Isn't It Always

My nap will be my undoing.

Slow Your Roll, There

We have eight years before our youngest graduates from high school. Nine months left before she's done with elementary school. I can practically feel the earth spinning...

Later, this nugget:
Roz: What does "pourquoi" mean?
Me: Why.
Roz: Because I wanna know.

Linger Longer

Whence is that goodly fragrance flowing? From yonder oven, where baketh a divine Danish Puff. 

We had a Linger Longer with our ward today, since we're on the 1:00 schedule and the last ward to meet in the building. SWEET. The wonderful Relief Society president, Shanna B, decided that the ward should have this event on Fast Sundays for the rest of the year. It's quite lovely - the ward provides ham and rolls, and everyone else brings either a side dish, salad or dessert. I made Danish Puff, and brought home a big empty plate. 

I love my ward. 

First Day of School 2014

Harrison: 10th grade

Rosalind: 5th grade
Our last elementary school baby!

Carter: 7th grade

What a fun day! :)

Wrong Number

Just spoke with a lovely gentleman in Chicago, totally by mistake. 

Happy Labor Day!

...from the five H gorgeouses.

Shopping with boys and feeling STABBY*

• Grannie took Harrison and Carter school clothes shopping today. It was quite lovely of her. The boys were quite silly, but they did okay, once I got them to calm down and stop slapping each other ("Act like you've been out in public before").
• 
  *Arm vein stabby, with a nice tranquilizer, to clarify.

Precious Girl

My sweet 10-year-old made waffles with strawberries and whipped cream and brought me breakfast in bed for absolutely no reason at all. I love her and her sweet tender generous heart. 

Annoying the Children

Bella: So, can I have ten bucks?
Me: Sure, get on my back
Bella: Ugh
Me: That just never gets old.
Bella: Doesn't it?

(Thanks, Dad)

Two Things

1. My legs hurt
2. Moleskin!!!!!!!!!!

Dealing with the aftermath of walking 11-something miles in 24 hours, with about three days' warning. Youch. Going to church today was ... painful. 

Portland to Coast Relay

Top: Wendie, Amber, Eileen
Bottom: Me, Candice, Tera

Okay, so, I did this and I never need to do it again. It was fun and awesome and very, very tiring. My blisters are unbelievable. But I did it.

I spent last night half asleep (or sometimes all the way asleep) in Wendie's van, and around 4:30 am the other ladies woke me up to walk my second leg. I walked five miles through some of the most beautiful forested terrain, and it was cool and green and fresh - a far cry from yesterday, when I almost threw up after fast-walking through town in 80+ degree temperatures - probably closer to 90. It was gross.

When we reached Seaside, we stopped at the local pool and napped, then tried to fix ourselves up for the party at the beach. The beach was full of music, people and freebies - my favorite is the big black cowbell from Dick's Sporting Goods.

Now I'm home from the beach and sore as heck. Go figure, huh?

Tomorrow morning baby!!!

Candice and I are still in disbelief that we got dragged into this ... thing. (Thanks Tera G and Wendie E!) But tomorrow morning early, we're leaving to walk in the Portland to Coast race. Here's where we'll be walking:

Just. AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

So That's What Did It

At dinner at Candice and Matt's tonight, Harrison came forward with his idea that my screaming in pain when I broke my foot was actually me screaming out of anger because he and the other kids hadn't picked up the toys in the hallway (which caused me to break my foot). All this time he thought I was mad instead of in pain. Poor kid! I traumatized him!

Brian: "He had seizures for a YEAR because of that!"

Harrison busted up laughing. Oh, the looks on the S family's faces :)

I love summer.

At The Temple

For Mutual tonight, we had a temple trip. We always meet at 4 pm and the bishopric gets pizza and soda for the kids. Then we drive to the temple.

This was Carter's first time going. He had a great time. I was able to watch him and Harrison be baptized for some ward family names. I had some new family cards for this time and was excited to see these family members receive ordinances. It was a great trip.

Some pics of my two cute boys:

This Baby

Independence Day 2014

Kind of a different one for us this year.

We had the opportunity to take over a fundraising event that our ward friend Mario R. had charge of in past years - it was used as a way to raise money for our ward Boy Scouts to earn money for camp. As Mario's youngest Sam is the same age as Bella, he felt someone else could use the opportunity. It was pretty awesome. Hubby and our kids and the ward kids worked hard all day, parking cars for the fireworks event in Washougal.

After this, we came home and counted up the cash, and around midnight, decided it was time for dinner. Thankfully Shari's is open 24 hours a day. We were pretty looped - hopefully the staff will let us back in again someday.

Roz, passed out

Then home, and to bed. Finally.

"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.