Easter 2010

Easter egg hunt at the Mansfield's. This year, Sherice put a twist on it and made it similar to "The Amazing Race".

Jordan shows his increasing ability to get around

Making 'Empty Tomb Cookies' with the kids the night before Easter

"G-O-D" - they think

Happy Easter, Bekah!

Happy Easter, Ashley!

Happy Easter, Jordan!

The kids after the 8:30AM Easter service

Our lovely family

Following Easter service, most of us headed home. Meanwhile, Ashley stayed for her regularly scheduled teaching time with the kindergartners. We picked her up around 11 and then headed up north to Grandma Lynn’s. The other Bodgers (Jason, Christy & kids) were in Mexico since Jason was home for a brief stay from Iraq. It was a small gathering but relaxing.

Celebrating the Lord’s resurrection is truly an amazing privilege.

A Night on the Town – Birthday/Christmas

Once Bekah’s gift opening was completed we all got fancied up for dinner out at Red Lobster (Bekah’s choice over dinner at home made by Daddy) and then a special trip downtown to watch “A Christmas Carol” at A Contemporary Theater. Bekah’s friend from gymnastics, Chloe, had the role of “Tiny Tim” and we were so excited to get such an amazing discount to be able to attend this production with our friends and pastor, the Williams family.

Red Lobster dessert - cookie sundae or something like that

Ashley and Bekah enjoy dessert together

Gingerbread Lane in downtown Seattle presented a contest of all-edible creations. This "Christmas Story" one was my favorite. The depicted scenes are so good.

Our wonderful family

Us again - in our pretty colors this time

The Williams family - Fred, Sue, Jill, Brayden

This is just so accurate that I couldn't pass up posting it. Notice that Bekah's walking and playing her new DSi and Willie is holding onto Brayden's coat hood to keep him out of the street. Jill & Fred - just smiling.

Bekah, Ashley and Jordan wait for the show to begin

The show was wonderful. Shown in the round, although we were in the back row, we were only in the 8th row. Too bad photography wasn’t allowed of the show. It was phenomenal. Costumes, sets, just amazing. You can check out a link to a very cute interview with the kids here.

You tube also has some bits from opening night here.

Bekah, Chloe (on the right), and her little sister Lexi after the show.

A very special night…..

Thanksgiving 2009

3 Bodger generations

Bekah likes this one

Grandpa John with Jordan and Bekah

The kids at what's becoming our annual after-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving. Us and Mansfields.

Black Friday Shopping

Mom and Ashley waiting in a cold line at 11:30 Thanksgiving night around the back side of Toys R Us in Lynnwood

The painful memories of crowds, lines and not finding what I wanted had faded since I attempted Black Friday 2 years ago. And with the fading memories, came another mission of finding the deals and joining the masses of crazy people out, basically, for a good time and a story. One big difference between the previous trip and this year was that Ashley wanted to go this year.
Didn’t know if she was serious or not but when we got home from John and Mary’s on Thanksgiving night at 11:10, we unloaded and then got back in the car and headed to Toys R Us for their midnight sale.
Not really expecting they’d do a store opening at midnight, I planned on getting to the store, doing my shopping, and then going to the cash registers at midnight to make my purchases. Easy squeezy. Couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Upon entering the parking lot at 11:20, a line of people was already evident. The question was whether to sit in the car until the doors opened at midnight or to go stand in the line. After 5 minutes, we headed out to join the masses.
However, we weren’t anywhere near prepared for this. As we walked toward the doors and began to follow the line to it’s end, we rounded one corner of the building, grabbing a cart on our way, kept walking, and rounded a second corner. We were now on the complete opposite side of the building from the doors and still had to walk half the distance of the building to even reach the end of the line. Thankfully it wasn’t raining, but the wind was blowing and it was chilly.
It only took a few minutes before we were both cold. A quick text to Willie and he was on his way with gloves, coats, and a blanket. Whew!
When midnight finally arrived, we started moving and entered the building – clueless as to what awaited us. It’s almost impossible to describe. I thought we’d make a bee-line for electronics. But they had blocked the path off so you had to go all the way around the store to attempt to enter the skinny little detector doors where people with carts were attempting to go in, out, and every other possible (or impossible) direction. It was a traffic jam of carts if I ever saw one.
After about 45 minutes of trying to find the items listed in the ad, which I’d carefully studied and listed out by department on my shopping list, we hit the line – frustrated by the fact that we’d found only ONE of the items we’d come for. (We did find a couple more as the line wove through every single aisle along the back and left side of the store on its way to the register.) We were in line for over an hour. The bonus of having a shopping buddy was having a place holder who could switch off if we saw or remember something else we wanted to check on. Being able to roam just a little while we waited broke up the monotony quite a bit. I recommend shopping with a buddy!
By 2:15 we were out of the store, and by 2:30 we were in the house and our ‘morning’ plans were made. Ashley went to bed.
I shopped online – disappointed that even though it was only 2 – 1/2 hours into Black Friday, several of the best deals were sold out online at Best Buy. I did however make several purchases at Target that I figured I’d never get my hands on in the store after having seen what we’d just endured at Toys ‘R Us. I shopped online until 3:45, and finally shut my eyes a little after 4:00AM.
The alarm went off at 6:30 and by 6:50 Ashley and I were back out the door and on our way to Best Buy.
The items I couldn’t find online were actually in stock in the store! So exciting! On a $150 purchase, I saved $90! Sweet! And the gifts will be such hits.
Next target? Target – ugh. I’d done this one before and knew the line would wrap through the entire huge store. We did find most of what we were looking for before spending another hour + standing in line.
After quick trips to REI for snow socks and Walgreens for their Webkinz deal (Ashley’s friends’ gifts), we finally made it home about 11:45. I was so exhausted that it didn’t seem right that the sun was up and people were up and moving around.
Thankfully, I got a couple hour nap before my amazing husband put a gorgeous Thanksgiving Day round 2 meal on the table for us and our friends.
After a good night’s sleep, I’m happy with the purchases and the deals, and most happy that I had a partner in crime to enjoy it with. Ashley was a wonderful addition to the mayhem.
You’ll see the results when Christmas Day pictures are posted!

