Kristi's 30th birthday surprise

Because it is a tradition to do a surprise get-together
the girls and I had planned for a couple of months to
surprise Kristi.  We knew we had to do this earlier than her birthday because her baby was due the first part of November.  So, we  thought it would be best to get together before flu season because you can never predict when your kids are going to get sick.
So, Erin and I made plane arrangements and with Mindy on the phone we all decided October was a good time.   Andy was good with whatever we could figure out for plane tickets.   Mindy flew on Southwest and Erin and I flew Delta  - coordinating our time schedules as best we could.  We  all were so excited just to take a trip and get away - but especially to have a surprise for Kristi.   Andy organized a breakfast with Kristi and she came and we had a wonderful and fun
time.  She truly was surprised to tears - tears are always a good thing in our family.  We stayed four days and then returned to our homes still being missed and loved by our families. 

Happy Birthday Kristi - we love you and wish the best for you in  the coming year -

Having a late night breakfast

We flew into Salt Lake Airport,
Andy picked us up and we were
all hungry so we stopped at
Cracker Barrel for food.  We were
all so excited for the next day because it was the big surprise day for Kristi's birthday.   We could hardly contain our emotions as we talked about  what we were actually going to do.
And, little sister had no idea at all.
I love my four girls and the fun things they do.

A Big Surprise

We surprised Kristi with a birthday brunch

A Special Tour with Gavan

Watching Gavan at work

Our Grand America Tea Party

Fun, Fun, Fun

A beautiful Afternoon

The  little airplane that took us home.

Little Paper Doll Quilt

Three or four years ago we went camping along the Oregon Coast.  While at Seaside I found a nice little
quilt shop and bought a Moda Charm Pack.   Finally, after all of this time, I decided to do something
with it.   It has been my summer project and now it is finished.  It was definitely a trial run but at least
it is done.   With a little help from Andy and some online tutorials I made it and I must say, "love it".
Actually, I am proud to say I finished a project completely.
I have named it Little Paper Dolls.   It was hard and I'm not sure I have it in me to do another but
here it is.  I learned a lot and know exactly what I would do different if I made another quilt.  I guess that's
all in the learning process - trial and error and trial and error again.

Little Paper Dolls

My First Quilt



Front side of quilt



The backside of the quilt

The backside of the quilt

70 Years and still blooming

Manito Park in the Dhalia Gardens

Who remembers this?

I truly believe

We don't get to pick and choose what miracles we will be given, but we need to make sure we remember the ones we have received.

If This Field Could Talk - 39 years

Just the other day I noticed a new fence in the back with a sign on it.  My curiosity got the best of me so I went out and this is what it said  - fence for rent.
The whole field has been fenced on every side.
Well, we knew this would happen some day - a medical facility is going to build in OUR FIELD.
Can you believe that!!  :(   :(
All of the 39 years that we have played in that field and it is being taken away forever.   Tell me the memories you have out there?
Sledding, flying kites, making forts, picking wild flowers, picking apples and cherries, riding bikes and four-wheelers, walking dogs, snow games.  I remember I finally got a whistle to call you kids home because I couldn't yell loud enough for you to hear me in the field.  
Did I miss anythng?
The top  of the grape vine is the top of our fence and now no one can go out there.    Course, we can't even get our gate open anyway for the grape vines have taken over.  
Well, at least it won't be apartments Dad said.  I agree.

The End of the Story

Well, there we are totally relaxing and enjoying this beautiful lake.  We boated to the end and around the side of the lake.  It was so quiet you could close your eyes and hear all the different bird sounds.
Just glorious.   We ate our lunch and then launched the boat and set out for a little fishing but mostly
boating.   However, on the way back to the dock we were about 3/4 the way back the battery run
low so Dad unhooked the oars and paddled our way back.   Funny why I didn't think to take a picture
of him working so hard.   That's the end of the story but it was so fun.  Who cares about fish when you
can get a free ride back to town!!

A Little Time Together

Just plain happy to be out with his boat

Most beautiful lake and so quiet you can hear all the birds around the lake.

trying to get a fish - it was poor fishing but wonderful boating

Total relaxing and enjoying the sunshine.

Our Family - The red, white and blue gang

My Greatest blessing is that my children love the Lord
and we are a Forever Family.      (2012 Reunion)

The Buggy

We have a new Farmer's Market downtown.  I stopped by one day to see what it was like.  It's kind of like a small Pike's market in Seattle.
Anyway, this buggy caught my eye right away and Iwish I could have bought it.  It is just like the one
in the next picture when I was little.   I just stood
and looked at it for a long time.  It was in good shape for the age and I remembered that picture I had with
me and my buggy in Salt Lake so I decided to
share it on my blog.  I can just picture a mother
taking her baby for a ride in this buggy.