tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851422794047728492024-02-21T10:12:03.510-08:00Adams-Hart stuffAudreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-83118444683073326212011-09-05T16:34:00.000-07:002011-09-05T17:44:23.124-07:00August 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMZEsXKWt7Lf3t4leQ6pKapHR8xk_01sflPRQfuMBo7gKUcSNNbgvvEtLqOPS2y3amgrqqFztEUAHDWSxhbxXqX2YFuedYOIMalB5vW_-NKvnW_4r-8MjdSMqnJBaQdf-IuDRYcIZGHxI/s1600/2011+July+and+August+076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMZEsXKWt7Lf3t4leQ6pKapHR8xk_01sflPRQfuMBo7gKUcSNNbgvvEtLqOPS2y3amgrqqFztEUAHDWSxhbxXqX2YFuedYOIMalB5vW_-NKvnW_4r-8MjdSMqnJBaQdf-IuDRYcIZGHxI/s320/2011+July+and+August+076.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649023998383606354" /></a>
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<br />We started out the month by celebrating my niece Carmen's 11th birthday. She passed away, as you may remember, in February 2009. Her birthday is August 10. She was born in 2000. Every year on her birthday we bring her mom and dad yellow roses (yellow for remembrance)--one rose for every year since her birth. This year we went to Brentwood to deliver the flowers and we joined Dorothy and some of the children in visiting Carmen's grave and releasing balloons--one balloon for each person. We said a family prayer and talked about what we remember about Carmen. If you look carefully in this large tree above, you may see my nephew Timothy (he's wearing a red shirt). If you look even more carefully, you may see a red dot in the sky to the right of the tree. It is one of the balloons we released. We watched them until we couldn't see them any more. How we miss our Carmen.
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<br />In happier news, this month Cliff and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary. I first fell in love with this man when I was 16 years old and I have not been out of love since. That makes 28 years of loving him. I've been WITH him longer than I've been WITHOUT him. I'm grateful for a happy marriage to a man who does his best to fulfill my every wish.
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<br />I had a birthday in June. My sister called me around my birthday and said, "I saw a piece of jewelry I thought you would like, but then I thought I'd rather buy you a plane ticket to come visit me for your birthday. Would that be okay?" "YES!!!" I said. I didn't even have to think about it. After some jockeying around of dates for her family and mine, we chose the second week in August during which I got to fly to Seattle and spend a week with her and her family. Yay!!
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<br />My sister just bought a little Mazda Miata. Blue. Convertible. We drove that little car everywhere, and when she was at work and I had places to go, she let ME drive that little car everywhere. Such fun! I meant to take a picture of it, but I forgot.
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<br />I did, however, take a photo of this dish: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGRCe7WuKKAMRgItU7dzyGlWbc7CZ6E-oaOGrvlDhyphenhyphenWw4FfxOrKDCNNFYRUvv-t8BL7YpQti9gaXTxK3NLXnZImxiiDdQrtDj8b7Yx9MdBqnLxxFG9HMT3FrmrZaBGJCS7QwTwtzgRegL/s1600/2011+July+and+August+192.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGRCe7WuKKAMRgItU7dzyGlWbc7CZ6E-oaOGrvlDhyphenhyphenWw4FfxOrKDCNNFYRUvv-t8BL7YpQti9gaXTxK3NLXnZImxiiDdQrtDj8b7Yx9MdBqnLxxFG9HMT3FrmrZaBGJCS7QwTwtzgRegL/s320/2011+July+and+August+192.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649027245255759938" /></a>
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<br />My sister, who spoiled me every day of my visit and didn't let me pay for a THING myself (she is so good!) took me to a very good sushi restaurant in West Seattle (or is that East Seattle? Can't exactly remember). She ordered for us: the chef's choice meal, where the chef chooses several courses to bring to your table. I think we had 4 or 5 courses and dessert as well. All were very delicious. There was a lot of raw fish involved, which I actually truly enjoyed. If all sashimi and nagiri were this delicious, I would crave it continually! This bowl, however, gave me pause. It contained 4 entire fish--smelt, deep fried. The sauce was sweet and sour, the greens delicious. But to eat the whole fish! The head, the spine, the bones.... well! I managed the first one, all complete. It tasted delicious! But on my second little fish I just could NOT manage that spine! I confess--I pulled it out and ate the flesh on its own. But what a good meal! A little culinary adventure for me.
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<br />We also went: to Vashon island on the ferry:
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<br />Hello beautiful sister! My brother-in-law had taken the kids camping for the weekend, so Jessica and I were free to amuse ourselves howsoever we liked. I had never been on a ferry before and I loved it! I always love the water and being on the water in a big boat (the bigger the better, to me) was very fun. It was great to be able to just drive the car off afterwards. She let me drive her speedy little car all over the island, stopping only for bookstores. Paradise!
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<br />We went on walks, including a long one, at sunset, to their beach.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bguJB5kAJONiVV3tGE8lEj56WZzf1FWGNx-zYTyWCG5an2BMwXFpc6mx_UpwG7jefojtgnCPiJugqmdTuhOBqkFBxdU0f9zejDhW0UCnMkXWjUiYmavQIL7dXcoWKjIfWNCklj6CHtH3/s1600/2011+July+and+August+193.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bguJB5kAJONiVV3tGE8lEj56WZzf1FWGNx-zYTyWCG5an2BMwXFpc6mx_UpwG7jefojtgnCPiJugqmdTuhOBqkFBxdU0f9zejDhW0UCnMkXWjUiYmavQIL7dXcoWKjIfWNCklj6CHtH3/s320/2011+July+and+August+193.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649030717583900722" /></a>
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<br />My sister is all about activity. She climbs the walls if she is required to stay still for too long. We played badminton, we walked to the store, we walked to the beach, we played frisbee. She is also a great cook! Every meal is filled with a variety of delicious things. I live with a great cook, so that's not so new to me. And I do exercise regularly. But not like my slender sister! She dragged me all over the place. And when I got home and got on the scale, I had lost 2 pounds. Wow. My own little health spa. I can't wait to return!
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<br />We also visited: the Seattle aquarium
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<br />The sculpture park in Seattle:
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<br />I loved it all. My sister and I had long talks, I attended her ward in Seattle (loved that!), I spent oodles of time in her bookstore, which I also LOVED. How I wish I could live in Seattle and work in that little shop every day and learn the business from her! I read and read and read while I was there too--one of my very favorite things to do. I visited with my brother-in-law Chris, one of the kindest men around. I met a few of Jessica's friends. I had pastries from the bakery every day (and hot chocolate quite a few of those mornings too). I went book shopping at thrift stores with my sister. I arranged and labeled shelves in the store. I also got to visit my very good friend Charlene Jensen in Snohomish. It was an hour's drive from my sister's house and she let me take the Miata. The wind in my hair, the gentle Seattle sun on my face, lunch and visiting at Charlene's--what a treat! All in all, it was one of the best weeks I had this summer. One of the sweetest parts for me was spending time with Gemma, Miles and Peyton. I treasure my relationships with my nieces and nephews and it was a privilege to get closer to them. When it came time to leave, they wanted to know when I'd be back and I was so glad they WANTED me to come back! :) It was a great trip, one I am eager to repeat. Maybe October? Or November? Soon, anyway!
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<br />At the end of the month, my brother Gerald and his wife Frances visited here on their way back to Taiwan. They've been in the country for about a month, but have spent the bulk of their time at their place in Draper, Utah (curses!). They stopped by here on their way to Utah, but I was in Idaho at Rayne's graduation, so I missed them then. So I only got one day with them here. I sure enjoy them! Here are all three of my handsome and good, kind brothers: Reed, Gerald and Ben.
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<br />This month also I was called to be a seminary teacher--I'll be teaching early morning (6:30 a.m.) Old Testament study classes to a large group of high school Freshmen starting August 23rd. Wow! A little overwhelming.
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<br />But even more overwhelming is that my dearest Dad was called to be the Patriarch of the Pleasanton stake. I, of course, am not surprised. He is a wonderful man and he'll be a wonderful Patriarch as well. He is... well, humbled, overwhelmed, nervous. It's a lifetime calling, you know, so he'll be Patriarch until he dies. It's also a pretty strong reason for us to stay here in Pleasanton. We've talked about leaving here from time to time. But it seems that Pleasanton is where we belong for now.
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<br />It's been a great month. Next month: back to school for me and the two youngest children, back to work for Cliff, and business as usual for Chase and Rayne. It's been a great summer! Onto my favorite season of all--Autumn!
<br />Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-8580417703918269152011-09-05T15:11:00.000-07:002011-09-05T16:31:11.944-07:00July 2011
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<br />The main event this month was Rayne's graduation from BYU Idaho. Our little family--Cliff, I, Allegra and Isaiah--drove to Idaho to see our oldest daughter graduate from college. What an occasion! But first, some of the other stuff we did first in July:
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<br />Allegra has been, as usual, very productive. She made this little ballet dancer for one of her cousins. We started out the month of July with "grandparent camp". Since grandparent camp takes place at Grandma and Grandpa's house, it also takes place at Uncle Cliff and Aunt Audrey's house. So we had a VERY full house for a week. Because of Mom's mom's recent death, my mom (i.e. Grandma) wasn't up to planning a week full of activities, so the week was mostly about playing with each other--which is always fun. Allegra and Isaiah, being among the oldest of the cousins, were often the caretakers. Allegra, ever the generous, sweet girl that she is, offered to make a doll for every cousin. They all chose what they wanted--Pokemon figures, Japanese dolls, ballet dolls, etc. This ballet doll is just one of the many she made. I am sorry to say that I didn't get pictures of any of the others and, since they went home with various cousins, I am sure I'll never see any of them again. Keep in mind, dear reader, that Allegra doesn't use patterns when she creates. She sees the item in her head, draws it on paper and then she makes it. She's amazing! As you can see, this little doll is also a music box. She's such a talented girl.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Db_3D8iVbSAuHlyTMnsulj3avplr8P4ScLphxJgda4dFc4I3RzK7SEqj_JZQzKe-43sWB7zsZA_xX0sjsqvzyazCbJxdJjdvGzl3t7io-ax5oJzBUm38JlQ2g3M5xn9C808cosku4Gyi/s1600/2011+July+and+August+010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Db_3D8iVbSAuHlyTMnsulj3avplr8P4ScLphxJgda4dFc4I3RzK7SEqj_JZQzKe-43sWB7zsZA_xX0sjsqvzyazCbJxdJjdvGzl3t7io-ax5oJzBUm38JlQ2g3M5xn9C808cosku4Gyi/s320/2011+July+and+August+010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649010519810848626" /></a> Have you ever seen a sliding glass door shatter? Unfortunately, I have. My dad was running the weed whacker (a very long job around here) in our "backyard" and it threw up a rock that shattered our door. It was actually kind of pretty! The glass was tempered, of course, so we had a little pile of shining, glittering glass outside our door. It reflected the light of the sun and threw rainbows on the walls of our room. I was almost sorry it was swept up and thrown away! Fortunately, since our glass is all "e-glass" that is, it's all energy efficient, there were two panes on that big window. Since only one broke, it's not like we were open to all the world until it was fixed. And fixed it is now. I kind of miss that tinkling sound it made as more pieces fell off in the wind. And the little rainbows on my walls.....
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<br />Other July activities included: gardening, swimming, visiting the Jelly Belly factory with 13 children. A little hairy while we were waiting in line, but otherwise much more fun than it sounds like it might be with so many kids!!
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<br />Chase turned 20! He's serving in Cape Cod and we sent him a birthday package and many, many of our good friends sent him packages and letters and cards. How blessed we are to have so many generous people in our lives! This 20th year will be the first complete YEAR in which I will not even SEE my boy. His 20th year will be experienced by me through letters and (hopefully) pictures. Strange to think about it. Sure, though, that his 20th year passed in any other way wouldn't be nearly as happy and right. Happy birthday, dear Elder Adams-Hart! So glad he's on a mission! Wish I had more PICTURES though. Sigh.
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<br />Cliff also had a birthday! He turned 45, still as handsome as ever, and productive, smart, hard-working, kind, generous, loving.... all those good things. We celebrated with a dinner that he made himself (I know, I'm lame. Usually I cook for him but this year I totally bombed on that) and with his favorite dark chocolate cake and frosting that I DID make. Yes, I did.
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<br />We had my sister Jessica's 3 kids here to stay for most of the month of July. Gemma (11), Miles (9), and Peyton (7) were tons of fun to have around. One of the great pleasures of being an aunt is getting to know my nieces and nephews. Because Jessica and her family live in Seattle, I don't know them as well as I know the kids who live here. So it was a real pleasure to have the Gendreau kids around. I really got to love them. I was sorry to see them go. Jessica stayed for a few days when she came to pick them up and we went to the beach. Why do babies always like to eat sand? Here's baby Bruce (Reed and Dorothy's youngest) with a sandy mouthful.
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<br />While we were in Utah (on our way to Idaho) we also visited our good friends the Hutchings for a few days. We always enjoy our time with them.
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<br />And..... finally, RAYNE GRADUATED!!!!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAi3KzndShXKKHz3tSrKRd-jjVkFuL0dFn6Tw2lxWHYhyqq5iDRfvbTZIe49qr1CCjt1iwQbMDEMkgFBC6_ze232pOfLV-ZHq4fGp8WCH8IG-d5ta_uOqStNmVrMVb_YDLxi9-CYFmdwl/s1600/2011+July+and+August+037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAi3KzndShXKKHz3tSrKRd-jjVkFuL0dFn6Tw2lxWHYhyqq5iDRfvbTZIe49qr1CCjt1iwQbMDEMkgFBC6_ze232pOfLV-ZHq4fGp8WCH8IG-d5ta_uOqStNmVrMVb_YDLxi9-CYFmdwl/s320/2011+July+and+August+037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649012715098019266" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiOPX4VFmcrPsS-jonz4g_BDMdUooCEcm0_levGI2JQfAaVzSgphD_Zhrdvqm4FbAHCshGhjo_NV_WEXX4msTU_foRoDx8-EspwI6qsqev70XhmizrAQMsJmWSPe1dnwMsmT19QDbMHJe/s1600/2011+July+and+August+043.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiOPX4VFmcrPsS-jonz4g_BDMdUooCEcm0_levGI2JQfAaVzSgphD_Zhrdvqm4FbAHCshGhjo_NV_WEXX4msTU_foRoDx8-EspwI6qsqev70XhmizrAQMsJmWSPe1dnwMsmT19QDbMHJe/s320/2011+July+and+August+043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649013794969555090" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuWYk7c-AVp1pqsTI31loBEtbzijLJAPKUTp7zKN5eVX0nEIYkiVzpdDWFppUCKvcU-ONuh-IClWRj5XaG-irADNgNLQ92ya0YpDK1qDvTFeNa6SoWKZCUAmpqQqK-dTFXHPNapkyXYKi/s1600/2011+July+and+August+050.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuWYk7c-AVp1pqsTI31loBEtbzijLJAPKUTp7zKN5eVX0nEIYkiVzpdDWFppUCKvcU-ONuh-IClWRj5XaG-irADNgNLQ92ya0YpDK1qDvTFeNa6SoWKZCUAmpqQqK-dTFXHPNapkyXYKi/s320/2011+July+and+August+050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649014418100595154" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1C4HtX24hmbhqcountjZI544tifIirjL4sefC5P0NhPk87ChzCv_IwvF8NT3nYuZsRo_CSuz29kGB-CO9XoNxCTMEvHff6CBUqgG6MSUbnTb90HoMGvDfnkL57kAk37jibTI2xwQcnOm/s1600/2011+July+and+August+061.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1C4HtX24hmbhqcountjZI544tifIirjL4sefC5P0NhPk87ChzCv_IwvF8NT3nYuZsRo_CSuz29kGB-CO9XoNxCTMEvHff6CBUqgG6MSUbnTb90HoMGvDfnkL57kAk37jibTI2xwQcnOm/s320/2011+July+and+August+061.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649015393849812290" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j54LXkQG84p0-ye-0f4Pwsw0K-tjDcSUWP1vANsBfvPHZpa8dzqishhRd8BMxsWSRlEZ2pxjC6faBIKT-xsrEIHNemMQ8slH2OvOyK0Q19EVgLDJLrbxEoIpjtW3ZPwIAfjYsZUiqEV6/s1600/2011+July+and+August+069.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j54LXkQG84p0-ye-0f4Pwsw0K-tjDcSUWP1vANsBfvPHZpa8dzqishhRd8BMxsWSRlEZ2pxjC6faBIKT-xsrEIHNemMQ8slH2OvOyK0Q19EVgLDJLrbxEoIpjtW3ZPwIAfjYsZUiqEV6/s320/2011+July+and+August+069.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649016086020912642" /></a>
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<br />After all those years working at Nordstrom, saving and saving, working hard at school (she graduated with an A- GPA), putting up with all those roommates and all that SNOW and ICE... she's done! I can hardly believe it. She can hardly believe it! We are very proud of her. It was amazing to go to her graduation events and experience the uplifting atmosphere of that school. When Rayne first expressed a desire to attend BYU Idaho, I was unsure. I had kind of wished that she would attend BYU Provo, where both her Dad and I earned our undergraduate degrees. But she--ever the adventurer--chose BYU Idaho. After her 4 years there, I can enthusiastically say that I hope all of my children attend this university. I LOVED BYU Provo, but BYU Idaho has a very different feel to it. I like the way spiritual growth is emphasized, I like the closeness between the students and their professors, I am in awe of the many prophecies associated with this school, I admire and embrace BYU Idaho's educational philosophy. I'm very happy that Rayne led the way for our family to discover this university. Yes. But most of all, I'm very happy and proud that my baby girl, my Rayne, my firstborn, my much-loved daughter, has earned her 4-year college degree. What an accomplishment! She is such a hard-worker, so dedicated to progress and goodness. Next: work at Nordstrom until January and then off to Taiwan to teach English--a whole new adventure. Go Rayne!Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-23670160200998160992011-07-03T21:47:00.000-07:002011-07-03T22:57:10.411-07:00June 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnzsR2iHIkPRTUtbQvcBeWOb-9IZl_QxGq1V72q_3_YuHYFbWpPeCvvLzXkXiqmOQbpa-xyMM6Qk5miu2gN65eMhF_5smXgx7BzX3YhjsWJW94E_rKfFiNOkfqsSRvFhoqgbuZZuaRXnm/s1600/Cedaredge+Grand+Mesa+16+June+2011+032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnzsR2iHIkPRTUtbQvcBeWOb-9IZl_QxGq1V72q_3_YuHYFbWpPeCvvLzXkXiqmOQbpa-xyMM6Qk5miu2gN65eMhF_5smXgx7BzX3YhjsWJW94E_rKfFiNOkfqsSRvFhoqgbuZZuaRXnm/s400/Cedaredge+Grand+Mesa+16+June+2011+032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625354915569278226" /></a><br />The Grand Mesa, Cedaredge, Colorado<br /><br />My grandma, Mary Margaret Knox Kiser, passed away on June 18th in the evening. She was at home, surrounded by her two daughters, her two son-in-laws, and good friends. I will miss her so much. She was an amazing woman: strong, dynamic, loving, generous, full of service. To me she was a caring and fun grandma. I always knew she loved me. I loved to listen to her stories of family--she had a gift for connecting this generation with the past generations. I loved to eat anything she cooked. I loved to visit her at the ranch and follow her around. I loved to stay up late with her, talking of everything. I loved to shop with her. I loved to feel her hands stroke my hair. I loved to hear her laugh. I loved looking over her many collections--she knew where everything came from and had a story for every treasure. I loved the way she cherished my children--her great-grandchildren. I think she made every member of her family feel special; she was good at that. She was one of my most-loved people ever. It was a privilege to be able to share in her care over these past three years since she had a stroke. I felt close to her in a way that I never had before. She took care of me when I was little--I loved visiting her at her homes in San Diego, in the desert town of Ocotillo, and finally, at the ranch in Colorado--and I got to help take care of her for these last few years. What a blessing that was!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd9St7wzL7IlFFKdvHJoyYtahkwtBlnq2FSyFklMTg1hpGCjUzWywaeZ21bKhbOzvmGdhoDhZVSFsGKnatqSk8bv6672qy5K7V8lHvNYdOr4_DI9jormymAuYpjKvDiXRfTNcwd9O3Tql/s1600/Grandma+K+June+2011+001.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd9St7wzL7IlFFKdvHJoyYtahkwtBlnq2FSyFklMTg1hpGCjUzWywaeZ21bKhbOzvmGdhoDhZVSFsGKnatqSk8bv6672qy5K7V8lHvNYdOr4_DI9jormymAuYpjKvDiXRfTNcwd9O3Tql/s200/Grandma+K+June+2011+001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625356900682735602" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzW6HF4eUfTHON8v4oJrPhN0Blx3_MI-UpbC1Izp_z849bTXqprkmnZG0MVPOb5Z2mfWhUP1XigBZ6jyCrlhXmqaxZsifOKccSkJZmknMARcM2J1haJmruUsSYNmKmh1pIllMqem9IcAvQ/s1600/Grandma+K+4June+2011+005.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzW6HF4eUfTHON8v4oJrPhN0Blx3_MI-UpbC1Izp_z849bTXqprkmnZG0MVPOb5Z2mfWhUP1XigBZ6jyCrlhXmqaxZsifOKccSkJZmknMARcM2J1haJmruUsSYNmKmh1pIllMqem9IcAvQ/s200/Grandma+K+4June+2011+005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625357236637505698" /></a> These aren't very good pictures--just photos from photos in a book (I don't have the originals), but here's my grandma and grandpa shortly after they got married. Isn't she beautiful? And he was just as kind, charming and full of fun and love as he looks. And also here is a photo of them on their 50th wedding anniversary. What a wonderful couple they are. And now they are together again! THAT is something to celebrate!<br /><br />Isaiah and his cousin James had boy scout camp during the time that the rest of us traveled to Colorado for the burial and memorial service. So James came to stay at my house and Cliff stayed home to take care of the both of them.[Side note: the boy scout camp that Isaiah and James attended flooded out while they were there--the bridge separating their campsite from the rest of the camp buildings, including all the food!!, was washed out. They were trapped on one side of the camp for a day. The forest service was called in, food was pulley-ed over the river and that night when the river receded all were evacuated--along with their soaking wet gear--to the other side of the river, the side with the food and the other official buildings AND with the camp staff. Such excitement!! The boys still came home with 4 or 5 merit badges each!] Meanwhile, the rest of us made our way to Colorado. I drove up in Cliff's truck with my Allegra and my nephew Scott (Reed and Dorothy's oldest). I came a few days before the burial and memorial service so that I could help cook and clean and pack. We loaded up the truck with things my mom wanted to take home. Rayne picked up my brother Ben and his son William at the airport in SLC on her way from Rexburg. The three of them drove in Rayne's car to Cedaredge, so I had my two girls with me for the burial and the memorial service. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7wumXlXC38uznlYZO0o4wuUlx3qndIWU47GuU1JwDUS4x7V2nQ1ECykLvp3-Zn0tHSkOwRg422mGRrpW9doIspu_SueFT8hzV1FD4sdT7jYZhXooOPWYkQUq9lgvZ5e7ackjlzkci_pI/s1600/Cedaredge+Grand+Mesa+Rayne+2+June+2011+042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7wumXlXC38uznlYZO0o4wuUlx3qndIWU47GuU1JwDUS4x7V2nQ1ECykLvp3-Zn0tHSkOwRg422mGRrpW9doIspu_SueFT8hzV1FD4sdT7jYZhXooOPWYkQUq9lgvZ5e7ackjlzkci_pI/s320/Cedaredge+Grand+Mesa+Rayne+2+June+2011+042.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625359063467538322" /></a>Here's my Raynebow. We visited all our favorite places in Cedaredge. I don't know if I'll ever return. It's so far away from my house and with my grandma gone, there is really no reason to go there again. Here Rayne and I (and my brother Reed and two of his sons) visit the Grand Mesa. Allegra and I visited it already and Rayne was disappointed we had gone without her. So back up we went. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l05vMnOHkj54YwqcwylC6OxAgObOEHDJ63T_E22PmTpdeMBsEkA3F8O334AIEW2wc1n9XacpM-uRGphyphenhyphen7_H-ZFHioZaHanRmcIVj18Q2cZ7RtjXk8WdgNhxd-FOhdoc3Z01BWhPLJr_B/s1600/Cedaredge+Mesa+Reed+and+Vincent+June+2011+039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l05vMnOHkj54YwqcwylC6OxAgObOEHDJ63T_E22PmTpdeMBsEkA3F8O334AIEW2wc1n9XacpM-uRGphyphenhyphen7_H-ZFHioZaHanRmcIVj18Q2cZ7RtjXk8WdgNhxd-FOhdoc3Z01BWhPLJr_B/s320/Cedaredge+Mesa+Reed+and+Vincent+June+2011+039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625360052156981266" /></a>Here's Reed and his son Vincent, throwing pine cones at each other--too small to do serious damage and light enough to go far when thrown. This is what boys do when girls come up to look at the view and "bond", right?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHgHe4by8xaqQqXaxL-L18aYHYWim5sGX_dVjpQWZHmxv5RlyBTXNsNOsScMVUHsdO9cdYJYuU4K6A81wvKFolrt5aQXSyabJbGVK4crQty1b0yMdJco2oWtzHn8t-9gSdt0WS_GhpEQH/s1600/Cedaredge+Mesa+me+and+Rayne+3+June+2011+035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHgHe4by8xaqQqXaxL-L18aYHYWim5sGX_dVjpQWZHmxv5RlyBTXNsNOsScMVUHsdO9cdYJYuU4K6A81wvKFolrt5aQXSyabJbGVK4crQty1b0yMdJco2oWtzHn8t-9gSdt0WS_GhpEQH/s320/Cedaredge+Mesa+me+and+Rayne+3+June+2011+035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625360647377501858" /></a>Here's Rayne and me, in front of one of the largest lakes on the Grand Mesa. It was beautiful up there--there was still snow (!!!), but it was warm and sunny.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mYQL83WhNEavFA_WZIMHjRV456kS36MYLwa0JMCAi9jfrNjs2qGZOfGeC3l1QOdtp-jnnN7PvBai6J7EU4xT7340aTb1SaNt9z_Rn5oSkw9_qYV9Xh3Ebr4XxkkR97yXD7lAbmPTAEc3/s1600/Cedaredge+Grandma%2527s+grave+June+2011+071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mYQL83WhNEavFA_WZIMHjRV456kS36MYLwa0JMCAi9jfrNjs2qGZOfGeC3l1QOdtp-jnnN7PvBai6J7EU4xT7340aTb1SaNt9z_Rn5oSkw9_qYV9Xh3Ebr4XxkkR97yXD7lAbmPTAEc3/s320/Cedaredge+Grandma%2527s+grave+June+2011+071.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625361290836320962" /></a> The burial was on Saturday, the memorial service was on Sunday. The burial service took about 5 minutes. Short and sweet. Here's Mom with grandchildren Scott and Allegra at Grandma's grave. She's buried right next to my grandpa, of course. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTFnWjgmoJ5kouf8nw0wcHmbKET5_JOSRGFsQawHr-ybOIgib9z3nyk7vzPXLckcgr9HArlYSWzG-41SgfLLraUnJuHxxzQt_tykldTNqgsxTdOLlJPtdbE3OBHxNjadPSyQ36pEu70YK/s1600/Cedaredge+the+shrine+June+2011+068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTFnWjgmoJ5kouf8nw0wcHmbKET5_JOSRGFsQawHr-ybOIgib9z3nyk7vzPXLckcgr9HArlYSWzG-41SgfLLraUnJuHxxzQt_tykldTNqgsxTdOLlJPtdbE3OBHxNjadPSyQ36pEu70YK/s320/Cedaredge+the+shrine+June+2011+068.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625361889074743922" /></a> My mom took all the flowers from the memorial service and arranged them in Grandma's front room around her portrait. My aunt laughingly called it "the shrine". Beautiful flowers. Beautiful grandma.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFx-wB9IgpKJs1ZlF5NFihsPf2JZCKoJLvTYCgit0m3jwjXFfINmChGnamVmfX8UfSYSrQyGakLS0LCfAY2238QirOJ0_TVzOvfR3eD9uML_LuFzuIUqCJcLRyiuWWxKlmMRNRi3b1YG1E/s1600/Cedaredge+Jess+and+Chris+June+2011+044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFx-wB9IgpKJs1ZlF5NFihsPf2JZCKoJLvTYCgit0m3jwjXFfINmChGnamVmfX8UfSYSrQyGakLS0LCfAY2238QirOJ0_TVzOvfR3eD9uML_LuFzuIUqCJcLRyiuWWxKlmMRNRi3b1YG1E/s320/Cedaredge+Jess+and+Chris+June+2011+044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625362454382430146" /></a> Here's my sister and her husband. I really loved visiting with her and wished we had more time together. Hopefully I can go to Seattle in August and visit her and the used bookstore that she just opened. She and I share a great love of books. