A snowy Saturday
07 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Family Outings, Snow, Winter
Bekah is dressed like Laura Ingalls as we head out to Krispy Kreme
We had already determined that Saturday (2/26) was going to be our trip to Krispy Kreme to redeem our Valentine ‘free doughnut’ coupons, and then it snowed – again. We bundled up, drove to North Seattle, fed our fat cells, and then headed out for a walk.
Fun family morning!
Snowy streets
All loaded up snug as bugs!
Yummm!
The boys
The girls (and the dog)
Feeling daring with her rubber boots on, Ashley descends into the partially frozen ditch.
First day of spring 2010
25 Mar 2010 Leave a Comment
in Family Outings, Health, Jordan
It’s warm! Gotta head outside. Once some household stuff was taken care of both in and out of the house we packed up and headed across the way to the Lake Sammamish area and Marymoor Off-Leash Dog Area – one of our favorite places.
And we're off!
Once the sun comes out, all Bekah can think about is water. March 21st and she's got on a swimsuit in Seattle!
She did confess that the water was cold.
Where Bekah thinks water, Jordan's thoughts immediately go to "'throwing rocks in the water', a favorite past time.
As we meandered down the trails, we eventually came to a bird sanctuary where dogs could go but had to be leashed. More water was located...
Ashley took hold of the camera and rock skipping began
It was so amazing to me that the trees could still be so bare and yet the temperatures be so comfortable.
The maiden, stripped to just her swimsuit
Down a great bridge trail with no idea where it went, just hoping we were actually on a 'loop'.
Aha! The Lake! Mom and Bekah at the end of the dock
Willie and Jordan reach the end of the dock
What was intended to be a family photo shoot - cut short by a wicked inch long splinter in Jordan's palm.
The girl with the camera! She did a great job. So many nature shots I could never post them all.
Quite a long walk. Jordan started complaining that his feet hurt. Should have paid a little more attention to that...
The good news: A gorgeous, 71 degree family day
The not so pleasant part was that even by the next morning, Jordan’s right instep looked horrendous. Puffy, purple, really scary. I thought he was going to end up with a serious pressure sore. The last few days have been spent purchasing new shoes he can wear without the splints (which he was rubbing on and caused the skin problem), adjusting the splints, back and forth conversations with physical therapist, and several calls to Children’s to set up appts. with orthopedists. It appears that Jordan’s instep has fallen more than 1/2″ in the last 4-6 weeks. He seems to be hitting a growth spurt that his foot and ankle ligaments just can’t support. Our goal at this point is to “save” the foot as much as possible until he is seen April 8th. Thanks for praying.
Great Wolf Lodge family mini-vacation
28 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Family Outings, Travel
More photos of our overnight at Great Wolf.
Bekah Boo
Our 'family suite'
Climbing up into the fort to access some mild slides seemed reasonable with Jordan...
Until we found ourselves in a deluge. Every 3-5 minutes, 10,000 gallons.
The girls enjoyed riding the larger slides with Daddy. This was a 60 foot tall slide called the Howling Tornado.
Bekah and good friends Molly and Mattie whose family we were blessed to enjoy the trip with.
Willie and Jordan on opposite sides of a waterfall.
Ashley relaxing in the wave pool between waves
The GIRLS 
Willie, Bekah, Ashley and friend Mattie
Bekah and a new friend in the wave pool.
So thankful for a little fun, relaxing time away together.
Mariners vs. Yankees 8-15-09
17 Aug 2009 Leave a Comment
in Family Outings, friends, Sports, Starlight
Well, they couldn’t pull out a win for us but it sure was an experience to attend a Yankees game at Safeco Field! Once again, thanks to Starlight Children’s Foundation, we got to take the family to the ballpark for a super fun game. And this time, the Johnson family got to join us.
The beautiful, Safeco Field
Monopoly money rains down onto the field and into the dugouts when "Pay-Rod" (aka Alex Rodriguez) returns to Seattle.
This was the first game at Safeco in 10 years which featured former teammates Ken Griffey, Jr. and Alex Rodriguez. The phenoms played together for the M’s for the better part of 5 seasons (1995-1999).
What has caused all this Yankee commotion?
That's right, Jordan!
Griffey!
Griffey!
Griffey!
Rally caps and cotton candy!
And this is what it looks like when Griffey strikes out...
Oh well, we had a ton of fun anyway!
