Simply Snippets!

It all started with a sleepover for Lyndsi's 9th birthday.....well, it didn't really start there but that's where I'll start the update! Two months have gone by since our last update.....2 months! A lot happens in the Streeter Family in 2 months! First, Lyndsi turned 9. That means it's been 9 years since we had a new baby in the house! My womb aches when  I start thinking like that! I'm pretty sure we'll be going more than another 9 years before we have a new baby around  the house so we'll just have to live through other families with babies! Anyway, Nana and Grandma planned and put on a lovely tea for Lyndsi and 7 of her friends (and Dylan!). Then mom and dad took over for the sleepover. Wow! We had a bunch of fun girls running around and spreading girl drama cheer all night long! I'm sure they all went home and napped the day away..maybe?

 

 Oh, Tigger....you make us laugh on a daily basis! Yes, we now own a rooster. We had a hen but she died during her first egg laying experience. That was a traumatic night for me and a sad morning for the rest of the family. But Tigger.....Tigger is our manly rooster who feels the need to chase down intruders and terrify neighbors with his talons and beak. Lyndsi climbs the highest limb and Dylan runs far, far away when Tigger comes out of his coop. I just grab the nearest rake to fend off his aggressions! Yes, Tigger terrorizes us but we love him! He's all show....no bite. In fact, I think he thinks he's a dog! This day, I was sitting at the kitchen table listening to Tigger crow when, all of a sudden, there he was! He perched on our bar-b-que and peaked in our kitchen window at me. Apparently he didn't like being ignored!

 Sixth grade trumpeter...Dylan that is! We went to Dylan's first band concert last week. All band and chorus groups from the middle school and high school performed a selection of holiday and seasonal music. I was pretty impressed by the sixth grade band! They outnumbered the other bands and played like they'd been playing together for more than a year! Dylan loves his newest venture into music.

 Did I mention that Dylan is a sixth grader? And have you noticed that sixth graders lose their sanity for a bit? Well, this sixth grader has definitely gone mad....he VOLUNTEERED to take the Polar Plunge! Every year, the middle school/high school students hold a penny drive to raise money for the local food bank. The more money raised, the more jumpers jump. Sixth graders jump every year because they are first on the list. So this year, it was Dylan's turn. He and his buddies jumped into this pool of freezing water - and then jumped right back out again! Unfortunately, the air wasn't much warmer than the water so they didn't warm up for quite some time!

 And now another birthday party! Dylan turned 12 this month. He opted for the casual bowling party with several of his friends over the sleepover of last year. Fine by me! Dylan also has a fun group of friends and I love watching them interact with each other during birthday parties!

Christmas is just around the corner....we've held our annual Cookie and  Beer Party and now I just need to wrap our presents...oh, and get those Christmas cards out! No one really expects me to be on time with the cards, though, right?

Happy holidays!

I Get a $10 Credit at Shutterfly

If I post my project at Shutterfly. So I did! If you're wondering what the heck I'm referring to, check out the previous post. I couldn't remember how to link you to it, I'd do it - but I don't Sorry!

The project is a thank you card for Walt and Cheryl Sines. They gave us their canoe and I wanted to thank them in different way. So I tried the card - pretty easy!

Here are a couple of pictures from the card and from our first trip on the river with the canoe.

Dylan and Lucy had a fabulously messy time romping through the muck along the river bank! Dylan's friend, Max, was thrilled with the mud as well.... I preferred the views from the cleanliness of the canoe bed!

5x7 Folded Card

Classic Blue 5x7 folded card

Check out our modern shower invitations by Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Good Morning World!

Look at the gorgeous pictures Lyndsi took the other morning! The sky was blazing with color and Lyndsi took advantage of being up early to memorialize the morning for us. We live up on a hill and have a great view (it would be even better if our good neighbors across the street would shrink their house down a bit - just kidding, Baums!).

Isn't she a cutie!!!! Lyndsi, my little girl, has begun the process of moving her teeth around to make them all fit! Braces.........who would've thought that Lyndsi would have braces at 8 years old? Actually, we knew this was coming. Lyndsi has been seeing an orthodontist since she was 4 because of her bite. However, it still shocks me to see her cute little smile.

