We went hiking on Mt Rainier when my parents were in town.
This is Banks Lake. Anne, Cindy and Katie. Annie was making fun of us in this photo. We thought we were pulling serious G's, but Anne is used to real G's on the tube!
The Folkman Dock on a hot Seattle day! TerriLyn was in town and we came over to spend the afternoon. The kids loved jumping off the top of the dock.
TerriLyn and I. Such great memories with that girl!
Katie and Julie. She came over to see us too.
After Anne and her friends' solo/ensemble performances we went to Red Robin. Claudia's mom, Enjou, is from Korea and has an interesting story to her life. It was fun getting to know her better. Anne and Claudia did fantastic on their ensemble piece. The judge was blown away, she said, "Wow! I was NOT expecting that!"
We learned from a professional Thai chef how to cook Pad Thai and curry. She worked at Thai Ginger for 9 years! It was an excellent evening.
Amy and I were able to get on the same flight from Dallas to Florida for both going and coming home which will only add to the fun. Amy got this whole thing started because she was going to come to my house to go to my skiing birthday party with my friends, (since Thad had taken a ski trip last year, she felt it was her turn). As the conversation got going, we decided a warm locale would be more appropriate, so flier miles and points brought us here!
The Richin's and Joshua's 2nd grade teacher, Miss Kimberly came to Thanksgiving dinner. I broke one goblet-- grr!
Eliza said tonight that she wants to be a Basketball coach, and also for tennis. She also wants to be an "iron'er" for people who don't have clothes.
My running friends and I planned a race for Thanksgiving day. Steven Fox ran a marathon the day before (it was his idea to run on Thanksgiving, but his wife said he had to help cook, so he ran the day before.) Here's all the people who ran. There also was a Turkey Bowl going on at the same time.
It's been confirmed, whether you got your first DS this year or several years ago but lost your sisters' at the movie, even though everyone told you not to leave it in the cup holder and then had to give her yours but then you got another one for Christmas the next year... they are still totally engrossing. Josh didn't notice that his parents only gave him three things for Christmas!
the new bathroom. I really like a date where you DO something together- something to foster your relationship and your working together skills. So, we bought the trim and I watched John do all the work. I did stand around and hold or fetch this or that. Later, I filled the holes, painted and caulked it. You'll have to come over to see it.
While John was on a business trip to Texas, I knew that he wouldn't have enough time to finish the remodel on the downstairs bathroom before the Bishopric Christmas dinner the next day. I debated on what to do, knowing that a bathroom downstairs would be a must for the party. I finally decided to call in the Elves. Geoff said he'd like to put the faucet in, Norm said he could put in the granite and sink and Bryan asked to install the toilet. I made dinner and the boys went to work. Everything was a little tricky but it was all in place for John's arrival at 9:30pm. What a marvelous gift! We really have the salt of the earth for friends.
Before the big snows hit we were digging out an ice skating rink in the garden, when we decided to make a fire pit in our wheel barrow. We burned our old Adirondack ottoman. The kids asked if we could have one the next night and burn the old porch swing!
This tree actually turned out to be a terrible tree. It was one of the first ones we found and we thought it was the one. Part of me didn't care that much because we had decided to get a fake one after Christmas anyway. John did come with us this year to choose the tree. We usually do it after school while he's still at work. The kids are devastated that we're not getting a real tree next year. It's funny, because they have finally learned to wear warm clothes and gloves when we go tree shopping, and now all the fun is over.
