The Drake Family Blog

Testing

2009-12-30T22:54:00.003-08:00

what happened to all my pics? Trying new layouts but my pics and older posts are all gone!!! WTF

The Family

2009-12-28T22:35:00.000-08:00

Dec. 26th 2009

2009-12-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

This has been a great and trying year economicaly, physically, and emotionally. 9 is my favorite number so I had high expectations for this year. I have a great job that I love, shelter, and a great family. I am very lucky indeed. The boys are growing up as you can tell from the pictures. Jake is 15 3/4 and Sean is 14. My next bday in Feb. will be a milestone one for me as I hit the big 40! Yikes! I expect great things in 2010! Enjoy the pictures and peace to all.

Sean and Jasper

2009-12-26T18:50:00.000-08:00

Marina shots 2009

2009-12-26T18:48:00.000-08:00

Golden Girls 2009

2009-12-26T18:46:00.001-08:00

The Boys

2009-12-26T18:46:00.000-08:00

The Family 2009

2009-12-26T18:44:00.000-08:00

Better shot

2009-12-26T18:43:00.000-08:00

Jake

2009-12-26T18:42:00.000-08:00

Jake's car mustang

2009-12-26T18:41:00.000-08:00

Homecoming 2009

2009-10-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

Sean and Amber

Homecoming 2009

2009-10-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

Jake and Alicia

Sean and Amber

Sean and Jake Homecoming 2009

2009-10-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

Love Britt!

2009-09-26T22:51:00.000-07:00

Sean in ROTC

2009-09-26T22:40:00.000-07:00

Man does he look like a young man here.

Misc. Update

2009-08-15T22:37:00.000-07:00

Sean just had his 14th birthday on Aug. 7. My boys are growing up and it makes me feel old. (they remind me almost everyday that I am old too...thanks boys). Sean wanted to spend his bday with family and friends. First we went to an indoor shooting range where the cops shoot at. Mike is very strict and makes the boys adhere to all the guidelines. Jake wants to be a copy and Sean wants to join the Army or Marines, so either way this practice will help them in their careers. Jake is already a police explorer so he is well on his way. Then we went to each an early dinner at Olive Garden. We always joke about how Mike use to be the pasta boy when he worked at Olive Garden. It is always a good laugh. Then Sean has his buddies Darian, Brandon, and Logan stay the night. I took them to see G.I Joe- no doubt. Then they stayed up all night playing video games.I am sure he will tell you it was a great birthday!

Jake has his leaner's permit and a bad attitude to go with it lately. It all started out well but the last 2 days have been drama! He cannot handle the answer no. Can I drive? Not today! He is a very good driver yet his attitude is what keeps him from driving. He doesn't get that you need tobe respectful to drive MY car. I hope he learns quick. I told him just because you turn 16 doesn't mean you get a license. You have to show you are responsible and mature.

We have round 2 of the baby birds. I think there are 3 this time although there could be 4. They are so cute to have around in our garage yet they are making a little bit of a mess. Did you know it is illegal to disturb or destroy a Barn Swallow nest that is being used? So once they migrate down to South America we can move it. Although research tells me they will return next year. They mate for life and often return to the same nesting spot over and over. I will be glad to have my garage back.

We have had record dry heat this summer. It got up to 108 the hottest in recording history. Remember most people in the NW area do not have a/c. We went 30+ days without any rain at all. Then it rained a tiny bit then was dry again for another 30+ days. Our grass is all brown! Us Seattlites miss the rainy weather. Next week is mid 90's again.

my baby birds

2009-07-01T23:27:00.000-07:00

Ghandi

2009-06-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

San Fran

2009-06-28T21:27:00.000-07:00

Alcatraz man it is foggy.

Our hotel in SF

Mount Shasta in Cal.

Golden Gate

2009-06-28T21:26:00.000-07:00

More vacation

2009-06-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

Yuck of me but Sean looks cute and I love the background

San Fran Golden Gate

Grand Canyon & Hoover Dam

2009-06-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

Grand Canyon

2009-06-28T21:22:00.000-07:00

More Vacation

2009-06-28T21:20:00.000-07:00

Random sunset off my back porch

We are cool and having fun!!

San Fran

2009-06-28T21:19:00.000-07:00

Man I wish this one wasn't blurry!!

Port of SF

San Fran

2009-06-28T21:17:00.000-07:00

Our 3rd car A.M.

Cool Sculpture

SF Port

San Fran

2009-06-28T21:16:00.000-07:00

Our hotel lobby. Very pretty

men in waiting.

China Town

San Francisco

2009-06-28T21:14:00.000-07:00

Fire on hill

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Green Power/Fire

Calico Ghost Mining Town

2009-06-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

More Freemont Lights

2009-06-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

More Freemont

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Light Show on the ceiling

Freemont Experience

2009-06-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

Vegas

2009-06-28T21:06:00.000-07:00

Bellagio

Vegas

2009-06-28T21:04:00.000-07:00

Our 2nd ride

Vegas of course

2009-06-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

Our nice room at MGM Grand

Our ride.

