Keep In Touch Everyone

Update

2008-06-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

Well, Chelsie is almost ready to have her baby! She's due in less then a month. The Sarah is already 1cm dialated! She's not due for 2 more months but the baby seems to want to come early so we'll see what happens! Not much else is new, i got my braces off a week ago! i love my new teeth! And then im just getting ready to take some summer dance classes! Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop!

Heres some recent pics!

This was at Chelsie and Sarah's baby shower back in May

My new teeth!

me dancing at NYCDA! sry haha you cant see my face lol

<3 Sami

Retirement on the Oregon Coast

2008-05-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

The weather is getting nice now and Jeff has been able to go out on the dunes with his buggy........and next weekend is Rhody Days here in Florence which is the first car show of the season for us.

I went to Spain & Portugal in March/April and saw ALOT......we moved from city to city every couple of days......too much for this old gal.....spent a day in Morocco......very interesting. At the end of April, until May 13th, I was in Boone, Iowa helping my girlfriend, Rosann, prepare her house to sell......she retires June 30th and is moving to her property in Palo, Iowa. She is my "sister"......we enjoy our time together......she is my travel buddy also. Italy in Nov/Dec..........

Jeff and I are taking the 5th wheel up to Ferndale, Washington, in June to visit friends that moved there from Sacramento last year. We travel with three dogs and a parrot...........the other seven birds have to stay home !!!

I have tomatoes growing in the sunroom this year.......they don't do well outside here......we have been harvesting LOTS of asparagus this year......they love the sandy beach soil.

We have a good life and don't take anything for granted.........

ROBIN & JEFF in Florence, Oregon

Hey Everyone!

2008-04-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

Hey! It's Sami! Just checking in! Well, I have been up to a lot!! As Chad said, I was in the hospital for a while there and I have fully recovered! Very glad for that! I have gotten back in school, still doing singing, and I finally got back into dance! Back in January I did NYCDA Portland which was defiantly the highlight of my year so far! NYCDA (New York City Dance Alliance) is a dance tour company that tours and you have to make it in and then you spend the weekend at a huge hotel (It was the Red Lion Jantzen Beach Hotel) and take dance classes back to back from some of the best teachers around! And next year I am going to compete and hopefully make it to Nationals so that I can tour with them! I am also planning to try out for American Idol when I turn 16! Everyone who I sing for tells me to try out so I might as well! I am taking a video camera to my next voice lesson and I will record my voice and try to remember to post the video here! Anyways, im just glad to be alive right now!

And I am soon becoming and aunt! Chelsie is officially having a little girl! She's due in the beginning of July and she is naming the baby Beahtrix (Beah or B-B for short!) Sarah is having a little boy! She is due in mid August and she is going to name her baby Trey! So we are all very excited for the summer! Not much else is happening so far! Chad is getting married, Taylor is going well! Reading up a storm and becoming very tan and in shape! It has really been a hectic year! Well, I should get back to homework because spring break doesn't last forever! I'll try to blog soon! Here's just some recent pics! The first one is Quin talking to her little sister! Then its Sarah's recent ultra sound! And then me! I get those darn braces off in about a month so im trying to get lots of pictures with them!

Mike & Debi are Proud to Announce

2008-04-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

The adoption of Sasha and Rose.

Yes, we have 2 new member of the McGinness family. Sasha and Rose were adopted by us from the Oregon Humane Society (OHS) this past weekend.

Since the passing of our beloved Misha, I have been occasionally perusing various kitty sites - Humane societies, rescue places, etc. I looked at a lot of kitties, but never any that really made me go - Wow, that's the one. Well, last Saturday evening, I happened to go to OHS's website and there they were - Rose and Sophie. They were in foster care and they were looking for someone who would adopt both. So, I sent an e-mail to their foster mom, telling her a little about Mike and me and our situation with loosing Misha.

I didn't hear anything that night and Sunday morning when I went on the website, they were gone. I was like OH NO! So, I immediately e-mailed the foster mom asking her if they had been adopted. - oh, while I think Michael looked at one of their pictures, he didn't know I had done this. Two hours later, I got a call from Laura, the foster mom. She said that she had pulled the pictures because she got 10 inquiries on the first day. BUT out of all of them, she thought we would be the perfect fit, and would we like to meet them. I told Michael and of course his response was 'TODAY?' (he was actually not working for a change). I told him we either went and looked at the today or we not get another chance. So, at 4 pm, we walked into OHS. I went to the reception desk to ask for the Foster Care department and Michael made a beeline for the kitty cages and stared petting one of them.

A few minutes later, we were in an exam room and in comes Laura with a kitty carrier which she sets on the table, opens the door and this little gray and white fluff ball walks out. Michael picked her up immediately, sits down and start petting her. This was Rose. Sophie followed and immediately we could tell she was going to be a little spitfire. She wanted to walk all over us, inspect everything, and pick on her sister.

Needless to say, when we left OHS that night, we weren't alone. Rose and Sophie were ours.

So, a little about them. They are approximately 2 months old (and right now Rose is climbing up my arm and sitting on my shoulder). They are a both torte point Siamese mix, though Rose has longer hair that make her look more like a Burmese., Rose is the fluffy one, who's very gentle and cautious and has a very fragile look about her and Sasha (Michael renamed her because he just didn't think Sophie quite fit. This one is definitely a sassy Sasha) is the inquisitive looking one - rambunctious and impish Apparently they were brought in to OHS as strays, though I can't imagine anyone dumping such little babies. They couldn't have been more than a couple 3 weeks old. They were underweight and had respitory infections, though during the 5 weeks they were in foster care, they flourished and are now healthy babies.

They are adapting very well to their new home - love the kitty condo we have and are getting used to our routine. They already know they get fed when we get up and when we get home.

Mike and I are doing well. Business is keeping him busy, but I know he's enjoying it.

I hope this finds all of you in good health and enjoying life. Would love to hear from more of you.

BTW, Rose is still sitting on my shoulder - weird typing this way.

All our love,

Mike & Debi, the proud parents

Remembering Misha

2008-02-23T16:06:00.001-08:00

Michael was writing to someone on the home roaster list last nite (Friday 2/22) and I wanted to share part of it with all of you.

A dear friend and family member of 16 years died while we were eating dinner tonight. He's been my master since the first day he joined our home as a wee furball of a kitten. I still remember staying up with him that first night because he cried and missed his mother so much, our bond was permanently forged. It was often funny, he'd often follow me around like a puppy dog. We knew his time was nigh and decided to take him into the vet and put to sleep after we ate. He's been slowly declining for a couple years from his former 13# robust self down to under 7. Last couple of days I knew his time was short. This evening when I got home he didn't even lift his head when I petted him and he was barely breathing. But Misha always hated going the vet and especially getting shots so departed on his own terms. I was glad for that. I will miss him sorely and never forget him. It'll be a bit empty him not sleeping on the right side of my head even though he'd often be annoying many a early morning batting me lightly in the face as his purr rumbled 'cuz HE deciding it was time to be petted. Which of course I'd dutifully do as commanded then pull the sheet over my head to ward off further battings as I went back to sleep. Life goes on but I am sad and mourn his passing.

