Birthday Boy

Boooo...I hate that my kids are growing up!

Happy 19th Birthday Dylan

Sweet 16!

Happy Birthday to my youngest daughter, Brenna! 

When I Get Where I'm Going

Last week, my son lost his mentor. His football coach, who was more than just a coach to him, passed away suddenly. He was his friend, confidant and a second father to him. Dylan spent just as much time at Coach Joe's house as he did here....maybe more:-) They were so close, that Dylan's name (along with 3 other football players) was listed in his obituary.

They had the memorial last Thursday. It was held at the football field. While I never got to know Coach Joe that well; I went along with my daughters. (Dylan was actually part of the service.) The football stand were packed with our local community. During the entire service all you could hear was sniffles and sobs. I was so in awe at what everyone said about this man....and man I hardly knew. It made me sad that I didn't know him that well. But I also learned so much about him and some of his views that I came away from the service with a new outlook on several aspects of my own life.

The officiating pastor sang this Brad Paisley song. Not a dry eye in the house....it was simply AMAZING.

RIP COACH JOE.......

When I Get Where I'm Going

When I get where I'm going
on the far side of the sky.
The first thing that I'm gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly.

I'm gonna land beside a lion,
and run my fingers through his mane.
Or I might find out what it's like
To ride a drop of rain


Yeah when I get where I'm going,
there'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles,
I have carried all these years.
And I'll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
Don't cry for me down here.

I'm gonna walk with my grandaddy,
and he'll match me step for step,
and I'll tell him how I missed him,
every minute since he left.
Then I'll hug his neck.

Yeah when I get where I'm going,
there'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles,
I have carried all these years.
And I'll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
Don't cry for me down here.

So much pain and so much darkness,
in this world we stumble through.
All these questions, I can't answer,
so much work to do.

But when I get where I'm going,
and I see my Maker's face.
I'll stand forever in the light,
of His amazing grace.
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
there'll be only happy tears.
Hallelujah!
I will love and have no fear.
When I get where I'm going.
Yeah when I get where I'm going

The Graduate

After a year of taking prerequisites, then two years of nursing school; Kayleigh has graduated!!! All her hard work paid off. There were many gatherings she missed because she had to study, and many nights of going to bed early. But she finally did it. We are sooo proud of her. She is taking the holidays off then hitting the books in January. Testing is end of January. And the best part is she has a job already lined up. After she passes her test, she starts working at the local hospital!

The proud parents with Kayleigh at Graduation:


The whole family:

Grades

I think the motivation of getting his liscense and possibly a car; have done the trick!! Dylan had a GREAT mid quarter report card last month. 2 A's, 3 B's and one Pass (he is a T/A for a biology class....its pass or fail).

His quarter report card was almost the same....although he dropped one of those B's to a F! I guess he failed to turn in his quarter project. But his teacher emailed me today and said that Dylan has already turned it 25 extra credit assignments to try to make up for it! He said he was on track to raise the grade for the semester.

WAHOO...about time:-)

Auntie, let's bake a cake!!

Yesterday, when I was talking to my nephew I told him that when I watched him today we would bake some cookies or a cake.

Today when he got here, he comes in the house and says "Auntie, let's bake a cake".

So here is Eastons cake....he frosted himself. Did I mention he is THREE????!!

An ending....

My beloved Papa passed away in May. A month later we had an amazing Memorial for him (and my Nana who had passed away 10 years before). We chartered a boat and spread their ashes into the Puget Sound. The day was perfectly sunny. As their ashes were released we had Somewhere Over the Rainbow, playing. Then as we circled their ashes and the flowers we had thrown, we listened to My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion.

There is so much I could tell you about him. But I think his obituary sums up almost it all. Other than I loved him so much and will miss him every day!!

