FINALLY - - PRINCESS Emma!

1. "The Princess" alights her "carriage" - a moment of "independence"! ;-)
(Be sure to enlarge this pic to catch her UNposed "regal" expression :-)!

2. The Princess holds "audience" with the FIRST "Potato Bug" of the season.

3. A Princess MUST protect her delicate skin against a rare GNW sunny day!
(Can you believe it, Kyle! ;-)

A day with "Princess" Emma!

Here is some of what I have been wanting to share from our time sitting last Monday! I'll add captions after the pics come up. (IF they'll come up, that is!)

Cultural Disconnect

The ice cream truck just drove by playing "Jingle Bells" and "The First Noel."

Don't let this happen to your church

I think we saw the worst sermon ever last night. I think we came out of church dumber and more sinful than when we went in. I hate to joke about preaching, lest I be denigrating the work of God, but if this was God's work then I'm a tree frog.

First of all, our assistant pastor was leading the service which isn't really ever good news. I feel I can say this without just being a ministry assassin because I truly know that this stuff actually happens in the Lutheran system (which has many great things that I love, but is far from perfect). There are people who just plug themselves in to a Lutheran job and ride the instant-tenure-guaranteed-jobs-and-tax-breaks system until they retire. And since within that system, jumping through the hoops and getting little checklists done, counts for more than character or calling, you end up with some stinkers. Lots of good ones, but some definite stinkers. It often happens that young people will start out as Lutheran teachers who just fail miserably- usually at dealing with the kids. Now in the Lutheran system it is incredibly hard to fire a teacher, seriously. But every now and then a teacher is soooo bad (yelling or physical confrontations with kids, out-of-control combative attitudes towards classroom discipline, entire classes getting Ds and Fs) that they just have to actually remove them from their job. If it's a woman, they tell her to go home to her kids or become a secretary in the Lutheran system. If it's a man, they tell him (I kid you not) to go into pastoral ministry. This just happened last year at LHSOC, when the new theology teacher was sooo awful (all the reasons I listed before) they HAD to remove him from the classroom mid-year and use a sub to finish the semester. They sent the guy into pastoral ministry. Then it happened again. Yes, another theology teacher sooo awful, they had to remove him from the classroom and send him to...pastoral ministry, that's right.

Anyway....our assistant pastor is one of these guys. We know this because he has told the story many times himself : he escaped being convicted of assault on a kid because his attorney was a better attorney, as he tells the story. So he just switched to being a pastor. Great!

We love our church and our head pastor and the rest of the staff and all the people. We just have a hard time with the assistant pastor. He speaks to everyone as if they are 4 or 5 yrs old and is also very, ahem, effeminate. His sermons are like giant, bad children's sermons. But last night was the worst ever. At least I hope there haven't been worse ones.

You have to imagine all this with our pastor in his blue-gray suit with his hands clasping and twirling from his wrists and his soft, lisping, gentle articulation.

He announces it's Good Shepherd Sunday, his favorite Sunday! So he's invited a shepherd to be with us. In walks one of our deacons in a bad shepherd costume. He walks to the front and they proceed to work through a very stiff, awkward, scripted dialogue about being a shepherd. The lesson was constructed of gems like:

Pastor: You have a very soothing voice, the sheep must like that.
Shepherd: Yes, they do.
Pastor: Is being a shepherd dangerous?
Shepherd: Yes, it is. I have almost lost my life many times caring for my sheep.
Pastor: What are some of the dangers?
Shepherd: Well, sheep are really really dumb. They also don't swim very well and they tend to wander off if the pastures aren't verdant. (yes that's what he said/read)
Pastor: You have very strong hands.
Shepherd: Well, I should be getting this guy back to my flock (picks up a giant stuffed animal sheep from the floor and exits)

Mark was actually trying to control himself shaking with laughter and I was just confused feeling like I was in some sort of twilight-zone gay preschool.

When the shepherd exited, we thought, whew! Now to the sermon...

But no.

The pastors says we have another special guest...The Good Shepherd!

In walks a new member who happens to have a beard, dressed in a knee-length Jesus outfit. He and the pastor then climb onto swivel-stools (so his poor hairy shins and bare feet are front and center). You must still imagine the pastor the same way (suit, clasping and twirling hands, sweet lisping voice) and imagine "Jesus" looking scared to death, speaking haltingly and wooden, and swiveling back and forth from nervousness. Their exchange was like this:

Pastor: What is it like dealing with us sheep?
Jesus: Well, if they want to lie down with a lion, that's not a good thing.
Pastor: How does that make you feel?
Jesus: Well, if they use their free will to make bad choices, that makes me sad.
Pastor: We just really really want to thank you for shedding your blood for us and saving all mankind from eternal damnation by giving us salvation (said while looking into Jesus' eyes)
Jesus: Yes. It was the one of the hardest things I ever had to do.
Pastor: Again, we just really want to thank you just so much for shedding your blood for all of us and saving us all from our sins.
Jesus: It was, uhhhh, my pleasure. Thank you for, um, um, receiving that.
Pastor: You have a very soothing voice.
Jesus: My voice is like the songs of the birds.
Pastor: How can we hear your voice?
Jesus: Well, you can hear it in this (holds up the blue Lutheran pew Bible)
Pastor: Oh!!!! Thank you so much for that!!
Jesus climbs down off the swivel stool and raises his hands and says "My peace I give to you" and exits.
And the pastor says "Let us pray."

That was the sermon.

Tavie

How's Tavie, Darc? What's the diagnosis?

College craziness

Remember when you just applied where you wanted to go and you got in and you went there and that was pretty much it? Not anymore.

Up until this year, you could count on one hand, literally, the number of schools with single digit acceptance rates (less than 10% of applicants accepted). Even Stanford, Georgetown, and many other elite schools had acceptance rates in the low teens. But this year was crazy. Pretty much all the Ivy's and other elites, USC, UCLA, and many others ended up with single-digit acceptance rates. Maybe even UCSD. All the rates were SO low because of overwhelming numbers of applicants for a limited number of spots. Where you can get in fairly easily are private schools that are in a growth phase or state schools with guaranteed acceptance policies. The UC system is even juggling people around. Jordan applied to UCLA and UCSD and didn't get into either, but received letters saying that the UC system had forwarded applications of kids to their not-as-in-demand campuses and even though he never applied, he was accepted to UCR and UC Merced. Betcha didn't know there was a UC Merced! Funny.

Well, I am happy that he did get in where he wants to be anyway. But I hope that it's easier by the time the rest of the great-grands time comes. Or maybe they're all so brilliant and talented they'll be accepted everywhere. :)

Swimming Lessons

This is moments before Cade jumped in by doing a beautiful cannonball. I didn't know he was capable of doing one with such precision, or I'd have taken that shot instead.
The videos below are of their lessons today. The pic was included for Marilyn, since she doesn't have highspeed :)

The video link for the bad weather is dead now. I had to delete it to get this one on.

