Tagged by Marie

Well here goes. Many of these will come as no surprise.
1. I am happiest when everything has a place and is in its place. It is really frustrating when items in my bathroom, for example, are not returned to their assigned places when someone else uses them.
2. In 33 years of marriage I have only cleaned my bathrooms a couple of times because my husband does it.
3. I love to bake desserts, but that is not really compatible with WW so I don't do it now unless it is going to someone else's house or the church.
4. Our seven grandchildren are all incredibly beautiful and handsome as well as extraordinarily brilliant.
5. I have lived in the same house for 27 years 4 months.
6. It was my intention to be a stay at home mom. Now it looks like retirement is just a dream. Hopefully, while still able to do things I like to do, I will be able to stay home when I choose.

Ryder was asleep when we put him in his carseat and his hands went straight for the handles. It was so funny. He doesn't like to be fastened in his carseat, apparently even when he is asleep. I picked him up at Great n Small after work because Katy worked until 6. He arrived at 5:40 Saturday morning. He has had a cold, but seems to be better today. We took him to the Pumpkin Patch and got some kettle corn. He smiled at everyone that peered into the stroller.

Amy and Edson went to a Halloween party Saturday night so Jadyn and Dylan spent the night in the guest room. Dylan was ready to go to bed at 8:30, but Jadyn is more of a night owl. They had a blast entertaining Ryder and had him laughing outloud. They went home about 10 this morning.

Katy called just as we got to church this morning to tell us she had strained her back and was going to the ER. She was given two medicines to take and isn't supposed to lift anything over 7 lbs. Since Ryder is now 16 lbs. she came here for the evening while Marcus was doing billing for the business.

Jadyn and Dylan love to do dishes so I had to get that on camera. Unfortunately, the camera had been in the car all night and the lense was still fogged when I took their picture.

Now I have to go back to work to get some rest. The weather is supposed to be sunny and warm this week which will be good for walking and cleaning out the garden. The leaves a really turning now. I have got to get some pictures of that too. The cooler weather signals the beginning of knitting season. Our family in Guam won't be getting knitted items as there isn't much need for them there.

Jim is scheduled for some oral surgery in Gresham Wednesday so I am taking that day off to be his chauffeur. We will have a day to ourselves.

Service is good for the soul

On Saturday, Ryder arrived at 5:40 a.m. Katy is working 50 hours a week for a while because every two weeks she gets a $500 bonus besides the overtime pay. They are shipping winter sports gear like crazy right now. When that is done, they start on summer gear. Then about March it slows down. Marcus has been at the coast since last Sunday. Anyway, Jadyn and Dylan arived at 1:30 p.m. and Edson picked them up at 6:oo. Katy got off at 2:30. Ryder pretty much slept and ate most of the day. He has a little bit of Katy's cold but it didn't make him fussy.
Dar (from work) and her husband, Larry came over about 10:00 with a chain saw so we could cut one of the limbs off the plum tree. It was the one that has been supported by a 2x4 for several years. The garden area will have a lot more sun next year. We sent home the last of the tomatoes and cucumbers, some potatoes, green beans and grapes with them. It is getting time to clean up the garden for winter. I cooked one of the potatoes in the microvave for lunch. It took up an entire dinner plate. I haven't eaten potatoes for such a long time, it was really a treat. Of course it didn't do anything for WW goals. Oh well.
Katy and I (Ryder too) went looking at couches in the afternoon. She wants to get one of her own. She is borrowing an old one from Marcus' mom right now. It is not long enough for her to relax on when she is watching TV. Her rabbit ears get the local stations fairly well.
I got my first flu shot ever at work on Friday. I woke up in the night with a mild asthma attack and had to use my rescue inhaler. I wasn't expecting that reaction.
It has been a beautiful fall weekend. It was 70 yesterday with no wind. The leaves are turning red and gold and the air is crisp. The only drawback is that people are burning wood stoves so there is smoke in the air. I guess we need the wind after all.
My aunt Phyllis had surgery on Monday for an ovarian tumor at OSHU. She is doing well. She has been up walking. The tumor was quite large so it will be a while before they know whether it was malignant or not. The first sample was not but they have to check the whole thing to make sure.
Believe it or not, I got 2 loads of laundry done while Ryder was napping in Grandpa's lap. Actually, they were both napping.
Jim is moving from the alternative school to the Wahtonka campus on Monday because the other part time aide can't go back to his other part time assignment because of health reasons and the alternative school is only budgeted for one full time aide. He won't find out what his assignment is until he gets there. He is so busy studying Spanish that he is only mildly anxious about the job change.
I should have taken pictures yesterday. I always forget. Love the pictures on Marie's blog.

