The Boy

This is my baby. My little boy. Who is fast becoming a man. It's so wonderful to watch your kids grow and develop into their own person, but oh, how I miss the little guy he was! Mama's should be able to go back in time, at least once a month, and cuddle and snuggle their babies! For some reason, he's not into that anymore!!!

Tyler has always been a hard worker. He started working here  part time, when he was 13 and had 3 summers of full time work, from ages 14 -16.  Just before his 17th birthday he started working at Haggen as a Courtesy Clerk. Our family has been in the grocery business for years and it has been very, very good to us! But I don't think he ever thought he'd be in it too!! Turns out, he really enjoys it!

As soon as he turned 18 he was promoted to checker. A few months later he was promoted to produce. And last month, he was promoted to Manager of Bulk Foods. He's still 18! I'm so proud of him, his work ethic and his enthusiasm! He loves what he's doing and it really shows!

Congratulations Tyler! You are loved beyond your wildest imagination!!

Graduation 2012

High School Graduation.

The Beginning.
The End.

This past Friday was Tyler's high school graduation. How could 13 years have gone by so quickly? Seems like it was only yesterday that he was headed off to Kindergarten.

He was the only one I knew who didn't want mom to take him to school...he wanted to ride that bus!!!

Oh, how my heart melts when I see that precious face! My arms ache to hold that little body and smother him with kisses! It's been a really long time since he'd let me do that :(

He attended Lynden Christian from Kindergarten through 10th grade and then transferred to Lynden for 11th and 12th so he could do the Running Start program. He wasn't too attached to the school and had no intention of walking through graduation. But a few days before, I went to Baccalaureate and he wasn't there. My heart broke just a little bit.

                                                             His friends without him!


 Then I was looking for a special picture for a friend and came across Ashleigh's graduation pictures and my heart broke a little bit more. So on Tuesday night I asked if he'd do me a favor and walk. He said YES!!! Joy and shock!!! I had gotten a cap and gown at a garage sale last summer, just in case! And I was on the phone bright and early Wed. morning trying to secure a stole and tassel. Thank goodness for Jostens, who said it would be no problem...they'd deliver it to the school on Friday in time for graduation!!

So a few pictures at home, without said stole and tassel...nor would he put on the hat...

I'm so glad he participated!! Don't think he really cared one way or another, but it sure made this mama happy!!

I waited and waited for him to walk through the doors and when he did I realized my camera was off. I think he's laughing because I miss a lot of moments this way!!

Lining up before walking in...

He's always so happy to have me take his picture!

Finally.... a Smile!

 Empty, but pretty just the same! They actually had to go to school on Monday to get their actual diplomas!

Getting ready!

What a moment...

for his mama to remember...

And before you know it, it's over. Thirteen years...finished.

And by the time we found him, the cap and gown were off and thrown in the back seat of his car. He had plans with Max, his best friend, who was leaving in a few days. We did not rank as high as Max on the important meter!

He said he'd take a photo with us the next day...but I knew that wouldn't happen. I've waited three days and finally decided to just take one of the gown before I pass it on!

Congratulations Tyler! Job well done!

Mama's happy!!

Trying to get Back in the Groove!

 It's been a wild, hectic, emotionally challenging, life altering month around here. Don't want to go into too many details, but the "high lights" were that my husband lost his job a few weeks ago and I have a skin cancer on my nose....yes, those are the highlights! I can boldly proclaim that we serve an AWESOME GOD as He has given us such a calmness and peacefulness and even downright joy in the midst of many trials!

This past weekend was prom for Tyler. He had no intention of going and really isn't involved in any high school goings on at all, as he's pretty much done with all that! He loves working and going to the community college, so I haven't had many senior photo ops!

Thankfully his dear friend, Joci, talked him into going to the prom! She has a Jr./Sr. banquet at her school and really wanted to go to a "real prom"!. They decided to go the Monday before prom and went out shopping on Tuesday night! Tyler bought himself a suit, tie and some lovely white Vans for the occasion. He bought the ticket and they were set! They didn't want to spend a lot of money, so they decided to forgo the flowers, had a "nice" meal at Burger King and I took the pictures!


I think they make a pretty cute couple!

 These are completely out of order...don't know why, but we'll just go with it!!

 Would have been nice if he'd washed his car, considering the white dress!!