KJ

Heath Jumps

Cade Swims

Tavie

I'm worried about my Tavie cat tonight. Her back legs don't seem to be working well all of a sudden and she yowled a little when I picked her up. She's never done that before. Her eyes don't look good, either. George has her on the bed next to him while he reads and she keeps shifting around like she hurts. All she's done all day is sleep... I don't think she could have injured herself. Why would her leg suddenly hurt? I know you don't have the answers, I'm just worrying.

I think her time is coming.

Yesterday, Windy Wore Open Toed Sandals, and The Boys Were in Shorts

I could get used to this! :-)

(posted by Marilyn)
After Grampa & I spent the day here helping with the Grands on our MONTHLY 'date' so Teresa could help out in Monique & Emma's classrooms, I am having an unplanned for sleep over here! YIPPEE! Sigh, Grampa had to go home, however, as there is necessary yard work there & decent weather in which to accomplish it, but he'll pick me up later in the day. Ethan will likely "forgive" him that - afterall, he IS a "Grampa's Boy" :-)

You see, for SOME "silly" reason, Ethan can't accompany (chaperoning) Teresa on Monique's am FT and Teresa can't "clone" herself to also get back in time for Emma's bus ;-)! And as if those weren't reason enough, Nathan's co. had the nerve to fly him out to Atlanta in the earlier am so he is temporarily out of the picture too!

OH well, SOME Gramma "has" to do it ;-)
mc

You know you're Baptist when...

The men use hairspray.

Women should dress modestly at all times...while wearing heels, big curled hair and full makeup.

You know you're Lutheran when...

The board meeting dinners are in a beer hall.

Is this mic on???

Not any amazing video, just checking to see if this works. This is Ethan trucking around on the trampoline at Easter.

What We Did Today (It'll ramble-so pay attention)

We went bike riding first thing in the morning, and since my bike is not in optimum running shape, and my rollerblades were buried in storage, I just walked around the lake by myself waiting for Windy, or a child to come cruising past. I managed to take a few pictures and a video of the boys (see posts below).
Then Windy made the boys lunch, took Cade to a play date at a magic show, managed to get into the magic show herself with Heath, then Jason and Grace and their dad (from our church) showed up at the magic show, then Windy ended up taking care of Jason and Grace from the duration of the show. After which she spent her day with Heath until she went off to a banquet for a retiring faculty member, and then a Music Department Gala.
Meanwhile, after biking, I went to the storage unit and redid the mess we created from last week when we hurriedly found some items we despartely needed (like beds, dressers, and toys for the kids). That took about five and half hours. Then Heath and I went to a "guys" night out while Windy went to her banquets and galas.


She was at a luncheon yesterday, and will be at a roast tomorrow. She's giving Heidi a run for her money on the socialite scale.

Only Two Fathers Would Let This Happen

Boomer on the Bike

SECOND attempt - Atlanta or Bust??

(ARRRG "lost" my 1st attempt to publish! this, so briefly as I can, here goes a retry!

1. Nathan's about to become new parent company somewhat hinted that if HE was/is willing to relocate to Atlanta, they may have a position for him there at corp. hdqrts!

2. To Nathan's surprise/shock, Teresa & the Girls ALL gave a "thumbs up" re the possibility! - In fact "fingers" have been burning up their keyboard researching the area! - Teresa has already "found" a potential house AND church :-)

3. Nathan flies to Atlanta on business this next week - Teresa & Ethan joining him there for a long weekend at trips end to "explore". The Girls stay with a friend of N&T's since school is in session, Kleins are in Germany & I have FT work hours yet! (SIGH!)

4. NOTHING would be "offered" him, (if any is, we must still remember) til the sale closes the end of this month or early next.

5. Of COURSE we Grandparents are both a "yippee and sigh" re this, praying behind them and "bracing" ourselves for the possibility, but we WILL support them 110% if it is a "go" - AND "smell" a web cam on the horizon in the future, too! ;-). We are ALSO pouring over maps re visiting them there, too! :-) - A WHOLE "ADVENTURE" may be opening before us ALL!

Stay tuned!
mc





mc

the Harris Antelope Ground Squirrel

This fellow (or gal) is one of our neighbors. He finally paid us a visit this trip. Gigi spotted him while sitting and catching her breath after a walk & dusting while Mont & I packed and cleaned.

The first time I ever saw one of these guys he was running away from us in the forest. I yelled, "its a rabbit, no a squirrel, no a rabbit, oh heck who knows?" They run sorta bouncy (bounding like an antelope???) and have the long upright ears, but obviously have a bushy squirrel tail. We're glad to have a picture to share.

We also saw 7 elk one day crossing the lot next door - from the droppings it is a common trail. Gigi was still asleep for the 1st 4 which I scared off unintentionally, but the last 3 we watched for a long time as they browsed and ambled. We also saw about a dozen during our midnight arrival. We drove slowly and spotted them along the road - except for one who was standing in the road - we stopped while he made up his mind whether to go to the right or to left.

Mont & I were also charmed by an Acorn Woodpecker who shyly visited our bird food dish. We couldn't get a picture 'cause he was very wary! But we watched him perch and eat from a few feet inside.

There you have it, nature lovers among you.

We had interesting weather. 2 pretty days, 2 windy days and one with dark clouds and a quarter cup full of snow pellets. We loved every minute of it!

I realized in the great room picture the little lamp was still pushed aside so Mont could put the ladder where it normally sits. Looks a bit funny! - But how do you like our torchiere? I think its cool - obviously - I bought it. It actually gives sufficient light - unlike some of the other fixtures I fell in love with and picked out.

The spoon & fork hanging on the hall/kitchen wall will be painted black - (they are ones Mont made in our spaghetti dinner phase. )Notice I'm cleverly using them as decorations - hoping never again to have to stir with them.

It's starting to look more like a home

Mont & I hung pictures and he finished the light soffits for the bathrooms. I organized a few more of our storage items. Now the house is starting to look more like a home and less sterile. It makes me impatient to get more 'things'. Patience, Dear!

BTW - I like the new format! Very Springie. We came home to a lovely front yard - many more flowers blooming.

I guess I'll have to do pics later as I keep getting an error message for the images. But obviously I had no trouble getting in.

Cade Rode A Bike

I rode a Bike. for the very frirst time. Love, Cade

Bringing Home Baby

Today's the day. :)

Cade and Math

Cade wanted y'all to know that he did a math problem today in which he "carried" several times and the final answer was 32,548. He was pretty stoked.
Before bed the last two nights he has asked me to leave him some math on the dry erase board so he can do it first thing in the morning.
Crazy kid.

Checkin' in

HI - we are home -had a great time - will post tomorrow pics and stories. Loved reading the blog tonight.
love ya all

Got Spring?

I feel like I really lucked out with this crabapple tree. I bought it after the bloom season last year because of its eventual size at maturity and boy is it a beauty!

