Monday, June 28, 2010

"Sunshine on My Shoulders Makes Me Happy"

Is that sunshine that I feel on my face and sweet sweat as I work in the yard for hours?  Was it possible that I fell asleep in the hammock, without a sweater, during story time?  Is summer actually here?  I look around me this morning and see signs everywhere that there are 6 very active children on vacation here, so I think it must be.  I came home from girls camp last Saturday to the most immaculately clean house I've had in ages.  Even the shower curtains had been laundered; it was the greatest gift of selfless love.  Unfortunately, it has deteriorated quickly again and we are due, every day it seems, for a laundry party (folding and a movie:) and deep cleaning.

Mikayla has been doing geneological work like crazy.  She gets up every morning at 6:00 and works until we go walking at 8:00 or 8:30, recording life histories and uploading ancestral photos onto a personal web page.  Right now she is focusing on Great Grandma Nielson and I am learning so much about her just through tidbits that she shares and questions that she asks.  She's had the spirit of Elijah since Trek, but since being called as a family history consultant in our ward, "a fire is burning".  Her efforts and example have been such a blessing to our family and to her personally.  She has also just been called as the Laurel class president and as a member of the Aaronic Priesthood Young Women Stake Committee, so she is going to be a busy girl.

Jordan's missionary papers were sent off to Salt Lake this morning, so we are anxiously anticipating a mission call soon.  What a blessing this preparation time has been.  My feelings about letting go of my boy have taken such a drastic turn from this time a year ago.  I can't wait for him to fly.  The direction from our stake president to all preparing missionaries in our boundaries are that they are to stop all dating as soon as their mission call arrives and start incorporating the mission rules into their lives.  I have a feeling he will be playing big this week.:)

We're still trying to figure out what to do for a conservative vacation this last summer all together as a family.  Fred suggested camping (which I'm not sure I'm up for), I suggested a stay-cation (which never really works because everyone else doesn't realize that you are on vacation--so you aren't), some of the kids suggested the Ocean (which is only seems conservative if you are camping).  The options feel few and complicated this year, but I think it is important to get away from everything and focus on our family for at least a few days.  "Think, think, think".

Last Thursday as Abrahm, Sophie and Lily all got dressed and came out for breakfast it became very apparent that a clothes shopping trip was long overdue.  Abe was wearing high waters with holes in both knees and a t-shirt that should have fit the twins.  The twins were both wearing skinny jeans that weren't meant to be.  We were able to find everything we needed at Savers without even venturing toward any other stores, so I was happy, and the twins were happy, but by Saturday, when Abe was still wearing clothes from the bottom of the bucket, I had to step in start taking away wardrobe options.  Unfortunately that ended in tears, when I produced a pair of shorts that I had made from some of his holey pants and he informed me that "those were [his] best winter pants!"  Sometimes it's hard not to be a mean mom, when you don't even know you are!  I'm trying to be sensitive and I'm sure we'll make it through this summer trial in one piece.

Aaah, I'm ready for another morning, with "sunshine on my shoulders".

--
Posted By Bloomers to KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES at 6/28/2010 07:59:00 AM

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Fwd: [KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES] In Search of Ruby Slippers

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bloomers <crogys@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 11, 2010 at 2:19 PM
Subject: [KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES] In Search of Ruby Slippers
To: crogys@gmail.com

The weather has been depressingly Winnie the Pooh-like for what seems like ages here, and we are all feeling rather Eeyore-ish.  The climate really shouldn't have such a claim on our emotions, but I have been saying, "I'm done with this weather!" for so long now that "I do not think it means what you think it means".  I want to frolic in the fields and read languidly in the hammock.  I even want to feel little droplets of sweat roll down my back while I'm working in my yard.  I am tired of hearing the wind whistling and seeing wet and sog and being COLD.  And yes I'm spoiled and most certainly whining!  I'm done.

Fred and I had fun touring the Parade of Homes for date night on Friday.  There was opulence and elegance and some decorating that made my mouth water, but we were both musing at our change of heart.  We have visited Parade of Homes for years and as a young couple we used to come home a bit discontented and "longing" for things we didn't have much hope for.  Now we come back inspired to clean and create and so happy to be home.  Maybe that is because we know now that dreams are tangible and accessible, if we want them bad enough, and work for them hard enough...and we just have different dreams.

