Week in Pictures

Too lazy to write too much...so here is our week in pictures. Really a lot of it revolves around food..{what surprise, but at least I'm working out!}.  Started out with some banana muffins with cream cheese frosting. Then.....


Bread baking....



Biome projects - dioramas and presentations....



Surprise gift box from home...



Can you tell that there was a little bit of a frenzy opening up the package. We LOVE our package sending rellies in Sydney.  Now all we have to do its just ration it. That's going to be REALLY hard.

Doesn't This Sound Fun?

The kids decided that they wanted to sign up for the Seattle Kids Marathon in November.  I know it seems like a long way away but time seems to fly and I know it will come around quicker than I expect. Here is the event info...doesn't it sound fun?


http://www.seattlemarathon.org/kids/eventinfo.htm


My brother, sister-in law and their 2 girls will be over from Australia visiting us and they are signing up too.  Well maybe not my brother....he is going to be the waterboy.  I think I'll sign up for the 5k or the Half Marathon. My s-i-l says she is thinking of doing the 5k so if she does I think I'll choose that over the Half.  Anyway....something fun to look forward to...Thanksgiving in Seattle AND a race.  Yay!

(pic is from the CdA kids Tri 2009)

Ice Skating - I Think NOT

We woke up this morning to find that our Friday ski class had been cancelled because the gondola at Silver Mountain had broken down. So glad we weren't on it when it died. So after doing a bit of school work we headed downtown to give ice skating a try.
Spokane is currently the host of the National Ice Skating Championships so we were lucky enough to see a number of world class skaters out on the ice practicing and warming up. Very cool. They really make it look easy. Having said that I don't think I'm selling myself short when I say I have absolutely NO God given talent for ice skating.
None.  WHATSOEVER.
Jack and I spent the entire time either glued to the handrail around the outside of the rink...or like this....{apologies for the lousy video technique}




OUCH...



You can tell from Ciara and Max's expressions that we were just all loving the freedom and grace that ice skating gives you..{eyeroll}

Give me a pair of running shoes ANY day.


But on the upside, this capped off a week or trying new and different sports. Matt took the kids to play racquetball which is kind of like the American version of squash. I had to spectate as my shoulder was still playing up after falling off the ski lift last week....and to be honest I was a little relieved. Those little rubber balls were flying around like crazy in there.

Does this really count as P.E?

Does this count as P.E?
If your a homeschooler it does.
The kids started their ski and snowboard lessons today as part of the Silver Mountain Homeschool Ski program along with about 200 other homeschooled kids.
This will be the first of 8 weeks of lessons and Friday skiiing...such a great way to end the week.
Conditions were really gusty on the mountain today. At one point Jack and I were actually blown off the magic carpet but despite the challenging conditions they had a ball and really enjoyed their lessons.
They can all easily out-ski me already so by the end of the 8 weeks I will be "bringing up the rear" when we hit the slopes.



And after all that skiing we decided a visit to the indoor water park was a "MUST.
Here are some pictures of the Silver Mountain Indoor Water Park. It's a pretty cool place.




We just about had it to ourselves which was surprising considering it was Friday.





We made the most of it...I'm guessing everyone will be sleeping well here tonight.

NY resolution

As the last few hours of the year dwindle away I look back and feel a twinge of sadness that 2009 is nearly gone. 
It was a great year. 
 Lots of big changes for us....but there always seems to be change. 
Nothing ever stays the same. 
 And 2010 looms in front of us.
Full of promise.
New travels and adventures await.
And so as customary at this time I find myself assessing my goals for the past year and setting new ones for the next.  I'm not much for NY resolutions...losing weight, eating better, being more fiscally responsible..whatever.
The kids suggested I give up chocolate. 
STEADY..that's just crazy talk.
So after much thought I have decided on a very simple resolution. 
Just 3 letters.
J.O.Y. 
Yep...that's it....Joy!
I'm going to try to look for the joy in all the things that I do. 
Sometimes, I think that joy comes easily, naturally, when we are doing something we love or that's easy but cleaning bathrooms or doing laundry....not so much.  But that will be my challenge. To step back, change my attittude and look for the joy.
Already I have decided its just the right resolution for me.  Matt and I were moving furniture this afternoon...and let me just say that there was much muttering and agitation going on.
"Find the joy, Donna"
That's my catch phrase for the year. 
In other resolution news...the kids and I have started " A K a day". 
For 2010 we are going to try and run a kilometre every day.  Matt joined us for our inaugural run around the neighborhood.  The kids enjoyed it however Jack did ask about half way through the run..."Why didn't you bring snacks?"

Winter Images

We decorated our gingerbreadhouse last night.
I use the term "decorating" a bit loosely but you get the idea!



