Weasel Hunt, Back to Spain, Byron Arrives, Year 50 for Gary

August has gone by in a blur. To catch up....Charo and Brian have both gone back to Spain. Brian to Madrid where he is working on his MA in Spanish and Charo to Granada where she is working on her research. We really miss them but perhaps we can visit this next year. It would be wonderful to go to Spain for our 25th anniversay (hint, hint Dave!). Before Charo left she taught Kyla and I how to make a real Spanish Paella. The evening was very fun and we even got to sit on the back deck and relax with some other friends. On Saturday, the 6th was Jill's baby shower. Kristi and Pat came along with Jordy, Addie and Lexie. It was so good to spend time with them but of course nothing goes smoothly around here. Before leaving on Sunday Jordie had a bike wreck and ended up having stitches in his knee. Nothing worse than road rash! Of course that put them back home VERY late. Thanks for coming guys. We love you. But Jill and Wade received so many nice baby gifts and are so excited.

Barb and I drove to the coast for the day on the 12th just to get away. It was a crazy day beginning with a misunderstanding of where to meet in the morning and ending with me not being able to get the key in the pickup ignition. In between we saw a car wreck and Barb and her car were called "Tubby" by a big Tubby woman for blocking part of an intersection. We could really do nothing but look at each other and just laugh when she shouted at us. On the 13th we celebrated Gary's 50th birthday at Mike and Linda's home. He doesn't look a day over ummm about 55! (heh!.....sorry Gary, just couldn't resist).

The week of the 15th we had a family dinner with all of us as well and Grandad and Gram Evans and Mike and Linda to say good-bye to Brian. I made his huckleberry pie for him the next evening (this is for an early birthday since he will be gone again on his birthday). Then I took him to the Portland airport early on the 18th. We miss him so much already!

We had a great chicken massacre the beginning of the month. A weasel killed all but four of our chickens and so we have now bought 6 more and keep a radio on at night to keep the creatures away. I think it makes for very smart hens. I guess we will know when they report the news to us each day. But with all the weasel talk, we kept Emma and Lucy over night one Friday and Emma made Dave go on a weasel hunt. I had to laugh because he asked her what she would do if she caught one and she gave him an exasperated look and said "Grandad, we are just hunting for weasels, not catching them".

Finally for the biggest news this month, Jill and Wade had their baby, little Byron today. He was born at around 4:20 pm weighing in at 9lbs, 7oz, 20 3/4 inches long. He has lots of black hair and big hands and feet. Jill painted a cute monkey in a tree in his room and is all set to bring him home from the hospital.

I will put up pictures a little later.

4th of July, MRI Results, Birthday and the Tooth Fairy

The 4th of July was spent at our home with Mike and Linda, Mat, Jason, SaMara and their children as well as Barb and Rick and Delpha and Max. Mike fixed wonderful smoked pork sandwiches and we had lots of salads. The kids swam and chased butterflies and lizards. Brian couldn't visit long as he had to work so maybe before he leaves for Spain again, we can get everyone together. Speaking of Brian, he has been dealing with the Spanish Consulate in San Francisco about his visa for school. A long story but they are not easily satisfied with the information they request.

On the 8th Kyla went to San Francisco for another scan. It was clear and we are all very happy and relieved about this. It was the first scan using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Spectroscopy since her pregnancy (about a year). She had a few other regular MRI's but this one is an advanced imaging technique used to enhance traditional MRI images. She made it home a little later than expected as her flight was canceled and she had to catch a different one to Portland and rent a car and drive home. Dave and I kept Emmy and Lucy who kept us on our toes.

The next weekend we had Jill's birthday BBQ....Wade did a great job grilling the chicken and Jill seemed to enjoy herself even if she is miserable in this hot weather. She got a digital camera for her birthday...just in time for the birth of little Byron. Less than a month to go!!!

Little Lucy is growing so fast and is such a doll. Another big event----Emmy lost her first tooth and the tooth fairy left her not only money, but a note and a gold chocolate coin. We are getting ready to help Jill and Wade move this next weekend so all is well but busy.

Kelli holding little Lucy at the 4th of July BBQ

Little Lucy on Uncle Wade's lap

Kyla and Leslie at the birthday party

Jill, the birthday girl

A bunny that Emmy swears Gram and Grandad can catch and tame for her pet!

Emma loses her first tooth

Visit to Weiser, Update on Lucy, Spanish Travelers

Kyla came home from the hospital Saturday afternoon. She was very anxious to be home in her own environment (of course she had so much company all the time she needed to rest at home!). Dave and I took her dinner for that night so I got to feed and change Lucy while Kyla was in the shower. She is just absolutely darling. Emmy is having a bit of an adjustment and was very tired from all the excitement so she fell asleep in her bedroom while we were there. Poor lamb.

I don't think I have mentioned that both Charo and Brian are here for a few months. Charo is doing some work at the University and Brian is preparing his visa application to return to Spain as a graduate student. We love having them here even if it is for a short while. Brian hit the ground and started working for a friend. He landed a job at Hynix for the summer so we really haven't had much of a chance to see him. Since he doesn't have a car he has been using our green beast (truck). I think he may use most of his salary on the gas for that thing. He was happy for the extra money so he can buy a laptop for school.

Yesterday Emmy participated in a demonstration that Charo was giving on running a particular study. Kyla brought both of the girls to the experiment as she was already out and about having a doctor appointment and such. Emma did a terrific job and was really happy to see how her brain talked.