Jerry Darling


Jerry Darling, 75, of Granite Falls, Washington unexpectedly died of a sudden heart attack May 15, 2008. He was born in Plankinton, South Dakota on September 3, 1932. His family moved to Los Angeles, California to escape the Great Depression and he grew up in Inglewood, California. As a boy, he became fascinated by airplane development in wartime Los Angeles. World War II left him with many very vivid memories and a sustained pride in our country's accomplishments. He flew in the Air Force during the early 1950s and was stationed in the Mediterranean. After he served his country in the Air Force, Jerry met Betty while they worked together at Douglas Aircraft. They fell deeply in love and married in 1955 and honeymooned in the Deep South. In the early 1960s, he worked on NASA projects. He was particularly proud of a design for a satellite and work he did on the Atlas rocket. Jerry accepted a job offer from Boeing to work on the 747 and they moved from California to Everett in 1966. He was a proud member of Boeing's Incredibles for his work to make the 747 possible. He worked there as a tool design engineer until his retirement in late 1995.
Jerry had a marvelous sense of humor and loved to laugh, joke and tease people, but never in any hurtful way. Handsome and athletic, he aged gracefully and felt fitness was essential to enjoying life. He was a man of very many enthusiasms and hobby's. He enjoyed flying and owned for a time a small acrobatic airplane. He loved sailing, so he owned a 28 ft sailboat and had a home overlooking the Puget Sound. He liked astronomy, so he had a large telescope. He became very passionate about bicycling and rode in the Seattle to Portland bicycle race more than once. He also ran the Seattle Marathon during the time when running was his passion. He learned to scuba dive after retirement and dove on many occasions with his son Steve. He spent many evenings with his daughter, Rhonda, attending plays at the Everett Theater and listening to the Everett Symphony. Painting came easy to Jerry and enjoyed his lessons in the art. He enjoyed playing golf and loved following the tournaments of the PGA. He loved books on history, politics and above all, science. All of these subjects he could discuss with a great depth of knowledge and feeling. He loved his classical music and attended with friends concerts by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and performances by Seattle Opera. He decided shortly after he retired that he would become a hand on a fishing boat in the stormy Gulf of Alaska! He did this for ten weeks and enjoyed every minute telling story's to the family about his adventures.
Jerry was preceded in death by his dear wife, Betty Darling. She died in 1998.
He is survived by his brother, Dr. Jack Darling and Geraldine, of Arlington, WA; children, Rhonda Darling, and Steve and Debra Darling; grandchildren, Jason and Chilly, Christina and Dave, Cassie and Jeremy, Ashley, Jason and Nicky; great-grandchildren, Kayleigh, Dylan, Brenna, Bryce, Easton, Aidan, Chance, Tori, Jordan, and Payton; his brother-in-law, Jerry Tippin and Janice; and all of his nieces and nephews who meant so much to him.
He was a very kind, thoughtful man his many family members and friends will greatly miss. Jerry was deeply loved by his family and those that new him.
At his request, no services will be held. His ashes will be mixed with those of his wife Betty and spread in the Puget Sound within view of the house that he and Betty lived in for so many happy years overlooking the water.

Family Weekend Away ~ Leavenworth

Our mini family vacation was a blast! We had so much fun. Everyone got along and enjoyed each other. My son, who said he would refuse to talk to us the entire trip; talked our ears off on the way there. He spent the entire 2 hours talking about history! OMG...we couldn't get him to shut up. LOL I think I had a permanent smile the whole way there!

We spent the weekend: exploring Leavenworth, shopping, playing games, a mini birthday celebration for my sister in law, and just goofing around. Had a wild game of charades. (I won...thank you very much). Played several games of cards (I didn't win....).

It didn't snow while there:-( BUT, on way home we got a big blast of it on the pass. It was slippery! We came upon an accident where one car had went over the side of road! SCARY Of course by the time we hit the snow; my camera batteries were dead. I was bummed about that.

Overall, it was a GREAT family vacation. I think a much needed getaway for myself, David and kids.

Here's the kids....being goofy in car ride over.


B and D playing in the pool. Did I mention its an OUTSIDE pool and it was about 40 degree's....at 10:00 at night! BRRRRRR


Getting warm and hamming it up in hottub.


This was the view from our backdeck of condo.


PRIORITIES! David checking his Fantasy Football stats..


D on the ride into town.


