Derek hit the slopes of Hoodoo!

Along with the Sisters High School Special Education Class, Derek and I had a fun-filled, exhausting day at Hoodoo ski resort.
Derek loved the bus ride. Since he didn't ever ride the bus to school, he pretty much smiled the whole ride up.. and slept the whole ride back.
I'm not a fan of cold weather, awkward clothing and too many things to think about all at once. That is what I think about snow skiing. (Sorry for all you snow enthusiasts) The Oregon Adaptive Sports people were there to teach the kids everything they needed to know. They were so good, so patient and made learning fun! Derek was worried about falling, but after doing it a couple of times, it wasn't so bad after all!
Here are a few pictures of our day, and hopefully I'll be able to add the video's as well!

A Windy, Wet, Winter Day!

I knew it was going to be a cold, blustery day when I couldn't see out my bedroom windows. The snow had been blowing and stuck to my windows. Before heading outside I turned on the news, and yup, a "No School Day" I always love those days, even if I don't have a school kid.
As I trekked out to the barn, the snow on my face felt like I was being beat by an army of bee bee bullets (Is that how you spell it?). The cows were most eager for my arrival and quickly moved out of the way for me to drive their breakfast out to them. As soon as I was out in the "elements" I started pushing off flakes of hay, I soon noticed a whole bail of hay being thrown off the 6-wheeler and scattering down the field with the cows chasing after it. I spent some time with my "date" Mr. Pulaski. We have been meeting twice a day and what a workout we have.

All morning the wind whistled, the windows shook and I was sure my roof was going to go bye bye.
Early in the afternoon I made my way to the exercise room. I heard a very loud noise, a noise I haven't heard before. I went to the sportscourt and found the doors hanging by a hinge. The snow and rain and wind was coming in by the bucketfuls.

I grabbed my camera to send the pictures to Bob so he could give me his advice. While I was in the house dialing his number I noticed something not right out in the yard. Hum.. the greenhouse was still standing but whoow.. where was the trampoline. Yup, the wind got it too. Bob advised me to investigate.. (Just what I wanted to do, get my wet clothes back on and make my way out on the 6 wheeler looking for our lost trampoline.

Well, I found a water trough in a new location, and then I spotted what I thought was a dead calf laying by the fence... luckily, it was only the mat to the trampoline (someone asked if it was all in one piece.. I didn't stop to unravel it.. I could barely see it through the snow that was being whipped in my face).. then further away I found the springs and legs and other parts of the tramp scattered around the field. That will be our weekend project I'm sure.

Dan the Man (That is what we call our Fix it Man) had his men come and board up the door in hopes that it will stay put until a calmer day arrives and we start rebuilding the door (Did I just say WE? That will not be something I will be participating in.. Did you hear that Bob?)

As I finish this post, there is no snow on the ground,just puddles of water, I can barely hear the wind whistling.. I think tomorrow will be a calmer day!!!

Tae Kwon Do

Sorry, there is no way I could change the video from being on it's side.. Just be glad I could do this!
Real Quick!
You know Derek has been participating in a GREAT program in Sisters.
Master K of Outlaw Martial Arts has a program for all ages, he opens it up on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the Sisters School district special ed students. Derek gets to join in. We don't mind the drive, it is all worth it.
Derek is the STAR of the class.. well, that is coming from me, his biggest fan. He loves it and has advanced so far!
It came to my attention that the program was featured in the Sisters Newspaper. I'll put the website here. Derek is the taller one closest to the window!http://www.nuggetnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=19316

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble

Thanksgiving was GREAT fun. Would have been complete if the Bledsoe's or my parents could have been here, but having Taylor home was very nice.
Bob decided to smoke a turkey. Robert gave him a smoker last year, and Bob's perfected his salmon and ribs in it, so he gave the turkey a try. It turned out fabulously! Tender and moist!!! He didn't know how it would work, so he cooked one in the oven just in case. We have enough turkey to last us until next Thanksgiving.
We invited Robert's girlfriend Heather and the Roberts to come. The eight of us had a nice dinner! Too much food. Too many yummy desserts.
After we cleaned up we played several rounds of PIT. Oh, my goodness, so much fun. Taylor could hardly play he was laughing so much.
Next year you are all invited. The more the merrier!!!

