Random Monday stuff

This article in "Parent" magazine kind of cracked me up.  My kids all share their location with me - some more willingly than others.  Since I can see where they are, they can also see where I am.  Holly in particular is always texting me things like, "Hey, what are you doing at Home Depot?"  

Teens Are ‘Fambushing’ Their Parents—Here’s What It Means

Teens are tracking their parents’ locations and showing up, unannounced. Is "fambushing" an adorable trend or does it go too far?

My opinion...whatever.  You shouldn't be somewhere you wouldn't want your kid knowing where you are and if they show up at Starbucks while your there having coffee with a friend that just means they really love you...or they want you to buy them a drink.

Katie got a ukelele from a friend for her birthday and she has been learning to play it.  It has been super fun - I'm even starting to recognize some of the songs!

John got spoiled on Father's Day with two of his favorite things from two of his favorite kids.

Holly's working a little bit on the lavender farm she used to live on.  She sent me this picture the other day.  

Sam and I enjoying a cigar on the patio.  

My sweet dad always took it upon himself to wash my gutters and windowsills when they visited in the summer.  I'm not sure he'll be up to it this year, so Katie was assigned his job.  

John started a new project.  For a left-brained guy, he can be super artsy too.  He was big plans for this maple tree stump!

I love it when Carly does this.

Happy Birthday Sam

Sam turned 22 on June 18.  Craziness.  My sweet, loyal, funny, Lego-loving little guy has turned into a sweet, loyal, funny, Lego-loving big guy.  Feels like this was just yesterday.

He had the day off work and had the whole day planned out.  He started out sleeping in and then out for maple bars from Food Pavilion (he claims to have eaten maple bars from all over the country and says they make them the best) and coffee from Woods.

Spent the afternoon not working for his dad.

I made roast, REAL potatoes, gravy, PEAS (I hate peas so this was super nice on my part) and SOFT bread for supper.  The whole making food thing was actually super nice on my part because the rule is we go out for supper on birthdays because mom should be celebrated too for actually doing the birthing.  Paige joined us for supper.

The plan was to play games after but it was a beautiful night so he asked if we could play pickleball instead.  Paige's parents and brother met us at the courts.  So much fun!

They all joined us back at our place for chocolate pie and Long Island ice teas.

And presents.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM!

Hey look! Another blog!

I'm trying really hard to keep up on this little blog of mine.  It's definitely tougher now that the kids are about all grown up and don't want to cooperate with pictures (even though I think they are just as cute as they were when they were little).  Also, they still say funny stuff but I'm not allowed to post it anymore. :)  I'm hoping in a couple of years when John is retired, I can blog about all of our travel adventures but for the time being, this is just a little snapshot of life lately.

John's mom had a birthday the beginning of June.  Two of my amazing SILs took her out to lunch at some fancy smancy place.  I'm sure I would have been invited if lived closer because all three of these ladies have treated me as part of their family since they day John brought me home.  Happy Birthday Mom!

This picture popped up on my phone from four years ago.  I remember those days when she absolutely could not eat anything without it being all over her face.

Our sweet Carly dog has caught two moles this spring.  I've only caught one so she's currently in the lead...although the moles are definitely still winning.

Holly hosted a friend's baby shower on the pavilion, so it was a good deadline to get it all power washed and spiffed up.

Just super funny.

Paige has been in Europe for the past (almost) three weeks.  She has been really good at sending us pictures.  It's been a lot of fun seeing all the places she has visited but it's also making me want to go back.

Sam bought me a coffee for no reason other reason than that he loves me.  He was my favorite that day.

And John bought me a new washing machine for no reason other than my old one died.  He was my favorite that day.

Holly came home for a long weekend.  His sisters love to love him but I'm not sure he appreciates it as much.

Nothing makes this mom happier is when all her chicks are in the nest.

The girls and I went strawberry picking.  You can tell from their faces who was excited and who was not so excited.  

