Family Field Trip #1

We decided Saturday was a day to do something together, something educational, something that explored the world around us. We get so wrapped up in the everyday schedule of going to school, going to work, getting to after-school activities, finding something for dinner, doing laundry - all those mundane things - that we forget do to fun things.

So, Mr. Science Teacher Husband took us to Rocky Reach Dam along the Columbia River north of Wenatchee. Rocky Reach Dam has a great museum and hands-on displays for the kids.

The kids induldged me and let me take this photo of them next to a turbine near the picnic center. Apparently this is one of the old turbines that has been replaced with newly designed turbines.

This is the view when standing on the dam, looking south toward Wenatchee.

Tatum really enjoyed the hands-on demonstrations. Here, she is generating power, just enough to get one of three light bulbs to glow.

After a couple hours of exploring the dam, Keeli started demanding "FRENCH FRIES." So, off to lunch we went.

Birthday Girly

Tatum is now 8 years old. When did that happen?


She is nearing the end of 2nd grade. She is excelling in reading and really likes to tackle math problems. She was recently tested for the NOVA program, if chosen she will get additional exposure to math and science curriculum during the school day. Of course her science-teacher-dad thinks this is a great idea, but she doesn't want any more homework.

She talked us into a party at the local bowling alley with her friends. So, we rented two lanes, one for her and her friends and one for Rikard and Keeli.

Before bowling she had a dance performance at a family fun event. She's the really short one second from the right. She loves her clogging!

Dancin' Shoes

Tatum's spring musical program was Friday, April 13. The students performed some great disco songs.

Tatum is just to the right of the center of the photo with her arms in the air. The second graders sang "Dancin' Shoes" and "Dancin' on the Rooftop." One of the older classes sang an arrangement of songs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s called "Dance Evolution." The principal got up on stage and did The Hustle with the students! It all brought back childhood memories of the roller skating rink for me, especially when they sang "Funkytown." This was great, free entertainment.

Once again, the students had some great themed paintings to decorate the stage behind the classes as they performed. Their focus on disco balls is very interesting.

Babies, Babies & More Babies

We welcomed six new members to herd over the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of new babies this year to 8 as of today and all are cute and healthy!

Reba, a first-time mommy, had twins. A boy...
Isn't he handsome in his black tuxedo? His colorings are exactly opposite those of his daddy's markings.




and a girl...

A miniature version of Reba herself, down to the white markings on her tummy.

Bounce, another first-time mommy, had these cute little jack-n-jill twins. She was keeping them warm in the corner of the hut this morning and had no intention of letting them pose for pretty pictures. They almost look like Easter bunnies with those long, soft ears.



These two are Jill's first babies, again a buck and a doe. They are the spittin' image of their daddy as Jill is dark brown with a black stripe down her back. She is very protective, so we had to take their picture through the fence.

Tatum still hasn't decided on names for these yet. Suggestions are welcome!

Hoppy Easter

After so many years of not knowing if the Easter Bunny really existed or not, we finally caught a glimpse of him early Sunday morning. He was meticulously preparing a challenging egg hunt for the children at the Dragoo home. Shhhh...we don't want to scare him away!

It didn't take long for even the youngest among to catch on to the egg hunt! Then the race was on for the best eggs out there.

The bigger kids really got excited once they realized the eggs were filled with candy, cookies, little toys and money - even the paper kind! That Easter Bunny knows what all kinds of kids enjoy.

The holidays are always a great time to get photos of families reconnecting, loving up the new babies and just enjoying the company of one another.



Connie and Great Grandpa Dick just don't miss a minute of showing off and loving up little Ava.





Grandma Bert took the opportunity to have her picture taken with all her great granddaugthers, Keeli, Ali, Ava and Tatum.


And, of course all the boys had to have some sort of athletic competition. Collin was the champion at tetherball - even though Rick gave it his best shot! Look, that guy really can't jump!

All the boys were tossing around the football, Rikard has a few years yet to perfect his form - thank goodness!