The Grass Family Chronicles

We got a Wii for Christmas, as well as some games and such. Andy is really taken with the guitar from Rock Band.

Hope you all had a great Christmas!

Posted in: on Friday, December 26, 2008 at at 11:45 AM 2 comments  

We're still getting snow here. More than ever! I took this picture earlier today, but Paul just went out to check, and we're at almost 8 inches today. And it's still coming down!

Posted in: on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at at 9:13 PM 0 comments  

It was a snow week here in Beaverton, so the boys and I got some Christmas crafts done while we were stuck in the house.

I've been meaning to redo our picture wall for ages, but finally had the time to get it done this week. I'm pretty pleased with the results!



We decided to make our traditional lip balm for little gifts this year. Paul and I really enjoy making them, and we especially love using them! I found these cute little take-out boxes to use as well.



Caleb, Andy and I started our first batch of Christmas cookies. We always start out with sugar cookies. I found the best recipe and they are delicious this year! We've got so many others to make...

Posted in: on at at 9:12 PM 1 comments  

We always take Jakey out of the bath last because we've learned that he really gets in the way if we don't. Well, Andy really wanted to stay on this day so we took Jakey out second. You can see what happened. He had to go try to play in the water just a little bit more, but he somehow forgot that he was fully dressed. For bed. Here's to hoping he'll never do THAT again!

Posted in: on at at 9:08 PM 1 comments  

We've gotten our first snow of the year, and it's a big one! I don't recall when it's been this cold, but I don't think cold ever stops boys from going out to play in snow! While it's nice to see everything so pretty and white, it's supposed to be around almost all week! We don't survive well here in snow, so I'm anxious for it to melt so we can get all of our Christmas preparations taken care of. Keep warm out there!

Posted in: on Monday, December 15, 2008 at at 9:14 PM 0 comments  

Paul's new company headquarters are in Carlsbad, CA and earlier this month he had to take a business trip there. Do you know what else is in Carlsbad? LEGOLAND! Of course, we had to take advantage of the situtation so on a Wednesday morning we woke the boys and surprised them with a trip to San Diego! I think they were shocked, but quickly got excited about a trip on an airplane and five nights in a hotel. With a pool. More about that later.

Somehow we all got upgraded to first class, so our three boys have already experienced the luxury of rich and famous. :) They fit in just fine and I will say they wondered why we weren't sitting in the front on the way back!

Paul actually had to work for part of the trip (fancy that!), so I took the boys to Legoland the first day. Our hotel was actually right next to it, and we had our own private entrance! Very nice. They loved all the rides - Andy's favorite was the the horse ride and while Caleb and Jakey enjoyed rides, their favorite thing was this ball area where you shoot foam balls at each other.

We went back with Paul the next day, and it was more of the same crazy fun. They sure loved that place!

Aunt Peggy came to spend the night with us that night, and it was so great to have her with us! The boys were pretty tired out by then, though - Caleb even fell asleep at dinner! That was a first. We all went to Sea World the next day and watched as many shows as we could.

In between all the fun, the boys spent every spare minute in the pool. Now, it was warmer in San Diego than here in Oregon, but I didn't think it was THAT warm! Fortunately the pool was heated, but they stayed in there until their lips turned blue. Fortunately Paul is a little tougher than me and he hung in there until they were ready to come out.

On our last day there, we relaxed at the pool (again!) and went to hang out with some friends. It was nice to catch up and we all had fun.

Paul had meetings the day that we left, so I nervously boarded the plane with all three boys at 7AM. I guess I shouldn't be surprised to say that they were amazingly good. They have become such wonderful little travelers!

We all had a great time, and can't wait until our next vacation.

Posted in: on at at 8:56 PM 0 comments  

Last year, after Christmas, I happened to walk by the Lego Store and notice these advent calendars. I'm sure glad I did because the are a huge hit this year! A new little Lego every day - what more could a boy ask for?

Posted in: on at at 8:17 PM 0 comments  

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we headed out with our neighbors to do a little tree hunting. Christian is one of Jakey's favorite people, so he was thrilled!



We searched high and low before we found the perfect tree!



Paul did all the hard work, as usual, and Caleb was nearby watching.



We waited while the tree guys got our trees ready to put on the cars. Andy made sure that Jakey and Camille stayed out of the way. We had a great time!

