Category Archives: Family

Keeping Up With Our Grands

Such busy ages that we are enjoying with our grands. Age 4 and 2 are such active ages. They can really tire out a 70 year old. I’m so thankful they choose to love me and tire me out.

Last Friday big sister had some other appointments so little brother got dropped off at our house for a few hours.

After some raking JJ was very interested in the watering possibilities.

He mastered our new water nozzle pretty quick. It was fun to watch the delight a powerful nozzle gave him.

Dear and I were able to get a lot of weeding done while JJ enjoyed the power of the hose.

Addy enjoyed some time with a homeschool Co-op which she is trying out while little brother was with us.

A big transition in the month of May for our 4 year old was the move up from this toddler bed to…

…this twin bed with new bedding. I think she is pleased.

The end of May we also enjoyed seeing our ‘Coast Kids’ via messenger enjoying a night out together.

We’ve been in the upper 90’s the last couple days. Friday we are supposed to be in the upper 80’s. Hot for Spring so there has been a lot of watering happening in the early hours or late hours.

Today Josh and Laura are driving across the Cascades from the ‘Coast’ for the weekend. We are looking forward to catching up with them and the grands will be thrilled to see Uncle Joshie and Auntie Lolo! A brisket will go on the Traeger early and cook long and slow for dinner here after they arrive.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Tuesdays With Moisi ~ Aunt Anna (Тетя Нура)

Our Pop’s sister Anna was called up to heaven last Wednesday May 20th at the age of 96. She was ready to go home. She was Moisi’s last surviving sibling. She outlived all her siblings and all her own children, too.

An earlier photo of Aunt Anna with her husband Pete. My Aunt Anna was always kind to me. I had my reservations even as a youngster with Uncle Pete. My reservations were substantiated through the years.

Uncle John, Aunt Anna, Our Pop, and Uncle Alex at our parents 60th wedding anniversary party.

Another photo from the 60th Anniversary party in Downey, California.

These photos aren’t in order. This Bogdanoff family photo is from the 1950’s. Aunt Anna has the white flower on her dress. I’m in the 2nd sitting row third from the right.

This is another photo from the 50’s. Aunt Anna is the right bookend of the upper row and our dear mom is the left bookend.

A great photo of Russian immigrants in the 50’s. Aunt Anna is at the top with a flower on her dress, again. She has glasses on. Our pop and mom are on the bottom row with Pop (Moisi) reclining and Nadia. I’m going to make the bold observation that Aunt Anna survived all the people in this photo.

Aunt Anna is sitting on the grass with all her brothers, sisters in law and mother in this photo. She survived all of them. I had my favorites of our Pop’s siblings. Aunt Anna and Uncle Alex earned my favor because of my experiences with them growing up.

Aunt Anna with her brothers.

Since today May 25th would have been our Pop’s 98th birthday I’m including this photo of him hitting the pinata at his great granddaughter’s birthday party a few years back.

Sister and brother. They were close friends.

Aunt Anna at Pop’s funeral.

She managed walking up the hill to sit for the graveside service. Her granddaughter and grandson in law cared for her in their home for several years before she died.

The last time I saw our Aunt Anna in person.

This will be the cemetery where she will be buried.

This is the plot where she should be buried. Her husbands information is on the headstone. He died February 2nd, 1978.

Looking forward to seeing you again in heaven.

Woe to the Internet…

Our kids and grands were over for dinner on Wednesday night and I took this blurry in motion photo of JJ riding in his Maserati with his car phone to match.

The country internets have been very unreliable the last couple of days which made Thursday a good time to pull out COVID-19 Puzzle #15. This is the busy London 1000 piece that my friend Jeanie sent me for my 70th birthday. I’ll try to get it done before I turn 71, grin!

I’m scheduling this post for Friday right now just in case the internet goes out again. This country internet issue is also the reason I will be late in keeping up with your blogs.

Happy Friday to y’all.

Smell the Hodgepodge

Time for Wednesday Hodgepodge where Jo comes up with the questions and we come up with the answers. Thank you Jo From This Side of the Pond.

1. What are some memories you associate with spring?

Strawberry Stands in Southern California. Fresh strawberries right from the fields were so juicy, sweet and delicious! Both of our grandchildren were born in the Spring and that is a very special memory being at the hospital waiting to hear about their entry into this world. Addy was born on the first day of Spring. Easter celebrations are also high on the list of things I associate with Spring. Easter is a favorite of mine to celebrate with joy. After we moved to Washington State a trip to the tulip fields in April make for a wonderful visual picture of Spring!

2. April showers bring May flowers…was that saying proven true where you live? Snapdragons, anemones, carnations, lilacs, sweet peas, tulips, lily of the valley, orchids, roses, gardenias…which one on that list is your favorite May bloom?

If I have to choose one I’ll say lilacs!

Here’s a lilac memory from April 2010 of my niece and grandniece at Descanso Gardens in Southern California.

3. What are your top three distractions and how do you deal with them?

Noise, Empty chatter, devices as in smart phones.

If I can’t get away from the noise I have my headphones.

If I can’t get away from the chatter I try to tune it out. I do tend to sigh when the chatter stops.

Devices, I turn them to silent, or turn them off.

4. Do you eat beef?

Yes!

In the course of a week, how often is beef on the menu?

I would say at least 3x’s a week.

A hamburger, steak, prime rib, or a roast beef dinner…which beef entree would you choose and yes you have to choose. Unless you’re a vegan, and then you may pass.

In a restaurant I would most likely choose Prime Rib if it’s on the menu. If not then I’d go with a hamburger.

5. In what way were you creative during the month of April?

I was creative in planning, organizing, recruiting, cooking and serving 58 pastors last Thursday and Friday. We served dinner, a dessert social, lunch and dinner.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

 

These grabbers are a favorite with our grands. Toys just don’t hold as much interest. They were trying to grab uncle Andrew’s feet.

Casting Techniques

Continuing with JJ’s Fishing party and the fun we had watching JJ and Addy casting their fishing line to catch some treats.

Enjoying his ‘catch’.

This girl has form!

There was some fishing out of doors, too.

Fishing was fun and we still have more to share from this special day.

This week we have a forecast of temps that rise each day reaching a forecast of 77 degrees this Thursday! What’s happening in your corner of the world?

JJ’s Fishing Birthday Party!

We were greeted in fishing style for JJ’s 2nd birthday celebration.

O-fish-ally Two!

This would be where the littles could cast and fish for treats.

Fun fish party themed events and food for the day.

Puffer Fish fruit kebobs.

Fish Veggie tray.

Cattails.

The tackle box with worms and bait.

Fishing floats.

Lunch was fish themed, too, with tuna sandwiches, fish sticks, shrimp, etc.

Our daughter in law always finds the best ideas for themed parties.

Too much fun to make it into one post. More to come.

Happy new week everyone. We are looking forward to a low key week that will end in May!

Sunset

On Sunday night of our birthday weekend together our family walked down our kids driveway to catch the sunset after dinner.

Psalm 19:1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,
    which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

A wonderful finale for us as we began our farewells to our ‘Coast’ kids.