Sasparilla on the Rocks! And videos of awesomeness!

This is a totally random post, but I had to capture this funny anecdote while it's still going on. And now to set the stage. Awhile back Robert took the boys and I to a little diner for lunch. It is a funny little spot, and was quite busy on this day. The old waiter was instantly smitten with our boys and took to Tyler especially. And Tyler took to him! When the elderly gent asked what we would like to drink, Tyler asked for a Root Beer. The waiter proceeded to tell Tyler about Root Beer being called "Sarsaparilla" back in the old west. He told the very wide-eyed Tyler that whenever a cowboy walked into an old saloon he would say, "Sarsaparilla on the rocks!" He then told Tyler that if he wanted a root beer that Tyler should do the same. Tyler proceeded to say "Sarsaparilla on the rocks, please!" The old waiter was very pleased and brought it out lickity split.



Now, as near as I can tell, Root Beer and Sarsaparilla are two completely different drinks, the only similarity being that they were derived in the late 1800's and both from plant roots. It seems that this nice man's history lesson could be 100% based on the cartoon character of Yosemite Sam. He used to walk into a saloon and say, "Sasparilly and make it snappy!" But it is kind of fun to stump the wait staff wherever we go and have Tyler enthusiastically say "Sarsaparilla on the rocks, please!" We always follow up with "He means a root beer."



On occasion Robert has been known to go on a Root Beer run, and bring Tyler back a surprise Sarsaparilla. One such day, Tyler didn't finish it all in one sitting and put it in the 'icebox' for cold safekeeping. He went to get a drink a little later and gave a startled cry at what graced his palette. The poor lad had mistaken his sarsaparilla for this!

If you can't read the label, it's Worcestershire sauce. The labels do have similar coloring. I still haven't decided if he was being theatrical, seeing as the lids are completely different, or if he was actually caught completely off guard. It's still amusing either way! Anyway, just thought I would share that story.

I thought you might enjoy the lights since I did. The sound is a bit behind the lights on the camera, but it wasn't actually that far off on the radio. I wish I would have gotten the song before this one, it had a lot more lights to it! Also, here are a couple of fairly recent videos of Chris and his mobility. Just so no one wonders, I was right here when he was doing this, and I normally have this area blocked in some way, so this is not a usual allowance. Enjoy! Hope you are all having a Smiling Holiday Season!

The wise old Sage...

I wasn't going to actually post my thoughts today. Sometimes just writing them down takes a load of my mind. I first wanted to share with you how my day started off. Nothing super exciting, but just go with it. I awoke to kisses from my hubby as he left for work, which was promptly followed by snuggles from my Tyler in my big bed. Shortly after the snuggling began, I heard my Christopher talking in his crib. "I guess it's really time to get up now," I thought to myself, a little sad that I couldn't stay in bed and snuggle all day. Anthony had already left for school (once again, like a diligent lad should).


I proceeded to do my normal routine of a bottle for Chris, breakfast for Ty and I, and reading the news on MSN. I was feeling a little down, I guess, mainly because of the fact that the news is almost always bad. The Provo Tabernacle burned down, and so did a historical building and a restaurant here, in downtown Astoria. This politician did that, and that official did this. A tornado destroyed a little town in Oregon. A friend of mine was robbed recently, while her children slept. And you know the crime rate in general goes up around the Holidays. One of the windows in our house started leaking like a sieve. It just goes on and on. I guess, I was having a little pity party for one, that coincided with my Facebook post from yesterday, which was, "Rachel wishes she lived in Norman Rockwell's world." (For those of you not privileged to know this illustrating master, he is probably most well known from his Saturday Evening Post covers depicting everyday American life.) By this, I meant a world filled with ice cream shops, and boy scouts. A world where families eat dinner together, and there are puppies aplenty. A world where there are never too many fishing poles, or snow covered houses.


It was all starting to get to me, when Tyler said, "Mom, can I have some milk...in a dirty glass?" Now, before all of you conclusion jumpers decide that this is a regular option at our house, please recall a movie called "Cop and 1/2" (Burt Reynolds ring any bells?). We recently watched it, and although it isn't very plausible, there is a scene when the little boy is in a biker bar and asks the bartender for a milk. He then looks around at all the bikers, and enthusiastically adds "in a dirty glass." I couldn't help but smile and say, "You may have some milk in a clean glass." He seemed okay with that response and went about his business.


A little later, I was doing a load of Tyler's laundry, and proceeded to dump his laundry basket out into the washer. What an amateur move. I threw a hard hat, flashlight, EMT action figure, hot wheels car, and a hot dog whistle into the depths below. With lightning speed, I scooped them out. It wasn't until load switching that I had learned that one toy hadn't been so lucky. I ended up washing a toy hack saw (how did i miss that?), which came out squeaky clean.