This is Debi again - I too will miss our little guy sorely. I'll miss the way he always wanted to get on my lap whenever I was on my computer and wanting me to pet him when Michael and I were sitting watching TV at night - but only for a few minutes, before settling down on Michael's lap (never mine). The house feels so empty today with him gone. It's like you can feel that his spirit has left us. I keep expecting to see him - curled up on the bed or back of the couch, or on my desk (this was new in the last month). Oh, Michael buried him in the backyard, so he will always be with us in some way.

So, now we are a catless home for the first time in over 25 years. Hopefully not for long, but it will be strange for us to have to find that special someone to share our home with on our own Mom gave us both Mariko and Misha, and even our very first kitty we got from Kris.

I'll write more 'family news' stuff later when we're a little less sad.

We miss all of you and so enjoy hearing how you're all doing. Keep posting on the site. We'll try to do better too.

Love and prayers

Mike & Debi

Big News - well, at least for me! lol

2008-02-17T13:42:00.001-08:00

Today I was called, sustained, and set apart as the new Relief Society President. The last week and a half have been crazy, overwhelming, terrifying, and yet through it all I have felt the spirit of the Lord, helping me and guiding me each step of the way. I am counting on that to continue! lol

I typed up my feelings as I went throughout the last several days and have just posted them in my blog, feel free to visit there to hear more about this experience so far.

I still feel scared and overwhelmed, but I feel love and support from many of the people around me. I especially feel the love and support of my Heavenly Father and I am putting all of my faith and trust in Him right now. I know that is the only way I can ever hope to fulfill this calling. I know that though my best could never be enough, He can do all things and He can make my best enough. :)

Hello Everyone

2008-02-14T13:49:00.000-08:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chad Reed <pheonix8472@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Subject: family ties

HELLO EVERYONE,

    IT HAS BEEN AWHILE SINCE I HAVE WRITTEN FAMILY TIES. THIS IS CHAD BY THE WAY! SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE LAST I WROTE. I ALMOST DONT KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. WELL I AM STILL LIVING IN THE HEART OF DOWNT TOWN BUT THAT WILL BE CHANGING AS OF NEXT MONTH. JASON AND I HAVE FOUND AN AMAZING PLACE JUST OUT OF THE CITY. IT IS THIS GREAT TOWN HOUSE THAT IS THREE STORIES. IT HAS TWO BEDROOMS AND TWO BATHS AND A FULL TWO CAR GARAGE. IT WILL BE SO NICE TO HAVE ALOT MORE ROOM. JASON IS FILMING A MOVIE AND WE NEED MORE SPACE FOR THE GREEN SCREEN.
    OH YA FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DONT HAVE MYSPACE OR I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH YET, JASON AND I ARE GETTING HITCHED. WELL NOT LEGALLY BUT THE CONCEPT IS THE SAME. IT WAS OUR SIX MONTH ANNIVERSARY THIS LAST WEEKEND AND WELL, I POPPED THE QUESTION. HE SAID YES OF COURSE. THE DETAIL ARE TO BE ANNOUNCED. WE ARE STILL DECIDING WHEN AND WHERE BUT WE ARE THINKING A MID SUMMER BEACH CEREMONY. I KNOW MANY OF YOU WONT ATTEND DUE TO RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES BUT THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
    SO LET ME TELL YOU A BIT ABOUT JASON. HE AND I MET SIX MONTHS AGO ON MY VACATION BACK FORM HAWAII. AS YOU MIGHT HAVE GUESSED I DIDNT END UP GOING BACK. WE HAVE SPENT EVERYDAY SINCE WE MET TOGETHER AND IT HAS BEEN GREAT. HE RECENTLY THREW ME A SURPRISE B-DAY PARTY AND A LOCALL KERIOKE BAR. WE HAD A BLAST. I ENDED UP SINGING UNTIL I COULDNT ANY MORE. SADLY THE NIGHT DIDNT NOT END WELL. AFTER RECIEVING A CALL FROM MY FAMILY SAYING THEY WERE NOT COMING, I DECIDED TO POUND DOWN THE DRINKS. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT ENDED IN A HOSPITAL VISIT WITH ME NON-RESPONSIVE AND MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPING ME IN THE FACE SO HARD I BRUISED, WHILE TRYING TO WAKE ME UP. ALL IN ALL NOT A BAD BIRTHDAY LOL.
    SO I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT BOTH CHELSIE AND SARAH ARE EXPECTING. THEY ARE ABOUT A MONTH APART AND WILL BE DUE THIS SUMMER. THIS WILL BE CHELSIES SECOND CHILD AND SARAHS FIRST. WE ARE ALL SO EXCITED. OUR FAMILY IS GROWING SO FAST. SAMANTHA IS DOING WELL. SHE HAS BEEN A LITTLE SICK THIS WINTER BUT IS STARTING TO DO BETTER. SHE CONTINUES TO DO VERY WELL IN SCHOOL. SHE RECENTLY GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. SHE CAUGHT THE NASTY BUG THAT WENT AROUND AND WAS ALLEGIC TO THE MEDICATION. SHE BROKE OUT IN RED SPOTS AND HAD A FEVER THAT WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I ENDED UP GOING AND PLAYING CARDS WITH HER FOR HOURS. LITTLE QUIN IS NOT SO LITTLE ANY MORE. SHE IS THREE AND VERY TALL FOR HER AGE. SHE HAS RECENTLY DISCOVERED THE GAME APPLES TO APPLES AND WANTS TO PLAY IT ALL THE TIME. SHE IS VERY EXCITED TO HAVE A NEW SIBLING. SHE THINKS IT WILL BE A GIRL. SHE EVEN NAMED HER KIA LYNN. IN FACT SHE TOLD CHELSIE SHE WAS PREGNANT. FUNNY HUH. TAYLOR IS DOING WELL. HE IS READING ALOT AND HE IS STARTING TO LOSE WEIGHT. HE IS DETERMINED TO BE AS SMALL AS ME WHEN HE COMES BACK TO PORTLAND. MOM AND MATTHEW ARE DOING WELL. THEY ARE LOOKING TO INVEST IN STOCKS AND BONDS, BUT FRANKLY THAT IS ALL OVER MY HEAD.
    BASICALLY THAT IS WHAT I AM UP TO. I HOPE ALL YOU GUYS ARE DOING WELL AND I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD PLAN TO ALL GET TOGETHER. LIFE IS TO SHORT TO SPEND IT AWAY FROM LOVED ONES. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A WEDDING OR DEATH IN THE FAMILY TO GET US ALL TOGETHER! ALL MY LOVE.

