Welcome Back for Jay and Dana June 2010

Jay and Dana returned from China and wanted to meet in Portland. Ron and Betty and Frank and I could not attend because of conflicts. I heard through Darcie that they had a great time being with cousins and aunt and uncles. I copied these from Darcie's facebook. There were no pictures of children so please if you have any send them my way.

I am glad that some of Ron's kids showed up when Ron and Betty were out of town.

Welcome back Jay and Dana! We missed you!

Avocado Ice Cream

Avocado Ice Crem

2 cups avocado pulp (about 4 medium avocados, seeded and peeled) pushed through a sieve or food mill to remove any fibers.

1/4 teaspoon of salt

2 1/2 cups of sugar

1 cup pineapple juice

2 oranges, juiced

2 limes, juiced

1 pint milk or coconut milk

Combine all ingredients, except the milk, and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Gradually stir in the milk until you have a smooth mixture.

Pour into your ice cream freezer and crank away for a delicious dessert, of which all parts are edible.

Dear Friends, The Campbells

Carol is in blue sitting next to her mother-in-law.

When we lived in Marysville the Campbell family lived right back of us. Our fences joined. Mike and Eric used to ride to Seminary together and Kathy took piano lessons from me. Kali and David used to play soccer in our backyard. Maybe that's why Kali is a soccer coach currently! The youngest of eight, Chelsea was born while they lived in Marysville. Their Dad's name was Ron Campbell. He was supporting his family doing construction. Campbells became very good friends as well as neighbors. They happened to be out of town when our Jenny passed away. Less than a year later Carol and Ron were in our front yard telling us he had been diagnosed with Lou Gerig's disease. He said, "I guess I'lll see Jenny before you guys. (He died 3 1/2 years later)

We are staying at Carol's house next weekend while she is in Indiana. She said,

"Sure you can stay. Here's my keys."

How's that for a true, blue forever friend.
Left to right, first row; Perri, Scott, Grandma Campbell, David, Chelsea

Back row; Kathy, Kim and Shauna. The only one that is missing is Mike who lives in Missouri.

The pictures are mainly for my kids who did know them when they were younger.

My Favorite Grandson

Ben and Chelle came up today since we were going to Stanwood's High School graduation. Fridays we sometimes go to Chelle and Dave's and babysit. We went to lunch at "The Chatter Box" restaurant in town. It has won best Stanwood restaurant for the last two years.

Ben had been a little clingy today so Chelle said we might have to leave early. We sat down ordered out of the menu while he obediently drank his bottle. After we ordered he was finished and wanted no more of his high chair. Michelle tried to hold him, but he is very active and just wanted to get down. I went to the waiter and asked if we could get it to go. Five minutes later it was done and packaged.

We went home and ate our lovely lunch. Both of us like Thai and Michelle got her favorite, Chicken Basil and I got Pad Thai Mee or something like that. It had wide noodles instead of the thin.

Ben was thoroughly content to play with the toys in the family room while we leisurely ate. It was so much better than if we had stayed at the restaurant! He thought the Jack-in-the box was funny and was not scared of it one bit.
I love the big, big brown eyes! They get me everytime! I'm falling for you sweet Benjamin!

Funny thing about grandchildren. The one you're with is always your favorite. Isn't there a song called "Love the one you're with?" Well, that's me I guess.

Monday Preschool

Every Sunday night Owen and Ady, Eric's two youngest stay overnight. Then on Monday I have them all day until 6PM. Since my background in college was in Elementary Ed I decided to run the day with a lot of structure (like a preschool). During coloring time I asked Ady to let me take a picture of this coloring she did. She took a marker and outlined the whole turtle. Notice she colors left-handed. She is only three but she loves coloring as evidenced by her writing on the wall at home. She colors in the lines better than Owen. When I pointed out that he needed to stay in the lines when coloring, he improved his coloring.

My First Leap Pad with the book "There's a Wocket in my pocket." by Dr. Seuss

This page says, "But that BOFA on the SOFA... Well, I wish he wasn't there. Then where the pen is pointing it is interactive for Owen. I found this at Goodwill for $3.95 - great bargain. It is one of his favorites. He loves video games, but I don't allow him to play any on Mondays. I think he's discovering that there is another whole world out there without video games!
He has just touched one of the buttons and he's pleased that it is telling him that he pushed the right button and what to do next.

I made clay dough, the kind you heat up and I love it and the kids love it too. I try to give them healthy snacks during the day, such as oranges, apples, pears, cheese, pudding and they love, love, love yogurt.

