Lona came home from playing with a friend one day and started begging me to color eggs.  No, we are not coloring eggs.  I really didn't want to go through the mess and the stink.  But then I stopped at the grocery store after working out one morning and decided to buy a couple of packs of egg coloring kits.  So after school yesterday we opened them up and colored 17 eggs that I had hard boiled.  The boys were interested in it for about 10 minutes and then the Legos and law book called to them.  I'd much rather color eggs than read Law 101 but Isaac is plowing through this book - dry very dry.  Lona lasted a whole lot longer.  One thing that we did was take a large piece of masking tape and punch butterfly, heart and circle shapes out of it and taped it to our eggs.  We also used colored crayons and clear crayon to write and draw on our eggs.  It was a lot of fun but sure messy.  We'll get more eggs and do another set of eggs.  This morning Lona cracked her egg on Job's head.  Ouch but both boys volunteered.  Life with kids.

L'autre jour Lona a demande de colorer des oeufs.  Je dit no parce que je n'aime pas l'odeur ou le désordre.  Mais quand je retourne chez nous apres mon exercice j'arete au marche et achete quelques pacquet des couleur.  Apres le fin des etudes, nous faisons les couleurs.  Les garcons le faisent pour quelques minutes mais ils vent jouer avec les Legos ou lire un livre de loi.  C'est Isaac qui est l'interesant de loi.  Moi, je veux colorer des oeufs plutôt que lire un livre de loi.  Lona fait les plus oeufs.  On utilise des crayons et des autocollants sur les oeufs avant de metre dans les couleurs.  Aujourd'hui je vais acheter plus des oeufs et essayer avec un autre paquet des couleurs.  Ce matin, Lona a fendu un oeuf sur la tete de Job.  Les deux garcons ont offert.  La vie avec les enfants.

Well, we survived Saturday.  John left early for Birch Bay to pick up his race packet and get all ready.  I dropped Isaac off at the soccer fields at 8:30 to referree three games.  Job and Lona picked up the house with me then we left for Birch Bay to wait for John to come in.  He said that it was hard.  I think he had an off running day.  I guess after 7 miles he was done where as with the 1/2 marathon after 7 miles he felt great and really picked up the pace.  But he has about 5 weeks left.  He'll do great.  We are all so proud of him.  He finished in 2 hours and 50 minutes.  Then we were off to home for a quick lunch, pick up Isaac get changed and back to the soccer fields.  Isaac was promoted and can now ref U8 games which pays a dollar more. Lona and Job had a game at the same time.  John coached Job and I stayed with Lona.  Next week I'll post photos of Job playing.  Lona played goalie and defender.  There were four shots on goal during the first half and she stopped each one.  Job scored a goal and his team won 9 to 0.  I wish I could have seen that game.  Next week though.  Last was Isaac's game.  His team played against his coach from indoor season.  They won 2 to 0.  Finally we arrived home after 5pm.  It was a very productive day and the house remained fairly clean.  Usually when we run around like this we just come in and drop things so by the time we do get home we are exhausted. 

Le last photo is from my 365 photo project.

Bien, nous avons survécu à samedi. John est parti tôt pour Bich Bay de prenne son paquet de course et pour est tout prêt. Il cours 30 km.  J'ai laissé  Isaac au loin aux terrains de football à 8:30 au arbitre trois jeux. Job et Lona ont pris la maison avec moi alors que nous sommes partis pour Birch Bay attende John pour entrer. Il a dit que c'était dur. Je pense qu'il a eu un jour au loin courant.  Mais il fait laisser environ 5 semaines. Il le fond grand.  Nous sommes tous si fiers de lui. Il a fini en 2 heures et 50 minutes. Nous avons vite aller chez nous pour le dinner, cherche Isaac qu'il change de vetement et retournons aux terrains de football.  Isaac a été promu et peut maintenant des jeux de la référence U8 qui paye à un dollar de plus. Lona et Job ont eu un jeu en même temps. John a donné des leçons particulières Job et je suis resté avec Lona. La semaine prochaine je peux prendre des photos de Job.  Lona a joué le gardien de but et le défenseur. Il y avait quatre projectiles sur le but pendant la première moitié et elle a arrêté chacun. Job qué un but et son équipe a gagné 9 à 0. Je souhaite que je pourrais avoir vu ce jeu. La semaine prochaine cependant. L'équipe de Isaac a joué contre son entraîneur de saison d'intérieur. Ils ont gagné 2 à 0. Enfin nous sommes arrivés à la maison après 5pm. C'était un jour très productif et la maison est restée assez propre. Habituellement quand nous courons autour comme ceci nous entrons juste et laissons tomber des choses ainsi avant que nous arrivions à la maison que nous sommes épuisés mais samedi etait differente, heureusement.

