Backpacking with Jakob and Noah

I took Jakob and Noah on their first backpacking trip this weekend. We headed out on Saturday afternoon and spent one night out under the stars. The weather couldn't have been better! The kids were great sports too, and made good time. We all had a good time and they can't wait to go again.

Three Cups of Tea

So, as many of you know, I usually don't read books. It's just not something I'm into, although I should be. Steve does most of the reading in our house - enough for both of us actually! However, in the last year I have managed to read about 5 books. And I am glad I did. The most recent book, which I just finished last night, is called Three Cups of Tea.

It chronicles the work of a man (Greg Mortenson) who was a mountain climber and after his failed attempt to climb K2 in Pakistan in the early 90's to honor his sister's memory, literally stumbled into building schools in the poorest areas of Pakistan and eventually Afganistan.
There is frank talk about his observations about the War Against Terror, and the lack of funding this country gave to Afganistan after beginning the attacks and how reconstruction in the area, although promised, has basically been ignored. There is great insight about how the 'bad guys' have planned ahead (under the guise of education in the form of madrassas) for a long fight, one that will not be won lightning fast like our current administration thought it would.
It illustrates the beauty and compassion of a misunderstood people and culture. The friends and allies that Mortenson made in the region have vowed to protect him with their lives. The fathers and village elders have promised to protect and promote his cause in the face of war, violence, and fatwas proclaimed against him, because they understand the importance of education in the fight against terror and the betterment of people. If only everyone could understand that the fight is not only going to be won by force, but by education and understanding.
I recommend this book to everyone. I think it is a cause worth supporting and I just wanted to share the book with everyone. There is so much more in the book that I cannot express here, everyone should just buy a copy, or check it out at the library, and read for themselves about 'one man's mission to promote peace, one school at a time.'

Parade video

At the Apple Festival parade on Saturday night Jakob got to ride the Southview Elementary 'party boat' float. He had fun. The school had 2 floats entered in the parade, the other was a pig roast float. The pig roast took first place and the party boat took second in the contest. I don't think I've ever been to a nighttime parade, but this was neat. I guess it's usually sweltering heat here during the festival so they do the parades at night but this week was actually nice weather.

Noah really liked the high school bands. He started playing the gatorade trumpet when all the bands passed by. All in all, it was a really great parade as far as small town parades go.

Friday night was concert night. The Contemporary Christian band from our church performed for 2 hours Friday night. Then, the headliner Lady Antebellum performed on the main stage for 2 hours. It was pretty cool. Apparently, they are able to get really good bands for the Festival when they are on the brink of fame and then they hit it big and we have somewhat famous bands in this really small town.

Party down in Apple Town

Noah, Grace, & Tatum on the float

It's Apple Festival time in grand ol' Jackson. It's a nearly week long carnival, fund raiser and 3 parades. It's such a big deal that the kids all get Wednesday off from school. The first of 3 parades was Wednesday afternoon, then Weds. Evening and finally Saturday evening. Noah was able to ride on the Christian Life Acadamy (his preschool) float. He got to ride with some of his friends so he was very happy. And it was only about a 20 minute ride so he didn't get worn out.

Then, it was kid's day at the carnival, so they got to ride all the rides for 1 low price. Noah really liked this scrambler and a helicopter ride too.

Jakob on the Helicopter ride

Jakob and Noah after the Wednesday paradeNoah, Grace &Tatum on a bug-go-round

All I want for Christmas...

Jakob couldn't sleep last night, so he finally asked Steve to pull his tooth. He's lost 4 now. You can see all the way to his uvula now!

family pix after the party

The Bowen girls with Nana

Fiona, Mom, Me,
Nana, Christine
Cathy

Ben and Uncle Will, who, at this age, I think Ben looks most like

The boys with Uncle Will

Tired Noah with Aunt Rachel

The boys with cousins Andrew and Fiona, from Seattle.

Aunt Sue and Mom
Steve in Nana's olive tree
Noah came running back in the house and yelling "Dad's stuck in the tree"
But he really wasn't!