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXQrLQPCBfG7Adkbh-bxTsNCxWAaLvKVzaAF6Lwq9fcRfhc5Z72eqsIJQN0H61YQlHokZd7W0ehyphenhyphenvYF5YyB7hXMvjKjhpzkcda3rdcj7dediH63NbWdqb0kbbgK81JMJ2YjpaPxfk6BLx/s1600/Allegra%2527s+birthday+flowers+June+2011+065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXQrLQPCBfG7Adkbh-bxTsNCxWAaLvKVzaAF6Lwq9fcRfhc5Z72eqsIJQN0H61YQlHokZd7W0ehyphenhyphenvYF5YyB7hXMvjKjhpzkcda3rdcj7dediH63NbWdqb0kbbgK81JMJ2YjpaPxfk6BLx/s320/Allegra%2527s+birthday+flowers+June+2011+065.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625363022412063762" /></a> June is a month full of birthdays in our family. Allegra's is on the 25th, mine is on the 27th, Scott's and Jacqueline's (Ben's oldest) is on the 28th. Unfortunately, Allegra shared her 16th birthday with Grandma's burial. Her 16th birthday is a special one and we had planned some fun celebrations, but sweet Grandma's death precluded those. Allegra didn't expect anything special on her day, but her daddy and brothers sent her flowers. And the sweet relief society (church) ladies who fed the whole family after the burial also made a special birthday cake for Allegra--complete with her name, red roses and 16 candles! So sweet!! She was surprised and touched.<br /><br /> On the way home from Colorado, I stopped halfway in Las Vegas to spend a few days with my very good friend Becky. We were roommates in college, best friends then, and we have been blessed to have a relationship now that grows closer every year. She is a source of love and strength to me. How lucky I was to meet her all those years ago! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0cquJVRhhIdDLXKtqSXjpaQ_8Zp0dhZzLF1RPhi-uJ_uwhBC3fijBozaOFfi3XRoFTo4GOcK7S1L9joN9n5-Fqc0qQ_xO_voJX2aqJQ74j1uOvw-5OzdqtJsVWOJRxzGvNT6HeDFSLzt/s1600/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+100.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0cquJVRhhIdDLXKtqSXjpaQ_8Zp0dhZzLF1RPhi-uJ_uwhBC3fijBozaOFfi3XRoFTo4GOcK7S1L9joN9n5-Fqc0qQ_xO_voJX2aqJQ74j1uOvw-5OzdqtJsVWOJRxzGvNT6HeDFSLzt/s320/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+100.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625364443798480322" /></a><br /><br /><br />While in Las Vegas we visited the beautiful atrium in the Bellagio:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06Ht2UfYmZmnqvUVC3PawKVg-51Zl6cVEh2U9jT38x1uRz2n1kmmZ5PjSIuzr6RsiWUqVWFq2E-SXEff-ULeF9MVMplhtmuEi5teEssPLDoFR6_sDSgyg4JpaKqNtyeoAUWm4sQXN6RM4/s1600/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+090.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06Ht2UfYmZmnqvUVC3PawKVg-51Zl6cVEh2U9jT38x1uRz2n1kmmZ5PjSIuzr6RsiWUqVWFq2E-SXEff-ULeF9MVMplhtmuEi5teEssPLDoFR6_sDSgyg4JpaKqNtyeoAUWm4sQXN6RM4/s200/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+090.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625365245351674914" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBLZPXuRFsPjCJ1YFMYJECz9qk1ZH0qkaYqP-uS6HcmxvRibDEG6LyhBGTrpl7O2o8N0vPYsEa2CbI3E6BWa7Fg5Ex00ackekVpsIb9gex7iqdvPT1fLCcj7eRfbSDvvlIHogz9HKulEp/s1600/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+086.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBLZPXuRFsPjCJ1YFMYJECz9qk1ZH0qkaYqP-uS6HcmxvRibDEG6LyhBGTrpl7O2o8N0vPYsEa2CbI3E6BWa7Fg5Ex00ackekVpsIb9gex7iqdvPT1fLCcj7eRfbSDvvlIHogz9HKulEp/s200/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+086.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625365603588052546" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYLwc2NlmJXzOgxTlINKvycp-INAYtI06q9pv2ZLhqp0qHQZZPfDUUVZkpsCuJM8u1uCn5NO2e4huIAjZ8It4YhfoCNFpgZxwHNLD3XIU-coi_tcwdFLD_SZsWXsWSLvFl0wb8jbDiM-M/s1600/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYLwc2NlmJXzOgxTlINKvycp-INAYtI06q9pv2ZLhqp0qHQZZPfDUUVZkpsCuJM8u1uCn5NO2e4huIAjZ8It4YhfoCNFpgZxwHNLD3XIU-coi_tcwdFLD_SZsWXsWSLvFl0wb8jbDiM-M/s200/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625365909662648450" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW_fVRcrkpHf6KRoUKJSi4p_SpnNnq61jOaRtMyNFrGYrT3LCmAHSI9fGgKGW94_2hM5IirqRPneomZWw_tCQzLn2nfBm63vX7lfkyKRdTFkICkgtDaPqY-VxMeISklzylAybTe1Evdev/s1600/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+091.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW_fVRcrkpHf6KRoUKJSi4p_SpnNnq61jOaRtMyNFrGYrT3LCmAHSI9fGgKGW94_2hM5IirqRPneomZWw_tCQzLn2nfBm63vX7lfkyKRdTFkICkgtDaPqY-VxMeISklzylAybTe1Evdev/s200/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+091.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625366242376217522" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfh7QjO0uTJquc7pnCfTwYNOXk2vgQJ_p9ZYlfKDxOG6HTN06TKC_1IGvU8UYseEUFdczX7l-LQlrd0w0_BFk1XA-A0w-SjfKUDFYYOS3kqKFXQOFaP5ERaE4Nzn-am5w2oX4t4fxVMQmo/s1600/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+094.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfh7QjO0uTJquc7pnCfTwYNOXk2vgQJ_p9ZYlfKDxOG6HTN06TKC_1IGvU8UYseEUFdczX7l-LQlrd0w0_BFk1XA-A0w-SjfKUDFYYOS3kqKFXQOFaP5ERaE4Nzn-am5w2oX4t4fxVMQmo/s200/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+094.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625366635055504290" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTqJ93lj9KQvO7PcZsO0ynwdcjOwv_y3ShhzpKtLoHC3RzF65au9QKQ7_x1Rw8j3Kv8Fl-Yt5VuQYKEgQHAlL2OnNUnic8FpmG1aRdER70D-MBaZe3HdzsotKx3e2ASBt_e9ImXKJpd-_/s1600/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+097.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTqJ93lj9KQvO7PcZsO0ynwdcjOwv_y3ShhzpKtLoHC3RzF65au9QKQ7_x1Rw8j3Kv8Fl-Yt5VuQYKEgQHAlL2OnNUnic8FpmG1aRdER70D-MBaZe3HdzsotKx3e2ASBt_e9ImXKJpd-_/s200/Las+Vegas+Bellagio+June+2011+097.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625367027070583458" /></a><br /><br />It was a trip full of stress and fun times and emotion and love. I was glad to be there in Colorado and glad to be in Las Vegas too. And I was especially glad to at last return home with my full truckload of treasures intact and with me, Scott and Allegra safe and sound. All the rest of my family traveled safe as well, a great blessing. It's been a very busy month!<br /><br />One final note: Chase and his district all got matching t-shirts and he sent us this picture. I love it! Look at my boy! I think he's lost about 30 pounds. He looks healthy and oh so happy. What a blessing a mission is! I miss him like crazy, but I wouldn't have him anywhere else. I LOVE MY CHILDREN!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AuEkPXNEEevUUjhbimF4yx7oV9a4ean13gZrNHZ8j3UQn-Vm3ipPceL9FDqhjwkT_U6dPL__yg8etJ2cWXOIUaYg9X604zNZfmeUqIyv-RIfyMZCNq8jiPxptyn2GEM6PavvrSuItcHK/s1600/Chase+June+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AuEkPXNEEevUUjhbimF4yx7oV9a4ean13gZrNHZ8j3UQn-Vm3ipPceL9FDqhjwkT_U6dPL__yg8etJ2cWXOIUaYg9X604zNZfmeUqIyv-RIfyMZCNq8jiPxptyn2GEM6PavvrSuItcHK/s400/Chase+June+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625370274561318850" /></a>Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-3516069950110312532011-07-03T21:11:00.000-07:002011-07-03T21:42:31.957-07:00May 2011May: the month of Isaiah's birthday and the month we're all tired of homeschooling and can't WAIT to be done. We set a goal to be done by the end of this month and Isaiah RACED through his work and finished by the end of the first week in May. Very impressive. Allegra worked steadily through May and finished just about everything by our goal date. I alternated between keeping Isaiah busy with non-school projects when he got bored enough to start BUGGING Allegra and I, and gently reminding Allegra of the school projects she still needed to finish. At the end of May we all breathed a sigh of relief. Cliff, meanwhile, is in the thick of finishing up all the internship paperwork for the 116 student interns that he places and supervises. He is counting the days until June 16th, when he'll be done and FREE for the summer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhto3pOfJ7N3wJOiUIP7Gv-QLmiNVdV2N-fH-e9SkTVOXd4Sxb0f6FZ57Ijar9Ol7Cc4q7oh2-Ib3CDkhGEtDyv5cbLJ86SwNTCxvg-n6HmcgvKAl4dxZjO3F7v6ZQwE8_tOfUdGoN6Gs/s1600/May+2011+CJ%2527s+weekly+menu.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhto3pOfJ7N3wJOiUIP7Gv-QLmiNVdV2N-fH-e9SkTVOXd4Sxb0f6FZ57Ijar9Ol7Cc4q7oh2-Ib3CDkhGEtDyv5cbLJ86SwNTCxvg-n6HmcgvKAl4dxZjO3F7v6ZQwE8_tOfUdGoN6Gs/s320/May+2011+CJ%2527s+weekly+menu.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625345385036191362" /></a><br />Every week, Cliff posts the menu. This week the kids shanghaied the menu board and wrote down what they'd LIKE to see on the menu. He retaliated with the menu you see here. Yum yum. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihchjwBgfAcobkqYAjdTe6XHw633wjYBjL4SqaQubYKKDzpwmvBnHvUpsvNQfDXH6VKRx52sZq9I7TvCTXj3j_lvA3PMP1w7_fF0nmCfjYOu5pEpIm-kOuD-9T7ktSrZ94cek4AR4FLi0z/s1600/May+2011+expedition+last+day.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihchjwBgfAcobkqYAjdTe6XHw633wjYBjL4SqaQubYKKDzpwmvBnHvUpsvNQfDXH6VKRx52sZq9I7TvCTXj3j_lvA3PMP1w7_fF0nmCfjYOu5pEpIm-kOuD-9T7ktSrZ94cek4AR4FLi0z/s320/May+2011+expedition+last+day.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625347242766294562" /></a> Our Expedition has been our dependable bus for 11 years now. We have put over 250,000 miles on it with our many driving trips here and there, often filling all 9 seats with family and friends. It has been comfortable and strong and we have loved it. But! It's aging and is developing problems that are not worth fixing. This month we have finally decided to get rid of it. So, good-bye to a wonderful car! For the next few months I'll drive Chase's car while we decide what to get to replace the Expedition. (Something that uses a LOT less gas, for sure!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RTmBUNDsmXOwyXxemczXksm57cgMqeHAU29Ek40e233gdbE5KRLewd6K6e6PxntFugj_3JTGQMNJcLdpphK36QzmVaP2jI4fvIm5JOwqaF9VljvRC1fXYM-AbUmyb4wNCuTQ6-UG6qkW/s1600/May+2011+red-headed+irishman+and+Zay.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RTmBUNDsmXOwyXxemczXksm57cgMqeHAU29Ek40e233gdbE5KRLewd6K6e6PxntFugj_3JTGQMNJcLdpphK36QzmVaP2jI4fvIm5JOwqaF9VljvRC1fXYM-AbUmyb4wNCuTQ6-UG6qkW/s320/May+2011+red-headed+irishman+and+Zay.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625348496725870162" /></a>Isaiah's "red-headed Irishman" blossoms. He takes such good care of these cacti!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTBPqDjeiTiAhlgLLQ1WiyKVPRyMW8wA8fLkqy7Xxm0ib80IvoYyQbIOiOoEFRtLagZkwehjgUQxcbDPFCg-eQPz1hY__JNCAqkJuMVFDV-eh8lWyQDSw3wLPBO66nGnbsw8vXah6vmgw/s1600/May+2011+watching+grandma+K+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTBPqDjeiTiAhlgLLQ1WiyKVPRyMW8wA8fLkqy7Xxm0ib80IvoYyQbIOiOoEFRtLagZkwehjgUQxcbDPFCg-eQPz1hY__JNCAqkJuMVFDV-eh8lWyQDSw3wLPBO66nGnbsw8vXah6vmgw/s320/May+2011+watching+grandma+K+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625348825050741330" /></a>My dearest grandma begins to fail. On this day we thought we were going to lose her, she seemed so absent from us. Mom called all the family and most of us gathered to say good-bye--one cousin even flew in late at night from Utah. By afternoon, Grandma was unresponsive to everything. This was all new to us. Early this month she went to the hospital with pneumonia, but she recovered! They discovered, though, that one of her lungs had collapsed and they told us that she would not live too much longer--it was inevitable, they said, that the other lung would slowly fill with liquid and she would slip away. They sent her home and put her on hospice care. But she seemed to rally! She was her old (post-stroke) self again and even started to regain some of her pre-pneumonia strength! But here, at the end of May, she dramatically began to fail. It was sad and stressful. On this Sunday, Grandma, before she became unresponsive, didn't want to be alone, so my momma and I sat with her. Here's Mom, slipping into a little nap by Grandma's bed. My beautiful mom. Losing her mother will be so difficult for her. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBAxlebpDm-FU_z2RzNYyFwwANUFc5YK7Lles4iekPu_iNnRfwENyVS3cEsJqNRYrsxCFwjjQnasKVmuf1cZLNG1ZnveEgVYWNYLOUghCbS9Td0dk0mkPDRsEJ6A9xNTXpQB8hlclClpp/s1600/May+2011+watching+grandma+Mom+sleeping.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBAxlebpDm-FU_z2RzNYyFwwANUFc5YK7Lles4iekPu_iNnRfwENyVS3cEsJqNRYrsxCFwjjQnasKVmuf1cZLNG1ZnveEgVYWNYLOUghCbS9Td0dk0mkPDRsEJ6A9xNTXpQB8hlclClpp/s200/May+2011+watching+grandma+Mom+sleeping.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625350174020552370" /></a>Happily (and surprisingly!), when Mom went in on Monday morning to check on Grandma, Grandma greeted her with a bright "hello!" Wow! We all expected that she wouldn't last the night, but there she was, back with us! We enjoyed her company all that day and she faded in and out of strength for the next few days. Finally on Thursday of that week Mom and Dad decided to get her to Colorado immediately. Colorado is her home and is where she wants to die. They loaded her and all her stuff (oxygen, meds, clothes, wheelchair, etc etc) into the car and drove straight through--18 hours--to Colorado where she perked up a little more. She was so glad to be home! The oxygen company and the hospice people made the switch from California to Colorado SO very easy! They are so wonderful! <br /><br />On a happier note, Isaiah turned 13!! I have no more little children in my immediate family--they are all teenagers or adults. I never imagined this day, and here it is--reality! Here is Isaiah with his birthday loot. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-F-ERsNwRnM3P_o7IqWzWJpgtWtjMQIsDOBTI6ku4nl2A5VOGS-n5kawmkBHS53pc3ryn5fJqJlgaslzmcpaGq5ZURxMwgUJlSBIIylwwq0aPGBocT32871C8bxRQpNjCai5NsRJUHUC/s1600/May+2011+Zay%2527s+b%2527day+loot.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-F-ERsNwRnM3P_o7IqWzWJpgtWtjMQIsDOBTI6ku4nl2A5VOGS-n5kawmkBHS53pc3ryn5fJqJlgaslzmcpaGq5ZURxMwgUJlSBIIylwwq0aPGBocT32871C8bxRQpNjCai5NsRJUHUC/s320/May+2011+Zay%2527s+b%2527day+loot.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625352049251464402" /></a><br /><br />And here is his birthday dessert: butter pecan ice cream pie with homemade praline topping. VERY sweet and rich. He loved it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLytFrK6FexeG1SbC5RIuEMMIwfNjaB87ROTDyjSxr6uEg7U3xcWNpe5foBs5c_HOcp4FMwICIKBH_Yg3U3BXbv2oZbu5z5bMJD-XfR9yGba0KqDm6oTU7n_HhrtcB67jG0j-QO7cqt06r/s1600/May+2011+Zay%2527s+b%2527day+pie.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLytFrK6FexeG1SbC5RIuEMMIwfNjaB87ROTDyjSxr6uEg7U3xcWNpe5foBs5c_HOcp4FMwICIKBH_Yg3U3BXbv2oZbu5z5bMJD-XfR9yGba0KqDm6oTU7n_HhrtcB67jG0j-QO7cqt06r/s320/May+2011+Zay%2527s+b%2527day+pie.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625352492105920242" /></a><br /><br />So May has been full of happy times, lots of schoolwork, and some worrisome and sad times with Grandma. I guess that's sort of what life is all about: happiness, hard work and some sadness too.Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-90912197030699407002011-06-20T21:45:00.000-07:002011-07-03T21:11:47.605-07:00March and April 2011I love the rain. I always have. So this spring was heavenly to me. Here's a bit of what went on for us this rainy spring:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv13LhO4JqTJJ1hGx8zk2rDW4HypVg2SH4n2IVDqx2dwdx3BiYyoUwd6C4JsnsuopdN-zvH6jyNn1zta3VfkVhAaUx61rRa0lz8fpAXmNlQTMPh4-LLO7oCKb6GJ70RhbV_jZx2ABNKC3/s1600/April+2011+airsoft+battle+3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv13LhO4JqTJJ1hGx8zk2rDW4HypVg2SH4n2IVDqx2dwdx3BiYyoUwd6C4JsnsuopdN-zvH6jyNn1zta3VfkVhAaUx61rRa0lz8fpAXmNlQTMPh4-LLO7oCKb6GJ70RhbV_jZx2ABNKC3/s400/April+2011+airsoft+battle+3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620532671676531394" /></a><br />Isaiah had a bunch of his friends from church over for an airsoft battle. Our yard is perfect for airsoft battles--lots of hills and open spaces. Isaiah and his cousin James set up various and assorted obstacles to be hidden behind. But it was really raining that day. I thought for sure they'd all want to cancel because of the rain. So muddy and wet outside!! But I forgot who I was dealing with: BOYS! They all showed up and my friend Jana and I decked them all out in garbage bags (the boys that had brought their own rain gear shucked that good stuff off in favor of the garbage bags--there's the herd mentality at work for you!) and they were off! I thought maybe they'd be out there for an hour at the most before they became uncomfortable and wished to move the party indoors. But no! They battled out there for HOURS. We provided pizza and cookies and drinks and the herd trampled in (into the GARAGE, mind you. I'm not a total martyr and I really hate cleaning muddy floors) and decimated the food in about 10 minutes. They had a lot of fun. They are a nice group of boys.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkssKltCIz0sekrmXdNI09OJQP6__itRqdkaKbC90PXXkPuVw_kwlgq_stetso3gl1vWNGGH7IyrEKWMAWPB4tkgMAMhn4JevW8Jbyt99aIGFvWRTN8H6aHargJ3AWlQ79AuqGxId5FPhn/s1600/April+2011+egg+hunt+Mom+and+Zay.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkssKltCIz0sekrmXdNI09OJQP6__itRqdkaKbC90PXXkPuVw_kwlgq_stetso3gl1vWNGGH7IyrEKWMAWPB4tkgMAMhn4JevW8Jbyt99aIGFvWRTN8H6aHargJ3AWlQ79AuqGxId5FPhn/s400/April+2011+egg+hunt+Mom+and+Zay.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625337238962255794" /></a> <br /><br />We had our Easter egg hunts: one in the daytime for the little kids and one at night for the older kids (with glow-in-the-dark eggs!). This hunt has sometimes included ALL the cousins--Cliff's side of the family and mine--but this year I decided not to plan the hunt. Mom was kind enough to include my kids in the hunt she planned for her local grandchildren. I did the traditional Easter basket hunt for my kids on Easter morning and Mom planned all the rest. Here she is with Isaiah. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskm265HjAgzoJthetNyiVTCzFcjzXz9IL6iuGf3RJlv6-0rc02qGtJk8RB3sIJShp4v27Ea1sWjPeiHuyMgDrsoBBFcKqPSyaqslEAz7sgYAIqULHIdXx4wOr04cR3Chj47dhSBnjrgrK/s1600/April+2011+Angelica.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskm265HjAgzoJthetNyiVTCzFcjzXz9IL6iuGf3RJlv6-0rc02qGtJk8RB3sIJShp4v27Ea1sWjPeiHuyMgDrsoBBFcKqPSyaqslEAz7sgYAIqULHIdXx4wOr04cR3Chj47dhSBnjrgrK/s200/April+2011+Angelica.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625338917299400578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckRM9kb3a1Z7VS4nom2Wr9e3DtNYbGm5sFzS8L4XU-66Z7KMT4_0WlVd18nhrR3V_2Ejs7e_mY75D1B2Kr-77HYEHMPFkY5dGtceoBmS_QOE7ScoK2Cx99NBG9IP-WoOw7EBByhJeqm4h/s1600/April+2011+egg+hunt+Seth+3.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckRM9kb3a1Z7VS4nom2Wr9e3DtNYbGm5sFzS8L4XU-66Z7KMT4_0WlVd18nhrR3V_2Ejs7e_mY75D1B2Kr-77HYEHMPFkY5dGtceoBmS_QOE7ScoK2Cx99NBG9IP-WoOw7EBByhJeqm4h/s200/April+2011+egg+hunt+Seth+3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625339272268243746" /></a><br /><br />My brother Gerald, who lives in Taiwan, came to visit with his wife, Frances, and their two kids Angelica and Seth. I love it when they come!! Here's lovely Angelica and cute Seth. Seth, by the way, has indulged in the pastime of picking up the airsoft bbs scattered across the yard--popular with the under 10 set. Here he is ooohing and aaahing over his collection.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5wjV6XDMPtSsvqsXPEB0ClCYwTMCkLsuPlrMKmitC1cFXL97LIzhw8v20xuMAcg2NoVA4CSI1gZAo1481jybOen2__seZwqiCIeW-JYO9eJp2f06syg85fUWmd39emmqPw0SAjnmuNXv/s1600/April+2011+Ben+and+compy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5wjV6XDMPtSsvqsXPEB0ClCYwTMCkLsuPlrMKmitC1cFXL97LIzhw8v20xuMAcg2NoVA4CSI1gZAo1481jybOen2__seZwqiCIeW-JYO9eJp2f06syg85fUWmd39emmqPw0SAjnmuNXv/s320/April+2011+Ben+and+compy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625340333416150658" /></a><br />At every family gathering--and I mean EVERY family gathering--this is what my baby brother Ben can be seen doing. He is always either on his phone, on the ipad or on the computer. How blessed he is to LOVE his job. I've started to take photos of him at each family thing with his nose in whatever electronic gadget he's brought.... Why can't I read my book at these family gatherings like he's allowed to play with his toys? Could this be a youngest child thing? Hmmmm....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lWmJbn1Zk8elNaJ9rautAPp_8ZOM7yFvBugtn_DmyeJHuJ2qjNpZEK5BD7Nd00hY-RUgwWnigfLsSXhQEVfwAsB5wFFl2zVBFLyKD9Pqkv32_hbQ4Vj5VrExkp-Sm7LkSIG4VJuufKOG/s1600/April+2011+Zay+gift+from+Chase.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lWmJbn1Zk8elNaJ9rautAPp_8ZOM7yFvBugtn_DmyeJHuJ2qjNpZEK5BD7Nd00hY-RUgwWnigfLsSXhQEVfwAsB5wFFl2zVBFLyKD9Pqkv32_hbQ4Vj5VrExkp-Sm7LkSIG4VJuufKOG/s200/April+2011+Zay+gift+from+Chase.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625342284959834082" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QkWr2AqR2fK6JAko9hUsNwfn_iheJQYG0dqrnVqyUzmiJfUfT2NDHYsbC646h0RCezMqaIX6_ZzRQoS1RF0ileVexKi9w55_QpBO1OHTQqAARlQC37gbBEAf9dguWaEVv6Fq4dc9FErj/s1600/April+2011+Zay+gift+for+Chase.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QkWr2AqR2fK6JAko9hUsNwfn_iheJQYG0dqrnVqyUzmiJfUfT2NDHYsbC646h0RCezMqaIX6_ZzRQoS1RF0ileVexKi9w55_QpBO1OHTQqAARlQC37gbBEAf9dguWaEVv6Fq4dc9FErj/s200/April+2011+Zay+gift+for+Chase.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625342830553662770" /></a>Isaiah got a birthday package from his brother Chase, who is on a mission in Boston. It's mostly edible, which is just what Isaiah likes. Chase is keeping in good touch with his little brother and I think Chase will always be Isaiah's favorite person in the world. Well, until a woman comes into the picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J4zaqPaJjxLXTRE-9G1Q2auKS7MicEx1lOL0zjGDeq0qeeapSAdC2fMQl8mDL6TE-gVMePdaqyuc_C8xARy_ftyIg6sD4CLrFxRwYqfD-Kyr7_k-bMwsDm86yB12gfHrkB8qTZoaSsFN/s1600/Brucie+April+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J4zaqPaJjxLXTRE-9G1Q2auKS7MicEx1lOL0zjGDeq0qeeapSAdC2fMQl8mDL6TE-gVMePdaqyuc_C8xARy_ftyIg6sD4CLrFxRwYqfD-Kyr7_k-bMwsDm86yB12gfHrkB8qTZoaSsFN/s320/Brucie+April+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625343601037056386" /></a> Finally, here's adorable baby Bruce, getting fatter and more squeezeable every day. Why is it adorable to be fat only when you're a baby? I don't know, but I love chubby babies! Bruce is Reed and Dorothy's youngest and he's a very good baby. We are all in love with him.<br /><br />It's been a wet and beautiful few months, full of family and activity. Just what we like!Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-46390821885460515692011-03-28T16:20:00.000-07:002011-07-05T17:59:01.064-07:00Winter 2011I love living here! I know I've said it bajillion times. Living in a more country setting has really changed something inside me. I feel more grateful for life. I feel more connected to nature. I feel deeply interested in what lives and grows outside. I feel more at peace. I am so grateful to live here! <br /><br />Here's the setting sun cradled in the cleft of the hills. What perfect placement! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ14nc1xTK-mqwomIWP4M5Qe74vxpyaLOa_M3FvbXuApYF6-8UgiYaQlIC_WUqYqgi8sXKX_1Ta_bnKANhywHkfRXknmSvCCDiVU8nhTm3H1RUOBaJBYZuHGRggessn2HGPh_nxlN4HvOd/s1600/February+and+March+2011+sunset+3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ14nc1xTK-mqwomIWP4M5Qe74vxpyaLOa_M3FvbXuApYF6-8UgiYaQlIC_WUqYqgi8sXKX_1Ta_bnKANhywHkfRXknmSvCCDiVU8nhTm3H1RUOBaJBYZuHGRggessn2HGPh_nxlN4HvOd/s320/February+and+March+2011+sunset+3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589279177308654978" /></a><br />So, here's some of what was going on around here for the last few months.<br /><br />Stuff we made:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHk7CWwAroLlmybuM4G1HjOGC3dR7SA17Nwhi8REJjNFu-0DlbZqqZERqUn7ynZyE2Skz6vV_LfGoM3TukBCpehblOnad9Njbja2Ey6QJ9843AD3vnAVgL_5dUcpMbZka1EyQqH5rrXlx/s1600/allegra+made+it+for+me.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHk7CWwAroLlmybuM4G1HjOGC3dR7SA17Nwhi8REJjNFu-0DlbZqqZERqUn7ynZyE2Skz6vV_LfGoM3TukBCpehblOnad9Njbja2Ey6QJ9843AD3vnAVgL_5dUcpMbZka1EyQqH5rrXlx/s320/allegra+made+it+for+me.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589275438439310642" /></a>Ally made cupcakes. Here's the one she decorated for me. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiva8NcBUtmpcpKT-TCN_TMR4kMiMG4wEnS8FRYdAq8wUxRtVjqPoOqm-cEJozSZbkizYEB3Glk_EgktRedFAVlu8qZgdBRtOG7XFC5x21Mja1bGmT7kpT3ZIzsXRieFvcZkp31qG_fwRPT/s1600/February+and+March+2011+polished+rocks.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiva8NcBUtmpcpKT-TCN_TMR4kMiMG4wEnS8FRYdAq8wUxRtVjqPoOqm-cEJozSZbkizYEB3Glk_EgktRedFAVlu8qZgdBRtOG7XFC5x21Mja1bGmT7kpT3ZIzsXRieFvcZkp31qG_fwRPT/s320/February+and+March+2011+polished+rocks.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589275890741087890" /></a>Cliff got a rock tumbler for Christmas. It's something he's been interested in for a long time--his Grandfather used to tumble rocks and make beautiful jewelry with the results. Here are some rocks somewhere in the middle of the polishing process.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiQlLEavgVlWL5y2hChyCzTpk8ECy7R-tSIZ_oOaM5AOjT5D0SuFkVPHnCB3guLwLmt0QrqmXIBifSTAVPm3UCFitfT1xmpqV9ShzXJ5RPLHVz8PTn7WWjCrOeKE76NDy4Rokvps6Xyw5/s1600/February+and+March+2011+arbor+II.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiQlLEavgVlWL5y2hChyCzTpk8ECy7R-tSIZ_oOaM5AOjT5D0SuFkVPHnCB3guLwLmt0QrqmXIBifSTAVPm3UCFitfT1xmpqV9ShzXJ5RPLHVz8PTn7WWjCrOeKE76NDy4Rokvps6Xyw5/s320/February+and+March+2011+arbor+II.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589276612775440162" /></a>Cliff made this arbor for our friends Vicki and Josh's wedding. It was our wedding gift to them--they plan to put it in their garden when they move into their first house. My Vicki planned the whole wedding herself--and she supervised every detail of it. Quite a feat! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6r_qZ_s3XjFDMIRaLe-1KahZquvmeScEISjfGeQcriR_7QXlv73mrt7OZxLYBm_GA6iQz1zKy7Zte8LJR5Jh6JXaZdPIntZkCKyC96DzK2IcWuA15Q8joqO7Z2EvVCdhbZaYjpwtOwxg0/s1600/February+and+March+2011+Isaiah%2527s+ice+cream+maker.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6r_qZ_s3XjFDMIRaLe-1KahZquvmeScEISjfGeQcriR_7QXlv73mrt7OZxLYBm_GA6iQz1zKy7Zte8LJR5Jh6JXaZdPIntZkCKyC96DzK2IcWuA15Q8joqO7Z2EvVCdhbZaYjpwtOwxg0/s320/February+and+March+2011+Isaiah%2527s+ice+cream+maker.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589282496452233010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOgUzAPz1Ps2TcF3wyTrBMJCjU_bWyiy-RzqCciOdk6XhArWaECmZCg3wTEQI3du3SZdYJQxJp1eZhdtGDHKzjK3WW3n4Z89CxeHtljDJWiy_POapPUCCIW37TyOOpwQKdnRCv5C5YoC-/s1600/February+and+March+2011+isaiah%2527s+ice+cream.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOgUzAPz1Ps2TcF3wyTrBMJCjU_bWyiy-RzqCciOdk6XhArWaECmZCg3wTEQI3du3SZdYJQxJp1eZhdtGDHKzjK3WW3n4Z89CxeHtljDJWiy_POapPUCCIW37TyOOpwQKdnRCv5C5YoC-/s200/February+and+March+2011+isaiah%2527s+ice+cream.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589306762351921442" /></a>Isaiah is really into making ice cream these days--he has one of those "ball" ice cream makers where you pour the stuff into it and roll it back and forth until the ice cream's all solid and delicious. It makes about a pint, which is perfect for sharing. He's made some really delicious combinations so far. <br /><br />Allegra's made tons of stuff, as usual, but I guess I'm so used to her extreme creativity that I fail to take pictures! I'm gonna right that wrong. She's very interested in selling her creations on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">etsy</a>. I told her that as soon as she perfects 10 things that are easy to reproduce, then we'd start an etsy shop. She's excited. I'll let you know when she's online.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVJbZ9eiuvWgI-k3n5L3rmWvLi5DI5zWrFjaD80ANcBJ6YhXBLcVVerT3xAg9dbtRFrlb4SE4WNq6ORgUL3tewCUzozlTSnY2awFrtoOkRKkPSP_ghIKPK0QZe4h6an2_ZxxIl2JmPg8F/s1600/February+and+March+2011+Bruce+4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVJbZ9eiuvWgI-k3n5L3rmWvLi5DI5zWrFjaD80ANcBJ6YhXBLcVVerT3xAg9dbtRFrlb4SE4WNq6ORgUL3tewCUzozlTSnY2awFrtoOkRKkPSP_ghIKPK0QZe4h6an2_ZxxIl2JmPg8F/s320/February+and+March+2011+Bruce+4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589284272393697970" /></a>Well, we didn't make this guy--but Reed and Dorothy did! This is Bruce Theodore Galbraith and he was born in January (on the 15th). He's SOOOO adorable. I just want to smell him and squeeze him. And then hand him back if he cries. Here he is with Allegra. He was blessed in church just yesterday. He's growing so fast. I think it's because he pretty much never stops eating. Maybe Dorothy will have ONE child who's not a skinny little thing. So far Bruce is going the right way to tank-hood. Or would that be tank-dom. Whatever it is, he is a.dor.a.ble. Think he and Carmen high-fived as he was walking out Heaven's door? It's a nice thought, isn't it.