Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Yikes!

We've been watching this story unfold for a few weeks now.  Took place a couple of blocks from our house!!  A little scary!  Kevin drove home about half an hour before it happened, my girlfriend about 20 minutes after and saw all the police cars, and my neighbor, I've heard, was the first on the scene- an ICU nurse.  We saw the blood stain on the road for about a week until a good rain came.  More reasons to pray.

I like this news story so much better!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Limes

So I bought a 5 pound bag of limes on a whim at Costco, of course, they were cheap and I love limes, but not as much as Kevin does.
5 pounds is a lot of limes.  So I've been scouring for recipes and have found a few yummies!

Lemon Lime Mist is a keeper, I omitted the tropical flowers for obvious reasons. You have to buy club soda in cans though, it goes flat way too fast in a 2L. And... Oh my! Erin has an addiction to the "My Baking Addiction" blog and it's amazing ~ and these Chewy Lime Sugar Cookies are to die for!  I had 3 as soon as I came home and found them cooling on the stove on parchment!  My girl uses parchment! It's no wonder I can't lose any weight, I love cookies, they are my downfall.  Oh shoot, I just went to the home page and she's featuring cherry pie filling - that season will be soon upon us!  I'm furiously trying to empty my freezer of last year's still.  Thus you last night BBQ attenders had cherry pie!  I still have 2 more in there!!

Oh TOTAL CRAZY, I need to try these!!!  Who's coming over?  I need some mint Randi!  Come on over!

Sorry I got a little excited!  It's sort of like the first day of summer for me!! And limes remind me of Mexico!  Our trip down the Baha in 2004!  Already that long ago!  We ate a lot of limes, but mostly in guacamole! When we were there, we spent some days with Erma Fennel.  What an amazing lady working with the poor in Vicente Guerrero! She died walking to church this past Easter morning, what a great day to go! Makes me think of my list of things I still want to do in life and it's not getting any shorter!
 
The girl commentating this video looks so familiar, hmmm..... where have I seen her before?  one of my closest girlfriends photographed her wedding! Small world. 
This is such a totally random post!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Last Day

Oh how we have longed for this day... There have been many a morning of "do I have to go to school?" And so many mornings of feeling like keeping him home and curling up under blankets and reading books all day. And some days, wouldn't that be better schooling that what happens when they go there? And some mornings, we have just taken a "mental health day". But today!!! It's over! Grade 7 has been a hard year for this boy, a real push, and challenge in lots of ways, but he made it, with a few As, and a few more B's, and even a C, which is so not what he's used to. But the world will go on! So onto summer, but first a few days of absolutely no agenda, enough time for him to catch up on Lego creations, start feeling a little bored and restless, and then I can get to my mental list of all the things I'd love to do this summer! We are so ready for a break!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Dad's Day - who doesn't need a Sunday morning sugar buzz?

Happy Father's Day (I know it was yesterday- I can't quite get posting on the right day).  The kids made an extreme breakfast (and an extreme mess- that they did clean up) for their great Dad.  They are positive that he LOVES colored food!  The blue crepes were delicious, along with the frozen hot chocolate! The kids prayed a prayer of blessing and thanksgiving over their Dad, and it's obvious they love the way he spends time with them, doing things they love to do together, and being fun , available and always there for them.  The things they don't see and will appreciate later are his wisdom and prayers, his constant provision for them, and his commitment to his family.  We're blessed!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

17

I turned around and 17 years have gone by, but not just gone, been lived and loved.  Some days I don't think much has happened, we've lived in the same place, with the same jobs, and the same furniture and the same smiles and clothes for so long, and yet the memories stack up.  I love lists, but the best list I've ever seen is the one I got from him on my 40th birthday, 40 sweet memories we've made together, and that's just a few.  I made him and my God a promise and I intend to keep it.  To love forever, til death do us part, but I do think I'll love even longer than that.  He makes it so easy to do that... with his easy going ways, and his sweet wit, his ability to let me make most of the small decisions and yet still be in the leader.  His still young looking smile and dare I say, cute butt, no staring!  Life can be pretty boring some times, challenging and not always going where you thought it would, but there's no one else I'd rather be with.  It's a fight to stay in love when the rest of the world seems to be falling out of love, or looking for a quick answer, but makes it all the more appealing to know we've found the real thing. 