Sorry.....still no after haircut picture for Dylan!

I Know! I Was Surprised Too!

So Dylan tells me a while back that he's ready to cut his hair....You'd think I would be jumping up to dial the nearest barber and getting him in ASAP....But I didn't. So, fortuately, Dylan still wanted his hair cut last week when I was able to get him in to Giddyup, the local salon. He still has his shaggy boy cut but it looks great! And I think he's happy it's so easy to care for!



  



Last weekend was the Okanogan County Fair - one of our favorite annual events. The kids entered a couple of art projects and some garden squash. Fortunately, they both got blue ribbons on everything! This big mama gave birth to 16 little piggies on fair opening night. We were lucky to see them all the next morning. Talk about cuteness! Of course, then they grow up to be like their mama....

First Day of School 2011!

School started 3 weeks ago but I've been in that "back to school teacher fog" that I get every September. Don't worry....it goes away....but that's why I haven't shown any pictures or blogged since August. Lyndsi is in 3rd grade and Dylan is in 6th. Dylan goes to a whole new school this year and has a locker! I am having trouble not seeing him around my school and not really knowing what he's up to. However, I think Dylan is more excited about school this year than I've ever seen him! He even made me come see how he opened his locker :)

It's All Changed!

Blogger that is! I ignore my poor blog for a while and, when I come back, it's all changed...... I'm pretty sure I'll figure it out but my dashboard looks different!

And on to more of the Streeter summer! Did I ever write that we have 2 chickens? Tigger and Rose live in a coop next to our house. They are the funniest creatures I've ever owned! We let them out a bit everyday to roam around the yard and to "help with weeding" as you see below...... OK, so they basically destroy my pots and flower beds but they are so darn funny, I don't care!



In this picture, Tigger and Rose are bathing in the potting soil. They literally bathe! The first time I saw them roll around in the soil, I thought maybe they'd been poisoned and were seizing - now I just think it's funny!  

I wish you could see their feet flapping in the air when they do this!

 Stampede 2011

Yvette came to town! Woo hoo! This year, Yvette happened to be taking some vacation time at the same time as the Stampede. Instead of taking I-5 south, she came into the states on the smaller highway 97. It just so happens that 97 runs right through my little town! So Yvette, Steve and I took in all the sites of the Saturday rodeo. I'm always a bit worried that visitors won't want to come back once they've been to the Omak Stampede but Yvette is talking like she might be back next year. Thank you, Yvette!

 Sooo....several years ago Steve sold his treasured motorcycle because he wasn't able to use it as often as he wanted. The poor guy has been drooling over his friends' bikes, wishing for his own (though he could always borrow Mike's from next door!) for many years. This little baby caught Steve's eye as it sat on the side of the road with a bold for sale sign......and now it's in our driveway.....he's happy and the kids love it so I guess I like it too.

 Middle School?

 Does anyone else have trouble believing that my sweet baby boy, who loved shopping with me and working in the yard with his dad....is in....MIDDLE SCHOOL! There is no more shopping! Sixth graders in Okanogan go to the middle school. They still have a homeroom teacher who they are with most of the day, but they have their supplies in lockers and they travel to the other classrooms for different subjects. Today we went to the middle school so Dylan could show me how he opens his locker. He was so proud of his achievement!

So that's it in a tiny nutshell.....so much more to catch up on but it will have to wait until I'm not so sleepy!

Snippets of a Streeter Summer!

So much to see! So much to do! So little time to share it all! With 3 weeks left of our summer break, I thought I should probably get back into 'blog mode'. I love my blog but I sure have been neglectful! After I finished my thesis, I had a hard time doing any writing on my computer. I think I'm better now!

One of my first requirements in my Master's program was to write myself a letter telling myself what I hoped to accomplish in the next 2 years. I was to congratulate myself for committing to the program and to explain my concerns. No one but me was going to see the letter (remember, I was in an arts based program - somewhat touchy feely!). In this letter I told my self that I would be going to Disneyland when I graduated. I also told the kids and Steve we would be going to Disneyland because they were making huge sacrifices for me to go back to school. So - to Disneyland we went!