Je suis dans une groupe qui prennent une photo par jour pour une annee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgIfnCZxOYM

Today is officially Spring and dance is over so a new chapter has started.  Lona's last performance was this afternoon.  We dolled her up and she smiled pretty, tapped her toes, and twirled for the last time this year.  John was so proud of her last night.  Lona was super excited to have her father watch her.  At one point I looked over and he was all teared up.  I love having a husband who is proud of his kids.  He can be such a softy at times.  I love that.  Isaac said that he was proud of her and that he had a warm feeling for her in his heart.  That teared me up more than Lona dancing.  Job's reaction was "good".  That pretty much is his standard answer for everything.  I have wanted to take Lona's pictures in her outfit but we have either been rushing to or from the "big black stage" and today was no different.  I pulled over for about five minutes at a railroad track but am not happy.  I cut off either her feet or her hands.  This summer after soccer is over.
One some other news.  I've enrolled in a scrapbooking class that challenges us to use up our stash of product which is old.  I've been scrapbooking like crazy.  It's good therapy for me during the craziness. 

Aujourd'hui Lona a sa expose de dance.  Je fais sa cheveux et son maquillage.  Elle dance et tourne et souri a toute le monde.  Elle fait tres bien.  John est tres en fier d'elle; il y a un peu des larmes dans ses yeux.  Isaac dit qu'il est en fier d'elle aussi et il a quelque chose chaud dans son coeur.  Moi, je suis heureuse mais quand j'ecoute Isaac, je commence de pleurer.  Job, il dit qu'elle fait bon.  Quand il reponds aux question, c'est "bon" toute les temps. Chaque fois nous allons vit a la place et retournons vit.  Nous n'avons pas beaucoup de temps mais aujourd'hui j'arrete et prend quelques photos.  Je ne suis pas tres content parce que je coupe un bras ou des pieds.  Peut-etre apres le saison de football je peu prendre quelques joli photos de Lona.
Maintenant je pris un course de "scrapbooking".  Cette course m'aide de faire calme.  Je peu voir tous que les autres etudients faire et je peu faire un peu a ma maison.  C'est bon pour moi de faire quelque chose tranquille quand nous avons tres actif.

Today Lona had her dance rehearsal.  I volunteered to help backstage.  The last two years I've been in the audience.  It's my turn to help.  On Friday night I get to watch from the audience but Saturday afternoon I communicate with the guys in the sound and light booth.  This is the view I had of Lona and her classes from stage left.

This week is a crazy week.  I think that I actually love having weeks like this because I like feeling like I've survived them- no more like conquered them.  Some how if I can get everything done and still keep my sanity then I've won.  If I lost my cool then the week was a failure.  But regardless of how it works out we still get things done, pretty or not. 
So here is the schedule this week.
Monday - first outdoor soccer practice for Isaac - John is co-coach.  Laundry has to get done.
Tuesday - orthodontic consulting appointmen, oil change & transmission flush, Job's first outdoor soccer practic (John is coach), Lona's first outdoor soccer practice which she missed because it is at the same time as her last tap dance class before recital.
Wednesday - Isaac & Job's endocrinologist appointment in Seattle, Awana (Job had a blood draw & bone age x-ray)
Thursday - Job's soccer practice & Lona's dress rehearsal in Everson, MP3 survey due
Friday - Lona's dance recital, meal to a neighbor who broke her wrist.  (That is my top priority - the rest can really go by the way side if needed.)

