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Dec. 19, 2008 - Our Visit to Seattle for Thanksgiving (Part 3)
After staying with Grammy for a couple of days, we headed over to Grandma Deb's and Grandpa Ben's house for the next several nights. We had such a great time visiting with them and the kids. Preston (my 18 yr old bro) was home from college in Georgia so we got to visit with him as well. We packed a lot into just a few days and in that time, I got sick. In fact, that same virus would stay with me for a couple of weeks after we returned home.
On Thanksgiving Day, the four of us went over to my Uncle Denny and Aunt Jaime's house for a quick visit. My cousin and her family were visiting from Portland. It was great to see them and get caught up. (no pics - UGH!)
Later on we headed back to Dad's for Thanksgiving dinner where all of Deb's family and my Uncle Jim came. What a great day with lots of family! (again, no pics! I think my cold virus was beginning to take over my brain)
The day after Thanksgiving we were....where else?....the mall! I couldn't help myself! I just had to go and check out the deals. Deb and I strolled around Alderwood Mall and, yes, we did score a few great deals.
After returning to their home, I was pooped out and ready for a major nap! But we only had about an hour to get ready to go out to dinner and then to the Nutcracker. So, no nap for Steph. But Deb, Celeste, Elise, Michaela, Camille and I had a fabulous dinner at Palisades. We got all dressed up and then went from there to the Pacific NW Ballet's Nutcracker.
What an amazing event. We never tire of seeing the beautiful ballerinas, the scenes and the music. Of course, I can't take a picture after the performance begins but here is the stage before it starts.
The next day, before we left on our flight home, Dad and Deb had arranged for us all to have our picture taken by a photographer. They have used him in the past and he does really great work. He came out to the house to photograph us. And look who else showed up the night before for this occasion?
We were SO thrilled to see Dave and Daina, even for just a short time. Since they live up in B.C. it had been WAY too long since the last time we got to spend any time with them.
(This picture taken with my camera, not the photographer's)
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Dec. 17, 2008 - A Day at Boise Life Care Center
A friend of mine organized a group of us homeschoolers to be able to visit an assisted living facility in Boise. The girls and I made a bunch of Christmas cards to hand out to the residents which was such a blessing because it gave us a chance to meet and talk with several of them. Then we sang (and I use that term loosely) some Christmas carols.
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Dec. 12, 2008 - Our Visit to Seattle for Thanksgiving (Part 2)
After our visit to the Sanders, we got to do more reuniting with friends. Reid took the day to work at the office but the kids and I went to our sweet friends, the Islers. Linda was so gracious to have an "open house" for me and the kids so that everyone could come when they were able. It was wonderful to see everyone!
 (Left to right) Jeri, Shirley, Helen, me, Linda, and Jill
Here's all the girl kiddos from that day. I think the boys were hiding out upstairs. (Left to right) Michaela, Kailey, Claire, Audrey, Camille, Becca, Eli.
Later that evening, Reid arrived and we stayed for dinner with Linda and Walt. It was so neat to reconnect with everyone and find out what all the Seattle-ites have been up to.
After dinner we headed to Grammy Pat's where we stayed for the next couple of nights. We were all so excited to see Grammy but we were so exhausted from all the excitement of the past 2 days that I think we barely said hello and were off to bed.
The next day, Reid had a carpet cleaning job so the kids and I got to spend some much needed down-time catching up with Grammy and relaxing at her place. We took a trip to a jam-packed Trader Joe's where everyone and their dog was there getting all their holiday groceries. I had to stock up on a few key items since there is no such thing as Trader Joe's in Boise  . Trader Joe's, I miss you!
Then we traveled to Ballard to visit my cousin and her new baby. I had not met the almost 4 month old Brooklyn yet so it was such a joy to get to see her and the new mommy.
We got caught in some nasty Seattle traffic on the way back to Grammy's and we were staaaarving. We decided to get out of the traffic and meet Daddy at Zeek's for dinner. We love Zeek's! Here is Camille goofing around with some pizza dough.
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Dec. 8, 2008 - A Tour Through Bethlehem
We heard about a little Christmas festival in a neighboring town and had to check it out. What initially caught our attention was the "Live Nativity" that my friend described. But we didn't know that it was a festival that included ice sculptures (which we didn't get to see), a holiday version Saturday market, bands playing Christmas music and just an all-around festive atmosphere. Here are the girls sitting on Santa's lap in the market
What always cracks me up is that the girls can never think of a thing that they might want for Christmas so whenever they sit on Santa's lap and he asks them what they want, they usually say something like "I don't know". I don't really think Santa knows what to say to that.
After checking out the market with all the cute, homemade goods we all went to a lovely Italian restaurant and had dinner.
So then we had to check out this living nativity thing. A local church puts on a "tour of Bethlehem" each year. It was much more than a living nativity!
We got there and they give all of us 5 shekels.