Boise Music Week ended this past weekend, with the traditional "free to the public" musical performed in the Morrison Center.  It's a tradition that I have enjoyed since I was a teenager and with Lori, went in search of King Arthur backstage, in his dressing room.  No backstage adventures this year, but my family did enjoy the fantastic performance of "Hello Dolly".  The singing was superb, the acting was charming and the full 3 hours were a pure delight.  What fun to be able to experience culture and the arts with the whole family, without saving up for an entire year.  Some years productions are better than others, but this was a treat.

"HELLO DOLLY"






















































Jordan and Eden decided to quench their artistic yearnings this past week, by making paper mache masks for the younger kids.  Sophie was too nervous and wanted no part of it, but Lily endured the procedure like she was a some kind of day spa (and actually fell asleep while the finished mold was drying on her face.  The whole idea gave me claustrophobia, but Abe went through the same process after Lily and seemed just as at ease.  What we do for fun:)

PAPER MACHE MASKS




















































































Mother's Day was enjoyable.  We did have to sit through some "My mom was perfect" talks in Sacrament mtg. but a member of the stake presidency concluded the meeting with his thoughts and that is always a boon.   Sophie gave her first talk in Primary and did such an amazing job, without any help, that it made up for the cringing feeling of Sacrament mtg. Jordan, Mikayla and a friend sang in R.S., so I sneaked in to listen, making the day even more enjoyable, even though the song had been chosen for them and was about "angel mothers" (which they know nothing about).  The sun even came out for a few minutes on our way to church, as a tender mercy.  We came home to all 7 fire alarms going off in our home.  The noise was piercing and because they are linked, they wouldn't go off without dismantling all of them.  We never did find out the cause, but Jordan made me breakfast in bed and cooked the bacon extra crispy (just like I like it), so maybe all that grease floating around in the air, just settled while we were at church:)  Fred changed all of the batteries and put them back up on Monday, so hopefully that won't happen again.

MOTHER'S DAY BLESSINGS AND GIFTS

















DISMANTLING FIRE ALARMS



















































Fred has some "vacation days" that have been piling up since last year that he has decided he is going to use next week.  I don't dare get my hopes us because in a salary job, "vacation days" just means that you don't have to show up to the building and they won't dock your pay, but you still have to accomplish everything you normally would anyway, because no one is filling in for you while your gone, the work is just piling up.  I anticipate that we will get to work outside for a few hours together a day (if the weather would cooperate) and that will be amazing, in and of itself, and his birthday and our anniversary are that week and we will certainly celebrate, but I still expect to find him sitting in the corner of our bedroom, plugged into his laptop at various hours of the day.  I'm hoping he can find a way to relax and enjoy a little bit of the time.

Jordan is working 20 hours a week folding laundry at the retirement home.  He's grateful to have any work and never complains about it (and he does seem to enjoy visiting with the elderly residents), but I know he is feeling  like "a lone reed", now that most of his friends are gone on their missions or have left for school.  He is trying to keep motivated and stimulated by studying for his mission, improving his musical talents and reading a variety of books.  Yesterday, he checked out "A Tale of Two Cities" on CD and is loving "the vocabulary".  It's fun to see him try things he's never tried before and find enlightenment in them.  I am enjoying hobnobbing with him during the mornings, when no one else is around.  He makes life fun.

Mikayla was called to be a Family History specialist a few months ago and has been going to a mostly adult  genealogy class during Sunday school.  She usually comes home either bored out of her gourd, because they spent the entire class period teaching them how to save files (or some other thing that is common knowledge for these techy teens) or a little terrified by all of the aggressive adult personalities jockeying for position in how things should  be done, but Thursday she went to a stake meeting where they introduced some new information and explored that in class on Sunday and she came home giddy.  She has caught hold of the Spirit of Elijah and it is permeating our home.  She taught the lesson in F.H.E. and showed us how to use the new tools being made available from the church and it is exciting.  They have changed the way you do indexing as well and she continues to put time into that.  She is really quite an amazing young lady.

