A Fun Surprise + an added bonus

Last Saturday I received a surprise call from my cousin Doug's ex-wife, Kari. When Doug and Kari were married, Kari and I became good friends at the Jewett reunions. However, about ten years ago, Doug and Kari divorced and (sadly) I hadn't seen Kari since. It just so happens that Kari and her family were travelling through Idaho Falls on their way to Alaska, and they stopped by our house! (Side note: They're driving from Florida to Alaska--5,000 miles!) It was really great to see them and to meet Dennis, Kari's new husband, and Sean, their son.
Here we are at breakfast: Emily (in the blue), Ellyn, Kari, Sean, Dennis (hidden), and Allison. Allison really enjoyed her time with her 2nd cousins, Emily and Ellyn. We hadn't seen the girls in about six years.
Ellyn and Sean loved Wesley! In fact, Sean tried to sneak Wesley into their car!
The Lynch family: Dennis, Ellyn, Kari, Emily, and Sean. I hope we don't let another ten years pass before we see them again.
The added bonus: Roses from our front yard. Yes, these beautiful roses actually grew in our front yard.

Father's Day picnic

We had a great Father's Day weekend. On Saturday we had a picnic at Fall Creek. The whole family couldn't make it, but fortunately everyone was able to come over for dinner on Sunday. Unfortunately, I failed to take any pictures on Sunday! So, stay tuned for July 4th when I'll be sure to get pictures of the entire gang.

A few pictures from our picnic:

Allison and Dad
Jacob throwing rocks in the river while being observed by Gordon
Thomas and me
Maryn (friend of Caitlan and Jacob) and Caitlan
Thomas

The Joy of Perennials

With the approach of spring (I think), I need to write about how excited I am about perennials.

I've always wanted a perennial garden, but it has never worked out for one reason or another. Last year I removed all the rocks at our entry way and planted several perennials. They actually started appearing a few weeks ago! I'll post some pictures when they're in full bloom.

(left side)

(right side)

I didn't plant this Bleeding Heart, but just like the perennials, it appeared like magic. It looks even better in real life.

Weekend with Nonny and Bob

This past weekend we enjoyed a visit from Nonny and Bob who recently returned to the US from Central America. Welcome back! We went down to Logan and visited the Hansens. Tom and Gordon were as cute and entertaining as ever!

We also learned that Thomas and Gordon will have a new baby brother in October.
The Freeds came over the next day. Don't Dallis, Brynn, and Hadley look cute in their Colombia shirts?
Here's baby Graham AKA Little Todd.

Answers to an Uninvited Tag

I saw this on Ann-Michelle's blog and thought it was kind of interesting.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 766,623 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Our results: 0 for DeArton (as already reported by Ann-M--although, how could this be true? We do have a few DeArton relatives.) My name is the most common: 766,623 Kimberlys. I think I know at least 76,000 of them. Jacob is next at 250,977. Greg and Allison are a close third at 158,192 and 139,939. Kristina follows with 98,870. There are no Caitlans, but Caitlin has 34,985. Elise has 28,900, and Ann-Michelle comes in last at 0. Maybe she should be first since clearly that's where we showed the most originality! My maiden name Jewett has 9,613.

Update

Okay-I was really trying to be a good blogger. I went on a field trip to Virginia City and even remembered my camera! I took a bunch of great pictures. Then a few days later we went to Brynn's birthday party, and once again, I took a bunch of pictures with the intent to create a blog post. So, I came home, tried to download the pictures, and for some reason they disappeared! I was really mad, but what can I do?????

I'm out of school now, so hopefully I can solve all my blog challenges.

A Fun Week-end

We started the day running a 5K at the river. Pictured below is Heather, Ann-Michlle, Allison, me, Julie, Lezhai, and Ryker. Heather is Ann-Michelle's neighbor and Kristi Jost's sister. Lezhai, Julie, and Ryker live in my neighborhood. My goal was to keep up with Julie. Uhhh, maybe next time. The DeArton participants: Ann-Michelle, Allison, and me. Note the fashion change-a hat rather than a headband.
Then we drove to Ogden to the Railroad Museum. Surprise! The Hansens were there. Caitlan and Gordon in a train car.

All of us on a handcar.
Tom and Gordon: the perfect passengers

What she really thought of the museum, part 1: My heart is at the mall!

What she really thought of the museum, part 2: My heart is in Phoenix!

Mother's Day

I had a great Mother's Day! These pictures are in backwards order, but oh well, at least I have pictures! I decided to give my daughters Mother's Day presents this year since they're the ones who make being a mother so great, plus they're all either current or future mothers. (Yes, Jacob, I'll remember you on Father's Day!) So, I found these really cute vintage-style aprons. Here we are in the kitchen modelling them while in use.Here we are just modelling. Elise has an apron too, but she was in Colorado for the weekend.
Dallis and Hadley had to try the aprons out too.
Jacob brought these home from Russia. Yes, he gave them to me last January, but I thought they were blog-worthy.
Ann-Michelle gave me the potted plant, Kristie made the picture, and Elise gave me the Great Harvest gift card (yum!). Jacob, Caitlan, and Allison honored me with the presents of their presence.
It was a fun day from start to finish!

