Happy Summer

How time flies by these days! Don't know where it all goes, but it goes by fast and faster each day. Lots has happened since I last posted. We started and are pretty much finished with a remodel project. It has been quite an adventure, good for the most part. Love the finished look of what we accompolished during this project. Now just have too unpack everything that I packed away. Towards the end of the remodel, I left to go to Utah to celebrate the birthday of two of my grandkids and welcome and additional granddaughter into this world of ours. It was such a joy to be there when Tessa June arrived into this family! She seems to be a very relaxed baby, with some of the biggest yawns I have ever seen. I had such a great time with Jack, Isabella and Sophie. We did many fun things and as usual the time just went by too fast. I was there for 17 days, and it just wasn't long enough. I so miss them and wish I could be there to see all of their games and activities . I am thankful for the ones I do get to see and Had a blast cheering Jack's baseball team on! Bella is doing so good at gymnastics, enjoyed watching her preformance! Loved the mornings when Sophie came and snuggled me. She is such a great girl! Of course when Tessa arrived I could have held her forever, love the newborn stage, they just outgrow it so fast. Brad and the dogs and cats were glad to have me back, they missed me lots. I was pretty tired when I got home, I was pretty tired before I left and I am just now starting to feel not so tired! Looking forward to seeing Jeff's family soon! I can't wait to see that baby, she has grown so much since I last saw her, need to give her goo hugs and kisses.

Fushia

Pictures for the previous blog

Happy March!  Hopefully it will be a good month and the weather will be more warm and cold. The last two days were beautiful and then a few flakes of snow today. I am ready for warm for sure!
My mother gave Brad and I a beautiful fusha for Valentines day, and it is still very prettyand I am enjoying it so much!
My baby just turned 31. Hard to beleive that is possible. I hope he had a great birthday and enjoyed everything about turning 31. 
Many birhtdays coming up in these next few months.  The grandkids are all getiing ready to be a year older.
The baby is turning one soon, and I can't wait until I can see her again. My Jack boy will be 11 and that just seems impossible, although I must say it's hard to remember time without him. He is such a great kid. Then Bella turns 8. My Bella, I do love spending time with Bella. She is such a beautiful soul. Sophie is about to be bumped from being the baby in the family. She is such a fun little girl to be around. You always know where you stand with Soph. Love to make cookies with her.

Time Flys By!

Wow, hard to believe it is already the middle of February.  So much has happened since I last posted, that I hardly know where to start.  We had a new granddaughter in May, and it won't be long until she is a year old now.  Haven't got to see her as much as I would like to, but I treasure every moment that I do. 
Jack, Bella and Sophie are all about a year older, and growing in leaps and bounds!  The Miskin family was home for Christmas and we had such a great week!  Cookie making  , cutting down a tree and playing in the snow.  Going to see Beauty and the Beast at the Elgin Opera House. Eating lots of good food and playing games and cards!  The time flew by as always and I was sad to see them go.
On New Years Day we drove to Portland to see Jeff and his family.  It was a quick trip, and of course time flew by then also. Brook, Wes and Jack Robert had all grown and Ellery Jane had really changed since the last time I saw her,
Jeff and baby had a cold, of course they shared, and I have been sick pretty much the whole month of Jan. and am not quite over the stuff. 
On Thanksgiving, I received a picture on my phone from Sophie with a shirt on that said "big Sister" letting us know that another grand baby was on the way!  Very excited about that news and can't wait to meet the new little one!
Been walking rain snow or shine, speaking of which it was beautiful here today, felt like spring for sure. That one February day that makes you ready for summer, and then zaps you with another batch of winter.  We are suppose to have snow this next week.
I am sure there have been way more things happen, but that is all I can think of right now.

Happy Valentine Day!  Love the Goo

Tomatoes

My tomatoes plants have gone crazy this year. They are starting to get ripe, so I hope we have warm weather for awhile longer. We had BLT's with the huge tomatoe that I grew, It was so very tasty and so very big!