CHADWICK

Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging. You IM, we give. Learn more.

You are invited...

2008-01-28T17:54:00.000-08:00

To Acadia's very first piano recital!

Date: Saturay, January 26, 2008
Time: 11:00 am

What? That's past? Oh, well then let me take you back in time to the moment when Acadia made her musical debut. Keep arms and legs inside until we've come to a full and complete stop (and make sure the sound on your computer is on!)...

We are very proud of her! She was bummed that she made a couple of mistakes but I told her that every single person made some mistakes and what is important is that she kept going! I thought she did a great job!

(Incidentally, at the very beginning she is introducing the pieces she is about to play. The camcorder didn't do a very good job picking that up.)

After all of the performers played their pieces, their teacher presented the prize to the student(s) who had the most stickers. (Each week that a student does all of their practicing and completes the theory work and any other assignments she has given them, they get a sticker. She keeps track and the student with the most, wins.) There was a tie and Acadia was one of the winners! The winners get little mini busts of music composers and there are several different ones, so as they continue to win, they will add more to their collection. Acadia got Haydn today and it is already proudly displayed on her desk in her bedroom.

After the recital, which fortunately Ryan was able to take a long lunch for to attend, we took her out to lunch and let her choose the location. She chose "Boffin' Bo's", otherwise known as Boppin' Bo's. ;) It was yummy and I was really good, just ordering a cup of soup and a dinner salad... oh, and a milkshake - but I didn't get a huge sundae and a greasy sandwich and fries like I normally would! lol Ryan had to rush back off to work so he left while the girls and I paid. When we got to the car to come home, there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers on Cadi's seat with a note from her Daddy. :) I hope to get a picture of Ryan and Acadia with the flowers, but for now, this will have to do.

I am really so proud of Acadia! She is doing so well with the piano, she really seems to have a natural talent for it and I'm so glad that she enjoys it so much and WANTS to play. I was also very proud of how she handled performing today! She wasn't really very nervous, a little, but not super. I think I would have been far more nervous than she seemed to be! I'm glad that she is getting this experience and I hope that as she continues down this path that she will also continue to perform and share her talents with others.

An Update on Our Girls

2008-01-18T12:39:00.000-08:00

Acadia has been very excited about a class party that she and her classmates earned today. She has posted in her blog about it, so go check that out. :) Today should be a really fun day at school, and not just because of the party! They start with Sharing Time (every Friday, but will be first thing this time because of the other things going on too), then have Art Appreciation (I think this is usually once a month, one of the student's aunt is a professional artist and comes in to do fun projects with them.), they also have P.E., and then there is the class party! She wanted her hair wavy and this is how it turned out...

She needed me to take a picture of her doing something for an art project today so we took a pic of her playing the piano...

Last night, Rori was playing on an exercise mat and literally, every 15-20 seconds or so, came up to me to give me a kiss. She was kissing whatever she could get, I did try to give her a kiss but sometimes she'ld just settle for my hand or arm. Then she would wave and say, "bye-bye" as she went back to the mat. lol When she was on the exercise mat, she looked like she was trying to do the splits! She would stand up and then let her feet slide apart until she fell down on her bum. lol

Last week, I found her with some chocolate candy she wasn't supposed to have.

She loves music and has lately been spending a lot of time just looking through this hymnal, sometimes "singing" along.

Winter in Oregon

2008-01-16T07:41:00.000-08:00

It is clear and sunny with blue skies here lately.......with that comes colder weather.......down to freezing this morning. Delaying our morning walk until the sun is out a few hours.

Jeff is off on his volunteer job.......he drives the Friends of Florence van to Eugene and Springfield, once or twice a month, taking patients to their radiation sessions. He used the van when he needed it and is happy to help them by being one of their drivers now. Most days he is working out in his shop on furniture........
I resumed my cashiering one shift a week at the humane society thrift store here in Florence......it gets me out of the house a little and helps support the animal shelter. We haven't been doing any ceramics since September......our business client in Eugene was not paying us on time or communicating very well, so we said the little money we were making was not worth the stress !!!! I may do a craft show this year sometime.

They opened the permanent hotel and casino, Three Rivers, here and we will now have some top entertainers......we are going to see Michael Bolton on Monday evening.

Jeff is flying to Phoenix for two weeks next Wednesday to visit his Mother and brother......I leave for Spain and Portugal at the end of March.....all else is going very well here.....

ROBIN & JEFF

Vancouver is Twisted!

2008-01-11T21:42:00.000-08:00

Here is a copy of a post in my personal blog called "Twist and Shout":

Okay, not so much shouting... but a heck of a lot of twisting!!!

Today started out pretty good. Ryan was staying home from work, sick. That part wasn't good but it was nice that he'd be around. Rori woke up doing great! She had been sick yesterday but she slept soundly for over 12 hours last night and I think that really helped her. I had a little headache, but other than that I felt great!

To give Ryan some quiet time to rest, Rori and I headed out to run errands. It was so nice and warm! We just wore sweatshirts and enjoyed our shopping. On the way back home, coming up from Portland, I saw some big, dark clouds over Vancouver. "Joy", I thought. Then I saw lightening - and a lot of it! Multiple strikes shooting straight down at the same time. Wow! If Ryan hadn't been sleeping, I would have called home to tell him because he loves a good lightening storm. I remember wishing I had my camera with me (as if I could have 1) taken a picture while driving, and 2) would have actually gotten a shot of the actual lightening strikes, lol).

Shortly after I got home, I saw that I had missed a call from my friend on my cell phone (Thanks for turning my ringer down without telling me, Honey!) so I called her back. "Oh, I was just calling to tell you about the tornados," she told me.

"WHAT?!?!? What tornados? Here???"

"Oh yeah!" She told me that we were under a tornado warning and that at least one had touched down, here in Vancouver! She saw that my car wasn't home and tried to call to let me know. Thankfully, I had been south instead of north, since that is where it had ended up going.

I should have turned the news on right then, I'm sure we had continual coverage seeing as how we NEVER get real tornados. We've had funnel clouds before, heck I've seen funnel clouds here... but we never get real, honest to goodness, categorized tornados. But by this time, my headache had turned into a migraine and I was in bad shape, and that was more important,so I just went to bed while Ryan watched Rori for me.

I finally got up about half an hour ago (my head still hurts but it's not as bad as before, thanks for asking ;) lol) and turned on the news. Sure enough, an F1 tornado touched down in Vancouver in at least 3 different locations. It's winds were 86-110 mph, the path was 2 miles long and 1/4 mile wide. Fortunately for us, it was all west and north of us. Unfortunately for those in those areas, thousands are out of power still because of it. :( There are a lot of home movies and pictures coming in, some are pretty impressive!