Baseball Tonight

Hey Mont,

Padres/Dodgers is on ESPN tonight, and I bet Joe Morgan is calling the game. Better than Tony, even according to mom.

KJ

New template

Thought I'd make us feel all San Diego-y with a little seaside-ish background.

Memories :-)

Mark cleaned the garage today and re-bestowed on me my "Most Spirited - Academic Team" medal. Made me laugh. Yes the Academic Team gave a "Most Spirited" award, and even an MVP (Cameron K. if memory serves). hee hee. I was captain of the team and once someone brought me a cape and I wore it as "Captain Heidi" for that match.

Also brought back my big "AAAAAARRRGGGHHH!" moment. In a close match against a big public high school, the question was "Who wrote Civil Disobedience?" I knew it was Thoreau- I buzzed in first and said........."William Henry Thoreau!" then immediately thought- "Wait! What did I just say? That's not his name! It's Henry David!!" And as I was thinking this I heard the moderator say "I'm sorry, that's incorrect." But since I'd already said Thoreau- the other team knew the answer and just had to ring in and say "Thoreau." It was awful. I was seriously miffed.

I asked Jordan this morning "Who wrote Civil Disobedience?" He said "Henry David Thoreau"
Made me feel a little redeemed.

I'm wearing my silly medal around my neck. I was such an activities geek in high school. As much as I HATED junior high, I LOVED high school. I did about anything and everything there was to do. Was there anything I didn't do in high school? hmmmm, not sure. But I was Most Spirited on the Academic Team and I have a little bronze(ish) medal hanging on a yellow ribbon that says so.

The moral of the story is to clean your garages because there's fun stuff in there.

Friday indeed

I hate car shopping ~ have I mentioned that? :( It would be one thing if it was all about going to a nice dealership and simply picking out the car I wanted and driving it home. However, that is not how it works around here. Instead, I'm tracking used cars all over the northwest, like picking through a haystack. I'm looking for something pretty specific and of course the color has to be right, so that makes it even harder. Yesterday Dad and I drove up to Portland to look at one and it's perfect. Honestly, I don't think I could come up with a better one if I tried. Problem is it's in Portland, which is no easy drive from here. George has been gone a lot the last two weeks following the Ways & Means Committee as they host town hall-type meetings all over the state, so he really can't even go look at it until mid to late next week. Additionally, he wants our mechanic to look at it and asked the seller if we could bring it to our mechanic. If I were the seller there's no way I'd let someone take it that far and this guy isn't so inclined to do that, either. He's thinking about it and he'll get back to me today. I hate how complicated this all becomes.

I guess there's not much point to this post... just getting it off my chest. I'll let you know how it progresses.

How's the snow???

Hope you Denverites are snuggly and warm today. Checked the CCU web-cam and there is no snow yet. Maybe it will fizzle. We had a cold night last night - we just got the windy fringes of the storm that is supposed to give you snow.

Take me out to the - -

Thursday was a great day, weatherwise for the Dolfin's season opener! Well the original opener had been postponed due to rain, but that is beside the point :-)! Monique was really happy to get "into" her newest sport & her parents and I were SO proud of her! Most of her teammates have been playing for 2 or 3 years, but our brave, tenacious lil Gal gave it her all, too, stepping up to the plate and connecting with the ball 3X, getting on base twice! Granted they were not SOLID "hits", but connected she did and was off & running! (It was SO cute before hand in that she had asked Teresa how she would know when to run! ;-) It was equally enjoyable watching Emma & Ethan's facination with an abundance of mud, sticks and Dandelions! ;-)

#1. "Spectators", Ethan, Teresa and Emma - Nathan arrived after work, bringing our "dinner" along with him, while Grampa, sigh, had his own "season opener" at the Inn, SUCH timing, huh?) #2. Monique's very 1st time at bat - you can see where the (florescent green) ball landed after being "hit" :-) - then slowly rolled about 4-5 feet in "fair" territory, giving her enough time to reach 1st base! #3. Ethan & Emma's "nature" discoveries. ;-)
Play ball! - This "de ja vous" sports stuff (sp?) is SUCH fun! mc

Hellllllllooooooo?

I am doing taxes, and we just found out we're having blizzard on Friday.

Awesome time in Denver right now.

I think my brain is going to freeze

If you can imagine it, I think I might be on party-planning overload. Yes, me. I know I love to plan parties but I think I'm about to stroke out.

Today I have been trying to get all my reservations in place and invitations prepared and sent out for:

1. bridal luncheon for a neighbor
2. pre-prom hors d'oeuvres & drinks photo reception for Jordan and his prom group and their parents/families
3. Prom limo& after-party arrangements
4. Kentucky Derby weekend in Louisville
5. San Diego weekend for Dead Sea Scrolls viewing, including hotel, Padre game and Hotel Del brunch
6. Jordan's graduation luncheon
7. Jordan's 18th birthday party

I'm literally fried. If I don't forget something MAJOR for one of these- it will be a miracle. And I haven't even THOUGHT about Jakie's b-day. I love him too, but Jordan's graduation/college madness requires a lot of focus and energy and "Happy 6th Jakie!" is a LOT easier than "Happy 18th b-day/Last day of High School, Jordan!" for a bunch of teenagers.

And I'm still teaching for 3 more weeks, so I've got grading final projects, makeup lessons and final exams to juggle along with it- no more than any other teacher, but combined with my party-planning madness, I'm going to be deep-breathing to maintain sanity the next 2 months.

You CAN have too much of a good thing. :)

Love you all.

if it's Denver - snow - if it's San Diego - drizzle

Last minute joys of the visit -Sat morning early - sharing one of the library books we checked out Friday aft. I've got my coffee, Spanky has a lap (1/2 anyway), and Heath has a lap and book read. Cade is reading long distance and generally being his happy self! Mont woke up in time to grab the camera before we all got into motion to get Kyle & kids off. Gigi, unfortunately had stayed up late to try to finish a book and got up after they left. Since she slept later by far than usual I had no idea I should waken her.

I don't know why anyone bothers to plan an Easter sunrise service in San Diego. It always is gloomy and drizzly - the worst day all week. The drizzle lasted til around 2pm. we had no plans for Easter, and hardly any food in the house - so we went to Baker's Square after church. Mont had a tasty turky dinner and Gigi the hamburger she was craving and we all had pie, so were content.

Hope everyone had a nice Easter - and forgives me for the lack of cards this year.

We're Off!

There is supposed to be a foot of snow in the Colorado mountains today, so let's pray for the best.

KJ

Who Tah? You Tah!

We made it to Ritchfield, about 40 miles across I-70 from the 15, in the state of great views, many hives, and many wives. I guess the Mormons were big in to honey.



My best Utah joke, however, was last summer while in the car, I saw a bulletin board for the Utah state Shakespearian Festival: I mentioned to Windy that I had heard they did a wonderful adaptation of "The Taming of the Shrews."

Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week.



