Do-Man's Anklebiters

New Year

2009-01-01T14:45:00.000-08:00

It is a new year and a new beginning. My goal this year is to blog at least once a month for updates and pictures. When I think that is only 12 times a year that seems completely reasonable to me.

Short Update

2008-05-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

I am at work and thought I would take a minute to say yes we are still alive. A friend of mine brought it to my attention that I have not blogged in 1 month and 13 days a while ago so it has been longer then that now. I have some amazing pictures to post from Trent and I's vacation that was just wonderful. I have never been as tan as I am now in my entire life. The carribean treated us well.

Hopefull by the end of this week I will have some pictures up from the trip and some of the goodies that Trent bought for me along the way!

I am being out blogged by my parents

2008-04-13T00:11:00.001-07:00

I know I have a problem when I am being out blogged by my father. He has updated his blog more recently than me. While I would love to post pictures of all the fun things that have been keeping me from blogging sitting in front of a desk working on taxes is less than exciting and I will spare you the picture of the bags that have begun to form under my eyes due to 4 hours of sleep per night in the past few weeks. And while I would love to post wonderful pictures of my ever changing children and tell of all the cute things that they have been doing that would require seeing them. I do know that are nanny has been taking many wonderful pictures and video of our children and showing them to us when we make it home early at midnight and actually get to see her as well. She has been so kind to show us videos and pictures of our children every once and a while and I will steal them from her eventually and post them on our blog as well as a picture of her. I do have to say that Monika has been amazing. She came to live with us in the heat of tax season and got a crash course on our life and has been simply amazing. She is a neat freak and out home looks spotless when I arrive home at 2:30 am. She sends me text messages that she is going to bed and if we are hungary when we get home she has set some of the wonderful food that she has made from scratch aside for us. My children's drawers have never looked so organized and I am not sure if she does this daily because when I do this my children tear them apart in less then two minutes. The children adore her. Today I got to spend a few minutes with them and I was talking about giving her a break and getting someone else to watch the kids and Max kept telling me to call Brenna (she used to watch the children until she had to go and take this amazing internship for Disney World man is she missing out! JK I am jealous of her wonderful tales of warm weather and adventures of Disney Land). I kept explaining that Brenna was in Florida and Max would inform me that no she was in Disneyland and I could not get across that they were the same place and that Disney World was far away. It didn't sink in though and the request for Brenna kept coming. With that I should resume regular blogging after the 15th but until then don't expect much from me an day be a few days after when Trent and I our passed out trying to recover from the madness. I to have to add in one thing. YOU WILL STILLL GET YOUR CHECK FROM THE GOVERNMENT AS LONG AS YOU FILE YOUR 2007 TAX RETURN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO FILE BY THE 15TH TO GET THE STUPID CHECK THAT HAS BEEN THE BANE OF EVERY ACCOUNTANTS TAX SEASON!!!!!

My crazy,crazy life

2008-02-27T23:59:00.000-08:00

Today was a murphy day and by Murphy day I mean Murphy's Law.

So I have been married almost ten years now and never had my carpets professionally cleaned just one of those things that I have never gotten around to and out of desperation and a funny sound coming from my own steam cleaner I figured it was time. We have cream colored carpets in our home which is suicide with three kids I know but it came with the house.

First I have to say that the guys who cleaned it were amazing and they are Clever Choice if you life in the Portland area.

Mika and her friend came home and thought we had got new carpet installed if that gives you any indication.

So anyway I have been refinishing my kids bathroom and had jus

t finished glazing the cabinets and was showing my friend Jen what they looked like. I then closed the door to walk her out and say goodbye to Eny(who has been watching the kids) we were downstairs for a just a minutes talking at the door and Katy was coming downstairs to go home when she came running screaming bloody murder all I heard was Pax and thought something awful had happened and came running upstairs only to see a sea of black. Black paint was every where, on the walls, the carpet, on kids. Eny and Jen come up and I think were scared by how calm I was being. I just picked up Paxton put him in the tub,got out my steam cleaner and started to try to reverse the mess he had made. It was really like something out of a movie.

Of course this had to occur 3 hours after the carpets were cleaned! Black paint every where. I am surprised to say that with 3 of us cleaning for

an hour it almost looks like this incident never occurred.

So I leave you with just imagine this picture but with a five gallon called 2 more kids and black paint.!

Another Lame Attempt

2008-02-26T23:02:00.000-08:00

So here is yet another lame attempt to give a quick update on the chaos we call our lives.

Lets go youngest to oldest.

Paxman is quite the crazy man lately. He got his first ear infection and has one in each ear. He is truly a man when it comes to be sick, he is completely helpless. He is out of the crib now is sleeping a bed! Just when we thought his speech was improving we had to go and mess that up. Now he speaks half in English and the other half in Hungarian. (Our temp nanny is Hungarian as well and the live-in comes this Friday) He enjoys doing the opposite of whatever I say and does it with a grin on his face. This kid is so much like me it is scary! He always has a bruise or scratch on his forehead, like I did and just runs non-stop. Last night he was riding his razor scooter around the house with a sword in the other hand whacking anything in his way. When ever anyone does anything he doesn't like he looks at them sternly and says bad or niem (Hungarian for "no") He loves Superman, Elmo, trains and wants whatever you have. He still loves to snuggle and give lots of kisses though and can give you looks that will break your heart.

Max is becoming my little man. He has changed so much the past couple of months. He is growing like a weed. I had to go and by new clothes and shoes yet again for this kid tonight. He is only a size away from Miss Mika who is tall for her age as well. All I can say for Max is that he was truly blessed with the greatest combination of Doman and Haddow genes. He is quite the Heart breaker as well and always is talking about a girl or two from school especially the older girls. I see him standing next to kids his age and he looks like a giant. He has mellowed out so much recently and I actually want to take this kid out in public now! He says the cutest things and loves to just sit and talk with me.

