Summer Fun in Words

Yes I know I haven't posted for a very long time! I will post our summer pictures in the next few days. We have been camping at our favorite spot, Washington Lake in the Uinta Mountains. It is so beautiful there and cool! We fish, hike, read, play cards and just generally relax and enjoy ourselves. We've met some very interesting people as well.

I spent a week in San Diego with Hadley and family and had so much fun. 5 month old Michael is so sweet and such a happy baby. There is always someone to hold and play with him. The kids are sure growing up and are SO busy.

We spent a week at Heise Hot Springs in Idaho with Shelly and family. We had very rainy weather but still had a great time. We went to Yellowstone, Jackson, played golf, and enjoyed the hot springs.

Steve and family have joined us at Washington Lake a couple of times this summer and we spent a couple of days with Shelly and family near Strawberry Reservoir.

We are looking forward to a week in Hawaii (compliments of our boss at Liberty Tax) in September and plan another drive to Anchorage in October to drive a vehicle there and start tax classes. A "Top Gun" convention (Liberty Tax) in Virginia Beach follows the trip to Anchorage.

In between all this, we enjoy spending time with our families and love those grand kids!! We have had a great summer and my favorite season is just around the corner. I love fall (guess that comes from living in Connecticut). Canning peaches is not far away either.

My Grandma's Sewing Machine (newly refinished)

I thought you might like to see pictures of my Grandma Chandler's treddle sewing machine. My talented husband refinished it and it looks beautiful. What a treasure to have - thanks Lee!! You did an awesome job and I love it!

Home Again Home Again

It is nice to be home - we love the beautiful green grass and warm weather. Another tax season is over and we survived! We miss our friends in Alaska and hope they have a warm summer.

We are looking forward to camping and fishing but have to wait for the snow to melt in the mountains. We are heading to Idaho in mid June to Heise Hot Springs - it's one of our favorite places.

It's great to be around family again - I got to go to San Diego in March for the birth of Hadley's new baby, Michael. Shelly came too and we enjoyed some girl time. Michael had a rough start but is doing great.

Steve and Andrea are expecting a baby in November so we keep adding to those grandkids! That will make 14!

Lee's back to furniture restoring. He is refinishing my grandma's singer sewing machine cabinet and it looks wonderful. The only room left to refinish is the bathroom downstairs but I can't get him enthused to do that yet. After that he might build something that he really wants to.

By the way, Hadley, thanks for the bug to finally update my blog!

Fur Rondevous in Anchorage

Our Float in Route
All the Parade Gang
Carma and Josh, our Front Office Manager

Hi all - Thought you all might like to see some pictures from the parade today. This is a big deal in Anchorage and we had a great if not exhausting time. We decorated the float last night, and participated in the parade today. It started snowing right at the end and has continued all day - we must have gotten at least 8-10 inches.

We made it through "peak" and work remains steady now. We plan a bowling party of all of our staff and families this week-end, then I get to fly to San Diego to welcome Hadley's baby (she is due to be induced March 10 if she doesn't go before.) Lee will be running both offices and isn't looking forward to me being gone.

We are doing well. We are halfway through tax season and survived! March brings a hint of spring and chances to go sight seeing! Happy Birthday this week to Shelly and to Lee (next week) who will "celebrate" without me!

Who's eligible for Social Security? and Dancing With the Stars

Wow, I had a great birthday yesterday! Shelly and family, Steve and family all came over for pizza, salad, cake and ice cream. I got a great laptop from my dear husband and tickets to see Dancing With the Stars at the E Center tonight from my 3"kids." Then we had a slumber party with the five grandkids. Little Emily had to go home with mom and dad. We had a lot of fun all in the same room and mostly slept. We had pancakes for breakfast, candy for snack and spaghetti and hot dogs for lunch! We played Rock Band on Wolf's WII and just had a great time.

I grateful for each birthday as it means I'm here another year to enjoy my family. How grateful I am for them and the closeness we have. I am so lucky to have two great son-in-laws and the best daughter-in-law there is. Love you all and thanks!

Dancing With The Stars was great. My dream was always to be a dancer so I thoroughly enjoyed it and Lee actually liked it, too, although he did roll his eyes a couple of times.

Happy New Year to all and may you be healthy and feel peace and joy in your lives.

Merry Christmas!

I am late with updating my blog, adding a Christmas background and getting my Christmas letters out, but . . . finally I've done all three!

I spent a week in San Diego with Hadley and family. Corey has a leading role in "Traditions of Christmas", a San Diego musical tradition. Julia and Aubrey also had roles and they all did wonderful. We spent the first 3 days at rehearsals and then got to see the show. The musical has continued for 10 days and Hadley is wondering how to fit shopping, dance recitals, baseball tournaments, etc. in. What a busy life they lead. What a fun and talented family.

I stayed with Shelly's kids while Ryan had his surgery. They are always so fun and easy. His surgery was successful and today they learned the lymph nodes are negative. What a great Christmas present!

We attended cute little Ashley's preschool Christmas program and she did great. Andrew said ho ho when he saw Santa - so cute.

Lee and I got away for a couple of days to celebrate a little early for our anniversary and my birthday. We are looking forward to spending some time with Shelly and Steve and families. Sure wish Hadley and family could be here, too!

We wish you all Merry Christmas!

My New and Improved Craft Room

A duvet cover turned into curtains!
My new craft closet!
Yes, it is nearly full!

I have the greatest handyman living here - my incredible husband! He had already finished building and painting my craft room. He just hadn't built the cabinets yet because he was waiting for me to decide what I wanted.

He finished my craft closet (4 doors wide)and I love it! Now comes the counters for scrapbooking, sewing, wrapping, etc. I will have more storage and a peg board. I didn't realize I had so much stuff - his word was a little more graphic.

I switched the day bed to the guest room and put the futon in the craft room. Of course, then the colors didn't match so I took the duvet cover off the day bed and made these curtains and a couple of pillows. I am very happy with them and love it so bright and cheerful.

So now after he finished the pool table room, guest room, saw room, finish room, he is working to finish my craft room. The only room left in the basement is the bathroom and that will be next year.

Thanks to my wonderfully talented all around handyman husband who can design, build, and repair anything! You are awesome!