Conference Weekend

General Conference weekend is always a special one for us. We are able to see the prophet and his apostles in our own homes. There is something uplifting that applies to my life. My favorite quotes this time are: "What your children really want for dinner is you," meaning time with you is what they need most; and "Truth has never been determined by the number who embrace it." Since our family in Guam was not able to watch conference this weekend because of the time difference, my challenge to Harmony, Ethan and Connor is to listen to the talks and see if you hear those quotes.

Jim has started his non-credit Spanish class at the college. We found some CDs and a workbook that will help me learn enough pronunciation to help him and Susie with their homework. My language training is finally being used.

Ryder stayed with us while his mom went to the laundromat to do about 3 weeks of laundry. She decided that was really expensive and it would be much easier and cheaper to do it more frequently and at our house. She has been working 50 hours a week for two weeks to earn a $500 bonus. Marcus has been helping with expenses as well. We have finally arranged for Ryder to go to Great N Small until Marcus gets off work or until I get off work when Katy is working until 6:00. That will take the pressure off G-Grandma.

It is time to clean out the garden and get it ready for winter. The snow level was below 4,000 feet last week.

Googleville

Saturday we took Jadyn and Dylan to Schreiner Farms to see some animals. There were Zebras, camels, llamas, emu, giraffes, elk, watussi and cows. We have been meaning to take the kids there for a long time. It is very easy. You turn in the drive and the animals are in fields on either side of the road. You stay in the car and turn around at the first barn. The kids were a little disappointed that they couldn't get out and walk around like at the zoo. Part of my plan was to get Jadyn to take a nap and give Dylan some time away from the computer. I think he may just go to work for Google when he is old enough. We took a drive through Dallesport to see the airplanes and all the new housing. As we entered the was a sign that said "Googleville" which really tickled Dylan's funny bone. He told his parents he went to Googleville and they were wondering what he was talking about. Now he can take them to see the animals, too.

Dylan is starting soccer. His dad is really excited about helping him learn the game and have fun outdoors. With Edson working nights in the summer, they don't have as much time together as he would like. Jadyn was a little put out when Dad told her she was too young to play on the team. She is such a good housekeeper. She cleaned the kitchen floor with a rag while I was out shopping. I couldn't believe she didn't want to go with me. It would have saved me some money. As it was I was free for a couple of hours while she stayed home with Grandpa and cleaned. Grandpa was cleaning the kitchen counters. Then she moved into the living room and dusted the TV and the tables. She would rather listen to music than watch TV.

After we went to the farm and Googleville we went to the Discovery Center but didn't go in. On the way out of the parking lot, Jim said she would be asleep before we got back to the house. She insisted she would not because she wanted to go to the park. She was asleep by the time we got to the house for a battery for Jim's hearing aid, but Dylan was awake so I sat in the car and read Miss Julia while she slept and he played. Of course she woke up as we left the park.

Jim signed up to take a non-credit Spanish class this fall. I'll probably learn some when I help him and Susie with their homework.

We have lots of grapes and plums this year. The rest of the garden is just about done. There are still some tomatoes on the vines and the green beans just won't quit. I found a really cute scare crow at JoAnns when I went scrapbook shopping. I found lots of fun stuff so it will be in the box for Marie.

We finally caught a mouse in the utility room. It managed to eat the peanut butter off several traps before finally getting caught. I think it just got so fat that it was finally heavy enough to trip the trap. Changing the subject completely. I lost 1.4 at WW last week and today looks like a really nice day for a long walk.

My GGG Grandparents Elbridge & Hannah

It's been awhile!

I finally got my pictures uploaded from my camera. Ryder is getting so big so fast. At his last checkup he was 10 lbs. 3oz. He is eating 6 oz at a time now. Dylan took this picture Sunday evening. He does a better job than I. You can also see how short my hair is now. It really saves time in the morning. Just wash, mouse, tossle and out the door.

Jim blessed Ryder Sunday. Marcus came, but left right after the blessing. Katy stopped by Mom's on the way to the church, but she wasn't home. We forgot to invite her.

