The first fight of Christmas

The girls get into a good natured tug-of-war over their new Wii video game console on Christmas morning 2010.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Chris and family

Willie the rabbit

Delaney pointed out to me that I had not put a picture of her and her, not so new, rabbit on the blog. So, here to make amends is a picture of Willie the Polish Rabbit and his Mistress.

The bunny came up for adoption late this summer from family friends and Delaney started a lobbying campaign that included hanging posters around the house asking to "Free Willie." He joined the family in early October.

Thanks to the Nipping family for Willie and his accessories and to Meg Whipp for donation of the 2 story bunny cage.

Grandpa Gary engaged!

My Dad Gary Pietsch and his fiance Marge Butts came for a visit to Oregon this weekend.

They have known each other for years through church and supporting each other through the illnesses of their spouses. Last summer Dad asked Marge to go to a fund raiser for the respite program at the Life Care Center in Sandpoint and they have been dating ever since.

We had a very nice visit over 3 days. Marge is a wonderful person and they make a beautiful couple. The Oregon Pietschs are extremely supportive. They plan to be married New Years Day in Sandpoint.

Chris

State Cross Country

Congratulations to Delaney and her Creswell Middle School Cross Country team who showoff their 3rd place team trophy at the Oregon Middle School State Championships last weekend. That is Delaney on the left.

Other members of the team who qualified to compete at the state level were Maddy O'Connor, Tauschia Arneson, Cece Holst, Olivia Powell, Shea O'Connor and Hope Powell. The squad was lead by three top 25 finisher including Maddy O'Connor who finished the 3K run in 16th place with a time of 12:23. Olivia Powell finished 18 with sister Hope Powell at close 19th place finisher.

Delaney was a trooper. She PR'd the hilly 3k despite the muddy conditions and driving rain, finishing in 42nd place with a time of 13:32. Nearly 100 girls lined up to competed in the Saturday event which was held at Fernhill Park in Portland.

Here is a link to the Creswell Chronicle story

Cross Country

Tiernan and Delaney competed in their 3rd cross country meet of the season this week, this time in Florence, Ore. Running in a large field that included over 100 middle school girls, on a challenging course, Delaney placed 18th and Tiernan 67th. Delaney carded the 6th fastest time among girls on the Creswell Middle School team and Tiernan used her kick to pass several competitors on the last climb to the finish. Way to go girls!

Doodle 4 Google

We just learned Delaney was one of only 2 state finalists in the Doodle 4 Google art contest. She created a piece of artwork using the word "Google" to answer the question "If I Could Do Anything I Would…"? She was one of only 400 winners picked from over 33,000 entries across the United States.

Click here to see the other winners. Ya Delaney!

Shama Lama Ding Dong at Dexter Lake

Our friends the Sprague family hosted us to a fun night boating on Dexter Lake last weekend.

(The Dexter Lake Club next to where we put the boat in was the setting for bar scene in the 1978 comedy "National Lampoon's Animal House" where Otis Day and the Knights play Shama Lama Ding Dong.)

Ron on the helm drug everybody who wanted to go behind the boat on a cool high tech inner tube. I have never heard the kids scream that load before. "A LITTLE BIT LOUDER NOW, a little bit softer now . . . . "

Have a look.

Chris