Mika is always on the go at dance socializing with friends, going to parties, school work, she is rarely home. She is such a huge help around the house when she is here. She loves her new room and loved picking out the bed and the bedding that goes with it. She got a white daybed and Brown and Pink Bedding. She is excited about having Monika come and live with us. Her main reason is that the house will be even again 3 boys and 3 girls.

I am just getting by, with putting in all nighters, trips to the E.R. and hospital (everyone thought it was appendicitis including the surgeon) for ovarian issues, I will spare readers the details, getting ready for Monika, becoming Trent's new IT go to person and still finding time to do taxes I think I am ready to just collapse. I promised myself I would update and then I am off to bed. The good news it I no longer have a ugly cast attached to my foot! I swear I will never pick a pair of running shoes again because I wanted to look cool. Back to the old Sacouny's I go.

Trent just works. LOL

Lame Lame Lame

2008-01-31T07:36:00.000-08:00

I am a lame blogger I know. Life has gotten ahold of me I only have three minutes before I need to get going again but should be back this afternoon and hopefully add some posts that have been sitting half finished on my blog and accumulating over the past two months.

I have excuses and reasons. Here are a few

Fired employee

Looked for new employee

Trent decided I was new employee

Ran race with sister Heather (who dragged my sorry butt along the way she rocked it)

Have stress fracture and severe tendinitus from race on left foot and I am in a cast with crutches (removable thank goodness but that might change after last night explain later) for 2 months.

Had to find new nanny.

Live in was only possible solution

Found live in nanny who is coming from Hungary in 4 weeks.

Get house ready for nanny

Send Trent to buy car for nanny and he comes back with TWO!

Wanted full efficient little car and just to even things out buys one of those and then get gas guzzling Mega 2500 Suburban.

and now my time is up and hopefully I can sit and blog this afternoon! With pictures

Now must fix and clean my car to sell.

Mika Doman Look-alike Meter

2007-12-30T20:28:00.001-08:00

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Family history

Max Doman Look-alike Meter

2007-12-30T20:12:00.001-08:00

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Roots

The real Halloween

2007-12-22T20:50:00.001-08:00

Halloween started like any other holiday with Domans. Mom was frantic with a class party to plan and pull off at Mika's school. Which went great! We made green flubber, hung doughnuts from the ceiling for the kids to eat, pick up candy with chopsticks, snack and pin the wart on the witch, were the kids chewed gum and then were blindfolded and had to stick their gum on a poster with a felt witch on it.

Then I gathered the boys headed off to Trent's office to hand out candy and take the boys the other offices. Mika was at dance this year and was sorely missed by other business owners. Every time I turned my back Paxton was shoving another piece of candy in his mouth. Along with an apple cider at the coffee shop next store that kid was sugared out. We finally made it home to our house and sat down when Paxton gave me the weirdest look and just leaned over and had a reversal of fortune all over mom. Then he was back up in running. So Elmo was out of the question and this kid was in his diaper with his bucket coming up to me saying Trick or Treat. So my friend Jen came to the rescue and when bringing the girls back from dance to go Trick or Treating brought a dog costume for Pax to wear.

Not before Trent thought to hide in the bushes and scare the little princesses as they walked up to the house. Remind you of anyone...

A good time was had by all. To much candy was consumed. Max convinced himself that he was allergic to candy because of an overdose that gave him and tummy ache that mom and dad were more than happy to confirm his discovery.

Halloween

2007-12-22T19:51:00.000-08:00

Halloween was a blast is was the never ending

holiday with candy, candy and more candy.

Mika was Gabriella from High School Musical and her best friends Katy was Sharpay

Max was a Optimus Prime and if you don't know who that is shame on you!

Trent was the Big Bad Wolf and I was Little Red Riding Hood.

Pax was Elmo for our church Halloween party and the first half of Halloween day.

Ahh were did I leave off...

2007-12-22T19:47:00.000-08:00

First of all my sister finally posted about our race in San Francisco. It was a blast! The only mistake in her blog is that I didn't leave until mile 9. So that left about 5 miles of dragging. I think my arms hurt more then my legs. Actually I wasn't sore at all after this race and felt like I had just done one of my Saturday morning runs. I am absolutely hooked on half marathons. I am running another in a few weeks with my other sister Heather in Phoenix. Last year I barely made it through the whole.

So I said I would blog but I didn't

2007-12-22T19:43:00.000-08:00

This past month has truly escaped me. My last post talked about how much I was going to blog and now I have completely abandoned the entire concept of blogging any chance I have had to maintain my blog I spent redoing it try to recreate what it looked like to erase that horrible skin that was overtaking my blog.

So I finally am sitting down watching the BYU bowl game and have a chance to catch up. I am apologizing now in advance for misspellings and half told stories (it's a close game).

Kids say the Funniest Things

2007-11-05T17:44:00.000-08:00

Kids are notorious for saying the funniest things and mine are no exception to the rule.

So I am going to start posting weekly their comments before they have a chance to escape my mind. I am gong to be doing a lot more writing and blogging in the near future, (or at least that is my goal) because this great site the blurb was brought to my attention.

I will start with Paxton. Since he doesn't say that much when he does speak he has every one's attention.
Lately when Brenna has been getting to our home in the morning to watch the kids, Paxton looks at me and says go and point for the door and follows me there and gives me my hug and kiss goodbye.

Also he has become obsessed with this little boy Jake who is in nursery with him and comes over to play. Jake sadly is moving to Utah in December and we are not sure how the Paxman will handle this one. First off he has made up his own sign for Jake in sign language. This is done by making the same sign as Mommy or Daddy but Jakeis in the middle of his face. Whenever we are saying prayers he signs Jake as well as says hisname as to remind us to bless Jake every night in our prayers. He is also shoe crazy (man he is my little clone) he loves his shoes and loves to wear them. Bless the poor soul who doesn't know the sign for shoes because is Paxton doesn't have his on he is making the sign, which is banging the thumb side of your fists together.
Max a while ago told Trent and I that he needed a motorcycle with two helmets, we asked why two helmets and he said one for him and one for his wife, (who I was recently told by him was now Ellie, he is going to work for his dad and she is going to stay at home with their 100 kids) he also needs a house, a big bed, a couch and a lamp and that will be all.
I drove up to our friend the Johnson's house to pick up a DVD with Mika in the car and she randomly said that she would be able to Trick or Treat in this neighborhood again because it would remind her of the Johnson's who are moving to Utah in December. This is the true drama of a girl though because is just got better, she went on to say that Christmas was coming so fast and who were we going to eat Christmas Dinner with this year because the Johnson's are moving. The irony of this is we have never eaten Christmas Dinner with the Johnson's.
This has been the comments that I can remember right now. i am going to attempt to write them down and blog them firstly for my posterity and secondly for your amusement.

