August birthdays

Can't let August end without a big shout out to our 2 August-birthday-grandaughters, Audrey and Avonlea!

Audrey sported an "Elena of Avalor" dress for her "Watermelon Party" (even though she is eating an apple in this picture).  We missed it but got to talk to her before and after.  She was pretty excited.

Avonlea sported an "Elsa" dress, made by her Mama, and had an all things Frozen party.  She continued the tradition of birthday parties, having it here at the house.  It was a lot of fun.

peaches

This summer I discovered peaches, because of Isla.  One day she sent a short video showing us the "luscious" peach she was eating.  It did look luscious!  And so, because Costco was selling them by the boxful I bought peaches all summer long.  And they were luscious too!  We ate them and baked them into dishes (my favorite was a coffee cake where we added peaches and substituted peach yogurt for the sour cream).  Then I discovered a whole section of peaches in the Vivian Howard cookbook.  I made a peach/blueberry salsa.  Reggie was especially surprised at how much he liked it - it called for herbs and a chili hot sauce which gave it quite a kick.  I made it again for a big group of people at Hillary's, but went overboard on the hot sauce.  They all liked it but commented with "wow! and "what is this?" referring to the combination of tastes and heat.

So, here's to peaches, my new good friend!

funny memory, no pictures

Last Saturday Reggie and I took a trip to see our niece, Becky, get married.  there was an early morning ceremony at the Provo temple, a family luncheon, and then several hours to kill before the reception.  Reggie and I were out-voted on what to do - our Dobbins, Pineda and Terry/Paredes family chose swimming at a rec. center.  So Reggie and I went along, determined to only put our feet in.  After 5 minutes of being there, however, Julia asked if I would stay with Bear while she took Addy down the water slide.  I told her I'd like to take Addy down the water slide.  What?  So I did.  Addy went before me and I told her to wait at the bottom for me, so that she wouldn't get lost, etc.  But by the time I came down she was waiting for me but saying "grandma, are you okay?"  She was ready to take care of me.  But I did it and I was happy and soaked, and swam for about another hour with all of them.  Reggie joined in as well and has as good a time as anybody.  We loved it!

tap shoes

Whenever we go to Utah we make at least one stop to the second-hand store Deseret Industries.  There are often treasures to be found - for me in the form of church books, and for Hannah and Audrey, this time, in the form of tap shoes.

When Reggie and I were there last November Audrey found a pair of tap shoes and desperately wanted them.  But we all leaned towards practicality and said no.  This time, when planning out our trip, Reggie said "I really wish we had gotten Audrey those tap shoes.  When we go to DI this time if they have any I'm getting them".  Well, not only did they have some in Audrey's size but also another pair in Hannah's size!  It was definitely worth the wait as they were both able to walk out of the store with matching shoes and matching smiles.  Reggie also got a kick out of telling Andrew about the new fun noise that would be gracing their home.  Then Reggie realized that the hard-floored kitchen was right above the room where we would be sleeping. Ha! Ha!  No regrets - they are just too cute with their Shirley Temple curls and tap shoes.

Sunday Best and Sunday walks

Auntie Maya might be the best shopper I've ever known, and clearly one of the most generous people I've ever known.  Recently she gifted these beautiful and simply comfortable outfits for all of our grandkids, just because.  Hopefully they can all wear them together some day soon.  On the Sunday I was with the Dobbins I was thrilled to see that the shirt I packed kind of matched the girl's dresses.  We had a nice Sunday walk to church, and then a nice Sunday evening walk in play clothes.  

at the beach in Utah!

On the day I arrived in Utah we went to play at a resevoir, about an hour from Hillary & Andrew's home.  The drive was beautiful, but the wait to park at the reservoir was long and crowded.  Happily it was worth it.  We found a nice spot on the beach and set up blankets and a huge shade umbrella.  We then spent the afternoon, til sunset, playing in the water.  It was so much fun!  I also liked seeing all the different water equipment and toys that people brought:  rafts, paddle boards, giant floating swans and roosters, motorized boats, etc.  I would love to go again and again and again!

Hillary multi-tasked by eating lunch and finishing up a book for her class
(for graduation)
before she joined us in the water

2 of the 3 Musketeers

The Pineda part of our summer is ending tomorrow, as they are leaving.  Its been a wonderful, crazy visit. It has been especially fun watching Bear and Avonlea interact.  They think each other is super fun and have only brought each other to tears a couple of times.  I can't wait to see all three of the musketeers together someday - these two and Hillary's son Elijah who is the same age.

Last thursday Reggie and I took the 4 grandkids that are here to the park and then for McDonald's sundaes.  It was a lot of fun.

