Taking A Few Minutes to Reminsce

I'm babysitting Allie today. The first time since we got back from our trip. We read books, blew bubbles, walked on the brick wall in the backyard, ate lunch and rode the horsey. I then put on an old record I have.

Yes, a record. A 33 rpm, old fashioned, record. I even have a turntable! We used to call them record players.... back in the day. :)

Allie was in the other room when she heard, "It's a small world after all!" She came running into the livingroom, eyes wide and mouth open! She immediately began to dance!

After the record ended, we just had to go to the computer and look at pictures.

Shopping in Colorado

Chuck's mom Mary Ann, with the kids

Four Generations

Mary Ann, Chuck, Sharaya and Allison

Wild rabbits!

Did you know they have rabbits running wild in Colorado?

Amazes me every time we visit.

The beautiful scenery driving through New Mexico

It wouldn't be a road trip without stopping at Sonic for lunch!

Horseback riding in San Diego

My sister Debbie has owned horses my whole life.

She got her first horse when I was in Jr High.

This horse, Callie is definitely the tallest, 17 Hands!

Even my dad got on her!

He's almost 87! He amazes me.

We had such a great time. So grateful to Deb for the opportunity.

I know how much work goes into grooming a horse and preparing to ride.

(I've been watching her do it for years!) :)

Family reunion.

All the baby cousins.

Or second cousins.

These are all the cousins kids.

These are the cousins.

We're only missing KJ.

And here is everybody.

The only people missing were Kathy and Ken (my sis and her husband) and their son KJ and his wife Amber. Kathy and Ken were at their property in Colorado and KJ and Amber recently moved to Idaho. It was so fun to see everyone again!

Me and my cousins. The first time I've seen them in 25 years.

It's an indescribable feeling when you're reunited with family!

We're hoping to get together again next year.

In the ocean in San Diego.

Played for hours at La Jolla Shores.

It was cool and cloudy but that didn't stop us!

Beth just called me. She's at her karoake class today.

She calls almost every Wednesday to tell me what she sang.

Can you guess what song it was this week?

Exhausted But Happy

Got home late last night.

Exhausted but happy.

Unpacking. Doing laundry.

Cleaned out the van.

Such a mess!

Sorting through pictures.

So many happy memories!

A few pictures -

Happiness Is....

Happiness is having an Aunt Bethy.

Or Bessies as Allie calls her. :)

14 Hours

We spent 14 hours in the car yesterday. Drove from Albuquerque, New Mexico to San Diego, Calif. Stopped for lunch at Sonic and made a few pit stops along the way. It was a very long day.

We had a great time with Chuck's mom and sister. It was kind of a miracle really because Chuck's sister had decided she didn't want to see us. No one knew why. I asked the staff at our church to pray for the Lord to soften her heart and the next day Chuck's mom said she had changed her mind and wanted to come to lunch with us. God is so good. :)

Four Generations

Mary Ann, Chuck, Sharaya, Allison

Rose, Mary Ann, Chuck

Beth, Diana, Sharaya, Ryan and Mary Ann

We visited my sister Kathy in Colorado. Her and her husband Ken bought some property in the little town of Walsenberg and are preparing it for their new home. I  knew it was off the main road but we had no idea it was 22 miles off! Their property is out in the middle of nowhere, with free range cattle and no paved roads! As we headed back to the main road, it began to pour rain! Our poor van really took a beating.

Me and Kathy on what will be their front porch

This will be the view from their front porch. It was very cloudy but Kathy says that on a clear day you can see Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains.

Main Street of Walsenberg, Colorado

The road to their property

Tomorrow we're going horseback riding!



Relaxing

We drove all night. Seven of us in a seven passenger van for 22 hours. There has been laughter, a little frustration (after 22 hours you have to expect a little testiness) and a lot of gratefulness.

Loading up the van at home

A gorgeous Oregon sunset

A little swimming

A little splashing

A little walk back to the room for a warm bath and footie pajamas!

We've all needed this vacation; this time to just relax, to throw schedules out the window. If we want to sleep late we can. If we want to stay up late reading, there's nothing stopping us. There's no responsibility to anyone.

We did a little swimming last night. Today went out to eat with Chuck's mom. Now we're back at the hotel. We're on the 4th floor with a great view of the Colorado horizon.

I think I'll go take a nap. :)

A Post From Beth

I GOT A RIBBON AND I DID MAKE IT A SECOND PLACE RIBBON AND I USE GREEN TAPE ON A PAPER YESTERDAY ON WEDNESDAY ART.

WE ARE COMEING TWO SEE FAMILY AGAIN I DID BOWING AND I GOT A STRIKE AND SPARE FROM BOWING YESTERDAY TWO AND I HAVE A JOB CLASS TOMORROW TWO TALK ABOUT A JOB WE GET.
YESTERDAY ON WENDNESDAY I SING MY YTH CHOIR MUSIC AND ART TWO I DID
MAKE IT YTH CHOIR


(From Mom - In Beth's art class they submit pictures to the county fair each year and this year she won second place! I haven't seen the artwork they submitted but she said she used green tape on paper. I'm guessing it was like blue painters tape, except green. She'll be starting youth choir in a couple of weeks.)

Rewind Wednesday - Back to School

From Beth's journal -
August 23, 1993

Hi Beth!
You're in 2nd grade now. Your teacher's name is Mrs. Douglas and you're in Room 6. You're doing so well at school that you were student of the day last week! Great Job!

First day of school, September 1993.

Sharaya was going into 1st, Beth into 2nd.

(Diana was only about 2 1/2.)

Beth's school picture that year.

 

Dontcha love the big glasses? Anyway, one thing I remember about Beth being in special ed was that they didn't want the parents in the classrooms. When Sharaya was in the 2nd grade I helped every Friday for the entire year. I read to the kids and helped the teacher wherever she needed me. In Diana's classes, we'd throw surprise parties for the teachers birthdays and I'd volunteer for field trips.

 

 

But Beth's classes, I was always told they didn't want the parents in the rooms. They said it would be distracting to the kids. I can sort of understand that now that I work (on a small scale) with kids who have special needs, but at the time, I sometimes wondered what actually went on inside those rooms. I wish I had been bold enough to at least visit the school and watch from the window.

Oh No

A few hours ago Beth took her suitcase downstairs to begin packing.

I just heard her coming up the stairs. It sounded like she was struggling and I thought 'Oh no!'

Sure enough, she is completely packed. Pants, shorts, tops. Her suitcase is full.

Unfortunately we don't leave til Saturday.

Target Dressing Room

We're getting ready for our big road trip this coming weekend. We're going to Colorado first to visit Chuck's mom and sister, then to San Diego to visit my family, a stop at Disneyland, then to San Fransisco before coming back home.

Diana, Beth and I went to the mall yesterday. Beth got a couple pairs of shorts and some crocks for wearing to the beach.

After the mall we stopped at Target. She sat in the little food area while Diana and I shopped. I was in the dressing room when my phone rang. It was Beth. It's Labor Day weekend so the place is packed. I'm half naked, feeling very uncomfortable and trying to whisper on the phone.

"Mom? I did it."

"You did what?"

"I got a drink. A rootbeer."

"Excellent Beth! I'm in the dressing room so I should be done in a few minutes."

"Okay. I'm ready! Hurry up!" 

She's Improved So Much!

When Beth started bowling with Special Olympics a couple years ago, her average score was 70. Now, she's doing so well!! We're so proud of her!