The Race

2007-11-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

I am so far behind in my blogging but I will try to catch up this week.

What we have to up to in a nutshell.

Oct 19th - I celebrated my 29th birthday by flying to San Francisco with two friends Gina and Tara for the Nike Women's Marathon

Oct. 20th - Went sight seeing and did lots of shopping, added to the shoe collection. I will have to take pictures of my new set up.

My 10 year high school reunion was also on this day but San Fran with friends sounded like more fun.

Oct. 21st - ran the race with friends and my little sis who I am waiting for to update her blog to back up my story of the true events of the trek around San Francisco.

Oct 22nd - went and got pampered with friends, Gina and Tara at the Cold Creek Spa for all our hard efforts in running the race.

Oct. 23rd - back to work at the slave drivers office

Oct 24th - was a blur but maybe it will came back to me ahh it did, I tried to block this day out. Took Max to ER for more stitches, butcher knifes and capri suns don't mix!

Oct. 25th - Work, job interview, and Mika's first achievement day activity (a father daughter event)

Oct, 26th - worked, Mika finally had her 8th birthday party, High School Musical Sleep-over

Oct. 27th - Sleep-over ended, soccer game, Trunk or Treat

Oct. 28th - Ward primary program, I am the chorister, took the Johnson's to Bonneville Damn to see all the Salmon

Oct. 29th - Down time with kids

Oct. 30th - went to work, went all over Portland in search of Hannah Montana stuff for concert that night. Stood in line to meet the Jonas brothers with Mika and her friend at a place near our house were they were signing autographs, got hit on by the 19 year old Jonas Brother (if you want more details on that story you will have to email me I won't post that one), went to Hannah Montana

Oct. 31st - for some unknown reason I am room mom again, sooo... put on classroom party, went to Trent's office for Treat and Treating with the boys and to hand out candy, came home and did more Trick or Treating. Only to be thrown up on by Paxton before we left because of the mass amounts of candy that he ate at Trent's office.

Pictures to be coming soon!

Jen

Mika's Baptism

2007-10-24T13:26:00.001-07:00

Mika's Baptism was on the 13th of October, the day after she turned 8. Things could not have gone more perfectly. The weather was great, we were blessed with the company of friends and family, Trent baptized her and Papa confirmed her. Granny and I spoke and she couldn't have looked more beautiful.

They have arrived

2007-10-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

The Papa and Granny arrived and a good time was had by all. Papa played golf in the rain, Mika's baptism went great, we ate, shopped, laughed, shopped, visited, shopped, played, shopped, met new people oh yeah did I mention shopping!

First off we pick up Granny and Papa from the airport and Papa had announced that he needed (notice not wanted) needed HDTV so off to Costco we go to get a new T.V. and I must say that it is beautiful. So after Trend and Papa cruised the isles they discussed the different options LCD, plasma, DLP they decided on a nice DLP I guess that 61 inches will have to do.

Papa was in a very generous mode this trip as my happy little typing fingers can attest. Oh yes I have finally gotten my dream computer. The Macbook Pro and oh do I love it. Trent has even been sneaking in and using it whenever he gets the chance. I am still learning but I love it so much. I have already been having lots of fun playing with my itunes, and playing around with photos on Adobe Elements. (digital scrapbooking here I come)

My House has been Tara-ized

2007-10-24T11:24:00.001-07:00

So I am sitting at work and I get a call from the Brenna and my friend Tara is at my house and she is looking around and knows that I am about to lose my mind getting everything done before Mika's baptism and Granny and Papa come to town. I was so stressed by Trent's back going out again running him back and forth because he couldn't drive, cleaning the house, keeping up with the kids, getting things done at work before the big 15th deadlines and playing the office Meanie by telling people that it was not my problem and they had 8 months to get their stuff to us and I was sorry about whatever their excuse was but that they would just have to wait until after the 15th. One woman actually came in and Trent was stuck on one of those big balances balls and I had just left him alone for a minute, really I was next store putting some stuff in the mail and she walked in and just walked back to his office and let Pax out running like a mad man. Trent tried to move and he was in between crying and screaming in pain. I am trying to catch Pax before he made a beeline for the door and went into traffic. (yes I have learned from experience) Anyway I get Trent off the ball and leave him on the ground the the client who is coming in the 11th hour after many notices to get her stuff to us at a much earlier date. Still wants to meet with Trent. I think my look and reaction, "You're joking right" must have thrown her off and made her highness a little miffed. So I said if she wanted to have a chance of having her taxes done she could just leave her information with us and we would try to get them done before the 15th which was two days away and told her next time to follow the deadlines to ensure that their is enough time to complete her return in time.

Anyway I am sitting at my desk and I have the hiccups because I am stressed and I get this call and Tara the decorating Goddess has offered her services to make my house look pretty! I have to tell you. My hiccups went away the second I hung up the phone. She was such a lifesaver and I must say did an amazing job. We shopped away and rearranged this and everything was in order by the time that they came. She even gave up her Friday cleaning day and I am now using her cleaning lady. I haven't had time to look for a new one and I have to say Mirna did an amazing job. I loved it. My baseboards have never looked so clean. This women paid such attention to detail when cleaning I know that my search is over.

Here are some pics of some of the things that we did.

