Does this count

Chris caught Thomas doing this. He was actually doing his technic exercises.

Does practicing the piano and reading books (on how to build model airplanes) at the same time count for reading time and practicing the piano?

Happy Birthday Henry

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HENRY!!!

Henry turned 9 this Friday (even though we have been celebrating his birthday all week.)

Henry and Chris both wanted a cheesecake for their birthday.

We decided to have the cheesecake in the middle of their birthdays (Wednesday) and then have a piece every day until the cheesecake was done.

Henry's downfall!!!!

Calvin and Hobbes OR any graphic novels.

He will sit and read the novels for hours until the novel is done (OR until he is done with the series). I love it!!!!!

Henry got a new bike for his birthday. All shinny and new!!!! Now he will be able to stay up with Thomas and Chris on bike rides.

What is a birthday for Henry without a couple of balls!!!!!

Wakey, Wakey Henry!!!!

We love Henry and the kindness he shows towards everyone!!!!

Blue and Gold Banquet

It is that time of year again---Blue and Gold Banquet. It wsa Thomas' last Blue and Gold Banquet, Henry has one more and I probably have two more. It was fun to see almost all of the cub scouts there and having fun.

My three cub scouts. I would consider Lizzy a cub scout since she does a lot for them. She is always asking, "is this for cub scouts or for me?"
There are my Webelos doing the flag cermony.

Henry getting ready for his puppet play. It was about cub scouts birthday.

Here is Henry putting on the puppet play.

Isn't Henry so cute!!!!

Here are the Webelos doing the song Oh, Tom the Toad why are you lying in the road. They choose an animal and made a paper bag puppet and we song why they were dead. Thomas was a bat that got hit by a windshield. We had a scout, dog, fish, toad and a bat. It was pretty funny.

The second play the Webelos put on was The four little friends and the big bad bowser. Yes, it was a combination of Mario World and the The three little pigs. Thomas was Bowser. (He amazes me because he always wants the main part in all the plays he has done.) The Webelos made sock puppets (we had Luigi, Yoshi, Toad, Mario and Bowser) for it and they turned out really good. They had fun doing it.

Okay, I forgot to take pictures of their puppets so I took them the day after. Thomas did a great job with his two puppets.

Henry's puppet

And of course, I help Lizzy make a paper bag puppet.

Life at the Shaw House

Thomas stayed home from school today because he was sick. While he was home he watched To the Limit about some guys rock climbing in Yosemite. Anyway, he found some great ideas to help him with rock climbing. One idea was to balance on a rope. So, the minute he was feeling better, he went out and tried to balance on a rope.

Proof Thomas eats snow.

Lizzy painting her nails. She actually does pretty well.

We went hiking to Mount Storm King again. Thomas wanted to see if he could make it pass the sign that says, "do not pass" and see if he could climb some rocks.




Totally Lizzy. The HAM.

Yeah, it is a long way down.

This is where Henry stopped. He didn't want to climb up the rope. I competely understand.

Here goes Thomas

I am not sure how far he went up the mountain (since I stayed behind with Lizzy). I know he didn't go all the way since he wants to go back there this Saturday. It was getting dark and everyone else was ready to go home.

I like this picture. I always like hiking up Mount Storm King. It is a good hike. Straight up about 2000 ft and straight down 2000 feet. Plus it is short enough that Lizzy can do it without any help. She was running at the end this time. I don't know where she gets her energy.

2nd Round of Winter Break

Port Angeles was hit with snow again!!!!

(Why it is a surprise every year, I don't know but it is.)

We haven't gone to school all week and are not planning on going tomorrow too!!!

What have we been doing since we haven't gone anywhere. . . . .

I finally finished the puzzle. It took me hours to figure out the last 30 pieces but I figured it out this afternoon.

I have also been working hard on finishing up scrapbooks that I have partly finished in years pass. Today, I finished our Alaska trip--2008!!!!

I have played a ton of board games.

I have read hours and hours of books to Lizzy.

We have made and eaten a whole patch of Cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookies and many other yummy treats.

It is hard to see but this is Henry on Monday after swimming lessons.

Rolling around in the snow, wet and crazy.


Chris came home around 3:30 and help finish up the igloo the kids were building. They sled on it for awhile and then started digging the igloo out so they can play inside it.

We have made a daily trip up the hill from our house to go sledding. We are sooo thankful, we have friends in the back alley to play with.

All 5 kids are racing down the hill!!!!

Lizzy is so happy!!!!

Thomas being crazy!!!!

Henry is looking like a penguin here.

Honestly, this is how we all feel right now---a little sassy and a little feisty.

We have issued a no touch rule (including not touching their mother).

We are going a little crazy since we haven't been anywhere since last Thursday.

Hope we go back to school on Monday!!!!!

Life at the Shaw House

I haven't taken any pictures since Christmas because there hasn't been anything picture worthy. I guess that is how it goes when there is no snow and it is cold outside. We haven't been doing much lately. Here are some highlights from the pass week. . . .
1- It was great to have everyone home from school but it was great to send them back.
2- The boys learned how to play bug-opoly (and have play quite a few times)
3- We learned Thomas grew 1 whole inch this pass month.
4- I think Chris looks and acts like Martin Freeman (on the Sherlock Holmes series from BBS). He does not think so.
5- Lizzy has to have at least 1 hour of water time each day (soaking feet, swimming lessons or being in the bath for 1 1/2 hours )or she will dry out.
6- Having Star War shape pancakes are way more tasty then regular circle pancakes.
7- I still really like all my colors on my walls. It makes me happy to go into the different rooms in my house and have them different colors.
8- Henry has decided what he wants for his birthday and would like it early (we will see).
9- It feels really really really nice to have only one calling for church. Plus I really like the one I have--Webelo Leader
10- It is nice to be almost unpack (even though we didn't move!!!)

Anyway, hope you all are having a wonderful January and getting some sunshine!!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!