Thank You Summer!

This is a transition time of year. In days of old it was my favorite time of year. As a younger person, late August/early September ushered in milder temperatures, new school clothes, reunions with friends, and getting back to a routine. I loved it and I can still close my eyes and imagine green leaves blowing the breezes on cool mornings. But then it would warm up and be sunny and warm and perfect by lunchtime. We'd take our school lunches outside and eat by the flag pole. We referred to it as sweater weather, but you would always ditch the sweater during the day. Perfect weather for football games, pep rallies, homecoming, hanging out with friends. Skipping school and having lunch at McDonald's. Plaid skirts and matching sweaters. Knee socks. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young on the AM radio. It was the 70's. It was wonderful. And I always remember it being sunny! Although it couldn't have been always sunny.

Fast forward. In Alaska, it's always a bit of a surprise. This week has been cool and overcast with some scattered showers, but not without the sun's attempts at finding spaces to shine through. But surprise warm, sunny days aren't out of the question. Yet. But there is a feeling that fall is here and snow isn't far behind. Berries are abundant on all the trails and the fireweed is mostly gone. I am beginning to want warm foods like vegetable soup and chicken and dumplings. Today I am smoking last years leftover salmon. I wore a dark skirt and Danskos to work this week, had to turn on the heater in my car and those pesky yellow leaves are showing up in the yard more frequently. School and seminary have started so I am working more. Halloween candy is in the grocery stores. So I think "fall denial" is officially out of the question.

So, with that public admission, bring on the cocoa, turning on the fireplace, quilting projects, decorating the front porch for fall, trimming back the flowerbeds, more reading, paying attention to church callings and projects that have been neglected due to warmer weather priorities. I have to schedule a trip to Dutch Harbor this month and Kotzebue in October to do my duties there. We are spending Halloween week with David and Valli and new baby so that will be a treat! I am looking forward to all that the new season brings, but I will miss the summer so much. I hope it comes back next year.

Children Are Coming to Dinner

A friend from church is moving so we are having her and her three children over for dinner on Sunday. Dinner is going to be BBQ ribs, corn on the cob, coleslaw, yummy bread and probably something for the kids to snack on while the big people finish up dinner preparations. But dessert is cupcakes, the number one favorite in America. Or at least in our family. So, here they are. I taste tested and they passed. Not bad for totally from a box.

These Are a Few of my Favorite Things

Kissing at the pool. Playing in the creek ( or nearby).

Hide and seek at the park.

Riding bikes.

Splashing in the fountain at Gateway Mall. Next time we are dressing for the water!

You can't beat summer weather!

Here I Am!

As you can tell, baby Hudson gets lots of attention, albeit in short spurts. Everyone wants a turn and I knew I needed to take plenty as my days were numbered.
Ethan adores his new brother. I wasn't able to get a photo quick enough, but my favorite was when Ethan was stacking Lego's on Hudson's head!
Hudson at two weeks old. He already looks older and cuter. I wasn't able to get him to look at me due to the competition going on around us. I won't mention any names.

Philosophy of the Day

My grandchildren have taught me so many profound things during my stay. I wish I had been keeping a journal of all of them, but I had no idea what gems of truth and knowledge would come from them. But this morning was the crowning jewel.

Savannah: Grandma, what are you doing?

Grandma: I'm getting dressed. Do you want to get dressed?

Savannah: No, I'm busy. Busy people don't have time to get dressed.


How true.

Hello from the Wasatch

I'm still alive, although I have no photos to show for it. I think a card reader is in my future so I can immediately use the wonderful photos I have been taking of family. I guess the visuals will have to wait until my return to AK, but in the mean time it has been a busy couple of weeks. But the highlights are:

Holding baby Hudson all I want (I am going to miss him so much)
Playing Barbies with Savannah (this gives me a new insight into her sweet mind)
Going to the pool with S & E
Playing hide and seek and tag
The BYU bookstore
The Shops at Riverwoods (where Jenny went into labor!)
Seeing Monsters vs Aliens with S & E
Family picnic
Great weather
Blowing bubbles
Parks
Airplane museum
Not working (the less rewarding paid for kind)
Meeting my kids friends
My wonderful son-in-laws
My wonderful daughters
Having Dick come down for a visit and doing important "Dad" stuff (I will be home soon)
Hanging out with family like it was an every day occurrence
Going to church with family
Neighborhood walks
Sunflower market
Provo Saturday farmers market
Making jam with Savvy
Gateway Mall (Hudson's first real outing)
Doing everything on Savannah's Grandma "to do" list
Doing real "Mom" stuff
Finally getting my Uganda souvenirs from Megan - they were worth the wait!

There have been a couple of low lights, but most of them are actually pretty funny or things turned out well and are therefore a blessing, so I guess they aren't really that low after all. I will miss everyone terribly when I return to AK on Friday, but I miss Dick and I like to think he can't function without me although I know he does very well. Hopefully he has missed me a little.

Too busy to blog

This picture says it all. For more baby photos go here or here