04-30-13

We have been experiencing bright sun accompanied by a bitter chill.  From inside, it looks like we should be outside enjoying the sunshine.  Stepping outdoors, it feels like we should run right back inside.

After 8 hours of glancing longingly through the office windows, I got outdoors to walk the adopted block to announce our upcoming event and to walk the lake with Bruce to discuss his work day in Seattle and watch the Boy Scouts in canoes.

04-29-13

I had every intention of going to church to watch a Beth Moore video tonight. But I was waffling, so it was easier to let other things creep in.  Living it up, celebrating life, and getting things done.  This is my favorite way of refueling my car – reading a magazine while Bruce handles it.  

Life is good, even on a Monday…

04-28-13

Spent some time this weekend getting ready for an event I’m hosting next week.  We plan to have two crafts and a big bowl of Skittles for our adopted block.  Celebrating May Day and Teacher Appreciation Day, should’ve thrown Cinco de Mayo in too!

I was really proud of myself for engineering a simple and cheap way to hang flower s on doorknobs.  Too bad the first version went plop to the floor when I turned my back…

How did we get so close to May already anyway?!?

04-27-13

Easing back into exercise by walking a 5K for March of Dimes this morning.  Don’t worry, I did it really slow…

We walked with Bruce’s work group, and we all wore fedoras.  The kids even had them until they got bored of them.

The weather was great, beat the rain.

04-26-13

Finally got outside to enjoy the sunshine, after a coffee date back at the hospital with a friend.  Goofed off in the garden, starting to wage a war against the weeds.  Also goofed off trying to get an artistic shot of my “Yay” living bouquet from another friend.

Enjoying friends, the sun, and a relatively lazy weekend!

04-25-13

Pandas, pandas.  Seeing double?

Xander and I attended the Financial Literacy Night together.  Xander’s teenager session as about the evils of check cashing places, and my adult session was about building and repairing credit.

It was catered by Panda Express, so two pandas were working the room.

04-24-13

Look, look, look at my mileage!  We've been watching it creep up, and today we hit the milestone.

I can remember the day in 2004 when we headed to Tacoma to purchase my shiny new gray Scion xA.

At 100,000 miles I still love it just as much.  Not enough to dust it, obviously, but love it nonetheless...

04-23-13

Anastasia leaves for a FBLA conference in Spokane tomorrow.  We raided my closet looking for business and business casual clothes she could take.

Meanwhile, Xander sprawled on the couch re-reading a classic to be able to answer his book report questions.

High schoolers.

04-22-13

A gorgeous sunny Monday.  No normal routine for me, today or this week.  But a big sigh of relief to have one more source of stress behind me. 

I learned today that I have really small veins, teeny tiny fingers, and can go 15 hours without eating (but it’s not pleasant!).

“God never gives strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the minute”.  ~ Oswald Chambers

04-21-13

Her sweatshirt says Eat, Sleep, Swim, but seems like Study should be on there too.  Mostly she works on history homework and essays, today she was matching up leaders to their respective countries.  Quiet day at home, love it.

04-20-13

I have had a voracious appetite this week.

I’ve been adding even more broccoli, cabbage, and brussel sprouts to my plate, exploring new and yummy slaws. 

But my sweet tooth seems to have hit with a vengeance too.  Our local DQ’s have closed, so BK is our next best soft serve option.

Happy weekend eating…

04-20-13

Concert!

I love being surrounded by an arena full of 7,000 other Christians, including about 30 I already know.  I love concerts when I know the music, and Chris Tomlin is great for that.  I love boarding a bus and not needing to worry about navigating, traffic, or parking.  And I love getting my soul filled up.

The only part I don’t like is the late night after a long week…

04-18-13

OK, it’s back to toting the camera around… not happy with the photos my smart phone took tonight.  Without zoom everyone was so tiny, and obviously the zoom stinks.  So that lasted all of three days.

This evening we had a Key Club/Kiwanis meeting at the Electric Bean – Emma got installed as President for next year, and Anastasia as VP.  Two busy young ladies…

04-17-13

Today when I tried to take a photo of the tulip in our front yard.  I ended up with a video instead of photos.  As part of that, I realized that my skirt is interesting scenery.  So here’s the skirt and the tulip!

