She Shoots, She Scores

On Fridays at boot camp we get to play a game after we run hills, use our weights, do push ups and sit ups etc. Today we played basketball. We have some new women in our group so we had to warn them. Explain ourselves, if you will.

No fouls are called, blood happens, take the shot, and get the ball! It's easy. Oh, and Melinda K. had a basketball career and no one else needs to play like her. Just let Mel and Robb battle it out. Karen always gives the sister disclaimer, Mel is like one of my sisters and sometimes we trash talk a bit. But we would never be so abrupt to the nice new women. So don't worry!

Tami(me) and the other Tami scored today and so did Tena. Yay! Tena is new, usually comes with her daughters. Her daughters weren't at boot camp today. We told her she has bragging rights. I told Tena to go to work at SSK and brag that she played basketball this morning against Melinda K. and scored. People will be impressed. Mel's reputation precedes her.

I'm sure everyone remembers the day I made the winning basket. If not, read this account.

No photos for this post, it's just too ugly.

Edited to add: Max scored a goal for his soccer team yesterday! Yay! He just noticed I didn't post about him this morning, instead it was all about me. Sorry. It will never happen again.

Max did score yesterday and I did yell, "Wooooo Hooo That's MY baby!"

Random- I Hope You Can Keep Up

I talked to Danny yesterday. He is crazy busy with school and work. He was working on Sunday afternoon when Roger Daltrey came in and ordered a cappuccino. Roger Daltrey, as in, The Who. Dan said he was a nice guy. Pretty cool.

Sam got accepted for Airborne! Yay! He really wanted that so we are happy for him. In the meantime he thought he was coming home for two weeks, bought a ticket, we got all kinds of excited to see him, and now he isn't coming home. So, while we are happy there is disappointment too. Sam is going to Ft. Benning and then everything after is pending.

Max has his last JV game today. It has been a fun soccer season for him and for me. Freezing, windy, rainy, but fun! He has mountains of homework this week. I think teachers are cramming the quarter into one week. Not sure what the students will be doing the rest of the school year.

Yesterday Hubby got home from work, told me to take my camera, we were going for a drive in the country. He saw something on the way home from work that he had to show me. It was a sweet stone house mailbox. Obviously I need this mailbox!


I have been cooking and baking for my absence. I need to leave Max pans of enchiladas when I am out of town. We will be home for Mother's Day brunch so I am doing some baking, cooking and freezing for that as well.

We are still trying to get home from our cruise. We thought Sam and Max could pick us up in Vancouver. Now, no Sam. Has anyone driven to the cruise terminal? Is it hard to find? Can Max (age 16) drive there?

These are the questions that keep me awake at night. Kidding. I always sleep like a rock. Even with my guys all over the country, I just give it to God and go to sleep.
Good thing.

Cruise Packing

Packing for a cruise isn't easy. Especially since those mean, selfish, nasty airlines started charging moi for luggage. Let's just look at the whole evening bag issue. I have a few evening bags, I love beading and rhinestones and bling so they are a natural fit for me. Most of these came from garage sales.

I'm trying to take just one. Or two...

Why do I need an evening bag on a cruise? I mean it's not like I have to pay for dinner, or a cab home if my date gets nasty. My date is Hubby, he's nice, and if he's not I can storm off to our cabin without a cab.

It's for you! I need to take my camera to dinner, right? Cuz y'all want to go with us, right?



I've narrowed it down to seven pairs of shoes. If I take these pretties I don't think I'll be storming off anywhere. I'm practicing walking, ladylike in them in the privacy of my own home. Not sure they are keepers yet.

Advice? And don't tell me to pack light or take less shoes. Not. Gonna. Happen.

That Sam I Am as a Soldier

Sam was in the field for two weeks. He graduates as a medic next week. I am so proud of him. And I was so happy to get these pictures that I had to share.

When he got back from the field a sergeant told him and some of his buddies that they were going to Fort Bragg to become paramedics. So happy and excited until the next day another sergeant came and told them none of them were going to Ft. Bragg.

This is how the military rolls but it's hard to hear the disappointment in his voice on the phone. The good news is that Sam gets to come home for a visit before going to Fort Bliss. He is already rethinking his plans and thinking more about a nursing degree.

I told Sam that there is a reason God is having him go to Fort Bliss, we just don't know why yet. God's plans for Sam are made.

Sam is in the center.

Sam is on the left.
Sam is third from the left, enjoying a soldier's recliner.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6

Friday Random

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. -Emerson

It's early but I'd like to forget this morning. Soccer at boot camp this morning, that is. The score is tied, Robb yells that the next score wins. I go for the save, miss it, like kick and miss, they score, my team loses.

