a new season

Winter has passed and we forgot to share our pictures and stories. So here is a recap: better late than never.

Winter officially hit Tacoma a week early. Snowstorms caused Winter break to begin 3 days early so we hit the road and drove to Montana to meet Mom, Dad, Tim and Theo (dog) for a week in Red Lodge.

Roscoe loved the car ride and mostly sat with his front paws on the middle console so he could look at the open road. We were able to visit Ian and April and Cody, Beth and Greta in Missoula for a day. It was great to see everyone; the new family member and a new home.

We were greeted in Luther with snow and horses. It was a beautiful place to be. We cut our own tree, made delicious food, drank hot chocolate, skied cross country and down the slopes, spent time with family and played in the snow with Roscoe and Theo. It was as wonderful as it sounds.

Roscoe couldn't believe all the open space to run - right out the front door!

The tree

I love Big Sky Country

The road home...with a tired puppy in the back

As for 2009, we have been busy but with nothing as picturesque as Montana. We have filled our days with teaching math and science and our evenings with the gym, reading, cooking, watching Northern Exposure and 30 Rock. Our weekends have hosted visitors (Abbie's Dad and Cyrus' Mom), Sunday night dinners and Beyond selection committee meetings. We painted our living room and office, went backcountry skiing, rock climbing and downhill skiing too.

Roscoe broke his fifth digit on his front left paw. He had a splint and was on house arrest for 6 weeks. He's finally back to normal and we are too. The days are longer and we're outside more often. We are back to running and going to the park, endlessly throwing the ball for him to chase.

And Abbie got a new bike (thanks to a wonderful husband and generous family and friends). I can't wait to ride more as the weather improves. Pictures to come soon.

Wishing you all a happy spring!

What is Green and Brown?

Fall + Tacoma = Rain


Big Maple Tree + Fall = Lots of leaves


[(Wire mesh + Cedar boards)*
(Leaves + Correct Food Scraps) + TLC ]^Time =
Awesome Homemade Compost to go in the new garden beds



Our New Compost Bin: Made from mostly recycled materials



Our New garden beds: made of fir 2x8s. I did want to make them out of cedar, but that was a little expensive for us right now.


Roscoe wanting to get on the other side of the fence. I think he is giving me the evil eye. Can't you see it....

I had the amazing opportunity to go to the regional NSTA (National Science Teacher Association) conference in Portland, OR this last weekend. Picture this: thousands of nerdy science teachers, who all have the maturity of an 8 year-old and the intellect of a rocket engineer, descend on one of the greatest cities in the nation. Portland has great people, great sites, great coffee, and great beer.

To my fortune I was able to tour OHSU's (Oregon Health Science University) new LEED Platinum Certified building, which was incredible. We toured the building with one of the main architects who worked on the project. By combining about a dozen different technologies and techniques this building uses 60% less energy compared to a building of similar size and use. Meaning: If a building of similar size and use used 100 units of energy, this new Platinum Certified building would use 40 units! It also has its own waste water treatment facility, so it dumps no waste water into the Portland system. Not only is it efficient, it's a sophisticated and inviting place to visit. I have been totally jazzed after seeing this building and learning about the creativity of many different people out in the world.

Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving. Cyrus

Jack

This is the newest member of the Stevens Family.

And this may be the best picture I have ever seen

I am glad to know Whiskey loves being a big brother...

Congratulations Sean and Shannon!

Friends

Good company....Roscoe and Miles

"Packs On"

the title is a phrase from our beyond days. it is one of our favorite things to do. we got out a few times this summer with packs on. enjoy the scenery.

elisa and wilder

abby o'issacson

andy and wilder

hiking through tubal cain meadows

camp at buckhorn lake

wilder and roscoe wrestling in camp

roscoe thought the firepit was quite comfortable

on the trail up to marmot pass

roscoe was so excited when we hit a small snow patch on the way up to the pass

he tried rolling in it but the backpack didn't help much

it was hilarious

he knows snow is the best stuff to hike in, up or down

family pic

handsome hiker

tubal cain meadows

a day hike to noble knob

bliss

Celebrate

Yesterday we celebrated a commitment we made 2 years ago.