Acadia shared with us (maybe I'll have her post it in her blog too) that they were out at their lunch recess when the teachers started to yell at them to run inside. She said they were "herding" them and yelling, "Run, run, run!" She said she and her friends were thinking, "This must be serious, they NEVER tell us to run!" They were first guessing that their school was under "lock-down" but once inside, they were instructed to get on the ground with their heads on the floor and their hands over their heads, an exercise they've practiced before in "tornado drills", and they were told that there was a tornado in the area. She told me that a friend of hers was crying and I asked if she (Cadi) had been scared, she said yes. She said it kind of hurt to stay in that position, too. (I bet!) But she said that afterwards, the teachers talked to them about what had happened and assured them that the tornado had ended up being on the other side of town, but that they had needed to stay in that position just in case and kind of as another practice. I told her that since tornados are so unpredictable, it was really important for everyone to be careful because they can change directions and move so fast, you never know where they'll go next.

Fortunately, there have been no real injuries from the tornado but there has been a bit of damage. There was a boat house completely destroyed on Vancouver Lake, 90% the boats were destroyed too, it looks like. And there are lots of trees totally ripped out of the ground in the areas that were hit (several falling on cars or homes), as well as a lot of roofs stripped of their shingles, some with even the plywood torn off. (Mom, the pictures made me think of your house this weekend, the pictures from the air showed homes with large sections of just wood exposed and people were rushing to get tarps put over them before it got dark since we're expecting rain for the next few days still.) I don't envy them - especially since we JUST got our new roof put on!

Since no one got hurt, some of the stories that are coming out because of this are pretty entertaining. One man was working in some sort of construction, went to use the port-a-pot and as he was in it, the outhouse was lifted up and toppled over! Luckily, the guy had just been "finishing up" and was just "tossed" out the door before anything "unpleasant" got on him! (This guy headed home from work only to find a tree had fallen on his house! Double whammy, poor guy!) Other construction workers were digging a ditch when the tornado went right for them, they had to dive into the ditch they were digging to stay safe. One business put this on their billboard today, "Auntie Em It's a twister!" lol

So that was our excitment today! A tornado right here in Vancouver, WA!

Come on, Baby! Let's do the twist...

Acadia also posted a short blog about it, visit her blog to read it. I've posted other random posts in my blog (I try to post regularly.) in the last week too, some include pictures of the girls. :)

Acadia's Blog

2008-01-08T10:48:00.000-08:00

Acadia has started her own blog. If you're interested in knowing what an 8 year old writes about in her blog, check it out! She named it after her favorite song right now, Nobody's Perfect (by Hannah Montana, her favorite singer). Her posting name is "lilangrygirl" which is the name she uses when she plays Star Wars on the xbox. lol

Here is a link to Cadi's Blog.

A Christmas Story

2007-12-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

I posted this on my blog and thought I'd copy and paste it here. It includes pics from our time at with Kris, Jeff, Adam, Alisha, Scott, BABY AYVA!!!, Mike, and Debi. You should be able to scroll over most of the pics to get a caption...

Chapter One: Christmas Eve

First of all, Acadia ended up feeling much better on Sunday and fortunately, her friend felt better on Monday. Whew! :)

On Christmas Eve, our good friends came over for dinner. We wanted to share our annual Christmas Eve dinner with them and it was so nice! The kids were really well behaved and we enjoyed having a quiet night. We ate our usual: cheese, crackers, shepherd's loaf of bread, summer sausage, grapes, apples, olives, cider, et. We sat on the floor on blankets and watched the short 5 minute Nativity video that the church came out with a few years ago. Then we finished up our last day of our advent calendar where Cadi puts another part of the nativity scene on the magnet board and we read some scritures, a poem, and sing a Christmas Hymn. Of course, the last piece was the Baby Jesus so that was perfect! Afterwards, we let the kids play a little and the adults visited for a bit. It was a really nice night. :)

After our friends left, we put Rori down for bed and Acadia got to play Santa's Helper for her first time! She helped stuff Rori's stocking and set up a toy set for her. She stayed up watching Christmas with the Kranks with us and finally we kicked her off to bed so Santa could come for her. ;)

Ryan had told my aunt he'd bring a cheesecake to dinner on Christmas and he waited to start it until then, so he was up pretty late! (But the cheesecake turned out really good! lol)

Chapter Two: Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was so fun! The girls both woke up just before 7am. Ryan, who had only gotten to bed at 3:30, was so sweet and patient! He woke up and didn't even make the girls wait. He was ready by the time I had Rori changed and we all headed out to see what Santa had brought. It was so fun to see Rori experience Christmas - she loved everything! She especially loved the Backyardigans playset that I won a few weeks ago! :) Even though she would stop and check out other gifts that she got, she kept coming back to this one. I'm so glad we won it! lol

Here are some fun pics:

First, Ryan and Rori in matching Christmas Gifts (apparently, mine is coming - they couldn't find my size in the stores so we're ordering it. I'm super excited, I was hoping to get one!!!)

And here is Rori playing with a few of her favorite toys:

I have to admit that the kitties were almost a gift for me! lol I got them because I wanted them! And once they were opened, they spent a lot of time on MY lap! lol These cats are so cool, they respond to your touch, they meow, purr, move, and the mom even kneads her paws when she's super content! Finally, we have cats at our house that won't kill Ryan or Cadi (allergies)! :)

Cadi had a great Christmas too! Santa brought her a bathrobe (what she wanted most!) so she wore it the rest of the morning. She also loved a little stuffed hamster that Santa brought. Two years ago, we gave Cadi a hamster for Christmas and she named her Angel. Angel died earlier this year, but this new little Angel won't ever die. :)

Cadi also got some Littlest Pet Shop toys, which she had really wanted.

Ryan spent at least 2 nights out searching for this sweatshirt - he went to at least 3 malls! We knew she wanted it but it took awhile to find it. It's a little big but that means she'll get to grow into it. ;)

And how can I leave out this? Cadi LOVES Hannah Montana! She got the 2 disc CD and a t-shirt... and her Aunt Debi gave her this...

Ryan got many things football: a jersey, a Patriots gift set, a Patriots football, an official NFL football, etc. He did get a few things not football related, but that did seem to be the major theme this year. He wasn't complaining!

I got a super cute bracelet that Cadi made for me, a couple really good books, some great cds, and a leather jacket! I am also promised a Brady jersey. :D (Now Cadi will be the only one without one, but she doesn't like football and doesn't want a jersey. So we're not wasting the money! lol)

Here are some more random pics from our morning...

Chapter Three: A White Christmas

Living in the Northwest, you don't really expect to have a white Christmas. You can hope for it, but you just don't expect it. The chance of getting one is about 1%. Of course, as the holiday approached, we watched the forecast hoping it would show snow but all we saw was rain. Then, on Christmas Eve, I heard a weather report say 80% chance of snow in the afternoon! I hardly believed it! But sure enough...

