Happy Birthday Neil!!

Yes, it's my annual tribute to Neil Diamond. His birthday is today and he is 70 years old!!! My hell. How time flies.

I remember the first time I heard his voice. My brother Jeff brought home an album called "Tap Root Manuscript" by this guy called Neil Diamond. My mom was always very hesitant about the "new" music that was coming out during the late 60's, early 70's. Made most parents very nervous.

But she heard his voice and she was hooked. We bought the 8-track of Tap Root Manuscript and listened to that thing in the yellow station wagon all the way from Virginia to Las Vegas when Daddy was stationed at Nellis AFB. Lisa and I knew every song by heart.

And though I know lots of people make fun of me when they see this post or hear that I love Neil Diamond or see that I have about 100 songs from Neil on my iPod, I don't care. Because hearing Neil's voice brings back such great memories and his songs are a part of my life.

He's a youngster here!!

Old but still great. 40+ years in the music business and sold out concerts. Can't touch that.

New favorite person ............

Ben.

The other night we were having dinner and talking about Robee's new guitar teacher. He's an English bloke that plays just about everything very well. I've toyed with the idea of taking up the fiddle, but since my music knowledge is .... lacking, I've sort of been hesitant about it.

Anyway, we were discussing me taking from this English guy who is about 55 or 60 years old. Thomas said jokingly that he was worried that I might run off with this guy if I started lessons.

Ben was shocked and said, "No she wouldn't. He's an older guy."

I looked at him and said, "Um ... Ben. So am I."

Ben started laughing and said, "That's so funny! I always think of you as being 35!"

New favorite person. For now anyway. :D

Technology .... I loathe thee.

Okay, maybe not LOATHE but I really hate when things like this happen.

Sigh.

So reading from past blogs, I can see my high tech camera that I got for last Christmas is now sitting on my desk, after being dampened by Puerto Rican rain and a loose water bottle cap still not fixed. I'm attempting to make my way to Seattle to a camera shop.

Until then, I turn to my trusty orange, WATER RESISTANT camera as a back up. Takes good pics and is water resistant so I'm sure NOT to ruin this one.

Oh, but .... what about the camera card, eh??? Is that water resistant too? Destruction proof?? Or more importantly, KRISTI PROOF??

Nope. It's not. I am making copies of some pics of the kids for my dad to send to him for Christmas (yeah yeah, I'm a little late - so sue me) and I LOSE the bloody card. Gone. All those pics. Gone. I'm searching through the recycle bin looking for it, the garbage bin looking for it. EVERYWHERE looking for it. Gone.

Then winking on the sidewalk, my darling spouse sees my precious card and returns it to me!! Oh thank the heavens! O Wondrous of all Wonders! My pics are back!

Crap. It was raining and it's NOT water resistant. I plunk it in the camera - no pics. Hoping against all hope, I put it in a bag of moisture absorber so that it will suck out all the rain and my pics will indeed, be restored.

No possible way this can work.

I'm back to using my phone camera with sucky pictures. Sigh. Sometimes I really miss 35mm film.

I'LL say when it's over ... THEN it's over.

Okay. It's over.

I've announced it: CHRISTMAS IS OFFICIALLY OVER.

As the pic above shows, I finally took down all my lights from the outside and the inside. There is a winter storm advisory for tonight (if I were in Utah, I might expect two or three feet of snow; here, it could be up to *gasp!* 2 INCHES of snow) so I thought I should finally take down the lights.

It takes about four or five hours to put up the lights outside and another two hours to decorate inside. To take down? Two hours tops. Linc the Tree is defrocked as well. I'll get out to plant him this week.

So NOW I can officially say Goodbye to Christmas 2010. We'll see you again in 11 months when I open the storage door, turn on the light and see the sparkle of Christmas yet to come for 2011.

Where will I be next year? No one knows save for a few special spirits. I may be here, I may not. Life is quick and fleeting. After the tragedies that have happened this past week in Arizona, we cannot predict what our future will be. We should strive to live each day by helping others to enjoy their own lives. It's really all we have.

Bring on 2011!!

Felix and the salmon

This picture is important for many reasons.

First, the fact that my darling daughter loves salmon; most kids her age turn their noses up at this fish. Even the ones who live here where salmon is the KING! (pun intended)

I started feeding her fish when she was quite small and luckily she kept that taste bud for it even though she went through the normal ups and downs of picky food eating.

Second, the fact there is no possible way that Mom would have EVER ever EVER let me try and cook and clean up my own food creation. Ever.

Not because she was being mean ... but because ... well, to this day, I don't really know why. I hope that one day I'll understand Mom's erratic behavior. I may never actually.

Okay. I don't want to start a therapy session about my mom. THIS is about Felix.

Third, the fact that she is the most beautiful girl I have ever met, inside and out. Perhaps it's because she's my daughter that I feel this way. She's also one of the most together girls I've met and I have met lots of girls her age since she has friends and I teach 12-13 yr olds in church.

