2 Week Catch Up

It's time for a big catch up post. We've been busy living life fully present....and that's not left much time to sit and blog. These nights I'm watching an episode on Netflix rather than using my last cognitive energy on a blog post. LOL 

We are totally LOVING the extra light. We are over 13 hours of sunlight. Temps have jumped between -6 and 22* in the mornings when I take Alex to work. The roads go between muddy puddles and snow covered ice. We are close to break up.  We have had a couple of snow storms in the two weeks this post will cover.  We have spent a lot of time on school  -  turning in samples, adding classes, making sure we're on track and work, work, working. 

Benny brought GG a 80th birthday card

Benny and G G 

Michael, Stacia, Allie and I took dinner to a new mom. We fell in love with Jericho James....and totally loved our infant snuggles. 

Soon this will melt. One of these summers we'll make a sidewalk or something out here and be able to shovel it. LOL  For now...we climb over the snow....or use the front door. 

Millie brings me each of her favorite toys every time I begin to cook. 

Michael has spent quite a bit of time hanging things, hiding wires, rearranging pictures...

Grandpa loves calling family and friends

Millie has been here....

Stacia and Allie spend a lot of concerted effort getting Millie to settle down around Benny and Arielle. I think she associates them with those rowdy, early play sessions when she was a new pup. 

GG loves the visits from Arielle and the boys

In addition to drop in visits, Arielle has begun to provide a few hours of weekly respite care for Michael and I. We've made it out once he and I TOGETHER and it was great fun.  Stacia stops by for an hour every week after work to watch the boys so Arielle is assured a solitary walk and training time with Kimber. 

We were looking for something in Potter's closet - Benny loves to be given permission to climb under here. Millie followed. She was quite alarmed at the sight in the mirror. She inserted herself between Benny and the mirror and pushed him back with her body and then commenced to bark, and lunge....she never could quite scare that other dog away. 

Game night! My favorite way to date to use up salmon. LOL 

Dominion - Alex, Ed, Ethan, Michael, Nolan 

We chose Dixit...

Allie, Britney, Stacey, Stacia, Jenni

I am happy to report no living room furniture had to be moved to add the second tale to our main table.

Later in the week, these 3 played games while Allie and I worked on some school stuff.  Nolan has finished his second college course. He aced the class - that makes 7 credits earned since Feb 1st. Go, Nolan. 

Bacon salt - who knew? It's a thing. 

I am not sure if Millie is getting tired of snow...I am getting tired of the melty tracks of water she brings in each time she goes out and comes in. 

 

Krista bought Stacia and Millie a chuck it. Millie loves chasing the ball. Stacia is not thrilled about the snow up to her waist in the back yard so she moved the fun to the driveway. 

Attacking the ball

Oops - it took a bit of time to realize Stacia wanted the ball BACK

She got it. 

It's a joint project to blow dry Millie after her outdoor play time....

Millie still thinks she's a lap dog. 

 

We allow her on the couch if she's on a blanket...watching Home Before Dark - a really cute show about a 9 year old investigative reporter. 

Danny is always good for a few smiles!

Willow joined the crew....Willow is an 8 week old Golden Retriever who owns Josiah and Crew. They brought her by after picking her up. She handled all the changes in her life admirably. 

The moon was beautiful over our mountain. 

In addition to the glimpses captured with the camera, there were also cosmetic classes hosted by Krista, lots of birthday lunches with Krista, a girls day out, snowstorms, church, lots of one on one meetings with various ones, tea, returning birds, dog rescuing, PFDs filed, taxes and ministerial license renewals still to go.... It's been a full two weeks. 

Girls Day Out

Christmas 2019 - I decided, rather than a bunch of "stuff," I wanted to gift the girls with time...a fun activity we would do together. I gifted them a trip to The Art Cafe and breakfast.

Almost immediately I realized the challenge it would be to get all the girls together...Covid hit along with voluntary lock downs, mandatory lock downs and quarantines. The Art Cafe closed down, their hours are limited now.  Everyone is busy, New babies arrived. Krista will be moving from the valley to JBER next week...it isn't going to get easier. 

Friday morning Michael got up with Grandpa, and the girls, along with Benny and Danny, caught breakfast at Sunrise Grill. They make a great omelet...the girls chose Sunrise over you know...my artsy fartsy options.  Our next stop was The Art Cafe. 

Arielle, Allie, Stacia, Krista, Benny

Our mission - create beautiful glass suncatchers. This involved choosing glass, cutting glass, creativity and patience. The sun light made it hard to catch photos but here are a few I snatched before settling in to my own creation. 

Benny took safety very seriously. I had thought he'd paint the little box in front of him, but it turns out he was more interested in helping mama with her creation. 

 Danny alternated between his carrier and being worn by Arielle. 