Hoover Bridge

2009-06-28T21:01:00.000-07:00

New bridge almost done at Hoover Dam

Arizona

2009-06-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Driving into a canyon

Right outside of Hoover Dam. What a hill this truck and worker climbed.

Misc. Vacation

2009-06-28T20:57:00.000-07:00

Jake and dad. Jake is standing on rock to make him taller than dad. It wont be long before he really is taller.

Salt Lake City

Scenary on the way to Arizona

More Vacation 2009

2009-06-28T20:53:00.000-07:00

Jake hanging out waiting for the skydiving to commence.

Jake rock climbing.

Salt Lake City Mormon Temple

More vacation

2009-06-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

Mike connect to the worls still.

Sean and Mike just before indoor skydiving. FUN!

Sean diving

Mike skydiving. Hard to keep them in focus.

Vacation Shots

2009-06-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

The huge frog that wished us well as we left for our vacation. He did not even blink when we drove by.

Cute little shops and restaurants made out of old trains in Idaho.

Our hotel in Boise Idaho. Cambria is very nice.

One more

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I swaer there are 4 but one is facing the other way. That nest is crowded!

Sweet Face

2009-06-28T20:43:00.001-07:00

Pretty Girl Britt

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Mama feeding babies

2009-06-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

There are 4 here but only 3 must be hungry. So sweet.

Baby Brown Swallow

2009-06-18T20:42:00.000-07:00

A little blurry but birdies are getting big and have some feathers. Day 5

Baby Barn Swallows Born Today

2009-06-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

June 14th 2009 Looks like our Barn Swallons were finally born today. A family has built a nest in our garage just above the door opener near the ceiling. There were 4 eggs and it looks like either 3 or 4 babies are there. The parents are too excited to let us get close long enough to count the bodies. I will try to take a picture everyday to show their progress.

Hope they are not duplicates

2009-05-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

Pretty tulips

Fancy Car Show

2009-05-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

Yikes Seattle Traffic.

2009-05-24T21:17:00.001-07:00

Local Glass Art

2009-05-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

I bought the heart in the bottom right corner (pink and red). Love it!

Mt Rainer and Stadiums

2009-05-24T21:15:00.000-07:00

Home of the Mariners (white one) and home of the Seahawks and Sounders (black one)

Condos in Seattle

2009-05-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

Both of the boys want to live here when they are older. Unobstructed view of water and Pike Place

More Seattle

2009-05-24T21:11:00.000-07:00

The Pier

Fire Boats and Ferry Boat

Bake Side Of Pike Place Market

Green Space Near Pike Place very nice.

Beautiful Seattle

2009-05-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

Decorative sewer lid.

Trendy condos

Fresh Veggies at pike Place

The Boys

2009-05-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

Sisters

2009-05-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

Looks like Bailey is doing the talking and Britt is ignoring.

Pretty Girls

2009-05-21T21:41:00.000-07:00

Britt age 3

Bailey age 4 1/2

Closer up one

2009-05-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

What kind of Bird am I?

2009-05-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

This bird is making a nest in my garage. What kind of bird am I?

Brothers!

2009-05-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

A sunny day at home. Jake and Sean

More Tulips Galore

2009-04-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

Check it out!

Furry Flowers 2009

2009-04-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

windmills, me, and flowers oh my!

More Flowers 2009

2009-04-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

Enjoy!

Flowers 2009

2009-04-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

Tulip Festival 2009

Jake's Bday 2009

2009-04-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

Jake being a total goof ball on his 15th bday opening up every little gift including the bike manual.

Seaside Beach Fun March 2009

2009-04-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

We love the beach!!

Snow Time Fun Feb 2009

2009-04-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

Bunny ears for Bailey.

Pretty Bailey.

Bailey and Britt.

Look at me Bailey.

Britt and Bailey Playing

2009-04-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

Yes they are playing. Look at the funny positions they get into. Feb 2009 snow storm.

Look at Britt's bunny ears. lol

I am gonna get you Bailey.

See my teeth now you mad me mad.

Oh no you didn't says Bailey to Britt.

Thrilled to Shovel Snow

2009-04-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

Jacob shoveling snow after our last snow storm in Feb. 2009. Thrilled isn't he?

Losing a Friend

2009-04-09T18:42:00.001-07:00

Jacob is really sad today as one of his friends at highschool was killed in a motorcycle accident. This is the 3rd death at school this year- all accidents. The driving years are going to be scary for me. I will give him extra hugs and kisses for sure. Life is precious!

Me & My new hair cut

2009-03-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

Me and my Sparky!

2009-03-20T20:10:00.000-07:00

Snohomish River

2008-12-25T18:50:00.000-08:00

Our House Snow Storm 2008 nearly 2.5 ft of snow.

