Roosters and Eggs, Pizza with Friends, Moving Experience, Marriage Proposal and Happy Birthday Delpha

What a couple of weeks! !

The Saturday before last Kyla and Jed painted in their new home while Dave and I watched Emmy. After a full day with Emmy installing new porch lights and whatnot, we (Kyla, Jed, Emma, Dave, I, Kelli, Isaac, Jill and Wade) had pizza with Joe and Sheri Rose at Round Table then ice cream at Dairy Queen. A lovely evening.

The saga of the chickens continues. On Sunday before last, Emma and I decided to feed the chickens and much to Emmy’s delight we discovered two of the hens have begun to lay eggs again....it looks as though it is an every other day thing right now. You should see the size that the little black hen lays.... smaller than a golf ball. I think it will take about 3 of those to make a large egg. It is very funny. Because we had four roosters, we were beginning to have a few problems with fighting so Dave put on his "Farmer Bill" act and butchered three of them. However, I am not so sure he saved the right one. It is the biggest but he follows me and crows non-stop and now has begun to attack me when I get too close to the chicken pen. He doesn't seem to know where his food is coming from, does he? If he keeps this up, I just might have to have a nice roast chicken for dinner soon.

Last Thursday evening we went over and helped Jed install a new hot water heater in their house. Friday afternoon I took off work to help Kyla clean so they could move in on Saturday. We got most of the kitchen and bathroom done, but not all while Dave installed a new kitchen stove hood. Jill watched Emmy most of the day (thank you Aunt Jill! ) and Jed and Kyla then took us to dinner that evening at Tio Pepe’s, a great Mexican restaurant in Eugene.

Saturday was the big moving day and Dave, Jed and Brian moved all of the heavy things while Kyla and I moved a couple of car loads of smaller things. GG and Granddad Max watched Emmy and provided us with a wonderful spaghetti dinner afterwards. We were all tired and hungry and it tasted great! Thank you so much Delpha and Max! While we were having dinner Jill and Wade arrived and announced the good news that they are now engaged. A tentative wedding date has been set for September 4, 2004. We are so happy to welcome Wade who fits right into the crazy family. He is a great guy and makes Jill very happy.

Sunday we watched Emmy so Jed and Kyla could get a little more organized and put away things with the help of Kelli and we had dinner together when they picked Emma up. We had a great weekend and since we had Monday off because of Martin Luther King Day, Dave and I went to see “About Schmidt”. It was a good movie, but left us feeling kind of sad at the end.

First Home, Swimming with Sharks (no, not loan sharks) and Lunches

Back to work…….Thursday and Friday. It never seems to be enough time, in fact the more time off, the more I wish I had. Oh well, such is life.

Friday we closed on the house deal for Kyla and Jed. They will be moving in the end of January…..it is so exciting to buy your first home. Now comes the work…..cleaning, painting and maintenance. Saturday Kyla, Jed, Kelli and Isaac painted while we kept Emma and did some chores around the house. Emma spent a lot of time swimming in the pond (the round chair pad from Jill's papasan chair) and I had to get rid of all the sharks which was rewarded with gales of laughter. But don't ask me to ever give a repeat performance for anyone except Emma.....I won't do it (see Emma in her swimming goggles on the right). All the kids came and had pizza with us that evening. Sunday was more of the same except Dave spent most of the day on the roof cleaning gutters and spreading moss killer while Emmy and I watched “Babe” and made dinner. Emma and I went in to look at the paint progress and there is still much to do, but at least it is a beginning.

Monday Kyla spent her morning running around getting signatures on yet another missing form for the loan. I watched Emma in my office while she took the paper to Dave at his office for a signature. We read stories and wrote on the chalkboard and visited with Roger, one of the accounting people in my office. She calls him “Mr. Rogers”….I guess from seeing “Mr. Rogers” on television. I also had a nice lunch with Susan Rich, a childhood friend. Thursday I had lunch with “Emma’s group” which consists of Kyla, Jed, Emma, Joanna and Colleen. Joanna and Colleen are both co-workers of ours at the University. Jed brought yet more papers that were missed in signing.