It just keeps replaying in my mind. It was a slow motion, super fast, split second.

Max had a good soccer game yesterday. It ended with a win for LCHS. He is loving soccer and I am too.

Some great news, I'm reading a really good book, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. Makes me want to lay around and read, instead I will be cleaning and doing laundry this morning. Nice to know it's waiting for me.

This afternoon I'm going to work for a few hours. My kindergarten teacher is getting married tomorrow and her reception is going to be at the museum. Nothing like young at heart true love. Only for Mrs. Springer would I work on a Friday! I wonder if we'll get to sing, i'm a little teapot, short and stout, here is my handle, and here is my spout... with motions. Favorite part of kindergarten for me.

Hubby and I are getting excited for our honeymoon cruise. The last time we went away for more than one night, and not for business or anything to do with our guys was when Sam was a toddler. It's time.

That Sam I Am is back from the field and will be calling us tonight. I can't wait! He left a note on FB that he is off to Airborne so he must have gotten accepted. Then on to Fort Bragg for more medical training. Go Sam Go!

Functionality or Charm

What to do? What to do? Our home was built in the mid twenties. It is a stone house with metal, single pane windows. The windows give the house a certain look. The windows are very energy inefficient. Drafty, if you will. Hubby repairs and babies them along.

That said, I LoVe them. Charm and all, you know.

They swing open and pictured below is Hawley's treat window, or taptaptap, "IleftbutI forgotsomethingcanyougetformemom?" window. We use this swinging window daily.

I pulled up the shade in our bedroom this morning and there in my sweet poppy patch is the first one, a lone poppy! She is very pretty with the black grids. I'd miss that.

That said, when I snap up the shade the window is foggy, wet and steamed up. Not so nice.

Here is the problem, finally, getting to the issue here. The original windows were a dark bronze color. Over the years the outside grids were painted white and the inside grids were painted black. Vinyl window don't come that way. If we get black on the outside the house trim will need to be changed. I don't want to give up the black or dark grid on the inside. They don't come with black on the inside of the window. I love that look.


Hubby and I like to restore back to the original look if possible. We are collecting bids and ideas. What do you think? Remember, we aren't made of money, we want charm, we like the casement style so they swing open and then there's the addition. If we add a new master bedroom and bathroom it gets even more complicated. The window size then has to meet code. I don't want huge windows because the rest of the house doesn't have huge windows.

Many of you come to the blog and are easily entertained for a few minutes in the morning. Well, that party is over! Get on your thinking caps and help me!

Special Friends Day

Hubby and I aren't grandparents, but we are special friends for Caleb and Emilyn. So we were invited to attend LCS's Grandparents and Special Friends Day. What an honor! I have gone before but it was Hubby's first time.

First we went to 4B to see Caleb. He is a super artist and I may be biased but I thought his art work rocked. When we got to 4B Caleb was working very hard. He shared with us the book he made about LCS's 100th anniversary.

I went to 4th grade at LCS too, and I made this same relief map of Washington state. I told Caleb that mine was a little different because Mt. St. Helens hadn't blown yet so I didn't have a hole at the top of the mountain like he did. I didn't mention anything about the eruption being 30 years ago either. He would have thought that I am older than dirt.

Our next stop was Emilyn's first grade classroom. She explained everything including how their class takes care of the calendar and counting the days of school. She took us on a tour to the library, the gym and the playground.


It is a fun day because the kids are so proud of their work and the grandparents are so proud of the kids.

Thanks Caleb and Emilyn for the invitation! I know that if your grandparents lived closed they would have been there. We were happy to sub!

Nice That Way

My bud, Ree, the Pioneer Woman was in Lake Forest Park yesterday and I was too. Ree always says, if you send me an email or a comment, even if I don't respond, you're my bud. I kinda feel like we're best friends. I wanted to meet her and have her sign my copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks.

Leslie, Holly and Kelly and myself left town shortly after noon. I say shortly after because Kelly was a little late. Her children were crying, as she was trying to make a run for it. They couldn't find their socks. She had to go back and find her punks their socks. Then we had to stop in town because Kelly had to buy Ree's book locally. She feels pretty strongly about the shop local thing. Kelly is nice that way.

At this point, I decided Kelly maybe didn't get the urgency of seeing P-Dub.

So, we get on I-5 and 40 miles down the road we all shared our childbirth stories. Women just do that sometimes, we can't help it. Leslie had one of her babies in the doctor's office. We laughed, she shared, Leslie is nice that way.

I drove straight to Third Place Books. Holly has lived in Lake Forest Park so she navigated. She later bought my dinner when I thought I lost my wallet. Holly is nice that way.

