Rip Van Winkle

Untitled from Rachel Witbeck on Vimeo.

Run, Erik! Run!

Not too long ago, Erik was up and looking around on the computer. I was probably reading a book or something like that. Anyway, he casually says, "I think I want to do the Crater Lake half marathon." I think my only response was , "Uh-huh." You see, to me to run a marathon or half-marathon or even to run down the street is absolutely crazy. I'm not thinking he's really serious. No way would someone willingly want to put themselves through that kind of pain and torture. If I had gotten my nose out of the book and really thought about the man I married, I would've realized just how serious he was.

He signed up and set up a schedule to get in shape for the torment. Now the Crater Lake Rim Run is a pretty big deal around here. People come from all over the country to run in this race and it's all around a volcano that erupted, who knows how long ago, and is now a lake.

Now, the kids and I didn't actually get to see him run but we were with him in spirit! There were 133 people who ran the half-marathon and Erik placed 38th! That's pretty awesome to me. I feel so lucky to be married to someone who sets goals and works so hard to achieve those goals. What a great example to me and to our children. Great job Erik! We are soooo proud of you!

If you want to see the pictures of Erik running go HERE. I don't know how long those pictures will be up so look soon!

The drive to Crater Lake took us about 5 hours. We decided the best thing to do was to camp. I really have nothing against camping....honestly! But I think the last time we went camping together I was about 4 months pregnant with Preston. I'm just not that interested in taking little kids camping and staying up with them all night because they are too wired/cold/hungry/uncomfortable to sleep. The boys are at the age now that it's more fun to do these things but Makayla......not so much. I would still prefer to keep Makayla at home in her crib.

Oh well. We packed it up and made the trek.

I was so glad when Makayla finally slept. I made everyone be quiet as soon as she was out.


Crater Lake


This was the best we could do. I think the kids were done with the day.


Preston ran free while Bryce huddled close to the fire.


And everyone at s'mores until we groaned with stomach aches. All in all...not a bad trip. Maybe we'll try it again in another 6 years! :) Just kidding Erik!

***I decided to add the rest of the pictures but I think they're self explanatory so I'm not writing anything else...starting now.***

4 Years Old

Our little Bryce has turned 4 years old. Where does the time go? I keep looking at pictures of when he was born and it really doesn't seem like that long ago. But I guess that's what every mom says. We had a joint b-day celebration with my sister's daughter Deveny since their birthdays are so close together. It was a princess/pirate birthday party so needless to say, it was awesome!

Here are some pics from the party.

I think this past year we've been spoiled with having my sister Amy do our birthday cakes. But she and her family have unfortunately moved to Texas (bleh), which sucks for more reasons than just cake decorating and I was very worried about what we were going to do for Bryce's pirate cake. We looked in to buying a cake. We love you Bryce but a $40 cake isn't going to work for us. So in the store Erik says "I can do it". So I say "Okay". I mean, there's no way I'm going to be able to make a pirate cake. So Erik stayed up really late the night before we left for a camping trip and made this cake. I think Erik did an awesome job and the boys were soooo excited about it!


Bryce and Deveny opening presents. They really had fun sharing the birthday party.


I love this picture! But I think Deveny is disappointed in her gifts. :)


The birthday boy!

Here's a few things about Bryce:

-His favorite breakfast is either oatmeal, cream of wheat, or bran flakes.
-He loves to help no matter what.
-He's very mischievous.
-Preston is his best friend.
-He could never have too many Transformer or Spiderman toys.
-I think he may have selective hearing disorder.
-He loves "family night".
-He lets you know right away that he will give hugs but no kisses! (and he doesn't want to be on the receiving end of those kisses either!)
-He falls asleep at the dinner table all the time.

Oh Bryce! You keep me on my toes constantly and I wouldn't have it any other way! You bring so much joy and a great spirit into our home. I love you sooo much my little Bryce! And even though you're getting older and you're not so much into kisses, I get to squeeze those little cheeks and kiss them because I'm your mom and I love you too much not to! Happy Birthday!

Ballerina

Untitled from Rachel Witbeck on Vimeo.

It seems like little Makayla is always wanting to twirl around when music is playing. We're working on the last little bit but other than that, she's on her way to becoming an excellent dancer!

Beach

It seems like we are always heading out to the beach these days. But who can blame us. It's gorgeous! And since we'll be moving to a place where the beach isn't so easily accessible, we're taking advantage of it. And it helps to have friends come from Utah and want to go surfing.

Preston was actually brave enough to get in the water and enjoy it!

You can't deny it. This is beautiful!


Little miss here wasn't about to set foot in the water but the sand was her friend.


See what I mean.


Pondering life's mysteries....



So cute.

Bryce really wanted to make a sandcastle. Well, this is about as far as we got. At least he went around and found the "perfect" feather for the occasion.


Erik and Dave getting back from surfing.


My surfer dude!

Desert In Our Future

We are a traveling family. Maybe we should join some type of roadshow or the circus. But the kids won't do any flips or hang upside down or do anything that would be remotely worth looking at. So we just scratched that idea. But with Erik in school, we travel and move like we're in the military or something. I am not a fan of moving. I lived in the same home until I went to college at the tender age of 19. But after 7 years of marriage, we will embark on our 12th move and this one is the biggest move so far.