You might think that this is a fussy baby but when his tummy is full, he is a very happy little fella. He and Katy are living with us until she can get into an apartment. We have a couch that folds out into a bed and Ryder's crib in the guest room so we really have a guest room.

We actually did to to the grand opening of Ikea. It was fun. We had no traffic problems and the store did not seem to be overly crowded. There were so many things that would be great to bring home. Then I remember how crowded our rooms already are. We have been able to store some things in our shed until Katy needs them when she moves.

I ended up working Saturday after we went to Ikea because Joyce was in the hospital and we needed to get caught up. Then the next week Dar and I worked 10 hour days. It was fun to be able to come home and hold Ryder and relax. There's nothing like a baby to help you forget everything else.

Lunch with Ryder

Ryder and Katy came to have lunch with Grandma today. He is 2 weeks 2 days old and really cute. He likes his binky which gives his mom a break. When he is awake, he is wide eyed and checking everything and everybody out.

The girls and I are excited that Ikea opens in Portland on the 25th. We are planning to go check it out. They are having entertainment and all kinds of fun stuff. Apparently they are expecting people to be there at 6 a.m. but don't open until 9:00. The entertainment starts at 6:00. I'm not planning on being there that early.

We are finally getting a break from the heat. It was over 100 two or three days with very low humidity. It felt like an oven. We are supposed to have thunderstorms tonight.

Dylan and Jadyn had checkups at the doctor this week. Dylan got 4 shots to get ready for kindergarten. He has grown so much since he was two that the charts predict he will be 6'5" to 6'7". He must have gotten the tall genes from both sides of the family.

The Jammin' July Street Festival is coming up Saturday evening. The following weekend is Ft. Dalles Days.

I finally took out the carpet out of the guest room. It will be so nice to have the new carpet where it belongs and not clogging up the sewing room.

I have been doing extractions online for FamilySearch. We are doing the 1900 census records. The last 300 have been in Oregon. So far I have done 1600 names.

Another picture

Sorry about the weight in my last email. I'm sure Katy felt like it was closer to the truth. Of course I have another picture.

Ryder Update

Ryder was actually 21 1/4 inches long. His head circumference was 14 1/2 inches. Mom and baby are resting at home. Well as much as you can rest with very excited 5 year old and 3 year old cousins competing for attention. That doesn't hardly seem fair when its your first baby.

He's Here!

Ryder Benjamin made his appearance June 26 at 8:16 p.m. He weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs. 13.2 oz. He is 21 3/4 inches long. Katy is very tired after only a few hours of sleep in the last 36 hours. Katy and Mark are very pleased with their new son.

Six Days Overdue

Katy is still waiting. She goes to the doctor tomorrow and will be induced if Ryder has not decided he is ready by then. We have been trying to keep her spirits up. Lots of short shopping trips. She is very uncomfortable when walking.

Nancy and Earl have begun their cherry harvest. The crop is smaller this year because of a late frost. They pick in the evening and early morning then go down to the Chamber of Commerce parking lot to sell from 10:00 until they run out.

Jim had oral surgery Friday. He is good as new now and does not have to have partial dentures. Yeah!!!

Our home improvement projects are on hold until after Ryder makes his appearance. A new backdoor is first on the list. Or maybe laying the carpet in the guest room. Always so much to do. Never enough time to do it.

Changes in the Ward

We went to church this afternoon expecting the traditional Fathers' Day talks, etc. The only thing that went according to the program was the musical presentation by the youth that was at the very beginning. The entire stake presidency was on the stand so I began to think that something was up. Sure enough, we now have a new bishopric.

Edson is barbecuing this evening so we will get a chance to see what peanut butter walls look like. That is the color Amy and Katy painted the living room. It sounds delicious.

Frustration

I have tried to send email for three days but it has been lost every time. Then I tried to post on this blog and it disappeared. Hopefully this one works.

Amy received her practical nursing certificate at CGCC's graduation Friday night. It was hard for Jadyn and Dylan (especially Dylan) to wait to see her walk up on the stage and then give her the rose that Mom had given him.

We took Katy and Mom to breakfast Saturday at Petite Provence. They don't serve crepes on Saturdays because they are too busy. We weren't the only ones disappointed by that news.

It is sunny and windy here today. It is hard to believe that it will be summer next week.