What a fun trip! We took the train from Spokane to Anaheim, with a full day's delay in Portland (that story is worth it's own blog post!); spent 3 exhaustingly fabulous days at Disneyland (weather and crowds were pretty close to perfect!); took the train to San Diego to play with dolphins and Shamu at Seaworld and to visit the animals in the zoo; spent part of a day in Old Town, San Diego; took the train to Los Angeles; got lost in Chinatown trying to find our hotel while lugging all our luggage at 9 pm; walked through LA's Farmer's Market, into the American Girl Store, down Hollywood Blvd. looking for stars, and watched the sunset from Venice Beach (that was all in one day!); had my coffee taken from the table the kids were sitting at, waiting for me (Yep, a homeless man decided he needed my coffee more than I did. The kids didn't argue!); took the train back to Portland where we got on a bus to Spokane. Whew! It was a great adventure and we all have so many stories to tell!

Here we are on our first day at Disney! Bright eyed and bushy tailed....

Steve spent a couple of nights backpacking in the North Cascades with some of his work buddies. He was physically worn out and his legs looked like a cat climbed them, but he had a great time and will do it again next year.

While Steve was gone, the kids and I, along with Dylan's friend, Max, went to Seattle to take Robyn and Kim to the Sounders vs Manchester United soccer game. I was pretty proud of my driving on this adventure! The game was one sided (7-0 MU) but the crowd watching was so fun! I missed most of the game because of all the people I was gawking at! And the kids (Robyn and Kim included!) watched fewer people than I did and actually enjoyed the game itself!

This is Robyn, Dylan, Max, Kim, and Lyndsi at the stadium. The evening was so pretty!

The following weekend we drove over the mountains again to help friend, Tess, celebrate her 40th birthday. It was a bit like a college reunion! Fun seeing old friends again.

Lyndsi and Rose

Yes, Lyndsi is holding a chicken! We are the pleasantly, surprisingly happy owners of 2 white chickens. I say white because we don't know their breed. Also, I suspect we own one rooster and one poulet. See how much I've learned! Our furry feathered friends started out as eggs in an incubator in my classroom, then became chicks in a bin in my classroom, and finally chickens in a coop in our backyard! A very generous student donated the eggs and then graciously gave me the chicks when school was out. Yes, I wanted them, though I wasn't real sure what to do with them. Thank God for the internet! So - I am predicting you will be hearing a whole lot more about Tigger and Rose, our newest pets!

Max and Dylan at Omak Lake

We are so fortunate to live where we do, we sometimes forget to take advantage of all the beauty around us! The above picture was taken at Omak Lake. We spent a day there with our friends, helping their daughters celebrate their birthdays. Omak Lake is beautiful and the day was perfect!

Last Sunday our neighbors asked us to take a boat ride up the Okanogan River. Another perfect day! Okanogan River is also a beautiful body of water that seems to be somewhat unknown. We put the boat in the river at a town named Riverside, drove north to Tonasket (about 20 miles), then cruised back. We spent a lot of time at the beach in the picture below. You can't see this stretch of the river from the highway but it's gorgeous! By this time of year, the water is usually too low for boats and people use tubes to float down.

Steve and the kids along the Okanogan River

In addition to all our adventures we are also experiencing one of the wettest summers I've ever lived through here in Okanogan. Everything is still green and lush, not dry and brown as is the usual for August. However, we have been working on staining our deck most of the summer - It never seemed to completely dry out before the next storm would come through! We're getting there!

So there you have it - a snippet of a Streeter summer....and that was all in July!

Poor Blog

Oh poor, dear, little blog - I'll be back some day! So many pictures and memories to share! Don't forget about me.

I Almost Feel Human Again!

I'm done......I'm all done! I am still in a bit of shock so I haven't celebrated much yet - unless you count sleeping as a form of celebration!

Yep - I now have a Master's degree in Education, Integrated Teaching Through the Arts.

Twenty two months have gone by since I started my Lesley University program. I finished my thesis last month and am now just waiting on my grades. Yippee! I feel like I've quit a full time job.

Anyway, I am here, Steve is here, the kids are here, and we're all doing very well. I've just been a bit distracted lately. I have more of my Daily Photos to post so bear with me as I fulfill my committment to this project.

December 6

This is what our precious Lucy does to anything laying around. Fortunately, this pencil was just a spare.