My First Half-Marathon!

Today I completed my first half-marathon (13.1 miles). When we decided to do this last December, I was pretty excited. But as the time drew closer, I began dreading the upcoming event. However, it turned out to be a lot of fun (even though I'm having trouble walking at the moment!), and I definitely plan to make this an annual tradition. Caitlan, Jacob, Ann-Michelle, and I ran as you can see by the pictures. The first picture is us after the race, and the other shows the snazzy medals we got. My time was about 2 3/4 hours--actually a little faster than I was expecting. Also, usually my goal in a race (I've done about 7 so far) is to not be last. I'm used to the small Idaho races where coming in last is a real possibility. But now I'm sold on these big races. There were over 13,000 runners, and I was far from last. It was great!

Elk Grove trip

At the end of February, Jacob, Allison, and I went to Elk Grove (Sacramento) to visit my dad and Sue. I didn't get many pictures, but here is a small sampling.

One afternoon we went out to lunch in Folsom with Sue and the Red-hatters.


Jacob and I in front of the new Sacramento temple.


Jacob looking cool.


Another shot of the Sacramento temple.

Valentine's Day

Okay here's what you've all been waiting for...Valentine's Day pictures!!!

Brynn

Hadley

Grandchildren and me/ Hadley, Ann-Michelle, and Dallis with our decorated cookies.

Dallis with cookie

Yet another tag

Now that I am attempting to be a blogger, I actually like tags. For one thing, as Ann-Michelle pointed out, it's always fun to talk about myself. For another, no pictures are involved! It's not that I don't like pictures, I just keep forgetting to take them at opportune moments plus I really haven't figured out the right way to post them. You may think I haven't tried, but you haven't seen all the posts I've had to delete because my "picture" came out as a bunch of numbers. Ok--here goes---

20 years ago... 1988 - I was living on Ruthie Lane in Redding, California busy planning and contemplating a 3 week trip the upcoming summer to Israel and Egypt.
10 years ago: 1998 I was in my 2nd year of teaching at Lincoln High School and shocked that I was old enough to have a newly engaged daughter!
5 years ago: 2003 - I was in my 3rd year at Lake Stevens High School and the middle of my service as the Granite Falls Ward YW pres.
3 years ago: 2005 - I had just begun teaching at Marysville Junior High in Marysville, WA. This was towards the end of the period when the entire DeArton clan (at least our part of it) was living in western Washington.
1 year ago... 2007 - This was in the middle of my first year back at Lincoln High School. It really didn't take too long to readjust since not much had changed in my seven year absence! This was also about 6 months into my quest to become an actual runner (still working on it).
So far this year...2008 - It's been a busy, but good time with lots of family activities so far. (If any non-family members are reading this, we've all migrated to the intermountain west.) Our first family activity of 2008 was New Year's at the Hansens, followed by Jacob's homecoming from Russia 3 weeks later, followed by Jake's homecoming address at church and celebration the following week, followed by Graham's blessing and celebration the following week, followed by Todd Flatland's 25th birthday party the following week . . . It's a bit too quiet now, but I'm sure we'll come up with some activities in March!
Yesterday I.. insanely (I stole that part from Ann-Michelle) ran around the river twice which is just short of 5 miles. It wasn't too cold, but there was still quite a bit of ice and mud on the trail. In fact, I slipped at one point and had mud all up one side of my pants leg. I forgot about that when I stopped by Wal-Mart on my way home and ran into one of my neighbors. He kept looking down at my leg . . . After he left, I looked down to see what the big attraction was, and yep, there was all that mud. Oh well!
Today I . . . ate Jacob's Russian food for breakfast, went to church, had a nice dinner made by Greg and joined by Greg, Jacob, Caitlan, and Allison. Caitlan left for Provo, everyone else is taking a nap, and I'm typing away on the computer!
I am tagging no one. Everyone I know in the blogging world has already been tagged!

Another tag

Where were you born? Kansas City, Missouri
Middle name: Ann
How old will you be this year? 51 (what kind of a question is that???)
Nicknames: I actually can't think of any.
Are you taller than your mother or father? Neither!
Do you cry often during movies? Not so much--every once in awhile though.
Favorite color: Green
Favorite foods: Teriyaki chicken, pretty much anything with coconut
Favorite beverage: water (I'm not lying)
Favorite cold cereal: Kashi
Favorite Smells: cinnamon for the house
Favorite time of day: early morning
What brand of shampoo/conditioner do you use? Bath and Body Works' Orange and Ginger--something like that. It's supposed to be energizing.
Make-up products? Mary Kay
How many pillows do you sleep with? 1
Do you play an instrument? piano
Have you ever been skinny dipping? maybe when I was 2
Did you do any sports in High School? volleyball and soccer at school, church basketball
What was the last movie you saw in the theater? Enchanted
What is your favorite article of clothing? Right now my lined jogging pants. Ask me in the summer--I'm sure my answer will be different.
What is your dream vacation? Switzerland
What was your first impression of your spouse? That guy has to be the biggest flirt I've ever seen.
If you were an animal what would you be? a cat (owned by a nice family of course)--They do pretty much whatever they want, and they're always clean.
What is your favorite "me- time" activity? reading
What is your dream car? 2008 Toyota Avalon
What is one of your weaknesses? procrastination
What do you fix for dinner when there's nothing to fix? leftovers
If you could live in a different decade/era which one would it be? I think now is the best.
Do you consider yourself outgoing? No
What is something you are constantly working on? organization
Any hidden talents? If I knew what they were, they wouldn't be hidden.
What is a word or phrase you overuse? ?
What was the hardest thing that happened to you this past year? child's medical issues
What is the best thing that happened to you this past year? same as above--things are 100% better
What is one thing you hope to accomplish this year? become a lifetime member of Weight Watchers (although I don't know how they'll pay the rent here if I actually earn "free" status)
Who are the 6 people you are going to tag to do this survey? No one. I only answer these things.