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Dec. 6, 2008 - Our Visit to Seattle for Thanksgiving (Part 1)
We had the amazing privilege of flying to Seattle for a week to spend with family and friends. It truly was a whirlwind of activity but we enjoyed every minute of it!
We flew in on Sunday afternoon, after a crazy start to our day in Boise. We were completely socked in with fog so our flight, according to the website, was delayed by a couple of hours. Not too bad, considering how thick and dense this fog was. The airline website had us leaving Boise at 2:30 PM so we camped out at Reid's parent's house until about 1:15 (they live about 5 minutes from the airport).
We get to the airport, check in our bags, then saunter to the gift shop to buy some gum, go over to the little McD's for some fries...generally just killing some time before we board. We are in line waiting for our yummy fries and we hear our name being paged on the intercom system, telling us to go our gate immediately for departure. What?! We thought we had at least another hour before the plane took off. So we ran through the airport, McD's fries in hand, and breathlessly get on our plane. We were those people. You know, the ones that everyone was waiting for before the plane could depart? The ones that sheepishly made our way toward the back of the plane, smelling it up with the yummy goodness of McD's french fries.
On our way, Reid and I are both thinking that it will be a miracle if our bags make it since it was literally 15 minutes between when we checked in our bags and when got on the plane. Well, we arrive in Seattle and...no bags. But the airlines were very good to make sure they located them for us and assured us that they would be on the next flight to Seattle. And not only that, but they would deliver them to us that night! Whew! At least we didn't have to go all the way down to the airport to retrieve them.
Our first night was spent with our dear, sweet friends, the Sanders. The girls all saw each other, squealed with delight, and then resumed playing as if no time had passed whatsoever. Amazing. We enjoyed our brief time with them so much. They were leaving the next day on a flight so we had just that one night and the next morning to spend with them but it was very fun.
Chris, Tiff, Reid and I
The kids the next morning all snuggled up on the couch |
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Nov. 12, 2008 - Dirty Paw Law
The Dirty Paw Law was passed into law on November 12, 2008 by the House:
This originated from a book that Michaela and I read about National government. Nothing too detailed, just a brief overview on the subject. But apparently it was enough information for her because it spurred her on to come up with the idea of writing a bill, passing it through the House and the Senate, and then having the President sign it into law. Here we all are in the House:
Here's the President signing it into law (note the uniform of the President):
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Nov. 12, 2008 - Grammy's Visit
We waited two long months and finally the moment came when we got to visit with Grammy! She flew over for 4 days but, as always, it was too short. Sadly, we did not take hardly any pictures of her visit here but we had a really good time.
One thing we did do that we took lots of pictures of was going to the Discovery Center in Boise. This is a really cool place that has hands-on exhibits to explore and read about the science of how and why certain things happen. For example, how does vision and hearing work, what makes energy, how do hurricanes form,etc.
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Oct. 28, 2008 - Fall Wreath
I have had this wreath for a loooong time that I got at a garage sale. I've never used it because I thought it was just, well, ugly but I really love how large it is.
As you can see, its sorta sad and decrepit. It needed new life! I realize I'm a little late in putting up my fall wreath but I could not justify spending the money...that is until all the fall stuff at Joann's went to 60% off! So here is the new and improved wreath...(and it cost me about $10 - even better)
Here is the rest of my porch all decked out.
Now let me just say something about this porch. First of all, I have never had a "porch" to speak of. Maybe a landing or a step, but never really space to actually put stuff. So, while I would really love a huge wrap-around deal, I am very excited to have this little space to chotchke up.
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Oct. 28, 2008 - Round-Up Sunday
Once a year our church has what they call Round-Up Sunday. The church is fabulously decorated with hay bales, saddles, quilts and many other western themed decorations. There is a BBQ afterward with lots of delicious eats. They even bring in a couple of horses and donkeys for the kids to ride. Since the theme was "western", the girls wanted to dress up in prairie girl costumes that they borrowed from their friend. Reid and I, however, went with the cowgirl and cowboy theme (although I think Reid looks like he went for the "howdy-doody-holding-a-purse theme"). Also, do you like how Reid and Michaela are looking very serious like in "old-time" photos? Somehow they got that memo and I didn't.
Wouldn't you know that the girls were the first ones out there to greet the horses and donkeys? So they got to groom them and get them ready for all the kids to ride.
Michaela is always happiest when she is on a horse
Camille is so cute in her prairie costume I could just about eat her up! She loved leading around this little miniature donkey.
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Oct. 25, 2008 - Pioneer Kids
We had a fun night with our friends a couple of weeks ago. They had us over for dinner and....dress up! The kids found some pioneer costumes to dress up in. Camille was ALL into it because we have been reading Little House on the Prairie so she got to pretend she was Laura Ingalls.
This cracked me up because the kids were trying to look "stern" like they do in old photographs but Camille looks downright angry.
