Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Pacific Science Center


Seriously, folks, this is only a slice of what we did at the Science Center. We were there from 11:00-5:00 having all kinds of fun. Here's some of what we did:

Brayden looking at his chart, trying to identify different butterflies. I loved seeing all the tropical flowers.

Todd is in "harmony" with nature :o)

We were playing giant checkers when the place was closing and we had to leave.

...So we went on a few carnival rides.


These were the walls of the women's restroom. Click to enlarge and read what it says--I thought it was hilarious.These were hilarious, too. They are stuffed "germs". There's e-coli, mad cow disease, the common cold, head lice, salmonella, etc.
Todd threw this wiffle ball at 38 mph, and beat my lowly 21 mph.
Here is Todd, addicted to learning about addictive behavior.
Dillon's favorite was this giant three-tiered water table with water toys.
Caleb studying the butterflies
Brayden played tic-tac-toe with a giant robot. The robot won.
Caleb Loved this "backhoe" that he could work himself.
Todd's "grip strength" lit up the lights all the way to the top. I made it about half way up...
Shooting water guns at the targets
Todd in the hamster wheel
Playing virtual soccer!
If you look close, that's Brayden and Caleb on the screen
Caleb took this picture of Todd and I playing virtual soccer.
Todd forecasting the weather.
Giant table and chairs.
Riding the ferry into Seattle
Standing under the Space Needle. It would've cost our family $50 to ride to the top, and then you have to pay for food in the restaraunt in addition...we like our ground shots just fine :o)
Digging for dinosaur bones.
I made Todd get his picture taken next to the Therapod eggs. It just sounds like a "therapy nerd".
We watched a live boa constrictor demonstration.
We also saw an awesome 3-D IMAX movie, touched live sea anenomes, learned how toilets flush, and played around on a million other exhibits. As you can see, we had a great time.

A Perfect Day

On Monday we went to Fay Bainbridge Park on Bainbridge Island. We had a great time just "playing" by the water. The kids threw rocks in the ocean, collected seashells, played on the playground, and then we had a picnic lunch. It was a perfect day--wind and all.



It's so fun to have all the grandkids together. Larry and Wendi have 6 boys (2 are foster kids), We have three boys, Aaron and Cherish have 3 girls, and Michael and Becky are having their 3rd girl in February.

Back row: Dillon, Caleb, Brayden, Grandma, Koby, Devon, Amber
Front row: Brandon, Emily, Makenzie, Brayden W., Zachary, Joshua, Cayleen, and Sydney Jo


Back row left to right: Larry, Michael, Todd, Aaron
Front row left to right: Elizabeth, Linda


Back row: Wendi, Becky, Felicia
Front row: Cherish, Linda, Elizabeth

I just LOVE my niece Amber's curly red hair, so I take pictures of her whenever possible :o)

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

We miss you Grandpa!

All of Todd's siblings (including ourselves) got together last Sunday (the 21st) to be together on the anniversary of his dad's passing. It was the first time we were able to see the headstone. It was nice to be with family and observe that even though we miss him greatly, we are all doing well and moving forward, which is what he would have wanted.

The flamingo was a "joke" that Dave and Linda and some good friends would leave in each other's yard (and other places) just for fun. I guarantee that Dave is smiling in heaven.

After church we went to the cemetery. We had a family prayer, and then each of the grandkids got a balloon to release for Grandpa. They had the option of writing a message on it, and then Grandma cut the strings one at a time and we watched them until they disappeared.


We sure miss you Grandpa!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Fishing for carp...or crap?

Oh, how I wish I had a picture to go along with this post, but my camera batteries were dead--again.

Yesterday I caught Dillon fishing with his
Scooby-Doo fishing pole...
IN THE TOILET!

I considered re-creating the scene so I could take a picture,
but I'm afraid I'd just be asking for trouble...

Friday, October 12, 2007

Lucky number "7"


Thanks Aunt Char for this cute picture!




Grandma Graves and I picked out the same wrapping paper,
and since Grandma Salisbury had me wrap all her stuff,
EVERY gift was in the same paper!



So the "Grandma's" can see what he got (left to right; top to bottom):
Coin collecting kit (state quarters), Crayola cutter, foam puzzle of the United States, Spider Man 12 pocket expandable file, "Fly Guy" books, sticker kit, pop-up card kit, pumpkin tatoo's, Transformer's Journal, make your own puzzles kit, sweatshirt, Power Rangers, and shirt and pants. Optimus Prime will be arriving from ToysRus.com shortly (hopefully tomorrow).




Brayden's big surprise from Mom and Dad was his own "Art area" in the basement.
It's full of paper, scissors, tape, glue, string, pipecleaner, pom poms, jewels, beads, popsicle sticks, wiggly eyes, stickers, stencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, fun foam, paint and paint supplies, and different punches and "wacky" scissors.

He's an artist, you know.

We'll have to post some of his work soon.



Other activities for the day included a pancake breakfast made by Todd. He put the batter in an old ketchup container and spelled out Happy Birthday.

Dillon and I went to school to have lunch with Brayden, and now we're going to Richfield to run a few errands and have his birthday dinner at Winger's.

Happy Birthday Brayden!



Brayden opening a Crayola Cutter from Grandma (Linda) Graves



Dillon got this Curious George Kaleidoscope from Grandma and Grandpa Salisbury. It was wrapped in Elmo paper and he knew the minute he saw it that it was for HIM!



Brayden wanted a pinata, so we invited the neighbor kids,
who were curiously watching across the street, to join us.



The pinata was all $6 worth of fun.

Friday, October 05, 2007

Grandma's Kitchen Quilt

This is a picture of the quilt that my friend Becky and I are going to make. The picture doesn't do it justice--you have to see the detail in person. Someone sent it to Becky to be quilted, and we went in together and bought the pattern that very week. It was designed by a lady in Draper, and she has designed two more quilts like it: one with antique cleaning supplies, and one with antique sewing supplies.

It is almost ALL applique, which I'm excited about because in the evenings when I'm too tired to go downstairs and sit at my sewing machine, I can sit by the fireplace and do handwork.

Becky used to own an antique shop, so she's more familiar with this vintage stuff than I am, but I'm pretty sure that all the dishes, and utensils in this quilt are copied from real dishes from the time. Becky owns some of them. Do you recognize any of this stuff? The cookie cutter, the Jell-O mold, the tulip bowl, the green or red handled spatulas?

I have no idea where I'll put this quilt when it's finished, but I fell in love with it, so I'm making it anyway.


I'm taking votes for which "handwritten recipe" I put in this quilt. Grandma Salisbury's Cinnamon Rolls? Bread Pudding? I actually have one of Grandma Taggart's recipe books and it's FULL of handwritten recipes that she stuck here and there between the pages. Maybe I'll copy one of those...