Hurry Up and Have Some MORE Fun

Monday began our adventures all over again.  The day mostly consisted of the average stuff, running errands, going to the gym, yada yada yada.  Mom and I went to a flower nursery and hit the jackpot!  We scored big time plants for the back yard to go around the new deck.

*We only had one tree in the back seat...

Then we got a call that my cousin Andy had an indoor soccer game that and wanted to know if Greg wanted to come play too.  No questions asked, obviously the answer was Y-E-S.  So, mom came with me and we watched Andy and Greg play soccer.  I will admit that I don’t know much about soccer, I am learning, but what a team!  I think the score was 15-0 when they stopped keeping track.  They were winning.  Andy played soccer for 4 years in college at Pacific Lutheran University and most of the guys on this indoor team played with him in college.  They were more than the average men’s league team and the other team wasn’t too happy about it, however, we didn’t mind. 

*Andy is in all black.  Greg is in orange.

Tuesday day was much the same, but we headed to the Mariners game that evening.  We sat 2 sections over from 3^rd base, but in the 5^th row.  It was a very entertaining game including the friendly banter between our friends the Mariners fans and our not-so-friends the Braves fans.  I can’t remember the last time my snort hurt I laughed so hard.  What a game, but unfortunately the score didn’t quite reflect how much fun we had…oh well. 

Wednesday we had a relaxing morning before the festivities began.  More errands were run, it seems like there are so many when the 4^th of July is drawing near.  Next was more digging for the plants.  Ok, I must admit, the boys were doing the digging and Lisa and I were sanding down the smore’s sticks, but we were outside keeping them company.  Oh, did I mention that it was raining?  I guess not…it was raining!! 

Alright, I am almost caught up and can finishing making the boys waffles for breakfast…I am trying to type quickly, please pardon the spelling errors if I miss any.

Last night we went to our favorite seafood location Steamers.  We have gone to Steamers many many times and last night was Riley’s first experience.  Even he agreed that it was probably the best fish n’ chips he had ever had.  Plus, our little tradition prize by the railroad was found after dinner because the train ran it over.  Woo Hoo!  For some reason, at Steamers and Steamers only, we play hangman.  It ias become this weird routine at Steamers.  Nearing the end of dinner, I decided to make a hangman game stating   _ _ _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _ _?  Mom knew without even guessing a letter.  Dad knew after B.  So off we went to Baskin Robbins.  Yum Yum Yum.  Lots of laughs and chuckles throughout this night. 

Today we are working in the yard.  Mom decided it was a good idea to make the boys a good breakfast before we sent them digging…waffles from scratch it is.  Yum (I am sensing a pattern of “yum” throughout this trip, we have certainly not been lacking food).

Ok, I am leaving you now so I can eat my waffle before it gets cold.  Toodles!

P.S. the hot fudge maker gets turned on tonight which means my favorite day of the year is 4 days away!!!!!!!

Hurry Up and Have Some Fun

As I hinted before, I am now in the beautiful Northwest.  We landed Friday night and it has been a whir-wind of adventures since then.  Our motto of the trip so far has been to “hurry up and have some fun.”  Friday early afternoon the six of us headed to Ocean Shores. 

It was a very popular weekend at the Sand and Sawdust Festival.  This is an event where there are multiple people carving wood into various animals and scenes and on the beach there are also sand castle competitions with varying degrees of skill.    

I will also state that this was the most incredible warm and beautiful weekend we have seen in Ocean Shores.  This was even wear your shorts weather…are rare occasion; no matter how strange that sounds.  Between the 2 days we were there the girls watched the boys play catch, we saw the great kites in town, and Greg and I rode my parents bicycle built for two into town, a whole 5 miles. 

*They had to go back out to find Dad's sunglasses he hadn't realized he lost

*The chain fell off about 5 houses down the road,

but Greg fixed it so we made it the whole way

Sunday morning we got up bright and early and drove to Seattle for the Sounders MLS soccer game.  We had fantastic seats and even more fantastic weather.  To top it off…we won!  It made for a very long day, but it was well worth it.  We finished the day with naps on the couch and an early bed time.  All this to start it all over again in the days to follow. 

*Yes, the ball is in the net and the goalie simply wondering what went wrong...

*Times 2

Oh what fun it is to be in the northwest with Family & Friends

This, That, and All the Others...

This, That, and All the Other events that I should have told you about...so here you have it. 

