Layna's Talent Show Movie

Camping trip to Fort Stevens a success.

hey everybody! we just got back from a fun filled weekend at Fort Stevens State Park on the Oregon Coast, about an hour from portland. Everyone had a great time. Especially Rowan, who was in heaven being outside all the time. We went to Fort Clatsup, where there is an interpretive center and a (newly rebuild after a nasty fire) replica of the Fort that Lewis and Clark and crew build to spend the winter of 1805 in. (Intertesting side note: they were there for something like 120 days, and it didn't rain for 12 days, and they only saw the sun for 6 days! I'd say a typical oregon winter eh?) We also went to Astoria where layna climbed, with some help the Astoria Column two times! What a crazy girl.

Take a look at some of the snapshots we have of the trip.

New Floors

Recently we had the carpet removed and put in bamboo flooring in the entire main living area of our house. What a difference it has made, both in look and function. The floors are beautiful and easy to keep up. We are very pleased with them and hope that we get some people over to see them.

Happy Holidays

This year has zoomed by! We are here making cookies, wrapping presents, and corralling Rowan. Taking a break form that I thought I'd fill everyone in on the year at the Beale family house.

Rowan came roaring into the world on March 25th after a less than 3 hour labor and a frantic speed race to the water birthing center! He is a great baby, growing like a weed on super fertilizer. He is only 9 months old and filling out 18 month clothes. He is crawling now and is keeping us very busy keeping his curiosity in check.

Layna is being a wonderful big sister. She has taken on the roll very happily, much to our delight. She is a challenge to keep up with also. Her antics and "let's make a deal" attitude keeps us on our toes all the time. We have been taking Music Together classes and boy does she have a way with the tunes!

Mike is happily working at the same start up software company, although they changed their name to Attensa. They revised their focus earlier this year and ended up getting funding so they are hiring new people and really acting like a legitimate company now! Mike also put in many hours this summer painting the house, building a giant play structure, and redoing the side yard. The outside is really looking great.

Nikki is teaching fourth grade for the 8th year. This year she is team teaching 3 days a week and loving the time at school and the time at home. The kids have been the major focus this year. She spent as much time a possible outside playing with the kids and trying to help out with the yard work.

We bought a new digital camera that has been the focus of the recent month, when we are not trying to catch up on sleep! Check out the photo section of the website for some of the pictures.

We hope to find all of you in good spirits and in good health!

Happy Holidays!!!

Kids today...

A recent conversation during dinner:

Layna - Guess what I can do now daddy?
Dad - What's that?
Layna - I know how to google
Dad - Really, how do you google?
Layna - it's when you type in something you don't know and you get the answer.

We're all in deep deep trouble.

Halloween

halloween is the classic Republican holiday: you try to scare people to death, all the while gobbling up as much as you can never minding the consequences.
-Prairie Home Companion 10/29/05

Rowan get's a 6 Month Checkup

Rowan went to the doctor today for his 6 month check-up. He's doing great, growing like a weed. He currently weighs 18lbs 7 oz. and is 29" tall, two inches taller than last checkup. He's in the 65th percentile for weight and is still way off the chart for height.

He got some shots today so he's not real happy but all in all it was a good trip to the doctor.