Moving Michael

Just a note...I lied about the pictures. I guess I'm not in charge of that part!

This last week, we were able to get Michael and Anita's "things" moved from their apartment into storage, Michael's applications out for his internship and everything going with them to California into their car. Wow! No matter who you are or how long you have been in one place, moving is ALWAYS a tough experience. They seemed to have braved it well (even little Darwin, who was not excited about leaving his home behind)... especially with help from Angie and Tami's family easing the strain. Tami even made chocolate chip cookies for everyone at 1:00 a.m. (Yes, that is correct. NOT in the afternoon!) We were so glad we could see Michael & Anita before their "tour of duty," so to speak, as they go from California to Cedar City (Utah) to Las Vegas and back to Seattle.

In our off time, we have actually accomplished a bit in our garden. This year we had enough raspberries for several batches of jam, we had a very few strawberries (we've got to figure that out better, for sure!), lots of tomatoes, a few green peppers, and quite a few zucchini and squash. It is true what they say about people leaving zucchini in your car...we are going to quickly get tired of zucchini bread, cake and as a side veggie. They grow very large! I told Dad today, though, that no matter how bad the zucchini cake is, it tastes really good with our chocolate chip frosting! Oh, and we will have our stone walkways completed tomorrow...barring any catastrophe. (I hate to say that just in case!) And our new flowers and plants look pretty cool.

Angie is back home for about a couple of weeks...and then it's off to Central again to begin a new semester. She brings a lot of her middle name with her...JOY. I was thinking the other day that she has gone to be with Britney while Landon was gone, she helped Michael and Anita with their packing, she previously has gone to help Tami with kids at times and way back took care of Grandma when she had surgery or other problems. What a God-send she is to many.

We found out that the movie theater gives quite a discount for people over 60...and their policy is that anyone who will admit they're that old gets the discount! Just for the record...don't bother going to "Apollo 18," "Captain America" is a lot of fun, and "Seventeen Miracles" (about the Willie Handcart Company) will make you realize how very grateful we should be for all we have. I have decided that my greatest blessings are YOU. Thank you for all you each do to make Lon and me the happiest parents/grandparents ever.

Grandkids are Great!

A week ago, Tami and the kids came to our house and the boys both took a turn on Lon's drums, while Lindee learned to do the swing (she's GOOD!) and to sing on the microphone to "Johnny B. Goode." Mason had never done the hula hoop, but learned that pretty fast! Lindee is quite the expert and doesn't EVER let it fall. Drew loved to pound out the rhythm and is much better than you would assume at only 3 years old. They all decided they like our little garden, especially our "bunny," the tree ladder and monkey bars. This last weekend, we decided to help Michael and Anita tend Tami's kids while she and her hubby went to California to stay a couple of days with her good friend, Jeanne. We had double the excitement, though, because Britney was flown home by the Rowleys so she could be with her sweetheart for a weekend and we were able to pick up Landon and go get her at the Spokane airport. We haven't had much one-on-one time with them for a while (other than in the ER with Landon in June after he almost died from anaphylactic shock!), so we enjoyed being with them for the drive to and from the airport. That was on Friday, so Saturday morning we drove up to Seattle and got to have a "water fight" and play with the kids. Anita picked out the movie "Core" with Hillary Swank...and though everyone else fell asleep, Dad and I really liked it. (Michael was working all week and studying for his upcoming boards.) Sunday we had our traditional chocolate chip waffles and went to Tami's ward. Michael & Anita's baby "Darwin" is growing like crazy, and just yesterday cut his first tooth! He is SOOO close to crawling, can maneuver around like a pro, and best of all...he is the cutest little guy when he laughs and giggles. Sorry to all you out there who don't have grandkids yet, because they are just THE BEST!!!