Thursday nights Greg and I are taking a class with some friends.  One of these fellow classmates is a dear friend Amy Brooks.  I don’t know if I have introduced you to her before (you have however been introduced to her son Evan), but for 7 more Thursdays after this one, you will hear about our adventures.   Amy is fondly referred to as the Cupcake Queen.  She has made the most wonderful cupcakes ever and is always eagerly waiting for the next recipe to try.  Together we decided that we are going to make cupcakes for our class; obviously a different kind every week.  This past Thursday we made Rootbeer Float Cupcakes.  They turned out fairly well, I don’t know that I would necessarily make them again, and I think that was a mutual decision, but they were still pretty good.  A good surprise. 

Next came Friday…the 17^th.  Mom’s Birthday!  So Mom, Happy Birthday to You!  Happy Birthday to You!  Happy Birthday dear Mom, Happy Birthday to You!  Good thing I actually sang it to her on Friday, if I had waited until I blogged it, I would have been in trouble.  I can’t wait to give you your birthday present.  Sorry you have to wait until I get home in 2 days; actually I’m not really sorry….patience is a virtue. 

I don’t have any roses, but I did take time to smell the flowers on Saturday.  I spent the morning in the little chunk of dirt I call the back yard, planting flowers.  The pinks, yellows, reds, and oranges are beautiful.  I am anxiously waiting for the evening when I sit outside admiring the work over a BBQ dinner.  Hopefully soon!!  In the early afternoon I played tennis with Brittany Salley (who played tennis for 4 years at Fresno Pacific) and Greg and Gerald.  Thankfully Brittany Salley was on my team.  It was a great time reminding me of all the summer days I used to spend playing tennis.  Plus I was reminded that it is about 10* hotter on a tennis court than it actually is.  This is much more of a problem in Fresno than it is in Lakewood. 

Sunday was Father’s day.  I am so blessed to have my father in my life and I can’t wait to see him in a few days!!  Thank you dad for all the ways that you have blessed my life and all the things you have taught me. 

Life Lessons

You may have thought I didn't see,
Or that I hadn't heard,
Life lessons that you taught to me,
But I got every word.

Perhaps you thought I missed it all,
And that we'd grow apart,
But Dad, I picked up everything,
It's written on my heart.

Without you, Dad, I wouldn't be
The woman I am today;
You built a strong foundation
No one can take away.

I've grown up with your values,
And I'm very glad I did;
So here's to you, dear father,
From your forever grateful kid.

By Joanna Fuchs

Yes, I know it may seem hard to believe, but I do remember some of those little life-lessons you taught me. 

After church Greg and I drove to Bakersfield to see his dad, Mike.  We made a 15 minute stop on the way at the Nike Outlet and I taught Greg the definition of “power shopping” as it was called in my house growing up.  I bought 2 pair of running shoes, 2 colorful laces for the shoes, and 3 pair of socks.   We were out of the store 14 minutes later.  I was quite proud of myself.  I got in the car and stated, “that was some serious power shopping” to which he replied, “I have heard of power steering, power windows, power throwing, and power lifting, but never power shopping.”  I think I taught him well. 

We had a wonderful dinner with Mike and his wife Shirley, Greg’s step-sister  and niece, Samara.  Lots of laughs were had, as well as a few good tickle fights with Samara.  Samara will be entering 1^st grade in the fall and she is very big on staring contests at the moment.  I lost every time, but Greg made her work hard to win.  While she was counting for the game to begin she would squeeze her eyes shut as fast as possible to get all the blinks out before it was time to start…priceless.

*They also played with balloons...

Sunday is followed by Monday.  This consisted of work in the morning, then bowling in the evening.  If you know me at all, I am not a bowler.  I will go simply to go with friends to hang out; I would not actually choose bowling myself.  Greg however loves to bowl!    He is a phenomenal bowler.  We bowled with our friends Bulldog and Gerald.  Bulldog is a good bowler as well and he will generally keep up with Greg until the last few frames.  Gerald and I fight for last.  My first game I bowled a 73.  That defines how terrible I am.  The second game I bowled 178!!! I was shocked.  I should quite bowling now and forever.  Now, if you are like my dad you will say, “No Stinkin’ Way!”  Here is my picture to prove it.

Last but not least, Greg’s softball team played very well last night and won their game.  Congrats!

I am sorry that these events are all compacted into one blog.  I could have written each one separately.  I will write again soon…possibly from the Northwest…or maybe one before that…oh the possibilities….