December 7

This is one of my favorite Christmas ornaments. My parents gave this to us on Steve's and my first Christmas. It is glass blown by a friend of my parents.

December 8

I was home working on a Master's project today and this guy had all the quail in a tizzy. It appears he had captured one of their family members and was eating it for breakfast.....

December 9
Dylan got this new bed set over the summer. Until just recently, his bedtime routine was to start out in our bed and Steve would move him when he fell asleep. Now, Dylan prefers to read and fall asleep in his own bed. Sigh.....I guess he's growing up.

December 10
I love these guys! Every year my students make sock snowmen for their parents for Christmas. I love their little faces peeking over the top of whatever storage box I have on hand. The kids love this project!

Almost Caught Up!

November 30

I got out Christmas decorations early this year! These are some of my favorite little angels. I've been collecting them for years. Steve has always been such a trooper, researching the years the angels were released and then finding them at various little shops around the country!

December 1

I was sitting at the clinic - again - and thought, hmmmm.....guess I could take this picture.....

December 3
Lyndsi and I went downtown tonight to watch Okanogan light up for the holidays. We met Amy, Paige, and Jake Sullivan and spent an hour or so walking around. Dylan and Steve were in Vancouver for a soccer tournament.

December 4

Here's our hotel. We stay here every weekend we come to Wenatchee for our class. The girls at the front desk are all so nice!

Up To Thanksgiving!

November 25

Thanksgiving dinner in Spokane. We were at my parents' house again this year. Such a beautiful table, yummy food, and a loving family.

November 26

Black Friday shopping! My favorite! This year I had Lyndsi, Ali, Erin, Robyn, and my mom to keep me company.

November 27

Snow! And lots of it! Nana and Papa played outside in the snow with the kids all afternoon. They made a snow family, did some sledding across the street, and had a massive snowball fight! Everyone went to bed tired and happy this night!



November 28
We had to get a picture of the kids with their snow family before our drive back to Okanogan. Some of the accessories were missing this morning but the family is still darn cute!

November 29

Dinner at Rancho Chico. Mmmmmm....Took this picture because Dylan asked me to take a picture of him. OK....

Happy New Year 2011!

I know - I'm a bit late in my new year greetings! I do have a good excuse.......I think...

I'm in my last Master's class, which is a thesis class. I've never had to write a thesis before! When you get your BA in teaching, you student teach instead of writing a thesis. It's all a bit overwhelming, while being interesting at the same time. To do everything I need to do, I should take a leave of absence for the next six weeks! That's not, realistic, however, so I'm going to write the best darn paper I can with the 6 hours per day I have until February 28th!

Other than my elevated stress level - all is good here!

Hmmm......let's see....where was I......

November 14

A friend invited me to a girls night out last weekend. We ate a yummy dinner and made these mixes in jars for gifts. Despite my exhaustion I had a fabulous evening with a bunch of women I don't normally see socially.

November 15

Lyndsi is putting the finishing touch on her school birthday goodies. She wanted ice cream with Oreos for everyone! I must say, it was a successful treat!


November 16
Happy Birthday, Lyndsi! For dinner, we invited our whole class out for pizza and cake. About 14 kids came to celebrate with us.



November 18
Don't know where November 17th went.....oh well.
I went to visit with Ani Black at Blackbird Clinic here in town. She is a naturopath doctor and I'm hoping she can help me determine what is causing my severe excema (which I've never had before the last couple of years!). Doctors have done what they will do for me so I decided to try something different. We'll see!




November 19
Yikes! This is what I showered with this morning! Since I'm nearly blind without my contacts, I didn't know I had a guest in my shower until I came nose to nose with her!

November 20

Snow! It snowed a couple of inches today and the kids were in heaven! They spent most of the day playing in the cold.

November 21

I know, I know - never decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving! But this year I couldn't help it! The snow put me in the mood, and I had a weekend off from homework - my decision was made!

November 22

I am having a hard time comprehending that my baby is writing her own thank you cards! So old....

November 23

Brrrr.....this is why we need new windows! Our bathroom is like an icebox when we come in in the morning.

Novmeber 24

I love when we have a free evening to play a game or two! King's Corners is my current favorite family game.