Delaynie's 1st Birthday Party!

We were in PA to celebrate Delaynie's first birthday on Saturday. It was the first time I had met her - she's just beautiful! Good job Tiffany & Shayne!

her first Ravens jersey

Shayne

something I usually don't see at home

After the birthday party, Delaynie went home with Grandma & Grandpa. That's when the drinking games started...

I think Tiff was exhausted by this time

Brian, Jamie & Shayne

Another late night for Jamie...

Visiting Maryland & Pennsylvania

We left for Maryland on Aug 18th (the busy-ness of life has kept me away from Blogger). Jamie had a 4 days sales meeting, so we could headed to MD ahead of time to visit family & friends.

We arrived at the airport in plenty of time...or so we thought. (Isn't this how the story always begins when I'm traveling with Jamie??) Because Jamie was bringing golf clubs (apparently part of the 'sales meeting') we were able to check baggage this trip. He always wants me to pack everything in my carry-on, so this was a treat for me! We didn't plan for the extra long time it took to stand in line and check our bags...or for the hundreds and hundreds of people already at the security line. And, of course, there were only 3 screeners for all of these people.

Jamie immediately began nagging the lady organizing the Express Lane (only for First Class folk) until she finally let us through the line. We cruised through as fast as we could and then took off running (yep...running) for our gate (which just so happened to be at the very end)! I still laugh now just thinking about it; I didn't have my shoes tied so they were flopping around, my shorts kept sliding down so I had to hold them up, and my camera backpack was feeling heavier with each step. I was envisioning myself tripping on a shoe lace and flying across the terminal floor. Jamie was ahead of me, so I figured I'd stop and tie my shoes and catch my breath (as I am NOT a runner). As I took a deep breath (thinking I may pass out) a pregnant woman, pushing a stroller with a toddler in it, ran by me. I can only imagine how my face looked, because 'you lazy, fat ass' was running through my mind. So, back to flopping shoes, holding up my shorts and hoping my camera bag didn't break my back. Thankfully, they were holding the flight for a bit as so many of us were running late...and so many of us were running through the terminal!

leaving the beautiful Pacific NW

The rest of the flight was pretty normal. We had a layover in Phoenix, allowing us some time to get some food, water and some Dramamine for me. There was a little turbulence on the way, to which I don't react well to. And we made it to the next gate way ahead of time!

We arrived in Baltimore at midnight, and Jeff was there to pick us up. We got back to Jeff's house, ate and then I headed to bed. Jeff talked Jamie in to staying up with him; off and on through the night I heard music, laughing, them playing on the quad and a fire. I went downstairs around 6am to find them making breakfast...they still hadn't gone to sleep! Jamie was quite tired later that day...we had Delaynie's birthday party to go to and I only let him sleep for a few hours before.

Skip ahead to Sunday. I'm not a big football fan (I know, I know) so I decided to take a drive while everyone else watched the Baltimore game. As many of you may know, I can get lost very easily, so I went to the main road and took a left. I decided that I would just keep going straight until I found something I wanted to take pictures of. There were a few things off the road that I thought I may try, but opted not to as I knew it would not end up well for me. Luckily, I found a beautiful Mennonite Church and Cemetery about 15 minutes away.

6 infants in one family - 1889 to 1915

I thought these were interesting and then noticed the one behind

while I was editing. Dean Koontz is one of my favorite

authors...that's not him tho.

The family name was Day - liked this tho

Skip ahead to Tuesday. Before Jamie took me to the airport, we headed to Baltimore Harbor to get some lunch at the ESPN Zone.

I arrived in Denver around 5:30pm and was so very happy to see a Rock Bottom. Yeah for microbrews! I was back at home around 10:30pm that night and went straight to bed. My anxiety levels get a little high while flying, especially when I'm alone. Hopefully I didn't freak out the people next to me when I dug my fingers into both arm rests and started chanting. (Okay...no chanting.)

We had a great visit to Maryland and Pennsylvania...more to come...

Fundraising

"It's that time again!" should be "It's still that time!" Fundraising is ongoing...especially in today's economy. Fundraising is a big part of my family's life; American Cancer Society, CASA, Girl Scouts, school and other non-profits. We participate in as many fundraisers and activities as we are able to, and (I think) we all enjoy doing so. Sometimes we collect food, toiletries, blankets or coats, but usually organizations need MONEY. (Something we all need more of right??)

As I was out doing yard work yesterday, one of the neighbor boys came by.
"Wanna buy something?" he says
"Like what?" I ask
"This stuff" he hands me two catalogs of the normal school fundraising items - wrapping paper, cooking items, chocolates, etc
"What are you trying to raise money for?" I ask while looking through the catalogs (I'm a sucker for Christmas wrapping paper by the way)
"We win prizes" he tells me
"Are you raising money for something specific at school?"
"I dunno"
"Do I need to give you money now?"
"I dunno"
"Do you know when the items come in?"
"Well..." he says "Sooner or later I guess."
"I guess so" I agree
"I mean, it will come eventually you know."
"Maybe you can come back when you know."
"Okay" he says and walks off to the next house

I recently learned that the Beaverton School District lost millions of dollars in grants this year...one school district...Makena's school district. I find it extremely sad that our schools continue to lose more and more money. That our children are given fewer opportunities. I also found it a bit sad that the neighbor boy didn't have any idea what he was fundraising for. I'm fairly certain that Makena (and my Girl Scouts) could tell you what they fundraise money for.

