Queen Of The Castle

When I came home from the mountain on Sunday, the cats had a new home more fitting to their personalities. Apparently Hannah also had fun in the castle, but cats certainly ruled the roost.

RSVP

Michaela's Musical Theater class at LOHS had their make up performance last night (it was snowed out earlier in the week) as their class final. Taking miscellaneous numbers from several Broadway musicals, the students choreographed them, decided who would be in them, and finally, performed them to a paying audience. It was lots of fun! Michaela actually choreographed 3 numbers, including Be Our Guest from Beauty & The Beast; Skid Row from Little Shop of Horrors; and No Day But Today from RENT. She performed in others, and was really quite brilliant. Of course many others were incredible as well. For example; Noah and 8 girls performing Feeling Good from Roar Of Greasepaint Smell Of The Crowd) had the audience truly excited, especially those of us who know the boy! A superb job by all involved!

Another Snow Day

Yup, no school again, no work for Diane, but I had to truck on in to Gustav's today. It was pretty slow. Vu built a snowman on the bar. Shawna and Molly decorated it with food coloring. I hit Raymond with a snowball as he shovelled the walk. We all drank some coffee. And then I came home. Diane and Hannah had started a snow[wo]man in the backyard...although it looked alot like a wall of snow. Apparently the middle section was too heavy to pick up. So I finished it, with some details provided by Hannah. Pretty fun though. Did I mention that someone in the neighborhood though it was a good idea to create a slolem course down the street by placing 3 foot square snowballs every 20 feet or so? And it's still icy here...so, you either slam into a huge pile of snow, or you swerve around it, spinning out of control and ending up in someone's yard. So as a responsible homeowner, I destroyed them; which was kinda fun in itself!

Snow Day (official this time!)

Yeah, we awoke to heavy snow this morning, and no school for the girls. Diane was going to work from home, but a boss from the county called and said that they wouldn't pay her unless she came in (which would take about 4 hours - with chains!). So she has the day off too. After and hour and a half of not reaching anyone at my work, I called the Rheinlander, and they told me to go to work anyway, cause the chef and GM were on their way, but stuck in traffic. On my way in, Ben called me and told me not to come in. Grrr. Luckily, the roads (sidestreets to be sure) were no problem for the Montero...did I mention it's for sale? Anyway, I challenged some neighborhood kids to an all out snowball fight, and we gathered by the Brown's and had a small war and did some sledding. Michaela bailed out first to go home and make hot chocolate. It ended for me when Hannah poured snow down my pants and up my shirt. She came home a bit later screaming from the cold. Diane took the cats outside to check out the snow. Lucy liked it and would have stayed out to explore, but Susan did not like it at all! All in all, a fun time, and we're nice and warm inside now!

LOHS Winter Formal 2007

Michaela and Peaslee are headed to the Lake Oswego High Winter Formal tonight, after a dinner at The Charthouse with their friends Pei and Mike. We were invited (with the other parents) to go and take pictures at Dani's house, where the girls all got together to dress and such, and will return for an overnighter. Fun fun.

New Year's Day Cat Find

So the camera was sleeping during our New Year's Eve celebration, but Hannah and I decided to make our own Kitty-Find book, like the Where's Waldo? type books. Here's the first picture: Can you find the Kitty in Michaela's room?

Christmastime...

Yeah, it's after Christmas, but I never got around to blogging all of this, what with the excitement of Disneyland and the 23 hour drive home! We left Michaela with her dad, and Peaslee with his grandparents in California. Still, a long drive.

So Hannah sang with the Carol Choir to lead the 3pm Christmas Eve service at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, she even had a solo and a line! Woo Hoo! It was great. Afterwards, we headed over to the big family bash at my cousin Cindy's. That was fun, as always, and during the gift exchange there were no less than 4 coffee related items (we got a cool one-togo-cup coffee maker). I made friends with a 6 foot deranged evil-doctor guy, and Hannah played with her... cousin-in-law? for most of it.

Christmas morning found us opeing gifts by the fireplace. Hannah's Grammy sent her a Pearl Pink Gameboy via Santa. After, we went to my parents for a quick breakfast, and a whole lot of gift opening! Back at home, Diane cooked up prime rib (we stopped at Harris Ranch coming back from Anaheim) and twice baked potatoes... yum yum!