04-16-13

Today is National Stress Awareness Day.  That’s hilarious given my day.  I’ve been pondering how much stress comes from outside circumstances vs. how much is self inflicted.

Starting to play with my smart phone camera…

04-15-13

Monday.  Another birthday.  Farewell to house guests.  Fixed computer.   Sunshine.  Tuckered out.  Tax day.  Happy pansies.

04-14-13

Happy birthday Xander!

We were leaning toward doing an outing with Mom & Jerry, and Xander chose Seaside.  The weather forecast didn’t look promising, but we pressed on.  It turned out to be a great day.

We enjoyed fish and chips from the boat in Astoria, explored the shipwreck in Warrenton, Xander ate his way through the food stores in Seaside, fed the s4eals at the Aquarium, and rented a grande (3 row!) surrey bike for a hilarious 45 minutes, especially when Xander was driving.

04-13-13

Anastasia started teaching swim lessons today.  We went to the pool to take some photos, and found that we know some of her little pupils from church.  She loves it, seems to be good at it, and it is a paying gig, so kudos to her!

04-12-13

TGIF!  And so starts Xander's birthday weekend....

More board games, looking through scrapbooks, "yucky" enchiladas smothered in hot sauce, chocolate butterscotch oatmeal cookies, a game of 21...  I meant to get a group shot of all of us, but forgot before Anastasia went to swim practice.

Bring on the weekend, and extra sleep!

04-11-13

House guests!

They brought a new game.  And Xander found several of our games to play... game night!  Sailing terms, overpriced paintings, crazy apple matches, and chess in 8 turns.

Family fun.

04-10-13

Xander had his choice of two unpleasant tasks this afternoon- mow the lawn or get allergy shots.  You can see what he chose.  Either way, the other will have to happen tomorrow…  He always complains about the shots, but is pretty good about mowing.  He even wrestled the paddleboard to mow under it!

04-09-13

Another quarter ended, time to take stock of books read.  My goal is always to read more, but real life sets in and I don’t carve out much reading time.

I enjoyed all the books this quarter.  Many were very different, but all good.  A lot of historical fiction, a lot of Francine Rivers, a few non-fiction books.  Revolution: The story of the early church inspired me to reread the Bible form Jesus death to apostle John’s death, and in a different light.  The Mark of the Lion trilogy also brought the Bible to life.

I have my sights set on getting an e-reader for Christmas.  At this rate I should be able to read a good chunk of my “Real” books by then.  Happy reading!

04-08-13

Just call her errand girl.  It is really nice to have someone to run to the store for us.  

Happy Monday...

04-07-13

Long but fun day.  We persevered through I-5 construction and a storm to head north today.

Nice lunch visit with G&G.  Exploring different aspects of Pikes Place Market – the gum wall, tea tasting, crumpets – plus old favorites like the first Starbucks and pig statue photo ops.

Some shopping, a quick drop in to the Carasa’s, and home in time for youth group.

04-06-13

Anastasia and I went for a spin on the paddle board today.  It was too windy for a good ride, but I still love being out on the water, and it’s fun to share it with others!

04-05-13

New phones, new phones!  Our Verizon contract was eligible for new phones in April, and the kids have been waiting, waiting…  I thought I was going to swap to use Anastasia’s old phone, but it’s trashed, so now I have more decisions to make too…

TGIF!

04-04-13

Invasion!  The last days of spring break are spent with grandparents and cousins.  Here’s Kayla starting to settle down for bed after the disappointment of the YMCA not really being open for swimming.

04-03-13

Happy birthday to my sister today!  Xander heard the news today that Grandma would be visiting for his upcoming birthday.  He didn't want to stand still tonight so I'll take what I can get.  Halfway through spring break...

04-02-13

Xander doesn’t ask if his friends can spend the night.  They just don’t go home.  Must be spring break!

Bruce seems to be on a poker streak – lots of poker playing going on around this table.

“Last year people won more than one billion dollars playing poker. And casinos made twenty-seven billion just by being around those people.” - Samantha Bee 

04-01-13

Spring break.  Closing week.  Spring break always seems to fall during closing week, when I can’t take time off.

And Xander is back to using my computer all the time.  He was on it when I left for work, and was on it when I came home from work.  A World of Warcraft filled spring break, it seems.