Eden has decided to run for an office in student government.  Jordan encouraged her to run for an equivalent  position to what he held and so she is running for 9th grade Girls Rep.  It is interesting to watch my children try things that I was never interested in.  It is so strange to think of her being in High School next year.  She is a strong, brave girl, but she seems so young.  I ask her to do a lot of hard things that she doesn't understand, or see the justice in sometimes.  She is not always happy with me, but I know that the right kinds of humility and obedience are the beginnings of greatness and she is starting to show her true colors in those areas.  She is so talented and I see great things on the near horizon as she develops and disciplines her incredible gifts.

Abe can't wait for school to get out and FREEDOM, FREEDOM FREEDOM!

To Lily and Sophie, school getting out is equivalent to sunshine and setting up the pool.  They have been disappointed on both fronts, as Fred has declared that the pool has seen it's better days and will not be going up this year.  They expend a lot of energy remembering the good 'ol days when we used to have a pool.  Their sad countenances might encourage Fred to try one last attempt at patch jobs, but last year it turned into a daily necessity and I don't know that any of us have the mental stamina for that.  We'll have to see how enticing it seems, if the sun EVER comes out.

I helped Mindy (Kirkman) unpack and decorate for a few hours on Monday.  What a hard thing to leave a beautiful home, designed and built by your own two hands and move into an old farmhouse.  The house made me a little nostalgic, but our experience moving into an old farmhouse was different because we were coming from an even smaller apartment that wasn't ours to the possibilities and potential of "home".  They are very talented and have done amazing things to spruce it up, but it is not home yet and my heart aches for her.  It seems that none of us are in Kansas anymore!  We are each experiencing trials in search of our own ruby slippers.  Mindy and Kevin are amazingly good people and I love them so much.  I am inspired by their courage and the courage of so many around us, family, friends and even "strangers", who continue to push forward with cheerful countenances (even though they don't feel cheerful inside) in their quest to get "home".  For any who haven't seen the latest video on the church's website called, "My New Life" about Stephanie Nielson, it is a must.

--
Posted By Bloomers to KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES at 5/11/2010 02:19:00 PM

Fwd: [KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES] A Happy Place

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bloomers <crogys@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 17, 2010 at 10:50 AM
Subject: [KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES] A Happy Place
To: crogys@gmail.com



This week has been a fun one for our family.  Eden won her student government campaign and will be the 9th Grade Girls Rep. in high school next year.  I won second place in a "What Middleton Has Meant to Me" essay contest (which was by no means a literary accomplishment, but cumulative thanks that I have wanted to express to the people in our community for a long time), and we finally got our garden planted (a 3+ person, 8 hour project) on the most beautiful, sunny Saturday.  The best news of all is that our Stake President has given the go ahead for Jordan's missionary paperwork to go in by the end of July.  This past month has been so good for him and these next two months will be a blessing.  We're so grateful that he has been able to earn some money and most especially that he has had this opportunity to dig deep.  The anticipation is exciting and he is feeling ready.  Mikayla and Eden went to a Bishop's youth fireside last night and listened to a recently returned missionary from Sierra Leone.  I didn't even know they had missionaries there (where the average life expectancy is 42)!  After listening to some of the stories, my mother heart is really hoping that Jordan will be sent to someplace like Montana :)  His heart is ready for anyplace--even that.



Today is the start of Fred's week "off".  He did get up at 6:00 and spend a good hour and a half "working", but he has put it away and it will be interesting to see what he does with his day of "freedom".  Jordan and I will be birthday shopping and Fred will be here with the twins.  Tomorrow we will be partying for his birthday. He wanted to go fishing for his "date", but the weather is looking iffy again, so he may have to think of a plan B.  He says his plan B is a coat and an umbrella.  I'm getting a little nervous as I am supposed to be going on this date as well.  I may end up in the car with a book :) Wednesday-Friday we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary, so Fred won't have much "free" time, which will make the week go by much too quickly I'm sure, but it will be fun and refreshing to have his focus here--if he can manage it. He needs and deserves a nice, relaxing break.  Sometimes he has to imagine his "happy place" (warm beaches--a hammock under the palm trees) to keep going and stay relaxed.  I hope he won't have to travel there this week.