This little laundry episode made me laugh to myself and think, "your world isn't that far off from Norman Rockwell's world." Now, that's not to say that doing laundry or drinking milk daily has anything to do with an ideal world. But I am saying that Norman Rockwell painted the REAL world, as he saw it. Everything that I love about Norman Rockwell paintings is everything I love about my life and visa versa. I have come to the eye-opening realization that the reality is one in the same with the fantasy. We may have high-tech gadgetry and speedy transportation, but what really matters is still just the same. Women may where pants today, but we are still mothers and wives. Many of our most cherished pasttimes have also remained timeless traditions. So much has changed since these illustrations were painstakingly painted, yet nothing has changed. I guess I was really just wanting to say how silly I felt after all these down thoughts about the world and the Season. I think I all too often forget how lucky I really am. We all can take a little advice from President Uchtdorf, (only some of you will know who that is, but trust me and take his advice), and slow down this season. Read with your rowdy kids, have some chaotic meals with your family, even if it's just your spouse. We only have today, and I, for one, need to refocus and make it count!!!! Enjoy these paintings from one of my top 3 illustrators! Big Christmas Love from us!






PS These paintings are all Norman Rockwell's work, I take no credit for these works. I can only dream to be as talented as this great American illustrator.



I am very familiar with this man's expression!

I really do love living by the seaside.


We don't have a fireplace, but if we did, I know that's right
where Ty would be on Christmas Eve.

Our family doesn't do this as often as we should,

but I do love my children circled around me.

My boys love fishing with their Grampy and Daddy!

Not enough snow to do this here, but this reminds

me of Southeastern Oregon winters growing up.

I really forget how beatiful the ocean is when it's a monsoon outside.

I think I've seen more baby scales than a Ped's Unit nurse!



This reminds me of the friendly mail carriers of my youth, namely my parents! :)

This is a familiar site on the docks at our favorite fishing spot, Coughinbury Lake.

I wish I had a cozy fire to snuggle up to when I read my boys books!

Every night at my house, only the Teddy is replaced with a big orange dog named Doogan!

Photo Factory...

I am sitting here typing this, listening to the sound of rain on my window. Another typical winter storm in Warrenton. Rain....hail....rain....wind....rain......hail.....rain. I know you are all dieing to here about the weather in my neck of the woods. And, since I don't have a whole lot to write about and since it's super impressive, I'll tell you all about it! (groans from audience.) The wind is averaging 20 mph with the maximum gust since 10 pm (I am writing at 11) clocked 45 mph. It has rained almost a quarter of an inch since 10 pm and 1 inch since midnight yesterday. In December so far it has rained 6 inches, and 75 inches this year. Yesterday it rained 1.14 inches. So, without further ado, here's a metric butt-load of pictures. Oh, and these are rrreeeaaaallllyyy out of order, but I don't have time to make it all pretty. And some of them might be repeats.

Making cookies with mom!

Finished product, the sprinkles wouldn't stick

Tyler being adorable.



And again only this was in October.

Cool fishing boat I saw coming into the marina, in October.

Tyler looking at the cool fishing boat with mom's binoculars!

We love to boat watch by the way.

Tyler looking unamused by Santa, Chris thinking about pooping,

and Santa wondering why he doesn't get paid for this.




Cool clouds out my window, I thought looked like fire.

Christopher being adorable.

My little Thanksgiving display on my entry table, (with Chris' footprints).

Chris looking cuter than ever! (This is about 2 months ago!)

Chris as a baby monkey for Halloween, and yes, I made that costume!

There he is, being cute again!

Tyler as a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger, and yes I made that costume,

and mask! But not the gun Chris is trying to grab, that was a dollar store find!!!

Boys loving each other and wondering when mom is going to stop already!

Tyler being a cutie in dad's cowboy hat!

Funny old picture of me, that was on Paul's Facebook page.

Captain Tyler

Early Fall at the Jetty. Took the dog for a run,

and Tyler's running around with the binoculars.

Copper, Megler Bridge in the background,

and Tyler looking at the sunset with pelicans flying all around!

It was a beautiful sunset to our west and a big full moon to our east. Sorry no pictures

of the sunset. Someone forgot to charge the camera and it died right after this pic!


That's all I've got for now, hope you enjoy them. Just thought I'd post some of these before my grandkids are born! Big holiday hugs!

A day in our life in Pictures...

So, I know I've been promising for awhile now, that I'm going to post some super awesome photos, and I will. Hopefully they won't be irrelevant by the time I post them either, say when Chris is graduating or something. I have told a few folks about how I often go camera happy and take approximately 97 photos all in one day, and then don't take any more for about a week. Well today is one such day. Now, in case some of you weren't aware, the purpose of a blog is to give the appearance of a super-exciting existence. I won't lie....mine is actually super-exciting. So, sit back and enjoy this day in our life.