Chapter Four: Fun with the Family

After we opened presents and chatted on the webcam with Ryan's parents back East, we got dressed and went to my aunt's house. They gets a lot more snow than we do! Here are some pics...

It was nice and warm in their house though! We had a delicious dinner! And it was fun to visit. My cousin was there with her brand-new baby girl! Ayva Belle was only one week old - exactly! She was so sweet!

We had fun playing there, too. Cadi loved playing ping pong.

There was a huge snowball fight after dinner! Unfortunately, I don't have pics. :( But I do have pics of Rori tackling Ryan...

Cadi was cold after playing in the snow and she wanted Ryan to wrap her up in a blanket, so he did...

It was a really nice Christmas and we really enjoyed every moment of it! I hope you all had a great Christmas, too! :)

The End

Picture a Christmas

2007-12-17T11:15:00.000-08:00

I have been posting on my blog but I think I've decided to post at least some of those posts here too, that way those who don't regularly frequent blogs other than this will still get our updates. :) So, here are a BUNCH of photos I just posted on my blog from the last couple of weeks...

I LOVE this time of year! We have so many fun traditions and activities! One of our favorite, newer traditions is attending the annual Festival of the Nativities that our stake hosts each year. I think this is their 6th year and every year it seems to get bigger and bigger, better and better. Here are some pictures from our experience this year (pictures taken two weeks ago):

First of all, we went on Sunday so we were still in our church clothes, we don't usually "dress up" to go to the nativities, it just worked out that way this time.

This room is the "Home Sweet Home" room, they make it look like you're in someone's home. It's cozy and warm and they have the cutest nativities in it!

The cultural hall has hundreds of different nativities set up. There are so many different kinds! Elegant, unique, international... It takes awhile to look at them all!

After we look at all of the displayed nativities (over 600 in all!), we go to the Children's rooms. It's the girls' reward for being patient and well-behaved in the other rooms. In the children's room, there are hand-on, kid-friendly nativities. Finally nativities we can touch and play with! Rori just loved running around (surprise, surprise!), Cadi liked dressing up and getting pictures at the stable.

And finally, before we left, we visited Joseph's Workshop where Cadi made a little decoration (Jesus in a manger) and colored a picture.

Last weekend, we visited our good friends in Idaho. This is another tradition. When we lived in Idaho, we became such close friends and since most of us didn't have family close by, we started celebrating holidays together. Now that we've all spread out a little bit and don't get to see each other as much, we make an effort to visit at least every Christmas season and have our annual Christmas Party. It's ALWAYS a blast! We keep adding more and more kids, so it's getting bigger and bigger every year - but that just means more fun, right? Here are some pics:

We started this gift exchange when there was only one kid in the group. Now we have a kids' gift exchange and an adult exchange. The stories are usually pretty fun - about Riley Right. Left, right, right, left, and... LOTS OF LAUGHTER!

The next day, on our way to church, we stopped by the Twin Falls, ID temple. It is almost finished and should be operating sometime in the next year!

Later that night, we read the scriptures about Christ's birth and let the children act it out. This is always pretty entertaining. No one dressed up to play their part this year... except for Sleeping Beauty. ;)

And that brings us to THIS past weekend! Friday night we went to our ward Christmas party. The children did a great job on the Nativity...

And finally, here are some random pics from the last few weeks...

Rori LOVES playing with the Fisher Price Nativity set...

And now that we have our front room finished, I actually get to put up a tree in our front window! We have a tree in our family room that is fun and has all our ornaments that contain lots of special memories but the front room tree is my "pretty tree". I like how it turned out...

Was that enough photos? We hope you are enjoying your holiday season as much as we are! :)

I am not good at Christmas letters.- Barbara

2007-12-14T20:53:00.000-08:00

If you already read my blog , there is nothing new here. But, here goes - our year "in brief" - but not nearly brief enough:

One of the first things I did this year was wreck my car. Early one dark morning in an empty parking lot, I slammed into a cement standard which probably, maybe will someday hold a light, but right then just totaled my car. My credit union gave me a loan and I bought another Cavalier because I had liked Jade so much. Sadly, Goldie isn’t quite the car Jade was, but it gets us around and that’s the main thing.

In February, Glen moved out and signed the house over to me. Again, my credit union gave me a loan. So, having filed for divorce to protect myself from debt, I immediately put myself into debt and felt pretty happy about it.

We have enormous amounts of work to do on the house. It is as old as I am and even more decrepit, having been almost totally neglected for 30+ years. I have no idea where to begin and am reluctant to incur even more debt, so thus far, there has been little to no progress. There are always plenty of other things to occupy us and enable procrastination, that’s for sure.

Andrew led Troop 40 in collecting and sorting over 1500 books which he delivered to Books for the Barrios to be distributed to poor Filipino schools. Later he added carload of books that he collected after the official project. That was his Eagle project and completed his requirements for Eagle - except for preparing his application and Eagle book to the satisfaction of our District Eagle Advancement Chairman. It took several courageous visits to the lair of the bear to accomplish the task - just a couple of days before the deadline of his 18th birthday! Oh, then he had to pass a Board of Review, but that was easy compared to passing the chairman! We are proud that Andrew persevered and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. On the way to his Eagle Court of Honor and "After Party" in September, Andrew helped an old man who stumbled crossing a busy street and had us drive him safely home.

The boys and I drove up to Vancouver to be at my granddaughter Acadia's baptism in June. We enjoyed a wonderful weekend - visiting, celebrating Cadi's birthday, and participating in her baptism. She was radiant and the spirit was strong. It is a joy to see her growing into such a lovely young lady.

We are so blessed to live "almost next door" to Tom, Ruth and the kids. The uncles sometimes babysit for them. Tom helps us around the house - like replacing our front door and other helpful things. I get to do Stampin'Up with Ruth now and then. And it is just nice knowing they are there. It is so good to have them close by!

We enjoy Sunday dinners usually at Ruth’s house with Debi and Miriam a couple of times a month and get together for most birthdays and holidays. Lucky me!

Ben had great fun on a trip to Disneyland this summer with his cousin Adam and aunts Kris and Lainee, mostly courtesy of Aunt Lainee. (Thank you! ) We both survived him flying alone. He got to know his cousin and aunts a little better. They all had a terrific time.

My divorce was final August 22. There are some things I don't know when I will really get used to. Being solely responsible for my home. Being divorced in such a family, marriage oriented faith. Knowing that my children have to explain things to their children that don't fit what we teach about "families can be together forever". Not being at home. Still, it is more good than not. I have had the witness of the spirit that this is the course I must take. The boys and I are happier. Home feels more like home. I feel peaceful.

Apparently it is working out well for Glen, too. He started attending the church singles activities when the divorce became final and by Thanksgiving he was engaged. I am told it will be a short engagement. Ingrid seems like a nice lady.