Flag Day

Happy Flag Day Everyone!

     Tonight I was lucky enough to have dinner with Greg, his brother Ryan, roommate Juan, and his mother Bette.  I was doubly lucky that Lisa and Riley came too!  If you don’t know what Sweet Tomatoes is you are missing out.  Delicious!

     Anyway, we were sitting out on the patio and there were two women handing out small flags to children and also showing them how to fold a flag.  It was actually very intriguing.  I don’t recall that I had ever seen someone fold a flag before.  Had my camera been in my purse, I am sure I would have been up there with the moms taking pictures of their young children, minus the children part.

     So in honor of this Flag Day, I would like to leave you with a few American Flag questions that I stumbled upon.  This quiz states, “It's Flag Day.  How much do you know about the Stars and Stripes?  If you get at least seven answers right, you're a true patriot. Score between four and seven, and it's time to read up on Old Glory. Score below four, and you might consider retaking that seventh-grade civics class.”  I wouldn’t go as far as to say go back to school; but it is fun to do anyway.  I bet my Papa has the highest score of anyone I know that would take the quiz. 

The answers are on the bottom…Now, no cheating.

1. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the back of an envelope. What is the source of the music for the song?

2. Which president made the official order for arranging the stars?

3. Who was Elizabeth Griscom and what was her connection to the flag?

4. Who planted the first U.S. flag on the moon?  Do you know what year?

5. Is it ever appropriate to fly the flag upside down?

6. What is done with worn or outdated flags?

7. The American flag first flew over what foreign country?

8. A vexillologist is an expert in what?

9. "Shipwreck" Kelly (1885-1952) was famous for sitting for long periods of time. What did he have to do with flags?

10. The United States has one of the oldest national flags. Which countries have older flags?

Answers:

1. Most people are aware of the source of the words in the song (Defense of Fort McHenry), but have no idea that the music for the Star Spandled Banner from "To Anacreon in Heaven", an English drinking song.  Obviously, the song has some outstanding music in it because it is loved and adored today. Many musicians believe it is one of the most difficult songs to sing in the world, but when you hit it just right, there is no doubt that it is outstanding (I completely agree).

2. President William Taft.  He was the one behind the six rows of eight stars, which turned out to be a hit. It was symmetrical and looked good as a flag.

3. Betsy Ross was born Elizabeth Griscom.  Betsy Ross (January 1, 1752 – January 30, 1836) is widely credited with making the first American flag.

4. Neil Armstrong planted first flag moon in 1969.

5. Never fly the flag upside down except to signal an emergency (I got this one wrong).  It means "Help Me! It's an emergency! Call the police! I am in dire trouble and need immediate help!"

6. Title 4, §8(k) of the United States Code states, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting symbol for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

          *Random Fact: In 1909 Robert Peary placed a flag, sewn by his wife, at the North Pole.  He also left pieces of another flag along the way. It is the only time a person has been honored for cutting the flag.

7. The first time the American flag was flown overseas on a foreign fort was in Libya, over Fort Derne, on the shores of Tripoli in 1805.

8. A vexillologist is an expert in the history of flags. 

9. Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly was the acknowledged master of flagpole-sitting, a nutty public fad of the 1920s. Kelly would clamber to the top of a specially-prepared flagpole and remain there on a small platform for days or even weeks, usually as a paid publicity stunt. Kelly set a world record by perching atop a flagpole for seven weeks at Atlantic City's Steel Pier in the summer of 1930. (My rear-end hurts just thinking about it!)

10. The basic flag of the U.S. is one of the world's oldest national flags. Only the basic flags of Austria, Denmark, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland are older.

 *Thank you to all of those that keep my flag flying!  I am so blessed!

A Spoonfull of Sugar

A few weeks ago, I disclosed information that Greg had never seen the wonderful movie Marry Poppins.  “Winds in the east, mist coming in.  Like somethin' is brewin' and bout to begin.”  (-Bert)  The adventure began, and we can scratch that off the list of things he had never done before.  We watched it last night!  I cooked dinner and Gerald, Greg and I watched the movie as we ate.  We were a great team in the kitchen.  We make a bit of magic because, “It’s easy!  Let’s see…You think.  You wink.  You do a double blink.  You close your eyes…and jump!” (-Bert) Ok, not quite magic, but it was a great meal.

Just as I remember it being, it is such an incredible movie.  You just can’t help but laugh. 

