Saturday Fun

Last Saturday Rob and I went to the “Snow Show.”  It was basically a big swap meet for snowmobilers.  Considering Rob is now the owner of two snowmobiles, we decided we should go and check it out.  It was fun to see all the gear and gadgets snowmobiler use. We now know we have a lot to learn about the sport.  We also collected a lot of maps of snowmobiling trails in the area.  It was a worthwhile adventure full of huge trucks, fancy trailers, amazing snowmobiles and hicks from all over the northwest.  We fit right in.

On the way home we took a few side trips.  As we passed the sign on highway 18, Rob wondered aloud, “What is the Flaming Geyser State Park?”  I had been there before and explained how there is a hole in the rock in the ground where methane gas comes out and it is lit with an eternally burning flame.  Rob was excited about the concept of fire coming out of the ground, so we took the detour.  As we neared the state park, Rob kept looking around saying, “Where is it?” and “I don’t see it.”  I explained that it was a small flame and in the trees.  Rob was more than disappointed to learn that it was only a 6 in high flame. :)

I think it’s pretty cool.  How often do you see a methane fueled eternal flame?  Rob wasn’t so impressed…

After our detour to see the amazing flame, we decided to take a trip to the pumpkin patch.  Rob had never been to one, but he did a great job of picking two beautiful pumpkins for us.

Notice the season appropriate orange and black cast!

We haven’t carved the pumpkins yet, but I will post pictures when we do. 

New Toy

He wouldn’t tell me what it was, just that we had to be there at 9 pm. It was another Craigslist free find.   So, we hooked up the trailer to the Explorer and headed north.  When we got to our destination, I wasn’t surprised.  There it sat, a 1972 Honda CB 360. 

The owner hadn’t started it up in several years.  Although it had a few years of dust on it, Rob was convinced it would run with just a little TLC.  Little did the previous owner know how much these little bikes can be worth, even when they are not running.

So we got it home, gave it a quick bath.  On his day off, Rob ran to the store and bought a gas hose for $1.78.  After replacing the hose, Rob kicked it a couple of times and sure enough, the bike was running.

It still needs some work, new front brakes, polishing of the chrome, maybe some work on the blinkers, but it runs.  It was another good free find off of craigslist. 

I’ve forbidden him from working on it too much until the cast comes off.  :)

Date night turned a night in the ER

WARNING: Graphic picture below

I was all ready for date night.  I got home from work and jumped in the shower.  I had done my hair and make-up and was waiting for Rob to get home.  We were going on a double date with some friends of ours.  Dinner, and then coming back to our house to play Kinect.  That didn’t happen…

It was 5:15 pm when I got a phone call from an unknown number.  I never answer the phone when I don’t recognize the number.  So, I ignored it.  The caller immediately called back, so I thought, I would see what they wanted.  It was a woman, and she said, “Hello, Cindi, here’s your husband…”  Rob then came on the phone and said, “I was in a motorcycle accident and I think I broke my arm.” 

I jumped in the car and went to find him.  He was only a mile from our house.  When I got there, he was sitting on the curb, holding his arm, and the lady who had called was holding a tissue to his bloody nose.  The paramedics were getting out of the ambulance just as I was getting there. 

The paramedics had to cut off Rob’s glove and jacket because he couldn’t open his hand.  They put him in a splint that provided almost zero support and took him on a very painful ride to the hospital.  I followed in my car.

We spent the evening in the ER with x-rays and traction.

After about 4 hours they decided traction wasn’t working and that Rob would need surgery because the bone was not realigning itself.  They whisked us off to the operating room.  Just as we were about to enter, another emergency bumped us and they sent us to a pre-surgery waiting room. We waited there for another 3-4 hours.  They finally took Rob into surgery at 12:30 am.  I saw him again at 3 am. 

He wore a post surgery splint for a week and today we went for his first post-op appointment where they took out the staples and gave him a cast.

We had a creative cast technician who gave rob a beautiful dark blue spiral stripe down his light blue cast. 

He will be in this cast for 1 week.  Then he gets a new one that comes below the elbow for three weeks. 

We had some guests come over tonight and decorate Rob’s cast even more.

Lauren and Isaac Ramos getting ready to sign

Mackenna Wheeler shows off her artistic abilities on Robs cast. 

Rob and I are grateful for all the visitors and help we’ve received over the past week.  We are very grateful that it was only his arm that was injured. 

If you’re in the neighborhood come on by, I’ve got the sharpies ready and waiting.

Visitors

Michael recently decided to move back to the Seattle area.  He is staying with Rob and I while he tries to find a place to live.  He is the first official “guest” to sleep in the guestroom.  Jaxon has come over to visit a few times as well. Here’s a couple of pictures of our house guests.

 

Before and AFTER!!!

This is what our front yard looked like most of the summer. :(

This is what our side yard looked like most of the summer. :(

This is what our front yard looked like on Friday

This is what we had planned for our Saturday fun.

And with a little help from some people we go to church with;

This is what our front yard looks like now!

 

and the side yard!

We still have some work to do, with edging, creating beds, and planting new bushes, but as you can see from the pictures, it is a HUGE improvement!

Jayden goes Camping

Our ward had a camping trip this weekend and Rob and I decided to take Jayden along for the fun.  We camped at Zion’s Camp which is a a church camp site on the peninsula.  They have a ton of things for families to do there and Jayden experienced a lot of firsts.  I, unfortunately forgot my camera, so you’ll have to settle for the not so great pictures taken with my cell phone camera. 

Jayden and Rob set up a tent when we first got to camp.

Jayden was excited about sleeping in a tent and did great.  We went to bed around 10:30 and he was sound asleep by 10:31. No joke!  He asked me to zip him up, 30 sec later I asked him a question and there was absolutely no response.  He was out cold.  He slept through the night and loved it.

Rob taught Jayden how to fish.  This picture was taken in the evening right after we got to the camp site.  They also went fishing on Saturday morning.  We even borrowed a paddle boat and took it out into the lake.  Rob and Jayden even caught a small fish.  The fish was on Rob’s line but he was nice enough to let Jayden real it in.  Jayden loved it.  It was a tiny fish (about 4 inches long), but still, it was a fish! 

There was a great tree fort that Jayden played in, on and around for a couple of hours. 

Rob and Jayden are at the top of the tree fort although it is really hard to see them.  No zoom on my cell phone camera. :(

Jayden on the Rob swing

Jayden on the tire swing

Jayden on the teeter-totter

He had a great time and said he loved everything about camping.  Hopefully we’ll get to take him again next year.

A Day at the Beach

Summer weather has finally found Seattle and it is HOT.  So, what do you do in a place where no one has air conditioning?  Go to the Beach of course!

I took Jayden to Golden Gardens Beach in Seattle.  This is one of my favorite places to take him because there is so much to entertain a 4 year old boy. There is real sand, rocks to climb on, a park, seagulls to feed, and a creek that runs to the Sound.  It’s next to a marina so there is a constant parade of boats going by.  There are all types of planes flying overhead and there are train tracks that go right by it with trains constantly coming through full speed with whistles blowing.  WE LOVE IT!