The locks

2007-10-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

We had the amazing opportunity to take our boat through the locks on the Willamette River. We went through on the same day their was the lock festival. There was a rumor going around that the grant that had kept the locks running was not being renewed and that this might be the last time they were open so off we went to be apart of history. I am not sure what has happened and maybe someday when I have some spare time I will wikipedia it.

So here is our little album since their are so many pictures that we took.

I will blog I promise

2007-10-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

I promise within the next 24 hours this log will be updated with:

My friend Tara's amazing re-decorating of my home

Granny and Papa coming to visit and all the goodies that came with their visit. One of which I am typing on right now

Pictures of my darling daughters baptism

My amazing trip to San Francisco for my birthday with my little sis and friends to run the Nike Women's Half Marathon.

btw half marathon's rock! I won't be running another full until January of 2009 to try to qualify for the Boston. I will be 30 by then and in a different age bracket!

Jen

While the men are at play the trash goes away!

2007-09-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

I have been on an anti clutter spree in our house and I love it. Poor Trent came home after I had raided the pantry and fridge of everything that I deemed trashable. Goodwill was loving it this morning. Trent's office is located next to a Goodwill drop off center and I love it. When ever I go on one of my spree's I just load up the Truck and off it goes. I love it.

I am continually amazed at how much clutter can build up in such a short time.

This weekend Trent is leaving to go watch the Steelers play in AZ with the Papa and I have free reign to attack the garage. I can't wait! Nothing makes me happier then having everything in it's place just the way I like it. Me the label maker are going to be busy this weekend!

Mommy you look like a working woman

2007-09-19T17:17:00.000-07:00

This morning as you can tell by the pictures posted ealier I went to a job interview. This one was with Eli Lilly. The interview went great and it was obviously a face to face and not just a phone interview. My phone interview was horrible with them and I don't want to go into it. Anyway I don't take regetion well so persistance paid off and everything is well.

When I got home Paxman was still asleep and Trent was slaving away on the laptop working from home. Tonight he is taking Mika to a charity father/daughter dance sponsored by some boys and girls club. Mika is excited for her date with Trent.

Mika is growing up so fast the other day I had some of my friends kids over and one of them was a little girl. She loved playing with Mika's dollhouses and Mika told her that she could have them if she wanted to. I have to say it broke my heart that Mika no longer wants to play with her Dora or Fisher Price dollhouse. She is growing up to fast for me. Now she is into High School Musical and the tweenie shows on the Disney Channel. It is 9:00 pm and she is still out with her Dad on a school night... Like I said she is growing up to fast for me.

After I dropped off Mika at dance we were getting close to our house and Max looked up a big hill and said, "that's were Jake lives, I like Jake's house, Mom I need to have 1...5...no 10 sleepovers at Jake's house, so you can take me up there and make sure you bring 10 pull-ups for Breena." The pull-up detail was funny but is even funnier is that Breena is a baby sitter not Jake's mom who sit's for Jake and his brother's and my kids.

Mika said this to me after I picked her up from the bus stop and that I looked like a giant with my heels on.

What type are you

2007-09-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

Take the Quiz here!

So I did this quiz that was on my friends blog and I don't know if we are the same type or if this is the only heroine that comes up. Take the quiz and let me know.

The boys

2007-09-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

While we had the camera out the boys starting acting up and Paxman kept saying cheese. He is such a camera hound!

Trent and I got Paxton these Pj's while down at Sunriver.
(it's hard to tell this is Paxton's backside because of his lack there-of)

The Paxman looking up to his older brother.

The Interview look

2007-09-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

The interview look.
(this is after waking up at the crack of dawn to get in my 7 miles that morning for training, luckily I got all my yawning overwith before my interview)

Chop, Chop

2007-09-16T23:21:00.000-07:00

After talking about it for a while I finally took the plunge and cut my hair. I was able to have enough to donate to Locks of Love, which made it even better. I love my new haircut. I was scared and afraid that I would miss having long hair until I did it the next morning after my long run. It went so quick that I didn't miss my long hair one bit. As soon as it was chopped off I looked in the mirror and said I feel like a grown-up!

Jump for Joy

2007-09-16T23:16:00.000-07:00

It took me all summer. After 3 canceled orders, one wrong size I finally got our enclosure. If I would have been smart I would have just got a new trampoline that came with one but ours was so big I didn't want to get a smaller one so after many attempts at special ordering I finally got ones and the kids can jump with ease!

Max taking Pax for a ride

2007-09-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

First Soccer Game of the Year

2007-09-16T23:08:00.000-07:00

This is a far cry from last year when she would sit on the sidelines faking am injury and picking flowers.

First soccer game of the year

2007-09-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

Little people big tires

2007-09-16T23:04:00.000-07:00

This was the tractor that was pulling the hayride.

More at the Stampede

2007-09-16T23:02:00.000-07:00

Paxman fears nothing and scales things faster then we can blink an eye

2007-09-16T22:59:00.000-07:00

Pax and Mom waiting in line at the pony rides.

Which lasted about 1 minute and he was off.

Mika coming up to pose for a picture.

Paxman trying to climb in with the horses.

Stafford Stampede

2007-09-16T22:57:00.000-07:00

The first Froday after school starts Mika's school has a big party called the Stafford Stampede.

The little model

Man if only we could all look that cute walking away in jeans!

Mika and her Buddies Priya, Amanda, ? Oliva and her.

Our wakeboarding chick

2007-09-16T22:31:00.000-07:00

Our little girl and her first time out on a board and up she goes!

