People are stupid

I think I am finally old enough, and experienced enough to figure out sometimes people just aren't very nice.  I tend to always see the best in people, and am often surprised when they don't live up to my expectations.  I know I don't always think before I speak, and apparently it isn't just me!  I'm also figuring out that I shouldn't really take it personally, and there isn't a whole lot that I can do about it.  Sometimes people are just insensitive!

Fun in the Snow!

During that crazy cold weather spell we had a few weeks ago, we didn't have to travel very far to find the white stuff!  Andrea, being the responsible girl that she is, chose to stick to her FFA committment rather than go play with us.  Smart choice Andrea, but we did miss you, and I was sad you didn't get to come play with us.
We drove on up the hill, and asked one of the local ranchers if we could play in his snow.  He was very pleased to be asked, rather than trespassed on, and away we went!

Janelle's little snowman (sorry it's sideways)

Emma beheaded her snowman so she could throw it at somebody.

Janelle is about to get nailed!

One of Emma's many snow angels.

A good time was had by all, and we were ready for hot chocolate when we left!

Andrea's 15th Birthday

We had a great time celebrating Andrea's 15th unbirthday at the end of February.  Being a Leap Year baby, she doesn't get a real birthday until next year.  Time goes by so fast, I can't believe she's this grown up already.  She's really turning into a lovely young lady, and it makes me very proud, as well as a little sad to see her growing up.  I remember being 15, and it doesn't feel like it was all that long ago..... was it?

I love you Andrea!  Happy Unbirthday!

Tragedy

My heart truly breaks for the people of Japan.  Being a night owl, I was up when the news came on about the massive 8.9 earthquake there.  Living where we have a lot of seismic activity ourselves, I CAN imagine how scary that quake was.  The neverending shaking, the uncertainy and fear.  Thank God they are such a prepared country.  I wish California had the strict training that Japan does.

Then, the wave came..... watching, with absolutely nothing I could do about it, the massive wave came ashore.  It washed over farmlands, houses and cars.  Some parked and empty, and some trying desperately to drive away.  A 30 foot wall of water moving over 500 mph.  Can you even imagine?  Those poor people.  This morning I read the news of over 9,500 people missing from one town alone.  Unbelievable.  We waited at home yesterday, under the advisement of the local fire department, for our own tsunami.  They did come, but we were lucky that they were small, and did not to do any damage here.  We got to school at noon, and it was rather eerie having only 1/3 of the kids there.

I hope Japan has a swift recovery, I pray for the lives that were lost, and hope it's not our turn next.  Mother Nature is indeed, awesome.

The lazy days of vacation!

Ah, vacation days!  For the most part, lazy mornings, pajamas, and very little movement!  I can't believe it's Wednesday already.  While I'd rather be on a warm, sandy beach, this is the week we always stay home, usually with no plans.  David has to work, and the weather is generally yucky, so what to do?  So far, I've managed to have my car NOT move for one entire day.  With the price of gas these days, I'm doing whatever I can to conserve.  Last time I filled up it was for $3.59 a gallon at Costco, the cheapest place around.  The tank was pretty empty, and it cost over $60.00 to fill it up.  With the gloomy forecast of even higher gas prices, I see us staying home much more often.  Driving to Ferndale (sometimes four times!) every day really adds up.  I was thinking the other day the money we'd save in gas might make it affordable to live there!

Emma had a friend over yesterday.  She lives only a few blocks away, so we walked up to her house to get her.  It was raining, but we had our umbrellas, and it was a fun walk.  The girls had a really good time together, and I think we might do it again sometime.  We certainly got our exercise walking to her house and back twice!  The big girls were gone, so Emma and friend had the run of the house.  Good times!  On the way back, we walked by a cute little house that's for sale down the street from us.

It needs some TLC, and it's pretty small, but a good coat of paint and some new porch handrails would make a big difference to this house.  It has a huge backyard (not to mention a good sized front yard) so even if the house is small, there is certainly room to expand.  I'm trying to get my sister to take a look at it, as she is starting the adventure of house hunting.  We'll see what goes.  The houses around it are cute, and it's on the sunny side of the street.  I hope she'll at least look at the inside before really saying no!

We have a chance of snow here again tomorrow.  The next few nights are supposed to be REALLY cold.  I know it's a pain, and I'm glad I don't have to go driving in it, but it would be really fun if we at least got enough for the kids to play in.  Maybe if the mountains get it (which they should) we'll take the girls up to play in it.  Believe me, I love not having to live in it all the time, but it's a real treat to get some.  We haven't had a good snow here in some time.