 I think he's pretty handsome!!!

Prom ticket = $60.00!! Can't remember what the cost of mine was way back when! I think the juniors always put the prom on for the seniors.

The pretty shoes!!! Joci's heels were a good 4" high and a little difficult to navigate in the grass!

Got out the chalkboards!

Did some climbing!

Liked the matching nail polish and the flowers on her thumbs!

A fun night was had by all!

A little bittersweet as this is one of the "lasts"! Graduation is just around the corner!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Three generations today...Brian, Papa Ron and Tyler. A little family resemblance?? We celebrated by tackling another project!! Poor Brian! Remember my pictures of my re-done sewing room??? New trim around the baseboards and windows, new lighting, new furniture and new TV??? Remember the ugly carpet??? I've been wanting to replace this, and slowly, but surely we're working on it!!

A year and a half ago we had some water damage and had to replace our wood floor in our kitchen, which matched the wood floor in the dining room, which led to a remodel...anyway...we saved all the hardwood floor that wasn't damaged to use somewhere else. Yesterday morning Brian decided we should replace the carpet in my sewing room and put hardwood in there. This is how we do projects...spur of the moment!

Here's what it used to look like:


Minus furniture:

We started laying it at about 6:30 pm, paused for a bit while a wedding was taking place at the neighbors, and quit around midnight.

Back at it this morning and we're done by 6:30 tonight, including trim and carpet tuck-in!!

Furniture moved back in and looking so much better!!

Doesn't it look great???? What better way to spend Father's Day, huh??

Next weekend the office!

Almost Done

Last day of school today. Tyler actually let me take his picture! Maybe that was because his friend Brandon was there!Hard to believe my baby is a ...SENIOR!!!

God should give you boys first. That way you don't know what you're missing!!! I think I have about 4 pictures of Tyler from this school year. Never wants to take a camera with him. No documentation, nothing for me to weep over!!! Girls, on the other hand, are all about the memories!! Knowing what I'm missing isn't fun!!

Employed!

You are looking at the newest family member to be employed, and the third to currently be employed by Haggen http://www.haggen.com/.

I worked for Haggen when I was 18 and then again after Tyler started school. My husband has been working with them and for them for over 20 years! My daughter does data entry for them from home and now Tyler has joined the ranks!

Congratulations Tyler!

I'm sure you won't need to borrow money anymore, right??

A Winning Season

After a year of not playing basketball, (which nearly did me in!) Tyler decided to play again this year. Not school ball, but a rec league team with a bunch of his friends. Lots of fun, very little (if any) pressure, practice one day a week and one game a week. Much better than the intensity and commitment of school ball.

They only lost one game all season, to a team that they had beaten once before. Last night it came down to those two teams for the championship. The score was pretty close at half-time, but Team Fixius came out on top!!

They guys were pretty happy! They even got trophies!!

Tyler hasn't had one of these since 3rd grade baseball!!

His mama loved watching him play ball again!!!

Congratulations guys!!

It was going to be:

It was going to be titled, "The Best Thanksgiving EVER!", but now it should be more aptly named, "computers drive me CRAZY!"

I can't load any pictures and frankly, what is a post without pictures?? I mean, you can wax poetic all you want, but if you don't have at least one picture I'm not really that interested. Just stating the facts.

Who wants to read about someone else's hectic life, unless there is a picture of a frazzled mess?? Not me!!! I want to see your Christmas decor, Aunt Dorothy sleeping after dinner, kids baking cookies and making a mess!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving, complete with 6 inches of snow. You'll have to take my word for it, because, yes, there is no picture. We had 17 wonderful people, although I miscounted and only had seating for 15 when we sat down. It was a little like musical chairs, with two people left standing. Now I know why I have two card tables!! All the kids, ages 12-21, went outside and had a snowball fight! I loved that!!! And I have some great pictures!!! They just won't load! Oh yea, you know that by now!

We finished Ashleigh's room and it's beautiful...maybe you'll see it sometime.

We watched the Apple Cup on Saturday and it was such a good game!!! The Cougs lost, but since the Husky QB, Jake Locker, is a local boy, I didn't feel too badly and hopefully they'll get a bowl invite. Went to the Seahawks game yesterday. Had a nice cozy suite, but I can't show it to you because, well, you know. Went to University Village after the game to look at all the pretty stores. I even took pictures. It sure was pretty!!