Posted in: on at at 8:11 PM 0 comments  

Andy has been sick, which is why you can't hear his voice very well.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted in: on Saturday, November 29, 2008 at at 10:42 PM 1 comments  

Posted in: on Friday, November 21, 2008 at at 8:55 PM 0 comments  

Saturday was Andy's 4th birthday. We started off by taking the boys out to Noah's bagels for breakfast. Andy opened a present there as we ate yummy bagels (his favorite is a cinnamon sugar bagel toasted with butter).



Then we headed to the church to help rake leaves - everyone was enlisted to work! The weather was beautiful, so we didn't mind much.






We got home to clean up a bit and start getting ready for the big party. Grandma and Grandpa came over early to play with the boys and let Andy open his present from them. Hami and our family friend Miss Linda worked hard to prepare an awesome Korean dinner! The party was lots of fun; we did a pinata, of course, and had a delicious cake made by Claudia. The kids were all running around, screaming and having great fun. A wonderful day for our wonderful four year old!

Posted in: on Sunday, November 16, 2008 at at 1:24 PM 1 comments  

The skies were clear today, so Caleb suggested we take a walk to school to play on the playground and that's just what we did! Caleb and Andy were really into packing their backpacks for the trip; I had to scale it down a bit as they were bringing books, math toys, water, journals and pens, balls, etc. So, we finally took off and had a great time! Here's hoping for a few more days of sun...

Posted in: on Thursday, November 13, 2008 at at 10:08 PM 1 comments  

Today Andy was the VIP at school. That's Very Important Preschooler! Basically, it's the day they celebrate each preschooler's birthday. Hami and I went to the party time and it was lots of fun. Mrs. Burton is the greatest preschool teacher and you can tell she really loves Andy. She had given us a sheet of information to fill out- things about Andy. He shared that his favorite animal is a zebra or giraffe, his favorite color is yellow, he has brown hair and brown eyes, when he grows up he wants to be Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master, and that he loves Lego Star Wars (duh!). Then Mrs. Burton prayed for him and it was beautiful. Andy was very excited to get a balloon and small present, and we brought fruit roll-ups to share during snack time. I think he felt very special today!

Posted in: on at at 10:02 PM 0 comments  

Posted in: on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at at 4:24 PM 2 comments  

Posted in: on at at 4:09 PM 0 comments  

Just so you know how he really felt about his costume...

Posted in: on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at at 8:49 PM 3 comments  

Halloween was a fun-filled day. First, the boys got their costumes on and we went to the mall to meet our BFF (that's best friends forever!) the Morinishi's. So cute!




There was a Master Lego Builder there building an 8 foot R2-D2 so we went to check that out. They were having kids build blocks for the R2, so Caleb and Andy actually got to help build it!




After all that, we came home for a break before the evening festivities. First went to Grandma and Grandpa's to show off our costumes and do some trick-or-treating at neighbors, then we came back to our neighborhood to go around for a bit with our Caitlin and Camille, our neighbors. Then we headed to the Morinishi's for a party and more trick-or-treating. We decorated cookies, had some snacks, then headed out for more candy. Whew! It was a crazy, exciting day!

Posted in: on Sunday, November 2, 2008 at at 4:50 PM 2 comments  

We carved lots of pumpkins this year. Two at church and three at home! Caleb and Andy were really into it and they loved getting the "pumpkin guts" out. Jakey supervised. :)



What we have here is: Andy's little pumpkin with eyes; Caleb's Tie Fighter pumpkin; Andy's happy face pumpkin; our family x-wing fighter pumpkin; Caleb's ghost pumpkin.

Posted in: on at at 4:18 PM 0 comments  

We took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch today, and chose to go to Lake View Farms this year. Paul had taken the boys last year and they had good memories of it! Grandma and Grandpa went as well and we all had lots of fun. Caleb and Andy especially loved the Centipede ride, which was basically a small tractor pulling barrels that were hitched together.



The boys enjoyed a ride on the train that went through a field to the pumpkin patch. That was Jakey's favorite part!







When we got to the patch, there was also a small hay maze that the boys played in for a little while. Caleb enjoyed running around and popping up to try and scare me.



We finally got around to picking out a pumpkin. You'll had to wait and see how we carve it!

Posted in: on Saturday, October 25, 2008 at at 8:28 PM 3 comments  

We've been having the best fall weather this year! Lots of sunshine - and we've been taking full advantage. Caleb and Andy spent most of the week playing outside; they had a big sidewalk chalk day with Miss Karen and drew a huge hopscotch and also drew a big pirate treasure map. They also took the opportunity to "sled" down the driveway. There was no snow, but that didn't stop them!

Posted in: on at at 8:23 PM 0 comments