Mommy and Bekah
Keith and Kim Johnson
The Bodger Girls
Seafair 2009 – part 2
09 Aug 2009 Leave a Comment
I don’t have pictures of our first parade of the year (Greenwood Neighborhood) because I went to take my first picture and realized at that point that I’d had forgotten my photo card at home. Bummer! And I had the cutest picture of Jordan and Bekah looking over the back of the camp chair at me just prior to the start of the parade. Oh well, one for the memory bank!
Our 3rd Seafair event found us traveling to the shores of Lake Washington on a cooking hot day to watch the Blue Angels do their air show overhead. I have taken the kids to this for most of the years we’ve been able to attend – a.k.a. ‘not sick from cancer or related effects’. After a while it seems that the pictures seem to look the same from year to year, but the sound and maneuvers are still thrilling. And when they make new passes overhead I know they have changed their show from the past years.
Enjoy some of our fun with us – which caused all of us veteran moms to don swimsuits and cool off in the comfortable water. And, not only was there excitement in the air but also on the water (Seattle Fire) and in the water (life guard rescued at 4 y.o. who went out too far and was bobbing – scary!!) Our 25 had a great time!
Cheryl & Rod staked our claim lakeside
Gilberts, Sessions, Mansfields came down with us
Koltin, Willie and Keith chat
Let the show begin
Jordan at the lake's edge, his finger in his hearing ear, and towel on his head to wipe the sand off his fingers
Bekah and Kiley swim and swim and swim
Heading off to our left
Showing just how slow and low the planes can fly
Sherice points out the Angels to Matthew
So cool
Sherice cools off and relieves Jordan's reddening feet
Jordan and Bekah snuggle in close for a photo
Medic rescue - a double show for us. Too much alcohol and heat?
No wonder we felt so warm!
We’ll be back!!
Seafair 2009 – part 1
02 Aug 2009 Leave a Comment
Seafair is Seattle at it’s best (as long as there are no shootings…..), but anyway it is so fun to come together and share the cultures and all that Seattle has to offer. Seafair runs for nearly a month and consists of numerous activities. This year, our family took in the Greenwood community parade, the big downtown Torchlight Parade, and then the Blue Angels air show over Lake Washington.
Seattle Police Drill Team lead off the parade
Torchlight begins officially
Steph and Willie
Parade Marshall: Mike Holmgren (retired Seahawks coach)
We didn't come prepared for the rain showers!
Had to improvise
"Free Willy" or "Wet Willy"?
The girls said this was creepy because you could see the guy standing in there.
Mansfields (sans John) and Bodgers
Goofy girls - Ashley and Rachel
Sherice and Steph
One of the best-known pieces of the parade - Running of the Dragon
Fun times together!
Uncle Wes & Aunt Kara take the girls to the Tulips
03 May 2009 1 Comment
in Family, Family Outings
Kara & Wes amongst the beautiful tulips of LaConnor
My brother, Wes, and his lovely bride of 2 years, Kara, came up from So. California for a perfectly-timed visit Thursday, 4/23 – Sunday, 4/26. Kara’s college friend got married on Saturday and that was a great excuse for an extended weekend visit with us.
With Jordan’s surgery scheduled for Friday, it was the first time in years that we’ve had family here to care for the girls when Jordan’s been in surgery. And they came ready to spoil those nieces. Friday brought manicures and pedicures followed by a trip up north to The Tulip Festival before scooping up some fresh ice cream and heading home.
Such relaxation! The entire chair was fit with massagers.
Awwww. Bekah getting her nails done.
(Blurry, but you get the idea.) Bekah's purple nails with flowers on the thumbs. Her toes match.
The tulips loved the rare NW spring sun
The girls with smiles all around
Aunt and Uncle with their nieces
My Brother!
Bekah in the bulbs
They loved this old bus. Ashley and her Uncle.
What an amazing day. And then they swung by the grocery store and picked up the fixings for tacos. Willie and I came home from Jordan’s surgery to a Mexican Fiesta. Thanks guys! It was so wonderful to have you here.
Catching up…
18 Apr 2009 Leave a Comment
in Birthday, Easter, Family Outings, friends, Mariners
Saturday, April 10th through Tuesday the 14th were crazy busy days. There were events for each of the kids, multiple parties (4 on Saturday alone!), Easter, Mariners preparations, and oh, my birthday, before Opening Day at Safeco Field arrived on Tuesday. It was all very fun, but exhausting when the adrenaline finally could taper off Wednesday evening.
Bekah at ballet with Sarah Huber - 9th grader from church working on a school project. Aren't they darling?
Easter eggs. These are actually all raw! Willie didn't want the dye to go to waste so he and Ashley colored every egg we had in the house!