     Uncle Albert:
I love to laugh, loud and long and clear, I love to laugh, It's getting worse ev'ry year
The more I laugh, the more I fill with glee and the more the glee, the more I'm a merrier me
It's embarrassing!  The more I'm a merrier me!
     Mary Poppins:
Some people laugh through their noses, sounding something like this "Mmm..."

Some people laugh through their teeth goodness sake, hissing and fizzing like snakes
     Bert:
Some laugh too fast, some only blast - ha! Others, they twitter like birds, then there's the kind, what can't make up their mind
     Uncle Albert:
When things strike me as funny I can't hide it inside, and squeak - as the squeakelers do, I've got to let go with a ho-ho-ho... and a ha-ha-ha...too!

     All:
We love to laugh, loud and long and clear, we love to laugh so ev'rybody can hear

The more you laugh, the more you fill with glee and the more the glee, the more we're a merrier we!

  *I would like to add that some people laugh with a higgledy-piggledy too.

We certainly were a merry bunch.  However, I cannot reveal all the details of the movie night, because Gerald claims he and Greg would lose a "man card".  So, “I’d like to make one thing quite clear:  I never explain anything” (Ok, not true, but for today we will use Mary Poppins’ words instead).  Gerald says the man card is already gone, just by his name included….sorry Gerald and Greg.

“Never was there a more happier crew, than them what sings Chim Chim Chiree Chim Chiroo! Chim Chim Chiminy Chim Chim Chiree Chim Chiroo...” (-Bert)

Ok, so I must admit…I fell asleep. This is a usual occurrence for me during a movie, but I woke up and was certainly bummed that I fell asleep.  I would like to think I could blame it on that song, but I think I fell asleep before that scene.  Stay awake, don't rest your head. Don't lie down upon your bed. While the moon drifts in the skies... Stay awake, don't close your eyes. Though the world is fast asleep, though your pillow's soft and deep, you're not sleepy as you seem; stay awake, don't nod and dream... Stay awake... don't nod... and... dream.   (-Mary Poppins)

Whatever you do, don’t forget “Anything can happen if you let it.  Anything can happen if you just imagine.  If you chase your dreams you won’t regret it.”  (-Mary Poppins)

I will leave you will this and I apologize if I get this stuck in your head:

Oh, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious, if you say it loud enough, you’ll always sound precocious!  Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

“You know, you *can* say it backwards, which is "docious-ali-expi-istic-fragil-cali-rupus" - but that's going a bit too far, don't you think?” (-Marry Poppins)
“Indubitably!” (-Bert)

Rain Rain

Rain, Rain, don’t go away.

Just prepare me for another day.

(I realize it doesn’t exactly fit the rhythm of the rhyme, but its all I could come up with)

Ok, I am certainly not complaining; so here me out.

I don’t know if I have told you this, but Greg plays on a men’s softball team with some friends and I love to watch.  Today was the men’s softball team tournament for the end of this season.  I was excited to attend the game, along with my buddy Evan, the nearly 2^nd grader I was hanging out with for the day.  There was just something in the air….it’s called RAIN!

I know, I know, I know.  I love the rain!  I do not complain about the rain.  I have an incredibly cute gray and yellow rain coat that my dad picked out for me that I am thrilled to wear every chance I get (and I usually send him a text message to inform him I am wearing it).  Today it rained…all day long…through all 3 softball games…continuously.  It was cold and wet.  It is June.  I am in Fresno California, the land of hot weather.  I am on summer vacation. 

Here is my defense:  I am not complaining.  Normally, I would love that it was raining, and I still did; but I was missing one key element to enjoying the rain; my rain coat!  Last week when I was home I decided I would leave it in Lakewood since I wouldn’t need it in Fresno and I would be back to Lakewood in 3 weeks to use it again.  As it turns out, I was wrong.  I needed my raincoat today. 

I did have another coat to wear, so I did survive and I enjoyed sitting in the rain watching my friends get drenched while they were playing.  It is just extremely strange that in June it was raining and 65 degrees outside in Fresno.  I expect that in Lakewood.  I am just not prepared for it in Fresno. 

Anyway, I enjoyed the rain.  Just because I didn’t have my raincoat doesn’t mean I didn’t have a blast, I just thought I should pass on the strange concept of rain in Fresno in June.

*Sorry I don’t have any pictures.  It was raining too hard to want to take it outside.