I am officially a "Soccer Mom"

The AYSO soocer season began with triple-digit temperatures in Paso Robles: whew, it was HOT!

(althought now it is chilly and autumn-ish)

Here are some photographs of Brooke (#8) in action;

and DJ, the assistant coach of her team, looks as if he is instructing the players to "Hit them hard!"  :-)

Alexandra and Caedmon have been fantastic fans of their sister!

I guess this means that I am officially a "Soccer Mom".  Yikes!  :-)

Happy Birthday to Caedmon Van Bigelow!!

Caedmon Van Bigelow turned five years old on September 19, 2009.

We celebrated with a family meal at "Bubba's Big Bad Barbeque",

per Caed's request.

Hooray for Caedmon's life!  We're glad he was born!

McDonald Family Campout in Southern Oregon

We enjoyed some fun camping experiences with the McDonalds

at Valley of the Rogue River in Southern Oregon.

Here are cousins Greyson Wittstock and Caedmon Van Bigelow, smiling. :-)

DJ and Scott and Caedmon sat around the campfire,

contemplating and considering the meaning of life.

Grampa Scott and Alexandra helped to keep Conlee entertained and safe.

Brookie and Greyson practiced funny faces.

Here is a photograph of my momma with her three children,
LaRae "Danger" McDonald, Holly "Lucky Duck" Bigelow,
and Drew "Like Smoke" McDonald.
What a "SuperTrooper" the mother was!


What happy campers we all were!

What We Did in the Month of May

In addition to attending "Bearkitten" preschool thrice per week,

Caedmon has spent much time this year, much to his delight,

with his good buddy Dylan; and with his sisters!

Here are Caedmon, Brooke, and Dylan.

Alexandra and her fifth-grade class

attended Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria, California

for 4 days in May. Ask Alex about "belly biology"! :-)

Brookie Cookie had a fun time playing softball for a season.
"Swing like you mean it!"

Next up: summer vacation!

Alexandra's Washington State Report

Last month, Alexandra's 5th grade project

was to research and write a 25-paragraph essay,

as well as to make an aritistic presentation,

of one of the United States of America.

Alex and her good friend Cassidy collaborated

on a presentation of Washington, The Evergreen State.

Here's a shout-out to those we love in The Evergreen State!

March 8, 2009 - Nanny's 87th Birthday

Mildred Louise Olson Crabtree,

alive and well :-)

on her 87th birthday

Nanny with great-grandchildren Alexandra, Brooke, and Caedmon,

eager to consume the very delicious dipped strawberries,

sent by the ones we love in Colorado.

Caedmon was happy to partake of a chocolate-covered strawberry

(good thing Nanny shared!) :-)

Nanny enjoyed the flowers sent by the ones we love in Florida.

Happy Birthday, Nanny!

We Like to Snuggle :-)

Three kids and a Daddy. :-)

The Lemonade Cleanse

Hmmmm....I'm sensing the desire

to partake of "The Ultimate Master Cleanse"

in the near future. Would anyone like to join me? :-)

It's a Jungle In There

Brooke and Caedmon have a sort-of "Jungle" theme in their bedroom. Here they are with lots of their stuffed animals, and with Caedmon's "snake" (the sash from his camouflage housecoat -

lucky for Caedmon, since these pictures were taken, he received a snake "Webkinz" for Christmas!)

Alexandra's contribution was to pose with her "Littlest Pet Shop" panda bear;ever since her 2nd grade report and diorama on pandas, she loves them.

"Monkey see, monkey do - monkeys everywhere!"


Either Caedmon is handling the snake, or the snake is managing him. :-)


Happy times with the kidlets!