Last Day with Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa had to cut short their visit since Grandpa wasn't feeling well. But before they left, Grandma made "German Pancake with Apples" for lunch. Abby helped by sauteing the apples.

Hope saying goodbye from the tree.

Hope is going to miss Ode. She has asked if Ode doesn't make it into the program to become a service dog, can WE keep her? I'm pretty sure she'll make it in, but either way, Lucy has a new best friend.

With Grandma and Grandpa

We met Doug at our favorite restaurant for a big family dinner. And yes, this is the best picture I have of the group (Thanks, Jacob).

Doug with Abby's purse. I told him I'd be putting this one on the blog, so he was warned.

The girls with Grandma.

Abby waits for our name to be called. We waited a long time!

It's more fun to wait with other people...

and with Grandpa's service dog in training, Ode (pronounced O-dee, like the dog in Garfield).

Ode with the dog statue at the restaurant.

On the porch at closing time.

Doug getting ready to throw Jacob into the bushes. Now Jacob gets to see what it's like to have an older brother.

And on Wednesday, Hope and I showed Grandma where Hannah sells her cards.

And we had lunch in the tea house next door. We had the best chicken/garlic/almond soup. I tried to get the recipe, but the cook had stepped out for a break :(.

We straightened up the booth since several cards and boxes were out of place. Then we looked around at all the other booths and tried on some fancy full length sweaters with ruffles all down the front. They looked like something out of a 1930's or 40's movie, with the woman smoking a long cigarette!

One more VBS picture

Friday night the VBS kids performed their songs and there was a BBQ afterwards. It was a good week, full of activities and fun with the little children. I think I'll drive back and forth to the church three times a day this week, just out of habit!

Hannah worked as a student representative at the College Plus booth at the homeschool convention on Saturday. She had a nice time chatting with people and is enjoying her new Shakespeare class and getting ready for a college composition exam in a couple of weeks.

Brian sprayed our thistle with Round-Up this week and I tell you, he might as well have sprayed them with vitamins. They look tall and glossy in the field, waving at me mockingly as I drive by. The rest of the weeds are also looking remarkably healthy as well. Good grief.

VBS Week

It's "Big Apple Adventure" week with the theme of New York.

For a boy who only naps when he is sick, we've been seeing him napping every day after VBS. He's up at the crack of dawn to get to the church for his role in the music and in the missions presentations. After VBS, there are activities for the teen helpers. This kid is getting worn out!

Sometimes you just forget you have a blog...

So here is an update in case you were wondering :).

Cute boy picture, just because I am a proud Aunt.

Loving this book! I so appreciated "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life" by Dr. Amen, but I think I am getting even more out of this book. He delves into how our spiritual life is affected by our brain function and how a good spiritual life can enhance our brain function. So much food for thought in this book. I thought about doing a book review on this, but I don't think I could do it justice.

Hannah's newest paint by numbers. We haven't seen much of Hannah the past two months. She has been working full time, but is realizing that is too much for her right now. So she has asked for her hours to be cut to part time (which she was originally hired for). She is now a junior in her college studies and is looking forward to her first correspondence course in Shakespeare.

Summer wreath for the kitchen.

My Easter flowers are still in bloom and I have enjoyed their cheerfulness on my windowsill.

In other news:
One of Hope's fish died the second day, so she has a new one- Kate. Now it's Kate and Alice. They seem to be doing fine as roommates.

Abby and Jacob have been gone a lot this week, helping to set up for VBS. Next week promises to be quite busy with VBS for all (except Brian and Hannah).

Getting ready for summer company. Still waiting for the paint to be delivered so we can finish painting the trim in Jacob's room and put everything back together. Looking forward to being able to have my room cleaned up since right now most of Jacob's things are in there.

Praying for a friend who began chemotherapy for breast cancer last week. This was my best friend in junior high and high school and she is a year younger than myself. I have her picture out to remind me to pray for her often.

Making A Room Fit For A Teenage Boy

A cowboy theme is great for when you're a kid, but not so much when you're a teenager interested in architecture.

I've always hated this brown color on Jacob's walls. So blah and uninspiring. He needed molding on the ceiling, too.

Jacob picked out blue paint for his room and Brian is installing the molding. Hopefully soon we'll get the beds painted white and put up white curtains. Lots of black (frames, etc.) and architectural details/pictures to be added later.

Happy Day for Hope

Getting Alice and Benjamin acclimated to their new home

Sometime in the past week, Hope became passionate about wanting fish. She spent hours online researching goldfish and what they needed. She talked endlessly about fish. I said we'd think about it after summer vacation and she was satisfied. However, today I surprised her by taking her to the pet store where she picked out two little goldfish- Alice and Benjamin.

Here's hoping the fish thrive in their new spot because it will be pretty traumatic if Hope wakes up tomorrow to find them belly up...

A little late for Mother's Day, but still just as enjoyable.

Riding lawnmower- $$$$

Getting the lawn cut in 15 minutes versus one and a half hours with the push mower?
Priceless.

Before and After

In November we were able to put in the bottom part of the media cabinet (minus the feet, which we have picked out, but not purchased yet).

The primer that Brian used had a strong, strange scent that has taken over 6 months to get less stinky.
It has been in the back bedroom off gassing since Thanksgiving.

For some reason the lower cabinet lost its stink fairly quickly, but the top part didn't. But now that Doug is back from his time in Africa with the Army, we asked him to help move this huge piece into the house.
Another friend was kind enough to offer his help, too.

We celebrated the new cabinet's arrival with a taco dinner and a movie- Tangled. Although we have seen it a few times (and Hope, about 3000 times...), Doug hadn't watched it yet. Looking forward to putting the handles on the upper doors and doing those finishing touches.

Girl with Flowering Tree Part 2

Girl with Flowering Tree

Spring Snowfall

And two days ago it was in the 80's. Gotta love Colorado weather.

Happy Mother's Day

To all the mothers in our lives, we are thankful for you and the influence you've had on us.

Hoping it's o.k. with Jon and Christy to post this. It makes me smile :).

Around the House

Jacob and Brian worked on his "Space Needle" puzzle on Sunday afternoon.

Celebrating Brian's birthday with spaghetti and an apple pie made by Abby.

Hope dressed the dog to celebrate (found this on the camera- had no idea she did this!)

Up at 3am for the royal wedding. Loved every minute.

Has Dad mentioned that we are probably related to Prince William? Going back a looong ways (in the 1500's I believe) we share a common ancestor on his mother's side. So, of course we had to watch cousin Will get hitched!

My vision has been so blurry today. But when I went outside I realized that I am going through another visual transition. Once again, certain things have more dimension and color saturation than they did before. Again, I find myself tearing up at the beauty of God's creation- beauty that keeps unfolding as the months go by.