I have a craft to get ready for sunday school, 30 day reviews for MP3 and reciepts.  I am taking a scrapbooking class, exercising at 5:30 am and going through a photography book.  Under all that fluff is school, laundry, meals, keeping the house picked up - not cleaned. I know that this is a season in my life and will not last.  These are the weeks were I really have to rely upon my God because there is no way I can get through them, and when I do I've conquered the week. When weeks aren't so crazy then I tend to get by on my own power.  I just love life.
Cette semaine nous avons beaucoup des choses de faire. 
Lundi, Isaac avait son premiere entrainement de football dehors.  John est l'entraineur avec un autre homme pour Isaac. 
Merdi, Job avait son premiere entrainement de football dehors.  John est le seul entraineur.  Lona avait sa course de dance.  C'est sa derniere course avant son expose et a le meme temps elle avait son premiere entrainement de football dehors qu'elle avait manquer.  Nous avons aller a le dentiste pour Isaac et apres aller de change l'huile dans le voiture. 
Mercredi, nous sommes alles a Seattle chez docteur pour Isaac et Job.  Job avais un x-ray parce qu'il est tros petite.  Nous avons arrives chez nous en temp d'aller a Awana.
Jeudi, nous avons l'entrainement pour Job et repetition generale de dance pour Lona
Vendredi, c'est l'expose de dance pour Lona
Samedi, c'est l'expose de dance pour Lona encore.

J'aime les semaine comme ca parce qu'il est un provocation pour moi.  J'espere que je passe cette semaine joyeux avec mes enfants et n'est pas comme faicher avec lui ou moi.

Last week we had a house guest.  We affectionately called him BMD.  He is about 4 months old and so  cute.  He was dropped off on Wednesday and we brought him to church with us on Sunday and gave him back.  Upon arriving home on Sunday after church I promptly vacuumed the carpet.  He left a ton of fur all over the place.  I really think that Skagit misses him.  All he has done yesterday and today is sleep.  He had a little play date with the puppy next door today but having that constant companion has either worn Skagit out or made him feel lonely.  I do have to say that this last week Skagit woofed down his food. Before he would poke at it but now he means business when he eats.  The BMD and Skagit were hilarious together.  They would both eat as fast as possible and then check out the other's food.  They were like siblings in that they couldn't walk past each other without grabbing an ear or sitting on each other's head.  After four days they started to lay down next to each other.  We all had a fun time.

Le semaine passe nous avons garder un chien.  Il s'apelle Eli mais nous lui appelle BMD.  Il est 4 mois comme Skagit et mignon.  Nous lui gardons mercredi entre dimanche.  Il joue avec Skagit et mange ses oreilles.  Quand c'est temps pour dinner, les chiens vite mangent leur dinner et vont voir le dinner d'autre chien.  C'est vraiment amusant.  Apres quatre jours ils ont commence de coucher pres de l'autre chien.  Quand le BMD quitte chez nous je vite passe l'aspirateur parce qu'il y cheveux de chien toute la maison. Vien encore BMD tu est bienvenu.

Eight years ago we moved from Montana to Washington with a 2 year old and a 6 month old.  I knew no one.  I didn't know the area at all.  We had one car and John took that to work in the morning.  By the time he came home it was dark and I had no idea where the grocery store was.  He'd hand me the keys and point me out the door thinking that I needed to get out.  I did but I really wanted to understand where I lived in the day.  I would pile the kids into a single kid stroller and walk around the neighborhood but that was all.  My neighbor came to the rescue.  She had a young daughter and once John bought me a car she showed me different parks and places to go.  She introduced us to the library here too. Eventually we built this play structure with the plans donated to us by our neighbor.  After looking around the yard we decided to place it next to their fence.  We wanted to keep maximum area in the yard for play.  This has turned out to be fortunate for the kids.  They have played and talked and hung out together through the fence for the last 8 years.  I'm sure this will continue until all our children are gone.  Maybe even our grandchildren will use it too. 

Il y a 8 annee depuis nous avons demenage ici.  Nous avons seulment un voiture et John le prends a son travaille.  Quand il retourn a la maison, il me donne les cles du voiture et dit, "Vas a la marche."  Il pense que j'ai besoin un peu du temps tout seul sans enfants.  Mais c'est sombre dehors et je ne sais pas ou est le marche.  Je fais un petit cours autour de la maison mais c'est tout.  Ma voisin me mont les parcs, le bibliotheque et des autres places.  Nous avons construir cette platfond for les enfants pres de la barriere de notre voisine.  Les enfant jouons, parlons, et restons sur le plafond.  J'espere qu'ils le vont faire jusqu'il partir pour l'universite et peut-etre notres petits-enfant le faison aussi.