Adding a picture

This is a test using a picture of me as a princess on New Year's Eve with one of my loyal subjects.

Answers to a Tag

One nice thing about tags: You don't have to feel guilty about not including pictures!

On my to-do list:
1. Organize the sewing room using my neat-o frito label maker.
2. Do something creative with all those ____ pictures. (Yes, I feel like swearing, but I just can't do it.)
3. Make a decision about whether or not I should go for my Master's degree and either DO IT or forget about it!

If I had a billion dollars...
1. I have my house totally remodelled including a complete professional landscaping job.
2. I'd definitely go on a 6-week trip to Switzerland and surrounding areas. I'd take Greg and any one else in my family who wanted to go.
3. I'd hire a resident cook.
4. Even though I love my car, if I had that much money, I'd buy a 2008 fully-loaded Avalon.
5. I'd set up some kind of perpetual fund for people who wanted to adopt--especially Russian children.

3 Bad Habits
1. Eating when I'm not hungry
2. Procrastinating important tasks
3. Failing to post regularly on my blog

3 Things you probably don't know about me...
1. I climbed to the top of the inside of an Egyptian pyramid. I can't even imagine doing it now--too claustrophobic.
2. I was voted "Most Valuable Player" in a 9th grade volleyball tournament. Opposing teams voted for each other. I really wasn't the best player, so I think my teammates were mad that I won!
3. I recently painted a watercolor--the first one in over 30 years. I was going to post a picture of it, but it's too poor. I still may post it some day though.

3 Jobs I've had:
1. Waitress
2. Interviewer for the US Census Bureau
3. teacher

3 Movies I could watch over and over:
1. Enchanted.-- I've actually only seen it once, but I think I could watch that one several more times.
2. Sweet Home Alabama--Ok, I know there are a few silly parts (like where she socks the future mother-in-law in the nose), but it's still a fun movie and all the main characters are so cute!
3. I'm stuck on this one. I haven't watched anything much lately, although in the past I watched Anne of Green Gables and Persuasion (a British version) multiple times.

3 People I e-mail daily:
1. Work people
2. Actually, nobody. I think I'm doing good if I answer emails within a week. Daily? Right.
3. ?

4 Things I love to eat:
This is a little easier . . .
1. Kettle Korn
2. Hot brownie and vanilla bean ice cream topped with hot fudge
3. Maple syrup glazed salmon at Barclay's in Victoria
4. Creme brulee at Anthony's in Everett

3 place I'd rather be
1. Switzerland
2. Panama
3. San Diego

3 Places I've lived:
1. Sacramento, CA
2. Redding, CA
3. Lake Stevens, WA

3 Things I'm looking forward to:
1. becoming a lifetime Weight Watcher's member
2. Completing my Master's Degree or deciding not to do it
3. Completing a 1/2 Marathon in April with Elise, Ann-Michelle, Caitlan, and Jacob

Whew--that took a lot of brain power.

Okay-here are a few words

Not a bad idea about the book review. I do read regularly and now feel especially good about it after reading Elizabeth Berg's article. You'll have to go to Elise's blog to find that one since I have yet to figure out how to set up links within my posts. Anyway, I just finished The Glass Castle yesterday. First I have to say that it's similar to A Child Called It only much better written. Also, the character in TGC suffered the abuse of neglect rather than physical abuse. So my first question: Why do we have a fascination with reading about all the horrible things parents do to their children? Does it make us feel like better parents, i.e. "Well, I didn't help jr. with his homework, but at least I didn't feed him solely popcorn for three days straight!" Second, I am wondering how 3 of the 4 children in TGC turned out so mature and successful despite their extremely poor upbringing. In case you don't know, The Glass Castle is purported to be the true memoir of msnbc.com writer, Jeannette Wells. I did enjoy reading it. Her descriptions were well done without being overly sappy or whiny. The story moved along at a nice pace. Plus, the author did triumph in the end. I'd give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Does anyone really read this?

I know I haven't been a regular blogger. For some reason the learning curve (posting pictures, finding something different to say than Elise, Ann-Michelle, or Caitlan) has been my road block. Poor excuse, I know. But, I really do want to know--Does anyone really read this??? A simple "yes" in the comment section will do.