"Before"

Today I walked 2.7 miles. Woot! After seeing the photos of myself from the trip, I decided I had a nice collection of "Before" pictures and should start working on the "After"s. The kitchen has been stocked with canned beans, frozen veggies and various protein sources. Can't wait to binge on Sunday - I have two candy bars left over from the trip and plan on baking something delicious sometime this week.
So far today, activities have included a trip to the grocery store, a trip to the drivers education office to get a waiver for Bella's driving permit (just one step closer to a legally driving child), lots of dishes since our dishwasher broke while I was gone and I spent yesterday doing laundry, the kids jumping on the trampoline and playing Just Dance, and a fun session of Bed Ball, where I lie on my bed minding my business until Carter comes in with a big rubber ball from the grocery store and tosses it at me. I bat it away and he tries to catch it or bat it back, and it goes on like that for awhile until we're out of breath and laughing. Roz came in and got in on the action as well and they ended up quitting because they were hot.
I also had a chat with Bella about her fun date last night and making good choices, since now she really MIGHT marry whom she dates, now that she's "legal". We talked about her attending Institute as well. She's into the idea but so far Brennan isn't, which isn't that surprising. Oh well, maybe someday.

Coming Home

We awoke in our funky hotel room in Pendleton. I had slept pretty well, but like all the nights this week, not long enough. We got our things ready and packed in the car, and met Mom for breakfast at the Pendleton McDonald's, which has been remodeled and actually looks pretty cool inside - very modern and IKEA. Mom met Michelle and Heather and Amelia and bought our food. Thanks Mom! It was so fun to see her and hug her.

We drove to my city and arrived around 12:30. Man, it was so good to see my town and my house. And my KIDS! I couldn't stop smooching on their faces. Happiness City.

I spent the rest of the day unpacking and doing laundry, and was pretty proud of myself for taking care of everything immediately instead of (ahem) letting my suitcase sit around indefinitely, forcing me to fish out of it for clean underwear for at least a week....not that that ever happens.

Bella went out on a DATE tonight with a boy from school. She pointed him out to us in the high school yearbook - she had told us he was "geeky" but he was a pretty good-looking kid. He came around 6:20 and picked her up and met us. They went to a concert in P-town and then had milkshakes afterward (awwww).

Hubby took Harrison, Carter and Rosalind bowling, and Brennan and I stayed home and chilled out. I was completely exhausted. I ate dinner, watched some Office and was asleep - like drooling, REM cycle, dead asleep - by 8:30. I love being home.

Bella made it home from her date sometime early the next morning. Hubby stayed up to welcome her home. They had a great time and apparently he is hep on seeing her again - he wanted to see her tomorrow but she told him Wednesday would be better. So. Wow.

Park City Weekend: Sunday

Here we are at church in Park City. This was after a very tough session of saying goodbye to some of the sweetest women I have ever met and don't get to see nearly often enough. Lots of tears and moroseness.

The chapel at this Park City church building was interesting - the floor slanted down toward the pulpit. Hmmm. Those in attendance were Jamie, Mindy, me, Suzanne, Michelle and Heather.

Proof I went to church

My foot and I think Suzanne's foot

What a fitting essay for this weekend :)

After church, we headed west to Salt Lake City and then north toward home.

Utah mini-mart selfie

"Great Merciful Crap, I'm in a wheelchair"

We stopped at Uncle John and Aunt Karen's place in Caldwell and had dinner with them and Neenaw. Stacy and Jen and Matt came over with their kiddos. Stacy was hugely pregnant and adorable. We had a good time chatting with everyone.

We didn't spend the night this time, but ended up in Pendleton at a newly-refurbished-but-still-odorous older hotel in town. Michelle kept apologizing. I think we were all just glad to be out of the car and almost home.

Park City Weekend: Saturday

Adidas, ready for action

Meeeeee

These were all taken before I really got going - which was never fast enough, according to Julie, the poor soul who was stuck behind me. I should have gone last. No speed demon, I.

Afterward we went out for Mexican food.

Ladies who lunch: Heather, Kayelyn, Mindy, Suzanne,
Julie, Rachel, Carrie, Jamie, me, Wynne, Stacey, Katie

My burrito was delicious and huge - I took the rest back to the condo and ate it for dinner after taking a huge monster nap.

