St. Nick

Nick is Swarmed

Here is the cutest baby we can remember! We've decided that he has to make an appearance at every family event from now until he is five years old and starts school. He had a line of nieces and nephew waiting to hold him the whole time he was there!


Darcy and Mike, I had a gift for Nick that didn't get under the tree. It is a "Sleep Sheep" in case you happen to be shopping for one. I'll catch up with you later on it! It was in with Ryan's presents.

Thank you Mike and Darcy

For making my Christmas an unforgettable one. On top of bringing little Nick and a sweet dog to play with, I will never forget opening the hamster toys, the blank look on Bucky's face and the valuable lesson learned to never joke around when making a Christmas list. I really did have a wonderful Christmas and I hope you guys did too!

Merry Christmas from Cle Elum

We miss you and your family ~ we're crying too!
Love, Grandma and Grandpa

Merry Christmas Eve!

Have a great Christmas Eve opening presents and having fudge and eating snacks and looking at the red Christmas ornaments that I worked so hard on every year. I am crying like Susie.

Oh, the photo is from yesterday at the Cliff House in SF - took it with my cell phone. Think what I could do with a real camera...

Let it Snow!

We had 5 inches of snow on Beacon Hill and it's stayed, for the most part. Now Cheasty Blvd. is an ice rink. Occasionally we hear tires spinning in an attempt to make it up the hill. Here are a few pix from our back yard. Can you spot Buster?

Elves You May Recognize

Why pay $4.99 for a download? When you can film a shaky version of Ruth's funny elf-yourself video (starring Nick, K-T and Natalie) right off the computer screen. Nick really busts it out here, btw.

Please post your X-mas lists & plans here!!!

I'm looking for all lists, but mostly from Rachel, Ruth and Sarah. And, so Mom & Dad can plan, post your Xmas plans here too. When/if you're coming to Cle. BTW, we've decided NOT to let Rudolph play in any reindeer games. OK? Ok...

Yours truly,

Santa

Jet sings!

Here's audio of Jet singing an xmas classic. The boy has pipes! (Taken from a voicemail message, coverted to a video, then uploaded. Whew, harder than i expected. Be patient..it starts late and most of the 'video' is black)

Point Guard Emily

Vanessa and I went up to north Seattle to watch Emily's basketball game. Reminded me of my days in Prescott... Emily had a great game, scoring two points and playing excellent defense. Here are a couple of shots of her in action:









Since her team had only two subs, she played almost the entire game. She's point guard and did a great job of leading her team. Good luck in your season, Emily! You were awesome and it was so fun to watch you play!!!

Love,
Aunt Sarah and Vanessa

Video: You can hear the shouts of the crowd yelling, "Shoot, shoot" but Emily unselfishly dishes it to her teammate. What a leader!

Blagojevich = croatian?

Is the corrupt (and amazingly brazen) Illinois governor a Croat?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28139155

Isn't this Carlos del Valle?

been driving me nuts...swear this is the old king 5 sports guy, sans 'stache.

A gift they'll never forget!

Try SNUGGIE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqHSIiAXdSU&feature=related

Did Mike Produce This?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI_xCBAv2rk

I finished my Marathon!!

26.2 grueling miles, but I finished and under 5 hours! The weather was actually perfect--fog acting like a mister the entire way. Vanessa met me every 6 miles or so giving me encouragement and a bit of a Snickers Marathon bar (quite tasty!). Ruth and Natalie brought me a lemon meringue pie at the finish.

Toughest moment: Seeing a 10-year-old AND an 80-year-old pass me at mile 22.

Best moment: Random stranger saying, "Come on, 1748, you got this thing...keep running!"

Nick ponders a "teething cracker"

Off-camera, he noted that the 'teething cracker' was a brilliant bit of re-packaging, and wondered if the marketing guru involved in finding a new way to sell crackers now has a mansion and a pool.