Labor Day

2007-09-16T22:29:00.000-07:00

For Labor Day we went out on the Columbia River with a bunch of frien Theds. We went to this place called Rooster Rock which is quite famous in the area while is is beautiful and has a great beach, shallow water that goes on forever for kids to play in, that is not the reason why this is so famous it is also a clothing optional beach. There is a section that is reserved for those who choose to go without, and somehow they ended up on our end of the beach. The kids were climbing up this great sand wall and jumping down and rolling down it,then they all came running over, mind you the age range was 1 -16 years old and the older kids were all girls, on that note the kids come running over yelling something and I see Mika on the ground sitting up but not coming with the rest and this man walking toward her. The closer I get I see that she is crying because she hurt her leg and the good samaritan is nude. yes nude. I don't think I have ever sprinted that fast in sand and my friend Gina went up and started confronting the man in a disagreement about where the boundries were. All the while he is just standing there sans clothes about 10 feet away from Mika and I. I spent most of my time shielding Mika's eyes and I am sorry to report that I do not have pictures. Throughout all this you ask what happened to the men. They had snuck off to one of the boats and went wakeboarding for 2 hours leaving the women and children helpless surrounding my wandering naked men.

School days

2007-09-16T22:12:00.000-07:00

Max's first day at Lilly Pond Preschool. Max returned to Lilly Pond this year. I love this school. He goes 5 days a week from 9:00 am to 1:00pm My favorite is that they serve lunch there. Somedays I walk in to drop him off and I can smell what they are making and don't want to leave.

Potty Training already

2007-09-16T22:07:00.000-07:00

Paxman is just like one of the gang with the other kids. He had to do everything that Max and Mika do so wanting to sit on the potty was a dream come true for me. He is no where near ready but ya gotta start some where.

Mad max and his bike

2007-09-16T22:04:00.000-07:00

Max was quite the biker at the beach. He was cruising up and down hills.

Paxman posing for the camera! What a ham.

2007-09-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

Mika the little beach bum

Paxman and his back pack

Pax and Kiya.

Paxman running onto the beach notice the backpack is already gone!

Pax and his beach back pack

2007-09-16T21:59:00.000-07:00

I just thought Paxton looked to cute in his beach gear. Especially with his little backpack. In our last attempt to enjoy summer we headed to the beach with my friend Jen and her kids, and we ran into Mika's friend Priya and her family we all had a blast!

2007-09-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

Paxman on the boat always ready to jump over board

The kids on the banana tube with our sitter Brenna!

Max and his buddy Ellie playing in the back of the boat.

And as always having fun!

The avalanche

2007-09-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

Last winter there was a huge avalanche on Mt. Hood that shut down HWY 35 that goes to one of the ski resorts up there. So without the kids kids Trent and I took advantage and took our time getting home. The pictures can hardly do it justice to how massive it really was.

Mt. Hood

2007-09-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

2007-09-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

Trent and I climbed Beacon Rock on the Columia River the day after our rafting trip and it was so much fun. The best part was Trent sucking wind trying to keep up with me. (training for races has it's advantages!)

Beacon Rock cont.

2007-09-16T21:42:00.000-07:00

The falls

2007-09-16T21:38:00.000-07:00

Trent hanging out at the bridge over the falls. The said the falls are a 12-14 foot drop.

It can happen

2007-09-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

So when Trent and I went over the falls I was freaking out. You have to be at least 18 with the company that we went with to go over the falls. So when we were driving back down we stopped by to look at some other people going over. So we get there I get my camera out and the first boat that we watch go over tips over. It was kinda scary because someone got stuck under the raft and was pulled down stream quite a ways before he got out. One of the last pictures is of the kid sitting in the raft lying back who was trapped.

me and you in a tipping Canoe

2007-09-16T21:20:00.000-07:00

The tipped raft cont.

2007-09-16T21:19:00.000-07:00

The raft the tipped continued

2007-09-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

more rafting

2007-09-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

To get to our rafts we had to climb down this crazt steep staircase !

My little girl

2007-09-16T21:14:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Mika that reminds me of me when I was a little girl. Always posing for the camera.

Here is Mika after the award ceremony with the other little girls in her class.

There are days when I look at Mika and I just want to cry. I know this sounds strange but she is entering into an age in were there are times I look at her and she doesn't look like my little girl any more but all grown up. This is one of those pictures were I got a glimpse of the grown-up Mika. I was talking to my mom the other day on the phone having a mini freak out about Mika growing up. She is turning 8 next month and is always telling me how happy she is to have me as her mom, and that I am the coolest mom ever, etc... I just don't ever want that to ever come to an end. She is such a sweet liitle girl who is so amazingly talented at everything that she does. Things just seem to come to see easy to her at everything she tries and she is such a great helper in our home. She is great with the boys and helps clean up. I just don't know what I would do without her. I can't believe that next month she is turning 8.

Then a moment later she is back to reminding me that she is just a kid!

Little Miss Golfer

2007-09-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

Mike took a Junior golf course this Summer with her Best Friend Katy at their Country Club. She had alot of fun and her little clubs are the cutest. She was sad that I wouldn't let her get the pink ones though. Had to think into the future for Mister Max!

Street of Dreams

2007-09-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

The have this fun tour of homes here were builders build a bunch of amazing homes on a street here with some of the coolest features and the latest and greatest beside the view of Mount Hood. These were two features that we liked the best (meaning Trent) and we thought Papa might be sad that he did not think of these two great ideas especially the later!

Falling for eachother all over again!

2007-09-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

For our 9th anniversary Trent and I decided it was time to take the plunge! This was my surprise and it showed that he actually listens when I talk! Trent asked me a while ago what I wanted to do and I said white water rafting! It was so much fun. We drove up to Washington and crossed the beautiful Bridge of the Gods to get there and watched the awsome Kite Boarders and Wind Surfers on the Beautiful Columbia River Gorge (there was a competition going on that day). We drove up to the White Salmon River and let the anniversary adventure begin! It was a class III-IV rapids and the trip about 2.5 hours. The pictures that you see our from the falls that we went over and came out alive! Trent is up front and I am back behind him.

After the falls we headed up this place called Skamania Lodge which was amazing! The whole place was so beautiful with amazing views and great food. I had the best creme brulee of my life with huckleberries in it. Luckly for Sunday Brunch they had little mini ones and O I kept eating those.

White Water Rafting Cont.

2007-09-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

White Water Rafting Cont.

