Category Archives: Family

Mid August

On August days when the skies cleared of smoke Addy and JJ enjoyed activities outside. They are really mastering their bicycle skills.

Our daughter-in-law and four of our nieces enjoyed several days in Maui celebrating Melissa’s 40th birthday in style. She’s a beach girl through and through so this was an appropriate destination for the celebration. An amazing ‘cousin’ time.

Addy’s week of VBS culminated with a short program Friday night for parents and Addy thinks that VBS was great!

Our daughter Katie and Andrew were in New York over this past weekend for the wedding of one of Andrew’s Marine buddies. Andrew was in the wedding. This wedding was supposed to happen a while back but then the you know what postponed it. They had a wonderful time celebrating outside of Albany, New York.

My last follow-up cataract appointment is on Tuesday. I’m looking forward to ordering some glasses on that day. The other thing we are looking forward to on Tuesday is a major cooling down and some rain in the forecast, too. Hoping for clear skies on Wednesday with some new fires getting contained.

What does your week look like?

All in the Family Hodgepodge

Jo From This Side of the Pond posted some questions for Wednesday Hodgepodge this week even though she has a busy houseful. She picked the appropriate theme. Thank you Jo!
1. What’s something you would say ‘runs in your family’?
Our firm foundation in Christ runs in our family.
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2. A book, song, tv show, or movie you love that is centered around family. 
Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle all 5 hours and 23 minutes of it.
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3. Family matters, family ties, family tree, family man, family fortune, black sheep of the family, family values, one big happy family…choose a ‘family phrase’ that applies to your life currently and explain. 
One big happy family. With half of us on the west side of the Cascades and half of us on the east side visits usually have us all together and we do have happy times. Our next big happy family time will be in the fall when we all gather for a family wedding in North Carolina. The 10 of us will be staying in a home we rented on Lake Hickory for 4 nights.
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4. Last thing you fixed for a big family dinner? If you’re not the cook, last thing you were served at a big family dinner? 
The last thing we served for 6 of us here in Colville was flat iron steak, baked potatoes, roasted cauliflower, corn muffins and a blueberry buckle for dessert.
Some of our family do not appreciate fish so when Josh was here a couple weeks ago we took advantage and served the 7 of us a yummy Cioppino as an appetizer full of mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, in a flavorful broth (we bought that at Costco and just warmed it up). Then we had Tilapia, jasmine rice, salad, maybe broccoli, and good crusty bread. We had something for dessert but I can’t remember what. Whatever it was I won’t make it again since it was so unmemorable. Oye.
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5. What are three words you would use to describe your family. 
Team
Supportive
Fun
We work well together as a team to get things done and we are supportive of each other and we like to make things fun.
After all the good times we have together we also enjoy being back home alone in our own space.
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6. Insert your own random thought here.
Addy has two new experiences she’s enjoying this month. This week every evening from 6-8:30 she is attending Vacation Bible School at our church. The halls and gym are thundering with boys and girls from 3 years old to 6th grade enjoying a good time learning about the God that created them. Next year JJ will be able to join in.
The whole church is decorated in the Island theme. Very colorful!
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Addy’s also learning soccer skills on a team a couple days a week. That’s bringing back some good memories of all the soccer we enjoyed when our kids were little.
Our dear mom and pop left us with an encouragement before they died to love each other and stay together, I’ll leave that with you, too.

Hello August

The whole verse from Psalm 84:11 + verse 12 reads;

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! 

The month in-between summer and fall is upon us. Here’s hoping for fires to be put out, for some rain, for clear skies again.

Josh flew out to visit the middle of last week and both our sons enjoyed 18 holes of golf together.

We enjoyed some meals all together and Addy and JJ enjoyed every minute they had with Uncle Joshie.

Our garlic dried nicely hanging in the shop and it was time to clean them up on Saturday and share some of the bulbs with friends and family.

Hope your August is starting well.

The Fort

 

The photo above popped up in my memories this week from our first home in the state of Washington. Our kids built this fort in our back yard in the early 90’s.

Do any of you watch the show on History Channel called ‘Alone’?

“The HISTORY Channel’s hit survival series “Alone” is back like never before and taking place in the most dangerous location yet. In Season 8, 10 contestants fight to survive in the Canadian wilderness on the shores of Chilko Lake, British Columbia.”

I’m always impressed with the structures the contestants are able to build with just an ax. They have to cut the trees down all alone…

Love One Another…

Uncle Joshie joined Auntie Lolo who was already in Colville for Father’s Day weekend. Addy and JJ were delighted to see him and spend time with him. Their daddy was away because of work and they really missed him. Uncle Joshie was a nice diversion.

Josh flew back home on Father’s Day. Auntie Lolo drove back home on the day of my cataract surgery. Before Lolo left she captured a lot of photos. Thank you Lolo and Joshie for all your help and love!

Collecting the eggs and enjoying garden delights picked fresh!

Addy and JJ’s daddy came home on Thursday the 24th of June and their little family is together again much to everyone’s relief.

The news around our region is the heat! We are above 100 degrees with predictions of temps getting as high as 114. Yikes. That means fire danger, too. We are more appreciative of our cooling possibilities. We are watering early in the morning and have blinds closed and curtains drawn during the day. The birds are enjoying our watering. We hope to get to more normal summertime temps in a week.