She got it about a mile later. Then I got hit.

Heath took a three hour nap which ended at about 5:30. Yeah, he was up until about 15 minutes ago.

Fog on Cajon pass. I threw my phone in the garbage in Baker (I got it back). Half an hour Heath poop in a gas station in Baker. No one at denny's would take our order-we went to Bob's Big Boy (The Bun Boy is gone :( ) No traffic or construction from Baker to Vegas. Some rain (at times, heavy) from Cedar City to Rirtchfield.

Slug Bug Stats were low: All players tied at three since I let Cade play his Gameboy for the first time since our first weekend at Heidi's, and Heath's nap. I actually had about 40-but I didn't call them. I think Heath is the winner for the day since he go the first (on Nimitz!) and last (in Parawon).

We should be home tomorrow afternoon.

Yea!

Ethan's first picture

While at Emma's Gymnastics, Ethan seemed (as usual) interested in the camera, so I thought he might like to take a picture. Talk about bee's to honey or sharks to blood. He could hardly contain himself. Whe he pushed down on the button, HE PUSHED DOWN! He was so excited! Well, you can see what happens when you press the button too hard. MB

Weekend stuff

We're off to the beach for the weekend. George's mom rented a house there for what was supposed to be Joe & Helen's going away party. They've since decided they aren't going away, but we still get a beach weekend. We stayed at this house once before and it's a great place, but did I mention there will be 15 of us there? (ahem) Wish me luck. :) The weather looks like it will decent, though, so that's a plus.

What's everyone else doing this weekend? Where are you now, Kyle? Still in OC?

Dance Pics

Sadie Hawkins Dance: western theme

Welcome!!

I would like to extend a HEARTY family blog welcome to the N&T McCardles and the Matthesens! Yay!! As the paper family letter seems to have officially died "somewhere" in Oregon :-0 we have since contented ourselves with this new e-version- which works great since you don't have to wait 9 months in between news and pics! And we are assured that Gigi reads it regularly so it works fine for us all.

Let us know if you need any help figuring things out. But you're both pretty tech savvy so you should be okay.

Emmas's Gymnastics & (a LOT) more!!

We met Teresa and the younger kids at the gym today, but you'll have to wait a touch for any pics.- BUT I HAD to share how much fun it was for us to watch Emma today! She is SO STRONG and graceful it is surprising to behold! It is not just ME "being a Gramma", either - she is being "moved up" past her age level as soon as school is out!

Ethan was there to mostly keep "Gam-puh" out of "trouble" ;-) ! Yes, he DOES "like" me, but is indeed "Grampa's boy"! Up til today he has called Mike "Pah" - SO cute to hear that Mike & I almost "hate" to hear it go! Ethan's joy in life & living is contagious! - He "hippity hops" through his days in a "gallopy", way that just makes you grin!

We were sorry to miss seeing Kelsey & Monique today, but I have to pick up a friend who can't drive at night, to take to a class tonight & would have been too late to maneuver through the renouned "Beaverton traffic". - Kelsey was not home because of her after school German class, something she has wanted to take for quite a while now - WOW! - Kyle will have someone else with whom he can "practice" too! Monique is now playing softball & tells me she mostly enjoys "hitting"! :-) ! I am amazed that Teresa keeps up so well with their assorted schedules, but she also LOVES this sort of thing, like I did/DO! Oh yes! Emma is starting soccor soon, & even Nathan is playing softball again! Talk about BUSY!!

Alas, the latest new guy at the Inn didn't "work out", SIGH, so I am back to FT again & will have to figure out how/what I can see of games/practices, but try I will!

TTFN!
mc

Bye Bye Van

Well, the van is gone and I'm a wee bit sad. I know it was a very uncool minivan, but I'll admit I was attached to it. We sold it on Craigslist for a lot more than I thought we could get for a dead van and hopefully it will have a happy life. A guy bought it for his daughter who totalled her van, same year and model. They're planning to use the body from my van and the parts from hers, so hopefully that will work out well for them.

Meanwhile I'm driving Joe and Helen's Suburban, which they traded me for their Geo Metro for a few days. Yes, I am driving a Geo Metro. Yes, I have 4 children. Yes, we look like a circus act at the moment. *sigh* I'm trying to light a fire under George's dragging feet, but he doesn't like to move quickly on large purchases. Hopefully I'll be back in business soon. At least Joe and Helen will be giving me the Suburban again so I can lose the clown car.

I've been totally car obsessed since we got home, so no posting about vacation. We did have fun, though. I'll throw a few pictures up for you.

It isn't Everyday You Get to Throw Things at Your Father in Law.

That is the quote of the day from Mont.

Today we rented a 38' boom lift to trim the Carrotwood Tree of its branches and "nuts." The work was grueling, but the view was fabulous. Mont did the manual labor and I did the "finesse" work. Just kidding.

What do the State of Florida and Mont have on common? They both consider the Carrotwood a noxious weed. Actually Mont only hates the nuts.


Kyle in the boom.

GiGi's ride went like this:
"Boy, it really gets up here."
"We still have 5 feet to go."
No. This is fine right here!"

More Pics-Can You Handle It?!

This is Heath waaaay up high.

Cade on his way up-even higher than Heath by a foot, or two. I lost the lower part of my arm in a horrible tree trimming accident. (Seriously-doesn't the blur make it look like I am missing my left arm?)

The view from the sky.

Mont going for a spin.

It's Snowing, so it must be Easter!

Stick a fork in me, people! It seems to be a law in Denver that it WILL snow any day of the year when children want to be frolicking outside, gathering candy in special clothes. This includes Halloween, too, of course, but it only rains on the 4th of July. Of course, this 25 degree and snowing Saturday is everyone's easter egg hunt, which will now occur in the sanctuary of our church, and the gym at CCU.
I am therefore refusing to leave the house this weekend. Luckily, I have plenty of firewood, artichoke dip, and lemon-blackberry tart left from last night's party. Eddie and I are going to enter an advanced state of food-induced stasis together.

Darcy come back!

Darcy, where are you? The rest of us have posted (in some cases embarassing) photos and stories about spring break, and now we are paralyzed until we hear from you. Was it THAT traumatizing to go on a trip without George? Are you recuperating?

Spring Break "Escape" - to Newport!

With Marilyn's back doing better, we went over to Agate Beach for a couple of nights. The ocean was very rough the first day - 3 surfers were caught in a rip tide and one of them didn't make it and we were able to see the Coast Guard attempt a rescue. The next two days were beautiful, with visits to Cape Foulweather (named such by Captain Cook as he was there on a very foul day in 1778. The wind often exceeds 100 MPH.) and did see a good number of whale spouts, and then to the Yaquina Lighthouse.

Kaze, as Requested

Requesting...

the Kaze video...

The day of rest???

Heath staggering in the too big gear.
Evie - one handed! (imitating Jakie's stunt)
Cade on the bike



Saturday had beern slated a day of rest in our original plans. Instead Jordan and Mark took the trailer to El Mirage Friday night and we joined them for Saturday.





