intervention

Mom: have you had lunch, James?
James: yes, this is my 2nd lunch!
Liz: (from the other room)--do i need to intervene?
James: people don't usually say yes when asked if they need intervention.
Liz: I know. Do I need to intervene?
James: ...
Liz: Do I need to intervene?
James: (taking a bite of cracker/butter/tuna/pb/turkey)--no, i'm 'appy. (rather unintelligible)
Liz: What did you say?
James, Mom, Marquie: (laughing too hard to speak)

Happy Photo Phriday!!!!!!

Alone at 20:14 -- In My Office

Yes, I am still in my office but the screen is really big! I had an evaluation with an employee at 16:00 that I was late for and we went to 18:30. One of the employees here ordered Chinese so I got some and watched burn notice on my big screen TV. Well, when dinner and a movie were over I jumped in and did some more work and then checked our blog and felt bad that I have not contributed for so long. So, I am going to post, do a last e-mail check and then go... to where I sleep because I am far from my family and family is where home is. Love you all. (Different back yard than what you saw after the funeral. This is the back yard of my youth)

Mom!

While I was getting dinner started tonight, Mom (Lynne) came over to the counter while chatting with Heather on the phone.  I opened one of those giant bags of frozen chicken breasts and as I moved a rather large meat specimen from bag to defrosting plate, Mom's jaw dropped and she made a universally recognized "whoa!  what large breasts!" sign with her free hand.  We laughed silently together as Heather chatted about her also quite prolific garden.  Lucky garden.  Lucky Chicken too.

APAH

Guys, in case you didn't know, I HATE AP American History. If I knew what was going on, it wouldn't be so bad. I'm talking to my friend, and apparently we have to write 2 separate essays, and I thought we only had to write one, which is what I did last chapter, so why the heck didn't he tell me I didn't turn in 1 one of them. I'm getting so confused, and I don't know if i'm supposed to write 1 or 2 essays! BLARGH!!!!!! I hate this, and I want to know when I am moving. harumph!

Home Again!

It was an interesting feeling as we flew into Chicago yesterday and drove home. Suddenly it didn't seem like home. Whether it's not supposed to feel like home, or whether it's just that we've been gone for so long I just don't know. Our home, however, does feel like home. And, it's still as lovely as ever. The yard, however, is in need of some serious work!

We had such a wonderful vacation. It was especially nice for me to be able to spend so much time with Grandpa and Grandma Workman. I don't think I have had that much time with them for a very long time. They are such wonderful, giving people. I helped Grandma finish her preparations for Pam and Lee's family to join them. They could be there quite a while. It was lots of fun to work with her and to just bask in the joy of being with them.

It was an interesting feeling as we dealt with Grandma Hutchings' death and funeral. It was not necessarily a sad experience, however it was the end of an era. We, dad and I, are the next "get old and die" generation. It's kind of a gut check.

The family reunion was a great success and very well attended. Dad did a terrific job with the dutch oven breakfast. We had plenty of food and it was ready as soon as Grandpa and Grandma hiked into camp. Marquie said the hike was the best part of the reunion. I think being with Justin and Jodi during the hike was the major factor in that decision. They made it lots of fun for her.

My biggest worry of the reunion was that we would not have enough food. But, everyone came through and we had plenty to eat. The leftovers will be used on Wednesday for a meal after Pauly's memorial service in Delta.

In some ways its joyful to be home, but I really do miss everyone already. James and Liz, we especially missed having you there. We are glad, however, that you got moved into your new home.

Dad is in meetings this morning, then headed back to DC for the week. Sure is getting old. We're still hopeful that we'll be able to work things out to be together again very soon. Love you all!

Our new house!

Sadly, Jacob's discovery of writing utensils directly coincided with our acquisition of this beautiful space.  We've already got a little cleaning to do; in fact, I just rubbed some pencil off the kitchen tile with my toe.  Yeah, vigilance is key.  We really missed being with everyone at the reunion, but neither our lives nor our wallets could take much more this summer!

We bought our couches yesterday at Sam's Club, and we're quite happy with them.  We're still not sure what to do with the family room, so we're leaving our options open for now.  Sectional?  Couch with chairs?  Just a bunch of chairs?  It's so hard to say.  Maybe we'll just spend the money we would have spent on the couches and reupholster Great Grandma's old chair and have it be the sole piece of furniture in there.  Or maybe it will continue to be the brown flower wonder that it is and we'll find something a little more practical.  Decisions, decisions . . .

(I did just watch the video and the static is horrific.  sorry.  deal with it.)

Summertime

Today as I mourned the absence of any new blog posts (thanks for the update yesterday, Mom!) I thought, "well, we're all very busy, so it makes sense that there aren't a lot of posts."

After another second, however, I realized that in addition to the everyday crazies we enjoy, these busy times of adventure are also times we'd like to capture in our little family history.  So, in that spirit, I commit to blog about our new house before the weekend closes.  I'd like to share it with everyone personally, but the blog will have to do until you all come in December.

The challenge: Share your summer adventures!  Show us photos, tell your stories ("I'm so weak . . .") and let's enjoy our summer together!