Today Dave took me to lunch and we plan on spending the night at home relaxing, maybe renting a movie or something and looking forward to having Emma this weekend again. The day was beautiful and sunny….a nice change from all of the fog we have had this past week.

Happy New Year and Celebration of Life

Dave and I spent the weekend relaxing and resting from all the events building up to Christmas and then did a little shopping for some new clothes for Dave with his gift certificates and birthday money. Yes, he held on to his money for two months…..talk about control! He got some great buys and then we went to dinner at Chapala’s and to a movie, “Two Weeks Notice”. It felt wonderful just to get away from the house and cooking and holiday celebrations and do something together.

On the 29th we had a celebration of the one year since diagnosis for Kyla. We had a spaghetti dinner with all the kids and gave her a bracelet to signify our love and support. She is feeling good and so far this IL-13 treatment is doing its job. We are thankful for every day we have.

On the morning of New Years Eve we watched two baby fawns eating our grass outside the living room (see picture at the below). The mom was nowhere to be seen and they stayed around for most of the morning. The afternoon was spent taking down the Christmas decorations and Kyla, Jed and Emma spent the evening with us. Brian, Kelli and Jill all had places to go to bring in the New Year so we just relaxed and watched a couple of movies.

New Years day we finished packing away the decorations, had lunch with Kyla, Jed and Emma and while they took Emma to the “Jonah, A Veggie Tales Movie”, Dave and I went to dinner at the Roadhouse Grill and to see “Lord of the Rings-Two Towers”. This is a time for reflection, resolutions and appreciation for everything we are blessed with. To sum it up we have had a very full year, some stressful and scary but mixed with love, laughter and support from everyone around us. We are very blessed to have so many wonderful friends, family and strangers in our lives. Your prayers and your love continue to sustain us. May God bless you.

Christmas eve was spent with Dave's parents in their home. Delpha, as is their tradition, fixed her wonderful clam chowder and oyster stew. We opened gifts and it was a nice evening. Jill brought Wade, Kelli brought Isaac, Kyla, Jed and Emmy were there and Brian even made it....couldn't miss a gift! Mike and Linda came as well as Brett, Carrie and Mat.

Christmas morning after Kyla, Jed and Emma arrived, we opened gifts and fixed a pancake breakfast. Emmy got a tea kitchen from Grandad and Gram and she stayed busy most of the morning fixing everyone tea and pushing her baby in her new stroller (see picture on the right). We cleaned up the usual array of paper and boxes and in the afternoon the entire Evans family came for a prime rib dinner. Everyone brought great food and it was a very nice evening. Thank you to everyone for the wonderful company.


We hope everyone had a wonderful, blessed day as we did and pray that God will bless each of you as we feel we have been blessed.

Merry Christmas!

Dinner Out, Christmas Cookies, Burnt Popcorn

Friday evening Jill and Wade took Dave and I to dinner at the Electric Station for part of our Christmas present. We had a wonderful dinner and enjoyed being with both of them one on one. We don't get a chance to do that very often.

Saturday morning I made sugar cookies and gingerbread men for a group of Kelli's friends to decorate. Five of her friends came as well as Charo, Kyla and Emma. After much chaos, colored frosting, and lots of sugar, they succeeded in decorating quite a few. We then had pizza and they had a white elephant gift exchange. Amongst the rowdy laughter they had a great time and there was a few very, shall I say, unique gifts, huh girls? After all of the girls left, Kyla and Kelli brought out one of our old favorites, "A Christmas Story" and fell asleep watching it.

Sunday we made a Costco run for a ham for Christmas dinner, which will be at our home this year and the evening was spent with Kyla, Jed and Emma having dinner. After they went home Dave succeeded in burning popcorn in the microwave and we are still trying to get the burnt smell out of the house. All in all the weekend was lovely. We are truly blessed.