A couple of years ago the driver side window started having a problem.  It started by not rolling up the whole way and we'd have to wait 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 1/2 hour to roll up and finally not without help.  We'd push the clicker down and with the other hand force the window back up.  Soon we weren't rolling down the window at all.  We'd go through the drive-thru and just open the door instead.  My mother's husband wondered why we wouldn't get that fixed but we didn't.  Last week we noticed that the wires in our front tires were poking through.  Not good so I took it to Costco to have new tires put on.  Thankfully we just needed two new tires.  But it's their policy to roll down the window.  Why?  I have no idea.  But they couldn't get the window up so they had to park it someplace else so they could keep an eye on it.  That was so nice of them, even after Skagit peed twice in front of their counter.  They were nice about that too.  It's an excited thing.  Hopefully he grows out of it.  Then we needed to have the van aligned.  So Tuesday my busy day I had an appointment to have that done.  Remember this was my busy day:  up at 5am, work out at 5:30 home by 6:45, kids up at 7 am, school by 8 am, drop the dog of to get neutered by 9 am, finish school by noon, car in at 1 pm, Lona into costume with hair and make-up and out to Nooksack Elementary by 5:15, and a racquetball game with the kids at YMCA at 7:30pm.  That is how my day was planning out.  Back to the van.  I went in and told them not to roll down the window having learned from Costco and I watched them write in down on the order.  Fine, it will be about an hour.  After 1 1/2 hours they brought me back the van and the window was rolled down. Ok, hopefully I'll get it back up by the time I take Lona for photos.  Only this time the clicker is totally frozen and I can't even force the window up anymore.  The guy offered to take the panel off and roll up the window for me but I was on a tight schedule and couldn't wait.  I headed home spent 1 hour with Lona's hair and make up and the rest of the panned out like I thought.  John spent quite a bit of time taking off the panel and trying to get the window up that night but couldn't. So the door panel is in the very back of the van along with all the parts.
Now it is Wednesday and I call Toyota, they don't have any time available until next Wednesday.  Ok, but could someone roll up my window for me?  i could almost see the gal on the other end of the phone rolling her eyes.  Yep, I asked to have my window rolled up.  Sigh, come in and ask for Brian.  I figure since I"m getting my hair done at that side of town I'll just swing by and get it rolled up.  After 1 1/2 hours they pulled the van back out of the shop with the window up.  Aparently it took 4 guys to do that and they disconnected the motor and the clicker is on my passenger side seat.  There is no way some one is going to be able to roll down the window now.  Great.  I thank Brian and walk out to my car only to discover that the passenger window is rolled down and the window is locked so that I can't use the controls on the passenger door.  The controls are sitting on the seat of the van next to me.  I couldn't help but start laughing.   Are you kidding?  I wanted the window rolled up and now the passenger window is down.  I couldn't wait any longer I just drove home laughing.  All I had to do was reconnect the clicker and unlock the passenger window controls.  Thankfully that was working.  But ever since I went to Toyota the overhead lights and the clock aren't working.  Why?  I tell you it is a saga with this van.  I need it to last 8 more years.  Actually if it could last 10 I would be thrilled.  Four more years and Isaac may start driving, two years later Job and still another two years Lona.  By that time I'll be ready for my Miata.
Il y a un petit problem avec ma voiture.  Le fenetre n'est pas bougie apres l'ouvrir.  C'est comme ca pour deux annee.  Au premiere on peut ouvrir le fenetre est de fermer il etait lentement. apres un peut du temps on peut pas fermer le fenetre sans aider par main.  Je prend mon voiture au mecanicien  pour les pneus.  Je leur dit n'ouvez pas les fenetre.  Il ecrit sa mais quand le mecanicien me le donne le fenetre est ouvrir et c'est tous casser maintenant.  Il offrit de fermer le fenetre mais je n'avais pas assez du temps.  Il faut que je fair les cheuveux de Lona et la prend dans une autre village pour des photos pour la dance.  C'est presque un heure de faire sa cheuveux et sa maquillage.  Quand nous retournons chez nous il commence de pluie.  Le jour prochain je telephone un autre mecanicien de  reparer le fenetre.  Il me dit je peut allez dans un semaine.  Je demande s'il peut fermer mon fenetre au'jourdhui.  C'est possible alors je prends mon voiture dans l'apres midi et j'attend une heure et demi.  C'est necessaire de quatre homme aider de fermer mon fenetre.  Il dit, "C'est tout fermer, ce n'est pas possible d'ouvrir maintenant."  Le semaine prochain on peut le reparer.  Je dis merci et quand je ouvrir la port l'autre fenetre est ouvrir et ce n'est pas possible de fermer.  Je n'avais pas le temps d'attendre encore alors je vais chez moi.  C'est un peu du temp mais l'autre fenetre est fermer aussi. Mais ma porte est dans quelques pieces. C'est vraiment amusant.