<br /><br /><br />Creatures we encountered:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJFtYUuqdEQpe_TInUKvZUcTIfwK6otnCe2m8elQDCu2yNJsrvofYBSVtNhH6LCZb5fngSF579VDqqG-nVA3mL28agwiFZHJuyf3JlrRVjhZN5w2e7XNYgP4D8VXhgH19G1cSaSC3aXuD/s1600/Tangie%2527s+back+where+she+belongs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJFtYUuqdEQpe_TInUKvZUcTIfwK6otnCe2m8elQDCu2yNJsrvofYBSVtNhH6LCZb5fngSF579VDqqG-nVA3mL28agwiFZHJuyf3JlrRVjhZN5w2e7XNYgP4D8VXhgH19G1cSaSC3aXuD/s320/Tangie%2527s+back+where+she+belongs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589285608278367266" /></a>Tangerine was caught trespassing on my neighbor's roof and earned herself a trip to the slammer. I had to bail her out to the tune of $45. Boy did that make me mad. Paying for my own cat!! Questions I asked: why didn't my neighbor think to call me? Why are people at animal shelters and vets so unnaturally obsessed with the personification of pets? Why must I feel like a criminal because my cat gets lost? Epithets I'd like to scream: Well, on second thought, let's skip those. Anyway, here she is, back where she belongs (cuddling up with her sister, Cherry). Was she glad to see us? No. Was she grateful for her rescue? Not hardly. Cuz, see, she's a cat. Yeah. But! We're glad to have her back anyway!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5tWb-yWKWG9DC5Net8ya1Si0vnJyWOGMUsdGs5uVupI9XjMaXrMvZSsXaE-UiSgQ289k8vmPMkzo-bNLF-h0V5YA3cQ3yLiCu8SK-jEz9YRd-qQtBdOsYUUs3bnfIrDXBX4U0KW9nVUW/s1600/shameless.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5tWb-yWKWG9DC5Net8ya1Si0vnJyWOGMUsdGs5uVupI9XjMaXrMvZSsXaE-UiSgQ289k8vmPMkzo-bNLF-h0V5YA3cQ3yLiCu8SK-jEz9YRd-qQtBdOsYUUs3bnfIrDXBX4U0KW9nVUW/s320/shameless.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589287550632487714" /></a> A blatant invitation. Yes, love has been in season at my house. This has involved, yowling, spraying, posing, moaning and assuming "the position". And that was just Cliff! hahahahaha. I couldn't resist it. Just kidding. Anyway, the girls were hungry and the boy was willing and it was our job to maintain everybody's high standards until a couple of spays were accomplished. Hundreds of dollars and a fun and punitive trip to the vet later, the girls are safe and the boy is forever frustrated. At least with my girls he is. He can sow his wild oats elsewhere. I'm so glad THAT'S all over. Now all the cats are outside cats. My rodent-catching team is springing into action!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAesss6WA1JaIvHUbnVcWVb_kdw630bh6Al28gjPIWGoirIJff4IT1X3SHSjn_4y4rJFyIN1W3tGOxknu7rHQNVALZ7rcIpw3RcQhDKn14vJPOf8zNI-tkyG19apTl_vS8_1PjaxfXLWt5/s1600/Lily%2527s+gopher.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAesss6WA1JaIvHUbnVcWVb_kdw630bh6Al28gjPIWGoirIJff4IT1X3SHSjn_4y4rJFyIN1W3tGOxknu7rHQNVALZ7rcIpw3RcQhDKn14vJPOf8zNI-tkyG19apTl_vS8_1PjaxfXLWt5/s320/Lily%2527s+gopher.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589289030871253906" /></a> Speaking of which, here's Lily with a HUGE gopher she caught. It must have been a bigger portion than she could eat, cuz she took a few bites and set the leftovers aside for later. And, typically, someone else ate them before she could (I hate that! "Where are those leftovers from the restaurant last night?" "Oh, Dad had them for breakfast!" "DARN!"). Some daring vulture came and carried off the remains for his dining pleasure. Go team!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5lTjK48P1iKzZ4dWnUzKEMAUoBUgZb_29g3jeuIOF9n-D6m0KrFMHm2MWYtAYf0CfnnPZI_w1RY2BuU9Vx6prPm48ODrRkV2ENyRVlGYatJ6BvG2YAvMyRTdnYwDH4kt7_peNbYMrnoM/s1600/IMG00081-20110307-1618.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5lTjK48P1iKzZ4dWnUzKEMAUoBUgZb_29g3jeuIOF9n-D6m0KrFMHm2MWYtAYf0CfnnPZI_w1RY2BuU9Vx6prPm48ODrRkV2ENyRVlGYatJ6BvG2YAvMyRTdnYwDH4kt7_peNbYMrnoM/s320/IMG00081-20110307-1618.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589290616614600258" /></a> We went to Seacliff beach in March with our great friends the Evans. I love the beach in winter! It's so different from the summer beach, and often the weather is more pleasant than it would be in summer too! This year there were tons of these little jellies washed up on the beach. The kids rifled through the recycling bins and pulled out cups and bottles to fill with ocean water and little jellies. They were so cool to watch!! The Evans took them back to their beach house for the night and released them back into the ocean (from the pier) the next morning. They were still blooping away! <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EgK0yB9GUZBKC_rhHLIHmw0vMPmGERacUW0qQmSzjwVbiAW3x0iz5az1b61T_psKoTpbOosmSoNeLut2g23epzhAHPrtlVhi8Vy3A6Fxv4cOSd39tqT_aVSPQ6IJWqQxE8zr10It34pp/s1600/February+and+March+2011+Isaiah%2527s+cacti.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EgK0yB9GUZBKC_rhHLIHmw0vMPmGERacUW0qQmSzjwVbiAW3x0iz5az1b61T_psKoTpbOosmSoNeLut2g23epzhAHPrtlVhi8Vy3A6Fxv4cOSd39tqT_aVSPQ6IJWqQxE8zr10It34pp/s200/February+and+March+2011+Isaiah%2527s+cacti.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589296008845908194" /></a>Do cacti count as "creatures" (what a wonderfully alliterative sentence!)? Here is Isaiah's cactus collection. He is so into these spiny plants--he checks their water levels, he keeps watering calendars, he monitors their growth, he scours the plant shops for more.... pretty cool, eh? <br /><br />Me:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vwmY6Q3XpR5_HLJNZwCH2kg-n1CZ4oEa5j5u09-Yx0HVyZlzvOuf5GYFVmyaPMVphMnW_vCN7h-SPg6N5v1qiomnIhGGxoA-xciezqGt90USe2nYlmQbeGv-WWQ5MdIBIip35kX8I2WR/s1600/in+Pleasant+Hill.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vwmY6Q3XpR5_HLJNZwCH2kg-n1CZ4oEa5j5u09-Yx0HVyZlzvOuf5GYFVmyaPMVphMnW_vCN7h-SPg6N5v1qiomnIhGGxoA-xciezqGt90USe2nYlmQbeGv-WWQ5MdIBIip35kX8I2WR/s200/in+Pleasant+Hill.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589292568061264114" /></a>I found my street! It's in Pleasant Hill. Shall we move, do you think?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_T7NFpIf-kzbIpfZS8LWz7cuhNq2ZE9aGTnBfiVOLTbxZzfcs-u7-689g7KX3h2cJk-BRo1Exj5DhQtzur_uwuQZ3vBIFbLfZDz8mdoggCz9frmR8A_09RtOtlpm99HsLw5E18fHIKIC/s1600/IMG00091-20110310-1646.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_T7NFpIf-kzbIpfZS8LWz7cuhNq2ZE9aGTnBfiVOLTbxZzfcs-u7-689g7KX3h2cJk-BRo1Exj5DhQtzur_uwuQZ3vBIFbLfZDz8mdoggCz9frmR8A_09RtOtlpm99HsLw5E18fHIKIC/s200/IMG00091-20110310-1646.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589293280772847122" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;"></span>I looove shopping. And I'm addicted to "the deal". My philosophy is: if it's not on sale, it's not worth it. This is closely related to the "if it's cheap, it's good" idea or the "if it's under $10 I'll love it no matter what color it is" school of thought. Cuz my idea of a sale is not the same as some other people's ideas of a sale. If it's not less than $20, I don't think it can be considered a "deal". If it's less than $10 and it looks good on me, I'll be floating out of the store amid a choir of hallelujah angels. This wool pea coat was $15 at Old Navy. Sigh. Nirvana.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfGVZORFpuNVqHN4DgAI1I0CM0grlVBY52fD8Pmvd957cEUZcStQl9AIBWh24vTL3ylU45trJt7umxytOjy2K8Cz2XTpgAl8DVN1NNNYwIRbAOWIxL0UZf8YoRUTmFHe206xz_lcMLoYy/s1600/smoothie%2521.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfGVZORFpuNVqHN4DgAI1I0CM0grlVBY52fD8Pmvd957cEUZcStQl9AIBWh24vTL3ylU45trJt7umxytOjy2K8Cz2XTpgAl8DVN1NNNYwIRbAOWIxL0UZf8YoRUTmFHe206xz_lcMLoYy/s200/smoothie%2521.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589294320874484146" /></a>I'm trying really hard to improve our eating habits. I have always considered myself a "healthy" eater, but I'm starting to be more observant and honest with myself. I do really like healthy foods but I don't think we've been eating them nearly as much as I've been imagining that we do. And I worry. So we've been making some changes and smoothies like this are part of those changes. We have smoothies every morning now for breakfast. They look so beautiful layered in the blender like this! Of course, once you blend it all up, that lovely spinach turns everything kind of... well, not so attractive a color. But so delicious! Just one step on a better path for us, I hope.Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-65459647785519404052011-02-28T08:33:00.000-08:002011-02-28T08:43:03.973-08:00I Miss My Girl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg061WQ7x6n_DDheCIsMV5HCW0pzRU4sQ_IcgWvKPh8vzESeKeDfCWwzHLQKQefLYmTNcBl2r-w4xJNf8M44iAKVQWNd1UV1cL5fpwHfMqbvupsL5bKIQhwT5bIT3c-AnXmSKZswNpsp7Tk/s1600/October+2010+012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg061WQ7x6n_DDheCIsMV5HCW0pzRU4sQ_IcgWvKPh8vzESeKeDfCWwzHLQKQefLYmTNcBl2r-w4xJNf8M44iAKVQWNd1UV1cL5fpwHfMqbvupsL5bKIQhwT5bIT3c-AnXmSKZswNpsp7Tk/s400/October+2010+012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578781057773286386" /></a><br /><br />I miss Rayne! There is no woman who knows me better and is more accepting of me than my daughter. She listens, she laughs in all the right places, she smiles, she makes thought-out comments and she makes it clear that she loves me no matter how stupid I think I am. I miss her!Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-58452929570383035312011-01-10T17:15:00.000-08:002011-01-10T20:13:08.709-08:00December 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6p9g4naXjEKDjOa5ktHkW5NyxtkJ8fxyjxQ4otjn8ts51DSPEEeW16XQYSp-DBSGaBTR1qqG3xQoEpUp7zEAF4Fi2rikIetNS-o6n1c6iw-VX3q1YtzTgB4KLu41S_DW-Ni-WuJ7Oth6/s1600/12-25-2010+C%2527mas+morn+fog+lifting.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6p9g4naXjEKDjOa5ktHkW5NyxtkJ8fxyjxQ4otjn8ts51DSPEEeW16XQYSp-DBSGaBTR1qqG3xQoEpUp7zEAF4Fi2rikIetNS-o6n1c6iw-VX3q1YtzTgB4KLu41S_DW-Ni-WuJ7Oth6/s320/12-25-2010+C%2527mas+morn+fog+lifting.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560762091777930786" border="0"></a><br />So, here starts the craziness. <br /><br />We decorate.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2NIxWB6AIYpIlXODuHgyh-ySDegazsvCpDvI_387WyLftoVyJRTv87Wpd6WX1q-ESm37iQmZq9Y5FIhJ7TrtuFPGOz6v4BIlQ9GRCPY9n50kC5jbbUNX4NnhLM0gPoAr7ReYs9eM2tyK/s1600/12-11-2010+Christmas+decor+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2NIxWB6AIYpIlXODuHgyh-ySDegazsvCpDvI_387WyLftoVyJRTv87Wpd6WX1q-ESm37iQmZq9Y5FIhJ7TrtuFPGOz6v4BIlQ9GRCPY9n50kC5jbbUNX4NnhLM0gPoAr7ReYs9eM2tyK/s320/12-11-2010+Christmas+decor+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560769541438484210" border="0"></a><br /><br />We hang the stockings, not quite "by the chimney with care", but on the stair case carefully with ribbons. Is that poetic?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC3IHrAs9XARXv3W5yceSD9CYCaLlh_N24ubw7onMhLaAfKXKZnsLDP6LeKKHdhLNk4JIC9KyL-ZHKaMGZ5mNWWV5FHlxr19lixKTHuS_Ur6D5pS7T8Ya40AqvgLiKW-oo7cHUKhhSN89/s1600/12-11-2010+Christmas+decor+5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC3IHrAs9XARXv3W5yceSD9CYCaLlh_N24ubw7onMhLaAfKXKZnsLDP6LeKKHdhLNk4JIC9KyL-ZHKaMGZ5mNWWV5FHlxr19lixKTHuS_Ur6D5pS7T8Ya40AqvgLiKW-oo7cHUKhhSN89/s320/12-11-2010+Christmas+decor+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560769943913739058" border="0"></a><br /><br />We find the best deal on a live tree, buy it--no chopping this year--bring it home and trim it. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ13jj0q2SUkVVCzoMokVilov74Me1VDZhX47GUifU89gS9tHpATbcWEmkwhtlw3gZ1zBw8iy0EqI7pQ4nluW2o7OIKzGQQCIto7na-IkqY4DtA_wTWSEx8nlwNC3Lv_00beEwrrAuLFB/s1600/12-11-2010+Christmas+tree.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ13jj0q2SUkVVCzoMokVilov74Me1VDZhX47GUifU89gS9tHpATbcWEmkwhtlw3gZ1zBw8iy0EqI7pQ4nluW2o7OIKzGQQCIto7na-IkqY4DtA_wTWSEx8nlwNC3Lv_00beEwrrAuLFB/s320/12-11-2010+Christmas+tree.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560736118823516050" border="0"></a><br /><br />The kitties especially like the tree.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-hb0LSVf_grE102cB-brlK3dwZf2WnoBvHPDM6nS-tUs2om3IcEM21y6CjDsz4vXb7HPhGMjwkj-rbyPVKOD1MJ6y25fRxx0y8gZDwEPeVN8c2bSeWARJuB4QPhAqidqlECZuUN6kTA8/s1600/12-5-2010+kitties+under+the+tree.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-hb0LSVf_grE102cB-brlK3dwZf2WnoBvHPDM6nS-tUs2om3IcEM21y6CjDsz4vXb7HPhGMjwkj-rbyPVKOD1MJ6y25fRxx0y8gZDwEPeVN8c2bSeWARJuB4QPhAqidqlECZuUN6kTA8/s320/12-5-2010+kitties+under+the+tree.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560744201505848610" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br />We begin our "12 Days of Christmas" on the 14th. On each of the 12 days leading up to Christmas we do something as a family. <br /><br />We mark Cliff's custom-made scripture chain in our scriptures and pop Christmas crackers. We agree that the crowns are the best part!<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKD7QdS3sS9h4g_KAJ2obVDZmSMskK_CJAAt6q2dNOEAy4sJVsqJmCKdUIsYunHnV-febsW4W99D69uwFX2JRgIRe8rt7Db2nTGwLwC2bDKkNOJ_1jZPbZr3M0HlDRlOZVaq6TYLKjiwD/s1600/12-14-2010+poppers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKD7QdS3sS9h4g_KAJ2obVDZmSMskK_CJAAt6q2dNOEAy4sJVsqJmCKdUIsYunHnV-febsW4W99D69uwFX2JRgIRe8rt7Db2nTGwLwC2bDKkNOJ_1jZPbZr3M0HlDRlOZVaq6TYLKjiwD/s320/12-14-2010+poppers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560744708234418434" border="0"></a><br /><br />Years ago we decided to try and make our Christmases more meaningful. This is when we started our "12 Days of Christmas". Another of our decisions at this time was to have fewer gifts--only 3 modest gifts for each person. And we decided to spread the gifts out so we could have time to enjoy each one. So 2 of our "12 Days" preceding Christmas are gift days. Our final gift day is Christmas day itself. Here is Isaiah on one of our gift days. He gets a few more cacti to add to his collection.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoEkazkfoxcBEgQfp9ggHsiySHIzcnOlhTyVZcgw1doDKWJa3Vie7-2XV7GxbtnTmvDsyr1GMgd8wYvhShpNEj95JmgKUI2Sm61nppSV34III-xSi9WaEp4y8atalB8jCP5tRBUEywghh/s1600/12-15-2010+gift+day+Isaiah+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoEkazkfoxcBEgQfp9ggHsiySHIzcnOlhTyVZcgw1doDKWJa3Vie7-2XV7GxbtnTmvDsyr1GMgd8wYvhShpNEj95JmgKUI2Sm61nppSV34III-xSi9WaEp4y8atalB8jCP5tRBUEywghh/s320/12-15-2010+gift+day+Isaiah+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560745539111784818" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br />One peaceful evening I tried to catch this magnificent sunset with my camera. It was breathtaking.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-bO1yueKbdfiMNMHfcPYj8yEIFr640e5r8m7XwrkBF_3oHXbwa_FeFVSd1O3CbtseguFGVCffrVaJesRj7XmCt2C-Q1fkItDObWicT9COu7-ioHMEkS7kb3ccjpfNFLsQXVfxMYzOiBC/s1600/12-7-2010+sunset+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-bO1yueKbdfiMNMHfcPYj8yEIFr640e5r8m7XwrkBF_3oHXbwa_FeFVSd1O3CbtseguFGVCffrVaJesRj7XmCt2C-Q1fkItDObWicT9COu7-ioHMEkS7kb3ccjpfNFLsQXVfxMYzOiBC/s320/12-7-2010+sunset+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560746244515410274" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br /><br />For one of our "12 Days", we made the trip to Temple Hill to watch my mom and dad perform in the Nutcracker. Our good friend Rachel Tan spearheaded this amazing project: a free performance of the Nutcracker. She runs a dance school and her students were to be the performers, so we were all prepared for an amateur performance. But this Nutcracker was absolutely beautiful. It was an incredible treat. THANK YOU, Rachel. My Mom and Dad were the Grandparents of Clara. Here's a video (very small cuz it's off my phone--sorry!) of Dad doing the Grandfather Dance. Love it!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzC9nmfJ6InEYs7TD4C_3YA2rpqgPB0reUTZreAOOm33n_CCXGP4Lf-DMHMcpV14rwlpceDIs2NaEWX6c5vWQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br />We made gingerbread houses with all the local cousins. I don't make a house myself anymore, I just sneak candy out of the candy bowls and end up feeling a little queasy by the end of the afternoon. Here is Ally and Zay's house.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN2pY4Rh9-T1xJloXeFbDY4J2Mt3GClXywDgbvKQe-oyT_NVokfuNY-81kDP9hKuqMsFRTPfBTGj1SQCvnNtTbD9NqJlqlVs9b0I5gF687E_uVD5RXdKaFucXRG6AQWsPOGz9JuZqgHKc/s1600/12-23-2010+gingerbread+Ally+and+Zay%2527s.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN2pY4Rh9-T1xJloXeFbDY4J2Mt3GClXywDgbvKQe-oyT_NVokfuNY-81kDP9hKuqMsFRTPfBTGj1SQCvnNtTbD9NqJlqlVs9b0I5gF687E_uVD5RXdKaFucXRG6AQWsPOGz9JuZqgHKc/s320/12-23-2010+gingerbread+Ally+and+Zay%2527s.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560749982592029666" border="0"></a><br /><br />Here's the cook. For the last 6 or 7 years, he's made actual gingerbread cookie houses. Well, he bakes the walls and the roof (not too soft, but not too hard either) and the kids glue them together with white chocolate (YUM) and decorate them with candy. This year I bought a gingerbread house cake mold and he baked delicious gingerbread cake houses. I think they look great and taste even better than the gingerbread cookie houses did. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvRPUcFGS83P6_84vHeBv2VZtyjxfDvwaoen8iiL-IyRJzNhyvyIDIDBIsNeSsw0WBlma8p4buHBNjwJMBgefywOPmwUEbo_fexAla48tMkFw3RgNq4MGQgG1YRH-DDrFB2sPYwLpMPS0/s1600/12-23-2010+gingerbread+Cliff.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvRPUcFGS83P6_84vHeBv2VZtyjxfDvwaoen8iiL-IyRJzNhyvyIDIDBIsNeSsw0WBlma8p4buHBNjwJMBgefywOPmwUEbo_fexAla48tMkFw3RgNq4MGQgG1YRH-DDrFB2sPYwLpMPS0/s320/12-23-2010+gingerbread+Cliff.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560751113759990402" border="0"></a><br /><br />Rayne works like crazy to top off her savings in preparation to supporting herself AND her new car at school. She also buys great gifts for everyone since she has such a generous budget! Very nice! (p.s. She knows JUST what I like!!) I'm indebted to my good husband, whose family traditions included the kids buying gifts for their parents and for each other with money they saved up themselves. He passed that tradition down to our children. My kids are very good at this. They save for months beforehand and choose carefully in order to please everyone. I love this! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTUdrz9bJ_9qbhNOMqQ88wR4EMl7TWRsMe7ix8ejCJ2S16wIg6UL36Mj04mY5yLjKwqkESBSYjjw9Xl2s9vI5MOyv4Os-uo8EpAM2lPN1gplkIb1FR_U0RVwHS3TlQbLo0eQSXF1dZtWz/s1600/12-23-2010+gingerbread+Rayne.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTUdrz9bJ_9qbhNOMqQ88wR4EMl7TWRsMe7ix8ejCJ2S16wIg6UL36Mj04mY5yLjKwqkESBSYjjw9Xl2s9vI5MOyv4Os-uo8EpAM2lPN1gplkIb1FR_U0RVwHS3TlQbLo0eQSXF1dZtWz/s320/12-23-2010+gingerbread+Rayne.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560751909177474242" border="0"></a><br /><br />And, oh gosh. Is that cat sucking on someone again? On his EAR? Weird.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6g_DwG160dl-keFLXz5u66Guf310etv0blI7RliDKxSk6dUV9ZBeTotYXZKq4uilG6T214R73dSMXe2Xys_EVtfvqZi1-xm5-EVu8THa-JgxIFlIsmKcu0EC8-k1S4jvEOmOoT3mqex5i/s1600/12-20-2010+Boston+sucking.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6g_DwG160dl-keFLXz5u66Guf310etv0blI7RliDKxSk6dUV9ZBeTotYXZKq4uilG6T214R73dSMXe2Xys_EVtfvqZi1-xm5-EVu8THa-JgxIFlIsmKcu0EC8-k1S4jvEOmOoT3mqex5i/s320/12-20-2010+Boston+sucking.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560752485757766034" border="0"></a><br /><br />Some other of our 12 days that aren't pictured:<br />Bethlehem dinner (headdresses mandatory, eating utensils NOT), baking day, nativity day.... So many traditions, so little time. Sigh.<br /><br />Christmas morning dawned beautifully foggy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOIO7QwrBOPNJ8nNRhXsRZJ6siV_HOdO8JkbhGqcktcLodFFMUzLfTzeoau0edq9_hmb547igHK2gr6Htq5tcRTZk_gs3BrJHLqUKStnLEAgQGi89flgcOJnDnkcarAcaO8jEUVydmM_W/s1600/12-25-2010+C%2527mas+morning.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOIO7QwrBOPNJ8nNRhXsRZJ6siV_HOdO8JkbhGqcktcLodFFMUzLfTzeoau0edq9_hmb547igHK2gr6Htq5tcRTZk_gs3BrJHLqUKStnLEAgQGi89flgcOJnDnkcarAcaO8jEUVydmM_W/s320/12-25-2010+C%2527mas+morning.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560759462645152162" border="0"></a><br />I love the fog. It makes me feel so cozy, so enclosed in my warm, safe house. <br /><br />As usual, we waited for Rayne....then opened our presents, then looked in our stockings, then played with our presents. All in the quiet before the chaos of our Galbraith family Christmas was to descend....<br /><br />And before they come, the fog begins quietly to lift.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6p9g4naXjEKDjOa5ktHkW5NyxtkJ8fxyjxQ4otjn8ts51DSPEEeW16XQYSp-DBSGaBTR1qqG3xQoEpUp7zEAF4Fi2rikIetNS-o6n1c6iw-VX3q1YtzTgB4KLu41S_DW-Ni-WuJ7Oth6/s1600/12-25-2010+C%2527mas+morn+fog+lifting.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6p9g4naXjEKDjOa5ktHkW5NyxtkJ8fxyjxQ4otjn8ts51DSPEEeW16XQYSp-DBSGaBTR1qqG3xQoEpUp7zEAF4Fi2rikIetNS-o6n1c6iw-VX3q1YtzTgB4KLu41S_DW-Ni-WuJ7Oth6/s320/12-25-2010+C%2527mas+morn+fog+lifting.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560762091777930786" border="0"></a><br /><br />We also got to talk to Chase on the phone. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJrk3WXe1M8n14w5Csz8Lr1VnOy6OwmCdij11ghtREC4WE0SnRBJZNXhYdAQGk0wkdPLqsJ2q_PyabI8z3nfhOS-Bpa-XtXNfey-hqMVWntFoZ5lY8DLvVZJaqHtmHEoKuRKWItDboi_c/s1600/12-25-2010+talking+to+Chase+Rayne.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJrk3WXe1M8n14w5Csz8Lr1VnOy6OwmCdij11ghtREC4WE0SnRBJZNXhYdAQGk0wkdPLqsJ2q_PyabI8z3nfhOS-Bpa-XtXNfey-hqMVWntFoZ5lY8DLvVZJaqHtmHEoKuRKWItDboi_c/s320/12-25-2010+talking+to+Chase+Rayne.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560760973994222386" border="0"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GOXv9GmmyBRUHhusj7NMDvPNHO_K-dmCwKUACh_sijdLLGbaznFP4ABEBmckOVckAUq0VBYO44O9eYatOPXGec8bbHoowgb4jJhL9EEl2v3Pr_siab6S1socDR1WDmd3yUKLkB-UW7ML/s1600/12-25-2010+talking+to+Chase+Zay.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GOXv9GmmyBRUHhusj7NMDvPNHO_K-dmCwKUACh_sijdLLGbaznFP4ABEBmckOVckAUq0VBYO44O9eYatOPXGec8bbHoowgb4jJhL9EEl2v3Pr_siab6S1socDR1WDmd3yUKLkB-UW7ML/s320/12-25-2010+talking+to+Chase+Zay.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560761457315531186" border="0"></a><br />That was really fun. He was very careful about not going over his time. He and his companion are very committed to being as obedient as possible--wonderful! I was worried I might feel sad after talking to him, but after we hung up, I felt a only little lump of tears in my throat which quickly melted. He's right where he should be. <br /><br />It was a wonderful Christmas. <br /><br />I ended the season doing something that was a real challenge for me. I was invited to join a piano performance group. 4 of us play on 2 grand pianos. We're called "8 Hands, 2 Grands of Pleasanton". Of course my first reaction to this invitation was "Who ME???" I was very excited. And hopeful that I could actually DO it! After many weeks of practice, both with the group and MANY hours of practice at home, we performed on Temple Hill on the 26th. I must confess that for many years I have been petrified of playing the piano in front of people. I have played in public many times, mostly accompanying singers or other musicians. Sometimes I can play flawlessly, sometimes my nerves grip me so hard that it seems I cannot play anything right! For the past 2 years when I play for the Temple Hill Quartet at Christmas time, I have felt this terrible paralysis. After last year's performances, I set a goal to overcome this. I prayed regularly about it. I wrote down, posted and repeated positive affirmations about my competence and confidence on the piano. I studied piano technique and theory books. I practiced so many hours. I hoped I was putting in my best effort at getting better and that the Lord would make up the rest for me. "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:24) On the night of the performance, my husband gave me a Priesthood blessing. He blessed me not to feel nervous. The time of the performance came. I felt no nervousness. I certainly did not play flawlessly, none of us did--we sounded great all the same, I think. And I felt so JOYFUL! It was so much fun! I was so grateful for absence of that terrible paralyzing fear that has caused me so much trouble over the years. What a blessing that was. I hope I've left that fear behind me forever. I find such happiness in playing the piano--whether I'm performing in a group like this one or whether I'm accompanying children singing, it doesn't matter! Finally I felt like I was able to feel that happiness actually DURING a performance. A personal milestone. And really, so much fun too! It was a beautiful way for me to close this season during which we pay special attention to our Savior. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWE0hn0TE9zqcjZV1h9iOnv3JZheu-Df-usFBa_Wkq7wGbE9EohxbEgfmqHGt_fqd9urT1Oe1PsNMjO7ou34aoNxlW33pP9_R6J6CZbspMhlhy4llN46D2JViqgDsuERjIWonXxPBTTDaX/s1600/12-26-2010+8+Hands+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWE0hn0TE9zqcjZV1h9iOnv3JZheu-Df-usFBa_Wkq7wGbE9EohxbEgfmqHGt_fqd9urT1Oe1PsNMjO7ou34aoNxlW33pP9_R6J6CZbspMhlhy4llN46D2JViqgDsuERjIWonXxPBTTDaX/s320/12-26-2010+8+Hands+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560766119026626418" border="0"></a><br />Allison, Andy, Kathy and me--8 Hands, 2 Grands (of Pleasanton)!<br /><br />So much stuff packed into one short month. It's been a bit of a marathon. I've loved almost all of it. And I'm looking forward to the new year ahead of us. What a beautiful life.Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-41336941496525523742011-01-10T16:27:00.000-08:002011-01-10T17:24:38.708-08:00November 2010I've decided I have about the ugliest blog ever. But do you think I can figure out how to change my page? Nope. I'm gonna keep on working on it, though. Eventually I'll get it.<br /><br />I love November. It might be my favorite month of the year. Fall is firmly established, the weather is cooling down, we get a whole week of vacation from school (which means Cliff's on break too since he's teaching these days!). I love the Fall decorations in my house. I love all the fallen leaves outside. Christmas is close enough to be exciting, but far enough away to appear less stressful. Thanksgiving happens--I think it might be my favorite holiday--and we celebrate a most meaningful and possibly the least commercialized holiday all year (4th of July is almost as good except that here in CA we have no idea how to celebrate it cuz we're dumb that way). <br /><br />November pics:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbSYVeLB4ocKXCC4texDbbO7ojJK2kkOIga3496Oire5fk3rOvuRnmyzXjOJhrq4sdwc-LRX3n8KHYag-vGoyed0ejUtXKFVojc4-YEVlLCw-aNOpwU8WdfqUzFUGFixiHnHp6H89wrXE/s1600/11-17-2010+deer+right+outside+our+door.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbSYVeLB4ocKXCC4texDbbO7ojJK2kkOIga3496Oire5fk3rOvuRnmyzXjOJhrq4sdwc-LRX3n8KHYag-vGoyed0ejUtXKFVojc4-YEVlLCw-aNOpwU8WdfqUzFUGFixiHnHp6H89wrXE/s320/11-17-2010+deer+right+outside+our+door.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560720155265883218" /></a><br />Will I ever get tired of taking pictures of the deer that come right up to our door almost? I guess I'll get tired of it when I stop feeling amazed at seeing these graceful, lovely creatures up close. We've been here almost 4 years and it's still: "Shhh! Come here! Look at this! Don't scare them! How many can you see? I can't believe they come so close!", every time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzrrSfVyeP51trvX1-qfCmYnh3s7SUQlyKVH7qom0hLwn6ng7XOYMB4FkqMgdlaLnwPbKWLx30uEhkX9CnEZelbVmSaAHYTUqpTDMloebyqxx1Jp7tNc97z40vqcCuCJtkmIwC35lAVQs/s1600/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving+Dad.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzrrSfVyeP51trvX1-qfCmYnh3s7SUQlyKVH7qom0hLwn6ng7XOYMB4FkqMgdlaLnwPbKWLx30uEhkX9CnEZelbVmSaAHYTUqpTDMloebyqxx1Jp7tNc97z40vqcCuCJtkmIwC35lAVQs/s320/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving+Dad.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560722114846343266" /></a><br />My Daddy in the kitchen. <br /><br /><br />Early in the month, we made the Thanksgiving plan with my mom and dad. We wrote down what we would make for THE dinner, and we noted WHO would make it. My super-organized dad produced a spreadsheet for distribution. Shopping was done. Preparations were made. Generally, Cliff cooks tons of good things and Mom cooks tons of good things, with Dad and I as occasional contributors (this year I made the rolls). This year, however, poor Momma was sick on Thanksgiving! And whatever she had, Allegra had too! So my dad made all the Thanksgiving food that Mom was gonna make. Of course, amazing Mom had most of it made or prepped the day before, so Dad didn't have to do too much. But he's getting to be such a great cook! He has his specialties to be sure--just lately (it's mid January as I write this), he's seeking the perfect sweet roll (NOT a cinnamon roll, mind you, but a soft, gooey SWEET roll. We are enjoying sampling his many versions)--but he's pretty dang good at most everything in the kitchen. Who knew! So here you can see some of the spread he was responsible for. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwLgB07EzJuGy-CTTnk-Y3iXA5jcdSZMsbaGVrl39LI29aGraINtNsUvgrv4UfchGCXWQQOByI7FULB9NT72FTuiRfyab_udiSK3AkVRFXaYkuvCjY6w769GQyc6w2h6B0Kb24iVQCeNU/s1600/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving+dinner.