I checked out instructional videos from the library and also children's books. They love to hear different stories. They loved the story of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." I don't think they have ever heard it.

We have gardening time so they can dig in the dirt and I can weed. They absolutely love to be outside. Our outside activities are no less than 1-2 hrs. if the weather cooperates.

They love the musical CD's that I checked out from the library. Their two favorites are "Where oh where is my underwear." I know it sounds freaky weird, but it's a cute upbeat song. The other favorite is "Two little blackbirds named Jack and Jill." They ask me to re-play and re-play them both over and over. I know kids learn by repetition.

We practice our skills of washing hands after eating and after going potty, and not picking our noses. The other day Ady out of the blue said. We don't pick out noses! It was hilarious. So when Owen picks his nose I just grab a tissue and say, "looks like you need a kleenex." They are reminded to say thank you and please when they receive or want something. They go to a daycare/preschool the other 4 days of the week so this is just re-enforcing what they are already learning.

I have a little small bear that is not furry, but just material that Owen calls "his beary beary." Ady found a furry bear I had and she calls it her "beary beary. They like to sleep with the bears when they go to bed. Owen is obsessive about keeping his with him all day, like an imaginary friend. We had a picnic lunch on the deck with table cloth. When Owen inquired if I had seen his beary beary we looked all over and couldn't find him anywhere. The last time I remember him being with Owen was during our lunch. So I looked under the crumpled tablecloth and there he was hiding very slyly or shyly, I don't know which.

We also have dancing and marching time with percussion instruments. Children are so responsive when you give them your full attention. I have decided that Monday is the day I dedicate to them totally and they are loving it.

I have flash cards I bought at the dollar store, learning shapes, alphabet letters and bigger and smaller relationships. Owen already knows all his shapes, and can identify and spell the letters in each small word card. He will do well in kindergarten.

I love being a kid! It's fun!

Old Friends

Gomez's son Adrian got married a 1 1/2 yrs. ago and his wife is 9 months pregnant now. When she is born Gomez's will have 5 grandchildren.

You know how you have relationships with friends that goes for years and years. We had a short visit from a couple of dear friends, the Gomez's. Mike and Barbara have been in and out of our lives for 30 years. We, at one time lived on the same street. They are members of the church who now live in Hawaii. They are the kind of friends that when you see them you pick up just where you left off last time you saw them.

This a before picture of Barbara before she had a Gastric by-pass.
She is now a size 12, but must have the excess skin on the arms surgically removed.
Their two girls, Aletha and Andrea. Gomez's live in Hawaii where Aletha is. Aletha has a PHD and runs an Autistic program there. Andrea is from California visiting her sis. Aletha is currently pregnant, due in November and having a girl.
Andrea and her boyfriend Eddy.
Andrew and Andrea
Adam and his wife Sarah with their new baby, Samuel.

Bread Making Day

This morning I got up, said my prayers and read my scriptures, then went walking with Helen.

Then I started the bread where you make a sponge that sits for 15 minutes with the yeast, water and 2 c. of flour. Fifteen minutes later when the timer went off, I picked up the bowl to put it in the kitchen-aide and noticed that it had not risen. I exclaimed,

"Oh no, what happened?"

I knew the yeast wasn't bad, but then I came to the obvious reason ( I had not heated the water; I had just put cold water in!) To a baker this is bad news. No yeast will EVER rise without the help of warmed water. I estimate that I have been making bread for years and NEVER ever did this. Did my walk leave me brain dead? I have no idea. Anyway I dumped the first bunch out and started over. I will regale you with my pictures of the newly baked bread and hopefully fully salivate you to want some.

I sell one loaf a week to my adult piano student, Faith. She and her older children enjoy it a lot. So my daughter Michelle says I should give up piano students and become a baker. Well, I actually am already a baker, but it is food for thought. I have someone else that said they would buy it for a dollar a loaf more. So I'm thinking it might be a little fun money here and there.

I did make cinnamon rolls once in Spokane. We had 30 gallon pails that we used for salt, sugar, corn syrup and flour. You should have seen the look on Eric's face when he tasted a hot, mouth-watering cinnamon roll. I had used salt instead of sugar!

I remember when we lived in Marysville we used to store the 30 pails including corn syrup outside in the garage. Without me knowing, the kids used to sneak out there and dip fingers in the corn syrup to get a sweet snack. I found that out years later!

I had a hot piece with bread and butter. Does it make your mouth water, yup. Maybe come visit me and I'll fix you a piece!