Finally all moved in...

We finally moved all our belongings to the new house last weekend. We moved our beds Friday night, because we just couldn't wait to be in the house. Luckily, Saturday we had help from some great troopers. The morning started out okay but soon the freezing rain started. The driveway, which is at a steep angle, turned to a sheet of ice! Michelle took a white-knuckle drive into town for rock salt. It helped a lot. With a drop at the new house and another small load, we were done.

We have the keys!

We received the keys to our new house Tuesday evening. It was weird walking around the house and realizing it belongs to us. Each of us has ideas of what to do where. Wade is loving the size of the garage. He might have me parking in the RV space just to stay out of his baby! I'm already stocking up on canning supplies for the four apple trees, walnut tree and cherry tree! The boys are excited that we are getting cable! Yes, after seven years adjusting rabbit ears, we are giving into the luxury of fiber-optic cable...just in time to watch the Giants in the Super Bowl!

The plan is to move this weekend, with the help of Wade's co-workers/friends. I'm moving small amounts in the van the next three days. The boys are off Friday and Monday so maybe they can lend a hand...ha,ha.

Go Giants!!

I'm the first to admit, I didn't believe the NY Giants could beat GB for a Super Bowl spot...but they did! Truthfully, I was satisfied with them beating Dallas last week. They could be 1-15 as long as the 1 is Dallas. Now, knowing that every Dallas fan was wishing GB would kick their butts and they didn't...is even sweeter.

Of course, a SB win is a great thought, sometimes the journey to the SB is better. They have done an amazing job.

I feel for my dad, a NY Giants fan and season ticket holder as long as I can remember. He is in Arizona this time of year (Snowbird), and volunteered to work the SB at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. That could be a good thing, maybe he'll be able to catch some of the game OR he could be stuck in the parking lot all day!

Henry's Datebook

Wade and I, and actually Chandler too, are also curious/amazed/stunned about the inner workings of Henry's mind. He is quick with one line comments, he absorbs information within seconds, and is very regimented. One thing to add to the absorbing, if he absorbs it wrong, it is hard to reverse!

Above is a scan of his new datebook. Tuesday, Chandler had a orthodontic checkup, which unfortunately for Henry, he has to tag along and sit in the waiting room. Usually, we bring his DS, a book or homework to keep him busy. He (of course I get the blame) forgot to bring a single thing. While I am checking Chandler in at the front desk, I notice pocket size datebooks sitting on the counter for patients to take. Great idea, Henry can draw or write in the datebook while waiting.

I give him the datebook and a pen, of course he looks at me like, "What the hell is this for?" I explain the purpose of datebooks and he can write in this book while waiting. Well, that was all I needed to say. After being in the "chair" for about 30 minutes, Chandler and I return to the waiting room. Henry is on April and drawing a cupcake on Wade's birthday, April 20. He has filled in every day from January 16 - April 20 with some type of activity.

As you can see on January 16 (last night) he did have DS playing on the schedule BUT it was changed to Animal makings, since he came home with a library book on making Origami zoo animals. 'Help' stands for 'helping Mom around the house'. I will hold him to that since in February he did have 20 'help' days and changed to only 5 help days!

First Lacrosse Game

Saturday night, Wade took Chandler and Henry to see their first lacrosse game. The local team is the Portland LumberJaxs. They seem to enjoy themselves. It was something new and different.

Nice (and easy) part about getting around Portland is the MAX, light rail. They were able to catch it in Hillsboro, which is about 15 minutes from our house, and ride into the Rose Garden.

Chandler took these pictures with his camera. Not sure if they actually watched the game. Chandler busy taking pictures and Henry said there were too many other things going on around him.

Not as illusive as Bigfoot...

http://blog.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/2007/09/forest_grove_peacocks_turn_nei.html

Our new neighborhood has wild Peacocks. And no they are not related to the plastic, one-legged, pink Flamingos.

Michelle and the boys have seen them roaming the neighborhood twice near our new house, once on a house roof!

Wade thought they existed as much as the mountain lion Michelle saw at our Eagar house.

Today was the day! Michelle finally saw four of them AND had her camera on hand.

View the above link for a recent, newspaper story regarding the peacocks. Beware of any jerky the Sprueills send out next Christmas!

Another Snow Day!

Today, we woke to around 3 inches of snow. The boys were excited to see more snow, they didn't stop to consider school being closed! So they were thrilled (of course!) when they heard there was no school.
We had a good time playing outside. Apparently, Mom is a fun snowball target! We warmed up inside with some hot cocoa and watched 'Hoot'.

Home Alone!

Wade and the boys just left for the boat show at Portland's convention center. Which means, this is the first day since December 20, I am home alone! During this winter break, we either were at home together, out together, or I got out alone (which are all great) but this is the first time I'm home all by myself.
So what will I do with myself? I have no closets to clean or organizing to do in the this rental. I actually miss not being able to do that kind of stuff...I know, crazy! No ceramics to paint or place to fire them, scrapbook supplies are all packed.
I decided to take down the Christmas decorations, go for a run before it starts raining again and write on my blog. One down, two to go.
Have a great day!

UPDATE:
Obviously, I wrote on my blog.
I went for a run but not before it started to rain. Still was good but cold.
I put away all the Christmas decorations. I can never get everything back in the same as when I took it out. Then I had to clean the floors and put away gifts still out.
Showered and returned Wii accessories purchase yesterday that we didn't like. When I returned the boys were home again. So ends my Saturday alone.

A Day at OMSI

Sunday, we took the boys to OMSI, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. A special exhibit Ends of the Earth: Polar Bears to Penguins, is showing until 1/6. We also saw the Antarctica IMAX movie in the OMNIMAX Dome Theatre. Instead of the tall typical IMAX screen, the dome shows the movie all around you, similar to a Planetarium. Added bonus, you can see the movies without paying admission to the museum.
As many times as we have visited science museums over the years, this one offers new exhibits and experiments for all ages. They even have a chem lab and electronics experiment center. Of course, the boys show more skill and interest as they get older. Plus, we were able to learn more about our new state. I was a little surprised by the earthquake probability. The water rocket was the favorite and Henry is requesting our own set up at home.
The slide show show current pictures. The above are from our visit in 2002.