Gina Left Us Alone

Gina has left me alone for two weeks with Abe, Peter and Hanni.  It is for a good cause.  She flew to Mississippi to help Ellie have a baby.  Ellie's water broke a six days ago and Gina left three days ago.  Still no baby.

So far here are some new things I've done:

• Made the bed for the first time in probably 20 years
• Put on country music on the car radio.  Gina hates country music.
• Made pesto pasta with chicken
• Made beans and rice
• Rode a bike to the store and library with Peter and Hanni
• Rode a bike to the post office
• Did clothes laundry (usually I only do rags and towels)
• Made spaghetti with marinara sauce

This is just the beginning.  The list may seem pedestrian but there all new for me.

But most importantly, Abe and I started the bathroom remodel.  I may be 16 years late getting started but now is the perfect time with Gina gone for a couple weeks.

I'll be posting updates as the project progresses.

Yes, We Spent a Week's Vacation in Arkansas!

We kicked off the 2013 summer fun with a trip to Arkansas.  Here we are getting ready to leave for Portland.  We left Wednesday afternoon because our plane left PDX at 5:45 am.  That is early for this crew.

Everyone looks happy except that Abe doesn't want to be hugged by Peter.  Autumn already has her sunglasses on even though she has a sweatshirt on.

If you are wondering why would anyone go to Arkansas for vacation, perhaps this picture helps explain. My parents live in Hot Springs Village - a gated retirement city.  Their house is on a beautiful lake and it is like visiting an upscale resort.  

View from Balboa Lake looking at my parent's backyard

Here is another picture taken from the boat but a little further away.

Ellie and Jer were able to join us for a few days before they headed back to Mississippi.  They had just spent 2+ weeks storm chasing in the Midwest. Ellie is pregnant and was craving strange food during the enitre time.  So here is a picture of where she liked to spend time. The dinner table. Just kidding.

  
Before they left town we took a few pictures.

  
With that beautiful lake right outside the door we spent as much time on the water as possible.  Here are a few more pictures.

Getting Ready, Life Preservers

Couldn't go on the boat without a checking phone first

Hanni and Dad getting ready

Grandpa patiently driving the boat

Getting Pulled around

Autumn and Ellie - We had to go slow because of the baby

Abe and Pete getting ready

Peter (and Hanni) In Blueberry Land

Look at these two.

Gina took this as Peter and Hanni headed to bed.  They just finished watching Phineas and Ferb while munching on a frozen blueberries they picked last summer. Hanni's right hand was almost entirely blue from pulling berries out of the bag.

A great children's book inspired the title of this post - 

All our kids enjoyed this book and Autumn reads it to the children she babysits.Guaranteed to please!