Recently, a friend of Erik's got in touch with him looking for the phone number for another friend. The clinic this friend worked in was looking to hire an Audiologist but he didn't really think of Erik because Erik isn't done with his externship yet. But after some emails and phone calls and me going "Huh? What just happened?" we found out that Erik could be graduating in August instead of December and he was flying down to Phoenix, AZ for a job interview. Long story short, he got the job and we'll be moving to somewhere around Chandler, AZ!

It was seriously crazy! We weren't thinking of Erik looking for a job yet...not for awhile. It just kind of fell into his lap. But this place is just such a good opportunity even though I'm a little bit worried about the heat, my fair haired children shriveling up, and being in the desert 24/7, it's another adventure for our circus....I mean family.

Erik is going to go ahead of the rest of us to live the single life with his sister Kirsten and maybe find us some shelter. I'm going to stay in Portland and live the single-mother life and maybe finish out our lease in our current shelter. Not looking forward to that.

Although I am sad to leave Oregon and the family that I still have here, this feels right. I'm hoping to convince some of you to come stay with us in the winter....NO SNOW! Well, with my luck it will be some freaky global warming type thing that causes a ton of snow. It would happen to me.

Lame

Recently a friend, who will remain anonymous due to confidentiality purposes, told me that I was "lame" due to my lack of blogging. While this statement tore at my soul, I realized that it was true. I am lame. I have videos, pictures, and some witty (well, I think they're witty) remarks all ready for the blog. And yet I haven't posted any of it.

Why?

The only answer I can give can be summed up in one word....lazy. I am lazy when it comes to blogging. It takes such little time to put some pictures up and write a few comments about it but I haven't done it. Lazy.

Since the words of my friend have caused for such reflection on my life and blogging, I have decided to do at least one post a week for the next month. I know it's not much but everything has a beginning.

Baby steps people. Baby steps.

So stay tuned and maybe even check us out a little bit more. I know we're private and all and not very many people actually look at our meager little family blog but come on! I look at everyone else's blogs! :)

MJ

I know that a lot of people, including myself, are kinda tired of hearing about Michael Jackson and his death. It's everywhere and it's all people can talk about. I wasn't going to write anything about it because I'm done hearing about it and this is usually just a family blog. But I came across this picture and I couldn't help myself.

Sorry about the poor quality. The scanner didn't want to cooperate with this picture.

I really don't know how old I was. My guess is between 4 and 5. Mom, do you know? Anyway, the point is that Michael Jackson, or MJ, was my first crush. I used to say that I would marry him and I'm sure it got some nervous laughter from my parents.

Others came to hold my affections. Zack Morris from "Saved By The Bell" and Joey McIntyre from NKOTB, or New Kids on the Block. But Michael Jackson was my first crush. Fortunately my taste in men got better with time!

We're Kinda Boring

And I'm really okay with being boring. No drama to worry about...just easy going weekends at home with the family and a good book. That's all I really need. Erik....not so much. After a week of being constantly on the computer and working on some school related things, he informed me that we needed to do something. Anything. If you notice it's been almost a month since we really did anything and it was high time we got out of our house and explored the world.

Well, maybe not explore the world but we could go to the beach.

Only in the Pacific Northwest would you have to wear a sweatshirt to the beach at the end of June. It was a very sunny, windy day and the kids would not be deterred on their mission to make a sand castle.


Bryce liked looking at all the kites.


This was our kite situation. We had three kites but only one really worked that great and even with that one it was so windy it spent most of the time in the sand.


Bryce just liked to wreck all the sand castles we made. Good thing no one really cared.


Makayla got used to the feel of the sand in her toes and she wouldn't get up after that. She was a mess by the time we left but it was all good.


See what I mean about he kite? The wind made it very difficult to fly our little kite but Erik worked at it really hard until he could get it to fly fairly well.


Then we went to get some salt water taffy, ice cream, and the boys got to ride on a carousel. While Preston got the average horse on the carousel, Bryce got this mutant bunny-horse. It was kind of creepy. Fun was had by all and we are NOT boring anymore!

The Strawberry Festival

This past weekend my brother and sister-in-law were in town so we decided to spend the weekend in Albany with the family. It also happened to be the time of year for the Strawberry Festival. Now, the Strawberry Festival is interesting. It's held in town not far from Albany but it has it's share of crazies. Like real crazies. I was grateful for the clouds overhead since it would be too cold to wear tube tops and wife beaters and beer bellies. But I still kept my camera handy....just in case.

We decided to not to go to the actual festival but just to the parade and they have a 5k. My brother Jared and his wife Camille were running in it and Erik decided to go for it as well.

Here's Erik starting off.


And coming back.


He even gave us a thumbs up.


My brother Jared and sister-in-law Camille. She completed her goal of not stopping and not throwing up. Good Job!


And wouldn't you know it, Erik got third place in his age group! Great Job Erik!


My sister Heather and her daughter Deveny with Bryce. Waiting for CANDY!


The little miss needed a nap.


Now, I don't know why this guy was dressed like this or what was really going on but I thought I'd throw it in there for fun!