Over the Thanksgiving holidays we had all my children together. Not for Thanksgiving itself, as Ruth and Tom were hosting his family. Debi had the rest of us over to her new home Thanksgiving Day where, despite the turkey being HOURS late, we had a lovely time and a delicious dinner. The siblings (my children and their spice - plural of spouse?) had a couple of sibling get togethers over Thanksgiving weekend. We all enjoyed an afternoon at Fairytale Town. I relished having all my children in one place, a feat not readily accomplished any more.

I have been working at the California Department of Parks and Recreation Business and Fiscal Services for a year now. Although I deeply miss being at home, I am constantly aware that the Lord really blessed me with this job. From the convenience of having my office right by the light rail line, to the wonderful boss, the pleasant co-workers, the opportunities to learn (I have taken 2 Accounting classes courtesy of the state and am signed up for another one next semester), and my nice work station, I am truly blessed.

For a brief time, work was even nicer. I had had the boys come downtown with me - to map my office (they did a wonderful job! the map and index they made for me has been very helpful) and to enjoy the annual opening of the downtown ice rink. They also helped out with little office odd jobs. After that, Joseph came in nearly every day for about a month and a half as an unofficial, unpaid worker. He had his own cubicle and never lacked for work. My unit loved having him. He liked getting the work experience. Unfortunately, "management" got worried about liability and put an end to his unofficial job. Even though we hardly saw each other during the work day, knowing he was there made the office feel even better to me. I miss him now.

At the end of September, my world was rocked when our Stake (comparable to a diocese) was reorganized. My ward (congregation) was dissolved. The remaining 6 wards were realigned and re-organized. So really all 7 wards were dissolved and 6 new wards created. It has been an emotional time, but our new ward, Perkins Ward, is beginning to feel like home, too. We no longer meet in our beloved building at 51st and Dover, and I miss it! but, Perkins Ward is growing into a real ward family. With the reorganization I was without a church calling for a month or so. I was beginning to feel like a non-person and wondered if being divorced had anything to do with it. Then they asked me to serve on the Ward Activities Committee and to be the Cub Scout Cub Committee Chairman. As a parent, I am also on the Scout Committee. I am making lots of Scouting noise and hoping to help make a positive difference in boy's lives. I am a little concerned about Scouting in my new ward, but I am going to try to help make it work. Also, I still nag "my" Life Scouts from old Troop 40, my fledglings. I like Eagle Courts of Honor.

I am thankful for the many blessings in my life - not least of which the many wonderful people who have blessed my life. I think of you, thank God for you and pray for your welfare. I am sorry that I do not manage to spend actual time with you!

Merry Christmas! Celebrate the birth of our Saviour with joy and thankfulness. I really love the baby Jesus, but it is the adult Jesus, an innocent man allowing Himself to be tormented for my sins; the most powerful being in the universe submitting to the torture and mockery of weak, ignorant and sinful men, an immortal God willingly dying a cruel death, and then rising triumphant so I can live again that I worship. May you feel of His Spirit and His love at Christmas and throughout the coming year.

Early Christmas Gift

2007-12-13T18:28:00.000-08:00

We feel as though we've just received an early Christmas gift! The gift of "family" and the gift of "time". Just put those two together! :) Ryan has been offered a promotion in his company that will allow him to be on a more family-friendly schedule. It will make so many things easier for us! We will have weekends together for piano recitals and trips to the beach, Friday nights available for dates and ward activities, and most weeknights we'll have dinner together and Ryan will get to tuck his girls in bed.

His current shift, which he has had for years, has been really nice in some ways and it has been the best option he's had for the position he's in. It gave him 3 and 4 day weekends every week, he commuted less, and received OT every workday. But for the 3 or 4 days that he worked, he didn't see his girls at all. He would leave before they woke up and come home after they went to bed. And the only day he and Cadi BOTH had off from work or school was Sunday since Ryan worked every Saturday. That has made it difficult for us to have much family time.

We are very grateful for this opportunity for Ryan to grow in his company and also for us to spend more time together as a family! Congratulations, Ryan... so, when are you taking me out? ;)

I want addresses!!!

2007-12-01T13:04:00.000-08:00

Hello family that I love!

I am preparing to mail out Christmas cards, as I'm sure many of you are, and I'd like to get some current addresses from you! If you have 1) moved, 2) married, or 3) somehow managed to keep your address from moves prior to this year from me, PLEASE e-mail me your address (and if applicable, your new last name). This counts for even those of you who THINK I have your info (Like you locals and even some of my siblings! lol) - better safe than sorry! And if anyone needs mine, please let me know and I'll be happy to get it to you.

My e-mail address is stamperscandles@yahoo.com. I'd LOVE to know where to send you a card! :)

Thank you!!!

Sariah

Do you have Lainee's contact information?

2007-11-20T09:59:00.001-08:00

Nothing special. Today is the anniversary of the dedication of the Billings Montana Temple. Montana makes me think of Lainee. I was going to just say Howdy, but I realize I don't have her email address or snail mail address, and I am not too sure about whether I have a good phone number. Too busy to check right now, isn't that bad!

Lainee, wherever you are, I love you.

(the rest of you, too)

Thanks,

love,

Barbara

from Kathie and Esque

2007-11-16T08:36:00.001-08:00

We almost missed the deadline because I'm just too tired after a full day on-line. SO glad to know that our family newsletter is still moving forward. How is everyone? We hope and pray that you are all well, happy, and safe.

We cannot believe our luck with cars this past 18 months. Remember the accident in January 2006? Well, there was a bigger accident in July 2007. Our car was raked from stem to stern on the passenger side of the 1991 Cressida, when a woman backed down her driveway into oncoming traffic. Fortunately, Esque's injuries were minor, as he was driving the car. I wasn't in the car, as he had dropped me off at the office a few minutes earlier. We had the car repaired and were planning to drive it a few more years. That is, until Halloween. We were headed to Sacramento City College, stopped near the intersection of 19th and Q Streets, waiting for the light rail to pass.

WHAM! We were hit by another vehicle on the passenger side, back door/tire area. MAJOR damage. And, the driver, after inspecting the damage she caused, fled the scene. Poor little car cannot be repaired. It's now worth $167, according to AAA. Funny/sad thing, the tires (which have fewer than a year's worth of driving on them) and rims are worth a cool $1,500 - $2,000. Such is life. We were driving the 1985 Toyota pick-up but not feeling too safe. Purchased a 2007 Honda Accord and, with airbags everywhere, are now back on the road again.

Work is going well for me. Being a Manager is such an adventure. Thank goodness Esque understands when I get grumpy, frustrated, too tired to do housework... He's a gem. His 76th birthday will be 12/28/07 and we'll be celebrating with our English buddies, who are coming to town in early December. Hooray!

Esque is keeping in shape by riding our stationery (or is it stationary) bike and walking most mornings. Touch wood, we'll make it safely through the next few weeks and begin a new year without incident. Touch wood.

