April 20th, 2013

This is a photo I took a couple of summers ago just down the road from our house

Today was the first time everyone was home together since ? ? ?  We had a very slow start to the day, and I made this pear puff pancake for breakie. It was easier to do than I thought it would be. I used some pears I canned last fall and I doubled the recipe for us.  I think there is only one small piece left.

It is cool and rainy here, so the fam and I weren't really interested in hanging at the beach or playing in the yard. Instead, we took a spin to the art gallery in town.  For a 2.00 donation, it was a very nice way to spend an hour or so.  After the gallery and a damp stroll though town, we did the Costco thing (the teens tried unsuccessfully to embarrass the parents by dancing etc.- better luck next time kids), we then watched an F-18 cruise around and go through some practice moves, did a little more grocery shopping, stopped at a feed store to get dog/cat stuff and came home.  Now there are several computers and the TV being stared at.  After some BLTs for dinner we will likely finish watching the Harry Potter movie we started last night.

It has been a fairly relaxing day and it has been nice to have everyone in the house out together at the same place and time doing something as a family for a change.  I wonder how long until this happens again? Now time for some BLTs- YUM!

Happy Birthday Kaili

Can you believe this cutie-patootie is 18 years old today?!? 

When we first met almost 9 years ago she was a very shy little girl. She needed to be escorted whereever she went, being afraid to step out on her own. She has grown into quite a strong and confident young woman who knows her own mind. I am grateful to have been able to witness the blossoming of her leadership abilities and hope to see her continue to grow in both life and in the Gospel.  Right now she feels as though she will be one of those "crazy cat ladies", but I don't see it myself . . .

The key!!! Oh where is the KEY?!?!?!

So, an interesting thing happened after seminary this morning. . . I took Kaili to seminary (scripture class) this morning and settled in to read my book in the car.  Shortly after I had parked, a friend pulled into the parking lot so I walked ten feet to my left and sat in her car where we chatted for the next 40 minutes or so.  It was all-in-all a very pleasant morning in the early spring sunshine.  The kids came out of class and I was to deliver a van load to various destinations, but I could not find the key!  We searched both vehicles, my purse, my pockets, the parking lot etc.  The key just wasn't to be found ANYWHERE.  I didn't even remember pulling it out of the ignition.  With about 8 of us searching, you would think the key would be located in seconds. After about 10 minutes of frantic searching and a phone call to my husband to bring me his copy of the missing article, I finally thought to check my cell phone pocket- what most people refer to as a bra.  To my daughters mortification, that's where I had put it. Everything is good now, the kids have all been delivered and my daughter has been properly embarrassed for the day- - -and it is only 9:30am . . .
what should I do next?

April 2013

I recently spent about 5 weeks in California providing assistance to a family member with ovarian cancer.  I was glad to be able to help and it was good to see her.  I helped to get her settled into a new apartment where they provide assisted living.  She seems to really like it there and I think she will have fewer trips to the hospital this way.  Unfortunately, I was so tied-up on this trip, I was not really able to visit with anyone else- sorry, I would have loved to have gotten better caught-up with many of you. I was glad to at least see a few people for a minute or two at church. We are planning another family trip south this summer and maybe it will work for us to get a little socializing in on that trip.

I took the train home (mostly) and when we were at the station awaiting its arrival, Mom and I found this sad sight-

I felt bad for the person who will come home to find this.

The train ride to Seattle was really nice and relaxing, then Ron and I took a different route home this time.  We took the Washington State ferry out of Anacortes to Victoria (Sidney).  It was a little less expensive and I think it saved us some time.  I think we may try the Blackball Ferry next time we go south.

It was very dry around my Mom's place and the hills are barely covered with even brown stubble. They could really use some serious precipitation in her area.

At our house spring is in full force with gorgeous sunny days starting to break up the gray, rainy ones.  My nectarine is in bloom-

I am no longer working for Wal-mart.  Instead, I am working part-time for a friend and Ron & I will be getting our own business going soon.  I will be doing odd jobs, housekeeping and basically "Girl Friday" type things.  I am hopeful that I will be better able to work around the family's scheduling requirements this way.  It is a little scary, but we'll see how it goes.

Ellie and Ron will be headed to San Fransisco soon with the school choir and band. Adam is in Brandon, Manitoba, but everything else remains much the same.