Next, we gear up for Andrea's 15th Un-Birthday!!!

What a great weekend!

Mmmm!  Is there a better way to start a weekend other than aebleskivers?  I think NOT!  Yummy!  Today we had them with coffee, juice, ham and fruit.  Fantastic!


We've been SUPER busy this week.  David had to go to Portland, so I was single Mom with a schedule!  Thursday night Janelle had a dance.  Her cousin Abbi came over and they got ready together.  They turned out beautifully and had a blast dancing!

Cousins!

So pretty!

So Janelle!

She's growing up too fast!

This weekend was also the Poultry Show at Redwood Acres.  Emma was the only one at our house who wanted to enter her chickens, so in we went Friday night with her two cornish hens, Queen & Princess, as well as the chicken she created with her daddy.  They had a ball putting it together.  We got the ladies settled into their cages, and had a nice visit with my nephew Cody and his friend Zach.  They came down from Oregon to participate in the show too.  They did great and won 4 Best of Breeds!  Way to go Cody & Zach!

Emma and her prize winning Cornish Hens!

Emma did FANTASTIC in her very first show!  The hen on the left won 1st place & Reserve Champion, and the hen on the right won 2nd place!  Emma was so happy!  I think the icing on the cake was the 1st place blue ribbon Emma spotted on her 'chicken' she made with her Dad.  That smile lasted a long time!

I'm so happy her first exhibition was such a success!  Way to go Emma!!!!!

Also today, we went to Fortuna and four of us (because Emma didn't need one yet) got our Whooping cough boosters.  Sore arms all around, but it's worth it.  Better a sore arm than pertussis!

Tonight, (Saturday)  Andrea is at her Semi-Formal in Ferndale.  She looks beautiful in her dress, and I can't get over how grown up she is becoming.  She's a lovely young lady, and I hope she is having a wonderful time!  Meanwhile, we are sitting at home waiting until it's time to go pick her up.  Has it really been that long since it was David and I were the ones going to dances?  I guess so!

Looking all grown up

Look!  Her eyes match her dress!



Tomorrow, we will have a tired Andrea, chicken pickup, and laundry.  David mowed the lawn today, so we are ready for the rain coming later this week.  Good job, honey!

Sorry the blog was so long, I was a little behind!  I will talk about the sassy new haircut next time!

Moving on!

Everyone at our house is starting to feel better, and I couldn't be happier!  Today was my first non-medicated day, and that went pretty well.  Ears were a little plugged, but nothing to complain about.  Emma is still taking her antibiotics for her ear infection, but her cough and runny nose seem to be slowly getting better.  Andrea too, seems to be over the worst part of the cold.  Lucky ducks David and Janelle never even got it!

It's nice to feel positive again.  I think I'm finally really getting over being dumped by my best friend.  I don't find myself wondering what she would think about something, don't catch myself wanting to call and tell her something that just happened, or whatever.  Instead, I miss my nephews, I don't know what to say to my girls about an aunt that meant a lot to them that has now dropped from their lives, but I know life goes on.  Our value to her was obviously not what hers was to us.  I'm trying to show the boys that we love and miss them by sending them mail.  Real snail mail.  A card with a personal note inside, and something silly.  Stickers, or some little thing they'd enjoy.  I hope they are receiving and enjoying them.  In time, I hope actions will speak louder than words, and they will know that we love them.

I'm looking forward to this weekend, one of the rare ones that is not crazy busy.  We have stuff going on, but we'll be home, and not running in a billion different directions.  We can continue to get over our colds, and enjoy watching the rain outside.  I don't even mind that I just washed my car and it's going to rain on it.  I knew that before I washed it, but it was REALLY dirty!  I don't think it's been washed in months.  I did finally get my cool Kauai sticker put on the window.  It's been over a year since Hawaii, and I'm just getting to it.  Good times, good memories, and a great reminder of all the fun!

Tomorrow we're having cocktails and a barbecue down at the patio.  I'm glad those traditions are continuing. Things are moving slowly out of Grandpa's house.  I feel incredibly fortunate to have his kitchen table and chairs.  We had a lot of good times around that table, and I remember them every time I look at it.  It's nice having my family sitting around it.  The girls have all picked out 'their spots' at the table, and our family dinners will be even more special around it.

Well, I guess that's a pretty good update.  Got to see a super cute baby at school today!  That's ALWAYS a day maker!  As I finish up, I feel very...... content.  I have a great family, we're employed, housed, and fed.  Everything else is just FLUFF!