The rest of the evening was spent hanging with the girlies, laughing and talking, and not wanting to go to bed because we knew tomorrow was the last bit of time we'd have together before it was over. I went to bed around 3:00 am. Hate, hate, hate that we had to leave the next morning.

Sorry, Kid

H: Mom, you can't use my computer headphones.

Me: Then you can't use my computer.

H: ughhhhhhh

It's a good thing I never said "You can't use my uterus" or he'd be hating it. The child is shockingly bold. I may have to tickle it out of him.

Seaside.... Rainy, Rainy Seaside

One of the plans we made with Grandma and Pa and Kristy and Steve was to go to the beach while they were here. So here we went. It was a fun, fun day, in spite of the typhoon. Or maybe... because of the typhoon.

Seriously, we stepped out of our cars and met up with quite the monster rain storm. "Rain, on the Oregon coast? Well I never." It drove us indoors to the absolutely darling Seaside mall. Here we are riding the carousel.

After perusing the shops (one of the best toy shops EVER is at this mall) and impressing my children with my mad Centipede skills at the vintage arcade, we made it to the candy shop. Free taffy samples, hello??

And bacon and chocolate Twinkies???

At this point we thought, we're here by the ocean, we really ought to walk to the beach and experience it. The sand, the waves, the downpour threatening to soak our clothes... FrankenBlanket and I thought it was smarter to stay in the car and laugh at the suckers who just had to go outside.

Good choice, FrankenBlanket

Perfect beachcombing weather if you like pneumonia

Inevitably we ended up at the Tillamook cheese factory. I heart you, Tillamook cheese factory.

We arrived shortly before closing time and the line for samples was gone - everyone had abandoned the samples to get their ice cream and expensive jars of jam - so the kids and I had free reign and yes, I must admit, I tanked up on free small squares of various kinds of cheese. The kids were scandalized. "Mommy! You can't go through the line more than once!" Oh dear children, I have taught you well... now move it. Mama needs cheese.

We drove home in slightly better but still wet weather. It was a wonderful day.

Graduation Day

Some sweet person picked this rose and
left it on our doorstep this morning

Cap'n Gown

Sixth row back, fourth seat from the far aisle
....or something

Uncle Ernie and Grannie
(yay!)

Dada

Kristy, Harrison, Carter

Carter and Brennan

Steve and Rozzie

I DONE GRADUATED

Gillian, Bella, Bailey

Katie and Bella

Devon, Katie and Bella

Two tired girlies

Proud MSTie Mom

My children are riffing on an episode of Rick Steves' Europe.

If I could thank the creators of Mystery Science Theater 3000, I so would.

Seminary Graduation

She was looped on cold medication (came home sick from school Friday) and barely cognizant of her surroundings, but Bella managed to graduate from Seminary tonight. Woot!

Hubby, Harrison and I were there to take in the event and eat cake and cookies afterward. All the kids stayed home from church in various stages of "sick" today, but Harrison was well enough to go with us. It was a lovely program. Pam mentioned Bella in her talk, which made our hearts go pitter-pat. We are sad to lose Pam as a Seminary teacher this year, but I agree with her that three years is plenty. Especially at her house. Every morning.

Bella and Sister Turley

Hugs! Awww.

Thanks Sister Turley for teaching
these two lovely children this year :)

After this, we went to Stephanie P's missionary open house at the P family home. Stephanie gave an exceptional talk today in Sacrament about her battle with mental illness and her decision to serve a year-long service mission at home. Sandy P (the bishop's wife) and I cried pretty much through the whole thing. Sandy said she was so happy to hear someone talk about mental illness so candidly over the pulpit. Seriously. Those were healing words. Stephanie is an awesome kid and we're proud of her and love her family dearly. And the Turleys. :)

Then, after this very long day of two presidency meetings, church, and these two events, I went home, ate ravioli and died. The end.

The Obviously Exhausting Sport of Bowling

But first: This morning I went for a walk.

Looked over a bridge.

Looked over the other side.

Took a pic of this old lady.

And now, our story.

Our first "kids bowl free" coupons of the summer have arrived! Hubby took the three youngest kids bowling today. What a good daddy.

Don't you point that finger at me.

To bowl properly, one must take advantage of the lounges by
LOUNGING on them

A wonderful time was had by all. :)