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwLgB07EzJuGy-CTTnk-Y3iXA5jcdSZMsbaGVrl39LI29aGraINtNsUvgrv4UfchGCXWQQOByI7FULB9NT72FTuiRfyab_udiSK3AkVRFXaYkuvCjY6w769GQyc6w2h6B0Kb24iVQCeNU/s320/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving+dinner.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560724024037931282" /></a><br />And here's our lovely table and buffet. Pretty good effort, considering the lady of the house (she with the discerning eye for decor) was laid up! We always eat upstairs when we're feeding a crowd (which we thought we were this year until Mom turned up ill!), cuz of the mondo expanding table that Mom and Dad have.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnmAe8TqJ8_KMnTBmM09XnukWHIYgt24EM5yJDmBpQ3ruUKA7dE8w6iktfaYoA_Fu8DdDrKXfo1Ma_Hueouuv5sAyp8N6NKU0Id_9kVZBkzfSctlJT3ql6df387YLcwy_EAzGIkmdYtjF/s1600/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnmAe8TqJ8_KMnTBmM09XnukWHIYgt24EM5yJDmBpQ3ruUKA7dE8w6iktfaYoA_Fu8DdDrKXfo1Ma_Hueouuv5sAyp8N6NKU0Id_9kVZBkzfSctlJT3ql6df387YLcwy_EAzGIkmdYtjF/s320/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560724756313195234" /></a><br /><br />Our Thanksgiving dinner attendees:<br /><br />My beautiful eldest daughter<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMceSCHqhngwftjmVU2S46Z502TIXJVcnv80h29BhdNPBHpSz12sQ4BdzQKyjaMRKeictDB7eJOKefbJrIAA3sML6OW_Kr6lak7K8RExyKiGxhDBIZozP0VYcExazwOaiz-ok_6Fhht7VJ/s1600/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving+Rayne.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMceSCHqhngwftjmVU2S46Z502TIXJVcnv80h29BhdNPBHpSz12sQ4BdzQKyjaMRKeictDB7eJOKefbJrIAA3sML6OW_Kr6lak7K8RExyKiGxhDBIZozP0VYcExazwOaiz-ok_6Fhht7VJ/s320/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving+Rayne.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560725247624296210" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBUwhNqE3tCKFUrrep8j2gg5-6mhrtWpSih7oi7aSuKY848V-oqA5jq_EoS2-VPlcPfBKf0aqlGHahXP93obGGZdqUk_NTYxMZwtZgY6OGjpATEiYRsEbqvYSFQLcuqtppGBUd-z3WDzt/s1600/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving+Rayne+and+me.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBUwhNqE3tCKFUrrep8j2gg5-6mhrtWpSih7oi7aSuKY848V-oqA5jq_EoS2-VPlcPfBKf0aqlGHahXP93obGGZdqUk_NTYxMZwtZgY6OGjpATEiYRsEbqvYSFQLcuqtppGBUd-z3WDzt/s320/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving+Rayne+and+me.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560725854373014450" /></a><br />She and I together<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafhKXdM3cB7aoEyWWyrO1tAla7roDKpwzyRoq9wQAQV6vKj75iJkoTMq7BQ3TC-n_NWi5ychTvaTMw0rz6JAnrx_Uo_zo-kuaBLyBmXKNMTuuuc4NbtZCDA0TuBtTHi2Pycm4b9QLhaZU/s1600/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving+Cliff+and+Zay.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafhKXdM3cB7aoEyWWyrO1tAla7roDKpwzyRoq9wQAQV6vKj75iJkoTMq7BQ3TC-n_NWi5ychTvaTMw0rz6JAnrx_Uo_zo-kuaBLyBmXKNMTuuuc4NbtZCDA0TuBtTHi2Pycm4b9QLhaZU/s320/11-25-2010+Thanksgiving+Cliff+and+Zay.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560726253379182434" /></a><br /><br />The scruffy man (on vacation!!) with our youngest boy.<br /><br />And that's it! Momma was ill, Allegra was ill, Chase is on a mission, it wasn't a "Galbraith" Thanksgiving (meaning all the Galbraith children spent Thanksgiving at their in-laws this year--or at home) AND the guests that were going to come bailed when they heard the flu was in the house. All except our friend Randi, who I didn't get a picture of. We had a fun time talking and laughing with her. AND she decided she wanted our last little guinea pig, Hades, so that was a very good thing. Having nothing to do with Thanksgiving, of course. Except that we were Thankful she wanted to give Hades a good home. He's been lonely since Zeus died and we were a little worried at the interest the kitties were showing in him. He's safely in his cage and all, but... you never know with cats.<br /><br />Anyway, it was the quietest Thanksgiving ever. And very pleasant it was, too. Just different.<br /><br />Towards the end of the month we woke up to our first frosty morning. Allegra found this jeweled leaf in the parking lot at the church after early morning seminary.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCQylykCL6hsTq_gxhTUroQzpNpvGY9c8S_BJVitMIANqGbvSeaviwd1stJAn5at1dR7JCnyiddBJ3Y61vdIYiw4sDwBNilVGQdN3XfSJ0wPXKkbEbavWQTV1u0WxvoyxzYC70HQlW097/s1600/11-29-2010+frost.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCQylykCL6hsTq_gxhTUroQzpNpvGY9c8S_BJVitMIANqGbvSeaviwd1stJAn5at1dR7JCnyiddBJ3Y61vdIYiw4sDwBNilVGQdN3XfSJ0wPXKkbEbavWQTV1u0WxvoyxzYC70HQlW097/s320/11-29-2010+frost.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560727663591245282" /></a><br /><br />And the hills... so beautiful, still golden from summer and covered in white sugar frost.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TYDl5a1LVUBa0eWEFUIpG1YeDm-w2y2bRrbf_SCLNtxwlHCDJr_3VYDX_Fhk2GfVKwx1P32B2Cy3AxisWBuzzz7Vzc-je07t1-4ITFQnLc7vxDTMksBvndwI-gpGpLiWGdob6yPeRpqV/s1600/11-29-2010+frost+on+the+hills.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TYDl5a1LVUBa0eWEFUIpG1YeDm-w2y2bRrbf_SCLNtxwlHCDJr_3VYDX_Fhk2GfVKwx1P32B2Cy3AxisWBuzzz7Vzc-je07t1-4ITFQnLc7vxDTMksBvndwI-gpGpLiWGdob6yPeRpqV/s320/11-29-2010+frost+on+the+hills.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560728339297032482" /></a><br /><br />I will never get tired of this view.<br /><br />It's been a wonderful month. But the quiet times are over for a little while....Christmas looms ahead!Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-81238135277421835902011-01-09T16:40:00.000-08:002011-01-09T20:07:54.713-08:00October 2010Sigh! I'm always behind on the blogs. <br /><br />IN THE CREATURE ENCOUNTER CATEGORY:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztLaAh_08vE43xepTwRaA2aBmZHyNUFIAFXx6Ap8fITUDXK91zCvoHZv9kB0i2kRZhwmSYcJT57fcX8JejaNgbeK_TyKCvexYlpM-mfU36RfYOsvktzuDqSx5AjUfHByykExjubIlrzbF/s1600/October+2010+lizard+in+my+bathroom.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztLaAh_08vE43xepTwRaA2aBmZHyNUFIAFXx6Ap8fITUDXK91zCvoHZv9kB0i2kRZhwmSYcJT57fcX8JejaNgbeK_TyKCvexYlpM-mfU36RfYOsvktzuDqSx5AjUfHByykExjubIlrzbF/s320/October+2010+lizard+in+my+bathroom.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560359629171506146" /></a> Why is this lizard in my bathroom? Not by the tub or the sink, either, but in the little room that houses the commode. Why? Or perhaps a better question is, how? That's one disoriented lizard. Poor little guy. Cliff helped him find his way out. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zZQpaHC2YuwQePQFiqzqGl8tdvogZY-aEGGghLCsfgBQRvqtjSwrVDCnfDxX-Txxd6tBCIgWBmltyBeMos-ppWGsnvLCef9PpwadKF9_zFM69Kzn_u2kHNgWC6z5TcSzBhnuEdd9JGbd/s1600/October+2010+owl4.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zZQpaHC2YuwQePQFiqzqGl8tdvogZY-aEGGghLCsfgBQRvqtjSwrVDCnfDxX-Txxd6tBCIgWBmltyBeMos-ppWGsnvLCef9PpwadKF9_zFM69Kzn_u2kHNgWC6z5TcSzBhnuEdd9JGbd/s320/October+2010+owl4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560360413717816530" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I know this is a horrible picture and I'm sorry to inflict it on you, but this owl was so cool! In a kind of creepy sort of way. He has been hanging around our house for a few days and tonight he's perched right on the roof over the spare room window. He's gorgeous. He put up with our lights shining in his eyes for a few minutes before he spread his wings and quietly left us for a more private roost.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNU18myyTalQKg-cWmkfGTcEi1n3no-CMn-ywHnwT7_rPKzDxYMIaHlGXjl4rRdvlDBjmuq-aYqKtxQox9g-zWRHRMayWb8x5ndq8XlvYqtqlKpJRjMWerkwHO75Muz1Mq1Cd66qlKogH/s1600/October+2010+sucking+on+Zay%2527s+toe.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNU18myyTalQKg-cWmkfGTcEi1n3no-CMn-ywHnwT7_rPKzDxYMIaHlGXjl4rRdvlDBjmuq-aYqKtxQox9g-zWRHRMayWb8x5ndq8XlvYqtqlKpJRjMWerkwHO75Muz1Mq1Cd66qlKogH/s320/October+2010+sucking+on+Zay%2527s+toe.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560361224810884818" /></a> A little more domestic, yet no less creepy--here's our kitty, Boston, sucking on Isaiah's toe. Our 3 newest kitties were raised by people--bottle fed--rather than by their mommy, and we think that's why they LOVE to suck on fingers, toes, ears... anything handy that's human. At first it was very cute. Now it's just kind of gross. However, kitties that were raised by humans are about the friendliest types of kitties ever, I think. They're almost like dogs--they want to be around us, when we go someplace, they follow. They're happiest in our laps. So sweet!<br /><br />ON THE HOME FRONT:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLG0KHu8mYin6s7J0UskBzmPd_SCrQj_JCfkhycPwVni8rK9x7MHz2j3m12qrOXhELB1bA-r6OkFLP6gbEURnEMGmsm8Bt-YlJ4yc8q95y3lozPTEbbQkJXWf1V190-YidSK0Iyjb_F44/s1600/October+2010+Zay+with+contacts2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLG0KHu8mYin6s7J0UskBzmPd_SCrQj_JCfkhycPwVni8rK9x7MHz2j3m12qrOXhELB1bA-r6OkFLP6gbEURnEMGmsm8Bt-YlJ4yc8q95y3lozPTEbbQkJXWf1V190-YidSK0Iyjb_F44/s320/October+2010+Zay+with+contacts2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560363086070067602" /></a> Isaiah got contacts! He's been wanting them for a long time, but we needed to wait until his eyes stabilized and all that. My momma made me wait until I was almost 16 to get contacts, but our Isaiah is very responsible and good at taking care of things, so we think he's ready for contacts. He LOVES them. Of course, he'd like them better if they changed the color of his eyes to orange.... but that's not gonna happen. On my bill, anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegcBpPv27HH_-WiJCFDK8KI_k49hEcp-8iIijPdrt17CM1TGKxjfsDxnZYwTLh1SE9JrneRbNkxkJg2iLcER5LPHQys9l72IdyoqsXxYhfBnyagAozNXV3AjpEmX63bVjUYME6bCF9xqb/s1600/October+2010+Ally+reading5.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegcBpPv27HH_-WiJCFDK8KI_k49hEcp-8iIijPdrt17CM1TGKxjfsDxnZYwTLh1SE9JrneRbNkxkJg2iLcER5LPHQys9l72IdyoqsXxYhfBnyagAozNXV3AjpEmX63bVjUYME6bCF9xqb/s320/October+2010+Ally+reading5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560390369109101714" /></a> Allegra is always reading something. Often she'll be reading more than one book at a time. Whenever I come across a pile of books--on the ottoman, on the couch, on the counter, on the table, on the floor--I know Allegra's been there, browsing. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiSkMJbz_4kMbDX5v1yc4yaPqBFHkxP-lG-gfwjaGY43V0wJAm-FayL4rE1WQIzv_l9Q64AuPKHT2gsdTo2SRbLYwtwm1k_bDOHCvKmkf2s03kwsb1OvSXCEHlxcux-JO4lmcN9b0xN4p/s1600/October+2010+055.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiSkMJbz_4kMbDX5v1yc4yaPqBFHkxP-lG-gfwjaGY43V0wJAm-FayL4rE1WQIzv_l9Q64AuPKHT2gsdTo2SRbLYwtwm1k_bDOHCvKmkf2s03kwsb1OvSXCEHlxcux-JO4lmcN9b0xN4p/s320/October+2010+055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560393104415786962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeuzizoh5QWAMeDxyjWtUVg88kPM_rFuEPLrwOarlAT0SoKwQsdqlUnSHVZDdIq4p48UAwXsw2pownfdaUp6JO3cL2hnXrVLXsS8ppuNew0RiUZg8bEes87AKYK_YfqDhj9wGDoHj6uhR/s1600/October+2010+065.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeuzizoh5QWAMeDxyjWtUVg88kPM_rFuEPLrwOarlAT0SoKwQsdqlUnSHVZDdIq4p48UAwXsw2pownfdaUp6JO3cL2hnXrVLXsS8ppuNew0RiUZg8bEes87AKYK_YfqDhj9wGDoHj6uhR/s320/October+2010+065.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560392437358558610" /></a>I attempted to take portraits of my kids again this month. What I love about taking photos of the kids is that, although I don't usually come up with that "perfect" put-on-the-wall, glamorous portrait, their photographs are a series of reflections of what it's like to be around that kid. If you get my drift. Here we have Rayne--can you see how patient she's trying to be? And of course, she's fixing her hair. Again. And there's the fixed smile she saves just for photos. That's in the other 50 photos I didn't post here. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJT621PEJ5xVgHrNDDn-4mZwO3B8dGGNUYzG33veT6bPQdTyexnYJrkLBX9Z8GXEYH62l4v0hYC8cb-KRCV_H4mU9AA6pIBh08JiXc-cxVBBQilLdUgwToIz48-NIlCLW3CBdQticivcy/s1600/October+2010+022.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJT621PEJ5xVgHrNDDn-4mZwO3B8dGGNUYzG33veT6bPQdTyexnYJrkLBX9Z8GXEYH62l4v0hYC8cb-KRCV_H4mU9AA6pIBh08JiXc-cxVBBQilLdUgwToIz48-NIlCLW3CBdQticivcy/s320/October+2010+022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560394530588661394" /></a>And here's Isaiah--I can't get that kid to keep a straight face in a picture.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcE7ZIx7dFxhJENqCqAXYpCrGpGa5Ry7jALG-tRvJTyF_AQJIMVknyrp4sd5oE4ZgvL51I5qrJxM7oQqhKCjkQpFQsS5plFOvKmkzK__5BTwSXSBrKfxDVIcWeuJzyTNBGK0wC2PjlxPD/s1600/October+2010+016.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcE7ZIx7dFxhJENqCqAXYpCrGpGa5Ry7jALG-tRvJTyF_AQJIMVknyrp4sd5oE4ZgvL51I5qrJxM7oQqhKCjkQpFQsS5plFOvKmkzK__5BTwSXSBrKfxDVIcWeuJzyTNBGK0wC2PjlxPD/s320/October+2010+016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560394879055203426" /></a> Allegra too. At least she's looking in the camera--usually she's looking anywhere but at the camera!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our Chase is doing so well! He is very happy. His letters home are entertaining and uplifting. You can find them <a href="http://www.missionsite.net/elderadams-hart/main">here</a>. He finally sent home a memory card full of photos, so I need to get them printed and put on a disc and then I can start posting them, both on the website above and also on this blog. Sometimes I feel like I'm drowning in photos!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />AS REGARDS FAMILY TRADITIONS:<br />We did the usual cookies and candy apples. And Jacks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvSb9nPM9zjdWmXdC4S3VfwJ9vPHxKv931xyljikHY-z3dylfknC41Uh6gemiGCZGrKYf2OSc2w5sJ-XWwgHHcLmz1caOkY-bNLUHr0cGuNsFeEmSwb5qoYuS8RYMCjR9EVpd8Wnww6g9/s1600/October+2010+cookies2.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvSb9nPM9zjdWmXdC4S3VfwJ9vPHxKv931xyljikHY-z3dylfknC41Uh6gemiGCZGrKYf2OSc2w5sJ-XWwgHHcLmz1caOkY-bNLUHr0cGuNsFeEmSwb5qoYuS8RYMCjR9EVpd8Wnww6g9/s200/October+2010+cookies2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560396588079661586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlV58I3k5bbIfzEJXmDkO_1l1wL2FRvPJr_jnb_2HtovO1zg6meTSoy-SRxUiSEpeW8w5alR9YlQHkmaCYliQoTx-zfxkHqExv5BO73DuMumTvORtZcyb6rDK5imy4YObmgvewzgYFH7QY/s1600/October+2010+candy+apples.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlV58I3k5bbIfzEJXmDkO_1l1wL2FRvPJr_jnb_2HtovO1zg6meTSoy-SRxUiSEpeW8w5alR9YlQHkmaCYliQoTx-zfxkHqExv5BO73DuMumTvORtZcyb6rDK5imy4YObmgvewzgYFH7QY/s200/October+2010+candy+apples.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560396972402053522" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVhVr1Vly6HCGW6RaVKn2CMIHkzVoiDZ365e-PIf3kRO_a9oXE4E_doPvsIWEQLFel93tYoPCLTAYXBPsbcpdPpGrifrWKG3o8lsfNpvGWx_1bbkqNsspC8NRTdmMGULftU8BMDbskLWu/s1600/October+2010+jacks.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVhVr1Vly6HCGW6RaVKn2CMIHkzVoiDZ365e-PIf3kRO_a9oXE4E_doPvsIWEQLFel93tYoPCLTAYXBPsbcpdPpGrifrWKG3o8lsfNpvGWx_1bbkqNsspC8NRTdmMGULftU8BMDbskLWu/s200/October+2010+jacks.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560397772654280514" /></a><br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianRSzB_VUUSwkcg4uR7buo-yYD0Z6SuUuGR-ZFex8ywH-BGvASQtqxPo4BUeHKWNzOtKJSGWAvVAF-LeS1d4tGah090jfgMZK6Sx12WMn0SPqNoZmMoi8Km3B1k26BP-5gffibexkKg5H/s1600/October+2010+Zay+cereal+killer.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianRSzB_VUUSwkcg4uR7buo-yYD0Z6SuUuGR-ZFex8ywH-BGvASQtqxPo4BUeHKWNzOtKJSGWAvVAF-LeS1d4tGah090jfgMZK6Sx12WMn0SPqNoZmMoi8Km3B1k26BP-5gffibexkKg5H/s320/October+2010+Zay+cereal+killer.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560398838800484210" /></a>And Isaiah--being so creative--was a CEREAL KILLER. Get it? I love that my kids are old enough to make their own costumes. Sometimes we have to go to the store to get props, but they come up with their costume concepts themselves and will spend a lot of time fabricating them. Allegra didn't do the trick-or-treating thing this year. Some of our regular t-o-t gigs didn't happen and she declined to go to the church parties. I think she was sorry when she saw her brother's haul.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1HyXph-_wH8McIbHQea-WwYEzIcy7vXbM8Qi5s57Enhd76hug1jKqYgxtelV3ImMryJYYyvHaI7Z9DDtUANv1F6hXLShA0KZDJ3PbHDSmbv0iYiytd7SrdZRnve3AngJyRE_voJ1t3DN/s1600/October+2010+Zay%2527s+loot.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1HyXph-_wH8McIbHQea-WwYEzIcy7vXbM8Qi5s57Enhd76hug1jKqYgxtelV3ImMryJYYyvHaI7Z9DDtUANv1F6hXLShA0KZDJ3PbHDSmbv0iYiytd7SrdZRnve3AngJyRE_voJ1t3DN/s320/October+2010+Zay%2527s+loot.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560399911867756690" /></a> He shared, though. With all of us. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's kind of strange to be doing everything without our Chase. He's only been gone a few months, so we still miss him keenly every day. But it helps a lot that his letters home are so happy. And Fall is my very favorite season. I love the weather, I love the colors of the leaves and of the hills, I love all the Autumn holidays, I love getting back into school... Such a happy time of year!Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-38393230667180321522010-10-23T19:04:00.000-07:002010-11-28T10:34:24.662-08:00September<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMYVJfQKSeJ26j7yJVvr_-pTBzSlXbefFdpc811dtVs3YsI5BzgjBaqGdM3nGwDHUVSOWDW_sInjnqSYJRk-cmBSecuGe5DYH_xfJIoAzuGKV7b2XnrgpCFj7vUIzMCzNi29pK5FxyNfH/s1600/Chase_and_Mission_President+September+8+2010.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMYVJfQKSeJ26j7yJVvr_-pTBzSlXbefFdpc811dtVs3YsI5BzgjBaqGdM3nGwDHUVSOWDW_sInjnqSYJRk-cmBSecuGe5DYH_xfJIoAzuGKV7b2XnrgpCFj7vUIzMCzNi29pK5FxyNfH/s200/Chase_and_Mission_President+September+8+2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531428831934520866" /></a>Chase arrives at the Boston Mission home. Here he is with President and Sister Evans.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Rayne turns 21!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Sd7-ndpc1B14Yd_WEbkZN8aC8eUg8qC9lPPOI5HR00n14mmmN_EGBp4mx9U_YReeYBJHKx20mR_tmjVx0s9tGoQ07iqhjREsgn4tJVhlwd4Vv9dMhZAhCTpMLRe3KS8oW-rQWQo4nnWd/s1600/September+2010+Rayne+is+21+IX.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Sd7-ndpc1B14Yd_WEbkZN8aC8eUg8qC9lPPOI5HR00n14mmmN_EGBp4mx9U_YReeYBJHKx20mR_tmjVx0s9tGoQ07iqhjREsgn4tJVhlwd4Vv9dMhZAhCTpMLRe3KS8oW-rQWQo4nnWd/s320/September+2010+Rayne+is+21+IX.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531429590512856066" /></a> For her birthday dinner she chose poor boy sandwiches and the best dessert this side of heaven, sticky toffee pudding. Deeee-licious.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q6qrhO8WVUmEc5Imfvz8v3KxdvcXvZZlPMlg62RwC8jmirmHYzr_YIvReA7Mvc3Zetn6lrmbTBL0zBl4tSzEZapoP-Ke-0VPu0F7uuNHs8da0UIVhE9unOXCIeZ3qflQ7VeceZFgTSnA/s1600/September+2010+Rayne+is+21.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q6qrhO8WVUmEc5Imfvz8v3KxdvcXvZZlPMlg62RwC8jmirmHYzr_YIvReA7Mvc3Zetn6lrmbTBL0zBl4tSzEZapoP-Ke-0VPu0F7uuNHs8da0UIVhE9unOXCIeZ3qflQ7VeceZFgTSnA/s320/September+2010+Rayne+is+21.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531430584337824098" /></a><br /><br /><br />Isaiah bought her a gorgeous necklace for her birthday. He is getting really good at gift giving!<br /><br /><br /><br />The kitties are getting bigger all the time--and are still so adorable!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfICRa5bcJfqW9HB5Go6wrAwa6o0zMc4TjQdksQViGKbCYFIAuol42ANkSsetCvNRAN17QHxe1njOScQpaIC7TAsJOle9igkRoCnjLddepM6BifHlyutC83u-oSdg2dKJGPGMW7uSwpb_/s1600/September+2010+Kitties+2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfICRa5bcJfqW9HB5Go6wrAwa6o0zMc4TjQdksQViGKbCYFIAuol42ANkSsetCvNRAN17QHxe1njOScQpaIC7TAsJOle9igkRoCnjLddepM6BifHlyutC83u-oSdg2dKJGPGMW7uSwpb_/s320/September+2010+Kitties+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531431514444424226" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjG_HZ-303Nwh_r9KIQAvMOP4GjNy3D12Cg6zdzYpKqUNJGNWcbsVxohRmU-RpaoHovd3ir4w-3x63JJpmt3E4VNQfXuCD6GYR3eH4KqiL6POn6KEvXK2VuRdnPxZxLQxBOdKXDWhpv_4/s1600/September+2010+Sea+Cliff+beach+9.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjG_HZ-303Nwh_r9KIQAvMOP4GjNy3D12Cg6zdzYpKqUNJGNWcbsVxohRmU-RpaoHovd3ir4w-3x63JJpmt3E4VNQfXuCD6GYR3eH4KqiL6POn6KEvXK2VuRdnPxZxLQxBOdKXDWhpv_4/s320/September+2010+Sea+Cliff+beach+9.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531432795879689602" /></a>We went to Sea Cliff beach this month. I really think that my favorite times at the beach are during the Fall and Winter. The tide was very far in, further than I've ever seen it. It washed over all the beach where we usually sit and even chased us back within a few feet of the back fence. It washed over the rise in the middle of the beach and created a river of sorts right in front of us. Totally cool. The kids spent more time in that "river" than they did in the actual ocean. They rode the boogie board down the river until the ranger stopped them, warning them that they might hit the poles of the pier....seemed unlikely, but we are compliant people, so they stopped the boogie board rides. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fBQYZdxbKH9TNDh8xKCGqItgxmOOWyenBz6q95BtOfxXp4kw0Uin5k5c86JhEAkwkoUFVCY5plnlLSXHKn4GgXa_Gi68aubp9HSgRp1nB16wnnzTwsTl2O-Vzp6W0ZsLmomJfzbQtJwp/s1600/September+2010+Sea+Cliff+beach+5.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fBQYZdxbKH9TNDh8xKCGqItgxmOOWyenBz6q95BtOfxXp4kw0Uin5k5c86JhEAkwkoUFVCY5plnlLSXHKn4GgXa_Gi68aubp9HSgRp1nB16wnnzTwsTl2O-Vzp6W0ZsLmomJfzbQtJwp/s320/September+2010+Sea+Cliff+beach+5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531433846761044162" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Towards the end of our day at the beach, a seal came out of the ocean and onto the sand. He just stayed there! People would come up to him and take photos and just hang around and he was very mellow. I guess he's used to people!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnE3cBjBP5SyNjktzXY6chyjot-dPslh3ApUDlP6Z4cV9I_qxt3X10oRzhX2wM9q6RmDMZRQXsMZX-dOnlE1Ce4sVP-tNHNOwc2FLS_eZaQ3yknSMmC93nTWTRruMgeNVlGTbb1FvjBcx/s1600/September+2010+Sea+Cliff+beach+27.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnE3cBjBP5SyNjktzXY6chyjot-dPslh3ApUDlP6Z4cV9I_qxt3X10oRzhX2wM9q6RmDMZRQXsMZX-dOnlE1Ce4sVP-tNHNOwc2FLS_eZaQ3yknSMmC93nTWTRruMgeNVlGTbb1FvjBcx/s320/September+2010+Sea+Cliff+beach+27.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531434868335704674" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGPCJvgXPmFvVFvoLyUiNTnJK-VvlEYn0-qFfUcsq0v0c9I6c4CKc7WK1BMT3LtUo-nqrVoKW229ggiSQshGmW1PJjZcNrUb5orYciSI5dkXAbW7-ficA2DmoyBejnSfHMuyNjrPNscit/s1600/September+2010+Vincent+murder+game.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGPCJvgXPmFvVFvoLyUiNTnJK-VvlEYn0-qFfUcsq0v0c9I6c4CKc7WK1BMT3LtUo-nqrVoKW229ggiSQshGmW1PJjZcNrUb5orYciSI5dkXAbW7-ficA2DmoyBejnSfHMuyNjrPNscit/s320/September+2010+Vincent+murder+game.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531435543172650834" /></a>When we returned home from the beach, Scott, James and Vincent (nephews) were allowed to spend a few days with us. That evening they played some sort of murder detective game. Vincent is the bloody victim. Gory, isn't he? <br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdzOy2vT11W9IoGcjz_Q3qgxaALB_kg3VbCtMW1sOgA_xcm3rKnS29rbK8IiDduoudmNqXAIk9uuQfnLbbzg2QqRMRcUfvUzrd5o7bKzOllMZIeH2y8BC2QPhAyZfkr-8B6gaxrhaKqXv/s1600/September+2010+Zay+court+of+honor+3.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdzOy2vT11W9IoGcjz_Q3qgxaALB_kg3VbCtMW1sOgA_xcm3rKnS29rbK8IiDduoudmNqXAIk9uuQfnLbbzg2QqRMRcUfvUzrd5o7bKzOllMZIeH2y8BC2QPhAyZfkr-8B6gaxrhaKqXv/s320/September+2010+Zay+court+of+honor+3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531437034799165362" /></a>In other news, Isaiah got his second class AND first class ranks in boy scouts. He also earned several merit badges. He's set a goal to get his Eagle WAY before his brother did. And that shouldn't be too terribly difficult since Chase got those Eagle papers in the day before his 18th birthday. <br /><br />It's been a quiet and nice month. We miss Chase a lot. Letters are so different from face-to-face contact. Of course. It's fun to hear his voice in the e-mails, though, and he does sound quite happy. And we're so proud of him!Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-66134248749787472852010-10-23T16:45:00.000-07:002010-10-26T12:37:18.269-07:00Our ChaseA few days in August held all these things:<br /><br />Last visit to the beach: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ_IdrbBTgLEch2qnLhwhKMC1FOjg3LLPFzkiRyS0YJ2Z6T9ZBbtekwoHXC32uGhKpocYq1iHLHCSUwQatZemqZcjHkX_cmFwlCwOBZ3NYdUik6vntrJe3XhzScSo4-DWpesc2hGjociN/s1600/Seacliff+beach+Chase+and+Jake+3+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ_IdrbBTgLEch2qnLhwhKMC1FOjg3LLPFzkiRyS0YJ2Z6T9ZBbtekwoHXC32uGhKpocYq1iHLHCSUwQatZemqZcjHkX_cmFwlCwOBZ3NYdUik6vntrJe3XhzScSo4-DWpesc2hGjociN/s320/Seacliff+beach+Chase+and+Jake+3+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531402430357531202" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A good-bye open house: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8lwW_KAdmjNOSm3IwD88FvQZjr2kN6sLaY1-SmWcduye5KIHEudo76j-viYE8BA7TDeH46FSF5jjnTRLLUpLaDSPyETs2f60bMbrq5wIluATJP9o55VsDMa8bc6fDCouqwoc5qZGUUCv/s1600/suitcase+cake+2+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8lwW_KAdmjNOSm3IwD88FvQZjr2kN6sLaY1-SmWcduye5KIHEudo76j-viYE8BA7TDeH46FSF5jjnTRLLUpLaDSPyETs2f60bMbrq5wIluATJP9o55VsDMa8bc6fDCouqwoc5qZGUUCv/s320/suitcase+cake+2+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531397700558678210" /></a> Isn't the cake amazing? A friend in our ward has a cake making business and she made this for Chase's open house. The coolest cake ever!<br /><br /><br /><br />Visits from family: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDX11lETMH95wtdGqMNoU8mvFsfyBD8cwCYXI12KaPtzU0TmHGTJD5M57TyDtvkALcG3oFv-UpdfylIer3p3_jxhRwgT1icMeOkylKH9wRkl1WpTpK3KzY9G29UitLLljsYESoAhEZCnFp/s1600/My+brothers+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDX11lETMH95wtdGqMNoU8mvFsfyBD8cwCYXI12KaPtzU0TmHGTJD5M57TyDtvkALcG3oFv-UpdfylIer3p3_jxhRwgT1icMeOkylKH9wRkl1WpTpK3KzY9G29UitLLljsYESoAhEZCnFp/s320/My+brothers+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531398797415338402" /></a> My wonderful three brothers. Reed lives locally and so does Ben. Gerald is in town from Taiwan and the timing is pefect. He's been able to not only visit with us, but be here for Jacqueline's baptism and some of Chase's farewell activities.<br /><br /><br /><br />Packing: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bhKIdJBaqmEwtyEMTf4t0mR4pTR3MtOBcFJRhiw94I4bqAt6Pxcocft9SXMSB5xR2JG9ovHCf57dp3ZBGyLnQk58Hkf239jiis6NzCbfzBtEx4nEU4ca9vyOquqd88x7C_mv5lXubVpG/s1600/Chase+packing+5+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bhKIdJBaqmEwtyEMTf4t0mR4pTR3MtOBcFJRhiw94I4bqAt6Pxcocft9SXMSB5xR2JG9ovHCf57dp3ZBGyLnQk58Hkf239jiis6NzCbfzBtEx4nEU4ca9vyOquqd88x7C_mv5lXubVpG/s320/Chase+packing+5+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531393062208811442" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tossing: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiracYQACozdh00OK-wl39JCfKMtCtd1kzhYpWQvxOyFr9C6C9rp_K10xsjgs6LXyJeOLYXse-bUiBSsL9Wn4Pm6aFRHmzltIgXedIc9Gj1A44_jwVqvGPKg7xthjp6rve64MDa-OjTGcAD/s1600/Chase's+room+empty+4+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiracYQACozdh00OK-wl39JCfKMtCtd1kzhYpWQvxOyFr9C6C9rp_K10xsjgs6LXyJeOLYXse-bUiBSsL9Wn4Pm6aFRHmzltIgXedIc9Gj1A44_jwVqvGPKg7xthjp6rve64MDa-OjTGcAD/s320/Chase's+room+empty+4+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531395997257471634" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Driving: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxkQx0f3kh1kQfzXfE920HmDy-osbntVB9A7jUKEPNFFITl-7bKEJaLTmmhBYporIjMqrlnzZYljJrhyphenhyphenw8CTDUB0VLfiv8wo4-bPI4nqzSV1vZ1CbXqrwBezp8irvRAEQFZRgqqwSOLW-/s1600/driving+to+UT+4+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxkQx0f3kh1kQfzXfE920HmDy-osbntVB9A7jUKEPNFFITl-7bKEJaLTmmhBYporIjMqrlnzZYljJrhyphenhyphenw8CTDUB0VLfiv8wo4-bPI4nqzSV1vZ1CbXqrwBezp8irvRAEQFZRgqqwSOLW-/s320/driving+to+UT+4+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531400502046500146" /></a> Cliff, Rayne, Chase and I all squished ourselves in the truck to go to Provo. Cliff and I started out in the front seat, but Chase soon became very uncomfortable in the back seat and he took over driving, Cliff in the passenger's seat and I and Rayne in the back. I had a lot of fun with Rayne in the back. Chase was relieved to drive so he had the front seat in which to stretch his legs. He was not very talkative, though, because he was so upset at having to leave Isaiah behind. Isaiah was equally upset. It will take awhile before the boys, so close to each other, will be able to see the good things about being apart while Chase is on his mission.