Snow Blog

Here are some snow blog reports from the Brenchley kids. See more images at our Photobucket snow site.

"It snowed very hard and high last week.and we built a giant snowman. We also sledded on our hill. that is a road. and it was fun!!!!!" - Colin (8)
"We went sleding down the road while there was lots of snow.We had so much fun! And when we got home we had popcorn,hot cocoa and watched a movie." - Emma (10) "My snow blog - We got snow, on the week of Christmas! On the first day it was 6 inches at 19.8º The truck door's seals were frozen and when Dad finally hairdriered the driver door open the engine wouldn't start. And we had to hairdrier the hood and charge it too. Then a blizzard hit and some places it was 4 inches and some was 2 feet! Papa Ray landed safely, and Alaskans may laugh but this is our storm of the century!" - Caleb (12)

This year I've decided to put one of my versions of the "Twelve days of Christmas" in. Hope you enjoy it!

1 X-Box 360
2 Wiis
3 Nanos
4 Game boys
5 Wide screen T-vs
6 Zunes
7 I-pod touches
8 Cell phones
9 I-pod shuffles
10 Nintendo D-s
11 Computers
12 Million dollars

Unfortunately I didn't actully get any of these things for Christmas - Emma (10)

Blizzard 2008!

Over the past few weeks we've have had close to a foot and half of snow! Even snowing through Christmas day! It tooks us a couple of days to even stay on top of the snow falling on the walkway. And if we didn't have a 4x4 truck we would have had to chain up just to get off the hill. Here is a picture of the deck - compared to a week ago. Pretty cool for a white Christmas!

Snow 12.25.08

2008 Christmas Newsletter

This year's Christmas newletter was a look back at the 70's with a retro theme (see last year's theme). This was our attempt at the Partridge Family look (the color scheme probably had too much red for a true Piet Mondrian knock-off). Anyway, hop on the bus and c'mon get happy!

Christmas newsletter 2008

Christmas Videos

Here is a list of favorite family Christmas Videos:

• Elf
• The Chipmunks
• Babe
• Rudolf

Others include:

• Muppet Christmas Carol
• Muppet "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie"
• Polar Express

Snow

With flurries of snow Friday night, and Saturday, we woke up Sunday morning to a good 3+ inches and a stiff North breeze. Freezing temps provided some slick roads but otherwise a winter wonderland.

Snow 12.14.08

CityKids Christmas Program 2008

This year's CityKids Christmas Program featured Rilla and Cian in the massive 4 & 5 year olds chorus and Emma and Colin in the gigantic 1st through 4th grader chorale. Emma tried out and made the dance team and even showcased her round-off back tuck. Here is a clip starting with the end of the big entrance (the camera man was given the wrong entrance info - thanks honey! ).

Freewinds Haul-in

Today the Freewinds was hoisted back in the water after a six-month out-of-the water, major, extensive, project. She is essentially a new boat! For an idea of what was done and to help define 'extensive,' compare the image of the haul-out back in April. The team at CSR has done a super job. Check out more shots on our Photobucket site.

Freewinds 11.7.08

Jack & Woody

Earlier this week Jack was in San Francisco for a training session at the SF Adobe office and was able to hook up with his second cousin – Steve ‘Woody’ LaBounty. Due to the wonders of the internet Woody was able to connect with Jack a couple years ago. Then we were really fortunate last year when Woody and his wife Nancy and daughter Miranda stopped in for a short visit to our house where we met face to face.

Woody runs a really intriguing non-profit in San Francisco called the Western Neighborhoods Project. This is a group dedicated to preserving, yup; you guessed it…the history of the western neighborhoods of San Francisco. This included earning the prestigious Governor’s Award for preserving a number of 1906 Earthquake Refugee shacks. Jack even had the privilege of attending the group’s Monday night Meet-up at the famous Cliff House restaurant. Woody is providing a great service to that community - it is exciting to see history and culture preserved so that anyone in the world can access it.

Goodbeach October 2008

Recently the Brenchley Family spent five days on Whidbey Island at Goodbeach (see also April 07 & July 08 blogs). Here are some links to our adventures captured on pictures and video...
At Goodbeach : Colin in the bay; Caleb and a log.
At Fort Ebey: Playing at Pt. Partridge beach and Battery 248 (aka Used).
At Ebey's Landing: Playing at the beach.
At Fort Casey: Exploring Battery Trevor; Hiking down the bluff to play at the beach.
Video wrap-ups: Rilla & Cian; Colin; Emma; Caleb. See these and more at our Photobucket site.