"Got Eden?" campaign logo (designed by Jordan and Mikayla)


























Our little city paper



















Garden:  Planting done--work just begun





























Jordan antics














Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Fwd: [KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES] Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bloomers <crogys@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jun 22, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Subject: [KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES] Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are
To: crogys@gmail.com



With Academy and Girls camp constantly on my mind for the past month, it's been hard for me to get anywhere near the blog, but they are now both over and I feel like summer can officially begin, if the weather would ever cooperate, and the sun would stop playing hide and seek.  What is this, Seattle?

Leadership Academy was wonderful (and like Mikayla described it, spiritually exhausting).  In 24 hours the girls listened to 11 talks, 11 special musical numbers, participated in a solo experience, a missionary service project and a testimony meeting. Over half of the talks and all of the musical numbers were prepared by young women.  The depth and scope was amazing.  I never cease to be surprised by the spiritual maturity of many of our youth.  We had 48 y.w. (16-18) attending, and because of the manageable numbers, the older ages and the spiritual atmosphere, we had no problems.

Girls camp, which followed right on the heels of Academy was more fraught with administrative headaches (we had 195 young women 12-17).  There were pranks, homesickness, emotional issues, illness, and freezing cold temperatures to keep us busy.  We also had a group of over 100 hikers (including Mikayla and Eden) lost for a few scary hours.  They left at 9:00 a.m. for what was supposed to be a 5 mile hike.  Because they were certifying on the trail and because the group was so large and varied in their physical abilities, those leaders who were back at camp weren't worried when the group didn't show up for lunch.  We had walkie talkie's in camp, but were not aware that any of the leaders had taken one on the hike, so had turned all of ours off during free time for the girls.  At 1:30 the stake Y.W. president turned hers on in anticipation of climbing up to help with the repelling group.  Literally 3 seconds later, we heard a voice say, "we are definitely lost!".  We later found out that though the group had been lost for two hours, that was the very first attempt at contacting us, as the leader had forgotten that her walkie talkie was in her bag, and only remembered after the group had said a prayer.  Apparently they had wandered off the path to hike on a road, but when the road dead-ended, they weren't able to relocate the trail.  They were hiking in a burn area and the temperatures had grown warm and with no shade they had all run out of water early.  We got the message up to the repelling group and one of the men who were helping took a walkie talkie and started hiking to the highest point he could find and told the group to do the same.  I asked the camp leader to gather as many girls as she could and say a prayer and then two other stake leaders and I, jumped into a car and headed to a neighbor cabin in search of a good map and familiarity with the area.  We acquired a bull horn and directions to logging roads and suggestions to go talk to the forest service, but within 10 minutes, as we were driving away from the neighbors home, we heard the message that the group was able to hear the man who had hiked up yelling and minutes later were able to get a visual.  However, the group was so far away, it was another hour and a half before we got the last hiker back into camp.  The group was exhausted, dehydrated, sore from holding their arms over their heads through poison oak and walking for what we figured was close to 12 miles, but not one of them was "beat".  We all knew that their rescue had been a direct answer to prayers.  That evening, which was Bishops Night, we were privelaged to have Elder Gary Walker (our area authority) visit and speak.  He shared some intimately personal experiences with the first presidency and the quorum of the twelve and explained some of the processes of how callings and inspiration come.  He was very careful about what he said, but left us with no doubt that those 15 men all have interactions and relationships that are more personal than we may sometimes think, with  the Godhead.  It was a unique and beautiful opportunity that only some recognized for what it was. Afterward, every testimony from our ward, included spiritual lessons learned from the hike incident, so the day ended on a positive note.  All in all, I think the majority of the y.w. came back from camp with strengthened testimonies, and stronger relationships with each other and with us, which was the goal.  That part of girls camp, I love. I do not want to go camping again for another year; that part I don't love.  But, we'll see what I have to sacrifice this summer to please my family :)

Mikayla and Eden are wanting to start a Mother/Daughter book club this summer.  We are having a little bit of trouble coming up with a list because we all want to read new books and the ones I want them to read, I've already read and the ones they want me to read, they've already read.  Right now we are all immersed separately in Jane Austen and  Charles Dickens but I'm sure we'll come up with something brilliant to read together. Summer reading is my absolutely most anticipated activity during the break.  I'm just waiting for the sun to come out permanently so we can schedule some hammock time:)

Celebrating Fred's 43rd Birthday!