Under the Sea

Auntie LoLo came back for another week on Wednesday June 16th. Addy and JJ were happy to see her again.

On Friday a trip to Spokane to visit the small aquarium was in order.

JJ had no fear in touching some of the sea creatures but Addy decided against it.

So much to see under the sea!

Back home and the day was just right for bubbles!

So thankful that Auntie LoLo catches such great moments with her phone!

Late on Friday night Uncle Joshie flew in for Father’s Day Weekend. More photos to share from that time soon.

Things are going well with my recovery from Cataract Surgery.

For the month of June I’ve been reading the book of Romans in the Bible.

Romans 12:9-13

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Mid Week Fun

There’s no Wednesday Hodgepodge this week so I’m doing a catch up post with more photos from our fun on Friday the 4th of June.

We managed to do some weeding yesterday before things heat up again. We took out a plant that was not kid friendly, very prickly.

Our temps are heading up to the upper 80’s and onwards to the low 90’s next week so we’ll enjoy water play again when the littles come over. I bought two more of these water pumps from the Dollar Store so the adults can get into the fun, too. Our daughter in law arrives again today from the Coast to spend another week with us and with our Colville kids. Our son will fly in for the weekend. The grands will be excited to see Auntie Lolo and Uncle Joshie and we all enjoy our time with them on this side of the Cascades!

Moving Up Hodgepodge

My parents, sister and nieces were some of the first visitors we had in Washington State after our move in 1988.

Thank you to Jo From This Side of the Pond for coming up with the Wednesday Hodgepodge questions each week.

1. Something you’ve seen recently that’s ‘cuter than a June bug’?

Our little grands wrapped up like burritos.

2. Tell us something about where you were and what you were doing in June of 1988? If you weren’t born yet, June of 1998. Or if that doesn’t work, June of 2008. 

In June of 1988 we were getting ready for a major move from Ventura, California to Bothell, Washington. A huge life change for all of us. We were packing up our stuff and all of my mother-in-law’s stuff as she was moving up with us. Dear was accepted to the University of Washington to study and pursue a new career as a Pharmacist. Our kids were 9, 7 and 2-1/2. Dear had been working as a Frontend Loader operator in a quarry before he was encouraged to pursue this new career. We are thankful to God for all this decision afforded our family. It was a wonderful choice all around and we never regretted it. Our kids got a whole new education in moving from Southern California to a state with 4 distinct seasons! Experiencing snow right in our front yard was such a treat for these three!

3. A place in your home or outdoor space where you feel ‘snug as a bug in a rug’? 

Inside it has to be my bed and especially when there are no big plans for the following day. Outside my snug as a bug in a rug spot is on my riding lawnmower with my headphones listening to my favorite preacher.

4. June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Month. 

Do you normally get your 4-5 servings each day?

To get 4-5 servings per day we’d need to buy those green and red bottles of processed vegetables and fruits.

What’s a favorite summer dish you make/serve/like to be served-ha! made with one of your favorite summer fruits.

My favorite summer fruit are nectarines and I like them just as they are. I’d like to be served a fresh peach pie with flaky crust please.

A favorite summer dish made with a favorite summer veg?

Corn on the Cob!

How do you feel about cooking in the summer months? 

I feel Dear should do the majority of cooking outside on his Traeger in the summer months.

5. Do you have a summer reading list? If so share a title or two we can add to our own. 

I do not have a summer reading list. I read the Bible everyday and some of Spurgeon’s writings, too. If I was going to have a summer reading list I’d re-read some books by Elizabeth Goudge like The Dean’s Watch.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I had my initial appointment with the surgeon for my cataract surgery and I’ll know some dates as soon as the surgery scheduling people call me. The decision I need to make is whether I want the monofocal fix, that Medicare covers, or the multiple corrective zones. We’d have to put up some big bucks for the full meal deal but we are leaning that way after talking with people who didn’t make that choice and regret it.

The Grandkids’ Mountain

When Uncle Joshie and Auntie Lolo come to town we have lots of great photos to share. Auntie Lolo knows how to capture the moments.

Saturday June 5th. Time to feed the chickens and check out the garden.

Take in the view before bedtime. Josh had to fly home on Sunday but Auntie Lolo is staying on till Friday.

Today Tuesday June 8th I’ll have my consult about my cataract surgery coming up soon. I should know after my appointment when my procedure will take place. I’m looking forward to better eyesight in the near future.

Dollar Store For the Win!

On Friday Josh and Laura arrived from the ‘Coast’ and when the littles woke up from their nap their mommy drove them over for dinner. We enjoyed a slow cooked brisket with all the fixins and watermelon plus brownies for dessert. It was a hot day and the evening was perfect for some fun with water. I bought some water launchers and bubble guns from the Dollar Store earlier in the day and they proved to provide so much fun. Uncle Josh was a good sport and joined in the water fun. Uncle Joshie, Addy and JJ were soaked by the time the fun was over.

Time for wrap the grands like a burrito to dry them off and warm them up before the ride home for nighty night.