Dry Chicken, Card Making, Cookie Baking, New Furniture, Scary Movie and a Manly Man

Friday we had Wades birthday dinner (birthday boy below). As always the birthday person gets to pick what they want for dinner and Wade chose BBQ chicken, macaroni salad with extra dill pickles, rolls, broccoli with cheese and CHOCOLATE CAKE. We had to provide him with lots of katsup since he loves the stuff on chicken......ewww! But he keeps telling me "don't knock it until you try it"...somehow I just can't put it on chicken or turkey. Wade's dad, Jack and his fiance, Tammy also came to dinner. It was nice to get to know his family. But the poor chicken was kind of over done.......a little dry so maybe katsup would have been a good idea. Hey that is probably why Wade likes katsup on everything....to hide the cooking!


Saturday Dave and I went Christmas shopping and ended up buying a new dining room set and a bed. It is a belated anniversary/birthdays/Christmas gift to each other. We have been looking for quite a while and finally found a good deal. Kyla and Jed will get our old dining room set and Kelli will get our head board and foot board. We just have to buy a new mattress and box spring for her and she should be all set.

Sunday Jed, Kyla and Emma spent the day making Christmas cards while Dave and I did a little more shopping. Kelli and Isaac took Kyla and Jed to dinner at Chapala's while we watched Emmy. We made spaghetti and then Emma and I made some cookies. When we were all done, I thought "wow" she isn't even asking for cookies. Then I remembered she ate just a wee bit of dough! But it was a very fun evening.

Monday our new furniture was delivered and it is really beautiful! After 22 years, it is really nice to have some new things. Dave and I spent the evening putting together the new bed while Jill, Wade, Brian and Dez watched "Halloween", a movie Dez was in the mood for. You know Dez, it is Christmas now......how about "A Christmas Story" or something? Well she said she needed to have a good scare so I guess she got that. I had a crown put on today at the darn dentist and lunch with Susan Rich, an old friend from high school. It is always fun to get together...we do more laughing than eating. Tuesday was spent buying the Christmas gifts that need to go to Baker for family and today I mailed them all. Quite the lines at the post office...I hope they make it on time.

Jed attended his office holiday party and they exchanged white elephant gifts. Check out what a "Manly Man" Jed was with the purse, jacket and wrinkled shirt (below)!! What great gifts they all received.....wonder who will get that snazzy purse next year?

Shopping, Flat Tire and No Jury Duty

Kyla and Jed spent last weekend putting up their Christmas tree and decorating. Emmy is having a bit of a hard time leaving the decorations alone….but don’t all two-year olds? Unlike us, they have the shopping done. So they should be able to enjoy the holidays like the rest of us wish we were able to do.

I have been spending a few days trying to come up with holiday pictures to use in a letter to family and friends. I never realized I took so many….hard to choose from. Jill went to the coast for the weekend after Thanksgiving just to relax and rest and then came home to Wades birthday on Monday, the 2nd. We are going to have his birthday dinner on Friday, the 13th. Kelli and Isaac volunteered time over the holiday weekend at the Festival of Trees and Kelli house sat for GG and Grandad Max. Kyla and Jed came to get their Christmas decorations out of storage and while Emmy and Grandad played piano, Jed took a nap. He is on a dead run with school and work and all the volunteer time he has to put in for his degree so it was a much-needed nap. Brian spent most of the weekend doing homework but did manage to get out and go to Silver Falls with Charo and her guests from California.

Dave and I managed to get a few gifts after work each night this week but that leaves us getting home so late. This morning Kelli had a flat tire so we spent our lunch hour today changing the tire and taking it to be fixed. During the process of changing the tire, one of the bolt snapped in two….Argh! The good news is that I don't have to serve on Jury Duty....there was no trial! Just a bad time of year to be caught up in that. This weekend we would like to get the tree and decorate but we'll see.