WELCOME TO LEAVENWORTH


David and my grampa...waiting on the WARM side of the street for us shoppers.



Public transportation.


Cute little Bavarian village nestled in the mountains.


The towns MayPole. They put this up about 9 years ago as a permanent fixture. AND WE WERE THERE. K and D remembered the celebration: parade, dancing in the streets ect. B was too little. But it was kinda cool to see it again.


My brother and family, taking a horse drawn carriage ride. My brother looks a bit bored. LOL


Nephew and B rolling down the hill in the city park.


Running back up....


America's Next Top Models...in the famous Hat Store


Helium fun! We laughed and laughed and laughed over this. I guess we are easily amused.


Davids turn!


America's Next Top Models part 2


Cleaning up to go home. DARN

Bumps and Bruises..and much more

Three active kids and I have been to the ER with two of them....numerous times. Between the two, I've dealt with dislocated kneecaps, torn ligaments, sprained ankles, many broken fingers, a broken wrist, a broken nose (and surgery to correct it), MRI's, Xrays, stitches, rides in ambulances. Our bathroom closet looks like a cabinet you would find in a hospital; full of various braces, slings, wraps, neck braces, gauze, splints ect.



This was taken last month. The day after D, dislocated his kneecap for the SECOND TIME. The first time, was last year, during football practice. I got to ride to hospital in the ambulance with him. NOT FUN.

Flash forward a full year. He decided to not play football this year. So he is playing basketball at the park and I get a phone call from his buddy. He did it AGAIN. So guess what? ANOTHER trip ER in an ambulance with him. This time around, he felt better...sooner. But he is wearing the brace longer...although off crutches.

The doctor is suggesting surgery. D is freaking out...but he is also tired of this happening. So we will see.

You'd think I would be a pro at this by now. But each time something like this happens and I FREAK out...on the inside. Seriously, I remain calm and cool to the kids and everyone else. But it takes me a while to recover from these incidents. I'm not sure how many more I can take?

I think I am putting B in a bubble so I don't have to do this with her too.

Tripping down Memory Lane

I spent most of Thursday going through pictures. Trying to find a dorky one for upcoming Dorky Tuesday.

I had the best time. I found pics that I had totally forgotten about. All the way back to my teen years. Of course they are all thrown in various boxes. Organizing them would be a pain. But sifting through them was sooo damn fun. I ended up taking out a huge stack to take to the cabin this weekend. I figured David, I, my brother and SIL can take a trip down Memory Lane one night while we are drinking:-)

So, we are off for the weekend. I have my bags packed, chest full of beer & wine....and my pictures.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend.

HNT: Asleep On The Job

As I mentioned, we do an annual garage sale. The proceeds go to the kids school clothes. The main requirement is that they help out in some way. K spent all day Friday helping. Saturday was suppose to be D's turn.

Hmmm, this was his idea of helping:

SERIOUSLY,I'm not kidding.... he fell asleep on that bean bag...complete with his 'drawers' hanging out. At one point we were gonna put a FOR SALE sign on him. But we ended up waking him up when someone almost TRIPPED OVER HIM!!!! LOL

When we woke him up, it took forever for him to get off the ground, because he can't bend his left leg (he dislocated his knee cap a few weeks back....AGAIN). So not only did it take him a while but he did it all funky like. Some lady was walking up the walkway while D was getting up. He whispers to me "OMG Mom, I think I just flashed that lady my asscrack". I started laughing and he says "I"M NOT KIDDING".

He went straight into the house and wouldn't come out till she was gone.
LMAO

HNT: Splashing

My nephews, having the time of their life!

WAHOO...I found it!

I found my camera! Well actually K~ found it, but still I am so excited.

This whole time I thought B~ had lost it. And technically she did. My sister in law had borrowed it. She gave it back to B~ one day when they were out running errands. Well yesterday we went for a drive in sister in laws SUV. K~ unfolds the very back and THERE IT IS. Right where B~ must have left it!!! About TWO MONTHS LATER.

I am sooo releived. I use this camera for work too!
Now I can quit borrowing everyone else.