(Everyone is saying.. "Jill, the dinner is getting cold, don't worry about the picture")

(Derek thought the Wii was much more fun than Pit.. But he took a good picture.. don't you agree?)

Thirty Three (Yup 33) Years!!!

!

Can you believe we've been married for 33 years?
Time flies!
Our Anniversary fell on a Wednesday..boo hoo
But we made up for it on the weekend.
Look at the feast Bob made for me!
Thank you Sweetheart!
I wish you 33 more years!
Love you!

Shhh, their's a snake in the library!

On the first Tuesday of every month, the Library has an Animal from the High Desert Museum come for a visit! The librarian reads a story about it, give some facts about it.. and then they bring it out! Oh, and then after they dismiss the animal, they make a craft! Pretty fun!

First was a snake! YIKES
Then on Halloween week while the grandsons were here, guess Whoooo came next?

Who needs to go to the museum when you can see them up close and personal at the Library!

Derek Loves Tae Kwon Do

Two days a week we happily drive to Sisters to participate in their Adaptive Tae Kwon Do program. Former tutor Ashley's husband is the Sister's High School director of Special Education. He invited us last year to join in. Oh, we have such a good time. Even though Derek gets sweaty and winded, he smiles the entire hour class. Thanks to Sherrie and Master K... and Josh, we love coming to Tae Kwon Do!

;
We love to see Ashley and her baby Ryah. Ashley's husband is the wonderful High School Special Ed director at Sisters High School. He invited Derek to join in their program! Thanks Josh!

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We had a SPOOK-tacular Halloween

Living out in the country, we never get Trick or Treaters
I avoid driving anywhere on Halloween because of the crazy moms with their sugar crazed kids.
Well this year was different.  Rebecca and her boys came for the Halloween Weekend!!! Wow, the fun we had.  Rebecca had some photo shoots set up here in Bend, so she planned it all around this weekend.
Here are some fun times we had.  (I won't mention losing her and the boys in a CRAZY neighborhood, with a CRAZY amount of Trick or Treaters for a CRAZY amount of time)

Trey would challenge any of us, at any time to play him a round of tetherball.  He recently earned one of his own.  You wouldn't believe how good he is!

Halloween afternoon we went to a lot of our friends homes. It was perfect weather, and they got were able to meet some of Derek's friends!

Cute Mason and Paiten!

Who needs candy when you get a Rod Cooper handcrafted birdhouse? Wow, Trey and Derek have matching houses!

I loved Tian's Shark costume. His tail wiggled as he walked!

Some people go all out decorating their yards. This was in the middle of the day and they had their sound affects going. Almost too spooky for me even in the day!

Terry & Carol knew we were coming so they raked a big mound of leaves just so the boys could jump in it!

Gina got all dressed up and decorated her yard just for us! "Gina, this picture makes me laugh...I need to borrow the sweater someday!"

"Charlotte, this is a GREAT picture...Love the look!"

All this happened before noon. Naptime for Tian.. Trey too, but he's too big for that (Or so he says)!
Then it was off to "Bouncing Off the Wall" Before more Trick or Treating!

We went "store to store" down at the Old Mill. Notice Strawberry Shortcake. Trey loved seeing all the costumes. Robert met us there too, and then to the Bulletin Newspaper Building.

If that wasn't enough we finished off at the North West Crossing Neighborhood. Rebecca and her boys made friends.. (Thank goodness the "Friend" had a phone to use when we got lost)

All in all, and 4 lbs of candy later, it was the most fun Halloween we've had in a long time... well, since Rebecca was just a little girl!