Fort Casey (with Admiralty Head lighthouse in background) 10.5.08

Meeting Dino Rossi

Last night Gail and I went to see Dino Rossi, who is running for Governor (again) here in Washington State. We voted for him in the 2004 election (…we have to assume that our votes were counted correctly) and after the disappointing election proceedings (or I should say ballot mishandling...how do you find trays of ballots just sitting around?), we bought his book, Lessons in Leadership which gives a unique glimpse into his life. So it was an honor to meet him and his wife Terry last night.

Ashland Lakes Hike

Labor Day this year included a hike to the Ashland Lakes in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest accessible from the Mountain Loop highway. The trip included Gail's family: the Ostlings up the street; Beverly; as well as Ray (who is visiting from Pensacola); and Amy our neighbor who is friends with Kyna. The hike was a good, challenging, 3+ mile hike one way. The littlest hikers, Rilla & Cian, did pretty well. Good thing we had the baby carrier - both needed assistance - though it just added to the challenge for Mom & Dad! The wet summer we had didn't make this the family friendly trail that all the reviews insisted on. Overall it was a good hike and everyone had a good time even if in the picture below Jack doesn't look so happy while lunching at a pristine alpine lake ("Hey, we still have 3 miles to hike out ahead of us!").

Ashland Lakes Hike 9.1.08

GC Camp 2008

This year Caleb and his cousin Kara went to the Church's GC camp at Warm Beach. Here is a (very brief) clip of Caleb playing dodge ball.


GC Camp 2008 (Junior High) - Day Two Recap from Generation Church on Vimeo.

Soccer Camp

Caleb, Emma, and Colin, attended the NW Soccer Academy camp this week. Here is Emma's artwork titled, "Go Team!"

"Go Team" by Emma (9)

Goodbeach July 2008

We spent three days and two nights up at Goodbeach; Gail’s family’s beach front house on Whidbey Island (See April 07 for more Goodbeach blogging). Gail’s Grandparents, Allan and Arlie Ostling, built the house in the early 70’s and Gail has fond memories of Summers spent on the island (don’t ask her about berry picking though).

Some of the things we did included, hiking to the point, and two extended hikes:

1. Hiked from Ebey’s Landing up along Perego’s bluff. It was pretty foggy out and we couldn’t see Port Townsend let alone any shipping traffic when we started out. Had a small lunch at a ‘Whale Bone’ looking fallen tree. Gail was able to find where the trail that they used to take across the island from Goodbeach came out – now it is fairly overgrown.

Continuing the hike we dropped down to the beach and came back that way. The sun had come out by then and was actually getting warm! The kids were excellent hikers and the two littles only needed a relatively small amount of carrying.

On the way back we stopped at Prairie Center and then in town at Kapaw’s ice cream for essentials. They do great ice cream and are definitely worth the stop! Interestingly, the building Kapaw’s is in had once been owned by Luther Weedin, Gail’s Great Uncle (Arlie’s Uncle) who was the Island County Sheriff and later U.S. Immigration Commissioner in Seattle in the Twenties. We slurped our ice cream as we walked the wharf to the red barn to look at real whale bones.

2. The second hike was the next day where we stopped off Highway 20 and hiked in Kettles Park across to Fort Ebey State Park. Kettles is named appropriately due to the many glacial indentations in the area (check out the topo). Without a map and numerous enticing trails scattered through the area we took a round about way finally ending up in the park. Jack trek’d back to fetch the van; needing Gail’s guidance over the talk-a-bout to sort out the marked and unmarked trails. Everyone was worn out and the vote was to return to Goodbeach. There folks swam, laid out on the beach, and even had s’mores after dinner!

Overall it was a jam-packed three days! Here are images for Cian, Rilla, Colin, Emma, Caleb, Gail, & Jack. See more at our Photobucket site.

Perego's Bluff 7.1.08

Whale Watching

Yesterday we went on a whale watching adventure through Island Adventures out of Anacortes. Here is Caleb and Emma's narrative:

"It was Uncle Jack and Aunt Shirl's 65 Anniversary so we went on a whale watching tour. We saw Orcas, Seals, Eagles, and a Tufted Puffin. And I got to watch a slide show." -Caleb (12)

"We started are trip by eating snacks.then Kate (are guide) started pointing out small birds.Soon a lady yelled "whales"and pointed to 3 or 4 orcas sticking their heads out of the water.we watch the orcas for awhile then finally thay moved to the other side.we also saw seals,eagles,and the first tufted puffin of the year.soon we headed home.I lots of fun! hay! its not every day you get to go whale watching and see orcas!" -Emma (9)

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Here are some images from the trip of whales, Cian, Rilla, Colin, Emma, Caleb, & the whole gang. You can see more images at our Photobucket site.

