THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for opportunities to catch up with people I haven't talked to in a long time. What's something that you're thankful for?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for daffodils growing randomly alongside the freeway, whether individual bulbs, small clusters, or big spreads. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

TYLER'S SPRING BREAK FUN

My sister suggested sharing our sons with each other for part of spring break. Brilliant. Two nights for Tyler with her family and two nights for Neo with mine. 

They swam.

Soaked in a hot tub.

Ate pizza in bed while watching shows. 

Jumped on a trampoline.

Went to OMSI.

Enjoyed a 70 degree day.

Living on the same continent, in the same state, sure has its perks! I'm so glad they were able to spend a bunch of time together this week. 

SPRING CLOTHING EXCHANGE - 2022

I've been attending clothing exchanges twice a year since around the time Naomi was born. A long time! It's crazy to me that she's old enough to join me and that her oldest brother, who was only five when I started, is now married to a wife who meets Naomi and I at the exchange. It's so fun hanging out with these two gals! 

Natie suggested taking this picture at last night's exchange, which I loved because I'm one of those people who's always snapping pictures of everything. 

Naomi and I tried on all our clothes once we got home and these two scenes made me laugh. I had an organized collection of clothes in solid blue, green, and gray. Naomi had a disorganized mount of clothes in all sorts of patterns and colors. 

We're so predictable! 

 

SURPRISE VISIT FROM TIM

Tim woke up yesterday morning, got dressed for work, then found out work had been called off for the day. So I woke up that morning to a text from him saying that he was headed home for the day. Awesome! I had to leave for a bit right after he got home, so he used the time to teach Tyler how to build a fire.

He needed time with all of us, and we all needed time with him, but he and I headed out for a one hour lunch date in the Tony's parking lot. It was nice to have some time alone to just chat about life and eat good food.

It was only seven hours, but it was a fantastic surprise after nine days apart. 

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for friendship. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

PI(E) DAY POTLUCK - 2022

It's been a while since we invited people over to eat pie with us on March 14th (3.14, for those who missed the pi/pie connection), so we opened our door this year. It was a fun evening filled with delicious food! 

There was one savory pie (not pictured) for those who needed real food and seven sweet pies (one arrived after the picture was taken) for gluttony. 

A total of seventeen people stopped by over the course of the evening, including these six boys. I think they had more fun jumping on the trampoline in the rain, playing a raucous game of Uno, and jumping onto a pile of blankets and couch cushions than they did eating pie. That's fine. More for me. 

 

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for pen and paper. What's something that you're thankful for?

FAMILY NIGHT

All seven of us were able to get together for family night, which was a scheduling miracle. We ate a delicious dinner at home, left to bowl a couple games, then came back to our place and hung out for a couple more hours. So fun to spend time with all the Ws!

THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Tom and Linda got married. Their blended family welcomed teenage Tim into their home for a season a couple years later. They've considered him (then later his wife, kids, and daughter-in-law) family ever since. Today we helped celebrate their thirtieth anniversary. My bonus in-laws are a blessing.

FRESH AIR, FRESH PERSPECTIVE

Thursday was a good day, but I struggled with my attitude about something in the afternoon. We had to leave for something on the calendar, but I made a spontaneous decision to leave early and spend some time outside. We headed to Memorial Park, parked at the top, and walked a hilly loop. It was perfect!

Nothing beats fresh air, movement, and nature when your head and heart are a little wonky. It doesn't negate whatever problem you're facing, but it puts it into perspective. It's a reminder that your situation, no matter how big or small, is just one part of a huge world filled with intricate details. Life will go on. Just keep moving forward. 

 

WOODWORKING PROJECT

Unbeknownst to me, Devon saw directions for making a wooden candy dispenser in Boy's Life magazine seven or eight years ago. Also unbeknownst to me, he's wanted to make one ever since. 

He came home from work last night with an odd assortment of things for a mysterious project he wouldn't tell any of us about. He came to me later in the evening with a huge grin and excitedly told me to come see what he'd made. 

It's a wooden candy dispenser, just like the one he saw all those years ago. He decided to just wing it, making one solely from the memory of the one he read about when he was younger.

How cool is that?! I suspect he'll be making more in days to come, whether to give as gifts or sell as a side gig. I also suspect he'll be purchasing some better tools to simplify and speed up the process. 

I'm so impressed!

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THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for windows. What's one thing you're thankful for?

SIBS IN BLACK

I walked upstairs at church tonight and saw all four little Ws together. And they were all dressed in black. So I made them pose. Which they thought was ridiculous. But I didn't care. The end.

Not the end.  They actually wear black a lot or always, depending on the kid, but it struck me as funny to see them all together that way. It's like a sibling uniform or something.

 

QUICK VISIT

Tim wasn't able to come home as planned over the weekend because the crew had to work on their day off, but he ended up getting yesterday off because of weather. He found out too late on Sunday to make it home that night, so he did a day trip yesterday. He ran some errands on his own, spent about four hours with the three of us that were home, and met up with Devon for dinner on his way out. I'm glad we got to see him for a bit!