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.