Memorial Day

Jim and I watched the Memorial Day Concert last night on OPB.

As a former military wife, the section of it about widows was especially moving.

Then, this morning I saw this image of a fiancee. It speaks volumes.

[John Moore, Getty Images]

[my photo, below]

Just a reminder for us all to take time out in the celebrations of camping, and barbeques, to give thanks for the freedoms we have and for those who have given their lives for that freedom. Also for us to take time to pray for those presently serving our country, and their families and loved ones awaiting their return.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

DECISION determines DIRECTION

DIRECTION determines DESTINATION.

Birthday Stretch

After the wedding, Kate and Chris and the kids took Jim and I to our favorite local Thai place for dinner to celebrate my birthday and anniversary. We had our usual yellow curry ....

and steamed rice....

Dinner was dee-lish, and the kids were so well behaved. We had a pleasant time there, and then came home and had Jen's chocolate cake with Ganache that she had given us.

Tuesday, Jim grilled steaks we had been hoarding in the freezer, and the big splurge of the month...lobster tails. Oh my.... sauteed mushrooms, baked potato, mmmm.

Last evening, the girls and I met at Sarah's and went for crepes and coffee at the French Press.

We had a great time sharing bites of what we each had ordered, and laughed and laughed. I had a sweet crepe...Emilee....chocolate, hazelnut, banana, whipped cream...ooh la la!

(French Press photos from Urban Spoon)
(i got there with a camera, and the card at home in my computer....grrrr)

Then we went to the movies, visited after...., always good to be with them.

SOOOOOoooooooo.....

After stretching out the birthday binge for 5 days.....

it's time to do a different kind of stretching!

Today marks the beginning of new exercise and eating plans.

Here goes......bend and one and two and three....

Savannah and Brandon

Sarah's got some of the wedding pictures up on foto bella photography today! Go check them out......beautiful!

Wedding Weekend

Friday and Saturday were full of fun.

I joined in the wedding preps for my niece, Savannah.

It was a fun and busy time. I enjoyed working with all of Jen's crazy crew. It's a lot of fun to see her 6 kids interacting with one another. Jen, Raymond, Peter, and Mary put out an awesome rehearsal buffet. Yummy grilled tri-tip, gorgeous and delicious salads, and desserts. Saturday was showery, with a few sun breaks, but it didn't dampen everyone's spirits. I enjoyed visiting with some of Jen's friends from church that I hadn't seen in years. It was a beautiful day, and everything turned out perfect. (my) Sarah from FotoBella Photography did the photo shoot for the wedding, and I can't wait to see the pictures!

Today, Jim and I were "greeters" at church. As I welcomed people and looked around me, at people fellowshipping with one another, I was filled with such warmth. It's been so good to be back at our "old" church. I love these (genuine) people sooo much.

Wishy Washy Weather

It's hard to believe that our flip flopped footsies got sunburned last weekend. We had a great time watching the kidlet's ball game. Matthew's arm is well now, and it was great seeing him enjoying the game. Josie gives the boys a run for their money. She's a slugger! I always love watching the comraderie between these two!

This week has been rainy and stormy. There are sunny breaks, but they don't last long.
It's the kind of weather that puts me in a cooking/baking mode. Earlier in the week I made a Citrus Cake. Right now there is a Savannah Sour Cream Pound Cake in the oven.

When it comes out of the oven a homemade Hawaiian Pizza is going in.
I've also baked bread twice this week. It tasted great with the home-made chicken soup. Made more...needed to make sure there was bread in the house in case a grandchild requires a PB&J.

There will be pound cake when the kids come to pick up Family Fish, but that branch of the family tree love chocolate, so also made Ina's chocolate with white chocolate chunks cookies.

Hopefully, this will make them not too sad about having to leave sunny CA!

"Family Fish"

That's his name.
He's been staying with us while the kids have been gone to California.

I've heard through the grapevine, that Joe's been praying that I don't kill Family Fish.

That makes two of us Joe!

so far so good......

First Blogiversary

Slideshow personalized with Smilebox

It has been an interesting journey; this blogging experience. There is a lot of difference between a year ago and now. I started out thinking everything needed to be perfect. I worried about editing photos and proper grammar, punctuation, and syntax. I worried no one would come to visit if I failed to post daily. Now I just let it fly for the most part, with lots of ellipses... and mostly straight out of the camera shots. I blog when it works out for me to do so.

It isn't that I think my readers are not worthy of more; it's that perfection and blogmania was interfering with my personal life. That kind of blogging is VERY time consuming, and something or someone's gotta give. My sweet hubby deserves better than that.

So enter: mission Balance. I love blogging, I love when readers comment, and making new friends. I love sharing family with other family. I've always enjoyed yakking and writing...and yakking. Thank you for sticking with me, and did I say I love when readers comment?!

God bless you dear reader.

Spa in a Bag

I received these lovelies for Mother's Day. A hair frizzy tamer for curly hair, lip balm, a bath puff, yummy soap, a fresh refreshing candle, a Starbucks card, and softening socks for the tired, rough, ol' feet.
It's going to be so wonderful to relax and play queen of the hill instead of inmate of the rock pile!
The weather has been decent this week so we have been getting some work outside accomplished. Among the tasks, has been unearthing a pile of old broken bricks, concrete pieces, and concrete pier blocks. We are finally going to get them OUTTA HERE! This same pile has been moved 3 times. I'm starting to feel like the Israelites and that "same old mountain again."
My goal is to reduce the number of obstacles behind the barn, so that Jim can have a straight shot at mowing back there, and reduce the amount of weed whacking around piles. It's shaping up a little more each day. It's a pretty day again...supposed to be our best yet, so I need to get off of here, and back to the chain gang, Don'cha know? "Hmmh... Hah, Hmmh... Haw...workin' on a chain gang..."
(remember Sam Cooke's cool song, in the movie "Cadence"?)

O Lord, bless us and keep us;

O Lord, make Your face shine upon us

And be gracious to us;

O Lord, turn Your face toward us

And give us peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

Happy Mother's Day

Friday Night

I missed Maggie's birthday party on Sunday; but we had a fun night the Friday before.....
I made 2 Homemade pizzas; Hawaiian and Pepperoni Special....

And homemade Chocolate Hazelnut Frozen yogurt.....

With these awesome Oregon grown hazelnuts from Eugene Farmers Market.

There were Red Vines and lollipops.....

And cozy quilts and pillows to comfy down in front of a movie.

**Disclaimer** no teeth were harmed in the making of this party. They were brushed as soon as the movie was over.

Party Pooper

Every party needs a pooper, that's why we invited you.....Party Pooper, Party Pooper....
(remember that song from Steve Martin's Father of the Bride movie?)
I spent the weekend sick in bed. Jim headed out with my camera. Here are some pictures of the party I missed last evening.

They had a Strawberry Shortcake theme party
Joel and Anna worked together to make it a success.Cupcakes of course

and a pinata

and a sombrero

sock it to it baby!

Josie's baseball team experience paid off!

She brought it down!

Hi Sweetie! (you're next)

The boys seem entertained...

Yep, Star Wars to the rescue!

Happy Birthday Maggie! May all of your wishes come true.

Nanni loves you!