Kindergarten Graduation
















Last day of school with Eden's friends; all wearing their artistic shirt creations



























Superman:  Up, up and away!













GIRLS CAMP:
Service Project













Lites vs. Leaders football game









































Lily and Sophie playing in one of our many rainstorms;
It filled the common area in minutes







--
Posted By Bloomers to KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES at 6/22/2010 11:44:00 AM

Monday, June 21, 2010

Fwd: [KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES] Life Goes On

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bloomers <crogys@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 8:17 AM
Subject: [KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES] Life Goes On
To: crogys@gmail.com


Eden was called Tuesday night and asked to give a talk on Optimism in Sacrament mtg. yesterday.  We all forgot until we walked into the chapel yesterday and opened the program; it was 15 minutes before the mtg.  You can imagine the reaction of a very vocal, stressed out 14 year old.  I rushed her out to the car, grabbed Jordan and Mikayla and told them it was "missionary prep time".  Jordan had a scripture mastery immediatley that fit the topic,  Mikayla found 2 more within minutes and gave her insight on "bridging the gap".  Eden was prepared with a personal experience because she had thought of it earlier in the week.  I encouraged her to bear her testimony to sum it all up and 5 minutes before the meeting we got out of the car and Eden went into an empty classroom to pray and was on the stand before the meeting started.  She did a beautiful job of bringing the Spirit and sharing a message from the heart and even tied in the pre-talk experience with her topic.  I was so proud of her.

Fred made "healthy" cookies yesterday evening.  He has been going through some "treat" withdrawls as our family has been trying to be supportive of Jordan and Mikayla's goal to go without sugar.  He or Jordan traditionally make chocolate chip cookies on Sunday evening, but these were more like unsweetened muffins, not altogether bad, but not that enticing either.  This supportive exercise has really made it apparent how often we eat treats, and I have always considered us to be healthy eaters.  We are becoming much more aware and are starting to become fastidious label readers.  Jordan and Mikayla have been amazingly self disciplined with their goal.  Jordan will be finished at the end of April, but Mikayla continues on with the Middleton Health challenge for 6 more weeks.  She has accomplished 100% of the goals so far and already reached her 6 mile running goal and beyond.  She has set a new goal for 8 miles, but is having some pain in her knees, so is doing other exercises for a little while.  She says the hardest part of the whole challenge is drinking all of the water.  She is drinking 80+ oz. every day, but a few times had to stay up late to get it all down.  I'm not being as conscientious, but so far I haven't made it through more than 50 ounces.

Jordan's last day working at Cookies and Cream was Saturday.  I guess things didn't work out with the man that was looking into buying the store, but Jordan was really enjoying his enthusiasm and looking forward to going to work.  He was sad to give up the anticipation of something fun and exciting.  We're all sad that it didn't work out for Chris and Lori.  It is back to looking for more part time work for Jordan. All of these experiences of continually having to take initiative in order to move forward are good for him and will hopefully help him to continually set new goals and readjust to circumstances around him in positive ways.  I know the Lord fits our challenges for our individual needs and life goes on.

Fred was released from his calling as the Scout Advancement leader and asked to be the scout leader as well as the Sunday school teacher of the 11 year old boys. He has 3 boys on Sunday, one during the activities. Had it not seemed inappropriate to celebrate a "release", we would have had a huge party, but he is relieved.  It has been some long, arduous years in that position, but we are grateful he was there while Jordan was working on his scouting requirements or the whole process would have seemed quite overwhelming.

Eden is deeply immersed in "Song of Years" and is quickly approaching the part where most of my family has dug in there heels and refused to go on.  We called her out of her room Friday evening for prayers and she emerged quite agitated, with the book in her hand saying, "no one in this book is doing what they are supposed to do!"  Then last night she came down for scriptures, book in hand, and when Fred asked her how it was going, she said, with starry eyes, "everything is better now".  I asked where she was and was not surprised to here her say that "the train just stopped".  Fred and Mikayla and I are just waiting now.........waiting..........waiting.  Will I have to convince her to continue like I had to convince Fred and Mikayla, who both closed the book for day,s or will she go on quietly, locked in her room or will we hear "wailing and gnashing of teeth?"  I am interested.......and waiting.