The neighbor boy did come back and tell me I could write him a check to his school, so I bought a roll of Christmas wrapping paper. He tried...

Kylah participated in her first school fundraiser on Friday. I wish I could have been there to see her run laps for her school's Fun Run. I know she did her best! (I also know that she told Jamie what her fundraiser was for.) There will be many more fundraisers in Kylah's future!

And...guess what?!? Makena's school will be doing a magazine fundraiser again this year! It doesn't begin until next week, but if you have a magazine to renew (or would like) let us know. The school receives a percentage of each magazine purchased. If you don't want a magazine, the school also accepts donations (of course!). The school keeps 100% of donations to use for after school programs. Programs like; homework club, choir, basketball, drama, chess club and more. Programs that kids should be able to participate in, but have to fundraise for first. I guess we'll have to do what we can for that too. (I'm a sucker for magazines too by the way.)

Walden Island 78 & 79

I've come to realize that I need to deal with the fact that Fall is coming. I am having such a hard time with it this year! I usually look forward to the Fall colors, warm home-made soups, Halloween & Thanksgiving and (most of all) pumpkin pie. But this year, I'm having a hard time letting Summer go. We've had such a great summer at the lake, we've had some beautiful weather and I'm just a happier person when the sun is out. I'll just have to hold on to those things until next Summer.

We've still had some nice weather...making things a little easier I suppose. Rather than just planning to put the outside things away, I've also decided to do a little face-lift in the backyard. I'm just hoping the nice weather sticks around for a while so that I can finish everything I need to. We leave for Maryland on Friday, so I'm not sure how much will get done anyways. No hurry tho...

I had a Relay Committee Retreat on Saturday morning (to which I brought yummy pumpkin bars) and then we headed up to the lake. Sadly, due to our schedules, we hadn't been up there in 4 weeks. When we arrived, one of our neighbors came out to tell us that everyone was getting worried about us - where had we been?!? We were missed. : )

After unloading the boat and eating dinner, Jamie went off to visit neighbors, Makena got out a book and I finished situating the shed. Then I waited (ever so patiently) for Makena to finish her book so that she could go for a walk with me.

are you done yet? are you done yet??

all of the plums had fallen from our tree

Later that night, Makena and I played a few games of Clue then read. Jamie said that we must have gone to bed pretty early, because he got back home around 11pm and we were sound asleep. The fresh, lake air must have been just what we needed!

Makena and I got up early on Sunday to do some more reading. Then football started (oh joy) so I made breakfast and went out to do some work. With Summer ending, there are a lot of things that needed to be put away or cleaned up. The yard also needed to be mowed, the garage cleaned up and sealed and some pruning needed to be done. Whewww...enough work to keep me busy for a few hours!

Once football was over, Jamie and I went down to bring in the floaty and the trampoline. Apparently, sometime last week, the winds were so bad that it pulled them out towards the middle of the lake. Gene kindly went out and saved them for us. Cleaning both of them took about 2 hours (much longer than we thought it would) and then we deflated them and put them away for next year. The neighbors are still talking about our 'parties' on the Party Float (the big yellow & white one that seats 6).

I do hope that we can get back up to the lake a few more times before Winter. I suggested to Jamie that we have Thanksgiving dinner there, just the two of us, but I don't think he liked the idea. He mentioned something about my mom's house being warmer - and if you know my mom, that means it's really cold at the lake! It will be another three weeks or so again before we get back up there tho. Jamie and I will be in Maryland (Jamie stays a week longer than I do) and then we are off again to another conference in Lincoln City. I'll be missing Walden Island until then...

9/11/01

We will always remember

Save your lids!

Save Lids to Save Lives

Grab your spoons and start your grocery lists. Start looking for the pink lids in stores near you this fall. They’ll be on packages of Yoplait® so you can feel even better about eating your favorite flavors. Then just save ‘em, rinse ‘em, and mail ‘em in by December 31st, 2009.

Mailing in your lids is so easy.

• Make sure all your lids are the pink ones issued for the Save Lids to Save Lives® program.
• Wash your lids well and let them dry.
• Flatten your lids and put them in a regular envelope, like a #10 business envelope. You don't need any kind of special mailer.
• Be sure to put your return address on your envelope, including your zip code. We use that information to distribute our donation money back to your local Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Affiliates.
• Apply your postage. You can mail up to 12 Yoplait® yogurt cup lids with one First Class or regular-sized envelope with U.S. postage stamp.
  Address your envelope to:
  Save Lids to Save Lives®P.O. Box 420704 El Paso, TX 88542-0704
  Drop it in a mail box.

Go to http://www.yoplait.com/ for more information.

What's for dinner - Take 2

Things went better with the 'something new' for dinner last night. I got a few of the same type of comments; "Why are the tomatoes wrinkly?" (they are baked) or "What's the green stuff?" (pesto) - but everyone ate it! Wheww...