Heath made us all hysterical with his dirt bike lesson. He went crazy wheee-ing and giggling the WHOLE time. While the men chased around trying to keep him from running into things and people. Mark limited it at 2 mph so we all survived. Cade was a bit more cautious starting out - but had fun later without close supervision.





Windy and I tried and loved riding the quad. Grandpa took a nap!

Disneyland & beyond

We did it! We all made it to Disneyland - except Mark & Jordan - who had work & school. Everyone had fun. I guess I'm somewhat brain dead this am 'cause I can't think of anything clever or outstanding. I thought I'd do this before everyone else got up and things got busy.

I'll post pictures.

We did also have lots of fun Saturday (on our rest??? day) at El Mirage on the dirt bikes. It is a HUGE dry lake bed & surrounding area near Victorville for dirt biking. There is lots of room and some of us got our first taste of dirt biking. (or quad riding).

Sunday was California Adventure - Disney's way of extracting extra money by calling it a separate theme park - but it is a really nice place. Very well done - and has the California Screamin' roller coaster. It's a humdinger!! Wheeeee. We all wanted more. Heath had burn out at around 4pm and that was the end for him and Grandpa & ma took him home with us when we left at 6:30. He was pretty done in. The river radft ride was a blast also - esp since we were well covered for splashes.

Twas the night before...

'Twas the night before Disneyland and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring, except the night owls
Jakie danced, Mark studied, Kyle surfed, Heidi blogged
Snax purred, Jordan WOWed. All the others sawed logs.
Cade and Heath dreamed of Buzz and R2D2
When the sun comes up, they'll cry "cock-a-doodle-doo!"

Update Part 1: Thar She Blows

We went to the beach Thursday by special request of my friend Jen. We've had the fun of having Kyle and kids, and Jen too. Jen was here Sat thru this morning (Tues). She and Eric moved to Iowa when he accepted his first ordained call and have been there 3 years now. She wanted to see the ocean, so we went to the beach on Sun afternoon. It was a little cold and breezy, but still fine. We snuggled in sweatshirts and towels and the boys made sand castles (more like a sand village), and searched for sea shells. Cade was so overjoyed and free he just plowed into the cold ocean and frolicked in the waves, hands waving, feet flaying, face beaming, until he was completely soaked. We had thought it was too cold for them to want to swim so Kyle had dressed them in warm clothes- but once Cade just ran right in, it was too late. And then we figured we might as well let him enjoy a little while of his gleeful ocean play before pulling him out. So while I watched, Kyle and Mark snuck off and bought a sweatshirt and shorts so by the time he came out (after his first full frontal crash) and I had him toweled off, Kyle was ready with clean, warm clothes for him. Kyle then gave Heath his own (Kyle's) sweatshirt so Heath looked like a heather-gray Jawa.

The real treat was that we noticed that a fairly large power boat and a whale watching ship were sort of drifting along very slowly close to shore (just past the end of the pier. We snuck a couple glances of fins surfacing, and then it was much clearer- in between the boats and the shore (close enough we were a little concerned about beaching) four CA grey whales were just slowly moseying along the shore line, and started giving us the treat of several good surfacings and "blows". We laughed as Jen, after enjoying just watching, suddenly realized she should take a picture for Eric and got up and started running along the shore to catch up with them and take a pic. Her timing was never quite right, so she ended up just calling him to describe the scene. The kids got to see the whales surface and blow, just from standing right on the shore.

So cold and breezy or not, we all thanked Jen for the motivation to come to the beach at just that time (and Mark for picking the spot).

Well, I'm bummed

Looks like I'll be taking my first family vacation as the sole parent. Our spring break trip to northern CA with Nathan & Teresa has gone a little haywire and it's all the fault of the Ways & Means Committee. The co-chairs' budget was scheduled to be released several weeks ago and kept getting bumped back. It's now set to release next Thursday (we leave Sunday). The week following its release is a crunched, busy week for George and there's no way he can be gone. Even if they bump it back again he won't be able to leave because he can't be gone when it's released. I'm so bummed. I think I'm still going, though, because I have kids who are so excited they can hardly stand it and I don't want to disappoint the McCardle kids, either.

Also, looks like decision time on the car front. We're officially in repair or replace discussion as the we-thought-it-would-be-expensive repair has turned into doomsday repairs. *sigh* I'll let you know what we decide to do. Meanwhile I'm not left stranded because we can no doubt borrow George's dad's Suburban, which is in Joe & Helen's possession as a 3rd vehicle. I so did not want to deal with this right now.

Sorry to be a downer.

A Frango is...

Available here-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frango

and accurate too.

KJ

They're here!

FYI, Kyle and boys are safely here. The boys are running around acclimating to the new place and each other (A whole new set of toys! Must touch all of them!). OKay, they're hungry, so I'll go make dinner.

Jumping into the fray...

You know you live in Happy Jack:
1. When you know what the RIM is.
2. When no one could ever find you with Yahoo maps.
3. The mud on your car is a lovely red/orange.
4. You don't know whether to tell people to look for Long Valley or Clint's Well to find Happy Jack on a map.
5. Even though the next nearest gas station is 40 miles away you pay less for gas than those chumps in So Cal.
6. You know what the sky and stars look like at night without going to the Rueben H Fleet.
7. You can recite the nightly specials at the Long Valley cafe from memory.

Settled for the Night

We stopped at about 10P at a motel just off the 5 (Lodi exit). I figured it was best to get on the other side of Sac. so we don't have any chance of traffic in the morning. Travelling went well. At about 4P, however, we learned that Cade has "it" now. He has a fever, no appetite, and the (now) characteristic lethargy accompanied by the inability to carry on a coversation. He also has a modified version of Josh's cough.
He seemed a little better as we got into the motel, but only the morning will truly tell. The hotel is perfect for this adventure-cheap, hyper clean, and did I mention-cheap. They also have internet. I won't say the name for fear that Marilyn will have some sort of seizure.
We are all jammed into a double bed, but there is a long window seat that I may move into if Heath doesn't stop making the bottom kazoo notes so prevelent for the last hour.
I figure 5-6 leisurely hours tomorrow, and I wil not be in a hurry to get off in the AM- shall we say an ETA of about 4PM, Heidi?