We walked in many parks, drove to the coast, enjoyed hot beverages and played with the dog.
We reflected on joyful moments.
We encouraged one another to be more honest.



We love being married.
Thanks to you whom encourage, challenge and love us.

Roscoe loved the beach - chasing the ball and playing in the surf.
He was a mess - check out all the sand on his tongue.

Abbie 5, Roscoe 3

Most of the time I love our dog. I think he's cute, handsome, extremely playful, loving and mostly loyal.

I also love my vegetable garden. I got inspired while teaching plant biology this year and reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Plant biology became much more interesting when I had the possibility of growing my own food (since acquiring a yard!).

I am a novice. Cyrus helped build the garden and I sowed most of the seeds in the greenhouse at school. (A few basil plants died and I replaced them with starts from the farmer's market.) I have enjoyed the process of watching the plants grow and begin to produce food. Although with our cool summer I am not too confident about the harvest I will get. But zucchini are easy, said to be great for a novice gardener. My friend Kelly grew a zucchini bigger than her baby last summer. I can do this.

I have been successful. My two zucchini plants are huge (pictures to come soon). And last week I picked my first two zucchini, grilled and ate them that very same day. Delicious rewards. The other day I picked two more zucchini, brought them into the kitchen and left them on the counter. Within 2 minutes I heard a "thud" and ran to the kitchen. One zucchini on the floor, one zucchini missing!

Roscoe had the missing zucchini in the front yard and was tearing it to pieces, as if it were a bone. I was shocked and amused so I let him have it. (He doesn't eat it, just tears it into pieces).

Apparently he had a good time. A few moments ago I was in the garden, harvesting zucchini for dinner. While I was reaching for a squash in the back, he grabbed a zucchini from my dish and ran across the yard - taunting me. Already ruined, I ran inside to grab the camera and capture the moment. I race outside to see the first zucchini on the step and Roscoe standing over my dish in the garden contemplating another bite. I do my best "I'm not mad, come over to me, I have something better" voice and call him to me. It works. I give him the first zucchini and snap these pictures.

Notice the top he took off already, on the left.

Unfortunately, I was too late. When I returned to my garden I discovered a nail mark in another zucchini! I managed to salvage two for myself. At this rate maybe I won't have to worry about not being able to eat all the zucchini. I just hope he doesn't learn how to eat them off the plant.

South

So...the whole point of labeling the last post "North" was that three days after we returned from Beyond, we flew "South" to Costa Rica with Stephanie and Reid. I am sure the contrast has been lost in my delay, but here are a few images from our trip.

First stop, Volcano Arenal in La Fortuna.

Cyrus ate arroz con pollo a lot on the trip. He claims this one (his first and most interesting) was the best.

Catarata de la Fortuna

Next, we spent 2 days in the mountains exploring the cloud forest. We took a guided walking tour too see the forest from below and then we took a zip line tour to see the forest from above.






I have plenty more pictures from the forest if you want to see them...I was fascinated by the diversity of life - plants and animals...as a Biology geek I was in heaven.

Steph

Hanging bridges

Cyrus has no fear


Abbie was a bit more cautious

Greasy from the pulleys and the rain, but worth it.

Don Juan's coffee plantation. We toured and tasted coffee grown in the mountains of Costa Rica. We even met Don Juan, although we were too star-struck to say much.

flower from a coffee plant

storing dried beans

Reid and Abbie separating coffee beans from the husk

Next we headed to the Pacific coast and Ian and April Foster joined us for a night.

Unfortunately, this was the only turtle we saw.



But my iguana friend hung out by the pool one afternoon.


We spent five days exploring different beaches...

Harassing the crabs....

Making sand angels...

and boogey-boarding! (this was the best part)

To travel between beaches in the rainy season you have to cross a few rivers...here we are checking it out before.

And Reid bravely driving through....good memories.

Thanks for a great trip Steph and Reid!