2007-09-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

Weekend Getaway

2007-09-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

Trent and I had the privilege to go down to Sun River and watch Mike Reid play in the Jeld-Wen Tradition the weekend of his birthday. Courtesy of Papa and Granny we stayed in the River Lodges there which I have to say was the most amazing room I have ever stayed in. We had a wonderful time down there without children walking the golf course cheering on Radar Reid, catching up with Randolyn and the kids and just relaxing. We slept, dinned and just had an extremely relaxing weekend there. I had never been to Sun River before but for those of you who have been to Sun Valley imagine more golfing, less expansive and even more fun. This was the first year for the Jeld-wen to be held down there and I am so glad that they moved it. Next year we are spending the whole week with the kids down there to really enjoy everything they have, white water rafting, biking, gliding, golf, swimming, horseback riding, caving, the list just keeps going. I think I have found one of my favorite getaways in Oregon.

What's been going on?!

2007-08-12T14:48:00.001-07:00

So in the world of the Doman family I have good reasons why I had been slacking in my updates. It has been a busy month and it is even isn't half way through. I have been training for my next race in San Fran the weekend of the 21st. Me, my little sis. and two friends from up here are running the the Nike Women's Marathon we signed up back in the spring the the thing filled up on the first day. Must the the Tiffany's necklace they give you and the chocolate mile! I have been going out on the boat as much as possible. I have also started applying for jobs and hopefully will start working this fall to start paying for all our fun trips we have made over the last three weeks to the doctor and hospital.

It all started with Trent at church three weeks ago reaching for Pax and feeling like his back went out. He was just feeling worse so that night I called the doc and the doc called in all sorts of goodies to make the pain go away. Alas after two days of being so drugged up that Trent didn't even know what day it was we headed to the doctor on Tuesday only to have the poor man almost pass out in the waiting room because of the pain. I was talking with the nurse about the MRI when another man noticed Trent making a beeline from the chair to the floor. They took him back in a wheel chair and gave him a shot of an amazing drug called Toradal (I probably didn't spell it right but if you have had it you know what I am talking about) anyway didn't even phase the poor man.

We went and got the MRI and I walked upstairs while he was in the machine and ran into our doctor we joked about what an old man Trent was and how going and watching me work out at the gym did not consitute getting exercise. Then he said I thought there was something wrong with a disk in his lower back between the L5 and the S1 and he thought it was on a nerve and that was why he wanted the MRI. I walked back downstairs and they had called in a specialist to look at the MRI and of course they wouldn't tell me anything and said I would have to wait until my doctor talked to me. So the next day everything the doctor thought was confirmed and then some with poor little old man Trent's back. The disk was buldging and was causing some other problems. Trent has like everyone else degenerative disk disease except his has progressed further than it should have for someone his age. So the man was ordered to Physical Therapy 3-4 times a week. Thursday that same week was his first appointment and all went well.

Then the next morning came and Trent was up and hobbling around I was so proud when he started to pass out and then lost feeling in his arms and started getting sick. So back to the doctor we went. Everything checked out ok but they couldn't figure out what had happened or why except for his heart beating fast and being clammy. Two hours later Trent was feeling great and wanted me to take him to work, I was still scared out of my mind. I realized it was a losing battle trying to keep him out of the office and that it would only stress him out even more so I sat and baby sat him at work.

Since that day he has been doing great minus the whole back thing every so often bugging him which I think had something to do with him skipping his physical therapy. They called the house and he was busted! Needless to say he is back on track and going and sitting next to me with ice on his neck that he strained trying to show me up on the boat yesterday in wakeboarding. I can proudly say that I put the man to shame and I don't think he will try to compete against me again on the water.

So in a nutshell that is my excuse for the lack of blogging for a while and my goal is to keep this thing updated once a week and hopefully with happy news and fun pictures!

My cousin Ash has created a monster!

2007-08-12T01:54:00.000-07:00

I promise that as soon as I get a third party over the age of 7 out on the boat I will post video or pictures of me wakeboarding. When my cousin Ashley and her friends were in town I took them wakeboarding one night and thanks to her friend Taylor's great instruction I was able to get up (but not for long) on my second try well I have had no problem getting up since and have become addicted! I can't believe how much fun it is. I am determined to jump the entire wake and get it on video before it gets to cold outside and if I am lucky even jump it toeside! Every night when poor Trent asks what we are doing I say going on the boat! We live only a mile from the boat launch, so it is not hard to get to. Hopefully in the next couple of week I will have some pictures of me out on the water.

Not for the faint!

2007-08-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

Why you should never stick your fingers in the door!

You might want to skip the next pictures if you don't like the site of blood. Can't say I didn't warn you.

Little Max got his finger slammed in the door. Now we have had our fair share of fingers getting slammed in the door. Some have even been so bad as to have the nails fall off eventually. This one certainly took the cake for us. Mika and her friend were trying to keep the boys out her room and her friend shut the door, and when it didn't close the first time before Max could even realize what had happened pushed the door even harder and then the screams came. At first I told him to calm down. I told the girls to quickly get me the first aid box (BTW best thing I ever did, created a little mini first aid kit from a Hershey Tin that sits in the kitchen were everyone can get to it. Looks cute and it out where I need it.) Anyway, while they were doing that his little finger just kept on bleeding. I finally got him to the bathroom sink to rinse it off to see where he needed the band aid and the water revealed a nail coming off as well as the top of the finger under the nail. That is were my jurisdiction ended as mother nurse and the ER kicked in. After 3 hours in the ER Max had 15 stitches put on his little finger and one X-ray showing a fractured finger. Poor little man. He got his stitches out yesterday Courtesy of Aunt Shirlyn who was working in the hospital yesterday. It still looks really gross and he will have to wear the splint for another 2-3 weeks over his finger.

Yuck.

Max was so brave during the whole thing and after they numbed his finger thought it was really cool watching them stitch everything up. Mom was quite queasy and had to keep looking away.