The Oregon Coast

We just had a wonderful few days at The Oregon Coast! The weather was beautiful for the most part. The dogs had a great time, and we had a great time with them. The food was really good except for one meal. I had clam chowder every day, oh no, but it was vacation, and at the beach!

We saw a lot of whales, and seals, swimming along the coast where we were staying and South of where we were staying. Oh how I long to go back, the sound of the ocean is so soothing, and the sunsets so beautiful! Maybe again next year, with my grandkids would be the absolute best time ever!

The Cake

The cake showed in the last post was very good. It was triple chocolate, and white cake, with chocolate buttercream frosting and huckleberry filling between the layers. It has been so long since I have posted, that I have to figure it all out again. Anyway, I will try to update soon, there has been a lot going on since my last post, I think in Feb. or whenever that was.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to my hubby, and to my daughter and her husband! We were both married on this date, years apart however!

The day started off pretty good. We got up to go to the breakfast out at the fair grounds. We ate, looked at a few exhibits, and then back home to go to Tri-Cities to eat at Famous Dave's BBQ and shop for a few things. Got back home loaded the coolers, for our usual Costco shopping trip, to find that our freezer was having a problem. Either the door got left open part way, or it was going bad. Either way, we had a mess to clean up. We unloaded the freezer, took the stuff to mom's freezer, and then shopped around for a new freezer, in case we needed to get a new one. Came back home, went ahead and thawed out the freezer , it is not frost free, and then turned it back on to see if it was working or not. So far it seems to be working , which is good. On the down side, we didn't go to Tri-Cities, but we did go later to Barley Browns in Baker and had a good dinner. Last night I made Brad a cake for our anniversary, which I will post a picture of. It was very yummy!!!

Tony in Boise

It was so good to see Tony again. We should get together more
often!

Fun Times To Remember

Hats are so much fun! We had a great time with mom's old hats!

Nothing like hands and feet of all different sizes to

make you smile!!!!!!!

Baby on the way!

Pictures of our upcoming baby girl, due around the first of May! Jeff called me tonight and was so excited because the baby kicked him in the face, while he was resting his face on Tiff's belly!

Christmas after Christmas

Jeff and his family didn't get to come for Christmas, so my mom and I went to them a couple of weeks after Christmas. We had a fun time and I think the kids enjoyed what they received from everyone.

My new "do"

Here is my new do! Very short feels like I have no hair when I wash it. It wasn't that long before, but now it feels so very short. I like the fact that I can wash and wear it, without much fuss. This is just towel dried, so darn easy!

Christmas 2009

Here is the Biechler family picture from this Christmas! What a bunch we are!Here are the kids with their stockings. Great-Grandma Penny made Jack and Bella's, but could not do Sophie's so she sent it to Jill to make for her.

Here are a few pictures from Christmas this year. Sophie got her stocking completed, which turned our so very cute! Her mommy did such a good job. Great job Jill, I know it took a lot of discipline to get this finished!

January 2010

Wow, it is already the middle of January, and a whole new year is upon us! Lots has happened, since I last blogged, which was quite some time ago. I now have faster internet, no more dial up, so maybe I can get more creative with my blogging. I still need to figure out how to add photos, and such, but I am on my way to doing just that.
On December 28th, I received a card in the mail from my son, letting me know I am going to be grandma again! He is so very excited about this baby being born! And from the pink in this ink, you will know that It Is A GIRL!!!!!!!!! I am so very excited for him and am looking forward to welcoming another grandbaby into our world! Due date is around May 1st, so will be here before you know it!
Christmas was good this year, Jeff's family didn't get to come, but Jill and her family were here, and I had so much fun. Time always goes so fast, but the kids all had a really good time and it was so good to see them. I need to get my next trip planned to their house.
All of Brads side of the family was here for a bit on Christmas as well. It was good to see them and get all of their updates on their lives.
More later, need to see how to upload some pictures now. Speed, what a great thing at times!!