How I spent my Saturday

You know you live in a small hick town, when you spend 9 hours......NINE HOURS.... watching a bonfire. Okay, it was really a burn pile. But STILL! It was a large burn pile.

David is working on building my mom a new house and they were clearing her property. And this pile needed to be burned this weekend or the burn permit expired.

And I couldn't leave. It was just David and I for most of the time and I wasn't about to leave him driving that tractor by himself. (I won't mention how many times I thought he was gonna tip it.)

And let me add that I was already exhausted when we started. So you can imagine how loopy I was after 9 hours. I was so tired I was seeing stars. OH WAIT, those were stars since we didn't leave till MIDNIGHT!

Here's a little recap of the day......

Getting started



WOW, now that's a fire


Riley, getting impatient


Me, getting impatient

Back to Reality...once more

UGH, I so hate coming home from vacations.

This last one was EXTRA great. Sunshine the entire week yet not too hot to enjoy it. Of course that could be because of the unlimited exposure to the pool and the lake. :-)

Was so relaxing. Spent lots of time on the boat, zipping around; also lots of time in the pool, just relaxing. We had good food, drinks and conversation. Even had a few nights out to the local bar for some more drinks and hilarious karoake!!!

As usual, I didn't want to leave. Now I am doing some serious daydreaming of owning a vacation house there. Daydreaming being the key word here!!! LOL

So back to my boring life. LOL.....

Pool, deckchair and lake....HERE I COME!

So, leaving for vacation on Sunday. A weeks worth of SUN, boating, swimming in the pool, drinks and just relaxing. I can't wait. My entire family is going (my family, my brother and his family, my mom and my grampa) plus a few extra's.

Nothing like a good Summer song to get me motivated to pack:-)

Whats your favorite Summer song????

Drifting back to reality

So I obviously made it back from Memorial Day at the cabin. I had a super time!!! Just what I needed. And extra special was my oldest daughter (19) came with us (the younger two were off with friends). It was really fun hanging with her for the weekend. Her dad and my brother spent the weekend trying to get her drunk. She had a few drinks but unlike the rest of her family; drinking isnt' her style.....yet. LOL

Meanwhile, ME? I spent Sunday night vomitting in a wheelbarrow. I'll spare you the details but that was the only icky part of my weekend. Those 'Hop, Skip and Go Naked's' sure sneak up on you!

For the most part the weather was awesome. On Monday, the entire family took a hike to a place called Sauk Falls. It was BEAUTIFUL.
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Since I have been back, I've been CRAZY busy with work, family and mundane stuff. Why does that always happen after a mini vacation????

Random Confession: My brothers car

A few weeks back, my brother let me drive his new Mercedes. He wasn't real picky on when I returned it.

While I was driving in the neighborhood, I stopped to chat with a neighbor. Her VERY LARGE dog jumped up on the drivers door!

Needless to say I drove it straight back to his house and handed him the keys!

(no I didn't say anything, but as far as I can tell....no scratches.)

M.I.A.

It's been quite the week: kids, dogs, husband, relatives, games, work, dinners, bills, housework.........
Everything pulling me in a million different directions. ARRRGGGHHH

But I am finally resurfacing.

For some reason the phrase "THE BITCH IS BACK" keeps floating through my brain. LOL

:)

Happy Easter!!!!

Okay, admittedly the "younger" audience might not get this. But I KNOW there are several of you out there that remember SUPER CHICKEN! :-)

And check out this link for some funny Easter Cartoons: http://www.offthemark.com/easter/easter.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In my family, Easter isn't a big 'religious' holiday. But we do get together for a big gathering of family and friends. My kids have outgrown the thrill of the Easter Egg Hunt so thankfully I now have a nephew coming into age to enjoy it. So the day will start with his Easter Egg Hunt, followed by lots of food (my fave part) and lots of sitting around, socializing, drinking wine and having a good time (my second fave part). Crossing fingers the weather stays nice to enjoy it outside.

No matter how you celebrate it .... Have a Happy Easter!!!! I'm off to enjoy the good weather and holiday weekend!