Catching up…

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!

St. Patrick’s Day foods…

"Green" Chili Enchiladas

Shamrock shake

Nope, it’s not corned beef and cabbage, but at least the kids ate it!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

From all of us to you!
With love,
Willie, Stephanie, Ashley, Jordan & Bekah

His Glorious Creation on Christmas Day

Bow Hill Rest Area

I-5

Bow Hill/Samish area

Snow-capped majesty

Entering Bellingham

Entering Ferndale

Approaching the frozen Nooksack River

What an awesome drive…

Christ Jesus is born! Christmas Day…

 

This year’s Christmas celebration followed our typical pattern. Stockings were hung, Mom and Dad dropped into bed far too late, and the kids woke early and ready to go. After stockings, we got some orange danishes ready to go and moved to the living room where Baby Jesus lay in the ‘manger’ under the tree. We read the Nativity Story, opened gifts in a somewhat organized manner, then started getting ready to hit the road. Typically we have more time after gift opening, but this year the snow was piling up fast and we knew we needed to get out if we were going to! Willie had purchased a ham in case we ended up having to stay home, but I really wanted to celebrate with the Bodgers. By 10:30, we were on the snowy roads and headed to grandmother’s house.

 

Our stockings

Once the kids woke up (AND there was daylight), they race downstairs and get their stockings to bring up to our bed.

Quaking with excitement. Of course, the dog has to be in the center of the action.

Jordan got his first Webkinz of Christmas - 'Bernie'

 

Ashley received a Daughter necklace

 

Bekah sports her new Fab-u-lus sunglasses from High School Musical

Our Christmas Tree

Ashley's most-desired gift: Ugg-like boots

Jordan got TWO remote control cars!

This girl is crazy about dolphins!

Mommy got a mug from Ashley - a snowman!

Willie enjoyed our breakfast treats - he only got clothes...

We were leaving?!

Then it was shower time and a race to hit the road…

What we were greeted by when we hit the 'main street' heading to the freeway.

I-5 behind three snowplows

Quite the potty break traipsing through the snow

 Our travels took us through some glorious areas of God’s creation. They are so amazing I’ll dedicate the next post to them exclusively, but here are a couple more…

Arriving in Bellingham

Jordan loves on all his new Webkinz - he got four new ones that morning

 

We didn't expect snow at Grandma's sea level home - but there was plenty

 

 

 

The boys: Don, Jason & Josh

 

The kids watch Kung Fu Panda (Jordan, Bekah, Kendra, Ashley)

 

 

 

 

The kids congregate around Daddy and Dolly the dog

Bekah and Dolly. A little blurry but too cute to pass up!

 

My guys play with the remote control cars - to them it might matter what kind of cars they are. Me? Don't remember.

Presents at Grandma’s…

Bekah got Polly Pockets!

Jordan gets his seemingly annual Hot Wheels tracks

 

Ashley got her favorite, new clothes!

 

Josh helps Jordan put the tracks together - sans directions. Who needs 'em?

 

The gang: Ashley, Tera, Kendra, Christy, Jin (Tera's friend), and Willie

Don with his fake hair - hair attached to a hat

 

Bekah and Grandma Yogi - Grandma finally sits.

What a fun day, and we even made it all the way home and into our driveway despite an entire day of snowfall in Lynnwood!

Rockin’ in the New Year

Family Rock Session on New Year’s Day 2009. That’s Bekah on the bass with the grey hood over her head on the right side of the screen, and although it’s hard to hear over all the applause, at the end Jordan yells, “I did it!”