<br /><br />A ride in Brad's corvette: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtFTirzeCHS3BXEelEU6HiYSo_OG-RPQg2iHgeq9_AljGagTtgaJUkU3oOT9sgxnTnPB52LsVqP1o_edeAcA7dr5PTKc5Mk6WfIAbLl6GEN5y3Y5U6qJrYQXyuMlfh7gHQuAw0ZIogyw7/s1600/Brad's+vette+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtFTirzeCHS3BXEelEU6HiYSo_OG-RPQg2iHgeq9_AljGagTtgaJUkU3oOT9sgxnTnPB52LsVqP1o_edeAcA7dr5PTKc5Mk6WfIAbLl6GEN5y3Y5U6qJrYQXyuMlfh7gHQuAw0ZIogyw7/s320/Brad's+vette+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531404588031766930" /></a> If Brad is reading this, I have to apologize for the photo. I had a choice of a photo that showed the handsome faces of both Chase and Brad, OR I had a photo that showed the best view of the car. I chose the car. I'm betting Brad won't mind. :) <br /><br />Dressing (what's that MIB line? "The last suit you'll ever wear"... well, for at least the next 2 years anyway): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewz0wx6Ij0TcAVcI_wCmiFZ3Epzbxf2T8koyVeghzGULNbdU0iS2wP2RLxo-8am9ZnDyVsSTZ_EbUEJDqgeQ_OKU2NY45w5EWOdLj_kuOX07PcNcPCM5RDXrMWRuBu0K_UdoGoaltZsXc/s1600/MTC+day+8+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewz0wx6Ij0TcAVcI_wCmiFZ3Epzbxf2T8koyVeghzGULNbdU0iS2wP2RLxo-8am9ZnDyVsSTZ_EbUEJDqgeQ_OKU2NY45w5EWOdLj_kuOX07PcNcPCM5RDXrMWRuBu0K_UdoGoaltZsXc/s320/MTC+day+8+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531407966809819730" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h0M_anjRy8sLpwiNlYWoo0sOQKdvyrJQic0HHqwL-NXtQwSF-3lPHigkqYR2bFv8JpCEUAs27tNzqCCO5kqp6MmSFfZtrEDESz-c6Lno9FjB69Xf11k5HfdHz2YeHprfr42rfp2t1p27/s1600/MTC+day+10+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h0M_anjRy8sLpwiNlYWoo0sOQKdvyrJQic0HHqwL-NXtQwSF-3lPHigkqYR2bFv8JpCEUAs27tNzqCCO5kqp6MmSFfZtrEDESz-c6Lno9FjB69Xf11k5HfdHz2YeHprfr42rfp2t1p27/s320/MTC+day+10+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531408565108796674" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hugging good-bye: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VQegLAx73_mDf_XBzhw7K0WSZ6GoXxojiqndTYbd23YN9-UGv-DQAMPRgWT7veht3AmQ5uj2YqI_efr50LsD34ts2DiOV-mKKbNKbk_rh7Pef2cUg5Y-KdflbBw5h1Gk8kEm8LXpHdxj/s1600/MTC+day+14+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VQegLAx73_mDf_XBzhw7K0WSZ6GoXxojiqndTYbd23YN9-UGv-DQAMPRgWT7veht3AmQ5uj2YqI_efr50LsD34ts2DiOV-mKKbNKbk_rh7Pef2cUg5Y-KdflbBw5h1Gk8kEm8LXpHdxj/s320/MTC+day+14+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531411477843641522" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Handing over the cell phone and <br />the unneccesary wallet items:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6tfUeDICI-1xgX-H4EO0behn4tM7NSPxoQHJhcMIThuK6hGOZOksPgdmXP2k6usIn5SxsIdmq7Bs_0XhcITVOiePhubAtaYENECyHBeGplWSkatfwHMSgyep1ER9ip6lguGR6Fg1sPQl/s1600/MTC+day+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6tfUeDICI-1xgX-H4EO0behn4tM7NSPxoQHJhcMIThuK6hGOZOksPgdmXP2k6usIn5SxsIdmq7Bs_0XhcITVOiePhubAtaYENECyHBeGplWSkatfwHMSgyep1ER9ip6lguGR6Fg1sPQl/s320/MTC+day+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531409820297438946" /></a> About 10 minutes after we dropped Chase off at the MTC, his cousin Kyllian called his cell phone to say a last good-bye. Sweet and sad. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After we dropped Chase off at the MTC, Cliff and I dropped Rayne off with her friend and he and I drove to Colorado to pick up some furniture from my grandmother's house. Beautiful stuff, don't you think?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCRjzEOlo-tOn9ll1sdSaN0DoYXvvDrTNKlWRen2SpEqvLmOSTnpgp2XHNVlWkFUVMqUUQGkd97N4mKxvLHoofOLT7FidyFMY1xC2gGIU6B2tAYLsnwSkY2NIlCJr3gtdPTYcs6S3qOw0/s1600/Grandma+Kiser%27s+buffet+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCRjzEOlo-tOn9ll1sdSaN0DoYXvvDrTNKlWRen2SpEqvLmOSTnpgp2XHNVlWkFUVMqUUQGkd97N4mKxvLHoofOLT7FidyFMY1xC2gGIU6B2tAYLsnwSkY2NIlCJr3gtdPTYcs6S3qOw0/s200/Grandma+Kiser%27s+buffet+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531412651238010258" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRZLi-Lo4vzF41rR2J3UmDZQcPOe7b1wgdXNzrbYunOhm1rfiA_m1A-OlTzzRjjIcoyDRQrF2OXtfZNICTwTt2-eMh5xYzMhkuQapu6zGW1DDV8-FPRuC2hyc88_yOnb8yHqYJtNVvjoN/s1600/Grandma+Kiser%27s+table+and+chairs+3+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRZLi-Lo4vzF41rR2J3UmDZQcPOe7b1wgdXNzrbYunOhm1rfiA_m1A-OlTzzRjjIcoyDRQrF2OXtfZNICTwTt2-eMh5xYzMhkuQapu6zGW1DDV8-FPRuC2hyc88_yOnb8yHqYJtNVvjoN/s200/Grandma+Kiser%27s+table+and+chairs+3+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531413140478335346" /></a>We drove 5 hours to Colorado, packed up the furniture for 2 hours and drove 7 hours back to Provo through a windy rainstorm, stopping repeatedly to recover the furniture, arriving at the Hutchings house at 4 in the morning. What a marathon! It was good to be alone with Cliff for some hours, though, to process my feelings and to talk. And I love my grandma's furniture.<br /><br /><br /><br />Cleaning afterwards: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDcmYiCiCcuMtFJlxW5T9uVdU_GWaOdoySUrWb9Y7kJk18DrS4dcXCCx1GzhWLAhTF4L0bszAtOIhvdKuOrgEqAoO0ZyQm5gaOHJBkUA03sWWdmIEcIOZhuuNK6IKMMdLnf2CHalGjQ2z/s1600/Chase's+room+empty+2+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDcmYiCiCcuMtFJlxW5T9uVdU_GWaOdoySUrWb9Y7kJk18DrS4dcXCCx1GzhWLAhTF4L0bszAtOIhvdKuOrgEqAoO0ZyQm5gaOHJBkUA03sWWdmIEcIOZhuuNK6IKMMdLnf2CHalGjQ2z/s200/Chase's+room+empty+2+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531416003203194626" /></a> We came home and immediately finished packing Chase's stuff and cleaning out his room. Like tearing off a band-aid, nice and quick. I think his room will be the cleanest it's EVER been for the next 2 years. At least THIS room will be clean... who knows what his room in the Boston area looks like. <br /><br />I'll really miss him; we all will. But he's doing the right thing and we all know it. These are gonna be a great 2 years. Go Chase!Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-46426367756984892952010-10-23T14:53:00.000-07:002010-10-23T16:44:53.940-07:00Catching up: AugustLots going on this month!! Cliff has been doing tons of outside and inside projects. He is really good at letting the kids help him, so I hope they're learning stuff. In any case, our windows are clean, the birds' nests are removed AND I have 3 "new" shelves in my piano room and ALL of my books are now INSIDE (more below).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNac7FhxxcjLjKr1eBdjbcsb09Sv5LgiykO8IgSsk3DopDOleiqUn21D9wctALowXiTVsaS0O05hGrx21JQ-0Nt_xQk1SgPznsxKOSunCBzDjm7MQA1DSDHMJRDuSG1hHoyZEtmSPqBhh/s1600/Boom+lift+Isaiah+3+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNac7FhxxcjLjKr1eBdjbcsb09Sv5LgiykO8IgSsk3DopDOleiqUn21D9wctALowXiTVsaS0O05hGrx21JQ-0Nt_xQk1SgPznsxKOSunCBzDjm7MQA1DSDHMJRDuSG1hHoyZEtmSPqBhh/s320/Boom+lift+Isaiah+3+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531369927509146802" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ebQ8f8W7-c-bCCZ_VIwN8cyJgPumu3VDrAP6VCnKhwM4SLIpfHOfUZcaVOrVP35PfHrhaiB1T1cgQ20uOCu2aIYBoVx2lzkIevCjyz0Zk2VdIn5Kp-sdiHEu_age63zCsm4dQ1DKOGDQ/s1600/Boom+lift+Cliff+8+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ebQ8f8W7-c-bCCZ_VIwN8cyJgPumu3VDrAP6VCnKhwM4SLIpfHOfUZcaVOrVP35PfHrhaiB1T1cgQ20uOCu2aIYBoVx2lzkIevCjyz0Zk2VdIn5Kp-sdiHEu_age63zCsm4dQ1DKOGDQ/s200/Boom+lift+Cliff+8+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531366882163966066" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />How do you wash windows that are 15 feet off the ground? We've been asking ourselves that question for the last 3 years or so. Especially after some messy birds moved into the eaves and their..leavings were...left all over those windows. Finally, this month my dad rented a boom (I think that's what it's called). He made a few trips in the basket and then turned it over to Cliff, who washed all those windows and then took the kids for rides. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqoPWyz9j5S298OEy7vEaa-c90nV_t-e2p6WLIOTg3DuwXLjW2rf5_lqu81Pb6upJ1YdDonluFOJLpk1-dYB-6_pZv8V5l8w8SdyJT4Evp51VLbZd5ucIso1Wfxxd44BugvcMiWLZJ7Z_/s1600/torn+trampoline+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqoPWyz9j5S298OEy7vEaa-c90nV_t-e2p6WLIOTg3DuwXLjW2rf5_lqu81Pb6upJ1YdDonluFOJLpk1-dYB-6_pZv8V5l8w8SdyJT4Evp51VLbZd5ucIso1Wfxxd44BugvcMiWLZJ7Z_/s200/torn+trampoline+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531370779517151426" /></a> Our poor trampoline's life has been very difficult since we moved to the country. It gets blown apart in the winter and bakes in the sun all summer. When Chase and Allegra pulled it out of storage and put it back together this month, it didn't survive the operation. After a long and valiant performance as our most fun toy, our trampoline has retired. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1gZhM3EyzOqLDrknA_hkhEdLG84yKCDXFiP8v39N-bexmEDZNyxx-LYmPhU1gMwMijPUpuxlXAL9mDgz-k3Yisg3qZkexM1U5f6EW7tcuI_1_pjJ8ANtvHaAXn6NHmC7CikxsX9WZ3BE/s1600/fencing+the+fotinias+2++August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1gZhM3EyzOqLDrknA_hkhEdLG84yKCDXFiP8v39N-bexmEDZNyxx-LYmPhU1gMwMijPUpuxlXAL9mDgz-k3Yisg3qZkexM1U5f6EW7tcuI_1_pjJ8ANtvHaAXn6NHmC7CikxsX9WZ3BE/s200/fencing+the+fotinias+2++August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531375221750844418" /></a>Chase and Isaiah and Cliff spent hours this month rebuilding the cages around the photinia bushes. The old cages were constricting those poor little babies and they seem much bigger now that they're free. And the deer won't be able to nip off those little branches of new growth that have been sneaking out of the smaller enclosures.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3XvmKzTMFZD-P7tad6amKHtpNWh9T8yr0ppPrGVYGlNwVx1lZeboObwzBptz9eDzvUX2PXye_3P53JneUUWf6nYHC29LY9b6eYaJXjo6lgYEPpKuH84ed9iJCymPO_USUrdElz02VtUe/s1600/Isaiah+pulls+milkweed+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3XvmKzTMFZD-P7tad6amKHtpNWh9T8yr0ppPrGVYGlNwVx1lZeboObwzBptz9eDzvUX2PXye_3P53JneUUWf6nYHC29LY9b6eYaJXjo6lgYEPpKuH84ed9iJCymPO_USUrdElz02VtUe/s200/Isaiah+pulls+milkweed+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531376360587638626" /></a> My father has been waging a war on these sticky, tenacious weeds since we got here. Isaiah is being paid well to pull or dig them out, a hot, sweaty, unpleasant job that he has been working on for days. Go Isaiah!<br />Death to weeds! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZNQaBT-vSYg7YOb1UyFvkLHcuHT2wmzVtO2EsPKfOA_Nk0nNEf_Yei-_zvzf624F5oLhuelnN1LRoKf0wqHhLCHB4vebjGfM3lBywSCa4y0RqmqzZQImcSx67KZ3Ut5p3hMHtjKkYKc6/s1600/Bookshelves!+3+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZNQaBT-vSYg7YOb1UyFvkLHcuHT2wmzVtO2EsPKfOA_Nk0nNEf_Yei-_zvzf624F5oLhuelnN1LRoKf0wqHhLCHB4vebjGfM3lBywSCa4y0RqmqzZQImcSx67KZ3Ut5p3hMHtjKkYKc6/s200/Bookshelves!+3+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531380289891077442" /></a><br />Meanwhile, indoors, Cliff has been refinishing bookcases. I love books. I have a lot of books. For many years I have been unable to house all those books. They have been in boxes, then later unpacked onto shelves in a few garages, and finally, on shelves in our "dungeon" (the big, windowless storage area at the front of our house). I have really disliked having them in all these places. I prefer to have my books places where I can see them. It's just a thing I have.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWxahDTpCxygUdaMPuz-Huh-oxtBbFWVTMt32uEYoCuwUQeCPrLoiDDNXZShr-f1RZjkRJBFC-e8hldBkRbfLd6joQPsJE7CTMz8ePLK5bL7GLf8Nfxxqz3t4qDs1v3EmuSCUUgzm-THw/s1600/bookshelves!+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWxahDTpCxygUdaMPuz-Huh-oxtBbFWVTMt32uEYoCuwUQeCPrLoiDDNXZShr-f1RZjkRJBFC-e8hldBkRbfLd6joQPsJE7CTMz8ePLK5bL7GLf8Nfxxqz3t4qDs1v3EmuSCUUgzm-THw/s200/bookshelves!+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531380912265845970" /></a>This summer my sweet Cliff spent many hours sanding, rebuilding, adding trim, staining, and finishing my 3 big bookshelves from the dungeon so they would look nice enough to move into the piano room. FINALLY I have been able to move all my books into the house. Of course, I had to give away a third of my mysteries, but that was no sacrifice, since I kept the ones I like best and that I thought I might reread (you know you read too many mysteries when you forget enough to be able to read some of them again and still be surprised at the endings!). I am grateful for such a handy husband! Now my job is to acquire more books s...l...o...w...l...y so I don't run out of bookshelf space. I've got bookshelves in every room now (well, not the kitchen or the bathrooms) and I need to wait until I gain an empty bedroom that I can turn into a library before I can expand my book collection, I think. And that's still some years in the future. :) <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDRGpw2Tkpy6G2gHTnjDjyZRLkjbvQzioqDQ2NWuPQGmg-tIJdGtV06DO4n3C4KnAwZ8KiL5fIPZEu7yT_p4PqepCdTAI6pEiNt5l-xFEE5pla455_xk_aU3KQK-VJ9T-QpDv9xVEhw-n/s1600/Isaiah+with+kitties+2+August+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDRGpw2Tkpy6G2gHTnjDjyZRLkjbvQzioqDQ2NWuPQGmg-tIJdGtV06DO4n3C4KnAwZ8KiL5fIPZEu7yT_p4PqepCdTAI6pEiNt5l-xFEE5pla455_xk_aU3KQK-VJ9T-QpDv9xVEhw-n/s320/Isaiah+with+kitties+2+August+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531388387993124546" /></a>Another indoor project: we adopted 3 kittens named Walter, Tiki and Lily. They are VERY cute and very full of mischief. These kitties are destined to join our outside cats, Tangerine and Cherry, as hunters. We're dreaming of a 5 cat rodent killing team out there. Meanwhile, we get the pleasure and exasperation of 3 little kitties in the house. They've poked holes in my drapes, chewed up my houseplants, knocked over any stray waterglasses, left little paw prints all over my piano... and climbed onto my lap purring while I'm reading, spent hours entertaining Isaiah and Allegra, put up with manhandling from my neices and nephews, given us all little kitty kisses, and have given me the pleasure of hearing my husband talk baby talk while he's petting Walter, who threads in and out of his ankles while Cliff is cooking. I'm eager for them to get outside and do what they were born to do, but they're still too little live out there yet. And to be truthful, I am really enjoying them around the house. <br /><br />Next blog entry: Chase leaves us for the MTC.Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-55851768469776274192010-10-23T13:32:00.001-07:002010-11-28T10:40:27.394-08:00Catching up: July<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdco4Fks0_X8zqiHdLH5Muq7ASemkC4wKTwQH2_0o9kN45kB_1SjLFDfFfFLgGvtLCyo4yTzk-Ta-iyOgJq1Z5mE3-ufLZfIauD7NCOZ5j9ctt3G6Wx4jLyrssf_P8GzC89DVB4r3v-Jaz/s1600/Chase's+b%27day+9+July+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdco4Fks0_X8zqiHdLH5Muq7ASemkC4wKTwQH2_0o9kN45kB_1SjLFDfFfFLgGvtLCyo4yTzk-Ta-iyOgJq1Z5mE3-ufLZfIauD7NCOZ5j9ctt3G6Wx4jLyrssf_P8GzC89DVB4r3v-Jaz/s320/Chase's+b%27day+9+July+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531343496468751010" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqfqTNDcBYd2FRJmc2cyv9srvv4X4FRvkiqz4UhG9-THX1HUijDcRB33bUYFZ2Eki3aDrIGbWPCBoVprSECabcaBTv35AozIzVOGeoxPgvWvUCX3LodYg2FsLdXM219NhXGBk-GuALnH2/s1600/Chase's+b%27day+8+July+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqfqTNDcBYd2FRJmc2cyv9srvv4X4FRvkiqz4UhG9-THX1HUijDcRB33bUYFZ2Eki3aDrIGbWPCBoVprSECabcaBTv35AozIzVOGeoxPgvWvUCX3LodYg2FsLdXM219NhXGBk-GuALnH2/s320/Chase's+b%27day+8+July+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531342754556682146" /></a> Chase turns 19!! We had a birthday celebration and TRIED not to give him too many mission-related gifts. He requested non-mission items. But... he's leaving in a month and it's hard to know what ELSE to give him since he'll be spending the next 2 years as a missionary! Happy birthday, dear Chase!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJThp0jTI9XnvRE7uzBzEmjdFMMka8pwtu5QCjxbzTJngV6WvlzhRCFC0Xnmcmv6DrwIsL-qD8c_kLN930DQjoydd9IH0y76IRpU8XCui74sQDj9ttPo8M9fcXTNIgNTiRxNrEAdgsoqbe/s1600/Cliff's+b%27day+2+July+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJThp0jTI9XnvRE7uzBzEmjdFMMka8pwtu5QCjxbzTJngV6WvlzhRCFC0Xnmcmv6DrwIsL-qD8c_kLN930DQjoydd9IH0y76IRpU8XCui74sQDj9ttPo8M9fcXTNIgNTiRxNrEAdgsoqbe/s320/Cliff's+b%27day+2+July+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531345002589080610" /></a>Cliff also had a birthday this month. My husband is: generous, funny, absolutely dependable, honest, hard-working, loving, giving, strong, skilled, thoughtful, handsome and just plain wonderful. I am forever grateful that he asked me to his Senior Ball in 1984. I love my husband! Happy birthday, honey!<br /><br />(Note the chocolate peanut butter cake that I made totally secretly!!! He thought I did nothing, but I fooled him! Unfortunately, the cake was a bit disappointing. It was a recipe I found online and it was not a "keeper". But the thought was what counted, right sweetie?)<br /><br />A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I was roommates with some wonderful girls and friends with some wonderful people. I was lucky enough to meet with two of them in Monterey this month. Joey and Michelle are two of my very favorite people in the world. Fun to be with, honest, hard-working and wonderful. I love them both. Here we are in beautiful Monterey. Joey, Michelle and I spent the day in Monterey with our husbands, David, Sam and Cliff, accompanied by my friends' delightful daughters. It was a total pleasure. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ41ViGMmkP6Z0YmtEbohmKXxBF9yZWhJijkUrpUHzESTxZloxQE9GTaxn_i2bDpJdH-pj_kEcFRLcxQhK-W744e44hR3qmranDQRSOGjxiyxUvrs05Ku5fqWiz7G2Yg1YfJKNRa3iIJTo/s1600/Monterey+Joey+July+2010.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ41ViGMmkP6Z0YmtEbohmKXxBF9yZWhJijkUrpUHzESTxZloxQE9GTaxn_i2bDpJdH-pj_kEcFRLcxQhK-W744e44hR3qmranDQRSOGjxiyxUvrs05Ku5fqWiz7G2Yg1YfJKNRa3iIJTo/s320/Monterey+Joey+July+2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531348921353784514" /></a> .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQ-jKUeDXk2HDwcHtuGvF2f_MKw9uY5CDo4r_h5czDx9jIZBGN7usl_BTwuM08pos0MDP90kyukDZg9HCM8A1ouEyTjX811dQf0mF9KeyjdFKFD3qwuop-DvehGtCcVZS6_x_3A_jcHo8/s1600/Monterey+Michelle+July+2010.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQ-jKUeDXk2HDwcHtuGvF2f_MKw9uY5CDo4r_h5czDx9jIZBGN7usl_BTwuM08pos0MDP90kyukDZg9HCM8A1ouEyTjX811dQf0mF9KeyjdFKFD3qwuop-DvehGtCcVZS6_x_3A_jcHo8/s320/Monterey+Michelle+July+2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531349110024306386" /></a><br />Joey Sue is on <br />the left <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Michelle is on the right.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f79FPEx6mQ0/TMNM9r_pscI/AAAAAAAAAPU/PaajdL9AYdo/s1600/Monterey+me+July+2010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f79FPEx6mQ0/TMNM9r_pscI/AAAAAAAAAPU/PaajdL9AYdo/s320/Monterey+me+July+2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531349390006530498" /></a> Me! Thanks to Michelle's Sam for taking a picture of me that I don't hate!<br /><br />Monterey is one of my favorite places on earth. I think it is beautiful in any weather, but today was a totally gorgeous day. I took lots of photos, as is my wont in Monterey. Michelle's sweet husband Sam not only took all the photos above, but also took the photo below with the view of the wharf and the seals. Beautiful.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBV82Bf-QeLfeqZ1UanaUsDEpIZhbbdqwsy83FNet3gyP2Oxq8fO_STtKxRBcrffBhMYLK1zyzLdQngeMz3JXmOxOrDjG5NQzjhDQuxLjbh9c7geMMKLhYpb8sXo5R7hkB6C4EzTcPXkV/s1600/Monterey+Wharf+5+July+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBV82Bf-QeLfeqZ1UanaUsDEpIZhbbdqwsy83FNet3gyP2Oxq8fO_STtKxRBcrffBhMYLK1zyzLdQngeMz3JXmOxOrDjG5NQzjhDQuxLjbh9c7geMMKLhYpb8sXo5R7hkB6C4EzTcPXkV/s200/Monterey+Wharf+5+July+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531356436796423858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNq9Kb_UqtY_WtyByRC6BYNx965uI-WCqzLH4mUexLE0QoCAw2X0GfL3S4TD3RTTJhdYT2nQIiQe9ZjolWmgl-9d2yNkXF640Bz_pspenXW8Clf60u09QxHF7sZKccWBx0nvvcpgQG-nOd/s1600/Monterey+wharf+4+July+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNq9Kb_UqtY_WtyByRC6BYNx965uI-WCqzLH4mUexLE0QoCAw2X0GfL3S4TD3RTTJhdYT2nQIiQe9ZjolWmgl-9d2yNkXF640Bz_pspenXW8Clf60u09QxHF7sZKccWBx0nvvcpgQG-nOd/s200/Monterey+wharf+4+July+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531356017025220050" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMRoNdAVmL0k9NHbp3-TeMvnR1vL9dTkRKCTGyYNnETWYr9AZsBPz0au9b8iJ5mnoWdruQ9zdwyRkhk-xxBj8i73A5QgtLgKX7ufvPnnbr-vufBnThluxtZYvPlDzXvrAFnBSZ2Br9WWL/s1600/Monterey+wharf+seals+July+2010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMRoNdAVmL0k9NHbp3-TeMvnR1vL9dTkRKCTGyYNnETWYr9AZsBPz0au9b8iJ5mnoWdruQ9zdwyRkhk-xxBj8i73A5QgtLgKX7ufvPnnbr-vufBnThluxtZYvPlDzXvrAFnBSZ2Br9WWL/s200/Monterey+wharf+seals+July+2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531356897014275106" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneKYEK3CcSSLg0WiSfPIRqA4YfR3Hulw7StgTyXfooMfN-s-Q9GabeWA7wWymp59Rhj3Rz_G2Gt2CL6efAAXjg9B0JJD9b_yTmd4w4K3Y9_W6llp0S6_EoDUgO2GKqU41q8ZK8TKRepZf/s1600/Vicki+Cofer+2+July+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneKYEK3CcSSLg0WiSfPIRqA4YfR3Hulw7StgTyXfooMfN-s-Q9GabeWA7wWymp59Rhj3Rz_G2Gt2CL6efAAXjg9B0JJD9b_yTmd4w4K3Y9_W6llp0S6_EoDUgO2GKqU41q8ZK8TKRepZf/s200/Vicki+Cofer+2+July+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531357757035532034" /></a><br />Finally, my Vicki came home from her mission. She's been my girl since she was a young woman in my ward and I was her YW president. She served an honorable mission and loved it. I'm glad to have her back and I'm especially glad she's made time to come and visit. Welcome home, Vicks!Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-52989259180655361042010-10-23T11:48:00.000-07:002010-10-23T13:17:12.865-07:00Catching up: June<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z3troBDnF29vQm9iELtdo37kdN0Uxrty4AWHjf4ygB6f2DYiCr-j_rCVFxHU_eIJFJCx-5IQ1wi3RhdUIilWbcyB3DlSM_OIxBu1sMVssc-Ty3nCabBgC9bliZwZLVAqlG_dH2EhD8do/s1600/Allegra+trek+outfit3+June+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z3troBDnF29vQm9iELtdo37kdN0Uxrty4AWHjf4ygB6f2DYiCr-j_rCVFxHU_eIJFJCx-5IQ1wi3RhdUIilWbcyB3DlSM_OIxBu1sMVssc-Ty3nCabBgC9bliZwZLVAqlG_dH2EhD8do/s320/Allegra+trek+outfit3+June+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531316744677032674" /></a><br />In June our stake did a Pioneer Trek. Almost every member of my family went--my mom and dad were in charge of the "vignettes", my husband went up as part of the medical team, my Allegra went up as part of the youth group and my Chase went up as part of the "Sweetwater rescue" team. It was a remarkable experience for everyone. I am so PROUD of my Allegra (here, in her Pioneer clothing that she would wear for the entire 3 day trek) for making it! And I'm proud of my son for being part of one of the spiritual highlights of the trek. And I'm proud of my parents for working so hard at those vignettes, which helped the kids understand a bit of what the Pioneers experienced. Here's a photo of Chase carrying his grandmother across the water during the "Sweetwater rescue". He carried his sister across also. So sweet!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_GGMLUsghQooG_EpwidHKkU1KmDosEB-8G3ggJPqmizg7qYK2MeEmRa8UN2Ot3BrQMJxnIqiBx4IN58dgFM8sjreuAZzl_5b8zHm64ppsUX4lUy6mw-anCUJD4IAdE01yNnboqZw7TVW/s1600/Chase+carrying+Grandma+trek.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_GGMLUsghQooG_EpwidHKkU1KmDosEB-8G3ggJPqmizg7qYK2MeEmRa8UN2Ot3BrQMJxnIqiBx4IN58dgFM8sjreuAZzl_5b8zHm64ppsUX4lUy6mw-anCUJD4IAdE01yNnboqZw7TVW/s320/Chase+carrying+Grandma+trek.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531318023398010578" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTOc3u1iw-3QE7M5RN_kAavCITp0K9w74dI33l4bSJrqSHOJIY-d0BWsGbrYWLPJoTI5UHugfHhNA3SZgOZdXsPrWaSDegrTg2MgV0I1ge2GaiDfyLZMg8HCdtJE07n7S_LMwfUcmUoHz/s1600/Ally+getting+her+hair+done+June+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTOc3u1iw-3QE7M5RN_kAavCITp0K9w74dI33l4bSJrqSHOJIY-d0BWsGbrYWLPJoTI5UHugfHhNA3SZgOZdXsPrWaSDegrTg2MgV0I1ge2GaiDfyLZMg8HCdtJE07n7S_LMwfUcmUoHz/s200/Ally+getting+her+hair+done+June+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531320888591624434" /></a><br />The hair battles contine. Doesn't her hair look great? Rayne is in the midst of "doing" her hair. I think Allegra secretly loves it. Allegra turned 15 also this month. Can you believe she starts driver's training in 6 months? I am NOT looking forward to that. But she certainly is. And I gotta admit that not having to drive her to seminary next year is a very happy prospect. But I just can't imagine her behind the wheel of a car! I have a feeling that every age milestone of hers will come as a surprise to me. She is my little girl! My LAST little girl, as a matter of fact, the older "little girl" being all grown up now. I am not ready for the absence of sweet, young Allegra. Of course, I'm holding out hope that I'll like sweet, older Allegra just as much. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrf3vZxOR4ABdbDEuJlMdYCZ4kCd5AoMyFm401hmV7gqztr8K-moKruF-bw8xMAPBOYD6miVDHw_K356l7PnHffC-flt3EtERhyVHSSYfw1fMa4p6EgZjsSPiX8w9peVI9E2xG4bQeIwr/s1600/Isaiah+and+James+temple+bap+June+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrf3vZxOR4ABdbDEuJlMdYCZ4kCd5AoMyFm401hmV7gqztr8K-moKruF-bw8xMAPBOYD6miVDHw_K356l7PnHffC-flt3EtERhyVHSSYfw1fMa4p6EgZjsSPiX8w9peVI9E2xG4bQeIwr/s320/Isaiah+and+James+temple+bap+June+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531323216573062738" /></a> This month also Isaiah (who turned 12 last month and was ordained to the office of a Deacon) went to the temple for the first time to do baptisms for the dead. He was accompanied by his cousin James who was spending the week with us. <br /><br />This month was also: Father's Day (below: hat by Allegra, pot given by Rayne and Chase)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhVNptfGRUKjF2Bhdv-ASPcOGia29FKFNmX43O6x4B7TDlARc-0Vd0I6iET7O9X-wEAnll87N4uo0IrUeeRd5EyxVWe6qmSMVDqXIY90sHPyX6vQ9oCCHqvxZ5J14CdEWrNWd8FAkNLJR/s1600/Cliff+father%27s+day+June+2010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhVNptfGRUKjF2Bhdv-ASPcOGia29FKFNmX43O6x4B7TDlARc-0Vd0I6iET7O9X-wEAnll87N4uo0IrUeeRd5EyxVWe6qmSMVDqXIY90sHPyX6vQ9oCCHqvxZ5J14CdEWrNWd8FAkNLJR/s320/Cliff+father%27s+day+June+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531327045226878290" /></a><br />And we went on a couple of day trips with Chase (spending lots of time with him before he leaves on the mission). This place has been around forever and they say you can get your hamburger any way you want. We liked it, but thought it wasn't above average and cost a little too much for a diner. We still had a good time together, though, as usual. We love our Chase!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92zHYQZU1pq5LswNue7duiFN3zntuZewu9h8go0sl863ETyIC1fZtxLdngNllc2F_NZp4zudrWczo2k6nNmGz69hI7GywDuXkvC0BjMs7-ez1OTBzICtuUipIeoN0k9ZizZiOW3R9t62P/s1600/Chase's+day+trip1+d+June+2010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92zHYQZU1pq5LswNue7duiFN3zntuZewu9h8go0sl863ETyIC1fZtxLdngNllc2F_NZp4zudrWczo2k6nNmGz69hI7GywDuXkvC0BjMs7-ez1OTBzICtuUipIeoN0k9ZizZiOW3R9t62P/s320/Chase's+day+trip1+d+June+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531328759785206306" /></a><br />And my nephew Scott graduated from Junior High school! What I wanna know is, when did they start having graduation ceremonies from Junior High school? Promotion, yeah, but can it possibly count as graduation? Hm. Still, Scott won every single award except for one. I was sitting by his mom and she was getting a little embarrassed by his repeated returning to the podium. :) He's such a nice boy. I love my nephews!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSiNI04SiPgpbElTROSAjS_TMPjI3zJ1g3jz-jPFEw_-4dbBSzFgy2SDyJvzVmaInADntU9VOKvtxEPizVWZGN5hs6K9b_y4ns1_o4HY00It0EQ6hhsJbHdpq284uq0NHVn_Z2tNTy1u8/s1600/Scott+with+awards2+June+2010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSiNI04SiPgpbElTROSAjS_TMPjI3zJ1g3jz-jPFEw_-4dbBSzFgy2SDyJvzVmaInADntU9VOKvtxEPizVWZGN5hs6K9b_y4ns1_o4HY00It0EQ6hhsJbHdpq284uq0NHVn_Z2tNTy1u8/s320/Scott+with+awards2+June+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531332068078422482" /></a><br />Finally, the most important thing we did in June was to go to the temple with Chase. That was a very sweet experience. I have always dreamed of being in the temple with my children. Chase is the first fulfillment of that dream. Here he is with his Grandfather and Grandmother.