And finally, after much anticipation, the snow arrived last night.
Not much hope of getting a lot of school work done today with a 4 foot mound of snow outside so we decided to make the most of it and enjoy it while it's here.

Stealing From Oprah

I have to tell you...I'm not an Oprah fan.
Oh I think she's inspiring and all but her show is about as exciting to me as watching grass grow...so an Oprah fan I am not!
But...I do think she has some great ideas...well her or the one of the hundreds of people she employs to come up with good ideas.
And so as we come to the end of another year I think I will steal one of Oprah's ideas.
Her annual "Favorite Things List".
So without any further ado I introduce to you...

Donna's Favorite Things of 2009.

{thunderous applause}
..thank-you, thank-you...
I'm sure you are all breathless with anticipation!


Favorite Thing # 10: Nespresso CoffeeMaker.




Matt tried to convince me for months that we needed a new coffee maker.
That our existing drip filter coffee machine made coffee that tasted like dirty water.
I was blissfully unaware of the actual flavor of the coffee until one day when we ran out of flavored coffee creamer and I had to drink my coffee...{gulp} with plain, old milk.
(I know ...I can just hear your horrified gasps).
So after months of resisting I finally agreed to buy a new one.
Now all of you who know my hubby are well aware that he doesn't just go out and randomly buy ANYTHING.
Everything must be researched and compared.
And as usual he did an awesome job.
This machine makes the BEST coffee...honestly I haven't had a "store made" coffee or used coffee creamer since we bought it.
{YUM}


Favorite Thing # 9,8 &7 - Homeschooling



Why is this 3 favorite things in one you may ask?
Because embarking on our homeschool adventure this year has allowed me to spend time with 3 of my most favorite things in the world...my kids.
I can't tell you the number of times I've bumped into someone at the store and they ask me how homeschooling is going.
Am I sick of it yet?
Are my kids driving me crazy?
Do I feel like I need a break?
The answers are always the same....no, no and no.
So far homeschooling has been such a wonderful, liberating learning experience for our whole family and we are just LOVING it.


Favorite Thing # 6 - My Cervelo



This is truly bike love.
She is just the most splendid thing on two wheels.
Thanks to the hideously cold temps were are experiencing in Spokane at the moment though she will remain housebound through the winter and is relegated to the stationery trainer until it starts to warm up.
The upside is that there is something pretty cool about being able to ride 20 miles on your bike AND watch T.V at the same time!
Oh..and before you ask...yes...they are my shoes clipped into the peddles.
This being the lazy person's way of making sure they don't lose their bike shoes.


Favorite Thing # 5: Organic Wine




I really stink at picking a good wine.
Unless I've tried it and I know what it tastes like I usually just pick something based on the cuteness of the label..(yeah...we're talking a real connoisseur here).
But Matt and I stumbled upon this fantastic organic wine.
We took the Merlot to a wine tasting party with some friends and it won...which was a surprise to everyone including me!


Favorite Thing # 4: Brooks Running Shoes



Being a newbie runner there are SO many tempting things out there that have me drooling..the Garmin 405 GPS watch, compression socks and Clif Shot Roks just to name a few.
But the best thing that I think you can invest in is a really good pair of running shoes.
We have an awesome shoe store here in town called Runners Soul and they measures and fit me for my first real pair of running shoes. Apparently I overpronate when I run...which means I roll my foot in...and so they fit me with this great pair of Brooks that provide support and stabilize my foot to help prevent injuries.
Who'd have guessed that there was so much to think about when you are buying a pair of shoes.


Favorite Thing # 3: Winter Warmers



You're all aware of my uber-stylishness...NOT!
But I have found a couple of things that I am loving so far this winter.
One in this Salomon soft shell jacket.
It's warm without being bulky, wind resistant and fits like an absolute glove.
I have been virtually living in this jacket so far this winter.


Favorite Thing # 2 : Chocolate



This one needs no explanation.
My mantra is ...
"There is no BAD chocolate. There is only varying degrees of awesomeness!"


Favorite Thing # 1 {otherwise known as most favorite thing of the year}: My hubby



OK...so it was neck and neck between the hubby and the chocolate but I knew that if chocolate came in second on my list of favorite things IT would still speak to me.
Not sure the same thing could be said about the hubster if he had come in second to chocolate!

All jokes aside...he did turn 40 this year.
Still babe-ilicious for an old guy, we have been together for nearly 20 years...and after all this time he still manages to make me giddy {don't tell him though....a girl's gotta play hard to get ya know}.
So with a record like that he HAS to be number one.
(I wonder if Stedman made Oprah's list or not this year....the poor guy has probably lost all hope)