turn-a-bouts fair play

Hair by Carina.

Disneyworld

Here are some of the pictures from Disney world.

This picture pretty much sums up Travis's feeling about going on the whole trip.

Carina on the carousel, I think she rode it like 20 time, only a slight exaggeration.

Of course we went on the teacups and Travis steered.
Hands down the happiest I saw him on the trip.

wow I thought we were going to fly off the track

I had a little time before we went to SeaWorld where we had a private party one night so I fixed up Carina's hair. One of the great joys of having a girl.

Princess Carina in front of Princess Cinderella's castle. I have a nearly identical picture from when we went when Carina was 15 months old.

Carina got her Mickey Mouse Ear pancakes!

I met up with some bugs.

A fish at the Rain forest cafe took a particular interest in grandma's shirt that resembled his food.

All in all we had a great time, with great company and we are planning our next great escape.

Officer Carina

Apparently Carina learned about police officers today at school. She has a badge that she wrote police on and a citation book that she said was for writing tickets "for if your mean". Now don't you wish all police officers were so cute?

Jury Duty

I was summoned to Jury Duty today. I initially deferred my services back in December because of all things I was in a trial. For work of course. I was hoping somehow they would forget about me and I wouldn't hear from them again, like what usually happens when I return the questioner describing what I do. However, this was not the case this time so off to court I went this morning earlier then I have ever gotten to court before. I march right in flashing my badge that allows me to bypass security and got in line to enter the jury room. A sheriff's officer let me know that I would need to go through security. It is a good thing that I left all the contraband that I usually bring to court with me at home today. Apparently my good judgement as a caseworker not to bring things into court counts for nothing. Urgh this should have been my first clue. For those of you who have never served, they heard you into big room, Moo, and you wait for your name to be called. First for grand jury where you are required to serve for a month. I do not know anyone other then a single independently wealthy individual or the retired who could commit to that. So much for a jury of your peers. Oh wait I forgot the most important part of my story. Before any selection happens one of the judges comes down and talks to everyone followed by an inspirational video about how important our service is today. How we set off to form this county independent of the English King because he was denying us the right to trial by jury, how people literally gave their lives for this right, how it is more important then voting and just how necessary it is for people to serve as jurors. I really then and there felt proud to be apart of the judicial system and was hoping that I would be selected so that I could be apart of this necessary part of the Judaical process that allows people fair trials. I digress...

I was rather quickly called up to a court room where the judge and lawyers ask questions to better determine who will be an impartial member of the jury. I knew the defense attorney so I wasn't to surprised when I wasn't selected. Then we broke for lunch and when I came back I was again selected with 39 other people to go up and go through the whole process again.

Again I was not selected....

After 3 hours of questioning.

It is a big joke when I talk with other caseworkers about jury selection. Almost without exception we are never selected. I would think that a group people who's job it is to appear in court and present impartial evidence , who appreciate the importance of the process would be valued jury members. But there must be some assumption out there that we are anything but impartial. The least they could do is not summon me to come down there if they aren't even going to assume that I can perform the duties of a juror. It is a waste of tax payers money to pay me for a lost day of productivity. Calls where not returned, court reports did not get written, referrals did not get made and meetings were not scheduled.

So to all of you who have the chance to serve, I envy you and hope that you are inspired about how important the process is even if it doesn't include me.

Good Bye 3

This year we said...

Good Bye to Potty Training

and

Hello Panties and dry nights

Good bye to learning the ABC's

Hello to knowing the ABC's and their sounds

Good bye to family and friends caring for you everyday

Hello to full time daycare

Good bye a stacked bob

Hello grow out

Good bye toddler bed

Hello big girl bed with princess sheets

Good bye health scare free

Hello one trip to the ER and one amoxicillin rash that may or may not have been an allergic reaction so we will forever be cautious with the cilins

Good bye back pack

Hello skis

Good bye just scribblers on the page

Hello identifiable shapes and people

Good bye to a tricycle

Hello two wheeler

Good bye 3

Hello 4

You accomplished so much in the last year and I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Happy Birthday Carina

I love you

Carina takes to the skys....and skis

We decided to hit the slopes again this year with Buggy Last year you may recall Carina's magic carpet ride...well this year she wasn't having it. She took one look at the people sailing by in the skys above and decided she would rather do that. So we headed over to the Buttercup run at Mt. Hood Meadows. Travis and her set off on the lift a head of me, I winced, I couldn't watch, I couldn't do anything anyway, I was so anxious about it I missed the dismount from the lift but since the lift didn't come to a screeching halt I knew they had successfully made it to the ground.

Apparently the first thing Carina said after getting off the lift was "can we do that again". She wasn't afraid or phased in the least by being 20 feet in the air. Travis helped her down the mountain all day, she was a trooper throughout. She wanted one break for lunch which she devoured and then she was ready to get back on the slopes.

It was a really great day with lots of father daughter bonding. I skied with them as well but I also got to go ski the big girls slopes on my own with my new randonee set up. It only took 3 configurations to get it all to work for me.

Those of you who are Warren Miller fans will appreciate my filming/skiing skills.

Holiday Performance

Thursday night was a first of hopefully many annual holiday programs, this one put on at Carina's daycare. After a little bit of stage fright that involved Carina clingy to me and those big blue eyes welling up with tears I was able to leave her with her classmates and get a front and center seat(literally, it is funny how people are with their personal space even when seating is limited). And this is what followed....