February Happenings

Dear friends and family - Mom and Dad emailed to remind me I had not updated my blog in a while, so here is a February update. The picture above was taken at the Father Daughter Valentine Dance on February 6th. Every year Bill takes his girls to this event - this was around the 15th year he has taken them! This year he gave them beautiful necklaces and little fancy-event purses that I shopped for and he "wrapped" in tissue and gift bags. He had them over for dinner first, though Erin couldn't make it as she was running late. They obviously had a great time, though Bill told me he got a bit winded from dancing this year.

In the meantime, I picked up Nathan after work around 1 p.m. that day, and had a marvelous afternoon and evening being grandma. He was in a great mood, and even took a couple of little 45 minute naps, at which time I also rested. He has developed quite an engaging smile and is experimenting with making happy noises, including his own special laugh. He grins a lot, and every time he just makes my own face split in a grin - he is so handsome and special! I wish I had some updated pictures to place here, but somehow I don't have any recent ones. I will see if I can post SOMETHING with him in it!

Also, we have had several storms in the last few weeks, and Julie talked us into driving up to the mountains through Porterville to Camp Nelson to get closer to the awesome mountains with all the snow. I know, to some of you snow is old hat, but for those of us living "under the cloud" in the valley, where we hardly even see the mountains though we are surrounded by them, and snow is a mythical substance, we have had quite a treat the last few weeks - the mountains are so clear they seem close enough to touch! And they are covered with snow. So we went to the snow, and threw some lovely light powder snow balls at each other and little Abby, who dodged them better than we did! I got a pretty miserable case of car sickness on the way down, the first I've had in a long time, but I think I have recovered now.



On every day matters, I am still trudging along in my APNC group (Pastor Nominating Committee) as we've had several potential candidates just not work out. We have one more "in the hopper" for early March, and hopefully that will be the one! Also, I'm still waiting on news from the Community Bible Study Area Director on whether I am approved to go to training in Colorado Springs in April for an Associate Teaching Director position I agreed (after prayer) to accept.

Julie is at work today, though Bill and I have the day off due to the holiday. Julie's job working for accountants means there are no vacations from January 2nd through April 14th. They get a vacation day on April 15th! (or is it the 16th?) Anyway, Bill has a pretty miserable cold, so while we went out to run just a few short errands earlier today, we've mostly spent the day indoors out of the wind and rain. Bill has been looking up stuff on the internet, while I have finished reading another fantasy fiction book and taking a nap, as I didn't get to bed until 2:45 this morning (reading). Friday night was game nite for the fam, where we had pizza and played "Life", then Saturday night (Valentines Day), Julie went to Em and Jeff's for dinner and a movie, while Erin and Scott came over and made southwest enchilladas and refrieds, then we played two games of Starfarers of Catan. The 2nd game didn't finish until around 1 a.m. Bill shouldn't have stayed up as his cold was getting worse, but he did, and as a result, he had to sleep upright in a recliner and stayed home doing nothing on Sunday until Julie talked him into going to the mountains. I just keep taking preventatives (airborne, vitamins and ointment for my nose) and so far, knock on wood, I have stayed healthy.

Finally, Emily, Jeff and Scott, who all have government paid jobs, still have their jobs as of today. I think Emily's job is pretty secure, and Jeff thinks his is as well, but Scott's job is newer, and we are praying the continuing economic difficulties the state is trying to deal with won't put them in jeopardy. I just heard on the news as I type this that because the state can't pass a budget, over 20,000 government jobs including the departments Jeff and Scott work in, will be lost starting immediately. Such hard times!

On a happier note, here is a picture from 1/23/09 of my grandson. With that I will publish this post! jane

Here is Nathan at Sequoia Sandwich Shop on Sunday. He's got his shades, his "silencer", and his two puppy strap protectors that he just loves to rub his little fat cheeks on, and gum. Just couldn't resist taking his picture - he looks like some movie star!