I've been decorating my house for a week. Way too much stuff. 7 fully decorated trees, plus 4 more with lights and such. I can't wait to get rid of some (a lot) of it in January. Feeling the need do simplify in so many ways. I have a sit-down dinner for 12 on Thursday, a party for 40 0n Friday and I have to work every day this week.

My daughter's car died. She has no money. The car's in our name. Guess who gets to deal??

My son has been sick for 5 weeks. 2nd round of antibiotics and not better. Chest x-ray negative. Mono negative too. Poor kid. Poor mom!!

Since I couldn't post my pictures and keep you enthralled, I did change my play list to some lovely Christmas music so hopefully you're enjoying that!!!!

Have a wonderful week and may all your pictures upload!!

LIFE

I've been documenting all kinds of things thinking that maybe I'd post a little more frequently, but alas, that hasn't happened. Soooooo here are a few of the things that have been happening around here over the last month...............................


Decorated my mantel for back to school. I have really gotten into the "old" school stuff lately. Flashcards bring me great joy! I loved flash cards when I was in school, especially the multiplication ones. I could whip those answers out lickity split!!

I've been finding them all over the place and can't resist getting them. I went to my parents house a few weeks ago and found a set from 1963, the alphabet. I love that J is for Jar, canning jar that is! And P is for Pie. You know they are old though, when G is for Gun!!!

Here is my baby on his first day! New school...decided not to do the Running Start program so we put him in Lynden Public. He seems to like it, but it's weird not to have him at LC.
A few weeks before school started he got his wisdom teeth out. He only had 3 which explains the C on his report card last year!!

This is before...

Right after...(he was a little woozy!)

Ready to go home! He looks a little paler to me!

We took a few movies too, his request, and is he ever entertaining when he's on the happy meds!!

I'm skipping around here, but last week was my favorite week of the year at Haggen. It was the BOGO add for health and beauty. That's buy one, get one FREE people!!!!! I do my shopping for the year at this time...shampoo, ibuprofen, Excedrin, cold meds, contact solution, band aids, q-tips, cotton balls, alcohol, powder, mineral oil, toothbrushes, dental floss, etc, etc. I always check my cupboard and make a list so I don't have too many of something and not enough of something else.

Now a few of my friends have boasted of their savings at local grocery stores, but this receipt outshines them all and yes, I am boasting!!!! I also saved by using school scrip, which I got at a 10% kickback this month.

Are you ready??????

That's $269.20 that I spent and $285.59 that I saved!!!!! Wooo Hooo!! Just for clarification, I don't know what the wine and special discounts are, but there was no alcohol purchased here!!

The Abbottsford Air Show was on a beautiful day in August and the Canadian Thunderbirds put on quite a show! They are flying over my house here...I'm looking straight up!!

Amazing!!

A nice background for the performance!!

Dinner on the bay with Tyler, Grandma and Papa, Shelly and Mel. Such a cutie patootie he is!!

Hubby went salmon fishing for 4 days and brought back 120 lbs. of melt in your mouth fish. Don't know why I didn't take a picture of the fish rather than the boxes, but my freezer is full and I'm happy!!! Especially since he gets it all vac. packed up there and I don't have to do it anymore!!

And a post just wouldn't be complete without the latest project!!!

We are in the process of painting our house (of course it's raining this week!) and we've never liked the look of the porch, so of course we had to do a little remodel before we could paint! (it was sunny then!)

Funky peak in front and scrawny little posts.
Taking off the front...Brian's dad was a huge help!

We put shingles on the peak to match the others...

And built up the posts. We put shingles on those too. Now if we can just get the painting done!!!

I also re-did the front flower beds, which I've had to re-dig in order to get the scissor-lift into painting position!!

And the garden. Let's not forget that!!!!! This week I've canned 42 pints of chicken, 15 quarts of pickles, 14 pints of applesauce, 7 quarts of beans, and frozen 14 quart bags of corn, 10 of zucchini and 5 of summer squash!!! I'm ready for the garden to be done!!! But it sure is yummy to eat out of!!


I also tried Tami's www.theladyinthestonehouse.blogspot.com wonderful hot chocolate chip cookie recipe...very good!!!!!

That's all for now!!!!