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yczBSUEnfrzN8msD2eVVuQiVNfHq2xY-97M8R8k0TkUBidXCE7GSGD4zbhBVNxKRZowHBw3NKdK4ETJhISx9NaU0ag-tS4hyoze-HhvrcmJ9F7cKobNtTcJWgh9pMQ2Y37TZtewinPI0/s1600/Chase+and+grandparents+G+temple+June+2010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yczBSUEnfrzN8msD2eVVuQiVNfHq2xY-97M8R8k0TkUBidXCE7GSGD4zbhBVNxKRZowHBw3NKdK4ETJhISx9NaU0ag-tS4hyoze-HhvrcmJ9F7cKobNtTcJWgh9pMQ2Y37TZtewinPI0/s320/Chase+and+grandparents+G+temple+June+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531334438096205234" /></a>Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-51828491201329044842010-05-10T16:58:00.000-07:002010-05-10T19:26:07.149-07:00The hair wars continue... I want her hair down. She wants her hair up. I want the hair brushed all the time. She wants to brush on an "as-needed" basis and our definitions of "as-needed" differ. Greatly. If only her hair were my hair, I say, I would truly appreciate it. If she had my hair she could cut it short and forget about it. Sigh. Anyway, perhaps a temporary cease-fire has been reached--I am requested to brush and braid it on a daily basis. She has compassion on me. My beautiful girl.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPi0aSlU9Xrgc898O7dMekB4Sx9KR8FjnHriR9mCVWohNUeXGbSbSJLM-ShZqLcMipOn2RU_VZhl1nOBPi8jj5jDKj-W13giOQrk69hWHkJS2SRtz77nt2jVjwwrvKdUVKrq2Hu_eI78B/s1600/Allegra+May+10+2010.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPi0aSlU9Xrgc898O7dMekB4Sx9KR8FjnHriR9mCVWohNUeXGbSbSJLM-ShZqLcMipOn2RU_VZhl1nOBPi8jj5jDKj-W13giOQrk69hWHkJS2SRtz77nt2jVjwwrvKdUVKrq2Hu_eI78B/s320/Allegra+May+10+2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469802993833422498" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYj7jb7CgGKfWcnBMakR5078l1SRJ3HrC7em9tJo_hnT7a3Ogl_vLFVKr5Ym4Mirk54x9ZKcHgO8j6uAH_OTPvA0cu0taUpUX9J-FcQkaPD47Ul7rnEOs2BH_h_o4yIbIUbix6Zjz8nHCq/s1600/Ally's+braid2+May+10+2010.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYj7jb7CgGKfWcnBMakR5078l1SRJ3HrC7em9tJo_hnT7a3Ogl_vLFVKr5Ym4Mirk54x9ZKcHgO8j6uAH_OTPvA0cu0taUpUX9J-FcQkaPD47Ul7rnEOs2BH_h_o4yIbIUbix6Zjz8nHCq/s320/Ally's+braid2+May+10+2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469803616382475714" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The tall man got all 4 wisdom teeth out. He did the manly thing: he drank his food and he took no vicodin. He kept waiting for the pain to be unbearable enough for the big drugs, but he ended up being fine with ibuprofen and ice. Ice especially for the first 24 hours. Things he didn't get to eat when his mouth was sore: pork chops, fish and chips (homemade), pizza, sweet and sour meatballs... I thought we should have eaten all his favorite things, but I'm just mean that way. I tenderly cared for him with: mashed potatoes, broth, yogurt, cottage cheese, diet shakes, ice cream, smooshed pasta, smooth chili. And! We forgot to take his mission photo before the extraction, so we had to take one the evening after his teeth were taken. Here he is, numbed (notice the inability to smile), swollen and very tired, with jeans on the bottom half and the new suit on the top half. Sweet man.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEWv7m3wvisa8trBAQ4Oz5uPdVMfQjsPiuB3OOtfXRLbZv_vc5LYmedcbfhULAIjUnfL6ihCFf8CT-_EZpo1WwQ9UMJC0BwCqFnL7rK2PMGRXDY74YlRHXHgzxeTcmt_0TXtCe8M5ISMb/s1600/Chase+6+April+2010+final+choice.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEWv7m3wvisa8trBAQ4Oz5uPdVMfQjsPiuB3OOtfXRLbZv_vc5LYmedcbfhULAIjUnfL6ihCFf8CT-_EZpo1WwQ9UMJC0BwCqFnL7rK2PMGRXDY74YlRHXHgzxeTcmt_0TXtCe8M5ISMb/s320/Chase+6+April+2010+final+choice.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469808951140957714" /></a><br /><br />The CAR is almost done! Actually, it is done and sitting at school, drying in the paint booth. Chase says it looks really good. Here are photos of Chase in the painting booth and the car all primered and ready for the final coats.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGAxU7CX7xTlTcJzyH7jiWW9JER4ZQEEOdxkwqxt6k6CYkc0b4qlPh_qhZSZieE-4ILHR22XLFattll7zi_L4-fM8PGIxP1VJyzW4b3BYwr9WzeFn2I2zygRZ25pr1UIEcwxTI-Bu4UhI/s1600/Chase+painting+his+car2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGAxU7CX7xTlTcJzyH7jiWW9JER4ZQEEOdxkwqxt6k6CYkc0b4qlPh_qhZSZieE-4ILHR22XLFattll7zi_L4-fM8PGIxP1VJyzW4b3BYwr9WzeFn2I2zygRZ25pr1UIEcwxTI-Bu4UhI/s320/Chase+painting+his+car2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469810266313258002" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KkAFunZXDqSiWgWR8-GdPVsOfhkD6cBI0fydKJOKcphNIQMZfPW2DlOpMbIWBF_pmUxxnwxO4qqHS06rtneHXtZqtFG5ke6VddJazTrycBv4tHqycWJboekfxqcjWH0C52k4CP6zOyLX/s1600/Chase's+car+fresh+primer.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KkAFunZXDqSiWgWR8-GdPVsOfhkD6cBI0fydKJOKcphNIQMZfPW2DlOpMbIWBF_pmUxxnwxO4qqHS06rtneHXtZqtFG5ke6VddJazTrycBv4tHqycWJboekfxqcjWH0C52k4CP6zOyLX/s320/Chase's+car+fresh+primer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469815721023462578" /></a><br />He brings it home tomorrow. Here's the official description of how he chose to paint it: "black primer underneath red pearl in the clear coat". I can't wait to see it. I'll post photos. It's a totally original choice--he made it up himself. So, after months of body work and tons and tons of sanding, he is just about done. He says all he has left to do is the final very very very fine sanding (to get rid of the "orange peel look") and a buffing. Then it will be perfect. I think he might cry like a baby when he gets the first ding on that paint job. And I've already announced to all current and future adolescent drivers that no one but I and DAD will be driving the car while Chase is on the mission. For one thing, I can't wait to drop the insurance on a teenager driving a sports car! <br />And no, we have not yet received the mission call. We expect it any time. Maybe this week? Maybe next. All summer plans are on hold until we know what his schedule will be like. I've got butterflies in my stomach already, thinking about my very very nice son being away for so many months. And, you know, once they leave home, it's never quite the same again. However, in my experience, although it's certainly not the same, it's not less happy. A good change is okay with me. And he's making a good change.<br /><br />My baby turned 12 this week and was ordained a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. One of the things I love about him is his ability to take serious things seriously. He is an intense little boy when the matter is serious. He's a genuinely good boy too. Here he is with his birthday ice cream pie (probably the easiest dessert to make EVER), and with his birthday loot--one present every hour for the 12 hours of his 12th birthday. Note the pj bottoms that Allegra made out of outgrown t-shirts (wow!). <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiom3_l9n60sl8y9KV39Q5FZCbREtIyfiw4blgAlC4gubchbjVnr7vKOmT4FZ3meBnvS9Nj8T2vmIMWXp6-s0M6lnopBwq93lOCJW6t35ZNC8lFbbQ39nCn_3SGDX0nt36T-bTlvxgZUDxa/s1600/Isaiah+birthday+pie+May+8+2010.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiom3_l9n60sl8y9KV39Q5FZCbREtIyfiw4blgAlC4gubchbjVnr7vKOmT4FZ3meBnvS9Nj8T2vmIMWXp6-s0M6lnopBwq93lOCJW6t35ZNC8lFbbQ39nCn_3SGDX0nt36T-bTlvxgZUDxa/s320/Isaiah+birthday+pie+May+8+2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469819884864617810" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EHWDiA6kSAeJ-_P8d-rO7-npfX_UwuTzhyphenhyphen9DAAh8pdUqRScdzS-0zL8ZOs3vF2hqLwyvFoUYc2eBSUQTRisvPXhTGaEqKjelXT4Ng-Ql3qY6ds9PlnRXKMKDZn-1j1x9dWSvOJuGQMNA/s1600/Isaiah+birthday+haul+May+8+2010.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EHWDiA6kSAeJ-_P8d-rO7-npfX_UwuTzhyphenhyphen9DAAh8pdUqRScdzS-0zL8ZOs3vF2hqLwyvFoUYc2eBSUQTRisvPXhTGaEqKjelXT4Ng-Ql3qY6ds9PlnRXKMKDZn-1j1x9dWSvOJuGQMNA/s320/Isaiah+birthday+haul+May+8+2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469820467649840114" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A few weeks ago I drove to Idaho (by myself) to visit Rayne and help her get ready for her "literary pilgrimage"--the study abroad program that she got into this year. During spring break, when everyone's housing contracts end and begin and most students go home for the week, Rayne had to be on campus every day for 7 hours or so for the first of the two weeks her literary pilgrimage program spent on campus. Of course, her housing contract had expired the weekend before spring break and she had no new housing contract since she'd be leaving the country in 2 weeks. So, that left her homeless in Rexburg Idaho for 2 weeks. The first few days of the first week she moved in with a friend, slept in an empty bed (cuz the other tenants were still away for spring break) and lived out of her boxes. Then I came and we loaded all her boxes and suitcases and bags into the car and unloaded everything into my little hotel room. Can you tell which bed is hers? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6VtdFnmT1SZ7IexVhjbEc33sjjmgBRfsTectn5KfYOw94hHOgNRs04HQhyphenhyphenRBha4xWY_SWfqSe2aULjknWocyMMfTYlA0lxTcXbD4W5tYJdXLsURVrsJ6EfV7oAaVn7Z2oQ81Pn-nw3zd/s1600/our+hotel+room+Idaho+April+2010.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6VtdFnmT1SZ7IexVhjbEc33sjjmgBRfsTectn5KfYOw94hHOgNRs04HQhyphenhyphenRBha4xWY_SWfqSe2aULjknWocyMMfTYlA0lxTcXbD4W5tYJdXLsURVrsJ6EfV7oAaVn7Z2oQ81Pn-nw3zd/s320/our+hotel+room+Idaho+April+2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469830079049343362" /></a> Rayne actually slept in that bed without removing any of the stuff from off the top of it. And our very sweet housecleaner at that hotel actually managed to make the bed after a fashion without disturbing our piles. Anyway, we spent some happy days packing and shopping and planning and going to dinner and hanging out with her friends before I finally shipped her boxes, transported her with her remaining things back to her friend's apartment and drove away. She slept on the floor at her friend's for another 5 days or so before she took the shuttle for SLC, slept on the floor at another friend's place for a few nights and finally got on the plane to Dublin, Ireland. Such a great experience for her! She's having a ball and has been to Ireland, England, Wales, England again, Wales again and will return once more to England before finishing the trip in France. I'm really looking forward to her return--I can't wait to see the photos and all the loot she's purchased! <br /><br />So that sums up the last month, I guess. We're so blessed.Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-20287992366601392102010-04-07T17:45:00.000-07:002010-04-07T20:41:28.039-07:00It's been a long time since I've posted on this blog. Here are some of the photos I liked best from the past few months.<br /><br />We had some huge storms in November and December that tore up our trees and anything else we had left outside. Many trees blew over. Our trampoline, even though we tied it down, was taken apart by the wind. I love these storms, even when they're violent. I have always loved rainstorms. And they turn our hills beautifully green. And afterwards we often get the most beautiful rainbows.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGVNgdIrCyOsgMFlfPh8Vo-YgQDeAkNjWIYos46dcmrqE46xjrF3fE-RY7wzbvXMWBKb0O_zC1EBLKuMMz6F09El0ijU_IX3pnU6JNfl8cUEPFuAimubu2yXYjoKrOXk3paOV8g98zv_b/s1600/Double+rainbow+2+Dec+12+2009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGVNgdIrCyOsgMFlfPh8Vo-YgQDeAkNjWIYos46dcmrqE46xjrF3fE-RY7wzbvXMWBKb0O_zC1EBLKuMMz6F09El0ijU_IX3pnU6JNfl8cUEPFuAimubu2yXYjoKrOXk3paOV8g98zv_b/s320/Double+rainbow+2+Dec+12+2009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457562313174287570" /></a><br />Often we can see the whole thing--from one side to the other. This rainbow looked like it ended right in our hills. If there really were pots of gold at the end... well, we could have our entire 6 acres professionally landscaped by now!!<br /><br /><br />Every Christmas, like in many families, our kids get new PJs. This Christmas Cliff and I had the *brilliant* idea to create a family crest and print it on tees and then buy PJ bottoms. Well, we thought it was brilliant anyway. My mom liked it too! The kids were less impressed. Oh well. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkMWwQgZtFxnCWN2y0JXIIn4EUqIxUSxH6DyVLpAhFU836cG_CFlJX1UdVAvAbOlqc-RJZBPX5O3DAVtO9U5KvG6RwcOwbPY5sH8bFmI-Hrx2bCUcudZhzF5WE242dR9goUB7ZdhbsQsI/s1600/kids'+pjs+10+Dec+24,+2009.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkMWwQgZtFxnCWN2y0JXIIn4EUqIxUSxH6DyVLpAhFU836cG_CFlJX1UdVAvAbOlqc-RJZBPX5O3DAVtO9U5KvG6RwcOwbPY5sH8bFmI-Hrx2bCUcudZhzF5WE242dR9goUB7ZdhbsQsI/s200/kids'+pjs+10+Dec+24,+2009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457594452482524274" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3087-MgqlT6SNcDHLtmlouv-pKazzfZ9iqldlxETg8fp1uzDiCevQVKQsho09uDbok0EU067WglksFpK5Zrev_tdjREHrVmxW1vVKIDHDOTidWSqg-TfIU8fcRDvZFE7X9nTzr7yEiRaC/s1600/kids'+pjs+10+Dec+24,+2009.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3<br />.bp.blogspot.com/_f79FPEx6mQ0/S70-SiodHpI/AAAAAAAAALA/huBin_0YJhM/s320/kids%27+pjs+10+Dec+24,+2009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457586811697962642" /></a><br /> Anyway, the kids and I had a hilarious time taking pictures together after they all had their t-shirts on. I think I took dozens of pictures trying to get the "perfect" one. But once they started laughing, they couldn't stop. So I didn't get any "perfect" photos, but I got a lot of adorable ones. <br /><br />We have been blessed with a lot of bread for many months now. This is something we LOVE. We are full of gratitude for those that make it possible. Not only does it stretch our grocery money, but we are able to share it with others. Bagels anyone? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRHeq65fxnMLf2yaKTrLa7S2U2sYhYNRbdtIJ4wZSmoTqMPaRwU0R0hxxHeWDRwdSnW7n65W56gzBPNsxrdqQBRBdnlPL81TjXZKQfpHk7RJBWLDsShVpaCuhyV7xq3psmoWnu5NdfcNl/s1600/oodles+of+bagels+3-12-2010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRHeq65fxnMLf2yaKTrLa7S2U2sYhYNRbdtIJ4wZSmoTqMPaRwU0R0hxxHeWDRwdSnW7n65W56gzBPNsxrdqQBRBdnlPL81TjXZKQfpHk7RJBWLDsShVpaCuhyV7xq3psmoWnu5NdfcNl/s320/oodles+of+bagels+3-12-2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457588020284355570" /></a><br /><br />There is no season more beautiful here than Spring. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww1lusoBHT3twPzrJz5STW7mgXWyKt6Mmacn2O32DntmyX1EFTNQP23msGGg2ddGXytGWNyIdD1tjHju9bWbEyJJ0OCWdjcIvJM5v8aO-9lAiLGIkGcOzOCE8MclIuMR_86CTv3rQeKMf/s1600/our+home+April+2010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww1lusoBHT3twPzrJz5STW7mgXWyKt6Mmacn2O32DntmyX1EFTNQP23msGGg2ddGXytGWNyIdD1tjHju9bWbEyJJ0OCWdjcIvJM5v8aO-9lAiLGIkGcOzOCE8MclIuMR_86CTv3rQeKMf/s320/our+home+April+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457590501441622738" /></a> I looked at last year's Easter pictures and our front yard was all dirt. We had a few trees and a few straggling bushes. Last year my mom planted a few poppies and this spring, after a few good rainstorms we had THIS in our front yard! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8ppdn2BLT8z4X1Bh_ufcsDOeSTGIaUFLK4c9MGhkid5Dsf_G_Wb10ol8MjZmRsK4MIoC-7V9JSzF9KcktLDRpqHX5jdBsL8ohsNHTj87rlebgoqXjaOJRlfBgYhs7bO6RbU9Zfb0TYZ1/s1600/front+yard+April+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8ppdn2BLT8z4X1Bh_ufcsDOeSTGIaUFLK4c9MGhkid5Dsf_G_Wb10ol8MjZmRsK4MIoC-7V9JSzF9KcktLDRpqHX5jdBsL8ohsNHTj87rlebgoqXjaOJRlfBgYhs7bO6RbU9Zfb0TYZ1/s200/front+yard+April+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457599296042688738" /></a><br />Those poppies self-propagated everywhere and they look so beautiful against the deep purple lavender. We have so many poppies that Mom has had to weed some out. They blossom everywhere--even in the cracks in the concrete. So now we know two things that grow eagerly here: poppies and lavender. Oh! And you can't see it in this picture, but our ornamental cherry tree (in the front) blew over in one of the storms--it didn't get uprooted, though--it just got ripped away from half its roots. Dad gave it up for dead, but Cliff went out there and reburied it and staked it. And lo and behold! It lived! It is in glorious blossom also this spring. I'm so glad! I've never grown so attached to trees as I have here because all of the ones around our house are babies and we want so much for them to get big and lush, so every loss is a sad one. I've posted pictures of the sycamore in the back... we lost that sycamore. We've lost our Asian pears (the ground squirrels ate them), most of our ornamental cherries, and several of our oaks. Some get uprooted in storms, some get chomped by our co-tenants here and some just... don't like it here. Since no one's lived here before us, we are starting from scratch with everything. It's very interesting. Gives me a feeling for those frontier families (Little House on the Prarie maybe?) who settled and planted and hoped for the best. With no grocery stores to fall back on. Our garden for the last few years has been straggling along... very little produce because we were still trying to figure out what works here. This year we've moved the garden and hopefully we'll have a very big harvest. Already there are seedlings all over the house--in all the warmest windowsills--and in our little makeshift greenhouses in the yard. Go garden!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ2e6iiy53CxAg8XsvPUXCOgm5QIuZGnScXkjtKrXiCvmSL7w-0FKeZme1KlA70TWDNgF2zfNOY_ms3jgdOZIsPpDUdxcXQgM2WYmyufY0flKA2Lry9mpgxWEfGA_T9QY0eq85nEN2ZV3/s1600/Bees+in+the+lavender2+April+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ2e6iiy53CxAg8XsvPUXCOgm5QIuZGnScXkjtKrXiCvmSL7w-0FKeZme1KlA70TWDNgF2zfNOY_ms3jgdOZIsPpDUdxcXQgM2WYmyufY0flKA2Lry9mpgxWEfGA_T9QY0eq85nEN2ZV3/s320/Bees+in+the+lavender2+April+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457590074648674466" /></a> My dad called me out to look at the lavender this afternoon. All of the bushes were buzzing! Someone around here must keep bees because we had hundreds in our lavender bushes, industrially gathering good good pollen that will make somebody some very tasty lavender honey. Bees are good for our orchard and our garden too. Beautiful bees. Can you see them in the picture? Look for the little yellow bodies.<br /> <br /><br />We had a very fun Easter this year, even though our Rayne couldn't come home for it. I'm trying to think of different things to do to tweak our traditional Easter activities and make them a bit more interesting for my older children. This year instead of our traditional huge Easter egg hunt, we had a much smaller one--a glow in the dark one--at night. We taped reflector tape on the eggs and sent the kids out with flashlights to hunt. It was a lot of fun! Then on Easter morning, rather than the traditional clue-driven hunt for the Easter baskets, we tied the end of a ball of yarn <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuV6By52BiRB7RljwMmu6dztohfvmjNoLEdoSFjUm2nEpuKbfLdvNgSnYBndqR0ZRm51pBe3AKZh7E4Bk73mSSHZqSGPAitJj3Desya_KVchyphenhyphenl5GUx1-QqlHdxP2KvRP__Ks6ivD9dyJcz/s1600/the+yarn+for+the+maze+April+2010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuV6By52BiRB7RljwMmu6dztohfvmjNoLEdoSFjUm2nEpuKbfLdvNgSnYBndqR0ZRm51pBe3AKZh7E4Bk73mSSHZqSGPAitJj3Desya_KVchyphenhyphenl5GUx1-QqlHdxP2KvRP__Ks6ivD9dyJcz/s200/the+yarn+for+the+maze+April+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457591219465277634" /></a> to each basket. White for Chase, dark red for Isaiah, pink for Allegra. Then we strung that yarn all over the house, into every room, out to the garage, in and out of cars, out to the front and back yards... we strung yarn until each ball was used up. Cliff and I had to crawl around on the floor to get back to the beginning of the maze! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ1UUY417mct4XXd0sVo2yug6AmEt0tqZEiJKfqTbzy2ZvHqTosLe3XQWoHpd91Y76jAEfBKlmXmfSHpMYwn9kR-TYpPLVDQCRLo_0gioilMVI7smwFud7bnfMnrCvI7FLkuKs9egmXQU/s1600/Easter+basket+maze2+April+2010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ1UUY417mct4XXd0sVo2yug6AmEt0tqZEiJKfqTbzy2ZvHqTosLe3XQWoHpd91Y76jAEfBKlmXmfSHpMYwn9kR-TYpPLVDQCRLo_0gioilMVI7smwFud7bnfMnrCvI7FLkuKs9egmXQU/s320/Easter+basket+maze2+April+2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457590875691891378" /></a> Then we gave each child his end of the yarn and they spent the next 15-20 minutes following their yarn and rolling it back into balls, finding their baskets. They really liked it and so did we. I think it was one of the best Easters we've had in awhile. Except for missing Rayne. And our kids are old enough now to voluntarily watch all the sessions of conference and they LISTEN and we even DISCUSS it. Amazing, I know. Yes, they did built a huge blanket fort in the family room, from which to watch conference--bless Chase's heart for still being willing to play with his siblings!! It was a wonderful weekend. <br /><br />Chase, by the way, is in the midst of getting his mission paperwork ready. Our part was easy to fill out. It's the doctors stuff that is taking some time. Word to the wise: keep good track of your kids' immunization records cuz you'll need them. I thought I kept pretty good track, but I spent quite a few hours tracking down dates from a variety of locations. And he's needed some dental stuff too. We've kept on top of that, so that hasn't been too complicated, although he's got to get all 4 wisdom teeth out at the end of the month. Cliff has a sense of urgency to get it all done. I want to get those papers in too, but Chase is so nice to have around.... and once he goes it'll never be the same... and Isaiah will miss him so much... I guess I just don't have quite that same sense of urgency. By the end of the month, though, those papers will be in. AND the car will be painted. (See, that's the only mention of the car I'll make in this blog even though it's a subject of considerable interest in this house and has been for lo, these many months.)<br /><br />I go to visit Rayne in Rexburg next week. I'm very excited. She leaves in a few weeks for her study abroad program. We won't see her until she returns in late May. So I go to help her pack, to ship her unneeded stuff back home, to store stuff that may stay in Idaho and to find good shoes (think we can agree on the meaning of the word "good"?) and a perfect carry on bag (which is all she's allowed to take with her for 6 weeks in Europe). I can't wait! I'll take pictures.<br /><br />And perhaps I'll post again soon. Perhaps. I'm not very good at this blogging thing. Hopefully I'll do better....Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-75954944250249586102009-11-13T09:12:00.000-08:002009-11-13T11:13:34.532-08:00Our Autumn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsRb3452tgiaIl01LyJIHzub-2_esvET2Gk4iHVApHRsvYOPMxUr82gfbF0OXJ8byYUE1ABAWsA3nWlhQmo7oqp1eyfI1d0jLYc2Hq5LVFcQGM4SWMTZHAz6q6dpmR_d6Jyf3D0i3zqlX/s1600-h/TOY+marquee+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsRb3452tgiaIl01LyJIHzub-2_esvET2Gk4iHVApHRsvYOPMxUr82gfbF0OXJ8byYUE1ABAWsA3nWlhQmo7oqp1eyfI1d0jLYc2Hq5LVFcQGM4SWMTZHAz6q6dpmR_d6Jyf3D0i3zqlX/s320/TOY+marquee+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403648152457142946" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSjc5soCP4lDho2-mY1N7_LCQ2c0YiPBlxg9W4Up1O-Dxpouk0X8uL-xH7zXe0DklARrxhC1FWV2ZqwYKvIHibu-0oCZCT3XCDH0VwDVtxRuDPHs9n6pkyESSgIcr363RPgttfHHk42G3/s1600-h/TOY+marquee+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSjc5soCP4lDho2-mY1N7_LCQ2c0YiPBlxg9W4Up1O-Dxpouk0X8uL-xH7zXe0DklARrxhC1FWV2ZqwYKvIHibu-0oCZCT3XCDH0VwDVtxRuDPHs9n6pkyESSgIcr363RPgttfHHk42G3/s320/TOY+marquee+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403647857455887682" /></a><br /><br />Can you see the marquee in these little photos? I stood on the corner of the street for 5 minutes or so waiting for the perfect moment: Cliff's name on the board, no cars or trucks in the way, the perfect zoom setting to get the words clearly, etc. I'm sure anyone who noticed some lady taking photos on the street corner thought I was one brick shy of a full load. Or a stalker. Or something. Anyway, Cliff won Teacher of the Year for Fremont ROP. He and a teacher from every other district in Alameda County were honored at the county offices. They promised them all big bonus checks and instructed them to go to the "green room" after the ceremonies to receive their bonuses. Eagerly they all trooped to the "green room" only to be told that "the check was in the mail". Apparently the last (and most generous) donor's check had not yet arrived at the county offices, so the bonus checks could not be written quite yet. But they would certainly have them in the next week or so. Now, a month later, there is no check and the friendly assurances are not so forthcoming as they were in the first week or two.... Teacher of the Year is certainly a nice thing. It's an honor and an accolade. However, it's tempting to decide that it's just one more version of lip service that we pay to teachers.... hm. All cynicism aside, though, I'm very proud of Cliff. He excels at everything he does. He's a great teacher, with huge, popular classes and with students who remember and use what he teaches. So, Congratulations! to my man.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSQhVq_wQEVE7vst_UB-WHkkzcEWrEI8JR3U5AdV8TSeV-CyO0SHWJ-dLSEpr7g5roRFrwXCBYsy8MkVvC-pw90uEk_OOiekO6TxfZ8rXHvy7c4uZV4LlD7RK37o-ZmcD0ces-vhAtPze/s1600-h/Mesa,+CO+river+and+trees.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSQhVq_wQEVE7vst_UB-WHkkzcEWrEI8JR3U5AdV8TSeV-CyO0SHWJ-dLSEpr7g5roRFrwXCBYsy8MkVvC-pw90uEk_OOiekO6TxfZ8rXHvy7c4uZV4LlD7RK37o-ZmcD0ces-vhAtPze/s320/Mesa,+CO+river+and+trees.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403649133875597538" /></a><br />Gorgeous, gorgeous colorado. The two youngest and their two cousins and I visited my grandmother in her little beautiful Western Colorado town. It was apple season and I bought the most delicious apples! I'd forgotten what orchard-fresh apples actually tasted like. I'd gotten used to the grocery store version. This photo was taken on the Mesa. The best fall color is past already (it was the beginning of October) but it's still beautiful up there--the aspens are yellow and the evergreens are dark and the air is crisp.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgc6s12N7_kbkdiD5b9rnqZq3DWmS3QLpV4-mQkUrX5d-4OkjVz9VlqMQcOLFIMiIY45goo1Rb_cM9zukkfiZWeDwqkUl3Mlg-sAw6bBS0Ia3Agz5bUWtYg4JLHydmGX5QamGa5xkqHdJ/s1600-h/Kiser+Creek,+CO+pipe,+kids+in+background.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgc6s12N7_kbkdiD5b9rnqZq3DWmS3QLpV4-mQkUrX5d-4OkjVz9VlqMQcOLFIMiIY45goo1Rb_cM9zukkfiZWeDwqkUl3Mlg-sAw6bBS0Ia3Agz5bUWtYg4JLHydmGX5QamGa5xkqHdJ/s320/Kiser+Creek,+CO+pipe,+kids+in+background.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403650327666733282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoSUC5t682i5ZtrXDnpv47MqO4nFTqdrxsDTmDTt5vFj7iGieTk1eLAa59wC3oO8IxFA7MlBSKoO6hCpxD_95RpxEdD8cf5gG5ikl0VMeSBJOhvi7I2N2YhdoKQxm91BdznObpAWNhBXp/s1600-h/Kiser+Creek,+CO+beautiful.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoSUC5t682i5ZtrXDnpv47MqO4nFTqdrxsDTmDTt5vFj7iGieTk1eLAa59wC3oO8IxFA7MlBSKoO6hCpxD_95RpxEdD8cf5gG5ikl0VMeSBJOhvi7I2N2YhdoKQxm91BdznObpAWNhBXp/s320/Kiser+Creek,+CO+beautiful.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403650789350645266" /></a><br />On the Mesa is a creek and a reservoir named after my Grandfather's family. They were some of the earliest settlers in this little town and my forbears were part of the group of men who dug out the numerous reservoirs and waterways that feed their lovely little valley. Of course my kids just liked throwing rocks into the water, especially when they found a patch of thick ice. Could they break it with the rocks? Yes, they could! When my grandma is gone, we probably won't visit this part of the country. It's a long drive and she is the motivating factor for us to make it. I hope my kids have visited often enough now for them to retain a sense of the history for us in this little town. I love it here.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k9LrbaJ11w6FF4EBhLBXD6JKrVerkAIOv-R6Kh_bgtoLFSUR3lnCwReHcnPe7K03Mp0IiICMT_v8P7FI5N00jTh4ZOjJiV8FKJPMOnfH4pEXFBk_CRPx50ia_edLNvvX_vh7poFaVidu/s1600-h/Cedaredge,+CO+Zay+and+Scott+muddy.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k9LrbaJ11w6FF4EBhLBXD6JKrVerkAIOv-R6Kh_bgtoLFSUR3lnCwReHcnPe7K03Mp0IiICMT_v8P7FI5N00jTh4ZOjJiV8FKJPMOnfH4pEXFBk_CRPx50ia_edLNvvX_vh7poFaVidu/s320/Cedaredge,+CO+Zay+and+Scott+muddy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403652417246411826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOhAU_qWCuIzdKkbsCyEnFIKSaZkonDKrfO0TQt9NfGmaUDmKxbfOGvg_SzAiD5pgaE16ANBQf-9iRl-j1Bigd1YV_5hru4tZHy0FqwjxMqJ-wr-GSDIX4fMiMmLBc14L0_Wq1ktrcXwB/s1600-h/Cedaredge,+CO+muddy+Allegra.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOhAU_qWCuIzdKkbsCyEnFIKSaZkonDKrfO0TQt9NfGmaUDmKxbfOGvg_SzAiD5pgaE16ANBQf-9iRl-j1Bigd1YV_5hru4tZHy0FqwjxMqJ-wr-GSDIX4fMiMmLBc14L0_Wq1ktrcXwB/s320/Cedaredge,+CO+muddy+Allegra.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403652757027919506" /></a><br />What the kids love about visiting the ranch: mud fights are a desirable activity, even if you have to scrub the dried mud off of the house the next day (I did a lot of washing of clothing, too). Budding architects can build dams in the creek (as long as Grandma K doesn't catch them). You can leave your shirt off all day (if you're a boy). You can build paper boats and race them down the creek. You can build fires every day--outside in the fire pit and inside in the stove. You can chop up wood--with a real axe!