Happy "REAL" Birthday Lee!

Since Lee already had his peach cobbler that he requested on Sunday, today he got a big cookie to celebrate his special day. Braden and Tanner helped me mix up the dough, and Gracie helped me scoop the cookies and make this big one for Grandpa.

Today after Jen took some Sr. pictures of Chad he came home and had a short rock band party. Here Tanner is helping Chad with the drums, Braden is playing another drum (fisher price) . . .

. . . and Gracie was on the guitar ").

On a side note, my second bathroom floor is now finished. Soon I'll be able to paint. The shower walls and new counter tops & sinks come on the 25th. We'll all be very happy when this bathroom is done.

Just Another Day in Paradise

In honor of President's Day we decided to go on a "kid friendly" hike (Jen suggested it and did the homework for us). It was pretty cold, so here's Grandpa wrapping up Em and Miss Addison in an EF&R blanket to help them stay warm.
Grandpa Coo Coo bird and some of the kids

break time

You meet all kinds on the trails

The Gardner's family picture

Scott's Family picture

The finishers - minus Em who was taking the picture, and Scott's dogs who were already loaded.

The Kevin family picture

Tyson and Summer. Calley took Abby to the Dr.

Jen and co. - Ryan was working - it's busy season you know?

Happy Birthday to Tyson and Daddy - O!

A cute little picture of the Birthday Boys! We had a party for the February birthdays on Sunday after church. We had barbecued hamburgers for Tyson's birthday dinner request, and beef stew for Lee's. We also enjoyed lots of salads, chips and 3 desserts.
Tyson laughing at his Mother for giving him granola bars - you see when he was here at Halloween I was "getting rid" of the raisin oatmeal granola bars to the many trick or treaters, when Tyson said "those are the best kind. Any time you have free food I'll take it" (he must have been feeling poor or something). Anyway, ever since then I've saved them for him (he got some with his Christmas, and now his birthday too), so add THAT to the collection of things to make fun of his Mother for :). No more raisin oatmeal granola bars for him "~

. . . yes, other than his scout stuff and scriptures (his 8th birthday which he claims is the worst birthday ever for gift reasons), he also got an xbox game and some socks ")

Lee got his FAVORITE thing - DVD's!!!

The lighting of the torches - I mean candles ;)

cough cough!

Bailee and Gracie decided it was time for the birthday spankings

Paigey being sweet/serious with Kaisa

. . . and now her imitation of Simba

Rrrraarrr!

It was a fun party.

My DOGS Are Barkin' Tonight!!

So yesterday I hear my dear daughter-in-law talking about her 10 mile "long run" and was inspired, so with today being such a nice day, I decided to go for 10 myself. I have been having some feet problems lately where after about 5/6 miles, my foot starts to BURN like crazy, making it very difficult to continue, so I haven't gone farther than 7-8 miles at a time for a while. My podiatrist tells me I've got a neuroma (like a pinched nerve). Well, of course it started acting up, but I was determined so I pushed forth. I ended up running - well, let's be honest - jogging 10.6 miles and then I walked another 1.3, and let me tell YOU . . these dogs were barkin' up a storm!! I've run 22 miles before and not felt THIS bad, so maybe I'll call the foot Dr. tomorrow and see if I can take him up on his offer of some cortisone shots in these puppies :). I must be getting old or something - huh? YIKES!! My niece, nephew, daughter in law, and maybe my daughter, are running in the Seattle Rock and Roll marathon June 28, and so I thought it would be fun to participate myself, in celebration of my 50th year, so I could cross it off my "bucket list", but unless these cortisone shots do wonders for my feet, I think I may be cheerleader for the others instead :).

Grandpa got to hang out with at least ONE "chick"

Grandpa got home from work AFTER the "chicks" were in bed for the night, and headed off before Summer was awake, but at least he was able to spend a few minutes with ONE of the Soptich Chicks.