I am just trying to stay above water as we prepare for the busy season in Y.W. and plan for leadership trainings and Girls Camp.  It is a challenge trying to balance my responsibilities at home and the seemingly never ending war with dirt and chaos and the constant spiritual preparation that seems necessary.  I guess in the end it all comes down to the battle between temporal and spiritual, but some days I'm not sure that either side is winning.

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Posted By Bloomers to KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES at 4/26/2010 08:17:00 AM

Fwd: [KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES] Close to the Surface

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bloomers <crogys@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Subject: [KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES] Close to the Surface
To: crogys@gmail.com


It's a beautiful thing when Easter and General Conference weekend converge.  I loved it.  We celebrated the fun spring traditions associated with Easter between sessions on Saturday and not even the cool weather could stop us from basking in the warmth of the Spirit on Sunday.  I have been battling a nasty cold for the last few days, and feeling ill always seems to amplify all of my emotions, but they were very close to the surface this weekend as personal inspiration and answers to prayers came more quickly than I could record them.  It was a most amazing outpouring of illumination from every speaker.  I am almost sad to transition from those intense feelings and guidance to the actions that make them meaningful; that attitude reflects my weaknesses, but I'm afraid it's accurate.  Being inspired is a high.  Following through is hard.


I am trying to gear up emotionally for a very stressful and intense week for Mikayla.  She was asked 2 -1/2 weeks ago (not by me) if she would accompany a soloist for the stake Y.W. Recognition night.  It was a very difficult piece of music and she has never played anything in public or accompanied anyone, even at home, but she surprised and amazed me by accepting the challenge.  She has been diligent and dedicated to practicing and has made incredible strides, but this week she will have to start practicing with the soloist and that demands a whole other level of confidence and achievement.  This weekend is the first time I have sensed apprehension and my mother protective reflexes are shooting off the charts.  She was also asked to Prom on Saturday which has her very excited but has also added a new dimension of stress.  We went to town during the Priesthood session of conference and could only find dresses "cut down to here" or "cut up to there".  I know we will be able to find something we can make work, even if it means a major revision job for me, but it will take time that she was planning on using for piano practice, so she is starting to feel the pressure.  I have confidence in her abilities and faith in her determination, and we have both been asking for divine help, but like she told me the other night, "I have to do my part" and I know that is also true.


Jordan's friend found a job possibility for Jordan doing laundry at a rest home where his mother is a nurse.  It is only a part time position and we don't yet know if the job description includes Sundays but he is applying while he finds out those details.  It is a humbling, distasteful job and I am proud of him for not even wavering before looking into it.  It lets me know that he is willing to do hard things.  Even so, there are other applicants for even this job.  The competition extends to even the most lowly of professions here.


Everyone in the family is acclimating to "Unplugged" quite nicely with the exception of Eden.  She is vocally resisting, but that isn't surprising as Eden is vocal in all the facets of her life :)  It is actually quite comforting as we always know exactly where she stands on every issue.  I'm sure she will mellow as the month wears on and the withdrawal becomes more comfortable.  Really the only things we have deleted are the radio, weekend movies and evening extracurricular computer time (which was quite limited anyway).  We all check our e-mail in the morning and Fred and the children use the computer for necessary homework.  Of course we watched conference and we did open the opportunity for writing on the blogs on Sunday.  I do YW responsibilities and budgeting and the blog once a week during the day, but in the evening we are trying to focus on old fashioned family time and it is a good thing, though to some degree we all feel the impact of some of "entertainment" loss.


Well time to put notes into action.


Jordan's 19th Birthday
















Licking the candles
















Flying


The mice will play while the cat is away:
"Modeling" sessions with the air compressor in the garage

























Getting in on the act 'sans' the air compressor






"Little Purple Pansies"


A Family Egg Hunt





























Steaming Eggs


Colored Eggs
















Easter Lunch




















--
Posted By Bloomers to KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES at 4/05/2010 12:54:00 PM