Our House 2008

2008-12-25T18:49:00.000-08:00

Princess Britt 2008

2008-12-25T18:48:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Princess Bailey 2008

2008-12-25T18:44:00.001-08:00

My Golden Girls

2008-12-25T18:43:00.000-08:00

Britt and Bailey playing in the snow. We got almost 3 ft in a week.

Snohomish River 2008

2008-12-25T18:41:00.000-08:00

More of the Boys!

2008-10-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

My Boys

2008-10-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

Homecoming 2008

2008-10-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

Jake and Cassidy Homecoming 2008

2008-10-18T22:10:00.000-07:00

My Madonna

2008-10-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

Guess What- Madonna

2008-10-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

More Madonna

2008-10-10T21:36:00.001-07:00

Madonna Madonna

2008-10-10T21:33:00.001-07:00

I cannot believe it has been this long and I have no Madonna pics on my blog. I love Madonna a ton and wish I could see her in concert so bad!!!

Teen Age Prank

2008-09-27T22:26:00.000-07:00

Soap poured into a landscape waterfall outside subdivision.

My Little Katie Boo

2008-09-27T22:01:00.000-07:00

Anti-Classroom Environment

2008-09-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

"I myself have asked for some of that money for supplemental educational materials. However, it's the invasiveness of it all that is draining," says Karas-Gulstrand. "We're encouraged to be encouraging, and we're encouraged to support this for obvious reasons. It's in our best interests, yet it's so anti-classroom environment.""And parents too, are questioning the legitimacy of using kids, teachers and class time to raise money. "Mary Warner has three children in the Little Falls School District in central Minnesota. For years she's been frustrated with school fundraisers. She's written numerous letters to school administrators and to local newspapers -- making her case that fundraisers often take advantage of kids and waste class time.

Source:http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/03/15_zdechlikm_fundraising/http://www.fundsraiser.com/jun00/fundraising-a-necessary-evil-for-elementary-schools.html

Kids are a Free Sales Force!

2008-09-19T19:32:00.000-07:00

"School districts or entities supporting districts that could notpass bonds or sustain a tax increase are now looking at new avenues of funding to avoid a 3financial crisis. As a result, business and corporate sponsorship of school districts haveresulted in the proliferation of commercialism in schools."Source: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04222007-102732/unrestricted/Bobby_Browder.pdf

"They're a free sales force -- and so are their parents. They're not being allowed to learn in the classroom which is what they're supposed to be doing," says Warner. "Then they're emotionally blackmailed with this whole business about prizes. And guess what? 'If you don't take part in this fundraiser, you don't get to take part in the prizes at the end either.'"Source: http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/03/15_zdechlikm_fundraising/http://www.fundsraiser.com/jun00/fundraising-a-necessary-evil-for-elementary-schools.html

Public Schools Commercialism: Stop Turning our Kids into Salesman!

2008-09-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

Stop Commercialism and Stop Turning our Kids into Solicitors!

Washington State’s inability to allocate funds and utilize existing education resources efficiently forces Washington Public Schools to rely on alternative fundraising efforts and turns our children into corporate salesman. State and local finance formulas currently used by school districts are inadequate and require immediate systematic revision. Existing fundraising events in many local School Districts promote corporate agendas, distract from the learning environment, and set our children up for failure.

OBJECTIVES: To organize and collaborate with other parents from Monroe and surrounding School Districts in Washington State to coordinate Campaign P.A.S.S. (Parents Against Student Solicitation).

• Maximize quality instruction time- Teachers are not fundraisers they are instructors/educators.Campaign P.A.S.S. Mission Statement: “To maximize student learning opportunities and optimize resource allocation through a continuous process improvement plan that supports education excellence, informs community members, and extinguishes student solicitation participation.” Recommendations:
• Leave fundraising efforts that support budget pitfalls in education to the Adults.• Institute Fundraising Policy from which Campaign P.A.S.S. & local community members will advise, scrutinize, and examine fundraising events prior to implementation. (not simply PTA)
• Establish a Fiscal Advisory Committee comprised of parents and local community members serving said school district.• At the beginning of the school year parents should be given the opportunity to sign a waiver and opt out of fundraising events where proceeds are derived from student solicitation.

Please check out my Facebook Page and join my Discussion Group or comment here:
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28252241237

Cutest Video Ever Twin Baby Mooses at Play

2008-09-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.maniacworld.com/twin-baby-moose-in-sprinkler.html

The Fam

2008-08-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

JayC and Jacob

Mom and me

me and my hubby

More Family

2008-08-24T21:38:00.000-07:00

My second Parents Paolo and Delores Tenti

At the Game

Jacob and Kate

Grandma Karen Jacob Sean

Friends and Family St Louis Style

2008-08-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

Christine (Crissy Griffin) Larcom and Mary (Gudermuth) Cryer High School Buddies

Good picture of you Crissy not so much me :(

Me and Nancy Kramer (McAdams)

Me and Nancy again

Happy Bday Sean

2008-08-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

Popeye Impression

2008-08-24T21:04:00.000-07:00