Monday, January 28, 2008
Walking in a winter wonder land...
So remember all of that homework that I (I mean the boys) did, well this is what we woke up to. A snow day. Though it is beautiful....I would like it to go away now. And of course I had to run to the store where everyone and their mom was because bring a little snow around and people in Gig Harbor panic. Personally I don't know what all of the fuss is about. Driving in the snow and fear do not come together for me. Oh and by the way, no Brandon does not get the day off of work because of snow....we know because he called.
Homework for Kindergarten
Ok....so everyone knows that the boys are in kindergarten. But lately the homework went from coloring pictures to an hour of reading(for each kid), writing and math, and then the teacher had to throw in crafts at home. Now if you don't know me that well...I should tell you that crafts are not my thing. Coming home from Birch Bay...the boys (when I say boy...I mean ME) had to make poster boards with pictures and a story of their trip.......It took me 3 hours and $15 to make those. I sure hope that I get an A! Then...2 days later I (i mean the boys...don't tell the teacher) had to make snowmen made out of recycled stuff from our home ( two because I have twins). Can you believe that. And they say that a "stay at home mom" sits around eating bon bons and taking it easy. YEAH RIGHT!!! P.S. After 3 and so months... Jonathan is at a second grade reading level and Cameron is at a first! Not so bad for Kindergarten huh!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
My GIft from Utah...
This is the gift that Brandon was sooo proud to bring home to me from Utah. Wow what a gift! What do you say to this but....I am the luckiest woman on earth. I wonder what Ben brought home to his wife....maybe another wife. That is what I was hoping for...I can always use some help with the laundry!!!
P.S. This is actually a beer line they sell.
P.S. This is actually a beer line they sell.
Brandon has made it home!
Brandon made it home safely. Though there were no pictures of B with Clint Eastwood or Bobby Redford, he did go skiing. How lucky is he. I guess I will get my turn at Whistler. Chara and I brought up the fact that it was our turn to take a "girl trip" and the boys had a fit. We had in mind Figi, But no...Brandon told us there are many fine places to go to in Wa. What....like Birch Bay.....Yeah Right!!! At least he came home healthy.....unlike Ben. 
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I found you Brandon!
Look what Ben has done to my husband....He made him sleep on a fold out couch! So Sad.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
"my son"
Take my son
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.
He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier from whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in his heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"
There was silence.
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."
But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100? $200?"
Another voice angrily, "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"
But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who will take the son?"
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was a long time gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
" We have $10, who will bid $20?"
"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."
"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10"
A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."
"What about the other paintings?"
"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Who ever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings."
"The man who took the son gets everything!"
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today: "The son, the son, who will take the son?"
Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE....THAT'S LOVE
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.
He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier from whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in his heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"
There was silence.
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."
But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100? $200?"
Another voice angrily, "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"
But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who will take the son?"
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was a long time gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
" We have $10, who will bid $20?"
"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."
"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10"
A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."
"What about the other paintings?"
"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Who ever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings."
"The man who took the son gets everything!"
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today: "The son, the son, who will take the son?"
Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE....THAT'S LOVE
Oh Brandon....How we miss you!
Our good friend Ben Cote has taken our Brandon away from us to the Sundance Film Festival. This is truly a dream of Brandon's coming true! I will have to say that I am a bit worried though. I know that Ben will take great care of him, but a boy trip away from their wives with all of those movie stars can be a bit scary. It is a darn good thing that they married good looking girls.....that is for sure! I told Brandon that if he gets hit on all he has to do is reach over and hold Ben's hand.....that will stop all of the hits for sure.
We miss you boys and love you!!!!!
We miss you boys and love you!!!!!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Chara taking us down in poker.
Yes, so I took this picture from you Chara. I had to show everyone how a simply nice game of poker can be changed in an instant the second you decide to sit down and play. Watch out when the glasses come in to play ladies and gentlemen. Nothing but love for you girl, nothing but love!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Birch Bay
We are back from Birch Bay. The first night we pulled in, there was a wind storm warning us to turn back. We stopped in to a mini mart about 5 minutes away from the hotel and the clerk told us how worried she was about her double wide blowing over. The next day cleared up though and as you can tell, Birch Bay is not so different than our Gig Harbor. We had fun though. Judy and Lars are the perfect traveling partners for us. We seem to all go at the same speed. We played many of cards, laughed alot, and enjoyed some wine and dining. We even ventured out to a little town called Lynden, a little dutch town. I will say, Judy and Lars have treated the other kids to mexico (twice) and we got the pleasure of going to Birch Bay. What ever. Oh yeah and swim.....oh yes Judy and the boys and myself all did much swimming. Back to reality now though. Sunday, January 13, 2008
We are off to Birch Bay
Tomorrow we are off to Birch Bay. Birch Bay you ask........that is exactly what I said. I have lived in Washington since the 4th grade and I have never heard of Birch Bay. Apparently it is on the border of Canada. All I was told was that it has a nice hotel with a heated pool, a gym for me to work out in, and a cool zoo in Canada for the boys. They had me at Hotel. Anything to get away from this half remodeled house.
We are going with Papa and Judy Mama (Brandon's Parents). Great fun we will have...I just know it. I love going places with my Pop. He is the greatest to go on adventures with. We will eat out, play pinochle at night, and I can go swimming with Judy in the mornings. And the boys...oh those boys have a special relationship with their Papa. They are so excited that they have been counting the days down for a week and a half.
I will be sure to let you all know how the trip went when we get back.
Who knows....you just may want to go see Birch Bay for yourself after all is said and done.
We are going with Papa and Judy Mama (Brandon's Parents). Great fun we will have...I just know it. I love going places with my Pop. He is the greatest to go on adventures with. We will eat out, play pinochle at night, and I can go swimming with Judy in the mornings. And the boys...oh those boys have a special relationship with their Papa. They are so excited that they have been counting the days down for a week and a half.
I will be sure to let you all know how the trip went when we get back.
Who knows....you just may want to go see Birch Bay for yourself after all is said and done.
Another day on the streets
Off for another day in Tacoma. Yesterday consisted of watching a little football on the tube. That is when I wasn't busy saving and changing lives for the better. What can I say....I am a lucky man.
Oh Yeah....and I get to carry around a gun. Today I am hoping to drive "bells and whistles".....wish me luck.
Oh Yeah....and I get to carry around a gun. Today I am hoping to drive "bells and whistles".....wish me luck.signed.....Brandon
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Last blog of the first blogging day
Today is a sad day it the Showalter house.
Yes, today the Green Bay Packers defeated the Seahawks. What to do. What to do. And just when we were finally completing our media room for the playoffs. I guess we will just have to wait for next season. And to think that I thought that we would have another Super Bowl.
Signed.......A very sad Brandon
Yes, today the Green Bay Packers defeated the Seahawks. What to do. What to do. And just when we were finally completing our media room for the playoffs. I guess we will just have to wait for next season. And to think that I thought that we would have another Super Bowl.
Signed.......A very sad Brandon
The Showalter Boys
These are our boys. This picture depics their true nature together. They are the best of friends, always laughing together.
New Blogsters
Today is our first day to have our own blog. Ben and Chara have spread their germs and they will not stop growing. Though we are behind in the technical part of things, we will do our best to make them proud!
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