Waterfront, The Best of Trail Mix, and Thanksgiving Already?!

Good evening,

 

I'm writing this at 7:30 on Saturday. Today there's been so many games on TV - first the Seattle Mariners, then the Seattle Sounders, and now the Seahawks. I've been in and out of the living room, watching some with Chuck. I spent some time in the den making greeting cards, and then remembered I hadn't posted on here. I was looking through my phone trying to remember what we've been up to the last few days.

 

Beth and I went down to the waterfront. It's about a five minute drive from our house. We were only there for a few minutes but it was good to get out and smell that ocean! (She has her head phones around her neck.)

 

 

I don't know how it is where you are but around here the leaves are changing color, we've had a lot of rain, and the temps have dropped to  the 50's and 60's. Chuck even turned on the fireplace this morning! We're supposed to get some sunshine and temps back in the 70's next week but it sure seems like summer is over.

 

We've video-chatted with Diana and Adelaide this weekend. She's just over a year and a half but she acts so much older. Here's she's looking through the trail mix for her favorite things!

 

 Ally and I went to the mall yesterday to get some stuff for school. Unfortunately I didn't get a single picture. But I cannot believe she's starting high school! For all intents and purposes, she's an adult: she's my height, she's mature, she's kind, it's been such a blessing getting to watch her grow up. Time is just going so fast.

 

Not too much else going on. I'm going to a Thanksgiving meeting tomorrow after church. We always meet the last Sunday of August to begin prepping for our Thanksgiving Outreach. This is our 30th year. The associate pastor and his wife who lead this are now in their 70's and she was telling me this just might be their last year. Course she's been saying that for a few years now, but they are moving slower and slower as time goes on. We'll see what happens after this year.

 

Well, time for me to get ready for tomorrow. Have a good day - 

 

Family, Target, Nature - What We've Been Up To

 Hi everyone,

 

I hope you're enjoying Spring, it's hard to believe we're into June already. Summer's not too far away, although for the Seattle area, our summer temps usually don't begin until July 5. Until then we'll still get rain, cool temps, and gray, dreary skies. After July 5 though, we'll get months of sunshine and warm temperatures! I'm looking forward to that!

 

We're still trying to walk as often as we can. With our schedules and the weather, it can be hard to coordinate.

 

The Burke-Gilman Trail used to be a railroad track. It's part of the national Rails-to-Trails system that goes from Washington DC to Washington State. It's so pretty. We're grateful to have this close by. Yep, that's Beth in her red shirt again.

 

 I stepped outside one day to find the bird's nest on the ground. The poor Junko's didn't get any babies this year. I hope they use the wreath again next year.

 

 

We've been video chatting with Diana and Adelaide. She's growing so fast! And she's talking a lot! She's only a year and a half but says SO many words. Loves Minnie Mouse and trains. Here she's putting stickers in a notebook. She'd get one stuck on her finger, then show it to me and we'd laugh. I can't wait to see her next month.

I pick Allison up from school most Fridays. I'll ask her if something absolutely amazing happened at school today and she'll just look at me and shake her head no. Ah, middle school. Remember those days? When she gets out of the car though, I tell her I love her and she always says, "I love you too." 💕

 

 Beth and I did some shopping last week. Chuck dropped us off at Kohls, then we walked to Target (across the parking lot.) She bought gel pens, markers, and lined paper. I bought a new scotch tape dispenser. We've needed one for years, and I just kept forgetting to buy one. One of those little things that make a big difference.

 

We all went walking at Juanita Bay last week. Sharaya suggested this place, she's taken a lot of professional photos there over the years and I can see why!

 

See the green trees and bushes on the other side of the lake? That's where we walked to, actually going out of the park, walking along the busy streets, then back into the park and out onto the docks in that area.

 

This was some type of Crane. It had a huge wing span!

 

In this picture there is a log in the water, with ducks and tortoises  sunning themselves.

It really was beautiful. At the end of the day our watches and phones told us we had walked four miles. Our legs said it was a lot farther!

I love having slow mornings where I can stay in my bathrobe, drink some tea and just hang out at home. Which is what I got to do today. But now it's time to get started on my day. I hope you have a wonderful day too!

Just Day-to-Day Stuff

 Good morning,

 

I'm writing this on my day off so it is actually morning! There's nothing major going on around here just little, normal day to day stuff.

 

Allison made crepes for us on Mother's Day, she did such a great job! She and Sharaya had sliced strawberries, blueberries, nutella, chocolate chips... everything was so good!

 

 

The girls went together and got me a print that reads The Anderson Family and it's got all of our birth flowers. I haven't hung it yet but it's going to go great in the dining room. I love it.

 

After lunch we headed outside for some pictures. Always my favorite part of the day!

Sharaya, her daughter Allison, Me and Beth

 

 

Look at her! She's almost as tall as Sharaya!

Diana's family is on the East coast but she sent me this one. Peter took it of her and Adelaide. So cute!

 

 

After Sharaya and Ally left, Chuck, Beth and I went walking up at Hickman Park again. We drove there and started walking together but then we each ended up walking at our own pace. Separately but together. It worked out really nice. I think we each did 4 laps around the park. 

