Max the Magician!

Last year, as a first grader, Max performed a magic act in front of the whole school for the talent show. He did great! He even got hired to perform his act for a 3rd grade girl's birthday party! The girls LOVED him! :o)

We have a new official website

You can find it at www.yosemitespringsart.com

Arnold Teague 1911-2007

We are so saddend to have lost one of our closest family members, Arnold Teague. Arnold and his wife Peggy have been Martin's adoptive grandparents (loco grandparenti) for nearly as long as he can remember. In fact, it was the sentimental way Martin talked about this couple that convinced me that he was the guy I should marry (that and the fact he could recite the 4-H pledge by heart!) To the boys, he was Pappa Arnold, and quite honestly I don't think they've quite figured out that most kids don't have three sets of grandparents. Arnold was simply an amazing man who will be greatly missed. We were all so lucky to have had him in our lives.

Wow. Just Wow.

We are SO lucky to have beautiful Yosemite nearly in our backyard!

While other fools sat planted in front of their TV for the Superbowl, we had Yosemite nearly to ourselves! What a beautiful winter day!

Isaac Practices His Balance Beam Routine....

Four Kids on a Log.....

Hanging out in Yosemite with the Oswald girls.

Ice Skating in Yosemite

The boys went ice skating for the very first time in Yosemite. Look at Max (yellow coat) skating on his own already! He's a natural. Isaac did good too with a little help from dad and our friend Sheri! (I sat by the camp fire!)

Fun in the BIG tub...

I think someone put a little too much bubble bath into the big jet tub at auntie Idee and Theresa's house!

Looking for whales....

A day at our favorite beach.....

Building a gingerbread house

With the Oswald girls, the boy's number one girlfriends. ;o)

Visit our other blog site....

We did quite well selling our wares at a couple of holiday sales this season. We have set up a blog site specifically for our pottery and glass studio....check it out at http://www.yosemitespringsart.blogspot.com/

Decorating for Xmas

Max took this job VERY seriously. Isaac was just happy to get hot chocolate (the remains of which you can still see on his face!)

Max looses his first tooth!

Finally! That thing was hanging in there forever! About a week later he lost number two. The tooth fairy has been very busy at our house!

Thanksgiving....

We look oddly relaxed in this Thanksgiving photo (must have been the wine) even though we hosted dinner for 25! It was a nice time though, and I think we had enough food to feed 50 instead.

Happy Halloween!

We had a huge garden this year, but the only thing that it REALLY produced was pumpkins. Lots and lots of pumpkins. The kicker is, most of them weren't even planted. They came up from the seeds in the compost from last year's jack-o-lanterns!

The headless horseman

Max was the headless horseman for Halloween. After we got his costume we realized that it broke the rules for his school party because it was both violent and bloody (BAD mommy and daddy!) So this was his trick or treating costume.

Captain Jack Sparrow....

Ike the pirate for Halloween.

Our newest pet...just in time for Halloween

Look at this nice tarantula I found outside our house on Halloween. I TOLD you we live in the boonies!

Buddies

Isaac and the evil dog Jake

Max at school on Halloween

This is after his school costume and makeup has seen better days, but this is the only photo we have (I think) of Max in his SECOND cast. It was black with green racing stripes. I'd like think this is the last time he'll have a cast, but I have a feeling........sigh.

Isaac in his fancy PJs

He might look like a little angle, but don't be fooled, he's a rascal in disguise!

First day of school fall 2006

Max started first grade this year, and this is Isaac's last year of pre-school!

We're Exhausted! We Need a Vacation from our Vacation!

I think I posted all of these backwards, but you'll get the idea. Here's a run down of some of the things we did in Oregon and Washington to excape the 113 degree Fresno heat!

Back Home

I think the dogs missed us, either that, or Isaac had jelly on his face (very likely).

Martin Wins the San Francisco Marathon!

OK, so he didn't actually WIN but after spending two entire days in the car on the way to SF, it's a miracle that he even managed to finish (Let alone with a smile on his face!)

Trapped on Hwy 101

We decided to take the scenic coastal highway home and got more than we bargined for. An accident on Hwy 101 shut it down for six hours! We were there from 5:00 to 8:00pm with ample time to make friends with the "neighbors". The boys had fun meeting the Harley rider dudes in front of us. Very nice guys.....

Paul Bunyon and Babe's Big Blue Balls.....

Stopped on the drive home at the Trees of Mystery. What's so mysterious about the trees we'll never know cause we didn't feel up to paying the high entrance fee! However, the kids had fun with the talking statues .

The Eagle has landed.....

We went to visit my sister Marsha and brother in law Chuck at their beautiful house on the Columbia River. The kids had a blast driving their boat (we forgot the camera to take pictures!) and we enjoyed Eagle watching from their back yard. This guy even dropped a fish almost on my sister's head while she was watering the yard!

Trip to an active volcano mainland style....

Well, it's not exactly like the lava flowing volcanoes of Hawaii, but we took a side trip to Mt. St. Helens. And what a surprise to run into our old Hawaii friends, the Williams family and Clark and Carrie Pope! OK, so it was prearranged, but it was a nice (but too short) visit. We also managed to see my old friend Ed Carson and take in a Willie K (now Barefoot Natives) show in Eugene (but forgot the camera again!)

Mommy Dearest and I

Had a very nice visit with the folks.

Playing with Pappa Anderson

The boys are getting too big to be able to snuggle with anymore, but my dad still managed to get a few hugs in.

Chocolate Benefactor

The boys got to visit with their great auntie Kay who turns 90 this year. Of course, they fell in love immediately when she gave them each a bag of chocolate!

Sprinkler boys

The boys had a blast playing in the sprinkler in Grandpa's back yard in their tightie "whities."

Bike Boys

Since we live on a steep hill, the boys have never had (or learned to ride) bikes. So while we were at Grandma and Grandpa's house we got them up to speed!

Camping at the "rock" beach

We spent a weekend camping at the beach for Max's 6th birthday in June. It was good fun.