Then (1985) & Now (2010)

These pictures are from my mission, 25 years ago (gulp). The gorgeous blonde was my mission companion for four months. Her name was Gitte Hansen and she was from Denmark. We served together in Loraine, OH and had a great time together. Every month we would beg for just one more month together. We must have been persuasive because we got four months. People would ask if we were sisters, which of course I thought was totally "awesome" (as we used to say alot back then). Not sure how Gitte felt about it.
Of course we both returned to our respective homes after our missions were through. Both of us married and became the mother of boys (Gitte has two) and settled down into domestic bliss.
We have kept in touch over the years through Christmas cards mostly. Gitte even called me on the phone once a few years back which was a very nice surprise. We would always talk about seeing each other one day but not necessarily with any expectation that we would.
So you can imagine my surprise and excitement when Gitte e-mailed me a few months ago about possibly come to see me ever so briefly. Seems she was planning a trip to Salt Lake City for General Conference and thought she might plan a little layover in Seattle. I was pretty "psyched" (also a word we used alot back then). Well it worked out perfectly, because she flew into Seattle around noon the Wednesday before we had our Spring Break. I picked up her and her mom (who is totally a cutie) at the airport. We were able to spend that day through to noon on Thursday together (she spent time with another friend here in Seattle from noon Thursday to noon Friday).
We had a great time (or should I say awesome) reminiscing about old times, old friends, old companions and also catching up with each other. It was amazing how little time it seemed had passed and yet it has been 25 years!! We seemed to just fit right back into that groove of where we left off. There was no awkwardness (well except for the fact that I am a lousy housekeeper and they were staying at my house.) These "now" pictures are from Sunset Park just a few blocks from our house. I also took them to see where the kids go to school and I work, the church building, and the UW campus.
She had a jam packed trip (literally, it was crazy) so it was super cool (another word we used alot back then) that we got as much time as we did together. I hope some day I can return the visit and go see her and her family in Denmark. I will have to add that to my "list".
Dennis says he thinks we both look better now than back then. All I know is that it was fun to see her again. I'm so glad I know her and that she is still a part of my life. She is warm, generous, caring, thoughtful...all those good things. It is a friendship that I will treasure forever!

California Spring Break 2010

We just got back last night (1:30am--after driving staight through) from a Spring Break Trip to California (we did take two days to drive down though). Here are some highlights in no particular order because putting them in order would take too long! (I just figured out today how to upload more than one photo at a time--how stupid is that?)

So, we went to the beach of course--twice. Even though it never really got above 70 and was a little bit chilly. If you are in California, you HAVE to go to the beach no matter what.

We visited "the cousins". These are actually kids of Dennis' cousins. Not sure what that makes the relationship. First cousins once-removed, 2nd cousins?? This was Dennis' Uncle George & Aunt Joan's where if you step across the doorstep you are guaranteed to gain at least 10 pounds! Seriously!
Of course we went to Disneyland. Will have to look for the first picture we took 7 years ago for a little then & now comparison.

We visited the wax museum. We actually did see one "live" celebrity on our trip. The comedian Chris Rock cut in front of everyone while we were in line for the roller coaster at Disney (when you are celebrity you don't have to stand in long lines). He was still outside the ride when we left and Tucker couldn't resist saying "Hey Chris Rock". We didn't go close though, he had a big body guard.

We also saw the walk of fame as well. Spencer really wanted to find Sandra Bullock's star (he's a big fan) but we never did see it.

Cooper played with the train at Dick & Doris' house (Dennis' aunt and husband). She has a big train set-up in her living room. He was thrilled!

Bumper cars at Knott's Berry Farm. They were pretty lame.

We rode almost all the coasters at Knott's. I thought it was pretty cool that I still was able to ride coasters without getting sick--until the next day that is. My back was killing me and still hurts. Oh well. This ride Tucker & Cooper believed Dennis when he said they wouldn't get wet. After about football field length drop straight down into water how could you believe that??

Nobody got lost.

Although there were bouts of pouting.

A windy day at the beach. The kite flew for a little while.

Visited the Long Beach Aquarium with Dick & Doris, which we did the last trip as well. It is an awesome aquarium. Makes ours here in Seattle look amatuerish. It was really nice to spend time with them.

It's good to be home though!

SAM-e

My sister-in-law and I were talking at Tucker's birthday party and she mentioned this supplement called SAM-e that she had been taking that was supposed to help your mood be better. She had been taking if for awhile and really thought it had helped. I thought it might be worth a try. My only worry was whether I could swallow it or not with my whole small esophogus thing. It is an over the counter supplement so I went out and bought some.

Naturally what I found was big pills that there was no way I could swallow them whole. Luckily it is easy to break into little pieces (with a meat mallet) and then swallow the pieces. It is supposed to take about two weeks for it to really take effect and I have just barely been taking it for about that amount of time. Can't really say yet whether there is a noticeable happier mood, but I think so. Doesn't seem to have any bad side effects like lits of things do. It is supposed to help depression, osteoarthritis, liver disease and fibromyalgia. Now I just have to find someplace where I can buy it cheaper than one of the drug stores. Looks like there are some really good bargains on line so I think I will try that. We'll have to see if I seem to be "happier"!

