Short hair = bedhead. Forgot about that part

Since I can't garden this year (THANKS STUPID LANDLADY)...Maybe I'll do this instead.

Big thanks

....to our old McWard friend, Heather G, for continually bringing us new packing boxes! We couldn't do it without her. She has been great about bringing us her old boxes (from her house in a town north of us - it's not like she lives up the street or even in our STAKE), and even went to the bread store and picked up about forty new ones without being asked. What a great lady!

Chatting with #5

Child: What were you going to say?
Me: I don't feel like being argued with. 
Child: No I don't!!!

Awww so sweet

C's Facebook status today:

"The one reason I can't wait for school is not school. It is the hilarious car ride convo's that me, Tyson Goode and Agatha L. Outtahere have on the way to school."

The three of us kid around the whole way there. It's pretty funny. They're cute kiddos. 

Deep Breaths

We did our usual weekend before Memorial Day trip to the national cemetery, stopping at the local farmers' market first to buy a bouquet of flowers. 

This was the first time we'd seen Dad's headstone. It was really, really hard, as one might imagine.

After visiting Dad's grave, we went up the hill to Gran's.

And then Poppy and Grandma's.

Later, things got cozy. 

Proud moment - Carter putting this on Facebook:

"The one reason I can't wait for school is not school. It is the hilarious car ride convo's that me, Tyson and [Mom] have on the way to school."

It does get pretty silly in that car. 

"Moping is not gonna turn the plane around."

Yeah, I have no memory of this quote but I know it was dang funny. Just know that it was said and we laughed pretty hard.

In other news... Since I've been released as ward Young Women president, tomorrow will be the first time in about five years that I won't be teaching, accompanying, or in charge of anything at church. WEIRD. My mind is blown. 

What's going on here?

No, seriously.

HALLELUJAH

I was released as ward Young Women president today. Even though we're not moving for another month, we (the bishopric and I) decided to get a new presidency in place sooner rather than later, with Trek and Girls Camp coming up. I wish new President Candice much success. :) 

And everyone can just be quiet about it already

Genealogy and cheesy 70s ballads on a Friday night. Just when I wonder if my life could get any more "old lady"... apparently it can.

Yes, Indeed

What an interesting world it would be, if employers and landlords had to undergo the same scrutiny as tenants and employees - provide references, records, background checks....

Currently I'm sitting in a sea of boxes and laundry, dreaming of the beach, and trying to keep that one lady on Airplane!'s panic attack at bay. "I gotta get outta here.... I GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE..."

My Brain Is Yours

I am so grateful for the friends I had growing up. Your influence is still with me, inspiring good thoughts and aspirations and realizations. So glad we've been able to reconnect.

Kids, choose good people to be your friends. They'll be in your mind and heart for life.

Happy Mother's Day

These six people brought me food and gifts in bed today.

I like them, a lot. Especially the half naked one.
Okay, not especially but I just wanted to poke fun
at his being half naked and his attempt to
cover himself up. "No one will guess!"

Breakfast in bed, by Rozzie: Strawberry waffles. Mmmm

A button brooch Roz made in Activity Days

A bird whistle Brennan and Bella found and bought for me,
knowing I like silly things like this.
You fill it with water and blow on the bird's tail and it
makes a birdsong noise. I love it.

THE MAP I HAVE WANTED FOR MONTHS.
I'm going to do a genealogy wall project with it. Yay!

I am a happy mama. Also, we went to church, which was nice and featured chocolate (always appreciated). 

After my people fed me dinner, we went for a walk down by the river. It was a little chilly but delightful. 

River feet

Sigh of contentment.

Can we just!! JUST!!!

Oh for gone don don! It's always something!

We were grateful that once again, it happened when we had money to buy new tires, in a safe place, etc. Two new tires, coming right up.


Later the question was asked (by someone, I don't know who): What Song Reminds You of Your Mom? I chose "Cherish" by The Association.

Happy Birthday to this cutie

Sweet sixteen, boy!  Wishing you a fun happy day with exorbitant amounts of pasta. Dada and I are so happy that you are in our family. Love you!

It's all gonna be okay :)

Feeling peace about upcoming transitions.

The Very Interesting Birthday

One of my people had a birthday today. At first it promised to be a low-key day - cheesecake in P-town around lunchtime, her choice of dinner at home, the usual cake and presents, and a movie with her friend MK. BUT. The Universe had other plans and a nice set of enormous monkey wrenches to go with them.