August Already

I can't believe how fast this summer is going! Seems like school was just out for all those kids, and now it is about to start again! Much has happened since I last posted to this blog. My computer is so slow, that when I get on to check email and other things, it is time to get off. Anyway a bit about what has happened since the last post.
I made a trip to Utah to visit all who are there. I got to spend Bella's 6th birthday with her, which was so much fun. I love spending time with Bella. She is so much fun and such a great age! Of courseI have thought all her ages were great!!
Of course, I got to spend time with Jack and Sophie, which was also a blast! I wish I could have spent the whole summer with them. I did sprain the bottom of my foot the day before I left, for Utah, so that slowed me down a bit on being able to do all that I wanted to with them. I hope I never have to use crutches again.
Then June flew by, and before I knew it, it was my birthday. But about a week before my birthday, I decided to get a new bathroom light, and towel ring for the bathroom, which also led to a new faucet, (moen) love that brand, they stand behind their product, which led to a new sink and medicine cabinet. The new light, was not a bar light like the one before it, so when we took the old one down, the electrical was not centered above the vanity, which is why the old light was a bar light. Anyway, when I went to see if I could find a bar light that I liked, no such luck, which meant the electrical would have to be moved, which also led to a new granite counter top, and a new tile floor!!!!! And yes, I pretty much have a new bathroom that I love, which got installed the day before my birthday! I was very happy, so in less that a weeks time the bathroom was redone.
Then came the 4Th of July. Brad and I did the farmers market in Joseph. It was fun, the dogs had a good time, it was hot. I had got a quick up awing which was well worth the money. Then mom and I drove up on the hill and watched the fireworks, Brad stayed home with the dogs. It was a quiet holiday for the most part.
Jill and kids came to see me the next week for a few days! That made my month!!!! I just love being around those kids. Brad commented a few days after they went home that he had so much fun with the kids this trip. Never enough time when they are here, I guess there is never enough time, I never want them to leave.
Then Jill had a birthday, and July was over.
Now that it is August, the days are getting shorter, which I really dread. I don't like it getting dark early. Brad made me an arbor for my birthday. We took out one of the mugo pines out front and put it there. It looks really nice, and now I am working on a walkway from it up to the deck. I really love it!!!!!
I have a quilt on display at my place of work that I made. Our quilt show is coming up and it is an advertisement for that. It looks really great from the street, very eye catching. One of these days when I get faster Internet, I will upload some pictures.
A little over a week ago, we got a Tempurpedic mattress. LOVE IT!!!!! If anyone out there need a new bed, that is the way to go. Well worth the money, an investment in you well being for sure! I swam today, and I am feeling a little stiff, from that. I know when I wake up in the morning, my body will feel so much better.
Also this month was our 21st anniversary! Where the heck does time go????? Would I have married the same guy all over again?????? YES with out a doubt!!!!!!
Well, I have rambled on enough for now, Need to get ready for bed, first I have to go make it. Sleep tight and good night.
Also the end of June was the year anniversay of my dad's passing. It seems like it has been a long time, and sometimes not so long. I miss him every day, I don't see that ever ending. He was a great man, in his daughter's eyes. Miss you dad, love you always.

Rain or Shine

It has been quite awhile since I posted anything. It's not that not much has been going on, it is just that I haven't . We were just about to go out the door with the dogs, for their walk, the sun was shining bright, notice "was". From the time we got them leashed up and out the door, the hail just started coming down with vengeance!!! And now, the sun is shining bright again!!! Welcome to spring, I guess. We have a week full of rain and sunshine, mostly rain. I am ready for just sun. The dogs bet many baths, when it rains like this, or they stay outside until I know I will be in and at home.
I have been sewing, and am going to take one of my quilts to the quilters, and quilt it myself on her long arm quilter. I am really looking forward to learning how to do that. Carol Lee just got a new Tin Lizzie 18, and is getting it set up, so maybe next week on my days off , I can get it done.
Mother's day is Sunday!!! Will not have to work that day, which makes me happy!!!!!!!!
I've been thinking about getting my bike out, but the rain has kept me from doing that. Maybe next week it will be better! I have been swimming 3 days a week, walking 4 miles 4 days a week, which I will be able to do more days, now that it is staying light longer!!!!!
Mom got the stone ordered for dad's grave. It will look really nice I think, I can't wait to see it. It should be at the cemetery for memorial day. Those things are so expensive.
I would like to go to the Oregon coast. We didn't go last year, and I just love watching the ocean going in and out, and the sound it makes. Everything seems so right with the world when I am at the beach.
Things are changing in my life. I look at things differently now, than I did a few years ago. I am looking forward to the next chapter. More later!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