This saturday the kids, the dog and I ran in the Honeywagon 4 mile race.  John completed a 1/2 marathon in 1:47.  I am so proud of him.  He ran 8:10 minute miles.  He really had no idea how far he was running while training.  He was just going by time and thought that he averaged 9 1/2 minute miles.  But no he was faster and so he had been going farther.  We were quite excited to see him come in.  The results should be up soon, hopefully.  Isaac's time was 45 minutes and I think that he could have been faster but I had him stick with us for 2 1/2 miles.  I never know with his diabetes but the last part he kicked into gear and finished.  It was more difficult for Job and Lona.  If I hadn't told the kids that there would be no whinning I think they would have cried a little but they kept plugging along.  We ran the first mile then walked 6 minutes then alternated 6 minute runs with 3 minute walks.  I had to go to the bathroom so bad by mile 3.  I thought I was going to pee and for a minute I didn't think I'd make it to the bathroom once we got to the finish.  Lona wanted to quit but I made her run the last bit and when she saw the finish line both her and Job kicked into high gear and tried to beat each other to the finish.  There is a little sibling rivalry there, healthy though.  Skagit being 4 months old did great too.  I think he's a long distance runner.  Once back he didn't want anything to drink he just laid down and watched people come in.  I had some time between our race ending and John coming in so I posed the kids to practice.This one was a favorite of Isaac, I don't know why.  It just seems to show emotion.  Then I totally messed up when John came in and way overexposed the photos so that they are unsalvagable when John crossed the line.  Major bummer.    I really wasn't expecting him for another 10 minutes but still that isn't an excuse.
After the race we headed home to work in the yard a little and then Isaac had a soccer game and what a game it was.  Exciting to the end.  Isaac scored the first 4 goals for his team and then had an assist.  He hustled more than I had ever seen him and he was covering for one of the players who had played a previous game.  He ran up and down the whole court.  He dribbled more than he had in the past and did some terrific one touch passes.  I couldn't hardly believe it.  Maybe he should run 4 miles before every game.  He has one more  indoor soccer game and then a week off before two practices a week for outdoor starts.  He will start reffing at the end of March.

Samedi, nous faison un cours.  John cours 21 km dans une heure et 47 minutes.  Isaac cours 6.4 km dans 45 minutes.  Job, Lona, le chien et moi courons 6.4 km dans 51 minutes.  C'est difficile pour Lona.  A le fin elle veut  quitter mais quand elle vois le fin elle decide de courir vite et presque passer Job.  Quand Job vois Lona  il decide de courir plus vite.  Je suis en fier de mes enfants et mon mari.  On courons pour le premiere et demi kilometer et apres on courons  pour 6 minutes et marchons pour 3 minutes. 

A l'apres midi Isaac a un matche de football.  Il fait quatre but. C'est uncroyable!  Le matche etait vraiment excitant.  Isaac ausi aide un coequipier de faire un but.  Il cours tout le terrain de football parce que un autre garcon avait toujours jouer dans un autre matche avant ce matche.  Il a un autre matche cette samedi est apres il a un semaine avant le saison de football dehors commence.  Quand ca commence il practique 2 jours par semaine et a un matche chaque samedi pour huit semaine.  Il commence l'arbitre a le meme temps.