The Secret Life of a Ninja

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Winter Storm

In January, we had a Winter Storm that blessed me with three days off of work. The snowstorm then turned into a ice storm. Here are some pictures to illustrate how beautiful it was.

These branches do not normally touch the ground. I cannot touch them when they are in their normal position. The snow was so heavy that MANY branches were hanging down or even broke.

If you look on the left you can see some branches resting on the ground because of the heavy snow.

While Owen and I were in Kansas we spent some time playing with Matt in the snow. We played some tackle football, tried jumping on the trampoline that was covered in inch thick ice and then snow, built a snowman, had a snowball fight, and the most exciting thing was building a pile of snow.

The snow was pretty dry but as it melt there was enough moisture to build a small snowman

Anyone want to play some football?

Matt keeps the snowman from gaining any yards towards the end zone.

What can you do with a pile of Snow?

You can throw a 6 year old boy into it.

Okay, now it's the adults' turn

I am not quite sure why I thought head first would be a good idea

Owen gets himself stuck

I just loved this picture of Matt and his beautiful blue eyes

Christmas 2011

For Christmas I decided to visit my sister, Heidi, and her family in Garden City Kansas. My brother, Owen, decided he would also head to Heidi's. Lucky for me he lives in Colorado so he picked me up at the Denver Airport and we drove together to Heidi's. The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Denver was how warm it felt compared to Seattle even though the temperature was lower. I have really struggled with the wet cold and enjoyed the 5 days I had of dry cold despite the extremely dry skin. Christmas Eve Owen, Heidi with some help from me made Jagerschnitzel for dinner. The boys also got to open one gift.

Santa filled our stockings with all sorts of goodies.

Uncle Owen playing with Gavin's train table before Gavin got to.

Adam really, really, really, really, really, really wanted a 3-D Nintendo DS and Santa did not leave him empty handed. I gave Adam money to get a new game and as a result of my gift I got to go into a Game Stop store for the first time while he picked out a game.

Heidi playing with Gavin as he hammers shapes in his new toolbox.

Matt busy playing with one of his Christmas gifts

So, if you did not notice in the picture of our stockings, the boys were given Jayhawk pet pillows. Unfortunately, Heidi and Robert are KU fans. Well, Owen and I, having gone to K-State, felt it was appropriate and our duty to help them see the light. So, Christmas Eve, at midnight, Owen and I crept out of the house via the sliding glass door into the backyard. We made our way to the driveway in the front of the house and improved Robert's license plate with a surprise gift. Christmas Day, Heidi, noticed that the screen door was slightly open. It is funny because after we had completed our mission, I noticed I had not closed the screen door all the way but I let it go and immediately thought "I bet Heidi notices." As sure enough she did. She said, "So, this is how Santa Claus go in the house"; Heidi and Robert do not have a chimmney. I told Heidi I had made the footprints in the snow so the boys would think they were Santa's. Anyway, as Heidi and family pulled out of the driveway in the minivan to go t church later on that day, Heidi, the most observant family member noticed Robert's new license frame. I am sad to report it was taken off Robert's car as soon as they got home from church. Owen even parked his car as closed as he could hoping it would block Robert from taking it off.

I-Fly Seattle

While Alexis' father, Von, was visiting, he wanted to try I-Fly Seattle. It a wind-tunnel that simulates skydiving. Alexis, her brother, Adrian and his wife, Kim, and the Twins had experienced this simulation. So, Derek, Von, the Twins, and I took a turn. Before my first turn I kept telling myself to "just relax, relax your body." It was not scary at all. They have you go in the tunnel for 1 minute increments. I think I went three times. I wanted to go high but I think they keep the wind levels down so you can't. I really enjoyed myself.

L to R: Me, Derek, Evan, Von, Greta (wearing her Mary Jane's)

Be instructed to straighten out my legs

Greta flying Solo

Evan shows us proper technique

Derek flying high

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Twins Falls

During Thanksgiving we went hiking with Alexis' dad, Von, up to Twins Falls. The moss on the trees and the twist and turns of the branches made me fee like I was walking through a Dr. Suess forrest.

Through twisty forest I will go
Not on my head but on my toes

I will not eat the fuzzy moss

Nor will I stop to brush and floss

Up and over the rainbow limb
I'll blaze the trail and sing a hymn

It is not hard, I can find my way
To see the first waterfall cascade

Oh, there are other people hiking today
But I will not stop and ask to play
(Evan, Derek, Greta, Alexis, and Von)

Instead I will join them on their hike
We have to walk it's to hard to bike
(Evan, Holly, and Greta at the 2nd Falls)

Up and down and all around
I'll stop and pose then head on down

But how will I get down
I am too tired to hike...

Maybe I could ride a moose

Or catch a ride on a train's caboose

Or could I said sail down the river

While reading the book, The Giver

Perhaps I will kayak down the roaring falls
And then swing from branches big and tall

That's it, I know how I will get down

I will ride a moose,
Then jump onto a train's caboose
Then I will sail, kayak, and swing from tree to tree
I cannot give up, I must go on, till the journey ends for me

Pumpkin Carving 2011

One sunny fall day we carved our pumpkins. I decided to go for silly face. Evan and Greta helped their parents carve theirs. Then when we took the carved pumpkins outside Evan and Greta wanted to do a photo shoot.