She seems to have no fear about anything; just goes in and tries whatever she needs to do. I want to take responsibility but I know I can't; she is her own person and whatever roads she takes, I know she is making thoughtful choices about where to go.

Love You Baby Cakes.

The Snow Dance

This is snow falling on the Prius tonight.

My kids are happily awaiting the prospect of sledding tomorrow or making snowmen or (dare we say it??) a snow day for school on Monday.

First, it's very wet snow. So I know that it will be fair for snowballs and snowmen. There could be a slight possibility of it being good with a disk.

Second, it will be clearing by tomorrow afternoon (if I can REALLY believe any forecaster around here) and therefore, it will melt.

Third .... there is no third. There will be no snow day for Monday.

It is pretty on my lights outside ... uh .... yeah. I still haven't pulled my butt outside to take down lights. Last week it was still pretty cold and I didn't relish freezing my fingers off. So I cleaned the kids' rooms instead.

Next week Tacky comes down.

FOUND

This hat was given to me by Jen. Not as a gift for anything but it developed a hole in the top and she decided to get another one while I fixed this one and then she said "Why don't you just keep that one" and being the person who loves free hats, didn't say no.

Fixed the hole and this is the hat.

That was last winter.

Felix decided she wanted to wear it one day ...................... it JUST reappeared two days ago. She's had it stashed away (not maliciously but forgetfully - and since my memory is terrible, I'm not going to come down on her too much) and I kept asking her about it, where it might be, where was the last place she wore it, that sort of thing.

Nope. No recollection.

We were going to Leavenworth last weekend and the kids needed a bag to put their stuff in and I just happened to look in the tiny closet that tries to pass for a real hall closet and there is her old messenger bag and inside the bag ... my hat. Her thermal shirt. Her khaki pants. All which we've been looking for since last winter.

I don't EVER remember borrowing my mom's stuff. I wouldn't have wanted to (and there's no possible way she would have ever let me borrow her stuff) because her stuff was motherly. But for some reason, she takes my slippers to wear to school, my gloves, my hats, my shirts, my jackets. The only thing she doesn't borrow are my jeans because mine are gigantic and would drown her.

So maybe it's good I'm big so she'll leave my jeans alone.

Anyway, my hat is back. Nice to see you again.

Summary of 2010

Crap. I was supposed to do this whole "look what happened in my life during 2010" during the week BEFORE the New Year. Oy vey. Didn't happen.

Soooooo .... I'm going to try to sum up in one post from the year. I think (if this stupid blog post will work) that I can do this going backwards. For some reason, posting pics on my blog is the most user-un-friendly thing ever.

Here we go! Fasten your seatbelts; it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Dec 2010 - CHRISTMAS!!

Nov - THANKSGIVING!!

Nov - The tragic untimely death of my wonderful Uncle Paul Van Alfen (second man from the left). I flew back to Utah to attend his service. This is what is left of my mum's brothers and sisters and their spouses.

PUERTO RICO!! Family Trip the first of November

The Whole Fam Damily

BIRTHDAYS FOR MY BABIES!!

Robee in September (11 yrs old)

Felix in July (13 yrs old)

TIME FLIES!!! ack ack

FAIR DAYS - Silvana in July and Evergreen in August.

Swimming at the river in the hot summer days. Best thing in the whole world.

4th of July in Arlington and Famous Stilliguamish Duck Dash

JUNE - Ben Lomond HS Class of 1980 - 30th Reunion. What a surreal event THAT was, yes indeed.

JUNE - Aunt Virginia and Uncle Ray 50th Wedding Anniversary held in Clinton Utah. I have never been so grateful as to have been able to attend and see my aunts and uncles and cousins again (some of them for the last time it turns out). :(

MAY - The birth of Baby Lyla! This is #7 grandchild in the family.

MAY - The final of the Four get married, Ben. This was a bittersweet day as this would be the last time we would see Ben's best friend Riley, who would be killed in an accident about two months later. (Ben, Robee, Riley)

JUNE - My garden. Due to the awful "Junuary" spring weather, I wasn't able to get my garden in until the middle of June. However, it proved to be a great move as nothing in my garden was rotted out.

APRIL - The latest addition to our animal family, Clyde. He is the great-nephew of Porter. Notice the resemblance?

APRIL - The arrival of Abbi's darling puppies. She had six beautiful babies; four merles, one black bi, one black tri. Sadly, we had to euthanize the first girl Pastel due to a cleft palate (center top). The others we were able to sell - ALL to wonderful families.

JANUARY & FEBRUARY - Home remodeling jobs: new carpet in the front room and a new office/laundry room.

JANUARY - Pinewood Derby. Robee's first (and last) but he won 2nd Place!!

NEW YEAR'S EVE - Evan's birth.

Okay. Technically, he was born in 2009 BUT he's too close to the end of the year to put in LAST year's summary so I wanted to include him in this post. And he is the first exciting thing to happen for us in 2010!!

And ............... There it is. A quick bird's eye view of what happened to me and mine during the 2010 year.

What would I like to see happen for 2011?

Healthy, happy kids.

Continued work for our family.

My dad and sister to remain healthy and happy.