Dave's aunt passed away and Dave, Jill, Kelli and I made a quick trip to Weiser for the weekend to attend a memorial service for her. It was a very nice service and we had a lovely visit with family. Of course as we are driving through Eastern Oregon we happened upon a shoe tree (only in Eastern Oregon), the third one I have seen on that drive. It is very funny to see in the middle of nowhere.

Spring is here officially. We have a new litter of pigs across the road from our place. So cute and funny. We also have a female turkey with only one foot. Quite comical seeing just a leg with no foot on the end. We don't know how she lost it but the poor thing just hops around until she gets tired and then rests in the grass. If I can catch a good picture of her I will post it.

Kyla has her next MRI July 8th. Maybe I will get to watch Lucy and Emma while she is away.

Kelli's toothy smile in Weiser

My niece, Kalli reading her first book

Grandma Barb with her smart granddaughter

Uncle Aaron holds the thin child

Neighbors baby pigs

Little Lucy

Emmy participating in experiment while Gram and Lucy watch

Delpha, Mildred and Evelyn before Evelyn passed away

Jill and Kelli in front of one of the shoe trees

Jill in hot old Weiser, Idaho

This is the only kind of bird in our house

Baby Lucy Has Arrived

Kyla gave birth to Lucy Maye yesterday. Everything went well and both mommy and baby are doing great. Lucy weighed 7lbs. 9oz., was 20 1/2 inches long and has black hair and two dimples. She is so very adorable and Emmy is so proud and happy to have a new baby sister. I will write more later. But here are a couple of pictures.

Kyla with Emma and Lucy

Little Lucy Maye

Fishing, Year 27 and Mothers Day

Dave and I took Emmy fishing at Alton Baker Park the last Friday in April. Kyla bought her a cute fishing pole just her size and she practiced casting in her back yard. Much to our surprise, she can really cast that hook and line out to the middle of the water. She patiently fished for a while before we had to move to a different spot. We did get to see some really cute ducklings with their mama swimming as she fished which helped with the boredom and lack of bites. A little ice cream helped in the end since we didn't catch anything.

Happy birthday to Kyla. We had her birthday dinner on Sunday the 1st since she wanted Dave's famous seafood chowder. GG and Grandad Max came to help her celebrate as well as Jill, Wade and Kelli. On the 3rd (her actual birthday) she went home after picking up Emmy from preschool and was trying to fix herself some lunch. She had a grand mal seizure in the kitchen and Emma did so great. She was scared but managed to get help from the neighbor. Kyla had just weaned herself off of Keppra a couple of days before so they put her back on it. She had another smaller seizure on Saturday while down town. After being monitored she went home with an increase in dosage. The nurse said that in the last trimester of pregnancy it is not unusual for this to happen to someone who is prone to seizures. We all pray that she can get through this last four weeks of her pregnancy and have a healthy baby and heal.

On a mothers note (me) I am so sad to see her so heart broken by all that has transpired from Jed. He will never fully understand how much he is/was  loved by her. I can't help but think that this stress along with the pregnancy might be causing the seizures. 

The kids took Dave and I to a brunch at Ambrosia on Sunday for Mothers Day where the food was pretty great. Then Dave took me to buy a couple of hanging plants. A special happy Mothers Day to my mom, my mother-in-law, and a very special Happy Mothers Day to Kyla who is such a terrific mom and to Jill who will be a first time mom soon.

Emmy and Grandad fishing

Four little ducklings with their mommy

Happy 27th birthday to Kyla......We love you!

Emma modeling the new dress from GG and Grandad Max

It's a Boy for Jill and Wade, Weekend and Birthdays

Jill and Wade invited Dave and I to come to her ultrasound today. It's a boy! One of each this summer will be lots of fun. Jill is pretty excited and they plan on naming him Byron David.

We kept pretty busy this weekend. Dave finished a section of our deck in front and it looks great. Plus a great benefit is that we don't worry about falling through now. I worked on our master bathroom and finished painting. Now I move on to the bedroom. It looks so much better to get all the old wallpaper off and a fresh coat of paint.

Kyla, Jill and Wade came and had dinner with us on Sunday and Kelli came late that night to do laundry. Emmy was being kind of naughty so stayed home with her dad. It rained all weekend but it is supposed to be nice all week. I hope it lasts in to the weekend because those monster weeds are screaming my name.

Happy birthday to my brother-in-law Mike, my nephew Jason and my dad....all born on April 17th.

Easter, Seizure, Another MRI and a 5-Year-Old Birthday Jump

On Easter we had a nice brunch with Barb and her family. Em and Joey had fun hunting eggs and playing together. Barb outdid herself as usual.....so much food and all so delicious. Dave, Kelli and I went home and that evening we received a call that Kyla had had a seizure outside a bookstore after eating dinner. So the evening was spent in the emergency room and then we kept Emmy for a few nights until Kyla's medication was on board. It seems to be non-tumor related but they can't be sure. Since Jed decided to come out and they are working through some things she is under an incredible amount of stress and sadness. She also had a glucose tolerance test earlier in the week which may be a major factor. She went to San Francisco for a scan just to be sure and everything looks fine still.

While Kyla and Jed were in San Francisco we kept Emmy again and she woke up on her 5th birthday demonstrating how she is sure she can jump higher now. She is such a hoot! I fixed her a birthday breakfast and then her mom and dad took her to lunch. Tonight (Friday) she is having a couple of friends over for a sleepover and then a family dinner on Sunday at our house.

Special Easter brunch at Aunt Barbs

Emmy and her birthday cupcake

Preparing for the birthday jump

The great five year old birthday jump!!