Well, almost a whole entire month has gone by and I have not blogged here.   It has been so pretty and green around here.  I have gotten my kids to go on a few hikes.  Kiki and Shanny are picking up trash on some hikes for their Personal Progress value projects.

Ty started scouting this summer and went to scout camp for his first time.  He survived, a little worse for the wear. Norm went up with him and they also did a service project up there as well.   Doing laundry after one of these scout camps is an aromatic event.    Ty’s feet are getting awfully smelly and I bought him some of those deodorizing sneaker balls.   They seem to be working.

Norm and I went on a mini-second honeymoon for our anniversary.  That was really great and I wish it could have been longer.  We are planning on doing this every year.  We probably won’t stay somewhere as posh as the Stanley next time but it will be something to look forward to.  I was always too worried to leave the kids when they were little.  Now I don’t worry AS MUCH.  The girls made us plate of cookies and cleaned the house for us. (  Highlight of that excursion was the moose we saw on the way home.) 

Nederland finally opened it’s Carousel of Happiness.   Even though my kids are a bit too old to ride,  we went and checked it out.  The animals were beautifully painted and  designed for little kids’ tushes. 

Rach needs some professional looking clothes for some of her accounting meetings so we have been trying to find some business -wear for her.  Any suggestions for a good store to go to?   We have been to Nordstroms, Ross, Marshalls,  Tj MAXX,  thrift stores.  Speaking of thrift stores…..I  was trying on a shirt on top of my shirt at a store and when I took off the shirt,  I accidentally took of BOTH shirts right there.  I did not even notice that I took off my own shirt.    Oops. Luckily, Kiki told me and I did not walk around in my bra.  I think that goes on the number one embarrasing moment of my life now. 

Fun Store:  The Pacific Ocean Marketplace.   Good  selection of rice and noodles, very entertaining.  Lots of curiosities.  I did not dare take a photo there.

I am out of practice of blogging and I am sorry that these photos are duplicates and in strange order.

I forgot my password for this blog and that is the excuse I have for not blogging.  I finally had to use my keypass to figure it out.  ( and it was Shanny who helped me with that. )

I was released as piano player for RS so I can concentrate on the secretary job now.

We switched bus stops and now go to a different,  somewhat less crowded one.  The kids will all ride the same bus next year, budget cuts.  I am not complaining,  since that is what they did when we first moved up here to the mountains.   I just wish they would have done it sooner because it won’t affect us at all next year with Ty going into Middle school anyways.

The last band concert of the year tonight.  I need to bring my earplugs. 

Rach is home from college.  She  worked really hard this past year and actually got a 4.o her freshman year.  I am so proud of her.  She is job-hunting for a summer work now. The prospects are not so fabulous.  She is going to take some cooking lessons from me this summer and add some recipes to her recipe box that are not sweet-oriented.   Also with her coming home, we won’t have room in the car to give our friend, MM a ride to church.  I will not say anymore about that. 

Mother’s day was pretty nice.  Kiki gave me a scrapbooking kit and I am looking forward to using that.  Hubby gave me some new plants.

Ty, Rach and Shanny made me cards and Shanny make me a koala bear statue in pottery.  They really made me feel special and loved.

Personally, I would go bonkers having them on my hands for just one second.   Can you imagine me doing landscaping with these on?  They are pretty though!

Every year the fifth graders plan, construct and display their dream homes.  I had a blast walking around their classrooms  and seeing all the creative floor plans, jello- swimming pools, wheat grass gardens and fun colors and posters of Taylor Lautner included in their projects. ( click on the photos for a more close-up version.)  One girl was especially proud of her house and asked if her picture would be in the newspaper.  Does my blog count as notoriety?   Probably not.

The ducks came this week to the pond, the day after it melted.  I wasn’t quick enough with the camera to get a photo though.  I will keep trying!  My kids were eager to catch some crayfish but we didn’t see any yet.   The hummingbirds should be arriving this week…if they are on “schedule”.  I saw a small group of Pasque flowers blooming and that is another sure sign of spring!