A Funny Little Story About Hanging Out With "The Soptich Chick's"

I got to hang out with "The Soptich Chick's" while Calley took Tyson out for his birthday. Here is a cute picture of SWEET baby Abby with a little sample of Summer's "artistic abilities" :)

You see, poor Miss Abby had sort of a rough afternoon; she was cute - played with, and entertained, Grandma for a bit and then took a nap like her Mom said she would. Calley also said she would wake up half way through her 3 hour nap for a bottle and go right back to sleep. Well . . . the second part didn't exactly go like that - I think she was having some tummy problems. Anyway, she was sad. Then things seemed to go a little bit crazy! The phone rang (it was Aunt Kaisa), and Travis was in and out, banging on things upstairs. Then Nellie came home and it was time to rush her to the foot Dr., so we loaded up "The Soptich Chick's" and headed out. After paying the co-pay for the Dr. visit, I went back out to the suburban and entertained the "chicks" (I found some paper and a pen for Summer to color with) while Nellie had her foot worked on. On the way back from the Dr., and on the way to Nellie's basketball game, Abby was sad again. Nellie was finally able to get her to sleep. I decided then that the basketball game probably wasn't the best choice for me and the "chick's" so we went home. I first put the sleeping Abby, still strapped into her car seat, on top of the dryer so she could have some quality sleepy time while I fixed dinner, and not be interrupted, but then Chad told me that Travis, who is remodeling our bathroom, had been in and out of there all afternoon, so I moved her to the living room couch, propped up/camouflaged with pillows. Summer was happily coloring up to the bar so all was well . . . or so I THOUGHT. Pretty soon I heard Abby cry and thought "what??" She had been SOUND asleep, so it seemed odd that she was already awake. I picked her up and saw pen marks on her face that weren't there only moments before. Now I may be old, but I've got some L O N G years of experience with kids, so I quickly put 2 and 2 together and asked Summer if she colored on Abby . . . at least she was honest :)
A little mark by her ear . . .

2 marks up in her hair on the left, and the A shaped design on the right. Anyway, I thought it was funny so I thought I'd share it :). I got the "chick's" all bathed and shined up tonight so I had to take the pictures before the evidence was gone :). Abby LOVED her bath and so did Summer. We've had a lot of fun - "art" and all! I love my Grandgirls ")

Mr. Fix it & Our Valentine/"What I Love About . . . " Family Home Evening

Last Saturday Lee was in his element playing the part of "Mr. Fix it". He was doing some creative work up in the VERY dark attic (changing out some light fixtures), so he shimmied into his favorite camo shirt, strapped on his one headlamp and went to it. I just couldn't resist snapping a picture :)
Since tonight is the last Monday night (Family Home Evening) before Valentines Day we held what is becoming our traditional what I love about ______ (each member of our family) & cookie/valentine decorating night. Here is Scott with his cookie for a "special someone".

This was Sarah's first time - didn't she do a great job? She said nice things about everyone too so she gets an A+.

This is Chad's creation. He started out with a bare cookie, added 2 blobs of frosting for eyes, and sort of a curved blob for a smile . . . I was very pleased that he decided to put forth just a wee bit more effort for his Valentine ") I'm sure she'll love it.

Miss Nellie (AFTER basketball practice)

UGH!

Here's LOVER'S masterpiece

He added some wording at the last minute so I had to snap a close up - it reads "the love mound". He proudly announced that "whoever gets this cookie is going to gain about 9 pounds!!" . . . GREAT! Since I had BETTER be his Valentine, I guess that means a little bit of EXTRA exercise for me or something :).

Our finished product. Guess who's Nellie's Valentine is for?

All in all it was a fun night - a little challenging at times to control the male gender (they were throwing the heart gumdrops at each other - notice the half eaten one stuck to Scott's foil backing), but it was a great opportunity to think about what we love most about each other and say the things we don't say often enough. I love Valentines Day - It's one of my favorite holidays. Happy early Valentines Day to you ;).