Bateman Island

Today was our last chance to hike during the spring break and the kids wanted to hike Bateman Island again. Last time we stuck to the East side of the island so today we did the west.

Using 'Paint' program on my computer I highlighted the trails we hiked. The purple is what we did on Monday and red is what we did today.


Since the kids wanted to picnic, we each had our backpacks with our lunch and drinks


We found a great spot for our lunch where we could see the river. The kids were sitting on a big log. Unfortunately it must be a favorite spot since there was a lot of trash. We filled all three of our groceries bags and there was plenty of trash left to pick up.


The view from our lunch spot


Hayden and Ellie were having a competition on how many times they could hit the log in the water with a rock... I laughed at Hayden's stance... he is a goober


Hayden at Vista point


Ellie trying to clean up Vista point...hahaha


Taking a drink break as we starting heading back to the car


picture of the trail heading out

I didn't realize how much farther the west trails were to the east trails but Ellie was a trooper. Several times on the way back she would ask, "Are you almost there?" and I would respond, "Yes, we are almost there" and she would reply, "Great!". She did that about 5 times.

I wish I knew the distance of the trails so that I know how far Ellie is able to go. I want to do some trails outside of Tri-cities. I know there is some 3 miles loops ones near by. I guess Hayden and I could go and try it out during a weekend she is at Cliff's and it will help me get a better idea.

I am sad that there is only two more days of Spring break. I have really enjoyed the time with the kids. We have played sooo many games inside and outside and found their love of hiking. I wish we could get another week. I guess I have the week in between Spring and Summer quarter to look forward to. :-(

Spring break hiking

The kids and I have been enjoying our Spring break together. Monday we went hiking at Bateman Island and had a blast. I will post pictures later... once I find my charger to my camera and can get them downloaded to the computer.

Tuesday we went to help grandma in her yard for a little bit. It didn't last long because it was so windy and dirt was getting blown into our eyes. It has been postponed until Saturday. That is the only other day that grandma doesn't have an errand or an appointment. Busy life for a women in her 70's.

Today we went hiking at Chamna Natural Preserve. There are so many trails. We walked along the Vineyard, River, and Tree tunnel trails. I am not sure the distance we traveled was but all together Chamna has 11 miles of trails. We hiked long enough for Ellie to be tuckered out towards the end. There were plenty of little trails off the main one. They all headed to the the river and of course we had to walk each one of them.

These pictures were taken from my cell phone's camera

On one of the many side trails... I think they had found more garbage to pick up. We ended up with a black garbage bag full by the end.


I loved the parts of the trail were the trees were covering it. Even the desert has nice hikes.


Sometimes they do act like they love each other. Hehehe


Hayden being cheezy


Now that is a big tree trunk


This is part of the Tree Tunnel trail





Hayden LOVES hiking... now I need to make more of an effort to do hikes in our spare time... hahaha


Of course Ellie had to the same thing as her brother.


I had mentioned as I was awed by the surrounding nature that, 'God does great work' and then the rest of the hike Ellie would say "Mom, Jesus made this too!" It was cute.

At this point of the hike it was starting to drizzle heavier and it was a good thing that we were already heading back to the car. Ellie was doing the potty dance the last 15 minutes but wouldn't relieve herself behind the bushes.

At the trail head parking lot there was a port-a-let but she wouldn't use that either. "I will wait until we get home, mommy". She barely made it home. In a crisis I would use one of those disgusting toilets but apparently Ellie can't stoop to that level. Hehehe... She is a four-year-old diva! ;-)

Spaghetti Madness

A couple of weeks ago we rented the movie Hancock and the kids loved it. Hayden really like the idea of Spaghetti madness night for supper. So, we decided that Wednesday would be the best night because it is the only day of the week that there is no practice or games of any kind.

I made homemade spaghetti sauce and turkey meatballs. The recipe for the meatballs came from the Food Network's cook Ellie Krieger. They had grated carrots in them. The kids gobbled them right up. Yay! It was a hit. I had to substitute the egg with a mixture of flaxseed meal and water. They held together fine.

I think this weekend I will make a quadruple batch and freeze them so it will save some time next week.

Oh Man, Oh Man!!!

First off, I have my very first cold sore! How absolutely disgusting.

I went to the Dr. today to make sure it was that and not some flesh eating bacteria. Hahaha.

My Dr. informed that I wouldn't be able to do clinicals tomorrow. Which is really great news... NOT! My clinical instructor thought it was weird that he restricted me from clinicals but said that I will make it up by doing two clinical days instead of one in a couple of weeks.

Also while at the Dr.'s office he was looking over the lab work from my allergy testing that he requested in September and there were some gimmes like cats, dogs, weeds, some grasses and trees. Then it got interesting. I am allergic to fire ants (I am glad I moved away from the South), MILK, and egg whites!!! What a bummer!!! I love milk, cheese, sour cream, butter, and ice cream.... well the whole dairy family! Boo hoo hoo. :-( So, I guess I need to be on a vegan diet but can have meat. This is going to be a huge change for me. Maybe I will finally get rid of the chronic dermatitis on my legs without using steroid creams all the time.

Wish me luck!

Another snowy day in Kennewick

The kids are loving the snow. As Ellie put it, "Mom, I am going to stay out here forever". Snow pants are the best invention. I don't remember having snow pants when I played in the snow. I would play until it got too cold and then would come inside and strip and couldn't got back out and play unless I wanted to put the cold, wet clothes back on again. Ellie and Hayden don't know how lucky they are. Ha!

I have plenty of snow angels in my yard ;-)


Ellie was trying to bury her brother and since I was shoveling the driveway...


... I thought I would help


Ellie taking a rest on her snow couch


snowflakes on eyelashes


Ellie has the most cheesiest grin and I try to get to say something so that it doesn't look so forced... this picture she is saying "macaroni and cheese"


Hayden doing yet another snow angel. My yard is blessed

Cable Bridge Run

Hayden ran the 5K Cable Bridge run this morning and completed it! Woohoo!! I couldn't be prouder of him.

Jessica and Hayden before the race...


... crossed the finish line

Hayden said that his left foot was hurting. We will practice running throughout the year so that we can get in better shape to run it next year. How old can kids run? I wander if Ellie could run it next with us or would a four-year-old be too young? I don't want to unknowingly damage her growing body... maybe Jared would know that answer to that.

Living Nativity

Every year Ellie's Pre-school teacher, Mrs. Roxanne, gives the kids a pizza party, buys their tickets for the living nativity and ends the evening with hot chocolate and birthday cake for Jesus at McDonald's as their Christmas gift.

Lydia waiting for the play to start


Ellie.... also waiting... and passing the time by making faces.... hahaha!

I have not had taken the opportunity to check out Cathedral of Joy's Living Nativity in years past and I sure have been missing out.

I definitely rate is a must see this Holiday season!

This was the last scene in which everyone came to see the Savior.


Here is 'Mary' and 'Joseph' up closer

The kids thoroughly enjoyed it and I think this will be a family tradition. Cathedral of Joy did a great job!