Our annual egg hunt at the Mansfields. These are the kids of the ladies in my Bible Study. Only a few are missing...
The kids at church Easter morning. He is risen!
Bella & Bekah - too cute not to post.
Almost time to head onto the field for Mariners Opening Day 2009!! (4/14)
We were really THAT close to the action! Willie with the balloon arch and Keith Johnson to his left.
I'm on the field, too!
Done on the field, now way up to our seats.
Now back home at Safeco, Griffey's 1st at-bat. He was all business after this - and even got a hit! So exciting to have him back in Seattle.
My friend, Ede, even gave me a birthday greeting at the game! What fun!
Facebook, a stadium full of 50,000 fans, and these screens came together so that my long-time friend who I only run into every now and then & I actually interacted. She knew I was getting a b’day greeting because I’d said so on Facebook, and later in the game, she got on the big screen during the 7th inning stretch dancing time. Even amongst 50,000 people, God has a funny sense of humor to connect people!
An unusual Saturday with the Bodgers
22 Mar 2009 2 Comments
We are primarily home-bodies. Don’t get me wrong, we love to hang out with friends, but we just tend to spend a lot of time at home. Saturday was an anomily for us! We spent the day on the go.
Started out with a pre-screening movie event with Starlight-Starbright Children’s Foundation at Pacific Place (downtown Seattle). Bekah had been at a friend’s house and I picked her up at 8:20, headed home to collect the rest of the family, and we headed south. “Monsters vs. Aliens” opens in theaters Friday 2/27, and we were getting to see it early and in 3D! We arrived a little earlier than our necessary 9:15, and the movie didn’t start until 10:30 – long wait! Fun movie, though!
The fam - minus the photographer - with our 3D glasses
Kiddos at Pacific Place with the pieced-metal penguin
Lunchtime, so we headed home for a fridge-cleaning meal of left-overs before heading back out to Sammamish’s Marymoor Park and their off-leash dog area. It’s the fact that we headed back out that is so unusual, but we’re trying to get Jordan away from games more and more. And a little time outside was a breath of fresh air, indeed.
A dry Saturday at Marymoor brings folks out in droves
Daddy and younger ones
Bekah heads to the water with Benny
It's 50 degrees... Bekah actually has her swim suit on.
Considering being lowered into the water
Heading into the bushes
Jordan joined Bekah - muddiest he has been in years!
We headed toward the car, visited with some other dogs, and made the trek (35 minutes) home to get cleaned up! Willie and Ashley ran to Costco while Bekah and the dog got bathed. Then, Bekah donned an outfit of red from head to toe so we could go to Red Robin for dinner! What a treat!
After dinner, we went to the bowling alley and watched church friends in their league bowling.
What an amazing day!! Everyone slept amazingly last night!
Jordan’s ELEVEN!
14 Feb 2009 1 Comment
in Birthday, Family Outings, Jordan
What a miraculous day we celebrated on February 5th! The boy that doctors didn’t expect to see his 3rd birthday has turned eleven.
Yeah! Jordan got a strike at bowling!
Gramma and Grampa arrived from Raleigh while Jordan was at school and were here waiting when he walked in from the bus. They talked him into some hugs and kisses before hte present opening began. Thank you everyone for your amazing kindness!
Wii Fit from Grandma Yogi and Mom & Dad. Fun stuff!
Reading card from Gramma & Grampa
Jordan (and sisters) check out his new keyboard! Thanks G & G!
We tried to have a little party for Jordan at the bowling alley but neither of the kids he invited were able to attend. Turned out to be a really good thing, because I screwed up big time and didn’t check to make sure lanes would be available. We got there with Gramma & Grampa and league bowling had just started and no lanes would be available until 9 PM! Oh, dear! Sorry, my Jordan, who doesn’t like change. We headed to The Old Spaghetti Factory (to Jordan’s chagrin) and enjoyed some dinner before heading home.
The next day, we got Jordan out of school early and took him with us to the home school field trip to Jump Planet. Angry that we weren’t heading straight to bowling, he pounded the seat and yelled a good portion of the way there. After convincing him that we had to wait for Daddy to finish with work before we could bowl, and driving into the parking lot, Jordan was ready to head in and try it. See another post for this adventure.
Finally, it was time to head to bowling.
A spare!
Jordan's style of bowling - hold one hand and throw!
Nice strike, Ash!
Bekah style
Due to arm pain, Willie bowls lefty
My lack of style
Gramma style!
Waiting to roll
Had to throw some Wii Fit in before heads hit the pillow for the Birthday boy.
Time for some balance work for Jordan on the Wii Fit board