Idaho Adventures

Spencer, Cooper and I visited mom & dad over our Mid-Winter Break--not Spring Break, that's the end of March, but mid-winter break because you can never have enough breaks from schooling in the Seattle Public Schools. Anyway, we flew from here to Boise, rented a car and drove to Pocatello where we were able to spend a little time with Karen and also, bonus, Celiac! It great to spend time with both. Monday we drove from Poky to Mackay and spent the rest of the time with mom & dad. The boys played in the snow....
Went sledding down the Mine Hill almost every day, often accompanied by Kendra, who is a little speed demon on the sled!

This is me just moments before my sled flew out from under me and I landed, really hard, on my tailbone after only going about 1/2 way down the hill and on my first run no less--ouch. With tears almost coming to my eyes, I slowly made my way down the rest of the hill and that was the end of my sledding escapades for the trip. My tailbone is still trying to recover!

The day after the sledding "accident", Randy took the boys & I snowmobiling up Pass Creek. I rode behind Spencer and Cooper rode by himself. I think both boys were pretty proud of being able to drive the snowmobiles themselves. It was a beautiful day and a really nice ride despite my sore tailbone.

All and all it was a fun trip and a nice visit. I am glad we made the trip!

(Sorry we missed you Amy. I was mixed up about when our flight left Boise and we had to leave sooner! See you this summer though)

Budding Photographer

As you can see by the name on each of these photos, they were taken by Spencer. This is what he has been doing in his spare time lately. All of these were taken inside the house. He takes them and then goes on Picasa or this other website and maniupulates them. These are just a few from the last couple of days. I think he has a really good eye for someone who knows next to nothing about photography other than point & click. I think they are really clever and interesting, but then I am his mom I guess. I am hoping to find some kind of photography camp for him this summer but so far haven't found anything online. Will keep looking since it apparently is something he is very interested in. I definitely think he has potential!

On a completely different note, I guess the romance is over. Tucker informed us tonight that he broke up with Caitlin. Didn't seem too cut up about it. Says he wants to "focus on school right now". Whatever.

Lethargy vs. Motivation

I have been thinking that maybe I have SAD (seasonal affective disorder). You know the one where you get the blues when the weather turns gray. (Like that ever happens in Seattle--ha). In thinking about it, it seems like every year around November I start to get blue, lose motivation to do anything (and I mean anything). It generally seems to last through January and some into February. Now I don't know for sure, but it seems pretty suspicious that I get this way nearly every year.

This year I was cruising with going to the gym. I could get my sorry behind out of bed at least 3x a week for serious exercise. My main motivation was that I would say to myself "You're going to Hawaii, get your butt out of bed" or "You're going to Hawaii you don't need that cake/brownie/candy, etc" This worked really well until I actually WENT to Hawaii in October. After I came home I had nothing to tell myself for motivation, but managed to still get to the gym at least twice a week and still 3x sometimes. Then November hit and it got worse and just kept going that way.

It's not just the gym, it's getting out of bed, leaving the house to go anywhere, doing any kind of housework. I just want to curl up in the chair with a book or worse, just lie on the couch doing nothing. How pathetic is that.

It's not like I wasn't seeing results from going to the gym which has sometimes been the case with exercise things I have done. You feel like you are working your butt off and no butt is coming off!! I was actually seeing some butt coming off (not to be crude but there it is). I WAS seeing results and feeling good about it all. Then came November, then December and January.

So here it is February, the weather has been really nice here in Seattle. Still rather gray, but the days are getting longer and we are seeing some sunshine. My gym membership is up for renewal and I am hesitant to renew it in case this lethargy, inertia, whatever it is continues. Or maybe that's just the motivation I need. (That and the fact that I can tell I am totally losing what I worked so hard for all last year!)

SAD, well who really knows but it seems mighty suspicious to me that my motivation seems to be going up with the lengthening of days and improvement in the weather!

(Not my picture BTW, just one I found when I googled seattle weather pictures)

Tucker Has A Girlfriend

Yipes! Shortly after writing about how Tucker was longing for a girlfriend in my Christmas letter, Tucker got his wish and announced that he officially had a girlfriend. Her name is Caitlyn (at least I think it's spelled that way and no, I don't know her last name--I'm not even sure Tucker does).
She is a Senior at Nathan Hale High School which is across town from where Tucker goes to school. Which of course begs the question "How did they meet?" She is a friend of a girlfriend of one of Tucker's friends--it's complex.
She has had dinner with us once or twice and seems like a very nice girl. She even puts up with Dennis' bad jokes. They spend alot of time at our house and Tucker has not even met her parents yet. Hmmm.
It's still a hard thing as a mom for your boy to have a girlfriend. I can only imagine how traumatic it is to be the mom of a girl with a boyfriend. As you can tell by the cat who just ate the canary smile, Tucker is quite pleased.