You know you're in the Pac NW when - -

1. You cannot taste the air.
2. You can look at the the surrounding mountains and wonder when THEY are going to blow.
3. No "respectable" kid over the age of age 7 wears a coat/jacket to school when it rains.
4. You are EITHER a "Beaver" OR a "Duck" - there is NOTHING in between!
5. You can pronounce Puyallup, Squim, Snohomish, Snoqualamie.
6. You know which city is called "the armpit of Seattle"
7. You'd walk a mile in the rain for a GREAT dish of hot Black or Marionberry cobbler a la mode!
8. You recognize Tom Peterson - and GLORIA, too!
9. You CHOOSE to go to the "beach" when it storms and blows - the harder the better!
10. You know who "Moe" is AND what "she" is best known for.
11. ALmost EVERY restaurant on the coast claims that they have won an award for the BEST Clam Chowder in the NW
12. You belong to a gym (or you'll gain 15 lbs the first year you live there UNLESS you own and USE a treadmill).
13. You know who Clyde Drexler is and hope he WINS "Dancing with the Stars"!
14. You are very proud of The Oregon Zoo.
15. You can't think of a single "Mexican" restaurant that serves REAL Mexican food.
16. You winced in embarassment when you 1st learned that Tonya Harding is from Portland!
17. You google to learn where the nearest Starbucks will be in relation to your hotel destination.
18. You reject the 1st strawberries of the season - picked "green" in California, you know.
17. You know what a huckleberry is and salivate at the thought of Huckleberry pie, syrup, jam, dumplings - you name it!
18. You chain up or stay home when there is an inch of snow on the ground in the Portland area!

More San Diego

1. You know who Clyde and Seymour are.
2. You know who Dennis Connor is.
3. You haven't called the Hotel Del Coronado by its full name in your life.
4. You know what the very first animals are that you see when you enter the Zoo.
5. You know why you should always go to Balboa Park on Tuesdays.
6. The first time you went to an indoor mall, you were confused and didn't understand.
7. You never wore 3 layers in your life, until you moved away.
8. You went whale watching as a school field trip.
9. You know what, when and where the Turkey Trot is.
10. You know that all Mexican take-out ends in "-berto's"
11. As for "Mesa"s- they forgot La Mesa and Otay Mesa
12. You remember Steve Garvey's homerun, and you know which one I mean. Hey, who's up for Nati's?

My Denver additions

My outside obs...

You know you live in Denver if:

1. You have brown hair. Whatever color it used to be, it's now brown.
2. Girls have 2 hairstyles: a bob or a ponytail.
3. You don't even own hairspray
4. You wear sandals with ankle straps all the time, unless you're in hiking boots or running shoes
5. All your shorts have at least 6 pockets
6. You know what a nalgene is, and have yours with you at all times, and have a distinguishing mark on it so no one confuses it with their nalgene.
7. You also know what a carabiner is.
8. "Boulder" is a city, a noun, and a verb.
9. You know at least one homeschooler.
10. You know that being sunny has nothing to do with being warm.

You Know You Live in Denver if..

This is mostly for Kaze:
1. You know that you will get a migraine without sunglasses.
2. Your wardrobe is made up of the following colors: green, off green, olive green, brown, and tan with a splash of sage.
3. You don't know any fat people.
4. You have a favorite Rocky's commercial.
5. You have friends who absolutely love it here, and 90% of those friends are from Texas, Illinois, or Wisconsin. And none of them are from the west coast.
6. You give a knowing "I'm sorry" when someone says they grew up in Aurora.
7. You aren't allowed to say any spanish location names with anything other than the worst gringo pornuciation (Limon "lymen"--Sangre De Cristos"Sangra Duh Kristoes" and Fruita "Frootuh").
8. You know 5 people who own Subarus.
9. You know people are not referring to hermits when they refer to someone as "mountain people." That just means they live up the hill.
10. Even though it was 70 degrees today, you know it could snow tomorrow-seriously.
11. You remember the day the weather man was right.
12. You know what it means when a gay guy goes to Trinidad for the month.\
13. You know what 14er's are.
14. Have alot more energy when you visit someplace at sea level.
15. Require a water bottle on your bedside table, and use it at least three times in the middle of the night because you have been awaked by the feeling of your throat gluing itself to itself.

Heidi, Dressing Up Means "Nice" Shorts

1. You really aren't upset when the Padres lose. They always do, and you thought they really tried hard, and "hey-who's up for Nati's?"
2. You have a favorite mexican place, and have been in a major argument with someone about why your place is better. Furthermore, you have a favorite (robertos, sombrero, etc), and the others of the same chain "aren't quite the same."
Number 9-El Cajon Blvd, by the way. Followed up with the Sunset Cliffs location.
3. If your Gen X, one of your first dates was golfing at the Family Fun Center.
4. You can take 4 different freeways (efficiently) from anywhere to a destination less than 15 miles away. For example, Airport to the east side of Mission Trails: 5/8/163/52.
5. You are outraged when you move to a new town, and they only have four freeways serving the metro area.
6. You can name where you were when you first heard the news about at least 5 brush fires.
7. You have never washed your car, only to have it rain the next day.
8. You have only washed your car twice in the last year, and it still looks really good.
9. You will not go to National City-ever. You don't care how good of a deal they have on the cars down there.
10. You know it's called the Grapevine, you have even driven it a couple of times, but you don't why they call it that. You know a guy in LA-maybe you can ask him.
11. LA absolutely starts just after San Clemente and stretches up to the Bakersfield area. Fresno was pushing it Heidi!
Bonus Points* You know which 70's teen hearthrob is pictured in Nati's wearing a Nati's T-Shirt.

Even more...

1. Not only have you seen the "stars and constellations" revolving show in the theater, you've played with the sand pendulum and that wheel that revolved so it looked like it was going backwards.
2. You think that anything north of Camp Pendleton and south of Fresno, is LA.
3. If you moved to a city where the streets are mostly straight, in a grid pattern that made sense and generally continue in the same direction for a long time, it felt weird and took a while to get used to.
4. The first time Christmas wasn't warm and sunny, it didn't seem quite right.
5. You know the sun is supposed to set into the water
6. You have a favorite fire ring
7. You know why you shuffle in shallow water
8. It was weird and annoying that the department stores switched to fall and winter clothes in fall and winter and you thought "what am I supposed to do with these?"
9. One of your friends worked at Sea World
10. You hate Rosanne Barr and you know why

Some more...

So here are some of my additions:

You know you're a San Diegan if...

1. You read the first list and thought: Umm, they forgot IB, and for "legit" ghetto high schools, they forgot Hoover, Lincoln and Garfield
2. You know what Mexican food actually tastes like
3. You don't think of Mexico as an exotic tropical vacation destination
4. You know you don't buy real tortillas in a grocery store
5. You have a favorite cove
6. "Dressing up" means "not shorts". But it NEVER mean closed-toe shoes.
7. If you're a girl, sometime, somewhere, you've been asked out by a Navy guy
8. Speaking of the Navy, you can spot a new recruit from a mile away
9. You know the difference between Mission Valley and Fashion Valley, and you have a favorite, and it's Fashion Valley.
10. You remember when "downtown San Diego" did NOT mean what it means now
And finally...
11. It's the Murph. Always has been. Always will be.

New series...

Okay, I liked this that M&M sent. But I thought we could add to it. So here are the originals...