NO DEATHS PLEASE.

To look a little better in a swimsuit (those Puerto Rico pics were too awful).

To get my back fixed so I can test successfully for my 2nd Degree Blackbelt.

To begin to like Clyde a little more.

To actually accomplish something in my day.

To help someone else once in awhile.

Welcome 2011.

Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezing Leavenworth

Brrrrrrrr. I mean cold. It was about 14 degrees when we arrived around 3 pm on Saturday, New Year's Day. The kids were feeling happy about the ongoing growth of snow they were seeing on the sides of the road but I was still cautious because I could see a glossy sheen on said snow.

As it happened, every piece of snow was frozen solid. Like ice. Like walking big blocks of ice.

Thank goodness I keep a box of glove warmers in the car (actually I don't "keep" a box; I just was too lazy from the Lights of Warm Beach to put them away) and the kids got them in their gloves and toes of their shoes so we could walk around a bit.

Robee standing on a giant ice hill.

Felix on same hill. I wish my phone camera took photos like my little orange guy but my battery was too low to get any more .... or it froze while exposed.

My favorite place. Only because of the blue lights.

This cute little lederhosen old man played some kind of Alpine, Swedish horn at breakfast.

This horn was about 10 feet long. I'll have to look up the actual name.

The kids after breakfast, before sledding, still warm.

The sledding however, never came to be. We went to the hill and found it closed due to mechanical failure. Sad! But still, it was so cold, I don't know how long they would have lasted.

So we went back to town and decided to sled on the local "bunny" hill that the smaller kids were sledding on. HA! Bunny hill my butt.

That thing was SO icy and slick and dangerous, I was biting my cheeks the whole time watching all these kids come down it at breakneck speeds, some of them sliding over the backwash into the sidewalk and some into the parked cars (one of them was Robee by the way).

Felix, had her own mishap with a poor unfortunate soul. She was doing her first run and as she turned backwards, took out some woman feet first and dumped her to the ground. The woman laid there for about three minutes trying to get her breath back. Severed spines just waiting to happen.

So the playing in the snow and tubing was not to be this trip. We promised them a make up trip later in the month or next after this bloody cold snap left.

Welcome 2011

Welcome to the year where for two months, one will have the opportunity to write the date as:

1/1/11 (Today of course)
1/11/11
11/1/11
11/11/11 (at 11:11 am and pm of course)

How cool is that?? And do you realize that next year is the LAST year that anyone will be able to to do something that cool?? After 12/12/12, there is no more. No 13th year. Perhaps this is why the Mayans believe the world will end ......... because we won't be able to write cool dates anymore. Yeah.

Anyhoo ..........

This is how we spent our New Year's.

Evan, is an almost New Year's baby. His birthday is the 31st which can be either good or bad, depending on what's going on. Good because he's a year now (wow, that went really fast) and bad because it's this weird holiday that make people feel the need to stay up til midnight and scream and bang pots (for good luck) and shoot off MASSIVE amounts of fireworks (my neighborhood sounded like WWII last night; thankfully my hayseed neighbors were quiet however).

So we had a combo birthday party/New Year's Party. In Evan's favor, the birthday party was WAY more fun than the New Year's Party.

From what I saw (Thomas, Ben, Greg, Kelsey and I were discussing Firm Fish), the birthday boy wasn't that interested in his giant birthday cake, much to his ever-hard working Mum's dismay. He would rather have an Oreo, thank you very much. Just like kids to burst your maternal balloon after slaving over something you know they'll love and then it's shunned. I'm speaking from experience too by the way.

Then the New Year's festivities got under way ............ with Ben, Kelsey, Bob, Kathi, Ang, Steve, Evan, & Beth all heading out the door around 9ish. That left Jen, Greg, Thomas, Felix, Robee, Owen, Ivy, and I to stare at each other for the rest of the night. Actually, Felix read, Robee and I passed out, Thomas was on the computer with Jen, Greg was trying not to fall asleep and Ivy and Owen were having their own party.

That is where I have to give Utah and their cities some credit (even if they celebrate holidays weirdly) by having First Night for New Year's. It's just so much nicer if you have something to do or go see or stand by a giant fire and drink hot chocolate or get the kids' faces painted or whatever activities they have. They had a couple around here but they can't seem to get them going or their funding was pulled.

So here are the remnants of last night:

The assorted horns, glasses, straws needed for merry making (thanks to Angie and Beth)

Silly String (thanks again Angie and Beth) shot at the pizza boxes on the floor - since it's sort of an outside thing and it was so cold last night, it probably would have frozen in the air.

Jen gave up the ghost at 11ish when Owen announced "IT'S TIME TO GO" and started packing up his stuff. Probably the funniest thing I've seen in a long time.

I dragged Robee to bed - he is MUCH bigger than he used to be - and promised Felix I would come up at midnight rather than passing out again. I had to look for my phone anyway so that kept me up for a bit. I was not going to clean the kitchen until the morning but I did make it to midnight to kiss both my kids.

Happy New Year. How I wish you would come at a more manageable hour.