--for said fires. You can walk downtown unaccompanied and spend all your money at the local variety store (Duckwalls)--they have everything! Grandma makes enough food for you to eat until you are stuffed full. And then you can have the leftovers 10 minutes later when you're hungry again. At the right time of year, there's Applefest--a huge fair downtown with shopping, face-painting, food, games--all within walking distance of the ranch. If it's cold enough on the Mesa (as it is any time after summer is over), there'll be snow--at least enough to build a snowman and throw a few snowballs. When I was younger we'd sneak into the barn and jump on the piles of my Grandpa's hay bales. Now, though, Grandpa's gone and there's a friend who leases the pastures and the barn and I don't let my kids jump on his hay. :) Too bad. That was really fun. Until Grandpa caught us. Anyway, we had a great time, with a lot of driving (which I love) and a lot of visiting with people we love.<br />In other news... <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRiIpP33wRefz1tf6bdJurf-yxgByjETMsQGIQWX_qa5wnsmtkYnvvL0K02gABQAhf4aSBnjd7jO9KSdjbsKf3FrgyvkVLdJthcT_bU6-jaxoCXo9e9Axfmt2M-zwmfd31kU9LFJpIkFD/s1600-h/beautiful+Rayne.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRiIpP33wRefz1tf6bdJurf-yxgByjETMsQGIQWX_qa5wnsmtkYnvvL0K02gABQAhf4aSBnjd7jO9KSdjbsKf3FrgyvkVLdJthcT_bU6-jaxoCXo9e9Axfmt2M-zwmfd31kU9LFJpIkFD/s320/beautiful+Rayne.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403657340304220290" /></a><br />Beautiful Rayne turned 20. She attempted evasions from all birthday photos taken this evening, but this is the one that I finally snatched, with help from her dad. She's such a nice girl. She's busy working, working... She is VERY excited to go to UK on BYUI's study abroad program. Now her focus is on saving money and planning everything. Gotta get as much as possible ready now since she may or may not be back here before she goes to UK in the spring. She returns to school after the holidays, at the beginning of January. I think she's about ready to go back. She couldn't WAIT to get home in July, but now she's getting tired of working full time and is looking forward to getting back into school and is REALLY looking forward to her trip, of course.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_cZFIXSIh8jWQu-iV8MNtWYec5Ga9eO-FOSCk1i7YAsCMRQS8fyNRu8qvFp1rakjEPu0b0UeiRhH3fE4kZ7WoiuGCSFhaGchvHdolOC_7lbTVnUoUT5iBLiL82sR_NV6DMapeJ87jsJY/s1600-h/Allegra+made+this+hat.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_cZFIXSIh8jWQu-iV8MNtWYec5Ga9eO-FOSCk1i7YAsCMRQS8fyNRu8qvFp1rakjEPu0b0UeiRhH3fE4kZ7WoiuGCSFhaGchvHdolOC_7lbTVnUoUT5iBLiL82sR_NV6DMapeJ87jsJY/s320/Allegra+made+this+hat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403658861303746258" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhmSCF7PMRtNCYMClXm2I2WAYLpiXxmbpUYwLXP7Z73U9nnB7r9d5wt0Ps61yVRFqILBcvbkKOznhUuwraRckWNDqdeqMExZJatDP831L4fbP05YjvVMwrg67-KxkJSX9mKZkG86yypEL/s1600-h/Allegra+is+the+mad+hatter--good+photo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhmSCF7PMRtNCYMClXm2I2WAYLpiXxmbpUYwLXP7Z73U9nnB7r9d5wt0Ps61yVRFqILBcvbkKOznhUuwraRckWNDqdeqMExZJatDP831L4fbP05YjvVMwrg67-KxkJSX9mKZkG86yypEL/s320/Allegra+is+the+mad+hatter--good+photo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403659271366266338" /></a><br />Ally is the most creative person I know. I've said this before, but I am still continually amazed at what she makes with ease--she conceives the project, she plans the project, she fabricates the project. She made this hat from her own design. And she totally made her Mat Hatter bandolier, hat and jacket (with tails at the back of it that you can't see from this angle) from her own design. She later rejected the Mad Hatter costume because she didn't like how it looked on her. All that work! She is a pretty amazing girl. And she IS getting better and better at remembering to clean up after herself :).... I keep reminding myself that genius can't be expected to do everything!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZGPPVaKQHH1R51RqpfVh0Hw4MZrLdZPQyHdG02d6L2n1Yqrft1x_uDdbS9Qm3twjd5KMcvb_tJDZ3FgTFU8Lfe_ksZZlB8LcGQAD5GWla495oziCmcSaJIRpKMitAtB81YziZR2UTTgy/s1600-h/11+year+old+scout+camp+out+closer.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZGPPVaKQHH1R51RqpfVh0Hw4MZrLdZPQyHdG02d6L2n1Yqrft1x_uDdbS9Qm3twjd5KMcvb_tJDZ3FgTFU8Lfe_ksZZlB8LcGQAD5GWla495oziCmcSaJIRpKMitAtB81YziZR2UTTgy/s320/11+year+old+scout+camp+out+closer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403660811329822274" /></a><br />Isaiah's scout group used our backyard for a camp-out. They slept on the "peninsula" and cooked all their food over the fire and then the next morning they practiced shooting with 22s into the hillside. They had lots of fun. Only one desperate parent asked to use the bathroom. Isaiah smelled SO bad the next morning. What is it about camping? Anyway, they had a great time and I didn't have a to lift a finger. But I DID have to remember to close my curtains before I wandered into my bedroom and got ready for bed. No problem.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljUO22umefkse2IhIipvznxJOvHCkRvbs8XYge5A35IJBVjmnd5OajROJFuchZDyvPb34y2HlNhZFbU1AbQQp9rUpOt1avf1mwMjKx3Ambdew0XMA8umSeNWvs4LLoTlc3ioTN5uLuI4K/s1600-h/Dad+in+storm+in+the+front.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljUO22umefkse2IhIipvznxJOvHCkRvbs8XYge5A35IJBVjmnd5OajROJFuchZDyvPb34y2HlNhZFbU1AbQQp9rUpOt1avf1mwMjKx3Ambdew0XMA8umSeNWvs4LLoTlc3ioTN5uLuI4K/s320/Dad+in+storm+in+the+front.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403662342774966450" /></a><br />That big and windy storm that blew in in October was very exciting up here. We tied everything down. During the last storm, the trampoline got blown to pieces and when we collected them all from all over the north side of the property, we found that one of the big pieces was bent backwards. Our kind neighbor welded it back into shape for us. So this time, we tied it down. My dad, however, went out in the middle of the storm to check on all the little trees. They are all tied and supported, but the storm had indeed blown a few of them down and he had to wrestle with them in all the wet. Meanwhile my mom and I had a nice time giggling at his yellow slickers and taking photos of him from the comfort of the house. Doesn't he look cute?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApAitePwuB6LiSUt0QMjkN-EfCp5XpOz7j6tgoRctVIyGDbNip6V-qhnfFBvQtcoKXe0UhpPbz7BFtLpQab1uba2iqLQceA2MPQ8KK1c8RR-vnZtlBMsSr52Vbf5FPIl80U0_cxazXKXW/s1600-h/Galbraith+and+Adams-Hart+kids+on+Halloween.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApAitePwuB6LiSUt0QMjkN-EfCp5XpOz7j6tgoRctVIyGDbNip6V-qhnfFBvQtcoKXe0UhpPbz7BFtLpQab1uba2iqLQceA2MPQ8KK1c8RR-vnZtlBMsSr52Vbf5FPIl80U0_cxazXKXW/s320/Galbraith+and+Adams-Hart+kids+on+Halloween.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403663798273925410" /></a><br />Finally, here are my youngest two and my brother's 4 boys all dressed up for Halloween. We've got a detective, a hobbit, 2 injured boys, Dan (from Bakugon--duh, I'm surprised you didn't recognize him right away), and Darth Vader. Cliff and I took the kids up to Brentwood to trick or treat with their uncle and cousins while he and I (and our friends the Hutchings) went to dinner at Diggers. Yum! It was fun.<br />Postscript:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QZizXweoDCmLkKFqlI6vwtaSvd3WH4mYxsHW4k2xxKA98tZOWRNmbgNof7mxMRTq4GbP9UChyphenhyphens8RKtkhcdnt8ZmN75ZB2pqSwZT-ZlsL4IgSj6_IQ8aO5lUkNpRYHQvdf2JNqQhh0d1a/s1600-h/Chase+on+the+couch.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QZizXweoDCmLkKFqlI6vwtaSvd3WH4mYxsHW4k2xxKA98tZOWRNmbgNof7mxMRTq4GbP9UChyphenhyphens8RKtkhcdnt8ZmN75ZB2pqSwZT-ZlsL4IgSj6_IQ8aO5lUkNpRYHQvdf2JNqQhh0d1a/s320/Chase+on+the+couch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403664829741060802" /></a><br />Yeah, I didn't mention Chase at all this post. But here he is, reclining on the couch. I couldn't complete a post with one kid missing. He just got transferred to the Livermore store and he got a promotion. He's still working on perfecting the body work for... the car... and he's the biggest tightwad in the family. Go Chase! As far as I can tell he's pretty much an EOE (if you don't know what that is, you'll have to ask me in person), but he's so dang charming that most of the time I just smile and nod. :)<br /><br />Oh, and one further postscript:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsNraxg_hHv_KhdKo4fz2xvsKXvS0UFcZ0NEfL0R4krhcN2C1YDoMwpM0qKfECRcUzvtCif0rLUllJK2nRqgvRuz3N3A0Xv1ryBX1duDMur3VIdLClLfuUKZ4CKfaGXmhWvEfNVl23Zd5/s1600-h/kids+kitty+and+container+in+the+morning.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsNraxg_hHv_KhdKo4fz2xvsKXvS0UFcZ0NEfL0R4krhcN2C1YDoMwpM0qKfECRcUzvtCif0rLUllJK2nRqgvRuz3N3A0Xv1ryBX1duDMur3VIdLClLfuUKZ4CKfaGXmhWvEfNVl23Zd5/s320/kids+kitty+and+container+in+the+morning.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403666358684148130" /></a><br />Ah, my typical morning view--the container in the mist! I took this picture because it shows how my kitty hangs out with whomever is working in the back yard. My dad calls her the kit-dog because she follows us around outside and sits at her ease in the vicinity of whomever is working out there. This morning the kids were doing some chore out there and the cat was, of course, present and supervising all outside activities. BUT... today the container is to be moved!!!! Yay! The battle has been won and the container is now to be moved to the side of the house, out of my view. Also today Dad and Cliff and Ernie (we love our neighbors!) will place the 2 new cisterns. Soon we'll have enough rainwater to nourish all our landscaping (including a lawn for me!) and we'll have a workshop/storage shed for the tractor at the side of the house. And my view will be untrammelled. Well, except for the compost, the rock pile, the pea-gravel pile, the wood pile... etc. But the lovely container will be removed from the view. I am very happy. Pictures will be posted.... And maybe I won't leave 2 months to go by before I do it, either!Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-86939503048828663442009-08-15T12:39:00.000-07:002009-08-15T14:07:23.862-07:00On Living in the CountryYou can shoot as many rocks with the slingshot as you want and you can shoot them as far as you want (just not toward the house, of course).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-diwIEvCXku1aciLReu7Qs2hI0A3Qm0tU5Y2oAOs0yBm8gSjCybnhKbynycDPdUKumERvHy4j5F43_bIIyXimiPhJGFz0UN4s9xf9a5clN_KA0bnN9pNzLdDuSXCzn8YpzyEvFLpvLk1-/s1600-h/100_1810.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-diwIEvCXku1aciLReu7Qs2hI0A3Qm0tU5Y2oAOs0yBm8gSjCybnhKbynycDPdUKumERvHy4j5F43_bIIyXimiPhJGFz0UN4s9xf9a5clN_KA0bnN9pNzLdDuSXCzn8YpzyEvFLpvLk1-/s320/100_1810.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370281255091890658" /></a><br />You may find frogs in the cat water. NOTE: the food container is in a frisbee filled with water to keep the ants out--they can't cross the "moat" to the food. The fancy cat food containers that I bought when we first moved here died a long time ago. Give me an empty handi-wipe container and a frisbee any day! I thought at first that this frog had been dragged in by the cats and was dinner-in-waiting, but on closer examination I noticed he still had all his limbs and was unharmed. The cats were both in there looking at him with me, but neither of them seemed interested in making a meal of him. So I determined he needed rescuing and called Cliff in to do the actual handling part of that (ugh. slimy froggie). But apparently the frog found the flash from my camera irritating and he jumped out of the water and moved on. I guess he was just taking a pool break from his travels.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDDTRbuLI430XAtUKiy4vwQgJ_0-0XCbEtSNqUsRP188sCKaCY0085mXf3gKAipn8yac29xUYljqLnhTxNizeTY9y7eUdTAVXY2oIEQAX7ERQg2x6IZF6JIrOnCu0rWWNQdAB_k2OPEc0/s1600-h/100_1809.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDDTRbuLI430XAtUKiy4vwQgJ_0-0XCbEtSNqUsRP188sCKaCY0085mXf3gKAipn8yac29xUYljqLnhTxNizeTY9y7eUdTAVXY2oIEQAX7ERQg2x6IZF6JIrOnCu0rWWNQdAB_k2OPEc0/s320/100_1809.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370281788159697266" /></a><br />There are never enough landscaping rocks to cover 6 acres of land that is reluctant to support pretty plants and that is host to deer and squirrels and gophers. See our terraces and the little dry streambed? In the winter, we hope the water will funnel down the streambed and into the drain below it. We followed the natural path that the water has taken for the last several winters. Soon we'll plant some stuff in each terrace (all that dirt is really topsoil and manure). Yummy! Later we'll add one more terrace big enough to build a smallish deck on. This is right outside (and to the left) of my bedroom window/door.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlMHHeVswxrUu9A5DIqX9PPyXYAbtFSUfNylf1YxIHc1PXoEFE4DbBnLeBXn061-phLilL0UAAwX7B7A0cbi2oNEiGIFIoSFQLbZ2Qds9RHNkFGKrHxvX2TDZODhEa9LOE6LDUJNhrC9G/s1600-h/100_1780.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlMHHeVswxrUu9A5DIqX9PPyXYAbtFSUfNylf1YxIHc1PXoEFE4DbBnLeBXn061-phLilL0UAAwX7B7A0cbi2oNEiGIFIoSFQLbZ2Qds9RHNkFGKrHxvX2TDZODhEa9LOE6LDUJNhrC9G/s320/100_1780.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370280121703297554" /></a><br />Insects abound. This praying mantis was in the garage. Obviously, he got lost. Ugh<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwedUbCLtEJP9uBsCkW2OlJi07cIMapt5vxin1CSixUjrpN07MuzfZ4L9hCXrVCfZdsUtNwaKMAmuSP7snQie-VRWyklFsWzAN5IPbZQfc4B6dCd-ElDW39evAzJLMpJFHoC0U3YFo7_v9/s1600-h/praying+mantis.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwedUbCLtEJP9uBsCkW2OlJi07cIMapt5vxin1CSixUjrpN07MuzfZ4L9hCXrVCfZdsUtNwaKMAmuSP7snQie-VRWyklFsWzAN5IPbZQfc4B6dCd-ElDW39evAzJLMpJFHoC0U3YFo7_v9/s320/praying+mantis.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370293014632495442" /></a><br />This huge spider web is not unusual in my home. When I saw this one, this is how the conversation went:<br />Mom: "Honey, when is the last time you vacuumed the windowsill?"<br />Child: "Just a few days ago."<br />Mom: "Hm. Come here a a minute."<br />Child: "Just let me finish--"<br />Mom: "Come here IMMEDIATELY!"<br />There follows a full hour of screeching, sweaty Mom moving furniture and directing all children to vacuum under every table, every couch, every chair, every bed, in every corner--windows, ceiling, floors, etc, all the while knowing that all the spiders will return within 24 hours to rebuild their mansions (like this one), their apartment complexes (I swear there were 4 spiders all living together in the corner by the laundry closet) and pitching their tents (a web in my sandal that I took off by the bookshelf LAST NIGHT!?!). <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZnf12VHqNoxCw21hGxiX9Hdos-fguh3QZ6zJ_9E7xmcCc_wusqikigbox957kPlJh8_SEfY0N19dS7gdXN8e5BvIlgugy_euz4eoGvqUPqHghPkNkBj2CP2_Xnj5UPAnwgyaeHPbNw8_/s1600-h/huge+spider+web.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZnf12VHqNoxCw21hGxiX9Hdos-fguh3QZ6zJ_9E7xmcCc_wusqikigbox957kPlJh8_SEfY0N19dS7gdXN8e5BvIlgugy_euz4eoGvqUPqHghPkNkBj2CP2_Xnj5UPAnwgyaeHPbNw8_/s320/huge+spider+web.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370295057600271282" /></a><br />You can lay on the trampoline at midnight and watch meteor showers. They're clear and bright because there is so much less ambient light out here. I've got no photo of this one, but we had a peaceful hour or so, Cliff, Allegra, Isaiah and I all cuddled up under blankets watching for shooting stars. Isaiah kept count: he said he saw 16 shooting stars. <br /><br />Snakes are cool. One afternoon we found one of these little snakes sitting at the edge of the driveway with a big lump in his throat--he had just eaten and was slow and satisfied. He didn't choose to be observed by us for long, though, he waddled (can snakes waddle? Maybe he crawddled) back into the blackberry bushes to digest his dinner. This guy, however, we found heading towards the garage. Obviously his snake radar was messed up. Cliff called us out to look and then redirected him to the hillside.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiy9D93R6V7yi7Tm3Mh46ErPBDhrcX0eI1tzlLd0TFYq66uoYz9XkRxuuAdYUrHuz2Gf3opxP-xGWzzR8rDAI3rgV79xHNSw0-b4e2avUhHGPfGguZxfNHOGBqdaXqCk5cgsJol5PHPCRX/s1600-h/100_1545.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiy9D93R6V7yi7Tm3Mh46ErPBDhrcX0eI1tzlLd0TFYq66uoYz9XkRxuuAdYUrHuz2Gf3opxP-xGWzzR8rDAI3rgV79xHNSw0-b4e2avUhHGPfGguZxfNHOGBqdaXqCk5cgsJol5PHPCRX/s320/100_1545.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370296504636304466" /></a><br />There are A LOT of mice and other rodents. Ally and Zay found this little one and were trying to decide: keep him as a pet (I voted against that one) or feed him to the cats (I voted against that one too). In the end, their tender hearts won and they released him into the weeds. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fgJ44CDd56709BaZzxMZfupfvgcL7u5Gfnf_QVdnmn6r3pOQJMw7cNR6SzEivqymTVEFuUxopSGCKyU1YlX-Kj7uVtlMREq7GYnDYlcNooEYtX0fVie9pmgdYuqVIwA_DtdBd_-_qvxq/s1600-h/100_1547.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fgJ44CDd56709BaZzxMZfupfvgcL7u5Gfnf_QVdnmn6r3pOQJMw7cNR6SzEivqymTVEFuUxopSGCKyU1YlX-Kj7uVtlMREq7GYnDYlcNooEYtX0fVie9pmgdYuqVIwA_DtdBd_-_qvxq/s320/100_1547.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370297814277687442" /></a><br /><br />The nights are cool and breezy and quiet. Sometimes we can hear coyotes. Often we see deer and wild turkey. We can see forever. We worry about wildfires. We would be surrounded by weeds and dirt (well, more than we already are) with no hope of gardens or landscaping without the tractor. It is so peaceful. I love it out here. Come and visit!Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-56699343759029322652009-07-18T11:07:00.000-07:002009-07-18T13:36:59.587-07:00June 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvdUvIxEZOUPcHGetlsz_3tU8NHyAu4r6Q4amRctVmn7UroHmTfUKOVGe9uVe2f0Db8tkf6dtg0qyIbRQrcXrLhuQv7N-VOBR-efCI9lHaQLWpnga4ScNTa-9sgcG5gGQOXfGYB2big7b/s1600-h/100_1706.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvdUvIxEZOUPcHGetlsz_3tU8NHyAu4r6Q4amRctVmn7UroHmTfUKOVGe9uVe2f0Db8tkf6dtg0qyIbRQrcXrLhuQv7N-VOBR-efCI9lHaQLWpnga4ScNTa-9sgcG5gGQOXfGYB2big7b/s320/100_1706.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359866971303981442" /></a><br />It is so beautiful here. I am so blessed to be able to live where we can see forever.<br /><br /><br />The month of June was very busy. We had 2 birthdays, a graduation, an Eagle project to write up, and all the other things that go with being part of a large family. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxTokv_sfmImY7y3Jaiy6XfQPa4EF0287LFSIgZ11BuQaYpEzcOw7wXw53AmfFHY2jxKF4KcXRipVae3P5EYS5NI5nLf_o-IvP2Xoc3shLGAw-JGkVLYnpkwzEbE1-PKbq0WOViH9bPBk/s1600-h/Rayne,+Candace+and+Michelle+at+the+Lake+Jenny.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxTokv_sfmImY7y3Jaiy6XfQPa4EF0287LFSIgZ11BuQaYpEzcOw7wXw53AmfFHY2jxKF4KcXRipVae3P5EYS5NI5nLf_o-IvP2Xoc3shLGAw-JGkVLYnpkwzEbE1-PKbq0WOViH9bPBk/s320/Rayne,+Candace+and+Michelle+at+the+Lake+Jenny.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359871961082732546" /></a><br />Rayne has been busy finishing her Sophomore year at BYUIdaho. She's on the swim team there and she loves it. She's lucky to have friends and roommates who like to play on the weekends, so she's been spending a lot of time at various lakes and canals... swimming, of course. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXtd7JZIc3gVemCuxuAHoH-ZJlClNrJsQis7uJafhBHleBbQfwYkisa3cJ5ydHLi4iPN_nXjVjTDYRhRooUxeUQdBzsSUJlMIAYP9ShC5KblResx35Z2HCb68XhHM5EMNnfUEDNG8jKLx/s1600-h/100_1721.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXtd7JZIc3gVemCuxuAHoH-ZJlClNrJsQis7uJafhBHleBbQfwYkisa3cJ5ydHLi4iPN_nXjVjTDYRhRooUxeUQdBzsSUJlMIAYP9ShC5KblResx35Z2HCb68XhHM5EMNnfUEDNG8jKLx/s320/100_1721.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359872882683854002" /></a><br />So this month has really been all about Chase. This little display is from his graduation party. We and the parents of 5 of his friends shared a big graduation party for our children. Cliff made all the food, our friends the Larsens hosted it in their fabulous yard, other parents decorated the tables, made memory books for the graduates, planned games for everyone. It was a lot of fun. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmXcY9Pwrv5Z-EWgUF7V_luVlCHdTmYNg6vXa42sccesUSvhFIN4rE9zuK8JVtoHAiAlTrSZDD0_uBYLeCFAH0TnJNlnCtarvjqWYLV1M0hJfyROdna4Nb4Z6zi96JG3hFn17NP9vk0ZK/s1600-h/100_1717.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmXcY9Pwrv5Z-EWgUF7V_luVlCHdTmYNg6vXa42sccesUSvhFIN4rE9zuK8JVtoHAiAlTrSZDD0_uBYLeCFAH0TnJNlnCtarvjqWYLV1M0hJfyROdna4Nb4Z6zi96JG3hFn17NP9vk0ZK/s320/100_1717.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359875791578666482" /></a><br />And the food was VERY good, of course! Cliff has such a gift for this! He made homemade garlic breadsticks, buffalo wings, tons of tri-tip sandwiches with veggie relishes and 3 different kinds of sauce.... others brought salads and dip. There were lots of people there--including quite a few that no one seemed to know (who invited them we wondered!). The little kids swam in the pool and the big kids played games and bonded. Congratulations Chase! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQyW1K4TRvwzREDeRUpj06zvVPadBwM-Kh98wvD9EoWoqx7WdGMNVhMQ3jSbZOSSrg4pUSCFT_OxubowSNney9PmH5JQLce9q2kaXjMOTaI_mFOUMgRPwMn5VRGvkaBXvbLPIDXfgF2jN/s1600-h/Chase+grad+2009.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQyW1K4TRvwzREDeRUpj06zvVPadBwM-Kh98wvD9EoWoqx7WdGMNVhMQ3jSbZOSSrg4pUSCFT_OxubowSNney9PmH5JQLce9q2kaXjMOTaI_mFOUMgRPwMn5VRGvkaBXvbLPIDXfgF2jN/s320/Chase+grad+2009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359874077190909122" /></a> He is VERY glad to be done with his high school work. He graduated with great grades and he's decided to take a year off from school. He plans to: continue working and saving for his mission, take an autobody class and fix up his car and Rayne's car, and take a few other classes at the local junior college. All good things. Meanwhile, he's still working on getting his car actually running! My dad calls it the "one way car" because it's broken down several times on the way home from somewhere--it gets Chase there, but fails to get him home! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99LX2uc0X8jCGzInomUVgArkco7kBbHKsVjXSd5tF5xoIMcdzhPLlUvuwfMA_j0gjU1jJsmyu6AGo37omkqUU1-haQEzu8Ahex7jiFUjlVT_ByRJpaNLEKKnySI06w8zUqfnpg87oaH2w/s1600-h/100_1728.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99LX2uc0X8jCGzInomUVgArkco7kBbHKsVjXSd5tF5xoIMcdzhPLlUvuwfMA_j0gjU1jJsmyu6AGo37omkqUU1-haQEzu8Ahex7jiFUjlVT_ByRJpaNLEKKnySI06w8zUqfnpg87oaH2w/s320/100_1728.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359879024106191122" /></a>He house-sits for a great neighbor who lives down the road. Ernie (our neighbor) knows the way to a teenager's heart: he not only pays Chase for watering and watching the place, but he brings over his ATV so Chase doesn't have to walk or drive his car to the house. Nice, eh?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpTVzEHDsKIrxO0ohUZqVr6jFM2G1YhrnVqNQAAz76FONXDJoAuTMhp6l6xdF1XzTdf2VJ82dVS7FkJBifpkDD_CLyHWaNQgSxWuz-jWeApLqLkDPliEYniKLtyJ3d0ZqxMTDD615JX72/s1600-h/100_1732.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpTVzEHDsKIrxO0ohUZqVr6jFM2G1YhrnVqNQAAz76FONXDJoAuTMhp6l6xdF1XzTdf2VJ82dVS7FkJBifpkDD_CLyHWaNQgSxWuz-jWeApLqLkDPliEYniKLtyJ3d0ZqxMTDD615JX72/s320/100_1732.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359882274354985250" /></a><br />He also did his regular "mowing" of the neighbor's "yard"--a few hours of work for $400--wish that happened more than once a year!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-4p9A3MAo_SN1OSbYrDOkLRm6yqG9jXEh4umnZWqgKDiGG-PW3uNL6LVZ9yG6nUQ6qM6CrXy2NjXOb35ty9TzNLUCW4YejqV3zp-WCcTmAs3hWVgWzJQCS0HZJu4gjXzWJn_TKfksPPW/s1600-h/100_1700.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-4p9A3MAo_SN1OSbYrDOkLRm6yqG9jXEh4umnZWqgKDiGG-PW3uNL6LVZ9yG6nUQ6qM6CrXy2NjXOb35ty9TzNLUCW4YejqV3zp-WCcTmAs3hWVgWzJQCS0HZJu4gjXzWJn_TKfksPPW/s320/100_1700.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359883723520651314" /></a><br />Finally, Chase completed his Eagle project. After planning for a month or so, he spent 3 weeks collecting donations (goods and money) for the Family House in San Francisco. He wanted to do this because his cousin Carmen stayed there with her mom Dorothy--for free--when Carmen was having treatment there for her cancer. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7yRZlf7xk1zkoWdDzQHyXwBd2AIFxotDtNGz4h12yn3UXac9n3sdBJxIKCCJnJ_zwT9d71eZz2lkh26lX34ru3uUWh4kV7pl9LDdAPbrITz0eszGW0dN9CCjBzOG33NTBx8XRij2TKz2/s1600-h/100_1689.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7yRZlf7xk1zkoWdDzQHyXwBd2AIFxotDtNGz4h12yn3UXac9n3sdBJxIKCCJnJ_zwT9d71eZz2lkh26lX34ru3uUWh4kV7pl9LDdAPbrITz0eszGW0dN9CCjBzOG33NTBx8XRij2TKz2/s320/100_1689.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359885614136789602" /></a><br />The Family House made that time there away from the family bearable for Carmen and Dorothy and Chase wanted to do something for them. So many people donated. So many people were extremely generous. He ended up bringing them a truckload of food and other stuff and many gift cards for groceries and gas (which they give to their families who need them). Chase and Isaiah and Cliff delivered the stuff at the beginning of June to the Family House. So Chase had a very busy June. He is now an official Eagle Scout.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DcOFYzMURR2uykBF-qC8ZQwUB6XARmjlMdu2oD-SsaSzNtiv0QTbMAyHSbTks96V8ae_L0lmOupvjTRqcaL_qkidxIEQxmN01WfLZWz2oRq_cvoTPQZ3NhjTecJkX3GhXPe9bOeS-aYl/s1600-h/Ally+among+b%27day+balloons.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DcOFYzMURR2uykBF-qC8ZQwUB6XARmjlMdu2oD-SsaSzNtiv0QTbMAyHSbTks96V8ae_L0lmOupvjTRqcaL_qkidxIEQxmN01WfLZWz2oRq_cvoTPQZ3NhjTecJkX3GhXPe9bOeS-aYl/s320/Ally+among+b%27day+balloons.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359887106923823250" /></a><br />Allegra turned 14 at the end of June. We had our usual family birthday party. She and her grandmother went birthday shopping (hence the manicure and the new shirt). She got just what she wanted for her birthday, including plenty of books. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdaOCnE6dkZ6RWGbiBRq38kPIU6w0K2rTl5qCLqQ860y-jCFqL6IoyrPUb40W3e4EUvFA8E_qoY9RZuvxlFKY9EXXBzISPEYlps-JjlWEH6J99fjwCj2UfBs0kbvBQZm-SfngQAsepkAB/s1600-h/Allegra's+gorgeous+hair+by+Rayne.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdaOCnE6dkZ6RWGbiBRq38kPIU6w0K2rTl5qCLqQ860y-jCFqL6IoyrPUb40W3e4EUvFA8E_qoY9RZuvxlFKY9EXXBzISPEYlps-JjlWEH6J99fjwCj2UfBs0kbvBQZm-SfngQAsepkAB/s320/Allegra's+gorgeous+hair+by+Rayne.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359893786413408994" /></a><br />She's eagerly anticipating girls camp, which will happen in July. Meanwhile she's taking advantage of long summer days where nothing is required of her except a few nominal chores and a little bit of math. Here you see her with Rayne, who played hairdresser for her daily while she visited us in May (for Spring break). Does not Allegra have AMAZING hair? She doesn't appreciate it now..... but she will!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ylqxfa85RM2JongpNHFh3-TweoiajUKl8DJwhPMzpTtt6fgTi0MIs_i4kxdVvqW2n3li5TVm10KeLi3dPY9mc0lCLxWOl2cIgM_DQq_bQReDTAiKZqm5WEtqK1pc2_QuMktMGwpg6WAJ/s1600-h/100_1534.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ylqxfa85RM2JongpNHFh3-TweoiajUKl8DJwhPMzpTtt6fgTi0MIs_i4kxdVvqW2n3li5TVm10KeLi3dPY9mc0lCLxWOl2cIgM_DQq_bQReDTAiKZqm5WEtqK1pc2_QuMktMGwpg6WAJ/s320/100_1534.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359894834233704594" /></a>Sweet Isaiah (you see him above with Chase too) turned 11 in May and has now entered the world of boy scouting, which he loves. He is a very good worker and he has been helping a lot... around the house, with the Eagle project, out in the yard. He assures me that he's not waiting until a few months before his 18th birthday before HE does his Eagle project! Isaiah is spending his summer working on various projects and playing more video games than usual and watching more movies than usual and just generally enjoying himself. Except! for those daily math lessons (Mom is so mean). Isaiah and Allegra are the proud owners of two guinea pigs--Zeus and Hades--and Isaiah is the most tender, most conscientious pet owner ever. <br /><br />Cliff and I are well. He's got a million projects lined up to do this summer. This is the first summer he's had completely off from work in many years. And he's not a man of leisure--he's happiest when he's busy. He's got a couple of conferences to attend. He's got cars to work on, he wants to sort and reorganize the "dungeon" (i.e. the game room and the food storage room), and he's got tons of outside projects--a deck perhaps? Definitely he's going to prepare some of the back area for possible grass in our future (I dream of grass in the backyard....). You'll hopefully see pictures this summer of his many accomplishments. Oh! Something very good: Cliff was "Teacher of the Year" in our school district this year--quite an honor. Surprisingly, this honor requires his writing 19 pages of papers for further submissions to the state and the national "Teacher of the Year" programs. He is an exceptional teacher, one of the many things I didn't really know about him 20+ years ago when we married. He is always surprising me with new talents. He does everything so well. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAMkllg8hmByZeULFOCRr6_uJkkRkpUDdgmsNb8zy9wPvTPjzGHW4glhk3XYg0gc9gReloIywI2W5pOlkL97Lax61W6x3K5oiIcgK69fju3MUuu8zCZGAD14gow7EZ_tLw8UOZUDzQHIM/s1600-h/100_1507.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAMkllg8hmByZeULFOCRr6_uJkkRkpUDdgmsNb8zy9wPvTPjzGHW4glhk3XYg0gc9gReloIywI2W5pOlkL97Lax61W6x3K5oiIcgK69fju3MUuu8zCZGAD14gow7EZ_tLw8UOZUDzQHIM/s320/100_1507.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359898420993027938" /></a>My big summer goal is to catch up with our scrapbooks! Is this an impossible task? Maybe. But I plan to spend every available moment trying. I also want to get some serious reading done and I want to work on memorizing a song on the piano. I have never been good at memorizing piano music but I figure one song a year may not be too hard? I don't know. We'll see. I'm also sure I'll get drawn into all the various projects that everyone has planned around here. And, unfortunately, I am sure I will spend an inordinate amount of time doing laundry and cleaning things. Sigh. I am very happy, though. We have a very good life.Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-59860093837873371112009-04-18T00:48:00.000-07:002009-04-18T01:15:28.563-07:00MarchSo... still catching up on family news (perhaps you've noticed that I'm doing February and March's blogging in April....yeah. Sorry. I'll be better, I promise.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mez_X082ijEkOfLXLYQzb5YeiYkw-6T-BTvdo7Rhquqh0i-GUCXsYjGXa3ewb1nYGXG7RiyInQA-YiOSbDEQURZZuoOBqFKzFgfB3yoVQqt9f9-QMYeRZh8EWcNsjfDpn0_qW9dnadUr/s1600-h/Chase+before+LDS+prom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mez_X082ijEkOfLXLYQzb5YeiYkw-6T-BTvdo7Rhquqh0i-GUCXsYjGXa3ewb1nYGXG7RiyInQA-YiOSbDEQURZZuoOBqFKzFgfB3yoVQqt9f9-QMYeRZh8EWcNsjfDpn0_qW9dnadUr/s320/Chase+before+LDS+prom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325935747881969954" /></a><br />Chase was talked into going to the LDS prom on Oakland. He didn't really want to go and didn't really enjoy the dance he said... but he sure looks handsome!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ_B5kI1JkfmFRNcfKqi6fqHIAngzarml7elfdHHoVtPBJrl7v5q47YHuwpZh7eZ8c0mctRMs0yUDyUiaMO4yb7S4vOcb_Hb2jDc1nxaQ3NHpx9qLpggwe8BzgHhorxxlfHIvGdMU5QMg/s1600-h/100_1408.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ_B5kI1JkfmFRNcfKqi6fqHIAngzarml7elfdHHoVtPBJrl7v5q47YHuwpZh7eZ8c0mctRMs0yUDyUiaMO4yb7S4vOcb_Hb2jDc1nxaQ3NHpx9qLpggwe8BzgHhorxxlfHIvGdMU5QMg/s320/100_1408.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325936611477729554" /></a><br />We have been to the beach more this winter/spring than we went all summer last year, I think! I told Dorothy that these last 3 times we've gone it's felt almost like a spiritual experience for me! So peaceful and calm and temperate. She says it's because Carmen is there with us! I hope she's right. This time Dorothy and the boys and Jessica and her 5 went with us to Sea Cliff beach in Aptos and it was a perfect day. I finally got around to taking a bunch of photos at sunset when the light was warm and mellow. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD4J8C0A2x5eqMkgQXnBmXRwJSQdgsqq6cO62rx0PioX5BDwUurvmbvhJsnP7q0lhCpBRE7A61cHu2O9TD0lJniHopCPqy3mPpcPAUidKr6mMUa9AdqYOfAFVMQCt2T4cf1rSlPBu5Jvk/s1600-h/Isaiah+in+seaweed.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD4J8C0A2x5eqMkgQXnBmXRwJSQdgsqq6cO62rx0PioX5BDwUurvmbvhJsnP7q0lhCpBRE7A61cHu2O9TD0lJniHopCPqy3mPpcPAUidKr6mMUa9AdqYOfAFVMQCt2T4cf1rSlPBu5Jvk/s320/Isaiah+in+seaweed.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325937735375785122" /></a><br />Okay. I don't get why Isaiah likes draping himself with seaweed. For me seaweed is something that looks cool at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and it tastes good on sushi, but when it touches my foot at the beach I shudder (and sometimes shriek) and kick it away. It's slimy and sometimes smelly and just yucky! But Isaiah, almost every time, gathers as much as he can find and drapes it around himself and plays the SWAMP THING. I think he does it because he knows it grosses me out. EEEW.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpkwuX7Ge8FAAYPp1bgeWngFsDluIN5PW0gQ37eVYzW43Rua1Yi4LzyEUsKjHx7IcEkVxEuWKT2XRGTPKX0ndXCgZysLZy45ZoC1Rlrma7LC4dZq44KAbb2VNTKLMQ0wI_tcHpjqNrINM/s1600-h/Isaiah+at+the+beach+at+sunset.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpkwuX7Ge8FAAYPp1bgeWngFsDluIN5PW0gQ37eVYzW43Rua1Yi4LzyEUsKjHx7IcEkVxEuWKT2XRGTPKX0ndXCgZysLZy45ZoC1Rlrma7LC4dZq44KAbb2VNTKLMQ0wI_tcHpjqNrINM/s320/Isaiah+at+the+beach+at+sunset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325938769688742434" /></a><br />Here's my adorable boy on the beach at sunset, patiently waiting for me to be done drinking it all in, taking photos, shaking sand out of blankets and towels, and ready to receive his armful to schlep back to the car. It's been a pleasantly warm afternoon, but as soon as the sun goes down it's all of a sudden freezing and we all rush through our packing up and shuffling back to the cars. No matter how chilly it's gotten, though, we're still going to Marianne's for ice cream on the way home!<br /><br />Here's our final photo for March:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rjNrH-boo9KhYLE2KVPPX8NXUwCqZOJh1-kcmMijYNRyilYOTjgloIntLuw6HZUAVaZGYSueJrn0ckPQrOHFx7vssE5J6LG21jJSBKTvHqtBPBROUtnoDHcaD1gkBtfevwg3NXHQu_ZN/s1600-h/Ally+all+made+up+no+glasses.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rjNrH-boo9KhYLE2KVPPX8NXUwCqZOJh1-kcmMijYNRyilYOTjgloIntLuw6HZUAVaZGYSueJrn0ckPQrOHFx7vssE5J6LG21jJSBKTvHqtBPBROUtnoDHcaD1gkBtfevwg3NXHQu_ZN/s320/Ally+all+made+up+no+glasses.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325939981184890370" /></a><br />You have to know that my Ally puts a premium on comfort and convenience. She has long, very curly hair that she washes because I make her and she conditions in self-defense (have you ever tried to comb tangles out of very curly hair?). She prefers jeans and t-shirts to any dressier clothes and she brushes her teeth only when absolutely necessary. But! She is on that threshhold between childhood and womanhood, so she has her woman moments too, and more of them all the time. She cherishes her tomboy comforts, though, and wishes to postpone fussing and primping in general. Today her Aunt Jessica (Ben's wife) has girlied her up. Her hair is moussed and diffused. Her face is delicately made-up. Her person is carefully clothed. And for this picture, her glasses are off. She looks quite gorgeous. And I do love this gorgeous creature. But I love my sweet, brilliant, generous tomboy too. I'll take her in whichever guise she chooses to present herself. She's our Allegra no matter what. <br /><br />Her sister is home this week (April 18 is the day I'm writing this). She has tortured Allegra almost every day. Torture=doing her hair. So I'll be posting pictures of all that glamour too. Soon. (April's not over yet!)Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-30010681735878284882009-04-18T00:12:00.000-07:002009-04-18T00:46:28.142-07:00Late February 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfpg15YBW1ubPc1jLm6vWOkTlSfB_TFkS84avlNQJcomr6Ph6m724ChXKV7IIsRcZ8Z9VyARXLMrnSVk5U6RXCiKOT6UedqyzwRVbGj2a2qU79Xlha8Q4KNkPn-AnBoG6S5-MKt0Iq7Km/s1600-h/backyard+sunset.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfpg15YBW1ubPc1jLm6vWOkTlSfB_TFkS84avlNQJcomr6Ph6m724ChXKV7IIsRcZ8Z9VyARXLMrnSVk5U6RXCiKOT6UedqyzwRVbGj2a2qU79Xlha8Q4KNkPn-AnBoG6S5-MKt0Iq7Km/s320/backyard+sunset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325929233169665122" /></a><br />Someday this sycamore will be a big, beautiful shade tree, right at the corner of the garage patio so we can barbecue out of the sun. Tonight it is in the corridor of light from the sun that is just sinking into the hills in the west. My camera isn't really good enough to catch the subtleties of sunset, but you can still get a sense of what a beautiful evening it was this spring day.<br /><br />I haven't updated this blog for too long. These last few months have been very full. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xxGmdD6Ho8L0VMkDCsIfvzC2je8hIorcEevPsUBkCvINZyZMzzYY5qRNPH29oBLlEag9wWvyVPc3RDgpZ3MwgKwNrmybosNwEF6cHFwTUTt1IlrUM61JhN9bG53JadxSrJy-pSvc9d8n/s1600-h/100_1282.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xxGmdD6Ho8L0VMkDCsIfvzC2je8hIorcEevPsUBkCvINZyZMzzYY5qRNPH29oBLlEag9wWvyVPc3RDgpZ3MwgKwNrmybosNwEF6cHFwTUTt1IlrUM61JhN9bG53JadxSrJy-pSvc9d8n/s320/100_1282.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325930277678955906" /></a><br /><br />Our Carmen died on February 18, around 10 p.m. I had visited her that day and she was very weak and not always "with" us. She couldn't see or hear well and she let me hold her hand. She was usually in too much pain to want to be touched, but this day was different, for which I am grateful. So, we have lost her and we will never forget her and never stop missing her and never stop being grateful that we were trusted with her and that we knew her. We know she is ours forever.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOcfejcEY_k0mYOaizSoyJXXaP9SoJmdqX0HlefHngSGT7fL5u0H6p077hjjk-bNepgTZ6PMVl_kNaUW5INFb2PRxTFB04zNEzAqDK6F-hdFbGMHzWxLxrZtl0uSLC-c8hUR2N4XZ00ug/s1600-h/Reed+and+Dorth+profile.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOcfejcEY_k0mYOaizSoyJXXaP9SoJmdqX0HlefHngSGT7fL5u0H6p077hjjk-bNepgTZ6PMVl_kNaUW5INFb2PRxTFB04zNEzAqDK6F-hdFbGMHzWxLxrZtl0uSLC-c8hUR2N4XZ00ug/s320/Reed+and+Dorth+profile.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325931264487264594" /></a><br /><br />Here are Reed and Dorothy the day after Carmen's memorial service. All of our family came into town to be together, of course, and on this Sunday we met at my brother Ben's house for a big Family Home Evening. Reed and Dorth are tired, but doing very well. They are a source of peace for all of us, and for everyone they talk to. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMalcKTPFL3ZDhIsJTfApzuB6gqVPnuT1ry2jcPOpXvDlKHLqW78EH1-nG8AY-FQ65-dBWAxql49_czhe2iGFcAgm2yIYrFhbtmCHdK2AGt_hBbJ7jGnw26VMGXvdpxWrtQNxnwlVEles/s1600-h/Chase+and+Abigail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMalcKTPFL3ZDhIsJTfApzuB6gqVPnuT1ry2jcPOpXvDlKHLqW78EH1-nG8AY-FQ65-dBWAxql49_czhe2iGFcAgm2yIYrFhbtmCHdK2AGt_hBbJ7jGnw26VMGXvdpxWrtQNxnwlVEles/s320/Chase+and+Abigail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325932184918763490" /></a><br />The big event this Sunday was the blessing of the newest baby in the family, Abigail Carmen. She was born on the day we were told that Carmen would not make it. Ben and Jessica decided to name her after her cousin. Here's my sweet Chase with his baby cousin. He is a kid magnet! They all love him and he is magic with them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w7vSGen2x4alduH6z5-7EEOQfh0ejTv-WkGAxu-PLjngMI6GNQdchSOyom8SC6yKtRa7WKMx5K_OcsrK43W7v3PAfBAV9ztG_w5jgk1EOAfQkHJaJZEn-_tJoyMz-0mX2GMgmvwBsarD/s1600-h/100_1331.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w7vSGen2x4alduH6z5-7EEOQfh0ejTv-WkGAxu-PLjngMI6GNQdchSOyom8SC6yKtRa7WKMx5K_OcsrK43W7v3PAfBAV9ztG_w5jgk1EOAfQkHJaJZEn-_tJoyMz-0mX2GMgmvwBsarD/s320/100_1331.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325932994359862018" /></a><br /><br />Here are all the Galbraith cousins except for my Rayne. She flew into town for Carmen's viewing and burial on Friday, but had to return to school on Saturday and so missed the memorial (which was wonderful) and the family gathering on Sunday. We missed her a lot and she missed us too, but she needed to be at school. Her grades, by the way, are fantastic. Go Rayne!<br /><br />So, a sad February but a beautiful one too. Our family has never experienced such depth of sorrow before. I'm so very grateful for such a strong and loving family to share burdens and to share happiness with. I'm especially grateful for the sealing bonds which promise an eternity of togetherness.Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-87464552492862983282009-02-06T17:03:00.000-08:002009-02-06T18:15:30.249-08:00February 6, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgBOzOiwIS_L5AxK1e3bFPWtWt3bojT3I2C2iSHN7HrS26q50rX3tt3Tvv4QRJMkwcRyePmWx_c-jtgR6dprGBVREeAVHAFAxLqGUD6KJEuEOSLc7nwixqkNu_PC14MtRfNl54kCiS4f0/s1600-h/100_1271.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgBOzOiwIS_L5AxK1e3bFPWtWt3bojT3I2C2iSHN7HrS26q50rX3tt3Tvv4QRJMkwcRyePmWx_c-jtgR6dprGBVREeAVHAFAxLqGUD6KJEuEOSLc7nwixqkNu_PC14MtRfNl54kCiS4f0/s320/100_1271.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299855263859864546" /></a><br />Beautiful rain. I love it. And finally we are getting some more. When it rains, though, all I want to do is sit around under a blanket reading and drinking hot chocolate. Or is it just that I really want to do that all the time? It truly is an imposition on my leisure time to do laundry, supervise school work, clean bathrooms, parent, run errands, attend meetings, clean house at all, etc. Truly, look at this view. With this outside my windows, how can I help but be a lotus eater? Sigh. My life is hard. But I manage.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5C1Y1CG0rR8dtTYEgYe_KMlTY9VDYlx8yREtUoLHFGVsb3M5lqnv_wrFpM7nf-YT97bGrMc470VSNe3ecJbQ8sshuRJ6TKPJPn03WUv9sPPJSBgDwjQbCycukT-mH4G5XvO6aGAXNuqL/s1600-h/100_1268.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5C1Y1CG0rR8dtTYEgYe_KMlTY9VDYlx8yREtUoLHFGVsb3M5lqnv_wrFpM7nf-YT97bGrMc470VSNe3ecJbQ8sshuRJ6TKPJPn03WUv9sPPJSBgDwjQbCycukT-mH4G5XvO6aGAXNuqL/s320/100_1268.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299872951693478290" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouf4Cqqedx2JkmVBV-GE9anqY46mT_yydu3BGA0udPN-eCwyxDK6_mSo6DbvjT6agAyRRsrFVz2NiA6QTGIAWOgVsSzmQJ2SO0sqd0ggdoBSWP4jV2Ru9qp5pLqwsBbQ9R0j1WiKTb4ke/s1600-h/100_1269.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouf4Cqqedx2JkmVBV-GE9anqY46mT_yydu3BGA0udPN-eCwyxDK6_mSo6DbvjT6agAyRRsrFVz2NiA6QTGIAWOgVsSzmQJ2SO0sqd0ggdoBSWP4jV2Ru9qp5pLqwsBbQ9R0j1WiKTb4ke/s320/100_1269.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299856321059029746" /></a><br /><br />So, this has been a big family week. My sister came to stay so she and her kids could spend time with Carmen. Her youngest spent a great deal of her time at Dorothy's carrying around their little foster dog, Spice. Notice the tucked in tail. Poor Spice. Adorable Payton. Anyway, we had a lot of fun hanging out together. I can't believe how many people come to visit Carmen. Every day I was there this week there were visitors and callers. And no one comes without a gift of some sort. People are so good! It warms my heart and makes me see the beauty amid the tragedy that is Carmen's illness.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLj-gVkG_rJu6tE8oRw_NINZD9kiUDaFGXbv1MpR86EVqms327RKkXxgOSZlqy_qRuLmg3P6wtzymo-vfhfucZjCLOPMLcKoQADQS63ayj2tQbWDu13znLBjo8eZD6MoDXf5gVOGK5KTU/s1600-h/100_1253.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLj-gVkG_rJu6tE8oRw_NINZD9kiUDaFGXbv1MpR86EVqms327RKkXxgOSZlqy_qRuLmg3P6wtzymo-vfhfucZjCLOPMLcKoQADQS63ayj2tQbWDu13znLBjo8eZD6MoDXf5gVOGK5KTU/s320/100_1253.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299858457601174850" /></a><br />So, here is maybe the last picture of Chase's car that I'll post on this site. Despite a light flirtation with a 3000GT that he met online, Chase seems to be back in love with his slightly damaged car. I can't currently write about Chase without writing about this car. It still needs, I am told, a new seal for the transmission fluid, some possible frame work, and then the previously mentioned body work and paint job. Red skirts are sought. Yes, this is an education for all of us and you, dear reader, are not to be left out. Aside from the car thing, Chase is finding that, after a lifetime of having no job, having a part time minimum wage job is not quite as lucrative as one might hope. Is there a change in his future? We'll all have to wait and see.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXQjB1RM7Wb80Tg388iLcIAuat-n2_7crJPwnnjU_26Ck_t-nS8d2AimRlgxo_NsKQ3Vxx_DxwX-Sx7WhhoZOb7-wSlJI1DYzFIr-2HM3wgMgP-NzmzFfOHsog_qpfqp16Nk3ymq4oTMi/s1600-h/100_1212.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXQjB1RM7Wb80Tg388iLcIAuat-n2_7crJPwnnjU_26Ck_t-nS8d2AimRlgxo_NsKQ3Vxx_DxwX-Sx7WhhoZOb7-wSlJI1DYzFIr-2HM3wgMgP-NzmzFfOHsog_qpfqp16Nk3ymq4oTMi/s320/100_1212.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299862341538898162" /></a><br />As for Rayne, you should know that I am not allowed to say much about her. These white thigh-high boots (I beleive the term is "domanitrix boots, or something like that. ahem.), however, are hers and are enjoying cavorting about without her (Doesn't my friend Dianna look cute?). While the cat's away..... <br />Rayne is busy writing poetry and prose and reading like crazy and delighting my heart by calling now and then to ask advice or to share a thought. She is a much better poet than I am. Yes, despite my years of honing this skill with rhyming treasure hunt clues and birthday card original poems, I have not reached any degree of competence. At all. It's too bad. Especially since I have not discontinued my practice of writing bad poetry for special occasions. Anyway, Rayne comes home next weekend and I am looking forward to it. She's bringing me a haiku book that I REALLY want. And of course I'm looking forward to spending time time with her too. Of course.<br /><br />My Allegra has discovered she's a mean and aggressive hockey player. Who knew? She's all sunshine and light usually. This week she and her brother Isaiah have been very good students, voluntarily completing their schoolwork with very little prompting from me. I love this. Unfortunately, it does encourage a little slothfulness on my part. After all, if I'm not needed in the schoolroom, why should I even stir out of bed in the mornings? Ally is the best babysitter ever. Have I mentioned this before? She truly is. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjNWWqf5HCHKdozFgfhMGg1OfAv-rl7EvJ3U-GTkLOqJCqgLOkuw7gfMUclcZfDj9w0i9zRZNTEQJQucJTerBp0uQmeiDXOlP9665dsCh-0r9-I_Sc3JAgj73GN7Q7mMmXeNm_1mm2KbC/s1600-h/100_1219.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjNWWqf5HCHKdozFgfhMGg1OfAv-rl7EvJ3U-GTkLOqJCqgLOkuw7gfMUclcZfDj9w0i9zRZNTEQJQucJTerBp0uQmeiDXOlP9665dsCh-0r9-I_Sc3JAgj73GN7Q7mMmXeNm_1mm2KbC/s320/100_1219.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299867631175492594" /></a><br /><br />Zay spent 4 days of the last week at his cousin's house and that was not enough for him. He was sorely disappointed when I refused to let him spend the weekend there. He and James are such good friends and I am so grateful for that. Isaiah is the nicest 10-year-old ever, I think. He is a champion at checking every item off his school list every day. He cleans when I ask him to. He is not averse to maternal kisses. I really like my kids.<br /><br />And yeah. If you saw my facebook at all last week you'll know that we went to the beach. It was so nice. I think I was all wound up because when I got there I felt everything unwind. There were only a few others there. It was totally calm--no wind. The seals (or are they sea lions) were close into shore, their sleek heads popping up now and then to check things out. A school of dolphins followed a lone man standing up in some sort of outrigger way out past the surf. The kids dug holes in search of water, they beachcombed in search of beach glass and cool rocks and shells. They body surfed. They buried their feet in the sand. I go to the beach quite often. I don't know what set this day apart. Perhaps this day was particularly good for me because I needed the recharge that a natural setting can often provide. Or something. All I know is that it was an especially precious day.<br /><br />And the next week the kids made soap and put their soft pieces of beach glass in the colored glycerine beach shapes they chose for their soap. I know. You're surprised that I actually got out project stuff for them. A craft even. I don't know what came over me. I was having a mom moment. It was fun. Good clean fun even (I couldn't resist that one.)<br /><br />So. A good week. One of my favorite Cheri Call songs talks about a broken heart having more space inside it. This is how I'm beginning to feel about Carmen. It breaks my heart wide open to contemplate her death. But those open spaces seem to invite me to feel the good things more keenly. The truly beautiful things I encounter from day to day just seem to sink into my heart. It's a blessing amid the stress and worry and I am grateful for it. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWF70vvjnSmgRcZahcTzOg8FN3GFXq40Cz78zAaZYf2sEwJRyZOsZiXt5UQomtd9jBtT5r9Ak5ZXge5rd1jRTjnQiNEgjdoEPrw0q9KEdQF-WR8Pg03tLboto3v2VY55ScLhkizHhCeYt/s1600-h/100_1220.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWF70vvjnSmgRcZahcTzOg8FN3GFXq40Cz78zAaZYf2sEwJRyZOsZiXt5UQomtd9jBtT5r9Ak5ZXge5rd1jRTjnQiNEgjdoEPrw0q9KEdQF-WR8Pg03tLboto3v2VY55ScLhkizHhCeYt/s320/100_1220.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299870629505402290" /></a>Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-37097635909824300062009-01-26T17:18:00.000-08:002009-01-26T17:58:53.585-08:00January 26, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u-7v9hLPaalxtgHu8vIwtFI1idXrp_08mSB1InxfXJ3knIBQG21WzXmPvTtc3P8u-pMeBIoMW4cEaiQOLy3t59DRsi2yYLDjgUHsIfm1PEANSXlzv0bo7scicWwQgiCKFiP9llHnxmuC/s1600-h/100_1209.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u-7v9hLPaalxtgHu8vIwtFI1idXrp_08mSB1InxfXJ3knIBQG21WzXmPvTtc3P8u-pMeBIoMW4cEaiQOLy3t59DRsi2yYLDjgUHsIfm1PEANSXlzv0bo7scicWwQgiCKFiP9llHnxmuC/s320/100_1209.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295783255832956834" /></a><br /><br />The best news today is that Chase's car, which has long been in use as the cushiest cat bed our cats have ever experienced, is finally road ready again! It's actually only been out of commission for a few months, but he's been sharing my car, so I've been VERY eager for him to get his on the road again. On the other hand, though, he's also been paying for my gas, so.... I guess I'll miss that part of it. He and his dad and my dad have been working on replacing parts for many hours over the last few weeks. Now Chase just has some bodywork left to do, and a paint job is definitely in that car's future. But it looks good now and IT'S DRIVEABLE. That's the important part (to me).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoub1vd9TpFFQreukln0ouJ3KEP-82aisJ6Z0RVP7jXGGYoxn3j_Y65kQBxkrevas5VkUwHx8-Ane5V1hC1Hb02vRzz4rDrDYVXvJ_lg6OrqZanDK8OUsj0I5dNTce8zvscvKXAmoMb5ue/s1600-h/Isaiah's+new+sword.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoub1vd9TpFFQreukln0ouJ3KEP-82aisJ6Z0RVP7jXGGYoxn3j_Y65kQBxkrevas5VkUwHx8-Ane5V1hC1Hb02vRzz4rDrDYVXvJ_lg6OrqZanDK8OUsj0I5dNTce8zvscvKXAmoMb5ue/s320/Isaiah's+new+sword.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295782655220555234" /></a><br /><br /><br />Isaiah and Allegra have both purchased swords in the last few weeks. Am I a bad mother? If I am, I've been bad for a long time. Chase owns several airsoft guns and Cliff and I bought him a mace on our last trip to England. What can I say? I guess I don't mind feeding the hunting instincts in my men. Not that any of them use the swords (or the mace) for actual hunting purposes. And, Allegra is not one of my men. Perhaps I'm feeding her fantasies of swashbuckling female heroines? I don't know. In any case, they're cautious kids and they pay for their own weapons, so we're all happy thus far. And the swords and the mace live on the wall. The deal is they are for decorative purposes only. Not so blood-thirsty, right? <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRY33WRFhHn7uisANsdUQ1LTow58D3mUlp5L66E_Bt-QdobF2e1GV8iWBRlphSJcsq9yfpsIbzwkU8YHwdybQAZKLvmpx8yUeVYYtgRfcX20G5m0XWwm7nAGcL94gd-PFkvUh5VLBraOs/s1600-h/100_1124.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRY33WRFhHn7uisANsdUQ1LTow58D3mUlp5L66E_Bt-QdobF2e1GV8iWBRlphSJcsq9yfpsIbzwkU8YHwdybQAZKLvmpx8yUeVYYtgRfcX20G5m0XWwm7nAGcL94gd-PFkvUh5VLBraOs/s320/100_1124.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295785126238311954" /></a><br /><br /><br />Rayne's coming home for President's day weekend (look how tall Chase is! The kid in the foreground is my handsome nephew Scott). She wants to spend some time with Carmen. We may lose Carmen soon, so we're wanting to have as much of her as we can before she leaves. So Rayne is coming home for a few days. I'm so glad. And we have such good friends who help ease her travels. Her roommate is driving her to Provo, our friends the Hutchings are taking her to the airport the next morning at Odark30. Her roommate will pick her up from the airport when she comes back and drive into the night to get back to school. What kind and lovely people we have in our lives.<br /><br />I guess that's all for today. Cliff is baking cookies and cooking dinner. He's been doing all the cooking for quite awhile now, but I never get over how lucky I am that he does so. Here I am sitting on the couch with the computer on my lap, and he is in the kitchen doing stuff...and we're both happy. How good is that? Occasionally I feel a twinge of guilt, but I do my best to extinguish such twinges as soon as possible. :)Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-685142279404772849.post-85416729931870223652009-01-06T18:18:00.000-08:002009-01-06T18:37:34.146-08:00It's winter in beautiful Northern California<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qilFkW09egMutAX2gYY3JT33rDyiLty2-4qOKkC1zXqJFEH3tyeh4gPyPZpp9qjWNGeQSMVdUh0cxnXQ17tvF5UmWjt4GKbLyFaUCEp2sGOlLfjMDqN7xQWKGDB0U6RujiymOqBr-qj0/s1600-h/100_1149.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qilFkW09egMutAX2gYY3JT33rDyiLty2-4qOKkC1zXqJFEH3tyeh4gPyPZpp9qjWNGeQSMVdUh0cxnXQ17tvF5UmWjt4GKbLyFaUCEp2sGOlLfjMDqN7xQWKGDB0U6RujiymOqBr-qj0/s320/100_1149.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288372160016647346" /></a> It is so beautiful here at this time of year. I love winter because the hills turn green. <br /><br />Cliff and I just got back from taking Rayne to BYU Idaho. We were gone for 3 days and we drove for 2 of them--12 hours the first day and 19 the third day. Ugh. And we drove through so much snow. I felt a very deep dislike of snow. It's slippery, it's dirty, it gets in the way. Oh, and it's cold. I remember when I first lived in Utah I was amazed and irritated at the fact that the weather can actually force a person to alter travel plans. Where I live in California, when you want to go somewhere, you go. Rain doesn't stop you, and rain is as bad as it ever gets. I had never experienced the forces of nature controlling where I went that day. <br /><br />Anyway, it was a good trip. We talked with Rayne, we laughed a lot. She ate her last In n Out for the next few months. We got to stay with our very good friends the Hutchings. Cliff and I, on the very long drive home to Sunol from Rexberg, talked about everything. My ipod ran out of battery very quickly and my charger wouldn't work, so all there was left was talking. It was intimate and nice. Just what I was looking forward to.<br /><br />And of course I forgot to take pictures of the house Rayne is living in. Did I take pictures of her roomates? No. Did I take pictures of the Hutchings? No. Did I take pictures of the inconvenient, slippery and cold snow? No. Did I have my camera with me? Yes. Sigh.<br /><br />So Rayne is gone for the next few months and we settle down into school and work patterns. Chase is now a permanent hire at Game Stop (as opposed to a holiday hire). Cliff starts his Leadership Development Institute classes all over CA for the next 5 months, he's got to get his students into interships and he'll start working on some stuff for my brother Gerald's school. I'll try to get a handle on Primary and attempt to become a better homemaker, spend hours homeschooling and attempt, yet again, to become slender and svelte without eating less (is this possible?) :D Ally and Zay will get back to the grindstone, adding to their brilliance. It's a new year. Let's get on with it.Audreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15332503823200821168noreply@blogger.com1