The Willamette Falls Locks

2007-08-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

After our quick escape we went to the locks about 2 miles from our house. This is a really cool place the kids really like to go there. On slow days the guys even let the kids push the buttons to open up the gates. One day we will take the kids through them it takes about 40 minutes each way so we haven't braved that one yet.

I knew there was something that made these falls unique and so I stole this from the site (the museum was already closed)

Opened January 1, 1873, the Willamette Falls Locks are the oldest continually operating multi-chambered locks in the United States.

The chocolate man

2007-08-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

Paxton thoroughly enjoyed every bite of the chocolate animals that Uncle bought for the kids. He shoveled those things in his mouth so fast. After filling the kids with sugar that was our que to quickly exit the premises.

The Tool Man

2007-08-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

Trent next enjoyed showing off his ever growning tool collection he has now managed to fill the entire shed with tools.

Home again

2007-08-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

After the Japanese Gardens we went to China town and had a great meal and then swung by the house to visit with the kids but not before stopping by Moonstruck to enduldge in chocolate milkshakes and truffes. I do have a new favorite there and it is the Mayan. By far the best chocolate in the world. Moonstruck is this little chocolate shop in Portland and they have a store a few miles from my house very dangerous. Anyway they were asked a few years ago to create boxes for the gift bags at the Oscars and have been invited back every year since. That is my favorite time to go when they have their Oscar boxes for sale. Not cheap but worth every bite!

Japanese Gardens

2007-08-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

Here we are at the Japanese Rose Gardens. The pictures do not do this just beautuful place justice. I had actually never been to the Japanese Garden so I was more then happy to take visitors there.

Rose Garden

2007-08-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

My Uncle Joe and two of his friends came to Portland on business in July. The came early and I had the privledge of being their tour guide to the area. The first night they were in town we all went to Ringside a local steak house and had fun telling stories and catching up.

The next day the official Portland tour began. First we did an impromtu tour of the west hills which have beautiful views of Portland when I got lost on the way to the Rose Garden.

While at the Rose Garden we had a chance to stop and smell the beautiful roses and enjoy the views of the city.

It's been a while

2007-08-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

I know that it has been a while since I have posted things have been crazy here since the last post, with visitors and a few hosptial and doctor visits tossed in. I did attempt to update the look of my page by adding a picture that I took on a recent visit to the Rose Garden when my Uncle Joe was in town. So I will post the pictures and update stories of what has been going on in order. Here goes nothing.

If it makes the Man Happy

2007-07-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Since Trent is such a hard worker, I thought it only fair to allow him just this once to spend some the that hard earned money that he brings home but rarely sees. JK

We have already taken it out with the kids and they loved it. Trent loved putting the pedal to the medal to see how fast he could go. Next pictures will be very funny of Trent attempting to wakeboard.

The Little Pyro

2007-07-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

Paxton the little Pyro. Start'n them off young!

Fireworks

2007-07-05T17:16:00.000-07:00

Paxton abandoned his ride for a moment and the masses hopped on!

Princess Mika and her sparkler!

Their Aunt Tricia brought the sparklers for the kids and they all had a great time with them. Paxton was going nuts chasing the kids around with them.

Like father like son!

2007-07-05T17:09:00.000-07:00

How cute is that little man!

Daddy and Pax conquer the slide

2007-07-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

Trent and Pax had alot of fun going down the slide together. One of my favorite parts was watching him get up it and swing his legs over so he could slide down was the best part.

Only to realize how cold the water was at the bottom!

Fun on the farm

2007-07-05T17:01:00.000-07:00

The kids had fun on Grandma's water slide. Paxton was very serious about his car and would not let anyone else touch it. Mika spent alot of time playing with the puppies.

Over the River and through the woods

2007-07-05T16:58:00.000-07:00

Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go. Well we really do cross a river and thought it would be fun to take the kids across the Willamette River via the Canby Ferry it was even a little faster then our traditional way we go and much more entertaining.

The Begining of the 4th

2007-07-05T16:53:00.000-07:00

This is how our 4th of July began. One already passed out and two ready to go, go, go!

More of the fun house

2007-07-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

The Ultimate Backyard summer fun

2007-07-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

If you call and we don't answer you'll know were we are, in our backyard!

The Rides

2007-07-04T12:36:00.000-07:00

The first pictures is of the twirly ride that just makes you sick. The next ride was the drop zone. The last time I rode something like that was at Lagoon and now I remember why I haven't since. Max and Mika loved it. Max was sitting next to the teenage boy who kept asking him to give him high five at the top before we dropped and and he kept saying "I can't my mom told me to hold on" what a good boy. Just take a close look at Max's face in the last picture that about sums it up. When we were driving home later that night and man was it late, 11:30 pm. (it doesn't get dark here until 10:00 pm) We asked him if he would ride it again and he asked if we could come back tomorrow and do it again. Trent then asked him if was scared and Max said"I SCREAMED LIKE A LITTLE GIRL!"

That is the comment on the week in my mind. The stuff that comes out of his mouth constantly keeps us entertained.

The Ferris Wheel

2007-07-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

You can't pass up the ferris wheel and once we did that the kids really got into the rides. Unfortunatly mom was the one who had to go on all of them. I think that could also be why I feel like I was hit by a train this morning.
Paxton's face says it all, he wasn't quite sure what to think.

It's a small world

2007-07-04T11:59:00.000-07:00

We were walking out to go on some rides and we ran into some of Trent's cousin's Sean and Sam.
Sam is the one in the cowboy hat and Sean is in the dark shirt.
When we went out to go on the rides we ran into Trent's best friend growing up, Todd's, wife Lisa and their 4 girls. Trent thought he was taking pictures of her on the ride, but it was her identical twin and Lisa and I were chatting around the corner. Trent was a liitle embarrased because her twin probably thought he was some sicko taking pictures of her on the ride.

The Stunt Man

2007-07-04T11:41:00.000-07:00

Apparently the Rodeo clown was also a famous stunt man and jumped this on his motorcycle. After seeing this Max has discovered his calling in life.