Road Trippin' with Andrew

Andrew and I traveled to Nespelem this weekend to visit mom & dad. We had a nice trip, stopping by Cle Elum to say hello to the house, stopping by Ephrata to say hello to the Mizners, and stopping by the river to sing a song. He sang it so perfectly in the car, I just had to get it on tape.




Mom and Dad's place is HUGE. Lots of space with a cozy wood stove and a new flat screen that makes the house a home :) We watched the Cougs win and the Seahawks lose. Andrew and I played basketball on the court right outside the back door.





Dad gave us a tour of the school (complete with a welcoming plaque from the Superintendent with Elvis's picture instead of dad's) and we shot hoops in the gym. I almost requested the scooters so it could be like old times again...



Mom has made some beautiful quilts lately. I think we should start a website and sell some of them online. Buster spent most of the weekend either sitting on or standing by mom. I think he's hoping he'll be left behind again.

Andrew was an excellent road tripper---he's fun, easy-going, funny, and a really great kid. I'm looking forward to taking another niece or nephew on a trip soon! Who's next??

Cougar Pride!

The important thing is that i never lost faith! Go Cougs!!!

Overheard at the Issaquah Lowes

Jay Buhner, in the home heating air filter aisle, on a cell phone. "Hey, honey--I forgot to measure the damn air filters for our furnace. The big ones. Can you go down and measure? (pause) There's no mouse down there! (pause) Well, then scream and then get me the size of the filters!"

We're all winners

Who was the "winningest" school in your history?

Prescott?

Chimacum?

WSU?

Eastern?

Western?

Central?

Gonzaga?

Personally, mine was Eastern. Intramural basketball champs, intramural soccer champs. Prescott comes close as our Pee Wee basketball team was the bomb! Worst: Chimacum. Didn't win a basketball game in Junior High. Not one.

I'm not watching the Apple Cup

I hereby state: I haven't missed a game since 1983, but I've decided to skip Saturday's game in protest of both teams' miserable-ness. It's just too pathetic to watch.

Turkey Day in Sammamish

We are looking forward to hosting the Olson Family Thanksgiving at our house this year! You can come whenever you'd like. Dinner is at 3 p.m.

We will be making the turkey, gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry salad, and the desserts. And we were hoping that each family could sign up for one of the following items to bring:

• Mashed potatoes
• Stuffing
• Salad #1
• Salad #2
• Green bean casserole
• Cranberry sauce

Just go ahead and post a comment with what you plan to bring. Note: If you sign up to bring one of the salads, please be specific as to the kind of salad. Thanks and see you all in a couple of weeks! Mike, Darcy and Nicholas

Identify this Potential Leslie Puppy

Win the same imaginary Starbucks card that Rachel won for correctly identifying the breed of dog featured in my blog photo i.d..no sarcasm about his or her odds of survival please.

The winning chicken

I believe the word travesty applies best.

Chicken Nick

Did you...?

Don't forget!

Thanksgiving in Sammamish this year!

Details to come.

Cowsills Trivia

I just read that the Cowsills were approached to do a tv series but turned it down because they wouldn't be allowed to have their real mother play their tv mother.

Enter "The Partridge Family".  

Guess the Year

What year did Ruth and Sarah end their record Trick Or Treating run?

1984

1988

1994

2000

Bonus Question: Which 2008 Husky loss is pictured above?

Oregon BYU Stanford Oregon State Notre Dame Oklahoma Arizona

Remember when Buster rode that horse?

His coat looked particularly shiny that day.

Happy Birthday Buster!

We don't know how old you are or where you were born or who your parents are or if you have any brothers or sisters....but Happy Birthday anyway!!

Happy National Day (china)

What a country!

A lion rides a horse in a circus show in Xiamen in southeast China's Fujian province Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. The circus shows are being held during a golden week holiday to mark China's National Day, the 59th anniversary of the founding of communist China.
(AP Photo)

Vanessa is officially employed!!

