Monty did..

amazing this week. He (and the other officers) completed their SWAT training on Friday.  While the idea of him being the "hero" isn't as appealing and comforting as one would think... it is awesome that he has the heart and health to do it.  While our city is glad to have this team in place... we definately hope to never have to call them into action. 

Monty getting his certificate with the department supervisor; Todd,  Mr. GP (SWAT trainer) and the Chief of Police.

sweetie and his official certificate.

Ok, the second thing Monty did after a long week of SWAT training was babysit Friday night so I could have a girls night out!! woot woot! We took the Haunted History Tour in downtown and it was fun. Not scary, but fun.

Sam the freed slave at Orange Hall. He is suspected to haunt his former place of work.
This actor was really good and did a lovely charleston! 

Another stop along the way was the Goodbeard B&B. I can't remember what haunts this one,
 but the ladies on the porch put on a good show!!

I know it's blurry, but the history of the Submarine Museum is always amazing and he shared a story about a sailor that,
of course, died on a sub.. but either way. Again he was very good.

Our small group of ladies and the two "characters" behind us on their lovely boat!

Overall, Friday was a very good day.  Although, I must say second to being out with friends enjoying the ability to talk to them without kids interrupting us... hopping over the short brick wall into the cemetary at night was fun.

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Michelle

Fire Prevention Day at Kody's school!

I spent this morning at Kody's school while they enjoyed a visit from Fire Fighters and paramedics from our city!  It was a great learning experience as well as fun for them!! 

Kody and the paramedic talking about all the buttons and what she does!

Learning about STOP DROP & ROLL

Crawling through the smoke house.

Learning about all the different tools on the fire truck!

Kody driving the fire truck! She was soo happy!!

Her class with all the fire fighters.

Doing the ketchup clap at the end of the Fire Prevention Day.

We have always been in awe of all 1st Responders! They display amazing bravery, work for pennies, and face great dangers for us! We give great thanks to them.

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Michelle

Kody says good bye to Ms. Amy

We learned on Tuesday that Ms. Amy (a teachers assistant in her classroom) is leaving! That darn navy decided to send her husband to Washington state. lame. at least for Kody.  

Together, well mostly Kody, we decided to make Ms. Amy a little going away gift! Kody told me that in "Washington, where Grandpa Leo lives, there is alot of rain. Remember it rained alot and alot the last time we lived at Grandpa Leo's house. Remember?"
To which I replied, "Yes, I remember how much it rains back home in Washington. An umbrella is a good idea. We can buy one and then you can color on it. You can make it a special umbrella for Ms. Amy."
YIPPEE!! is all I hear from her.

She was so excited to start this for Ms. Amy

This is the school, with lots of windows where she goes to learn with Ms. Amy & Mrs. Karen

Kody testing the umbrella.

At this stage in the photos, you should have noticed that she started coloring a red umbrella and now it is black. Well, after she finished the red one, she broke it.
Sidebar: Am I the only one who knows a good umbrella from a bad one? Really does TOTE not sell umbrellas anymore? If so, why don't they sell them down here!! It does rain. Ugh. Sorry Ms. Amy you get a semi good one instead of great one. But honestly, you should be framing this work of art and not actually using it when it rains. hee-hee.

Ms. Amy's umbrella all decorated and ready for use in the Great Pacific Northwest! 
What a lucky girl!

Kody will miss Ms. Amy very much, but we wish her and her husband the best!!

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Michelle & Kody

Kody's Pre-k Fall Festival

Ok, seeing that it is soo awful and politically incorrect to have "Halloween" these days.. it is now call "Fall Festival" and children are allowed to dress up as storybook characters, go around to different little games and get a candy treats. Hmmm.

This morning I was able to go to Kody's school and help out with events and after my alloted time I could walk around with Kody. It was a fun time.  Here are a few of the photos.

Getting pumped up to go outside and get SUGAR!!

The traditional bean bag toss.

This is De-Erra, Kody little friend.
They walked and played together for most of the festival.

Kody, aka BatGirl, in the bounce house.
Because what pre-k festival or party is complete without one!

The good old spoon race, with soup ladels and slotted spoons and plastic pumpkins.

Ah! The candy getting fest comes to an end, her class is all lined up and ready to go inside for...
pizza.

It really was a fun day.  I am glad that I was able to go and be a part of it.  She'll be five in November and I can not believe how fast she has grown! Weeds I tell ya, weeds!!

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Michelle

Pink Big Girl Bike for Kody

Again with the leftover money from my Dad, after the tires, we also got Kody a new bike. She was riding her little bike which we got for her years ago. Honestly, it was just too small. She was thrilled, in addition to the PINK LEGOS (see previous post), she loves her bike!