Big news!  A new Trader Joes opened in Bellingham.  We already had one but it was in a horrible location and always so hard to find a parking spot.  The new one is on "my" side of town and has lots of parking and wide aisles.  There are a few things I love to get there and it's always just fun to see what is new.  I would highly recommend this hand soap and room spray.  They both smell like summer!  

There is a herd (is that the right word?) of jersey cows along one of my walking routes.  It cracks me up how they all run to the fence and watch me walk by.  On this particular day, they were all grazing quite a way across the field but just this one guy ran over to say hi.  

Happy Thursday!

May Mania

May is probably my most favorite month.  I love watching all the flowers come up and the trees get full again.  Here in the PNW it's like we get a little taste of summer before June comes to remind us that summer doesn't actually start here until July.  

This year May seemed to go incredibly fast.  Our calendar was full but I still found time to enjoy lots of walk in the woods, reading in the sunshine and cocktails on the patio.

Just a few pics to remind myself...and make my loyal followers in the Midwest) happy. :)

Katie went to her Junior/Senior Banquet (her school's version of prom).  Her group took pictures here and thankfully it was a beautiful day.  She bought her dress when she was down in Oregon with Holly.  She did her own hair and nails and made her own bouquet (apparently that's what they do now).

Fun group of friends!

Got my annuals all planted.   

Sam came home!!  This mom was super happy when he pulled in Friday night, he drove a friend's car home all by himself which I didn't love.  He assures me he's a big kid now but still...

Katie was happy to see him too!

This sweet girl is home for the summer too.  Although just for a few days before leaving for Europe for three weeks.  We've been getting lots of pictures which is really fun (and makes me a little jealous).

One of the perks of your boyfriend being a park ranger is that you get free camping in his parks.  Holly and a bunch of friends went to Beacon Rock which is right along the Columbia River Gorge.  The weather wasn't idea but she still had fun and James got to tag along on a hike

Sam and John enjoying a beer after a day of working in the yard.  

Katie had her spring choir concert.

I made a really good lemon/blueberry bundt cake.  I got that pretty cake plate for a wedding gift.  Sometime I need to look up who gave it to me so I can let them know that I use it all the time.

Her new favorite hobby.  Thankfully our church has a puzzle library.  She's been getting a new one every week.

Mother's Day.  Missing Holly but still a good day.

Wrapped up our first year as high school youth group leaders. 

Spent the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend at Birch Bay with family.  We used to do this all the time but over the years with the kids all growing up and moving away we don't do it as often.  It was a beautiful day and we even saw a whale in the bay!

Even got Chance to cuddle with me for a while.

Too many clouds for a beautiful sunset but it was still nice.  

John's been working hard on this bank down by the creek.  He's got it all filled with ferns, looks good.

Ski to Sea is a multisport race that starts on Mount Baker and goes to Bellingham Bay.  The participants cross country ski, downhill ski (or snowboard), run, road bike, canoe, mountain bike, and sea kayak.  We spent a Sunday afternoon watching the canoe racers at the Korthuis river bar.

Holly had a minor surgery the end of the month and asked me to come down to "take care of her".  I had been wanting to take the train down and thought this was a good opportunity.  It was so nice to just relax and look out the window at the changing landscape.  I loved going through all the little towns along the way - so many of them have such cute train stations.  Not something I'd do all the time since it takes pretty much the whole day but a fun experience.

A good friend once told us you should always have fresh flowers, a magazine and chocolate in your guest room.

She works at the hospital where she had the surgery, so everyone was especially nice to her.  The pre-op nurse said she always gets nervous putting in IVs in other nurses, but Holly assured her she did an excellent job.  Holly said it was definitely surreal being the patient!

Surgery went super well and I'm happy to report she was a very cooperative (and appreciative) patient.

And finally, a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of my most favorite aunts!  She had a big birthday party back in South Dakota that I had to miss.  Love you Aunt Jen!  This picture is obviously an old one but it's one of my favorite memories.  She always used to take my kids (and Chase) to Chucky Cheese when we'd visit.  She spoiled my sister and I when we were little girls and then passed all that loving down to my kids.