Happy New Year 2009!!!!!!!!!!!
I was going to stay awake to welcome in the new year, but I fell asleep in my recliner, and woke up about 1:00. I did watch the new year come in at my mom's house on an early channel from New York City. I wanted to call Jack and Bella, but I figured they were probably in bed, only to find out later that they were up until midnight!!!
We have received a lot of snow since Christmas. It snowed and rained and snowed and rained, or we would probably have 4 or 5 feet. We do have many mounds of snow everywhere, where is has drifted or been shoveled or piled by street plows and such.
Today when we walked the dogs, they had a great time playing king of the mountain on all the mountains along our trails. It was a good day.

Friday which was my brothers 55Th birthday, was not such a good day for me. I went to bed the night before feeling a little chilled, only to wake that morning with what turned out to be the 24 hour flu. Not fun..... I called in sick at work, which I rarely do. I spent most of the day in bed, except when the bathroom called, which was for the most part just the first hour or so in the morning. Brad put the dogs outside when he went to work, and I just slept all day long. I was really thirsty, so I drank water slowly to make sure it was going to stay down. It did!!!!!!!!I ate a piece of bread, and it stayed down too! At about 8 p.m. I got up, my body was tired from being in bed all day, needed to change positions. Then I felt hungry , so fixed a scrambled egg sandwich and applesauce. It hit the spot!! Went back to bed exhausted. Got up about 1 a.m. to stretch and say hi to Brad. Went back to bed, got up Sat. morning, feeling okay, tired from being in bed so long but thought I could make it to work. As the day wore on I felt better and better. Today I feel pretty good, so maybe the worst is over. I hope so.

Went to a baby shower on Sat., but went on my lunch hour, so didn't get to see much. Baby is due in about 4 weeks, and a girl. I think the name is going to be Brennan, no middle name yet. The mommy want Delaney, but the daddy doesn't.

I hope this year brings much happiness to all, and all your wishes come true. I do hope that Brad and I get to go on an Alaskan Cruise. It will just depend on what happens with his work, and his vacation days and on and on.
I want to be able to see all my grand kids as much as I can. They are growing so fast, and I just can't get enough of them. I want my mom to be healthy and happy, and enjoy life also. She so deserves to be happy and do as she pleases. I hope the pain I know she feels and I feel about my dad's passing, gets a bit easier to bear. I am so glad I have many fun memories to think about and remember!

This life is not a dress rehearsal, and we must all remember to live each day to the best we can. I wish all good health, happiness, and love.

I love you dad.......................

Christmas

Christmas has yet come and gone again!! With the blink of an eye, it is all just a memory! But oh what a memory it is!!!
Everyone arrived safely through the mountains and hills that they had to drive through. They also all arrive home safely, which is such a blessing.
We went to the movies, we sledded, we put up the tree with this years new ornaments. We ate and ate and ate some more. We read books and made Christmas cookies!! What a good job they did decorating them. It snowed and snowed and snowed some more. Jeff's family went home on Friday, and made it okay. Jill's family was going home on Saturday, but the passes were closed all day long, so they had to wait until today. They also arrived safely.
What a delight all my grand kids are! Each one has such a uniqueness about themselves that makes them so very special. It was a delight to watch Sophie, opening her presents, like she had done it many times before. She is so smart!!! They all are.
Jack came down with a cold, which he decided to share with me. Sophie also had a bit of a cold. I am better today, I think.
All in all the holidays were full of fun and more fun and more fun!! Such great memories to cherish forever.