I have a huge binder full of recipes to try - it's finding the ones that are going to work for all three of us that make things difficult. Those of you that have offered to help out with ideas - thank you!! I'll be waiting.

One day at a time. : )

7th Grade!

Makena let me take a couple pictures of her just before we headed out the door to school this morning. She's a 7th grader now...the 'first day' still brings tears to my eyes!

What's for dinner?

That is a question that gets asked at my house almost every day. Last night it went a little something like this...

Makena: "What's for dinner, I'm starving."
Me: "Something new." (grinning because I know how the rest of this is going to go...)
Makena: "Oh really??" (not in a happy) "It's my last night before school starts and you're going to make me eat 'something new'? What is it?"
Me: "An Italian wedding soup."
Makena: "Aren't Italian's crazy?"
Me: "I need to cook things that we can all eat, so I don't have to make separate meals." (I'm back to measuring everything I eat and writing down calories.) "And we're going to be eating back at the table again too."
Makena: "Jamie" (she yells as he's upstairs) "Mom's gonna make us eat something new AND eat at the table."

Meanwhile, I about chop my finger off with my kitchen knife. (Kitchen Aid makes damn sharp knives by the way!) I ask Makena to get me a band-aid.

Makena: "Try not to get blood in the soup would ya?"
Me: "Thanks."

I get everything ready and set the table. Jamie fills our bowls with soup and it begins again...

Makena: "What's in it?" (she's poking it with her spoon like it's alive or something)
Me: "It's soup."
Jamie: "With meatballs."
Makena: "What's the white stuff? It looks crunchy - is it crunchy?" (still poking at it)

Then she tries a bite and makes a funny face. Jamie tries a bite and doesn't say anything.

Makena: "It's not that good Mom. It tastes like water. Sorry."
Jamie: "Maybe it needs crackers to thicken it up." (did I mention that it's soup?)

I get the crackers out - Jamie uses about half the box and Makena puts a few in hers.

Makena: "It didn't make it better. My stomach hurts anyways. Do you want mine Mom?"
Me: "I haven't even tried mine yet."
Jamie: "It does need a little more flavor, but it's not too bad."

Makena makes herself a Soup at Hand (cuz that's much better than my soup) and Jamie and I finish dinner. That's pretty much how dinner is at my house. Unless, of course, I make the same-old-thing all the time...which I get tired of doing. They are both very picky, usually about the same things. Makena doesn't really want any meat and Jamie doesn't really want many veggies. Jamie could eat Hamburger Helper and boxed potatoes every night and be happy, and Makena would just snack on stuff all day. Makes it difficult most of the time, but I'm still trying.

Guess what's for dinner tonight, "something new". : )

Getting outside

After not feeling well and being cooped up in the house for a few days, I was very happy to see the sun come out this afternoon! After a few more hours of tv and reading, I decided to take Moxie for a walk. She has been pouting around the house with me the last few days too.

because we don't usually walk her on a leash,

Moxie sometimes runs to catch up after being side-tracked by smells

I didn't know bicycle lane people wore helmets??

Or I think that's what that is...

ohhh...bad bicycle lane person; no helmet

still a few pretty flowers out

Moxie sometimes wants to be in the pictures I'm taking

I love Fall colors, but I'm just not ready for them yet

Isn't this the cutest acorn?!? It has a little handle on it.

It felt good to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. After a bowl of water, Moxie went straight to her bed and I headed up for a long, hot bath. I'm ready for another day of Oregon tomorrow!

Good Things #15

A great article I read this morning:

Eat Local! is a Portland mantra. But cooking too much and throwing it away or inadvertently letting it go bad wipes out any carbon edge the food may have had from being grown locally even if it's composted. Minimizing food waste has a much larger benefit than switching from a distant supplier to a local supplier.

About 20 percent of a household's garbage is food. Throwing away cooked meat is about the worst thing for the carbon impact of food. It took energy to grow the chicken, transport it, cook it, and then there's the methane it creates in the landfill. To a lesser degree, same for fruits and vegetables. The very best thing a person can do is not waste food.

"Anyone who is wasting food should be very conscious," she said. "If I go to a restaurant, let's say they're going to put hashbrowns next to my eggs. If you don't think you're going to eat it, tell them not to put it on your plate. That has a huge impact."

So what does this mean in terms of greenhouse gas emissions? One way to look at it: For every ton of food waste that's composted rather than landfilled, at least a ton of CO2 equivalent is removed from the atmosphere. And that's a conservative estimate.

Clearly a real backyard composter would help my carbon footprint, but it won't take all my excess food. I can't compost meat, dairy, grease or bread if I want to keep rodents at bay.

Bottom line: I need to better plan meals to avoid leftovers. That means more precise grocery shopping and cooking smaller portions.

Playtime!

Kylah and Kallie came to spend the day with us on Tuesday. Hailee was still with us, and the girls were all eager to get outside and play! They started off with squirt bottles, but quickly decided that that wasn't enough.

Kallie wanted to wear Makena's shirt so that she could get wet

The last "play day" before school starts back up...makes me a little sad.