'Round Here

Despite our recent illnesses (knock on wood, I'm the only one who hasn't gotten sick), we've been having a little bit of fun.

Mark and buddy Jon have been spending some time oaring on our small, local rivers. Early spring runoff is about the only time there's enough water to actually float on them.

Here's me and my girl before she headed out to play the flute in her Spring concert. I wasn't able to attend, but I saw the video footage and they sounded fabulous.

After recovering from a lengthy illness, Ben rallied on Friday to take home a 2nd place ribbon in his school's first-ever chess tournament. It was also crazy hat/hair day, so he's sporting his favorite zombie cap.

One more week until Spring Break. We don't have plans, but I'm itching to get out and take a long walk somewhere warm. It may be time for a photo safari to spot buttercups and grass widows in the coulee country.

Enjoying the Season

Getting together with co-workers for holiday parties.

Firing up the router to complete the "honey-do" list.

Getting to know the world-wide web on her new laptop.

Building, building, building.

Celebrating 24 years of marriage.

Right Now

Our beautiful curly-haired Claire.
Learning to play the flute.
She recently finished a season of middle-school volleyball.
Totally loving books right now.
Sassy-mouthed and sweet, this one.

Hello little cute man.
He's all Lego Star Wars, all the time.
Unless it's Xbox 360.
Thinking he might want to give Karate a try.
His mouth is a tangle of too big and baby teeth right now.

My mountain man.
This pic is pretty representative of what he's been doing.
Hunting.
And working hard at the sequencing core.
And getting freakin' amazing at Sudoku.
And turning forty-five. Yikes.

And me, the mama.
I'm just swinging along, working and taking care and making art.
Nesting into my new home.
Experiencing my first root canal.
Steering clear of cancer for another year.

Life is good.

23 Years

Being married to you is most often amazing, sometimes challenging, but ALWAYS worth it, even though you are hauling an elk out of the canyon with your buddies today.....

Happy Anniversary to us.

(p.s. I like elk.)

Wordless Wednesday

Go visit Mark,, I'm too sad to post today.

Happy Birthday Mark

May the next year of your life be as magical and fortuitous as the last.
I love you babe.
Have a great day.

A Little Bit of This

From a basket of these

To jars of this

And a pan of this

And then there's this

Have a great weekend!