For the next few weeks there is plenty to do around here and then our Dobbins part of the summer will start, as we have several visits planned with them.  Life is good!

mysteries #2

Since Isla and I had an outing together I promised Addy one as well.  But then I changed my mind and decided to do a "Scooby Doo" mystery for her at home.  I told her I had made an activity for us to do together and put all the supplies in a brown paper bag, but now I can't find it anywhere.  So she looked around.  When we were ready to give up and just put another movie on, she found a note from the Scooby Doo gang inside the movie cover.  It told Addy that someone had stolen the bag and that she should ask her family for clues.  She did - one of us had seen a guy with a black patch over his eye walk past our house.  One of us had seen a black cloth on the porch with pirate skulls on it.  And one of us noticed a bunch of dry grass strewn across the yard.  So Addy followed these clues and eventually found a pirate treasure chest buried in dry grass.  She opened it up and found the brown bag - which was a cookie mix!  Addy was able to make the cookies all by herself.  It was a fun activity!

mysteries

One thing that has made this summer so wonderful so far is the Pineda family coming to stay.  Julia and the kids have been here since late May and Lester has come for a weekend so far.  We have one more week together.

Addy climbed on my lap during a Scooby Doo movie day and told me who she thought the bad guy was.  She proceeded to tell me how she loves mysteries.  Isla feels the same way - Scooby Doo is one show/set of movies that they always agree on.

Yesterday Isla and I had some time together - just the two of us - to go and get a surprise for the family.  We came back with about 10 Scooby Doo DVDs and more fun books from the library.  Even if we don't have time to watch them all, it will go on the books as a fun, Scooby Doo summer (not to mention a beach and ice cream, water balloon fight and sandlot-smores summer).

and ps, speaking of movies - last night we all watched Hairspray together.  That is a movie that all my kids can agree on (again, we are missing Samantha, Hillary and family.)  During one part the kids BELTED out the song together.  It was pretty funny.

no summer school for me

After many years of doing summer school I am taking the summer off.  I feel such an urgency to spend time with my Mom and help her get her affairs in order.  She is doing great, but I know it weighs on her mind when things are not as organized as she wants them to be.

There are also last minute, finishing up things I need to do for Luke's childhood, before his "adulting" starts this fall.  For example, we opted for him to not drive yet because we did not want to pay for expensive teen-age auto insurance.  But it's time (heaven help me!).  Teaching our kids how to drive is my #1 least favorite part of parenting.  But it's time!

And, last of all, I happened upon an 80% off sale in Michael's scrapbooking department!  Scrapbooking is going to be my summer-fun activity after every productive day, I hope.  So here is to the beginnings of a great summer!

memorial day weekend, Saturday

Divide and conquer grocery shopping
Ward picnic with Avonlea (and her parents)
Listening to my summer playlist
Hot date - Reggie and I home alone practicing making different kinds of graduation leis

Life is great!

( A 6th grader at the picnic made Avonlea a flower crown)

Spring Break 2019

As I finish off my first day/night of Spring Break I realize how fitting it is that I am scrapbooking Christmas pictures from 2016.  How's that for Christmas in April!

Here are some of my favorite pictures I've just put in the book.  I've got to say, technology is great and it is being updated all the time.  I often worry, though, that our means of looking at pictures electronically will become outdated and the pictures will be lost to us - like cassette tapes and video tapes.  The only guaranteed way I can think of to have the pictures for years, and generations to come, is in books.

But back to Spring - It's been a really nice, yet busy day.  Ironically Luke had spring break last week.  I decided this would be my shopping day - groceries, Easter treats, etc.  I probably say this every break but what a pleasure it is to shop during the day time when everyone else is at work.  I started out at 9:15 and got done just in time to pick Luke up from school (thanks Mariah for putting away the groceries!)  He and I (Reggie is still out of town) then had a quick but meaningful "family night" by doing a Generosity activity for Christmas in April.

ps - My bursitis has really been acting up and the advice nurse said I need to rest.  So I decided not to take a walk today after my shopping.  Coincidentally though, walking around Costco, Safeway, etc. gave me the exact mileage I shoot for every day.  There have been so many days this year that I have been lazy and not wanted to do my walking.  But now having a nurse tell me I should skip it for the time being makes me feel panicky, with the old "use it or lose it" mentality.  I want to keep walking around this beautiful world.  I know it's not the most intense exercise, but it is very good for me nonetheless.  So hopefully this is a lesson learned and I will be back out there soon.

 In the meantime, here are some pictures I haven't posted yet.  On my last day in Idaho last month I went exploring on my own and ended up on a river walk on the Boise State University campus.  It was beautiful.