Odds & Ends

Since I haven't posted in awhile, okay a month ago. Here's just a few things that have happened in the last little while.

Tucker became a reader!! (See the book in his hands!)

It's true, just out of the blue Tucker decided to start reading. This is the boy who probably read less than 5 books in all of middle school and high school. You know that saying "If you read to your child, your child will be a reader" With Tucker I always figured that was bunk. I never read to the other two boys as much as him. I guess he was a late bloomer is all. Since he started about a month ago he is always reading now. He takes great pride in finishing a book in a day. Go figure. I guess you should never lose hope.

We took a trip to the Cupcake Cabin. This is Cooper doing a happy dance while playing croquet.

Cooper went to Ft. Clatsop where Lewis & Clark spent the winter when they made their big trip. I came along as a chaperone (my one field trip of the year). It was an interesting trip. The kids were great. The parents, not so much.
Spencer was "promoted" to high school. We don't call it graduation because it's not. We have a little outdoor ceremony which lasted about 35 minutes. Just the right length. Here is Spencer with a few of his many girl friends. He doesn't really have any friends who are boys, but tons of girls.


He also won a major award that was voted on by his teachers called the Harold Hines Award. It is more or less given to students who do good things for others and stand up for others. I was very proud of him winning that award. As a few parents said to me after, "that is the award you hope your kid wins"

Here's Spencer at the Cupcake Cabin. I just like the picture I took.

Tucker did graduate from High School but opted not to "walk" in the graduation ceremony, hence we have no pictures to share of his big moment because there wasn't one. We are proud of him nevertheless. He is working hard this summer with two jobs--Safeway & the fruit stand--and an occasional stint at the Dirt Exchange. So really 2 1/2 jobs I guess. He is a hard worker.

He keeps having bad car karma though. Last Wednesday we got a call from the Seattle Police at 5am. It seems that someone or ones had stolen Tucker's car right out from in front of our house, taken it over a few blocks away in an alley an proceeded to strip it of all the lights and the battery. They probably would have taken more but must have gotten interupted in the process. So here are a few pictures of the car.

Someone in the neighborhood said they saw it being driven by not too long before we got the call fromt the police so it happened between 4am & 5am. I can't believe I didn't hear his car start because it is really loud because the engine races. Dennis was able to find a car on Craig's List that he could get parts from so they took a "man trip" on Friday with Cooper and got most of the parts back. It is most of the way back together now but we wonder if it might be stolen again some time. Poor Tucker and his cars!

That's pretty much what's been what lately.

Little League

The baseball season is actually winding down. We are in the "playoffs" portion right now. Dennis coached Cooper's baseball team again this year. They have had a pretty good season--at least a winning season. Which is actually pretty good when you take into account some of the players on the team. I have been the official scorekeeper for the team all season. This because none of the other parents would step up to do it. Although one mom said she would do it but wondered if "you had to pay attention to the game if you were scorekeeper". Not a joke. So, by default it ended up being me. I guess it was a good way to get me to go to all the games. I don't mind keeping score as it is a good excuse not to have to participate in social chit chat with the other parents. Not that I am anti-social...well okay maybe I am.

Cooper is a pretty good little player. He looks like a hitter when he is up to bat. Not that he always is a good hitter but he looks like he should be. Dennis has him playing catcher and 1st base and he does a pretty good job at both positions. Takes after his mom and dad (and Aunt Karen as I recall) in playing catcher. For some reason the way he throws always reminds me of Celiac. I don't know whether it is the bend in the wrist, the position of the arms, but there is something in his throwing motion that just looks like I remember her throwing. That's not to say that he throws like a girl. None of us Vaden chicks "threw like a girl". We all had pretty decent throwing arms back in the day. I do kind of miss playing baseball. I have very fond memories of playing church ball as a teenager. It was alot of fun. Peggy coached us every year and we always did pretty well against the other wards in Lost River Valley. People always used to be amazed at how well I played left field. I always attributed it to being afraid that Ardena MacInelly would beat me up if I missed the ball. Dennis & I played in an advertising softball league for awhile when we first got married and that was alot of fun too. After the kids though we just kind of faded out of it. Coaching Cooper is a way for Dennis to get back in the game I guess. Although he does say that his arm gets sore if he pitches too much to the kids. That's middle age for ya!

Photos are by Spencer because of course I was keeping score and "paying attention to the game".

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.