We send you love and best wishes for a peaceful and joyous holiday season.

MUCH LOVE,

Aunt Kathie & Uncle Esque

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WOW IT'S BEEN AWHILE

2007-11-14T19:59:00.001-08:00

IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I HAVE WRITTEN FAMILY TIES. I WAS NOT SURE IT STILL EXISTED UNTIL I GOT THIS RANDOM E-MAIL FROM BARB. SO WHERE TO BEGIN......THERE IS A LOT TO CATCH UP ON.

WELL MY LIFE HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. I HAVE MOVED TO HAWAII, ANNOUNCED I WAS GAY, LOST OVER 100 LBS AND GAVE UP ON ORGANIZED RELIGION. ARE YOU SHOCKED YET? OH BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE. SO IN JANUARY ON 05 IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY WHEN I DECIDED TO WEIGH MYSELF. TO MY OWN HORROR I DISCOVERED I HAD HIT 250 LBS. SOME HOW IT SPAWNED INTO A COMPETITION BETWEEN TAYLOR, MY MOM AND I. WE HAD SIX MONTHS TO LOSE AS MUCH WEIGHT AS WE COULD AND AT THE END, THE WINNER WOULD RECEIVE TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR NEW CLOTHES. AFTER HEARING TAYLOR TELL MY SISTER THAT I WOULD NEVER WIN, I GOT ANGRY AND CHANNELED THAT INTO MY WORK OUTS. FOR ONE HOUR A DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK FOR SIX MONTHS I RAN, AND RAN AND RAN. AT THE FINAL WEIGH IN I HAD DROPPED 70 LBS, MOM HAD LOST 30 LBS AND TAYLOR HAD GAINED 5 LBS. SO YA I WON WITH FLYING COLORS.

SO SKIP AHEAD TO THIS JANUARY, I HAD GOTTEN VERY SICK. SO MUCH SO THAT I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I WENT TO MY PARENTS HOUSE LOOKING LIKE DEATH WARMED UP THAT MY MOM RUSHED ME TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE I STAYED FOR TWO WEEKS. IT TOOK ALMOST A MONTH TO RECOVER. NOT FUN!!!!!

AFTER RECOVERING FROM MY NEAR DEATH DRAMA, I CAME TO A VERY HUGE DECISION IN MY LIFE. I DECIDED TO STOP LYING TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. SO I FINALLY TOLD THEM I WAS GAY. ITS FUNNY HOW ALMOST DYING REALLY PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE, MY SIBLINGS TOOK IT VERY WELL BUT AS EXPECTED, MY PARENTS DID NOT (BIG SHOCKER). SO AFTER DROPPING A HUGE BOMB ON EVERY ONE I KNOW, I DECIDED TO MOVE TO HAWAII FOR A LITTLE BIT.

AS WE ALL KNOW JAY (A.K.A SPERM DONOR) IS LIVING IN HAWAII AND ASKED IF I WANTED TO MOVE OVER THERE. HE CLAIMED HE WANTED TO GET TO KNOW ME AGAIN BLAH BLAH BLAH. SO SINCE THINGS WE A LITTLE CRAZY IN PORTLAND I PACKED UP MY LIFE AND HEADED OVER TO THE BIG ISLAND. WHEN I ARRIVED I SAT AT THE AIRPORT WAITING FOR JAY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. SO I MUST BE HONEST, ONE REASON I WENT TO HAWAII WAS TO SEE IF JAY HAD REALLY CHANGED HIS WAYS AND WANTED TO REBUILD HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS KIDS. SADLY I WOULD FIND THAT IT IS A WASTE OF TIME. YOU CANT TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS. I LIVED IN HAWAII FOR FOUR MONTHS AND WORKED AT THE FOUR SEASONS RESORT. I LOVED IT. I GOT TO MEET MANY CELEBS RANGING FROM KELSEY GRAMMER TO BRITTNEY SPEARS. ABOUT A MONTH INTO MY STAY ON THE BIG ROCK, JAY DECIDED TO TAKE VACATION TO THE MAINLAND. IT WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE FOR TWO WEEKS. ABOUT A WEEK INTO HIS VACATION I GOT A CALL AT 4:30 AM TELLING ME HE WOULD NOT BE BACK FOR AT LEAST FIVE MONTHS. SO HERE I AM ON AN ISLAND NOT KNOWING ANYONE, AND THE MAIN REASON I WENT WAS NOW NOT COMING BACK. THAT WAS WHEN I MADE THE DECISION THAT I COULD NOT HAVE JAY IN MY LIFE. THERE IS ONLY SO MANY TIME YOU WANT TO THROW YOURSELF UNDER THE BUS. I DECIDED TO MOVE HOME BEFORE JAY GOT BACK TO THE ISLAND. SO IN AUGUST I MOVED BACK TO PORTLAND.

I LANDED AT MIDNIGHT ON AUGUST FIRST. WHEN I WALKED UP TO THE GATE MY FAMILY WAS WAITING. THE FUNNY THING IS THAT THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE ME. I ALMOST WALKED RITE PAST THEM. I HAD DROPPED THIRTY MORE POUNDS AND NOW HAD A DEEP TAN.

I NOW LIVE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AND WORK AT THE HOTTEST HOTEL IN PORTLAND. SINCE BEING BACK I HAVE MET SOME AMAZING PEOPLE. I LOVE THE STAFF I WORK WITH AT THE HOTEL LUCIA.

ONE WEEK AGO MY GRANDFATHER PASSED AWAY OF CANCER AND I HAVE BEEN GOING TO SERVICE AFTER SERVICE FOR HIM. MY FAMILY IS DOING WELL WITH HIS PASSING. I ALSO FOUND OUT ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS WILL BE GONE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WITH ALMOST NO WAY TO CONTACT THEM. AND TO TOP IT OFF MY BOYFRIEND JASON HAS BEEN REALLY SICK AND I HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF HIM. SO THE LAST TWO WEEKS HAVE BEEN VERY CRAZY.

SO ABOUT MY FAMILY, SAMANTHA IS GROWING LIKE A WEED. SHE IS NOW IN HIGH SCHOOL AND IS GETTING STRAIGHT A'S. SHE IS GROWING INTO MUSIC VERY WELL. SHE LOVES TO SING AND SHE IS VERY GOOD AT IT. SARAH IS NOW ENGAGED AND WILL BE GETTING MARRIED. THATS JUST CRAZY. CHELSIE IS DOING GREAT. SHE WORKS AT A VERY HIP SALON. HER DAUGHTER QUINMREE IS GETTING SO BIG. SHE IS NOW THREE AND IS HAVING FULL CONVERSATIONS WITH EVERY ONE SHE MEETS. MOM AND DAD ARE DOING WELL. THEY FINISHED BUILDING THERE SHELBY COBRA. IT TOOK THEM TWO YEARS. TAYLOR, WELL HE IS DOING AS WELL AS TO BE EXPECTED.

