Ethan update

I checked on Hillary's family blog today, and realized that she has posted a bunch of new photos. In the past, she had put out a note on her public blog when she updated the family blog, so we'd know to go check, but she hasn't done that lately. Anyway, I think you can get on her family blog, and there are a bunch of sweet photos when you have a minute to scroll through them.

Headed for an early bedtime

I am sooooo tired. Was up till almost midnight last night, finishing the writing for my National Board Certified Teacher recertification. Stayed at work till almost 6:30, and then dropped it off at the post office on the way home.

I'm done!!!
(I hope. If I don't pass, I'll have to redo it next year.)

Here's one more photo of sweet Olivia, just before I took Katie and Bryan to the airport.

Thank You for the Visit

Mom and Dad, I so enjoyed your visit. Thank you again for making that l-o-n-g drive from Colville to Oregon City, and thank you again for staying the extra day for the book launch. I loved having you in town.

Darling Maddy and Olivia.

Our Camassia ramble.

Wildflower meadow..camas lilies and clover.

Bumblebee on the job.

All dressed up!

Waiting for the Book Launch to begin.

You'll be in my prayers tomorrow, for a safe and uneventful trip to Colville. Thanks again for coming to Oregon City!

One more day...

Mom and Dad,

Julia gave me your phone message that you are staying over Saturday night so you can come to the book launch and hear my "author" reading!

Thank you so much!

I know it is a sacrifice for you in both time and finances. I am thrilled that you will be able to stay until Sunday. Thank you thank you thank you!

Great Galloping Goats!

Had a great gallop today. Lots of photos on The Skinny.

Working on grading papers, Sunday School lesson, thesis ideas in the masters program, paperwork for National Board recertification.

Eric & Polly are in Seattle today, taking teacher tests. I'm sure they'll do fine.

Sure looking forward to seeing you next week! Love you sooooooo much.

We Got Our "Green Fix" Today

Dad used to say he liked to go hiking when you came to visit from California, because it gave him his "green fix." Well, we got our green fix today! We had a great hike on the Eagle Creek trail. It was supposed to be 6 miles, but because we walked a little further on both ends, I think it was closer to 7 miles.

The beautiful Eagle Creek trail.

So much water everywhere.

I love the light on the talus slopes.

Ta dah!! I couldn't resist playing on the rock.

After all it was our play day!

What a happy day! We had so much fun.

Mark's knees did not hurt at the end - he says he wants to go again!

(I think our yoga class is helping us in sooooo many ways.)

More Subaru Adventures

Uh-oh. Check my other blog for today's not-so-fun adventure with the Subaru. (Don't worry, I'm fine, and so is the car.)

Poor Cheryl Haynie had a worse day than me - slipped and fell on her hardwood floor yesterday morning, and broke her leg! Ouch! Right in her own house! She'll be on crutches for 6 weeks, but at least it's not a plaster cast; it's one she can take off for a bath.

Other than that, everyone is fine. Mark has more energy every day, says he might even feel good enough to go for a hike with me on Saturday. He had a follow-up appointment with his urologist today, and his blood tests continue to show that he is cancer free. Yay!

I met with my professor this afternoon to begin the process of developing my thesis project for my master's degree in writing. That will take several terms, but I'd like to get started now, so that I can do some of the writing over the summer. (I was on my way to meet with him when I had my little misadventure.)

Woo Hoo!!

While paying bills tonight...I paid off the Subaru!

Happy Easter!

I hope you are having a relaxing Easter day. I'm SO glad you didn't have to into work today!

We will watch general conference again here at home on our computers. We'll probably take a short walk around the block, eat turkey leftovers with Koponicks (Julia cooked the turkey yesterday), call kids, write lesson plans in the afternoon.

Mark is feeling better, but still not back to his full health. I'm really glad he has had the weekend to continue to mend.

Dorothy and I had a wonderful training walk yesterday. We ended up walking 9 miles in 3 hours! Neither of us is very stiff & sore this morning, so I guess we're in pretty good shape for being a couple of 55-year-old grandmas. We got rained on a little bit for the first 1/2 hour of our walk, but then the sun came out for a while and we got too warm. Then it was clouds again, and an occasional brief, light sprinkle, but not even enough to pull my hood back up. Dorothy took lots of pictures; I took a few but then my camera battery ran out. I think she'll be posting a bunch of the pictures next week on her "Walking in Circles" post on The Skinny. She has a really nice camera that she bought last month, takes excellent photos.

In addition to the great exercise, we had a nice, long chat, which we haven't had for a very long time. It was a treat to spend 3 hours together.

Polly has a really nice Easter video link posted on her blog. It's one of the Church videos about Christ and his role as our Savior. I think you'd enjoy it.

I did some more work last night on my NBCT (National Board Certified Teacher) recertification portfolio. It's coming along, and even with a busy month ahead, I think I'll be able to have it put together by the deadline (April 30).

Happy Easter! Thank you for telling me about the emails you have been sending to the kids. You are a force of love and unity in our family. I love you!

Friday Update

Mark is on the mend. He is back to work today, although he's still feeling a little weak. He just has to teach his two morning classes, and then he has a student teacher taking over in the afternoon. Also good that he just teaches today, and then will have the weekend to really rest some more.

On a fun note, I've been linked to a couple of craft blogs that get lots of traffic. You might have seen the "Feeling Famous" post I put up yesterday, but then today I heard from another big craft blog that I was linked to them, too. I've had over 200 visitors to my blog in the last couple of days. I guess if I'm really looking for fame, I ought to do more crafts!

Here are the two links:

Wow, I got linked to the "One Pretty Thing" blog! Rachel liked my tutorial about making fabric balls. She has a wonderful blog, with many new links to fun projects every day. Check her out here!

Friday update:

And today I got linked here! Wow - lots of visitors to my blog today. :)