Home.................Funk and all:)

We are home and I am de-funkafied...................a great weekend was had by the "fresh meat" clan.........I am TIRED --- So, I'll be back later:) I have a LONG blog and photos including some ompa lompa footage:)

Ok Here I am!!! We had an experience on Sunday and I had to blog about it then --- I didn't have internet access to I waited to post it now -- pictures and permission to mention them was granted by the football freaks!!!

Saturday, January 21, 2007

So, I wasn’t going to blog until I got home but I in the need to process today so, I am blogging to work out my feelings and so I don’t become a neurotic mess…………

First, let me say that the football freaks ROCK SO HARD!!!!! Since we really only knew one of the five families attending I must admit I was a bit apprehensive --- I don’t do well in “crowds” I did have the opportunity to meet 2 of the other families at the Latta’s Ho Ho Ho party – it really did help put my mind at ease.

We left home Friday night on our way to Gary and Gloria’s new house. The kids were excited to see grandpa, Abuela and of course Brittney!!!! After a quick visit we were on our way to meet the Latta clan for a meal of Mongolian goodness…………

Evidently Gresham has a different outlook on the Mongolian spread……no shrimp (sorry Doug)……no salmon (sorry Jeffie) and not nearly enough cilantro for my taste!!! But after a lesson in writing ones name in plum sauce on the rice wraps, and getting pictures taken with it, many, many dishes of ice cream for Kaden – we were off to the snowy mountain of Mt. Hood.

















There was chicken disappointment at the Welches Thriftway – I still think Terri should have kicked the crap out of them for remodeling!!! There was much laughter at the local Welches coffee shop “Java the Hut!” and we were off to the “cabin”.

We were about 5 miles from our destination when the roads started getting bad so we pulled off to install the wonderful set of chains!!! Have you ever seen a grown man cry over putting chains on a mini van?? Jeff was on the verge!!! Doug came over to lend a hand and before you knew it, we were on our way! Luckily we were following the Latta Clan, or we would never have found our destination. The snow had blown over the signs to make reading them impossible.

The cabin was beautiful and spacious enough for all 5 families. We picked a room downstairs of course next to the Latta’s as the boy cannot stand to be separated. Can I just say that these 5 families mesh well. That is such a simple statement but it is oh so true. We were part of the evening meal so I decided to make comfort food – I made some clam chowder. I didn’t think it was very good, but Jeff said I was just being critical, and that it was really good.

The boys simply COULD NOT wait to take part in the Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament. First, they divided the box of cards – each boy ended up getting 6 packages of cards. It was a double elimination tournament. The standings ended up being Vance in 4th place, Kaden 3rd place, Blake in 2nd and Brendan took first – the grand prize was a structure deck called “Machine Revolt”. Since he already had the deck, he promptly traded the deck to Blake for Elemental Hero Phoenix Enforcer. He said it was a really good card. The evening progressed and Whitlee hit the wall, so off to the bedroom I went, leaving Jeff and Brendan getting ready to “kick ass” playing poker –

At some point Whitlee nodded off and since she was asleep, I lay there convinced she wouldn’t wake up. I nodded off myself (since she didn’t allow me to sleep the night before). Much to my sincere amazement, I discovered that she woke up – she decided to go upstairs and tell Mrs. Latta that her mommy sent her up for 2 Twinkies and some juice. Yeah, cause mommy was craving Twinkies (RIGHT………).

The remainder of the Cunningham family came to bed somewhere around 2 A.M. – Brendan didn’t win any money at poker, but managed to outlast Coach Doug! Jeff came in 2nd and won $15 – So, I got my $10 that I fronted for the buy in. The family slept until about 10ish and then we were up. Sheri made French toast and Hellmans provided eggs and cut up fruit.

Not nearly enough coffee...

Pool picking.....
pool picking.....

pool picking.........
pool picking.........

There was laughter and football pools to enter – The Hellman’s did the Bears/Saints game……We ALMOST won that one! The Parshall’s who I have been assured are big cheater-heads, won by one, yes one, tie breaking point!!! The mighty Garcia family won the Colts/Patriots pool.

Much to the Hellman chagrin, the Parshall’s Colts won the game making them the Football Freak 2007 winning family. What did they win………braggin’ rights for the next year, ownership of the penthouse suite, their cut of the snow weekend money back, names engraved on the mighty trophy, and all the glory we can muster………AAAAAAAHHHHHH they are truly the champions, and I could be really happy for them, but alas, they are Cougs!!

We took the kids sledding – they couldn’t wait!!!

Kyla

Kaden

Vance

Blake

Kylie

Eleri

Whitlee

Brendan

Even Jeff went down

We found a run really close to the cabin. Mr. Jon Garcia became the “bumper” at the bottom of the hill preventing the kids from doing a “Sonny Bono” with the tree --- all was well, and fast,

Thank You Mr. Jon for saving our lives!!!!!

and after almost 2 hours Brendan decided to take our double inner-tube(the death tube) down the run………to say that he reached mach speed would have been an understatement –

(this is at the start of the ride -- see smiles!!!)

Me - dropping my camera getting to Brendan

Some said they actually heard him breaking the sound barrier…Jon made a diving roll save as Brendan careened around the "Sonny Bono" tree and the metal trailer of death…I felt my heart stop beating and I believe that time actually stood still as I watched my first born disappear about 6 feet down into a ravine with about 3 inches of ice cold water……What stopped him were the slats from the wooden fence. Jon managed to hit warp speed getting to him. Brendan made it about half way up the 6 feet or so of the ravine when he started saying his back hurt. Jon held him in place and Jeff and I got him the rest of the way up. He was so scared…..who am I kidding we were all scared!!!! Thank you Mr. Jon for saving our lives!!!!!!!!!Jeff got him back to the cabin as I quickly collected Whitlee and ran/drug her back so I could check over every single inch of Brendan’s body. By the time we got him back inside and got his clothes off him he was shaking like a leaf. I checked him over and he said his hip hurt. I wrapped him in blankets gave him a Tylenol and just held onto him telling him he was safe. He was scared ok terrified more than anything else. Thank goodness!! I have never been so scared in my entire life!!!! I was holding it together until Terri asked if I was ok and then I promptly fell apart!! I don’t think my heart started beating for at least 20 minutes!

Doug due to the fact he picked the losing team was in charge of cooking the dinner.

He made his specialty meal of Turkey, stuffing, smashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole and corn (not to be confused with Korn). Whitlee was thrilled – Coach Doug gave her a turkey leg!!!! Even though he had previously given the warning that it was nothing it really was good. Whitlee promptly fell asleep on the dinner table and a large puddle of drool followed. She must have slept for 2 hours. As soon as the adrenaline wore off and Brendan had some time to deal with what happened he was fine. Before we knew it he was playing Star Wars with the boys and running up and down the stairs. And all is well in Cunningham land……...and scene:)

Notice the puddle of drool

Never one to pass up an opportunity

She woke up for the chocolate fountain!!

Kaden lost a tooth!!

This is how a family of 4 sleeps in 2 twin beds pushed together:)

Tomorrow, we will take another run at sledding – getting in some fun before we head home to the pinewood derby. I am off to separate the funky clothes from the clean ones, pack our stuff up, and then hose Whitlee off in the laundry sink downstairs. Thus far the snow weekend has been awesome!