A Winter Day Trip to the Snow

Oh yeah, after looking at everyone else's blogs this morning, I know I can't compete as far as "snow pictures", but I have to tell you that Bill and Julie and I took our little dog Abby to Tehachapi on 12/27/08 for her first experience in the snow. The snow was only an inch thick where we finally found a place we were allowed to get out and "play", but we also found a little partially frozen pond in a picnic area in Stallion Springs (all just east of Bakersfield about one hour on Hwy 58) where Abby tried to walk on the pond and jumped when she cracked the ice. We also stopped at Keene on the way home and watched a train go through the famous Tehachapi Loop. Thought I would include a picture or two of our "snow day"

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hi, everyone! As you can see by the latest pictures, Nathan is still the cutest baby on the planet! He took Christmas Day in "stride" going from bean bag chair to lap to another lap and set of arms - no lack when the room is full of relatives waiting in line to have a turn at him!

We all gathered Christmas Eve at Julie, Erin and Scott's church (Riverlakes Community Church) for a 4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service, and then drove to our home for a lovely ham dinner and relaxation, before everyone (including Julie, who was dog/house-sitting) left for their beds. Everyone gathered again here for a reasonably late (Em, Jeff and Nathan arrived earliest, since Nathan gets up early) Christmas morning with coffee cake, ham and eggs, scripture reading and opening presents. We only turn our gas fireplace on a few times a year, and the days around Christmas are the primary times. Takes me back to Valeria Street and the awesome atmosphere Dad and Mom created on Christmas morning - more than the gifts, that is what I remember about Christmas in my youth (thanks Dad and Mom!). We also had Em and Jeff bring their dog Maggie over so they wouldn't have to make trips back to the house to let her in and out (she is an indoor dog for many reasons). Since Maggie would make Abby a chew toy, we rotated them in and out throughout the day so each could have some indoor and outdoor time.
For the first time I fixed a prime rib roast for our Christmas dinner, and it turned out pretty well. For the rest of the holiday we watched movies and played games that people got for Christmas and in general had a great family time.

Now we've entered 2009 after a small family gathering at the Winther's last night to eat another lovely Costco ham, play Ultimate Yahtzee and Set, watch The Dark Knight, and love on little Nathan. Erin and Scott came in briefly from a long round trip to Huntington Beach New Years Eve to deliver a basket of goodies to someone, then they were spending the evening at home to care for Scott's parent's dogs to get them through the fireworks of the New Year's celebrations. Today the McArdles are driving to San Diego to spend the next few days with Scott's family, while Em and Jeff and Nathan are driving north to Coarsegold to spend time with Jeff's family.

It is a very cold and dreary-looking first day of the year here, weatherwise, but that just gave me an excuse to update this blog! May 2009 be a grand year of wonderful events for all of us!

November News from Bakersfield

I'll have to have Erin or Emily send me all the photos they've been taking of Nathan. The ones I found on my computer and camera are over a month old (OH NO!). I had to put in a picture of Abby as I had no more pix of Nathan to put in, but aren't they all cute?

Bill, Julie, Em, Jeff, Nathan, Dad and Mom and myself plan to gather here at our house to celebrate Thanksgiving. We will truly miss the blessing of seeing Viv and Von, Jo and Mike, Dan and Willy, and Erin and Scott at that gathering, but we understand everyone has other family or plans in the works. We hope you will plan to visit some time in the not too distant future.

I get to see and hold Nathan at least twice a week, and that is a blessing to me. Nathan is still not sleeping through the night at 10 weeks, but Em and Jeff seem to be getting used to sleep deficit. The pediatrician now has them placing Nathan on his side to sleep as his round head is getting flat on the back. He is drinking mother's milk from a bottle, since he never got the hang of nursing, and they recently increased his volume to 6 ounces at a time rather than 4. Lets see...he loves to be naked - but I am told that is true for a lot of little boys! He is also starting to smile, and has even made some cute little laugh noises upon occasion. Our favorite sound is his snorting, and our favorite motion is his rooting for a pacifier or bottle. Of course we just LOVE him!

Erin's sister in law, Molly Williams, delivered her 6 1/2 lb and 7+ lb fraternal twin boys last Wednesday! They are miracle babies. Erin and Scott have not seen them yet, so you can understand they will be visiting them in San Diego over Thanksgiving!