You know you’re a true San Diegan if…

~Your high school had a surf team~
~You can correctly pronounce Tierrasanta, La Jolla, Rancho Penasquitos, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Jamacha, Jamul, Cuyamaca, and El Cajon~
~There are four distinct seasons: Summer, Not Quite Summer, Almost Summer, and Oh Hey Look Its Summer Again~
~Chula-juana is a real town.~
~Your house is worth more than some small countries~
~You know what MB, OB, and PB stand for~
~Every street name is either in Spanish or Spanish related, and you're surprised when other areas don't have this~
~You can determine the accuracy of someone's "I'm ghetto" claim by knowing their high school. For example, El Camino High School or Crawford High School~
~You see weather forecasts for four different climate zones in the same county, and aren't remotely surprised. The Micro Climate Weather~
~You've gone to Mt. Helix in July and known you still need a jacket~
~You've tailgated at Qualcomm Stadium, and for bonus points, also tailgated when it was Jack Murphy Stadium~
~You have a favorite- the WAP or the Zoo~
~You've been on a field trip to see an Imax movie at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center~
~You still call it the Del Mar Fair~
~You say "I'm going to the track" and people know what you mean~
~You understand what May-Gray and June-Gloom are~
~A famous skateboarder/surfer lives in your town~
~There's a North County, a South County, and an East County but no Central County~
~"Mossy Nissan! Mossy Nissan! Mossy Nissan Moves You!"~
~You know what it means when two guys are walking in Hillcrest~
~You know what it means when a girl in a short skirt is walking on El Cajon Blvd~
~You've gotten stuck in the Horton Plaza parking structure traffic after a Padres game~
~You know what "The Merge" is, and will plan your entire day around not being on it during rush hour~
~You've been to Belmont Park~
~You've taken the Coaster and laughed at people sitting in traffic on the 5~
~You know the difference between Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, and Mira Mesa ~ and maybe you remember Serra Mesa, too!
~You've gone to Sea World on a warm day and sat in the first few rows at the Shamu Show to get cooled off~
~You've been delayed at the Border Checkpoints on the 5 and the 15~
~There are more bands than people~
~Your house doesn't have air conditioning~
~You know it's San Diegan, not San Diegoan, or San Diegoite~
~Everyone has their favorite beach~
~No matter what the weather is, there is always someone walking around in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops~
~You live on, near or are surrounded by hills~
~You have family and or friends that have moved to Arizona~
~You used to, and sometimes still do ride the carousel at Seaport Village~
~You know someone who doesn't own pants, and have a neighbor who doesn't seem to own a shirt~
~You know what Santa Ana's are, and that they have literally nothing to do with the city of Santa Ana~
~If the menu doesn't have California burritos on it, forget it, its not real Mexican food~

Heath's Video Clip, take 2

Heath Has It

Well, Heath had a little congestion in his lungs this morning, and a little tummy thing on the way to the airport as well.
When we got home he didn't want to eat, said he was cold, and his arms hurt, and he really just needed to sleep.
After a 3 hour nap he woke up and said his head hurt. Darcy took his temp and it's about 102. We are now taking turns on "Puke Alert."
I have no idea what we are going to do, but I doubt we are leaving tomorrow. Then again, Darcy said we could be here for ten days if we wait for the whole cycle to go through Heath, Cade, and me.
With the way things have been in the Naughton house this year, that could be just about the time the "next big thing" happens.
KJ

Blech

The wind had cleared much of the smoke by early evening, but by later the wind stopped and the smoke had gotten worse again. This morning, it's awful. If I weren't still teaching, I'd pack up the fam and head to SD for a few days. Eyes burning, low visibilty, the whole nine yards. Jakie rode to school with his hand over his mouth and nose. It looks like dense fog, but it's smoke. It's gross. The good news is that since the wind has stopped, they are containing the fire quickly. Since it was so close to homes and burning toward and into residential areas, there are lots of roads as natural fire breaks. If the wind had been blowing it away from the homes, it would probably still be raging out of control since that is the open brush wilderness area. As long as the Santa Anas don't pick up again today it should be down pretty quickly. But after it's out I wouldn't mind the wind coming back to blow the smoke away! We're all pretty engulfed. It's yucky.

PS I hope that the Petrie crew are flu-symptom free so far?

A picture is worth a thousand words!

Windy made it!

YIPPEEE!! Mike & I had a WONDERFUL time seeing Windy & Kyle along with their absolutely PRECIOUS, deLIGHTFUL lil guys at D&G's yesterday!! For SOME "lame" reason, however, Win was tired when we arrived. - Something to do with getting to D&G's at 1 am & Cade & Heath gleefully awakening her/them when they got up at 5:30am! ;-) Still we had a great time all together!

I did especially enjoy that we also were able to spend some time around C&H before their cousins got home from school as once the bus arrived, off they all ran in sheer delight, Cade with Josh; Heath with Sarah! Once inside as they dashed upstairs, Sarah asked Heath over her shoulder if he "wanted to play "house" - Heath's response - a puzzled "HUH?", but he went anyway ;-)! (Win shared that when she asked him about it later, he told her "next time he wanted to be Heath" - vs the dad!! :-) It would have been fun to be an observant "mouse" in their "corner"!

Sigh, we were to take Kelsy & Emma down with us today as N&T are WAAY overloaded this weekend, but it was ALL cxl'd because poor Joshua has outright flu. - He got off the school bus feverish etc yesterday & went rapidly downhill from there... Sigh, JUST when Darc thought it was behind them. (Yes, do PRAY ALL around!)

It is George's first real day off since Kyle, C&H arrived and I grin as my minds eye "sees" the now "FOUR musketeers" & their families padding around in their pj's enjoying their leisurely am together as George flips pancakes! - I could "hear" it in Windys' voice when we spoke earlier!

I am ALSO VERY glad that Win doesn't leave till Monday (SIX am - UGH!) as there is a chance Mike & I can, in some way see them ONE more time - maybe meet in Salem or? - We'll have to wait & see what tomorrow brings!

OH how I WISH they lived closer again - what a "win win" situation it would be for us ALL! - Mont & Ev would being flying up THIS direction etc etc! ! :-)

More later! Once MIke gets the pics transferred we'll post a few!
mc

Kyle...

So now that you have a decent internet connection, we expect to see some pics. And by "we" I mean "me."

:)

Yet another (sentimental) "masterpiece" LOST!

ARRRG I poured my heart out re the COMPLETE JOY of seeing Kyle, Cade & Heath at D&G's today & it went "kaput" when I hit saved draft! - AGAIN.

Is too late to even consider a repeat :-< BUT suffice it to say tomorrow will be BETTER YET 'cause WINDY ANN will also be there!!!! (Kyle picks her up at PDX at 12am tonight!)

The "only" glitch is that Darcy is sporting a painful, swollen, rainbow-bruised lil toe on her left foot - yep, sigh, it's broken, but I'll "let" her give any desired "detail" - I'll just add that it it had something to do with "Pink Flamingo-ing" (?!)