I HOPE EVERY ONE IS DOING WELL. WE REALLY NEED TO ALL GET TOGETHER SOON. I AM THINKING REUNION THIS SUMMER? I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE ALL UP TO. SO UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND BEST WISHES.

LOVE,
CHAD

McKona Koffee is a Reality

2007-11-10T16:22:00.001-08:00

Since I know that Michael just isn't going to find the time to write about his new endeavor, I thought I'd let you all know that as of November 1, 2007, mcKona Koffee Roastery & Paradise Kafe (formerly Paradise Café) are now owned by Mike McGinness & Bruce Harrington.

Everything chaotic and crazy right now, especially since their big floor roaster hasn't been delivered yet and probably won't for another month, so Mike is having to do all the coffee roasting at home. Apparently the whole bean sales are going pretty good as people are discovering that they are carrying a variety of them, fresh roasted and packaged in 1 and 1/2 lb bags. They have their own label and a website the is working, but still under construction. Check it out a www.mckonakoffee.com. Still needs a lot of work, but they need to find someone that can work on it that has some knowledge of coffee.

Couple of my friends went down for lunch last week and said the sandwiches were really good. Big and satisfying and so was the red curry soup, which they only got a taste of because it was almost gone. They have a guy that makes scones and blueberry muffins, and get the rest of their baked goods, including the breads for their sandwiches from a local bakery up the street.

The only really bad thing we both get home late - after 6 for me and after 7 for Michael. I've had to take over fixing dinner again, which I got out of the habit of doing this past year. Got to learn to start planning ahead. Hate eating that late though. We'd gotten used to heating about 6:30 and now, sometimes it's almost 8 before we sit down. Some days, it's just too much, then it's Schwan's.

My big news is the I had my 30 year anniversary with Bonneville Power on Wednesday. I'm now eligible for full retirement. Can't even believe it. Of course, just starting a new business, it may be a while before I'll be able to actually do it, but just knowing that I could just up and retire at any time is sort of a nice feeling. With everything that's been happening with my job over the past couple years - and it's still going on - I could just get fed up one day, turn in my papers and leave. Lady in HR did that about 4 weeks ago. Just like that. Of course, I wouldn't do that to my co-workers. Besides, I want a BIG retirement party when I leave. Michael says a couple more years, which will go really fast the way things are going. Can't believe another year is almost gone.

So, that's the news. Need to go make some potato salad for dinner. I love hearing from everyone and like Robin wish everyone would write more often.

Love to all
Debi (and Mike in absencia)

The not-so-SLO life

2007-11-09T17:11:00.000-08:00

Teresa and I continue to be very busy. Teresa is now especially busy as she continues with her full-time job and has begun taking classes full-time at Cal Poly. She was admitted as a philosophy major during the summer term and completed one five-week course in the first half of the summer, but this fall has been her first full-time quarter. She is taking a humanities class comparing modern and classic culture, an ethics class, and a course on philosophical classics. Monday through Thursday all of her time is required by either work or school.

I changed my major from architecture to architectural engineering this quarter. While I continue to be interested in and appreciate the art of architecture, it is such a relief to not be constantly in search of creativity. As an ArcE major, I need more math and science courses, so this quarter I'm taking a math course for the first time in over a decade. Fortunately the math class, Differential Equations and Linear Algebra, has not been nearly as difficult as I thought it might be. I'm also taking a geology course, C programing for engineers, and several architectural engineering courses. At 17 units, this is the heaviest load I have taken at Cal Poly, but I'm doing pretty well with it (I might take 19 in the winter). Because this major is a 4 year program rather than the 5 year architecture, my anticipated graduation date is two quarters earlier than it was (now December 2009).

After living in Grover Beach a few miles south of here for our first year, we moved to San Luis Obispo to shorten our commute. We had a lovely studio attached to a home belonging to members of our church there and Teresa and our former land-lady have been friends since we first called to ask about the place. We are equally blessed in San Luis Obispo, renting a one-bedroom secondary unit in the back yard of the former bishop of the singles ward here. We are walking distance from school but in a neighborhood that is not overrun by college students. At nights on weekend you can hear that there are parties around outside, but none are too loud.

Mom came down to visit us with Joseph, Andrew, and Benjamin about a month ago. After they arrived on Saturday, we explored Port San Luis Obispo then roasted hot dogs and marshmallows on the beach. We also attended church, played games, and watched movies over the weekend. On Monday Teresa returned to work, I returned to school, and Mom and the brothers went to Monterey to visit the aquarium there. It was fun having visitors. If any of our other relatives want to visit us on the central coast of California, let us know.

The San Luis Obispo Stake is in the Los Angeles Temple district. In commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Los Angeles Temple, the First Presidency authorized each stake in the district to have a meeting in the assembly room of the temple. Our stake had our commemoration day a couple of weeks ago. Teresa's sister Amy also went through the temple for the first time that day, so it was extra special for us. The meeting in the assembly room was really neat. The temple president and his wife were especially glad to have our stake there because the are from our ward. A few members of our stake were in the temple district when the temple was dedicated. The temple matron, Sister Andrus, told us about her experience singing in a choir for one of the dedicatory sessions. We also heard some of the history of the temple from Pres. Andrus. While the Salt Lake temple has more floor space than the Los Angeles temple, no temple can accommodate more patrons in a single session. It was a wonderful day.

We're looking forward to the holidays. We will be in Sacramento for Thanksgiving again this year. We haven't nailed down Christmas plans, but are hoping to get together with Teresa's siblings; one of her brothers is working especially hard to get everyone together this Christmas. We love all of you and hope you have happy holidays and wish for a great start to 2008 for each of you.

I wish more of you would write ..........

2007-11-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

This is our Cody.......one of our three kids.....he is our busy rascal.

I have loved hearing from Barbara and Lainee but don't hear from the rest of the family much.

Retirement life is good for us........I continue my travels.......just got back from Beijing/Shanghai area of China......very interesting area.......high air pollution......don't know how the 2008 Olympics will do there. The Great Wall of China was shrouded in smog.

Robin

News From Kris and Co.

2007-10-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

Kris and Adam spent a great week in Disneyland with Lainee and Ben this summer!
(See pix of Adam)

Alisha and Scotty are expecting their first child "Ayva Belle" on December 13th! (See pix of prego Alisha & Scott)

Kris and Jeff are getting married on Saturday, November 24th!
(See pix of Us, Crazy in Love & So Happy)

Also joining our family is Jeff's son, Elder Justin Davich! (See pix of him, recently serving a mission in McAllen, Texas)

So, that's the news............... other than that not much happening around here.

Love to You All,

Jeff, Kris, Alisha, Scott, Justin and Adam