We got our tickets, we were in the E group. Fifty in each group and the A's started lining up at 4:30. So we went to Alderwood Mall and shopped for a few hours.

After shopping or sipping at Starbucks we went back to Third Place Books. Checked out the line situation, and had dinner. They have five restaurants in the bookstore. This was very convenient as we were starving at this point.

We used the photo booth so we could give Ree a picture to remember us by. You may be wondering just how all four of us fit into the photo booth. Not very well. A sweet woman came up to us and told us she would be happy to take a picture of the four of us outside the photo booth. She was real nice that way.

While we were waiting we shopped around and visited with other Ree fans. Some of the women brought their babies. Ree loves babies and we saw some darling babies. We referred to these women as cheaters. Using their babies, like that! Not that I wasn't above asking Max to come with me. He growled at me. I left him at home and it was probably better that way. But he is my baby and he is cute. I don't have a picture of him growling, just a nice random shot.

We milled around, read books, chatted and waited. Kelly overheard a conversation and had to speak up and get involved. She's nice that way, helping people out and all.

So, they called the E's and we got in line and it was HoTTer than you know where. It was hot, not even including hot flashes! We were all wishing we had paper towels for our underarms. That's what Ree uses in nervous hot situations. We had all put some thought into what we were wearing. I had served at the LC pancake breakfast that morning, came home and took another shower so I would not smell like pancakes. As it turned out, pancakes would have been preferable. We had gotten caught in the rain so there were hair issues too. Sometimes the best laid plans...

Then we got nervous. What would we talk about with Ree?

Uh, hello, we forgot she is our bud and women never run out of words! So, we talked about punks, her recipes, spanxs and Kelly shared the conversation she had gotten involved in earlier, which I will share with all of you.

Kelly's conversation. A young couple is talking about the crowds while looking at Ree's book, and Kelly is eavesdropping.
Girlfriend- "She was a vegetarian."
Guy- "Is she still a vegetarian?"
Pause
Kelly- "No, she's not."
Guy- "So, all these people are here celebrating that?"
Kelly- "yep, pretty much."
Guy- "That's disgusting!"
He is outraged. Kelly is laughing. Obviously, this guy has never eaten Ree's recipe for rib eye steak with whiskey sauce. Kelly gets it because she was a vegetarian. That is until one day, while pregnant with Riley, she grabbed a burger out of Robb's hands and chowed down. Kelly really gets it, the reformed meat eater thing, that is. Of course, being the steak lovers that we are, we thought this was funny stuff.


Ree is a very sincere woman. She is very gracious and pretty. And she helped me figure out what size spanx I should buy. That's a good friend. Ree is nice that way.

We met up with Ree's oldest punk, Alex, she signed our books and chatted. She got to come with her mom to Seattle because she was the only punk without a soccer game this weekend.

She showed us her boots, posed for pictures and told us she had a fun day at Pike Street Market. It was a pleasure to meet her.

I came home so thankful for these women in my life. Leslie, Holly, Kelly and myself talked, laughed, and giggled all day. I learned more about each of them. It was the kind of day where you get home, fall into bed and drift off thinking about just how good life really is.

It was nice that way...

Tag Removal

So, this morning is all Springy and SuNNy and HappY. I go to the shopping bags on my bedroom floor, that have been waiting for just this moment.
And lo and behold, the ink tag has been left on my first choice. Now my thoughts aren't very HappY or as Julie would write, not very Jesus like, at this point. The sad part is that I had realized this at Easter, and then forgot that the shirt needed to go back. For tag removal.

"Please see sales associate for tag removal" You bet your sweet bippy I will SEE the sales associate...

Thanks! Now that I've vented, I'm over it.

Max has a soccer game tonight in Sedro, I'm not going. It's far, it's late, I'm not a good Mom. And he said don't go. With me not going, Max is pretty much guaranteed a goal.


Enjoy the sunshine today and say a prayer for the sales associate!

Spring is Here

Sometimes I like to walk around the yard and see what needs attention. But sometimes I like to walk around the yard and focus on what looks good and what's in bloom. Tonight felt like Spring is finally here and it feels good.

Uh Oh

One of the guys passed up their Dad. Max is now taller than Hubby. Something they have all aspired to do, but have had no control over. Max did it even without the growth plates that were removed at Seattle Children Hospital after he broke his ankle. Just think if he still had them!

A Field Trip and A Quick Trip

We had a nice weekend. On Friday Hubby and I went to Hi Hoe Nursery and saw some beautiful plants, got all kinds of big ideas and then left everything there. It's just too cold yet to take them out of the greenhouses. I'm thinking I'll wait until we are home from the cruise before I plant my pots and window boxes. But it was fun to see and dream and plan.



