A Special Group!

We celebrate our wedding anniversary with a group of friends who were all married the same year (4 couples within a 2 week span in May-June of 1970)...we have been celebrating together since year 10 when we discovered this interesting fact! Some have moved away, some have missed a few years here and there, but, THIS year we were ALL together again! What a wonderful evening!

Bailey's "Grandma Camp"

Bailey fortified herself with the cheesiest pizza ever!



Cut, sew, ta-da!! Cute apron, Bails!


Bailey made a special poppy seed cake for Reed's mom's birthday...from scratch!
I decided to hold "Grandma Camps" this summer for the grands. Bailey, the oldest, had her very own camp with me. I planned activities that I hoped would be entertaining as well as allow us to just enjoy each other! These were just the first of many activities...we hiked, gathered leaves for leaf rubbing pictures, crafted a camp journal with photos, attended Dallin's alumni baseball game, tried to eat Chinese food (couldn't find the place!) settled for American, and delved into the world of jewelry-making at a specialty bead store...Bailey just got her ears pierced and made some beautiful beaded earrings for the future. (They hang down from the ear...must be 12 for those!) Our time together flew by too fast...plans for next year are already in the works!

To Steve

I remember standing in my driveway, when I was 3 years old, and watching as a new family moved in 4 doors down...they had a little boy...a playmate...who turned out to be a wonderful, life-long friend. Steve passed away on July 1, 2009. The first of our "group" of friends who grew up together, went through all of elementary school, junior high and high school together. I am including a photo (fuzzy old black and white of Steve and me on my driveway...a photo from jr. high (maybe you can see his broken tooth-he knocked it out on my hard head during a game of ghost in his basement...he never let me forget my role in his pain!)...and a photo from our senior year when I was Track Queen and Steve was my escort. Steve was the happiest guy I've ever known...always finding the humor in situations...he had a way with words, was so very smart, graduated from Duke University, and we were planning to get together in September when I will be in Berea. I am so sad. I am also so grateful for memories, which have flooded back into my mind: Saturday mornings at his house watching The Lone Ranger on TV; having him read me the poem, "I Had But 50 Cents" from The Best Loved Poems of the American People...we just loved that crazy poem! building forts out of his building blocks, apportioned exactly equally, so we could each build our own fort for our plastic cowboys and Indians; Steve playing the ACCORDIAN(!); writing the funniest entry in my high school yearbook EVERY YEAR!; Steve and Trip Davis bouncing the basketball all the way down Baker Street between their 2 houses and past mine, so they could play basketball with their self-made team, The Continentals...they were inspired by Ohio State's glory days of John Havlicek and Jerry Lucas. Still playing basketball at Fairwood, while the girls played tennis on the adjoining tennis courts, every summer through junior high and high school. We grew up, moved on, but remained forever friends. I am so glad we got together one more time at our 40th class reunion. I will miss him.
Sorry...the scans wouldn't (I COULDN'T) resize, and for some reason the photo of the broken tooth kept failing to post...

Vacation Time

We love the beach at Seaside...looking for sand dollars and dipping our toes in the chilly water!

Shipwreck! At Fort Stevens National Park...December storms of 2007 uncovered more of the ship...alas, no treasure!


Cache explores Fort Clatsop...Lewis and Clark's first winter encampment.

Brooklyn takes the oath to become a junior National Park Ranger, after fulfilling 7 important requirements.



School is out...summer has not quite arrived weather-wise, but Eden and Dan invited us to accompany them to the Oregon Coast for a week of fun and relaxation...

Our New Puppy!!

"Titan" is his name...cute is his game! He was the runt of the litter...a miniature dachshund...he needed a "big" name! So, Titan it is.

Spring Break with my Sister!

Just another week in paradise!!! Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!

Mi amigo, Francisco!

I missed this last year...I promised myself a massage on the beach this year for sure!

Yep, those are my toes...

Our adventurous spirit took us on a busride to Bucerias...Karen had been there 20 years ago, and had been charmed by the unspoiled beach...20 years makes a difference, but we were still charmed!


I wish you could see the gold flecks in the sand...I've never seen anything like it!

Sand sculptures beyond beautiful!
Sunset on the Malecon
Our final night...our farewell dinner at Los Tules.

Our singing waiter..."Besame Mucho!"

My Favorite Planet!

Last night Reed and I accompanied our church youth group to the Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park and Observatory. The Bruneau dunes include the single tallest sand dune in North America...it is a WONDER! Then, when the sun went down, we checked out the billions of stars through the huge telescope at the observatory. As we were leaving, there was a group of people using one of the smaller telescopes outside the observatory...I overheard someone saying they were looking at Saturn...well, I've always thought that Saturn was my favorite planet...with those rings and all...but I never expected to actually SEE it! I took my turn and nearly did a happy dance right there! I saw beautiful Saturn on a beautiful night in Bruneau, Idaho!!!

What is a Core Fair?

McKena's elementary school presents a "core knowledge" fair each year to reflect the learning that has taken place across grade levels and curriculum...this year's theme was American History. What a fantastic display of creativity and facets of learning. Each guest was presented with a program map and questions to answer as one moved throughout the school hallways. Teachers were dressed as famous Americans from history...Abe Lincoln got by me before I could get out my camera...we nabbed Betsy Ross between stitches and a Colonial soldier (who was a member of Sons of the American Revolution). We all had a wonderful time. Thanks McKena!

Valentine Winners

I am doing a long-term sub and had so much fun at the class Valentine party! I wanted to share the creative masterpieces that won the box decorating contest. Can you guess which won: Most Unique...Most Creative...Most Beautiful...Funniest...and Most Inspirational? The kids voted.

Snow is NOT my favorite!

But Christmas is! We gathered at Jay and Christa's, driving through a nasty snow storm...Brooklyn came in sick, threw up...cuddled up on the couch for a while. Bellamie was covered with hives...Eden had taken her to the doctor on Christmas Eve day. BUT, we celebrated and we were TOGETHER!