We awoke as usual, and did our normal lazy day-off routine (with the exception of Tony, whom went to school bright and early, like a diligent young lad should). We ate some breakfast and hoe-hummed around for a bit. We are not great at getting out the door early...unless there is a doctor appointment or fishing. We proceeded to load up Copper as we planned on running him at the beach. This is what we saw when we got there.




There was supposed to be a super amusing video right here, but blogger's video upload is not functioning right now. If the video were there you would see that the water comes all the way up to the beach access. It would be extremely difficult for Copper to run and for us to drive with the tide so high.

We decided to take the clan down to Seaside to do some Christmas shopping. We had to use a little trickery with Tyler, but I think he will be very surprised when he opens his presents. We grabbed some lunch at Tokyo Teriyaki, which is my new favorite place. Robert loves sushi, but I'm not a huge fan. I've tried it. I've experienced it. It's not my thing. But the great thing about Tokyo, is it has sushi and generic oriental food, like pan fried noodles and spicy sauteed chicken and onions!!!! Mom made Tyler an Origami crane while we waited for our food, and tried to calm his frustration for not using his chopsticks very efficiently. We ate all our cabbage and broccoli too. I didn't have a whole lot of photo-ops during this portion of our day, but I think you all get the idea.

Next, we decided to try the beach again, thinking that the tide would be out a little more, and we really did intend to get that dog to the beach and run!!!! This is our view.

If you look closely at this one, it kinda looks like snowy mountains. I'm weird. You're not the first to point that out.

The tide has to be pretty high for Peter Iredale to be this far submerged. Plus, I think it's kind of eerie with it sticking out of the frothy waves. I did take this in a moving vehicle, whilst trying not to get stuck in the soft sand, so don't judge. :)

This one has Copper's paw prints in it, and although this is a deceivingly calm looking photo, the sand was blowing around so hard, I think it resurfaced the left side of my face. Copper could've cared less about the wind and was ssssooooooo happy to be free!!! I am a silly girl, and didn't get any pics of Copper in all his glory, but I give you my word those are his tracks.

Then, we all tried not to get stuck in the soft sand at the beach access, which isn't scraped usually, except in the summer, and raced to the grocery store for a wow-factor dinner. On the way, we turned around to find a very quiet back seat.

Mom sat in the truck while dad went inside for the fixin's of a special treat. It was a tradition that my mom started and I wanted to pass on to my boys.

It's still hard to tell the size just based on the fork and fry sizes, seeing as different people have different sized utensils and fies come in many sizes. Let's just say, that to make the burger, I used 3 lbs of hamburger. My master chef, grill-master, and otherwise Picasso of Food, grilled it to perfection. In this photo, the food definitely tastes as good as it looks.

We finished the evening with root beer Popsicles, baths, and stories. We were all pretty tired. And that is a day in our life! Enjoy and feel free to comment, message me, and leave input, thoughts, stories of your own. I love to keep in touch with all of you. Huge hugs!

Another semi-lame post...

In a recent conversation I had, I realized that many of the photos and videos I post on the blog are slightly old. Now, considering the fact that Chris is only 9 months old, most of them are much newer than that. However, it has usually been a couple of weeks by the time I post a video or photo. So, in light of that, the recent Santa photo is only about a week old, while the video I am posting was taken over a month ago. I thought this video was oh so amusing, and if you can see past Tyler's smirk of jealousy, (that I'm not taking video of him, although if I start to, he runs in the opposite direction and screams "No thanks to videos!") you will see Christopher amidst a plethora of toys and yet he is playing with socks. He much reminds me of a curious little puppy (though much cuter) as he throws the socks and watches to see where they will land. Enjoy the video and you all should know that Chris is crawling all over the house. Doors are shut and presents are blocked. He follows me wherever I go, and is usually not far behind. Big Holiday hugs!


I had to throw this one in, because Tyler and I were watching it when I was posting the "sock" video, and we were laughing our faces off. It was taken on October 15th, just for informational purposes.

By the way, he says: "I run to you babe, spinning faster, to a new disast--uh hee hee hee"

It's my ringtone which is a Lady Antebellum song that says, "this world keeps spinning faster, to a new disaster, so I run to you, I run to you baby."

All I want for Christmas...

This is a super fast post. I couldn't help sharing this pic of Chris with Santa. I promise to do a better post soon. We took the boys to the Starving Artist Fair a couple of nights ago, and the boys loved Santa. Santa loved the boys too, we were the only couple with kids there. Anyway, Tyler told Santa he would really like a reindeer for Christmas. Daddy quickly told him that that wasn't gunna happen, so he changed his mind to Lightning McQueen shampoo. What an easy kid. Anyway loved the photo so enjoy!