Saturday morning we drove over to George, Washington to visit Hubby's family at the farm. It was just an overnighter but so worth it. We had a nice visit and a good time. Max will be spending the summer on the farm so I'm sure we'll be making that drive again soon.

It was back to boot camp this morning, after a week off, and back to school for Max. The last nine weeks of school always goes quickly. So, we are back to work, Mt. Laundry, soccer and routine. Ready or not!

A Cold Spring Break

It's Spring Break, Max has vacation from school, Hubby has 6 days off and it has been a relaxing break. I worked this week but now I am finished and I totally took this morning off. Coffee in bed, hot tub, read a bit, a nice break. I felt like trying a new yeast recipe so I have rolls rising this morning.

Earlier this week Max had soccer games. He scored! The second half of this game pictured I watched from the car. It wasn't raining before the game, so I walked to Bender fields, got caught in a downpour, then sat in the wind and rain for the first half. This after being at work where the furnace was broken for a week and a half. Sitting at my desk, at 56 degrees makes this old lady chilled to the bone and very stiff. I spent evenings going to bed early to warm up.

Next year for Spring break we are going somewhere warm!

Tyler came for dinner last night and once again he brought me the best hostess gift. The Little Stone House written by Berta and Elmer Haden. A sweet story about a family that builds their stone house, loves living in their stone house and does some fun entertaining. Sound familiar? Thanks Holly! I love it and I know that you're the one that sends Tyler with those great gifts.



Everyone is pretty happy here too.
The End

Max Gets His Way again

Max loves this casserole. He's been asking for it for months and thanks to Aunt Judy sending everyone home with leftover ham on Easter, Max gets his wish for dinner tonight. It's an old recipe from my Mom.
Ham Broccoli Casserole

1- 10 oz. frozen broccoli (I microwave mine to thaw)
onion- saute 1/2 onion in 2 T.+ butter
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can milk
3 c. diced ham
2 cups. Minute Rice
1/2 T. Worcestershire's sauce
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Saute the onion, dice the ham, thaw the broccoli, mix the soups, milk and W. sauce, then mix everything into your casserole dish. I grate half the cheese, mix it in and then grate the other half to top it off.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. I serve with a fruit salad.
I won't have a picture of the baked dish until dinner tonight but just in case you have leftover ham I thought you might need this recipe stat! The split pea soup was yummy last night. I don't have a recipe for my soup, it's a dumper!

There is something wonderful about recipes I can whip out in the morning, go to work and come home to Dinner's Ready!

Trash Talkin' ON Easter?

Luke and Hubby got into some good old team trash talkin' on Easter. Luke, a sweet but misguided young boy loves the UW Huskies. Luke had fun coming up behind Hubby and sayin' BOO Cougars. At this point Hubby was faster, scooped Luke up and asked him to repeat what he had said.
{insert nervous giggle here}

Aunt Judy told Luke, "Hey, no purple in my house!" He giggled and ran for the door... I don't think this is over.

Easter 2010

We had a very blessed Easter Sunday. An Easter church service with beautiful music, communion, a meaningful message. Emilyn and her doll, Emily had on pretty, new Easter dresses and sat with me. So sweet and pretty.

Then off to the farm for Easter dinner with family. We have dinner on Easter with my Mom's sister's family and my Dad's brother's family. Confused? We are too. It's been going on for years and is such a fun tradition.

I love Abby Jo but could have gone all day without knowing what she had just told me before I snapped this picture. "Tami, did you know that the Reese's eggs are the most fattening of the Easter candy?"

I love big brothers helping little brothers find the eggs and cute shorts for Easter. Gotta love the chocolate on Clayton's face.

I love the hunt and all the kids running around.

I love the BiG kids too! I missed Danny and Sam today, Cody was nice enough to have his picture with Max today.

I love little Max. He had a bowling accident, surgery and a big bandage but still managed to find lots of candy. He reminds me of my big Max and I love that!

I love how the kids agree to a photo before the hunt. Blackmail threats, or else, aren't nice to say on Easter but hey, no group photo, no Easter candy. It's that simple.

I love the pretty garden spots we had to hide the candy.

I love that our parents still make this day happen. Thanks Uncle Darryl and Aunt Judy for hosting this year.

I love that Hubby had the day off. He loved singing Handel's Alleluia Chorus with the choir Easter morning.

I love it that we had this beautiful baby at our Easter. Talia is so cute and sweet, Jodi is too.

I love it that Coach K brought his Easter basket. He is very blog tolerant.

I love having a baby at Easter, have I mentioned this before?

I love going to the farm for Easter. There is just something about it that makes for a special day.

And I love being sent home with a ham bone! Pea soup tomorrow...