1) After a casual morning, we met Dada at his place of work, parked Charlotte the minivan and walked to the Italian restaurant (name rhymes with Shmama Shmia), which until today was Brennan and Bella's favorite birthday lunch spot. We ordered an antipasti plate, some garlic bread, and dessert. The antipasti was okay - I tried pate for the first time. Dessert arrived and we dug in. About halfway through, Brennan noticed a MOUSE running around the floor under another diner's table, about eight feet away from us. A MOUSE. Then Bella saw it too, and we all started to feel a little ... gross.

I walked over to the seating hostess and whispered to her that a mouse was wreaking havoc on the floor of the restaurant. This is the first thing she said, in a calm, nonchalant voice: "Well, it's an old building." Yeah, really? You don't say. I guess we should be glad we don't have bats raining poop from the ceiling onto our fresh mozzarella. Her second brilliant response: "We're so close to the waterfront." What? That prevents you from, you know, not having mice?

"Thank you for mentioning this so calmly," it finally occurred to her to say, as I'm walking back to my grossed-out and possibly hantavirus sickened family. We watched as she quietly mentioned to the couple that the mouse was crawling all over the woman's purse and asked if they would like to move tables. They said they were fine where they were. (Oh, are you?) I hope she at least offered to comp their lunch. As for us, we paid our bill and left, NEVER to return. Like, seriously, never.

2) On the way home, traveling on the interstate, Charlotte pulled her latest trick. She likes to wait until we're going slowly down the road (say around 25 mph) and then just die. Fortunately it always happens when I'm slowing down for a stop sign or what have you, and she always restarts, but this was the first time she'd ever done it on the freeway, and would not restart. Great. We were less than a mile from the bridge, so almost home. I called Hubby and he called ODOT, and soon a nice ODOT guy helped steer us out of the lane and onto the strip between the right lane and the on ramp (!!).

And why not.

This was at the time of day when the kids start getting out of school and I make the rounds of picking people up. Carter and Roz both had track practice so they were fine for a while, but Harrison would be locked out if he went home, so we texted him and told him to stay at school. He was fine with that.

Since we were so close to home, Brennan and Bella decided to take off walking. I gave them the house key and they were so sweet, asking me if I'd be okay. Yep, it's all good. Hubby left work, got on the express bus, rented a car in our town, and drove back to help me jump the battery. My hero. The battery lasted about ten seconds before the car died again. Looks like a new battery is happening.
Hubby took the battery and went to the car parts store and picked up Roz. Meanwhile, the big kids made it home and we asked our friend Chrisie G. to grab Carter.

While Hubby was gone, ODOT guy #2 came by and asked what was wrong. I told him that our battery had died and he asked if he could check the alternator. Yep, that's what it was. DANG IT.

Hubby came back, put in the new battery, and we finally made it home. I had been in the car for about three hours.

So handy

 After a lengthy "I was in the car for three hours" rest, I got up and made Bella's birthday dinner - Ranch chicken and broccoli, and frosting for the cake Brennan made (thanks, Manny). For the last couple of birthdays, we've been making a Mega Cake - a layer cake with two 9x13 layers. It lasts a little longer at our house than the traditional round cake does. Hubby had to go to a quick soccer meeting (couldn't miss this one, he's actually going to get paid for coaching this year and had to show up), and he came home and Bella blew out her candles and we ate cake and went to bed. Except Bella, she and MK went to their midnight movie and had a good time.

Happy 19th, Bella. Sorry your birthday was so ... memorable :)

"I cried for the man who had no hair until I met the man who had no head."

Winco is branching out. They now sell toilet seats.

Sleeping(?) Beauty

Grateful

Today has been a study in "Things could always be worse. Be grateful."

Just a typical Sunday with ward council, church, and home teachers after church. I played the organ for Sacrament meeting for the last time today.

While I've been really unhappy about having to move out of our ward, and really felt it today, at church I found that a couple of friends are going through some things that I do not envy them for - chronic debilitating illness of a spouse, severe financial difficulties (moving back in with parents at age 50, with teenagers). All I have to do is move away. Sure, it'll be hard, but it's not like we're leaving the planet.

Later, Hubby took Rozzie to the Fort. So grateful my babies have an awesome daddy.

Oh the shame of it

I was just asked by a lady with Oregon license plates to help her pump gas because she's never done it before. Way to go, Oregon, you've raised a generation of gas pump illiterates.