Marmu's 8th

Marmu turned 8 this year.   She got some treats and we sang to her.  Here's to many more, Marmu!

Abby made her a peanut butter doggie cupcake with peanut butter frosting, topping with a homemade pumpkin-peanut butter doggie treat.

Mmmmm.

All them peanut butter is messing with my mouth!

Ha ha, Roscoe's got sticky mouth too. ^_^

Entering Decade #4

I usually don't celebrate my birthdays (except go hiking), but since it was my big 4-0, David said we should do something.  There had been one thing I'd been wanting to do but hadn't been able to get the family on board so I took advantage of my special day and asked to get one of those sepia toned ol' time photos taken.  Surprisingly they were hard to find, but I found one in Big Bear.  We added kayaking into the mix since we'd already be in Big Bear.



Woke up to Monkey Bread Emi made for me.

Only two kayaks were available so Abby and I got a canoe.

Walked around downtown till our photo time.

They look cute, but at the time it was hilarious to see each other in these clothes, we couldn't stop laughing.

Found an arcade, Emi and I played some pool.

Dinner at a pub which had a foosball table.  Sage and Abby vs. Daddy.  Abby just scored.

Came home to some cream puffs Abby made for me.

Good day, good birthday.

Abby's 11th

Not enough fingers, eh? 

Abby wanted to make her own cake. 

Angel food cake with strawberries, and whipped cream cream cheese frosting.

Abby wanted a sleepover with her friends, Sidney and Taylor.  We start off going to the pool.

We got her a slackline.  She was a natural at it.

Abby really wanted a pinata.   So we got her one.

Her friends are so goofy, just like her.

Promotion Dance 2012

Sage is finishing 7th grade as he attends the Promotion Dance.   And to all of our surprise, he goes with a date!  The theme was "New York."  One more year of middle school and he'll be in high school.  The kids are growing up too fast.

With his date Riley, fellow Hillbilly.

The Tough Guys. 

The 7th grade class, Idyllwild Middle School Class of 2013.

Akane

We had our first exchange student experience with Akane, who came from Marmumori town in Japan.  She was one of ten students, and one of four who chose Idyllwild instead of Hemet.  We had her for about a week, which seemed too short for it was over right when we were starting to get to know her.  We got to play Tour Guide, which was fun, and I think it was nice for the kids to learn more about Japanese culture.  Hopefully my kids will cross paths with her again in the future.

At the Fort.

May Valley

Agua Caliente Hot Springs Pool

May Valley, acting like stereotypical Japanese  people.



Lookout point, Anza Borrego Desert.

Palm Desert Mall

Food court.

Old Fashioned Hand Dipped ice cream at the Candy Cupboard.  Sooo good.

Cahuilla Indian pictographs.  One of Idy's hidden treasures.



Akane's first Pixie Stix.

Idyllwild Town Monument.

Nature Center Loop.

Lake Hemet.

Students & Families.

Our First Scout

The last of our children also became the first one to join the Scouts.  Abby's in 5th grade so she is a Junior.  We were never really into Girl Scout cookies, but with her selling them this year, we bought and ate more then we probably should of have!

Girls are Growing Up Too Fast

Girls Day 2012. Emi's 14 is a Freshman in high school. Can't believe I have a kid old enough to be in high school already... *sigh* She's hardly ever home now so this year for the first time the girls didn't take a picture together. So Emi got hers taken several days after the official day. She kept mumbling that I need to put the dolls away so she would get married. Remember Emi, if you don't get married, it's NOT THE DOLLS' FAULT! ^_^

And Abby's 10, in 5th grade. Next year she'll be in middle school already. Geez, time flies, which means I'm getting old...

Roscoe turns 1 (or 7).

Our little dog turned one. So Abby made him a cake and a poster, and we sang to him. Yeah, we're suckers.