 

 

I don't know if you can you see Beth in this picture. 

Sort of the middle right, above the bicycle. She's wearing a red shirt.

 

Beth and I did our usual grocery shopping after work on Thursday and when we got to our meeting spot she showed me that she only had two things of junk food: one package of licorice (last week was two) and one share size (not family size) of M&Ms. I told her I was so proud of her and that she had made some great choices. You could tell she was excited.

 

Let's see, what else? Oh yeah, our church is gearing up for our Pentecost Sunday celebration. We have a lot of people born in other nations that will carry their flag in a 'parade' through the Sanctuary. One by one they stand at the microphone and declare that their nation "exalts the name of the Lord!" It's pretty emotional when you realize this is what heaven will be like! Every people, nation, tribe and tongue will spend eternity worshiping the Lord together! (No judgements, no hate.) After service, we're having 10 food trucks in the parking lot serving food from China, Mexico, Thailand, India, Sweden... It's one of the biggest celebrations of the year for us!

 

I don't know how many nations will be represented on Sunday but the flags wrap all the way around the foyer!

 

 

 

That's about it from here. I'm picking Ally up from school today then will head to Penney's to return a pair of jeans, and maybe do a little shopping at Kohls. Have a great weekend!

What's Been Happening

So many things going on around here lately. I'll try to keep them short so I can get everything in. 😊

Diana and Peter bought Adelaide a water table and she loves playing in it! That girl has such a happy heart.

Sharaya sent us this picture of some crepes that my granddaughter Allison (14) made! We all decided we want her to make them for us when we're all together this summer!

The Junkos are expanding their family this spring. Built a great nest in the wreath on our porch again and have 4 tiny eggs!

Beth had a party at the bowling alley today. They have them about once a month and last night she and I were up until 10:00 dipping these pretzels. The leaders keep asking everyone to bring 'healthy' desserts and this was the easiest thing I could think of that didn't need to be refrigerated and would travel well on a bus.

I've been talking to her about the kinds of foods she eats. I truly believe she's addicted to sugar. Every single week she buys a large bag of marshmallows, the family share size of m&ms, two big bags of red vines, pop tarts, chocolate... she gets angry when I ask her to put something back. She's gotten so heavy and I'm concerned not only about her health, but also her stamina when we go to Disneyland this summer. I talked with her last week and told her my concerns, then asked her if I could help her learn to eat healthier. She said yes. I asked her, "If we're at the grocery store and you put something in your cart that isn't healthy, will you get mad if I put it back?" "No." So... a couple days later we're at the store, I put a small veggie tray in the cart and she did too. She put in orange juice, fresh fruit... and no junk food! I told her it's not Friday (we have a 'junk food Friday' tradition that has gotten way out of hand) so none today. I checked out first and I happen to see her put a candy bar on the conveyor belt. I told her again we weren't buying junk food today and I put it back. She was NOT happy! Walked about 20 feet behind me out to the car; s-l-o-w-l-y got into the car and just sat there. I asked her if she was going to get buckled, she shook her head. I said, "Okay" and I took off my belt, turned off the engine and we sat there about 30 seconds before she s-l-o-w-l-y got buckled... something has to change. For years I've tried to let her make her own decisions in life of course, with guidance and advice, (I wouldn't dare tell my other daughters what they can and cannot eat) but it's getting to a point where I'm going to step in. I'm going to try my best to teach her how to eat healthy. 

This and That

 I'm home from work today with a slight sore throat. It's not bad but I don't know what it is and don't want to spread it to anyone else. So I'll putter around the house, take some EmergenC and pray!

 

Chuck brought me flowers the other day, just because. I love that man!

 

 I hung a couple pictures of my granddaughters. Both on a swing as babies. And both with the greatest smiles! Allison (without the hat) will be 14 next month! And Adelaide is 9 months old now! She gets smarter every day. I love these girls!

 

 These pictures always make me smile!

 

 Allison

 

 

Adelaide

 I was thinking the other day - they are third generation girls. I'm the youngest of three daughters, I had three daughters and now my daughters are having daughters!

 

Me and my sisters Easter morning: L-R Kathy, Debbie, me

 

My girls Easter morning: Sharaya, Beth, Diana in front

And their girls. My heart 💗

 

 

Beth and I went to Michael's a couple weeks ago. 

You can probably guess which aisle she went to first...

 

 

Yep! I guess a girl can never have enough markers!

 

Then we get to the front and find it's all self-check out. We hadn't been there in a while and were a little surprised to see it. There was one checker down at the other end who would help if needed but they want you to do it yourself now. So many stores are going to this format. If stores are having a hard time hiring I can kind of understand the reason for it but I'm sure not a fan. It took us a few minutes to figure out the system but we finally did, and headed home.

I organized all our old home movies and reel-to-reels, and they fit perfectly in the photo boxes. The closet looks so much better.

 

We've put the oscillating fans back in the garage and now have the fireplace going most mornings. I'm loving fall!

 

 

That's about all from here. 

Have a wonderful rest of your week!