On another note, Em and Jeff have put their home on the market, as they would like to find a home that is better configured for their new little family. Don't know if it will sell in this poor economy, but they figured it wouldn't hurt to try.

At home, Bill and I have replaced two gates and painted our bathroom in the last few weeks. Julie has been going through all her digital Europe pictures and getting them printed through Costco. She says she is "through France" so that leaves only Germany, the Netherlands, and the trip home. She has filled up a huge album, though I know she isn't printing ALL her pictures, as she took over 5,000 of them! She is also loving her new church, The RiverLakes Church. Bill and I are more than ok with her finding a church where she feels connected and encouraged by her peers to grow spiritually. To us it is more important that our offspring love the Lord and follow Him than that they stick with us at 1st Pres.

Well, I am going to finish this up, but I think I can find a picture of Molly's twins to put on the blog site, and will do that before finishing up here!

The Volksloff (Mud Run)

Bill and Julie determined to take part in the annual Volksloff this October, and so they began a walking/running regimen a few months ago. However, they decided to opt for the shorter, 5 mile obstacle course rather than the regular 10 mile course. This is a mud run with lots of mud pits to sludge through, mounds of dirt to climb, tunnels and nets to crawl through or under, walls to climb, and a rope course over a muddy water pit. The first obstacle was a mud pit with a wall at the deep end, so everyone was muddy up to their chests within the first few minutes of the course. Bill and Julie opted to wear military boots and pants, and gloves. Julie purchased gripping type gloves without fingers, while Bill opted for rubber soled full gloves which also were good for gripping. They actually did quite well with their equipment, but because they didn't tape up their shoes, they did get a lot of muddy water in their shoes and the bottoms of their pants. They were tired but ok until they got to the rope pit, where there was a bottle neck of people and they had to wait 20 minutes to take their turn. It was a fairly cool and windy day, so standing on top of that dirt mound for 20 minutes made them cold and stiff. Julie made it across, but Bill fell into the pit shortly after I took his picture. The last obstacle consisted of two long pools of muddy water with hills of dirt on either end and one in the middle. The last pool was 6 feet deep, 2 feet deeper than previous years, and with all the weight of their wet clothes filled with mud and water, they ended up going along the edge of the pool so they wouldn't drown. Then they had to climb up the last, tallest hill to reach the finish line on the other side. After they passed the finish line (they didn't finish well, but they DID finish!), they walked over to a fire truck and got some of the mud hosed off with a fire hose. By this time they were freezing, so we all trudged a LONG way back to the car where Bill and Julie and Vicky took turns changing into dry clothes and shoes behind a blanket I held up for them. Needless to say, they were tired and didn't do much the rest of the day!

Here we all are!

Well, I have just set up my first blog, per Mom Twogood's request, to keep you all updated on being a grandma, which is the best experience ever! I will keep this short so I can post it then go inform you all of my blog address.

I don't know what I've sent anyone, other than a picture from my cell phone while in the delivery room. I was there! I saw him born. I am still so amazed! Emily did a great job, especially after she was given the epidural at midnight. Jeff also did a great job helping Emily with her contractions and encouraging her through the whole process. Her labor started 9/9 around 1:15 am, but didn't get serious until 10 pm, when she called me as they were leaving for the hospital. Julie and I met them there while Bill held down the home front. Her labor/delivery and a lot of recovery were spent in one very small room. I wasn't supposed to be there when it came time for delivery, but the doctor put both Jeff and I to work holding Emily's legs and feet to aid in contractions, and then all the equipment for delivery and baby were brought in, and there was no room for me to leave.

Since his birth, little Nathan went from 9 lb 3 oz down to 8 lb 5 oz, then started gaining before he left the hospital. He was circumcised on the 8th day, and weighed in then at 9 lb 10 oz. So even though he has refused to cooperate in the nursing department, he is still getting plenty with pumped mamma's milk and formula. I stayed at their house through this last Thursday evening, then have just put my head in for a few hours as often as I can to hold and feed and all the stuff that grandmas do. I am quite tired, but I know that Em and Jeff are MORE tired. At least they are still young, so they will recover more quickly than I will.

Got to go get ready for work. Love to all!