"I feel like there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." Vincent vanGogh

I was happy to do this  before this gal goes Active Duty. She's been busy all week making sure she touches base with people before she moves, tying up loose ends...she's made a difference here....and I know she will make a difference at each assignment in the upcoming years.....but...we're going to miss her.  She created a mountain scene on her catcher...Stacia made a flower and the rest of us opted for more abstract expressions. We'll pick them up next week and see what we got. LOL 

A fun bonus - Kayle came in to work on a project....such fun to catch up with her before her upcoming wedding and move. 

It was a practically perfect day. Bre was unable to join us...

Michael, Alex and Nolan grabbed lunch and discussed a chapter in Daniel.  Michael and Alex then zipped over to BreZaak's for some quality time with Bre and the kids....and Lady, their German Shepherd. 

The MOOSE....

 The moose are EVERYWHERE....it's a fun time of year...as long as they don't have babies in our yard again. LOL 

We haven't seen Rosie yet this season. Maybe one of these are one of her off springs....I would like to see Rosie again and know that she made it through another year. 

St. Patrick's Tea

 Bre does holidays really well....she does an excellent job at establishing traditions for her children and making them anticipated events. 

The girls and I were invited over for a St. Patrick's Day tea. I made and brought blueberry scones. I fell down on my job. I should have added some green dye. Next year.....

The tradition continues in the next generation 

Bre with Jojo, Gideon, Bella, Annie, Allie, Stacia

Bre and I had a great time savoring our moments together as we lingered around the table. I enjoyed JoJo cuddles. Allie played with Lady (BreZaak's German shepherd) and Stacia played with the kiddos. 

It was a great break in the midst of the week. As always it takes a village and we were grateful to Michael for making it possible for us to step out. 

Exchanging Pennies for Dollars

 For years Michael has exchanged shiny pennies for shiny dollars. The only rule is to bring him a current year date penny...he carries these dollars around in his pocket waiting for a Gherkin (child or grand) to hand him a penny.  Last year 7 2020 pennies were turned in. 

From the looks of it, no 2021 pennies have been redeemed....Get busy guys. 

Taking Down Christmas Decorations

 LOL It would appear I have not blogged since March 13th and our March Birthday Dinner.  My plan is to post a few individual posts with specific events...and do one big catch up....It's not even SUMMER and I'm falling behind. Oy vey. LOL 

Just how cold is it? Cold enough that there is frost on the inside of the door.  It's the time of the year when we go between -6 and 35...it's a mess. 

Sunday night Michael brought in the boxes with the plan being that I take down our Christmas decor in the upcoming week.  I had planned to leave the snowmen up a bit longer, but my superstitious children felt it was time for the "Let it Snow,"  and all snow related things to GO. 

Since the boxes were sitting there...it seemed opportune to take the tree down. LOL 

Michael took advantage of the room being disheveled to check out this speaker/woofer? He'd heard a buzzing. He enlisted Allie's help  and they found a virtual treasure trove....

I wish I knew WHO had been hiding treasures. LOL 

Last night, when everyone was over, we had moved Grandpa's recliner. The kids loved the thoroughfare and I realized I liked it feeling a bit more open too. SO....we talked about how we could place the recliners in a better location.  We ended up moving the couch that was under these windows, and putting the recliners at this end. We moved the antique toe grabber of a coffee table under the window and it solved many problems at once.  It opened the space, got the table out of the way and allows me to work in the kitchen and still see Dad in his recliner.  In fact, instead of the back of Dad's chair this is now my view from the kitchen.  We won't have to move furniture out when we add the second table for guests now....

We left this couch where it had been...but we moved the keyboard beside it.....we moved the other couch all over the room, kept shifting recliners until we went all out and moved the Step Tonsu and keyboard....

...and put the second couch along the accent wall (where the Tonsu had been)....this put the couches opposite each other...but it allows a nice view out the window, it's easy to slide out to watch TV, great for conversations....and everything fits. 

The keyboard was under the TV. The Step Tonsu had been configured in 3 pieces...the middle (which is on the left) and two step sections. We put them on top of each other and it takes less floor space, allowing it to fit here. 

Here you have it...taken from where where Dad's recliner used to be....Michael took advantage of the move to add more plug ins, and hide all the speaker wires in the wall. He hung two speakers on either side of the TV...

At some point in the process we discovered Stacia does NOT like change. We thought that was an Arielle trait. She's adjusted. 

Arielle and the boys came over the next day and we were informed we should warn them before making big changes. LOL 

Michael and I were thrilled to be able to really clean all the corners, nooks and crannies. In the past we moved every 2 -3 years....so it seemed obvious we need to move all the furniture to really clean well....we've been told we could just pull the furniture out and put it back. ::snort:: 

Oh, we DID get the Christmas decor down and stored....we still can't find several wall hangings and such...put away when we put Christmas up...where could they have gone????