I'm not tired!

2007-07-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

More Rodeo

2007-07-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

St. Paul Rodeo

2007-07-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

Trent called yesterday at about 3 and thought going to the St. Paul Rodeo would be fun. This apparently is quite the event in Oregon around the 4th but Trent and I have never been around for the 4th. This is about 30 minutes from our house and I was surprised at how many people we knew were there.

MMMMM Deep Fried Rodeo Food

2007-07-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

The kids loved eating all the junk food at the rodeo. Trent and I on the other hand are convinced that we were poisened. The kids downed everything, corndogs, cheeseburgers, chili cheese fries, Trent's teriaki plate of who knows what, funnel cakes, elephant ears, ice cream cotton candy. If just reading that doesn't make you sick just imagine watching everyone eat all that.

Paxton wants to join the BlueMan Group

2007-06-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

Serves me right! This is what happens when mom tries to take a shower. I should have known better. Normally Paxton steals the shampoo, condition, soap, facewash at some point during my shower but this time I got to take one in peace and I should have known something was up. The little man got into my stamp pads in the scrapbook room which I discovered then, that he now knows how to open doors in the house. This little man and is quick and fast!

Biggest Fan of all!

2007-06-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

Mika and her biggest fan of all, her Daddy!

Mika and her adoring fans!

2007-06-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

More Dance pictures

2007-06-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

Dancing Queen

2007-06-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

Mika with her stage make-up before the recital.

Mika with her jazz group.

The ballerina!
Ballet is Mika's favorite dance. She was invited by her teacher to join him at another dance studio for an intensive technique course over the summer with 9-11 year old girls! We are so proud of her and I don't think I have ever seen her want something more and work harder at an activity than she does with dance!

Mika and Katy with the dancer that was in their class dance.

Best Buds

2007-06-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

Here is Mika with her best friend Katy. Trent is already trying to stop the long phone conversations because Mika has a habit getting on the phone and ignoring the call waiting while playing Webkinz with Katy on the computer. Reminder you of anyone....
In case you are not familiar with the world of Webkinz it is myspace in training for little kids. JK

Two best friends.

Summer in Oregon

2007-06-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

There was actually a warm day in Oregon! It was hard to believe. This was about 3 weeks ago, unfortunatly it was a high of 68 today and raining all day.
Paxton had so much fun on this thing. He is our little daredevil!

Max man couldn't get enough of the water slide he spent about 3 hours going up and down up and down. Needless to say he passed out that night!

Paxton turned my friend Jen into his personal ladder and would call her over everytime she walked away because he didn't want to climb up the ladder and I still couldn't lift the little man so Jen became his new best friend!

Mika had just as much fun but half way through decided to lay out and try to get a tan. I can't believe I am dealing with that already!

MIka and burning marshmellows

2007-06-03T00:13:00.000-07:00

Mika was having a blast roasting or should I say burning the marshmellows. My favorite part of the night with her was when she thought her stick was was getting to hot and so she threw it at Uncle Tim marshmellow and all.

Smores

2007-06-03T00:09:00.000-07:00

Later that night we had smores and they were yummy. Pax just kept shoving marshmellows into his mouth like a mad man. I can't believe how grown up Max is. He is such a lady killer. He has a five year old girlfriend named Isabelle and already has his eye on Mika's friends and says that when he is in high school if they go to the same one as him he will be so cool and they will want to be his girlfriends and hold his hand when they walk around the school.

Pax the puppy man

2007-06-03T00:04:00.000-07:00

Pax could not get enough of these little ones. Their are eight there now and they are only 3 weeks old!

It's puppy time!

2007-06-03T00:02:00.000-07:00

One of Grandma Donna's dogs had the cutest little puppies. The one the kids are holding could be ours if we play our cards right Grandpa Doman already came up with the perfect little name Sofia! Mommy really wants a night time running buddy and she would make a great one!

Granny to the rescue

2007-06-02T23:58:00.000-07:00

Granny came out last week to help take care of all of us while I was recovering from my surgery. Pax loved being with his Granny. He would cry everytime she left the room.

Granny making my favorite Tapioca Pudding, Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. YUMMY

Building a shed

2007-06-02T23:50:00.000-07:00

Trent decided last year that he needed a shed to put all his tools in so we would be able to put out cars in the garage. Well he bought this little thing last year and it actually ended up taking up the entire garage. So now he finally has it out of the garage and up. We painted it tonight but it was to late to take pictures. It is the same color of our house and hopefully this week we can get the roof on.
These pictures were of Trent and our friend John putting the door on.

Ok So I didn't post pictures

2007-05-25T00:28:00.000-07:00

But I will I have a video and some pictures and the rest are on my desktop at home, which I am not I am in Eugene right now recovering from surgery, everything went better then expected and I am recovering a lot faster then even I thought, gotta love pain meds, I just think I am doing well because I can't really feel the pain.

Well before Trent and I came down here we have been working on a shed in the backyard. Not a tiny one either 10 x 14 I have pictures and video on this computer with Trent and I working on the floor and me using a nail gun for the first time. This first one obviously of Trent. Trent the tool man went a little crazy at a clients lately and well I think in absolute fear of him with a nail gun in hand let him walk out of the shop with almost every tool a man could imagine, or at least enough to fill the back of his truck until he goes back for round two, so if you need to borrow anything you know who to come to. (It was actually bartering but I like my story better)

Now I am just waiting for my video to download.

On another note for those of you who didn't know I was having surgery. I had a hernia fixed on Tuesday and also I large muscle tear in my abdomen wall were a soft tissue mass was coming through. It didn't feel soft to me and I couldn't take the pain any longer. On a good note I don't think that my tummy muscles have ever been so tight. Gotta love children and what they do to you. I get to go home tomorrow though! Granny flew in tonight and is spending the day with Mika until we pick up the boys and head home.

Trent has been the ultimate caretaker and I don't think I would be doing half as good as I am now without him.

So without further ado hear is me using a nail gun and actually working and as Trent said not shopping.