Wisdom Teeth

So, a year ago, my dentist said, "It's time to take out your wisdom teeth." I had an appointment scheduled last Sept, but accidentally ate lunch the day of the appointment and had to reschedule. Well, it took almost a year, but last Friday, I had all four removed. Two were impacted, one was sticking out into my sinus...ew! So, holy, moly....wisdom teeth out as an adults bites...hard. I lived on yogurt, and mashed potato flakes for about four days before I could chew anything. Today is day five and my face has started to unswell, but I still can't open my mouth to eat very far. You'd think it would be a good weight loss strategy, but I manage :-)
Adalie thinks it's the best thing ever because it's been one giant movie marathon around here...Nana, thanks for Peter Rabbit, it got us through.

This is me actually trying to smile.

I took this picture today, rocking the bruise.

Reason number 457 that I'm thankful for Sandy:
He comes home from working all day and wrestles with Addi (who has basically been holding still all day) for two hours. He's such a trouper and she LOVES it.

Summer that still feels like spring: Catching up part 3

We were fortunate enough this summer to be able to visit Sandy's parents in California for a week. It was definitely a long drive, but we split it into two days which was a life saver. This is beautiful Mount Shasta....it was amazing to be able to look at if for so much of our drive.

This is Addi during part of our 40-minute conversation about why Jesus had to die on the cross. The two best moments were when she realized that even though Jesus in her book is on the cross, that he's alive, "Jesus, is alive...I can hardly believe it." and when she decided that she would give Jesus her blanket to help him feel better. I love three year olds.

We went to several parks during the week. This was our favorite. Addi loved driving the fire engine. Nana was a good sport and went along as her co-pilot.

The weather was beautiful and their deck is beautiful and the people are beautiful.

Pops, Addi, Nana

This picture is a little dark, but Adalie took it..not bad.

One evening we went to a Pops concert at the park. It was

fun to reconnect with old friends. This is the first documented eye roll...3 going on 13.

Addi helping Nana water the flowers. About 5 hours after this picture, it rained about two inches....sorry drowning flowers...oops!

Ok, short story....long....Sandy has gone back to school and is studying accounting. He's able to do a distance program through Linfield College that's 100% online. That's the great part. The bummer was that classes started during this week of vacation. So, he took a much needed study break to ax out some of this stump. He got a good chunk of it out too, but had to quit when his ax broke :-) good work love.

Addi and Pops playing games

Nana and Addi made some cake and Addi got to decorate it.

Nana even had some little cake pans and made Addi her very own

little birthday cake. So wonderful.

After a wonderful week in California, we drove up to Tillamook, OR for a Snavely family reunion. (Nicole's mom's side of the family.) We stayed in a couple of big houses right on a bay..wonderful. Here's all of us on the steps of one of our houses. I always love these reunions because not only do we get to see family that I dearly love, but everything is soooo laid back. Perfect vacation....minus the flu!

Dragon Fly on Tomato Plant

(I told you there would be more close ups of plants) :-)

Spring and summer that feels like spring: Catching up part 2

Sandy celebrated his 30th birthday this year. I am confessing to being a bad wife in that I pretty much have two pictures from the festivites...let's go with that the festivities were too crazy to be shown here...yeah, we'll go with that.

We had a wonderful dinner of lamb shanks (thanks mom).

Sandy was given a grill/smoker that he had his eye on. He got several accessories/tools

and was seriously looking forward to grilling (more on that later).

Happy Birthday Love,

It was finally nice outside (read: not raining and over 55 degrees).

Everytime we go outside, Addi asks to go in the tree. Being 2, it means that

we get to hang out under the tree and make sure she doesn't break her arm....plenty of time for that later.

Ok, so looking back through my pictures over the years, I realize that I take a lot of close-up pictures of the flowers in my garden. Why do I not take normal pictures of my garden? Why every year? who knows...at least here are two instead of 50 :-) Though, I'm sure there are more to come.

Hurray, Sandy got to try out his new grill...this is an Elk tenderloin wrapped in bacon..yumm!

The last day of school, I went with the middle school classroom I work with to Silverwood. Silverwood, for those of you who don't know is a huge themepark out of Spokane. They've got about six giant roller coasters and a ton of other fun rides. Every year, we take about 15 people up for the day to play. That means we leave at about 6:00 am and get back at about 9:30 pm. It's a long day, but sooo much fun. For confidentiality sake, I can't show any pictures of the kids, so here are a few others.

From the top of the ferris wheel (that's about my amusement park speed).

Again from the top of the ferris wheel looking down onto the bumper boats.

My friend Shannon...hi Shannon.

This is another confession photo. This year we went on the second annual Wallowa Lake trip with my parents. For some reason, this is the only picture I have from the weekend...Add in front of a pig bbq...?????

An artistic phot that Addi took.

Addi playing with ladybug stickers

About three months ago, Addi asked me when her birthday was. I told her. Literally every day since then, she's asked, "Did you know my birthday is coming up?" or "Hey, Mama, have you been thinking about my birthday?"...everyday. She also decided that she wanted a strawberry/blueberry cake. Girl knows her mind. So, on the morning of her birthday, she got to help me make her birthday cake...so fun.

Addi helping me make her birthday cake.

Happy Birthday Girl

3 years old

Opening presents

Her great-Nana and Pappy bought her a Dora kitchen.

It was her very favorite present and still is.

She still asks pretty much everyday if I'll cook with her...banana cake.

Getting ready for cake

Digging in

It's hard to tell in this picture, but she's covered in marshmellow. We've had my parents over a few times for a bbq. Sandy discovered that the grill makes a great marshmellow roaster.

Spring: catching up part 1

Easter Pictures:

Cutest ever...

Ok, mama, one picture is enough, can I get

out of this dress now?

She'll never forgive me for this hair :-)

Picture with Grammy and Grandad...knocking Grammy down :-)

The fam

What a difference a year makes. Last year I ended up decorating all of the eggs because Addi wold throw them on the floor....fun, but not conducive to decorating. This year, she completely got the whole process with the one caveat that it's super fun to drop the eggs in the dye (at least it's stays on the table).
The very serious work of coloring an egg.

Addi's favorite person to be is currently Mary, the mother of our Lord.

She says, "I'll be Mary, you be baby Jesus." Your job then is to cry and say mama...forever...she's not very pleased in this picture because I am taking a picture and not being a very good baby Jesus.

One of Addi's favorite places to be is on Papa's

shoulders....best ever.

When Sandy and Addi wrestle, it usually starts with her stepping (read: jumping) on his stomach or chest. Sandy thinks this is great and the wrestling commences. So, suprise, suprise for mama who also likes to wrestle when a 30 pound weight stomps in the middle of my chest..yikes...so, Papa is definitely the fun parent :-)

Best new fort...under the table.

Addi found the Xbox headset and put it on.

Before we knew it, she was talking away to "maggie."

I love that her pretend conversations sound so matter-of-fact.