China Town

On Sunday, we took the boys (and my sisters) to China Town. We took BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) into the city and walked almost a mile to eat lunch. Then we went shopping for a little while on our way back to the BART station. The boys were so good. Noah and Ben ate a lot of "Dirty Chicken" and pot stickers. Jakob had one chow mien noodle and some plain rice - he just doesn't know what he is missing. Noah calls it 'dirty' because of the brown sauce that is on much of the Chinese food he eats. I think it's cute! The boys loved riding the train - they got a few jolts when it took off and they weren't holding on - and Jakob enjoyed following our stops on the map and counting down to the final stop.
We also took a train to and from the airport to get the rental car and they loved that. The airport train filled up more and more at each stop so they kept asking if they should get off at the stops and it was entertaining to all the commuters.

The boys at the China Town gate

Ben on BART after China Town

Moon Festival Flags over a street in China Town
All week they had been celebrating, and Sunday was actually Moon Festival Day

Mt. Tam 18K

Steve's trail race on the mountain was pretty fun, for us anyway. The race started at Mountain Theatre, which is an outdoor theater, where they put on plays, most recently The Wizard of OZ. The group ran up the steps and around on the trails and roads.
Driving up to the starting area, we were a little worried that it would be really cold and foggy, but the start was above the fog. The runners had to run through the fog though. Steve did a great job, and ran it faster than he though he would.







The boys had a grand time playing on the stone seats at Mountain Theatre, having mini rock climbing adventures on the stone structures and climbing the trees.

Finishing the race

Stinson Beach

On Friday morning, we went to Stinson Beach, CA. It was so cold with the cloud cover and the wind, but the boys trooped it out and had some fun playing with the waves and watching the birds. Ben was scared of the waves and didn't want to get wet, so Steve picked him up and brought him closer to the waves but happily for him he stayed dry. We didn't stay very long due to the cold, but it was fun.

dirty feet after about 30 minutes at the beach

Wiped Out

The boys have had such long nights due to the 3 hour time difference that they are just wiped out when they finally crash at night. They have been sleeping so well at night and sleeping in ever since the first morning when Ben woke up at 4 am and Noah at 5:45. They don't even seem to mind each other's stinky feet in their faces while they sleep!!Our hotel near Stinson Beach tonight has a nice view of the bay. Tomorrow is Steve's race and then Nana's party. Can't wait! So it's early to bed and early to rise.

Sunny CA

We are in sunny NorCal - Lodi, to be exact. We arrived in San Francisco on Tuesday afternoon. The boys were so awesome in the airports and the especially the planes. Ben had a little cry but that was only because he was tired and he soon fell asleep - for 2 hours! It was a good thing the plane wasn't full because he took up 2 seats!
The picture above is the boys in the olive tree in front of Nana's house. The weather was great.
We're in Lodi now for a couple days to see friends. And we're going back to SF for the weekend. Steve is running an 18K trail race on Saturday am and then it's back to Nana's for her 90th birthday party.
I am off now to get my hands and feet rubbed and prettied up! WooHoo!
More later!

Noah is learning so much

Noah is learning so much at school. His teacher told me yesterday how she can tell that he is listening to her when she talks and he follows directions - at least he does for someone! He sings a new song almost everyday in the car. They learned about dragonflies today and he came home and made one with his legos. It was really neat. He brought home some pages where they trace and copy a letter and color pictures of words with that sound. Mrs. Lloyd said his coloring has really improved since the first week, too. He has been complaining about school taking too long, but he's always happy when I pick him up.

He was a little embarrassed when he was doing this for the camera because he didn't remember all the words.

Labor Day Park-time

We had some errands to run up in Chillicothe Sunday, so Steve dropped us at the park while he went to Lowes. The weather was great, in the shade, and the boys had tons of fun on the playgrounds.

Jakob wanted everybody to slide together

Ben didn't seem to mind when Noah would climb up an slide down into him... at first!
Ben has had a cold for a little while and his face is not very happy with all of the wiping he does. He cried and pouted for about the last 20 minutes that we were there, which is always fun.
Steve finally came back to get us and, you know him, he had to get in on the action!
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