Vanessa just accepted a job at NeuroVista, a company which is working on a device to help epilepsy patients get an early warning on when a seizure is about to happen. Her official title is Clinical Research Engineer. The timing is perfect as she'll get her first paycheck just when the new Snoqualmie Casino opens!

Guess Nick's Costume for Halloween

Nick may be wearing this 'baby's first boo' outfit in this photo, but that's not what Darcy chose to buy for him to wear on Halloween. First one who guesses Nick's Halloween costume will get a $5 starbucks card. (It's not the hunchback)

What does Nick like more?

What is Nick happier in--the expersaucer that we bought him that has all sort of bells and whistles, or a $4 laundry basket. Clue below.

A couple more favorites

Hard to leave off these two. . .

Mom's First Post!

Hey Everyone,

This post is from mom:

Mary received her official classification as a dental assistant and is now capable and able to do fillings. Way to go, Mary!!! I now have three and a half days subbing, from 1st to 8th grade. The hardest part is getting to know their names, Buffalo, JoLeigh, Rickyna, Lorinda, etc. Saving my money for a new sewing machine.

My Fav

My vote...

I wish we'd never sold the old pick-up. Sigh. 

Speaking of sentimental vehicles

What car are you most sentimental about? The blue car? The Ford Maverick?

Big Return

Well, we've been absent from Sweet Martha, but now all the posts have been read and we're back up to speed. Here are my top three awards for recent posts:

1. Ruthie for using the term "Trail 90" - very accurate. Made me very sentimental for that bike;

2. Cameraman from Duluth snowstorm for cementing the stereotype of men from Duluth;

3. Sarah for sharing camera time with Rachel and Vanessa.

Also - see Emily's Kirkland Triathlon results at www.racecenter.com/results/2008/res_kk08.htm

Ditto!

We DID send a video of us singing to you! Happy Birthday Annie! 

Dancin' Rockin' Annie!

Happy Birthday, Annie!!

We wish we could send a video of us singing Happy Birthday in Norwegian, but instead we'll listen to these happy people. We love you Annie and hope you have a great day!!

Happy Birthday, Lloyd!

In honor of your birthday, and in lieu of an actual gift, I’ve compiled a video tribute of Things That You Like.


Duluth, Minnesota


Teaching


Judo


Camping at Salmon la Sac


Cougar football


Little superstar


Family


Nairobi Trio


Maple bars


Hornblower

Lloyd awakened by neighborhood cats

Much to Lloyd's dismay, an early morning celebration went underway at approximately 6am this morning for the neighborhood's most famed cat lover. Oreo, (far left) says, quote, "I've always appreciated him leaving extra food in the garage for us." The party, hosted by popular newcomers McGregor and Shoogie, was broken up shortly after by wife, Dorothy.

Excitement Builds Towards Dad's Birthday

Who will post first to highlight this amazing man's birthday?

Odds on favorite is Mike, with superior blogger authority, although John may sneak in with a "I've got more time on my side entry".  Ruth, the dark horse, may be just waiting to slide by at the finish.

Fans await with baited breath as 24 hours tick down.

(Yeah, okay, so I only have one photo on this computer)

Ryan Spends His Birthday Money

Here is a picture of my boy with a new do.  Yes, it is a mohawk, also dyed his hair recently.  Check out the new rims as well.  Daniel, Calvin, Andrew, Jet,and Nick take note!

Do I qualify?

Hey Bucky, I added this post under Sarah's name, do you think you could add me to the blogger elites? Consider this video a submission of my blogging abilities.
Rachel
email- leslie.rachel6@gmail.com

Famed actress snubbed

Where's the love(y)?

Natalie gets a sweet ride for her birthday

Happy Birthday, Natalie---From the Natalies!

Happy Birthday, Natalie. We love your name and think you're the coolest 12 year old in the world. Have a great day.

From,
Natalies