Out to dinner last night...

Happy Anniversary to US! 
(It was also time to brighten up my page, it was getting a little grey and melancholy, 
sort of like the weather)

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Oh Summer.. Please Come

I was at the beach yesterday, NOT because it was warm and I was tanning, but because Erin has started playing some beach volleyball to keep her skills up over summer, oh ya, and for fun.  I had on a t-shirt, a sweater, my wind breaker, and a blanket I keep in the van for watching soccer games in the early spring - like in APRIL!!  And I was cold!  Yes, we don't need anymore fires around here in the summer, but I think maybe we're good for rain for awhile.  But then again, what do I know?

Locals, if you haven't been to Mill Creek lately, the water is pouring over the falls!  It's kind of brown, but beautiful and the sound of the rushing water makes all of the days stresses go away.  I'm heading out of some super busy work days, and into taking the dog to the vet and running errands day, and hopefully getting coffee with someone, anyone, somewhere, anywhere!!    School is out in 2 days!  I need some adult time before it starts!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

A Fly on the Wall

Sometimes I would just prefer to be just that, a fly on the wall.  I'm becoming more introverted and socially awkward with every passing year.  I realize more and more, I like the people I know and love and want to spend time with one on one or in a small group.  But this big group social thing, just doesn't work for me.

We were to a "fancy" lake front home today with expansive glass windows, and modern cork flooring, a kitchen island bigger than my kitchen; the daughter's bedroom, I'm told, is as big as our upstairs with a full view of the lake, a glass shower, jetted tub and walk in closet.  I'm not intimated by people who have money, and I don't moon after it,  I just don't feel like I have a lot in common with many of them and their conversations, their concerns, or their lifestyles.  I like my little house on the east side of town, our cozy easy to find family, because they are likely right in the same room, not the other wing.  But I do love those people that can fit in with anyone, communicate with any type of person, bring joy and blessing to people anywhere and fit right into any conversation.  I have a friend like that.  I guess I'm becoming "West coast white trash"  Hee hee.  That makes me howl!

I like listening in to other peoples' conversations and sometimes think to myself, I have nothing really to add to this.  So I'll just sit here like a dork and keep listening.  It seems like to pop in with, "you know I just really love Jesus, He makes me happy, what makes you happy?", would make a pin drop.  Maybe I should try it sometime.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Jane Eyre

An interesting view!!  Very to the book!  Slow and dramatic and Bronte.
I know some of you were more committed to watching hockey than coming with us  :) 
We still love you!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

The Big "L"

 Well she passed!  Watch out on the roads people!
 And they're off, KD's looking a little worried!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Sweet 16

Sweet 16 has come and will be here for another year, but the celebrations have ended....  Erin had friends over last night for the big bash - well small bash.  It's a busy time of year and a few of their group couldn't come, but they had so much fun.  It's so great to spend some time with these girls (and guy) who spend lots of time together at school and we don't get to see too often at home.  What a great bunch of teenagers!

We had dinner, played some volleyball and then they were in for a big surprise when the limo pulled up!  I "won" this limo ride and didn't know what to do with it.  After talking with the lady who had donated it to the fundraiser where I "happened upon it", we came up with a plan for the birthday girl.  The kids were thrilled and totally surprised! They took 140 photos in the limo, so I've chosen just a few for your enjoyment.




 Found some "Angels"  in there.

Digging in to the empty mini-bar

 They drove downtown for ice cream and hung out down at the beach for awhile before the return trip.


 Jacob got in on the action on the ride home and took control of the sound system, glad I wasn't in there!


Jacob also put together an awesome rendition of "Minute to Win It" which made for some hilarious entertainment.  Uncle Cam doing "Junk in the Trunk" (trying to empty the ping pong balls out of the kleenex box strapped to his back).

Of course Erin was all over baking the birthday cake! This was her best creation yet!  And tasted amazing!


Happy Sweet 16 My Girl!