First time around the block on her new wheels!

Honestly, what kid won't want to ride her brand new, clean, pink bike
through the nearest rain puddle!!

This girl for sure! Now that is the look of a happy girl!!

Here is a video of Kody riding her new bike down our street, she is soo excited. This past summer she finally figured out that riding her bike gave her more freedom so was worth the extra time learning how to ride it!! Now, she is hooked!!

We are becoming a family that rides together.  So a new bike for Kody that fit her (plus a little room to grow) was super important. 

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Michelle

Pink Legos for Kody!!

So, we have a little bit of money (thanks Pumpkin!) so we got tires for the truck (which was badly needed) and spent a little bit on Kody. Consider it a "early birthday gift" from us!

First, in order to combat the barbie doll fever that is slowly creeping into our house. Let me just say that I have nothing against dolls. Barbie, however, is a different story. One which I will not discuss right now...  instead...

we got her PINK LEGOS!!

PINK LEGOS!!



Building her first person with this set.

Daddy watches Kody build.

First little lego girl done!!

Our resident Lego Building Expert (aka Peter-Leo) comes in to "help."

Now, other than my hatred of Barbie (and all things Barbie related) Kody loves Legos. We do have the larger size ones, but she has quickly outgrown them. And besides, these legos have lots and lots of little tiny bits for me to step on in the middle of the night while checking on her thereby nearly waking her up with my muffled screams of agony! 

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Michelle

Saturdays mean soccer

Another fun day at the fields! While they didn't get the win, they did play well.  Here are a couple 'action' shots of Peter-Leo! Yay for having my camera back!!!

Peter-Leo leads the way on a nearly made it score drive!

Peter-Leo running the ball down the field.

Other than the rude parent (from the other team) that I had to be mean to get them to move their chairs out from in front of us to the side of us... it was a nice day to play and watch soccer!!

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Michelle

camera fixed... photo taking madness begins again!!

Yes, my sweetie (aka fathead aka Monty) fixed my camera. Two good things about that 1) we don't have to buy another one and 2) I CAN TAKE PHOTOS AGAIN!

Tonight we went to Peter-Leo's school playground to play and take photos. This is the only good shot of Peter-Leo I got. That boy does not stay still!!

After about 30 minutes of trying to get another shot of Peter-Leo that wasn't blurry, I gave up.
Kody is much more willing to stop and say cheese!!

Going down the 'big' slide!

Swinging all on her own!!

..the photo ham comes out!!

wow. sometimes all I can say is "she is her father's child!"

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Michelle

a broken cars, near shattered dreams and a win for the team!

Wow, that title is not very.. how shall I say it uplifting and positive. Well, except that bit at the end! 

The truth is our, no my, little 2003 Toyota RAV4 is under going some major (and costly) repairs.  It all started last week with a grinning sound and a whole lot of really bad shifting and jerking... now if it was a manual transmission you could blame the driver.. however it is an automatic transmission and it's going to cost us a whopping 4,500$ to replace the computer (that controls the transmission) and the transmission that is now being replaced with a new one.  Moral of this experience: I don't know because I haven't learned that one yet!

However, I am sure that it will end up being something along the lines of Dad to the rescue (again); patience is a virtue that needs some serious attention, being grateful for what you have, and trusting that somehow everything will be alright in the end. right?

RIGHT!!

Onto my least favorite topic, financial aid. Still working on that one, waiting for my college loan to be approved and then we are all set. hopefully.  Quite a bit back I was talking to my Dad (no surprise there) and I came to the conclusion that if I ever wanted to move back home (meaning Washington) I needed to finish my teaching degree so that I could support our family while Monty found a job as a cop.  So, in addition to just generally wanting to feel like I've accomplished something in my life.. I am homesick and have been for since I saw the Columbia River slowly shrink from my sight as we drove from Washington to Hinesville, Georgia in 2004.   I cried for an hour in that big blue truck.  It was miserable for me and for Monty. 

Lastly, a win for the team. Peter-Leo's soccer team.  They played an awesome game on Saturday, while yes they got the W but more importantly they played soo well and as a team! The teamwork these kids displayed was great!! And the parents were just soo thrilled, hardly any of us, cared what the score was. Really!  Of course I'm so proud of Peter-Leo, he got 2 assists! This is a big accomplishment because he is NOT an aggressive player! To finally see some of that happening was just priceless... if only I had a camera!

Oh one more thing...  just a warning... fire ants..from personal experience.. don't step onto their mounds... hundreds will come out and start biting you! And your foot might swell up a bit and it will not be fun.  Heed my advice or your foot will be not good.

Tag! You're It!
Michelle