Mike & I go down tomorrow to spend the day & I can hardly wait! Then we'll see what can be arranged re Sat. after checking with K&W's plans. - N&T can't pull ANYTHING "out of their hats" this weekend, to visit, sigh, but have said we can "borrow" Kelsey & Emma for part of the time & Mike has volunteered serve as to "cheuffeur" (sp?) since I have to work, if all can be worked it out.
TTFN!
Signed,
One VERY tickled AuntieM

Happy and Sad.

We did, in fact, land, as Darcy put it. I was originally going to leave Grandpa's on Sunday, but pushed that back to today, and that was pushed back another six hours. I had a little more work I wanted to do, and wasn't ready to leave. More so, he wasn't ready for us to leave. I think he would be happy if Windy, the boys, and I all moved in for good. Of course we can't, but he wouldn't complain if we did. He told me that we made his whole year by visiting for so long, and I could tell he was very, very sad to see us go. It was, for me, by far the hardest time I have ever had saying goodbye to him. He loved playing with the boys, watching them be "filled with life and happiness" as he put it, and telling me stories of family, friends, and old times he and I had. I did a little work around the house-not as much as I wanted to, but did get some major projects done. The boys kept themselves amused the entire time, and even figured out a way to communicate with Grandpa when he couldn't hear (Heath most of the time). Cade would get a paper and pen, and write it down. Of course, he would run across many words he had never read before, so his notes were laden with comical misspellings, but we never let him know that-and Grandpa always knew what the boys wanted. Things like Heath "needs sum gloo to make a prodjekt." This was a tough one to see, as his teacher, because he should know those words. He is good at math (go figure) and a great reader, but can't spell worth a dime. Good reading and bad spelling don't usually go together, by my dad is a horrible speller, a voracious reader, and a Navy Nuke-so maybe it does make sense.
Heath's project, by the way, was an old envelope with five rubber bands and a piece of styrofoam glued on. Grandpa laughed for twenty minutes when he recieved Heath's answer to "what is that?" The following was said very quickly, and without a single breath:
"Well"
"Well"
"Well it's"
"Well it's"
Well it's my.
Well it's my-it's my-it's my-well, it's my-it's just my project. You can keep it on your fridgerator."
Those of you who know Heath well know the cadence, and the way he said it.

The weather did not allow me to do everything at Grandpa's I needed, so I will come back for a couple days in the spring sometime.
So, it was sad to leave. But it always great to see the Naughtons and all their kids. And the boys really wanted to see their cousins, and I couldn't keep them any longer.
Can you guess if I am Darcy's brother, or if Windy is her sister? And, how many brothers and sisters does Darcy have? The answer, when Darcy returns.

Petries have landed

Kyle has arrived. He and the boys pulled in just a bit ago and I don't think Heath ever woke up. Cade had a little energy to burn, but he's tucked into bed now, too. Kyle's out walking Sasha in hopes that will help burn some energy for the Sasha/Penny transition. So... more tomorrow!

Well Petries, what you see is what you get

So much for cleaning for Heath.

Between the various assortment of odd ailments that have been travelling through the house, topped off by my being down for several days and suddenly remembering that I'd probably better go grocery shopping before the arrival of the 3 Musketeers... well... what you see is what you get. I promise to love Heath no matter what he says about the state of things. I was going to wash the dirty fingerprints off the walls, scrub down all my white doors and trim, mop (gasp!), etc, in an effort to convince you I normally do those things. I won't pretend I was going to wash the windows, because I wasn't.

So bring it on, Petries!

Kyle, did you get my message that I have to be gone from 1:30 to about 3:30 or 4:00 tomorrow? Can you arrive earlier? If not you know how to get in.

"Mark to the Rescue" or "Jakie Gets a Thrill"

We were on the back field yesterday morning letting Tessa have a little romp when we saw the the tree-trimmers truck (looks like a small garbage truck) was mired in the outfield of the baseball field. The poor guys were trying everything: digging for harder ground, putting things under the wheels, etc. But they were just spinning deeper and deeper. So Mark suddenly gets an idea ("hey, I have a big 4x4 diesel!") and jogs around to them and asks them if they'd like him to try pulling them out with his truck. They say "Yes, please!" So he jogs back around and into the house. Jakie's been watching all of this curiously and after Mark disappears back into the house, he suddenly starts running while yelling at the top of his lungs "WAAAAAIIIIIIITTTT FOOOOOOR MEEEEEE!!!!"

He got to Daddy in time and strapped himself in and got the thrill of his little lifetime driving right out onto the field to the far corner of the baseball outfield and watching his Daddy tie up a truck (that looked an awful lot like a garbage truck) to "The Diesel" (what Jakie calls it) and rescuing them with a good strong engine-revving tow. And topped it all off with a "WE DID IT!!" high-5.

A Manic Friday

I am so jealous of everyone's trips to the seashore, and cannot wait to escape this cold, dry, treacherous place to come visit you all at the coast. Any plans for next weekend yet? As I said before, we are at your disposal, so plan what you like when you like, or plan nothing--it's up to you!
So the Petries, although separated, had quite a Friday. My phone wasn't receiving calls, so Kyle cou;dn't get through to me when he needed to, to report such interesting events as Heath's knocking over a 6 foot tall display of crazy glue, or Kyle's locking his keys in his car, and Heath's pooping his pants whle they waited for AAA.
I had a less scatological day, but still rather hectic. It was snowing AGAIN, but I (down to my last clean pair of undies) had to go do laundry at a friend's house, and, in between loads, to show up at the preview days for CCU, videotape a speech on the relationship between scholarship and worship for the chapel service that our dept. is leading on Tuesday, and compose a montage of sacred art for said service. After dinner with my dept. chair, I managed to get home 15 minutes before my guests arrived for "Jeeves and Wooster" night. If any of you have not seen the A&E Jeeves and Woosters, they really are a riot. The one thing I did not have time to do was grocery shop, so it was a relief that I had some popcorn at home and that someone gave me a box of chocolates that afternoon. So I was able to provide some hospitality, anyway. But the lack of grocery shopping really hit home this morning, when I breakfasted on three Ritz crackers with leftover salsa, 1/4 of a yogurt, and 3 Whitman's chocolates. I plan to go to the store today--just as soon as I watch one more "Jeeves and Wooster"...

We went to the beach again, BUT- -

- - we forgot to ck to see if the camera was in the camera case Mike had so carefully packed, so don't have any pics of either the BEAUTIFUL snowfall we experienced (safely!) on the drive over OR the fabulous "wintery" surf outside P&J's expansive beach front (condo exchange) window!
- - AND I also JUST wrote a lengthy "masterpiece" about it ALL which in rethinking, was mostly about how MUCH we ATE while there in Rockaway (etc) and it got LOST when I tried to publish it! - SOO you'll just have to use your imaginations and manage without it as I do not have either the time, energy OR "chutzpah" (sp?) to do it all over again! :-) mc