, but the cats do come running to the window when we pull into the driveway...

Long day at work

It has lately been taking 2 or 3 days for photos to arrive from my stupid Cingular phone (this one arrived two days after it was sent!) . Which is going to make it easier to bear the fact that stupid Blogger doesn't support photos being sent from Unicel, my new cell provider. Still, it's sad because that's why I signed up for the unlimited photo package!

Meanwhile, since we're between providers for a couple of days, there are 5 working cell phones in this house. Obscene, isn't it? Just think of the children somewhere in the world without even ONE cell phone! A mere three years ago I was vowing never to have one.

Now, I think I'm going to conference call myself from a few of my cell phones or something. Because I can. Also because I am too wound up to sleep.

Lousy picture, great tail sculpture

Simple backyard makeovers

Somehow we got a whim to go to the home show tonight (driving two hours to spend about 90 minutes there...), and this was probably Ethan's favorite exhibit. Dream on, kid.

I've missed a few days with the photos. Work, getting new cell phones, making plans, etc. March is going to be a crazy busy month.

So many thank-you notes

Ethan and I kept busy this evening choosing photos and writing messages to send to his party friends. I know, we're a little late, but at least it is getting done. I found this cool site that lets you create a custom postcard and mail it online. The 4 x 6 postcards we're making are only 84 cents, which includes printing the photo and postage. I may never buy a card again.

Navajo kitty

Cliff's dad did the weaving. Pretty cool, huh?

P.S. Lateness of posts not exactly our fault...Monday's and Tuesday's messages didn't transmit.

He calls this working

I'd rather be reading Jane Austen too.

Bonus photo: Ella!

For obvious reasons, her shelter name was "Got milk." But that was too cute for us. Not that it matters; it isn't like she answers to it or anything.

It's not just for wheelchairs!

Ice cream, blue sky

Life is good.

Casual-challenged Friday

My popular parents

This is just a little of their Valentine loot--a bouquet of 18 balloons from the ALS fundraiser at Principal Financial. Cool, huh?

I'm way 264 my Valentine socks!

Loads of homework

Poor kid...he's only 8. But things get backed up when you are the Daydreaming Boy with the ADD Mom. Sigh.

And yes, tomorrow we will make him wear a different shirt.

The Orca Party