Anaheim Days Of Play...

Still in Disneyland, but will be leaving in the morning. We got in early today, and went crazy in Fantasyland with Hannah leading the way. We met up with Joe, Winter, and Joey and saw Snow White, Mulan, and Aurora at the Fantasy Faire. We also met up with Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Santa Goofy, and Pluto in ToonTown while we waited. Hannah seems to be scared of any dog toons, so Goofy and Pluto did not go in the autograph book. Breakfast found us at Goofy's Kitchen (poor Hannah, she kept faking having to go to the bathroom to escape Goofy and Brer-Bear) where we ate until we could no longer move. I took a nap at the hotel while the rest went back to California Adventure for more thrill rides. We all survived Tower of Terror, and have the t-shirt to proove it! We caught up to Mr. & Mrs. Incredible and Frozone at the Hollywood Backlot, where we went to the Aladin production. It was an awesome day, and Hannah and Diane wept at the exit from the park.

oh, quotes from the trip: "That was awesome! I didn't puke!" - Hannah "I was driving, and I kept waking up." - Diane

DisneyLalifornia Adventure

So we survived yesterday (barely) and were up early for a bonus ToonTown pass which made us honorary citizens for the day, complete with really big pins! That got boring quickly, so we went back to the rides, a quick breakfast of Mickey Mouse Pancakes, and Hopped over to California Adventure. First we caught up with Joe, Diane's brother, and his kids Winter and Joe Jr. We had lunch at Ariel's Grotto, where we got to meet Ariel, Aurora, Snow White, Cinderella, and Belle! There was a High School Musical mini-parade. We also got to see the Muppet 3D thingy, which I loved, and went on the Grizzly Mountain water thingy, which soaked all of us. Afterwards we recuperated at the Hotel Pool. Now it's off to the New Orleans area to meet back with Joe and grab Dinner at the Blue Bayou.

The Wonderful World Of Disney

So day one is over at Disneyland. Wow, are we tired! We're staying at Disneyland Hotel. Hannah likes the roller coasters and most of the rides, except for Indiana Jones (the snakes are scary!). Too much fun to think about typing. Just check out the pics.

Advent Choir Spectacular!

Michaela, along with her boyfriend Sam (aka Peaslee), joined the Advent/Christmas choirs at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church for a special event. It was huge! Hundreds of singers, and at least 15 musicians who actually made up the greater portion of the service Sunday morning. The sermon was short, and the music was spectacular!..even if Hannah did fall asleep.
After church we hopped in the car and drove south...on the way to DisneyLand! Woo hoo! Michaela got to visit a couple of colleges of the arts that she was looking at, and Diane and I got to visit with her uncle Abe who she hadn't see since she was 18 and who lives in Hollywood. Since we were in Hollywood, and I had never been, we had to stop by Grauman's Chinese Theater to check out the stars and the hand prints in front. Cool, says I. I Moonwalked over Michael Jackson's star. Take that Michael! We're at Disneyland now, so stay tuned for more!

Waltz of Michaela

Saturday was Michaela's birthday. But she's a busy girl, and spent most of the day at the Lake Oswego Academy of Dance where she dances and teaches. They had their 3rd annual Open House featuring dances from the Nutcracker Ballet. Michaela was in the Waltz of the Flowers. It was cool.

When she finally came home, we had a cake and presents for her and then she left to hang out with her friends...and Peaslee, her boyfriend, of course!

Mike's New House

My friend Mike bought his first house and I hooked up the LGPC trailer and went to help him move his big stuff over. He lives in SE Portland now, and it's pretty cool...the floors are a little crooked, but other than that, he got a pretty good deal. It took like 6+ hours though. Very tired now.

First Snow

So as I was making Hannah's breakfast this morning, I looked outside and Lo and Behold! It was snowing! And we're talking huge flakes here! It was 33 degrees, so it wasn't sticking, but it was pretty. Diane went out to catch snowflakes on her tongue. She's so cute!

Thanksgiving

We had a near catastrophe this year when, after using the self-cleaning cycle, the oven refused to unlock on Wednesday! after 20 hours, it still wouldn't unlock, and my dad had to come over to help Diane pull it out of the wall, take of the back, and unlock it...and then put it back (I was at work)! So we were able to have our Thanksgiving dinner!

