The pond...

So, today, I, being the most fabulous friend a person could ask for, went over to help my dearest Tina with her disgusting pond issue. The problem is, they have lived in their rental for 3 years, and have never really ran the pump, drained or really done anything with the pond in the backyard. Steven has thrown many of things into the pond, which haven't seen the light of day until today and lessoned learned...don't place a bird feeder next to the pond, there was about 5 pounds of birdseed in the pond! Why do anything know you ask? Well, the neighborhood has a really bad odor problem, the source being the pond. Tina poured bleach into the pond, and it just got foamy and gross. I told her she needs to get some buckets and scoop it out (mind you, I have been saying this for 2 years...while it was still somewhat clean). Well, finally I offered to help with the problem and so we put the baby down, fed the preschoolers and the pre-teen, grabbed a 20 gallon tub, a dollar store bucket and the largest whatever cup Tina had, and started dumping. We got about 1/2 way through and we started to run into rocks that were in the bottom for the fish that were at one time living there. There sure was a lot of leaves, slugs, and bird seed in there!!! 3 GARBAGE BAGS FULL of non-liquid debris!! After I accidentially sprayed Tina a few times while trying to get the stuff from behind the support rocks, seriously, who puts a bird feeder above a pond!!! We brought out the snow shovel and shoveled the rocks and all into the yard to dry out. Oh, did I mention both of us wore flip-flops, and for the last part, I put a flat rock in the bottom for me to stand on and of course I lost my balance and stepped in to the bottom. Luckily most was out, but still! About an hour and a half later, we were done and the flies are having a party...Tina and I smell like hog manure. I kid you not, her pond smells like pig sh*t!!! I had flash backs to visiting uncle Ronnie's farm as a child and how we smelled like pigs for DAYS after visiting! Well, after washing my hands 3 times at Tina's, came home and took a shower, rubbed my hands with Baking soda several times, washed them several times and STILL SMELLS LIKE MANURE!!! The sad thing is, this isn't the grossest thing I have ever cleaned in my life...all you who ever worked at summer camp with crappy septic systems or had to do PP's for Golke know EXACTLY where I come from!!! This is like the 5th grossest thing ever done!!! Well, when Tina puts the pictures up, I will transfer, otherwise, if you have tips, please pass them along!!

Baby Declan William Tucker

My sister had her baby today!! Declan (deck-lynn) william arrived this afternoon with lots of dark hair and mom said chubby cheeks! He was 8 lbs 3 oz and 21.5 inches long. Time to start working on the quilt!!!

Spring 4) Visitors

The first two weekends of June have been filled with visitors. First, Rich's Aunt and Uncle showed up in their "bus" I mean RV. THey ending up in Gobel, OR so they could fish for stergeon on the Columbia.

Jim and Dorothy came up the second weekend, and brought 5 tagalongs!

Matt and Jennifer brought all 3 of the boys with them!! Collin turned two weeks old while he was here!

Spring 3) Baby Collin

Rich's brother and sister-in-law welcomed their 3rd boy into the world Saturday, May 29th. Collin James Freeman!

Spring 2) preschool

Abra had her last day of preschool last Tuesday. They went to Teacher Emily's parents farm in the middle of Hillsboro. They got to collect eggs, feed chickens, cows and fish.

Followed by the 53rd Ave park for play and rootbeer floats!! We will be back to this park this summer with friends!!!!

Spring 1)

Well, I got the Droid and I just haven't turned on the desktop. Not to mentions we haen't been doing too much. Here are the highlights:

1) Swimming: We enrolled Abra into swimming lessons for the spring and she has made strides!!! She is able to do what resembles a front crawl stroke and modified elementary backstroke without help for a few seconds!!! I order to pass this level, she needs to be able to go the width of the pool by herself. We are taking the summer off from formal lessons and we are going to work with her in the backyard and probably at the pool in Manchester!.