Whale watching 6.10.08

Award Winning Art!

As the older three kids were taking an art class in Duvall at the Northwest Art Center, they entered into the Duvall Days Art Show. Emma actually won first place in her age division and netted an award check for $65 (and mention in the local paper)! Her dog painting, "Puppy Angel" was displayed at the local dog wash business - not surprisingly. More surprising was that her color choices fit in quite nicely. Not to be outdone, both of the boys did well. Here is Colin's runner up Dragon. Here is Emma and her art on display:

Emma & Art 6.6.08

The possum cach

Earlier this month,we began to wonder why our chicken feed was disappearing too quickly.Then this week, we figured out that a possum had been getting into the coop and was stealing little by little. Once we figured out where the possum was getting in, Dad put a trap in front of the hole and put feed in it. Then on Monday, April 28 we caught it! It was a girl possum. Then Dad took it over to a garbage can full of water and drowned it. Later that day,(when I was at the gym)the boys found out that it was a mom! It had three baby possums in its pouch. Unfortunately Mom and I didn't get to see them. When they told us. Mom felt really sad, even though she hates possums. -Emma

Freewinds Haulout II

Work has been progressing on the Freewinds. Today they pulled it out at CSR's Lake Union yard in order to finish out the fiberglass on the deck. Since we tip the scales at around 40 tons they had to bring in a moble crane and Jack was able to take some shots as the event proceeded. Yes, that's the actual city backdrop - honestly, it wasn't 'Photoshop'd in.'

Freewinds 4.7.08

National Geographic Live with Robert Ballard

Caleb and Jack went to see Dr. Robert Ballard (most famous as the discoverer of the R.M.S. Titanic) at a National Geographic Live presentation at the Seattle Symphony’s Benaroya Hall. For the boys, dinner in Seattle consisted of Subway sandwiches (how fitting!). Here is Caleb’s report, which he typed himself:

My report on Robert Ballard's speech. Robert Ballard's inspiration to be an ocean explorer is that when he was young he wanted to be 'Captain Nemo'. His parents didn't ignore this, instead they inspired him. When a teenager in need of a job he joined the Navy, and got his first underwater mission. To find the heat sorse of a underwater sea valt. His second mission was to find some french batleships with the undercover of trying to find the TITANIC ,what a suprise when he found it!

-Caleb (11)

Valentine's Week

Valentine's Week has been a virtual whirlwind (that's speaking metaphorically, of course). It's been a good week for chocolate. The kids and I made heart shaped sugar cookies, based on the success of cookies baked the previous weekend for a trampoline meet, as well as fudge, cut out in the shape of hearts. Even with giving lots away, we consumed plenty ourselves. Valentine's evening, we had dinner with our good friends, the Thompsons, which meant the kids went to bed an hour after bedtime. I did not help put them to bed, as I volunteered to shut the chicken coop door to keep out unwanted critters. Ever since our Christmas night encounter with the most ENORMOUS possum in the coop, eating eggs and chicken feed (one chicken as well - but not that evening), we have been shutting them in at night. We've only forgotten once to let them out the next day. Anyway, I put on my boots and marched out into the night with my flashlight, only to discover a new, smaller possum in the coop. I won't say how we dispatched the creature, but it won't be eating my chickens or their organic $22 per 50 lb. bag of feed any more either.

Just so you know, the best way to deal with possums is to drive over them with your car - it's compassionate and quick. Also, this evening marked our 22nd engagement anniversary, and I must say we have become quite the efficient possum dispatching team.

Last night, Jack and I enjoyed an authentic Brazilian meal in the U District, with friends Uschi and Luis. The kids had pizza at Grandma Bev's house. The food could not have been better, and it was nice that Uschi and Luis speak fluent Portugese. As a bonus the restaurant is right across from R&E cycles, where we bought our first mountain bikes many years ago.

Emma had a gymnastics meet today at our home gym. She had plenty of family to watch, although Rilla & Cian spent much of the time eating chips or jumping in the pit of foam. As soon as Colin hooked up with his friend, Spencer, he was lost to the world of Nintendo DS. Caleb brought art supplies and generally wandered around.