It was actually more of a Thanksgiving Lunch, as I had to go to work (Thanksgiving is one of Gustav's busiest days of the year) in the evening. Diane got up early to put the finishing touches on the pie's, turkey, stuffing, spuds, etc. Michaela took Hannah to see Deck The Halls, so that made for a bit of quiet time for us to enjoy. Hannah ate both drumsticks of the turkey! she loves her drummies! We had 3 pies to enjoy, and then off to work I went! after the necessary viewing of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving that is.

Rainy Day Play

Hannah has been hounding Diane and I to have her friend Rowan come over for at least a week. So, Rowan came over today! It's pretty rainy outside, so play was confined to the house. The girls put on their own makeup, and then Michaela helped them bake cookies, which Diane and I were quite pleased with, cause we were having a lazy day downstairs napping in front of the TV. Ah, to quote the infamous James Marshall Hendrix, "Rainy day, dream away."

Mom's Birthday

So my (Kevin) mom's birthday is tomorrow, but we went over to celebrate tonight. My brother even popped in for a wee bit, just to see his kids. I was surprised (and happy) to see my Aunt Sharon and Uncle Steve there (these days I'm such a slacker that I usually only see them at Christmas...I'm a bad nephew, by my standards at least). My ex-sister-in-law Shanda was there with mom's grandsons, and that was cool, especially since Cole has started walking! Roan (Cole's brother) was pleased that we had brought Hannah along, since they can play together. My parents old friends (and my dad's current boss) Mark and Sandy came by as well. We got to have pie (apple or chocolate cream) courtesy of my sister (who couldn't make it) and Mom got some cool gifts...I mean check it out; she got a Nintendo DS. I don't even have a 64! Hannah had picked out a puzzle of Jesus and a little girl for her as well. So Happy Birthday Mom! Even if it is tomorrow!

Bouncing with Melisha

Hannah was invited to go to a classmate's birthday party today, along with about 25 other kids, at Pump It Up! which is basically a 4000 sq.ft room with all sorts of inflateable bouncie houses and things. So these kids went absolutely crazy for an hour and a half, and then retired to the party room (where I remembered that I had a camera) for pizza, cake, and presents. Melisha got to sit up on a big ol' inflateable throne, along with a crown while people handed presents to her. It was pretty cool, I tell you! As we were leaving, Hannah and Rowan (from school and soccer) set a playdate for tomorrow, so there may be more about that.

Beauty & The...

Halloween Night came and went...and Hannah dressed up as Belle from Disney's Beauty & The Beast. I dressed in all black along with a cape and long black wig. I don't know what I was, but it was weird. And it was a windy night! Well, it's over now, and Diane says that if it's like this next year, we'll dress as Eskimos.

We went over to my mom's to trick or treat (since only mom will give Diane and I any candy!) and I got to scare my little nephews...apparently Spiderman fears the big hairy thing that was Uncle Kevin!

By The Bay...

My folks had to cancel their trip to a "beach" cabin at Netarts Bay near Tillamook this weekend... so Diane, Hannah, & I went instead! Michaela had to work and had school monday, so she didn't come unfortunately...and Hannah...well, it's only first grade! So, we headed out, and arrived before dusk on Saturday, and I must say; it's a nice place. Small, quite, with a woodstove to keep us warm, and a full kitchen. I tell, you, sunday was friggin' cold on the bay! We went down for a walk, but had to come back, as the wind blew Hannah away! Thank God for the woodstove, and plenty of wood (yes Dyke, I chopped more!). We (mostly Diane) cooked chicken soup, tuna surprise, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, and cookies. We went out for oysters and clams. It was very peaceful, except for one thing; Hannah. A 6 year old just doesn't understand relaxation. It was literally every 2 minutes on Sunday that she complained about the quiet and "being bored". Grrrr... but we enjoyed it anyway, and on the way back monday, since we were going through Tillamook, we stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Neither of the girls had ever been, so it was really fun for them. Hannah was especially excited, being the little mouse that she is. She had more than her fair share of cheese tasters, and still had room for Root Beer Float ice cream! Much fun, but I'm certainly glad to be home, although Hannah isn't feeling very well...too much cheese?