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Oct. 24, 2008 - Another Garage Sale Project
I found these two crate thingies at a garage sale for $3 for both. I had no idea what I was going to use them for but I thought for sure I could find something because we have a distinct lack of bookshelves and I thought I might go in that direction.
So I ended up sanding them and painting them with just some acrylic paint I had. I used some Mod Podge to glue on the scrapbook paper that you see on top of the boxes. They are sitting in my kitchen eating area right now and we use them to store the Benji box (this is the device that gives our precious pooch a zap in the neck if he crosses the electric barrier - long story, another post for another time) plus other misc. items.
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Oct. 23, 2008 - Hope
I have been stirring something around in my brain for the last couple of days that I wanted to share.
Lately, I've been pondering this upcoming election and what might be the outcome. It seems that with each presidential election, our country is in a frenzy to "make it better", "vote for change", "fix what is broken"...especially from the opposing party of the one who is in the White House. I, myself, have been in this "make it better with a new President" boat - wanting change, wanting our country to be better - thinking that all of this would happen if we would just elect the right guy! But, oh, how untrue this is. Can't we all attest to the many shortcomings and downright failures of our past Presidents?
What I want to say is this...there will never be a President who gives us hope. Not the hope that we all want. Its almost like a false hope...one that makes us feel good when we think about the promises made. When we put our hope in a person, we will always be disappointed. Maybe not disappointed in the person, but disappointed with how they handled circumstances, how they treated people, what they said, etc, etc.
Now, hear my heart on this -I am not saying that you or I should not vote. In fact, it is our privilege to do so. What I AM saying is this...our hope can only be found in one place - in knowing Jesus Christ. He will never change, His love is unfailing and He will never leave us. Presidents - Democrat and Republican - will come and go but God is sovereign (supreme) in ALL things.
Psalm 25:5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 33:18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love
Hebrews 7:18-19 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
Jesus is our "better hope". So, while I will cast my vote on election day, I will not lose sight of my true hope and I pray that you won't either. 
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Oct. 21, 2008 - Pumpkin Pancakes
I ask you....what kind of person would I be if I didn't serve up some pumpkin pancakes for my family in the month of October?
Since I do not own an electric griddle, we use a cast iron griddle on the BBQ a lot. Here's my sweet hubby in the freezing cold fixin' up some pancakes. I do realize that it looks nice and toasty a) because it is sunny and b) because my honey is wearing short sleeves. But I assure you, he was a brave and fearless man, facing the frigid elements for the love of his family and all things holy (such as pumpkin pancakes).
Pumpkin Pancakes
2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp brown sugar 1 1/2 cups mild
2 tsp baking powder 1 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp baking soda 1 egg
1 tsp ground allspice 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp cinnamon 2 Tbsp vinegar
1/2 tsp ground ginger
Mix together milk, pumpkin, egg, oil, and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt in separate bowl. Stir into pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.
Steph's note: the recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups milk but I like my pancake batter to be runnier so I use about 2 cups of milk.
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Oct. 21, 2008 - WHAAA?
A couple of weeks ago, I woke up one morning to find this...
I know its hard to tell from the picture but it looks like frost. I thought...its not cold enough for there to be frost. What's going on here?
I step outside to take a closer look.
Its spider webs...everywhere! There was either a huge spider party or one VERY busy spider last night. This is only a tiny snapshot of our acre of grass by the way. The whole grass was covered. Upon further investigation, we noticed that the neighbor's yards were covered too. Crazy! I am not sure what this was all about but since then it has not happened again.
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Oct. 15, 2008 - The Zoo
Yesterday we got to go to the zoo with our dear friends. Even their Grandma and Pappy got to come. In this pic, of course, Tricia and I are absent since we are the behind-the-camera girls.
We got these suckers right after we entered the zoo...then we took this picture, then we took a potty break (huh? we just got here!). I joked around that we had been there for 1/2 hour and had not even seen an animal. They told me it was just "their way". Hey, I'm flexible.
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Oct. 13, 2008 - Chicken Pot Pie
I'm not sure the reason why my hubby decided to take a picture of this Chicken Pot Pie that I made but I have a few suspicions....a) it is his idea of utter perfection or b) he was trying his hand at the close-up feature on our camera. Either way, I will share with you the most simple recipe in the history of the world but one that but one that, for the above listed reasons, my hubby felt compelled to take a picture of.
First of all you must start with the most amazing pie crust (click on link for recipe) on the planet. Fill it with some grilled chicken (we love to use the leftover roasted chicken that you can get from Costco...you know, the ready-to-pick-up kind?), a can of cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 cup of milk, and a package of frozen veggies. For all of you nutrition freaks, I do realize that this recipe is not the picture of health but I do guarantee that it will bring your hubby to his knees in thanksgiving!
Mix all of that in a bowl and pour into your amazing pie crust and bake it at 350 for 1/2 hour or so. I always seem to need more cooking time than the recipe calls for....I think because of the pie crust. So whenever the crust is nice and brown is usually my gauge. |
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