So, I know it has been a month since my last post, but we have been super busy. After class was over, Mack and I headed to Washington for 2 1/2 weeks to spend some time with Chad's parents and visit my family for a little while. On the way there, we stopped at my sister-in-law, Stephanie's house in Idaho and stayed the night. Mack had a great time with his cousin Presley. They put goggles on and played outside with them on for a while. He had a great time with her and talks about her often, especially whenever he hears any word even close to Idaho.
Here they are on the trampoline.
This was before breakfast the next morning. They are just so silly together!
I picked up Chad's great-aunt, Fern, that morning and took her with me the rest of the way to Washington, so I wasn't alone. She is a great lady and I had a fantastic time chatting with her and learning about Chad's family.
The first couple of days at the Weber's, mom taught me how to can peaches and we ended up canning 58 quarts between the two of us. By the end of the second day, I was beat, but mom kept going and finished our job. We also cleaned a couple of rooms and closets. Mom arranged a lunch with her best friends, Fern Muaroka and Lorraine Hendrickson, and her mom "Grannie Gardner." It was so fun to have lunch with the ladies and we spent 2 hours visiting. Also, Lorraine made two adorable baby blankets for me and gave Mack a coloring book and crayons. Fern made some wash cloths and a kitchen scrubber for me (that my grandma Noyes used to make and I love them!). The sweetest thing was that Fern found some toys for Mack that used to be her son, Jeff's. He was her only child and passed away a couple of years ago, without ever getting married or having children of his own. Since she doesn't have grandkids, she gave the toys to Mack. I thought that was so sweet!
I was also able to do a lot of visiting. First, I went to visit my grandma and grandpa Chlarson and we had a wonderful visit! It was really great to see them again, and get a relationship
re-established. I was also able to go to church with them. That Sunday they invited some aunts and cousins over to visit us during dinner. LaVoy, Kylie, and Kristen (who my grandpa calls Hank, which makes her Hank Key) and later uncle Alan. Marion was there, too, and it was fun to have "the two grandma's" (they are both named after my grandparent's mom's) there to entertain us all. Mack was being pretty entertaining while we where there. Here are a few memories of that visit:
- Mack was way excited to have a Grammie Boo, and she loved showing him why she's called that.
- We had a great time laughing at Mack pretending to play soccer without a ball, which landed behind Mack, thanks to LaVoy, and he took a while to find it.
- Grammie Boo gave Mack a Mickey Mouse doll, which was special to her. He loves it and now sleeps with: his pillow; his blanket that used to be Chad's baby blanket; Mama Slush and Baby Slush (two stuffed dogs); and the Mickey Mouse.
- The candy caldron that just keeps giving, so you don't have to eat a healthy dinner (Mack's idea)
- Yummy home made stroganoff with fresh garden vegetables and rolls.
I was also able to go to lunch with Grammie and LaVoy at the park. We ended up taking Mack swimming at the Aquatic Center, where Milo and Melanie were with their kids.
We also visited Marie Adams, who was my neighbor across the street growing up. We had a great visit. Her and Jay were the greatest neighbors. They helped out our family a lot, especially us kids. They knew things were rough for us and really tried to make things a bit easier on us. Marie always went out of her way to take me places if I needed a ride to town. We lived 15 miles out, so it would take her at least a half hour to run me anywhere I needed to go. She always did it with a smile on her face, and I never felt like she felt burdened by helping me. Jay was the same way and always teased us.
Another fantastic visit I had was with Celia, Paul, and Alyssa Hesselroth of Othello (sorry we missed Alysen). Mack loved their house and loves telling people about the chickens, big fish, and the toy closet. He insisted on wearing his "farmer pants" (also called under-alls) to Celia's because he knew they had chickens. They were another great family for us to be friends with. Shaurie, RyLee, and I did things with them more than the older boys got to, mostly because they were graduated from high school and working or on missions. But, we spent hours at their house while mom was teaching clogging. Paul was a great mentor to RyLee and helped him in many ways. Us girls usually did fun stuff like dress up and go to luncheons in the Tri-Cities. The little girls took their baby dolls with them and it was more like a real tea party. I was in high school at the time and Alysen was my little buddy, even though she was, like, 7 at the time. Shaurie and Alyssa were the same age and really good friends to each other. Those were fun times and I cherish those memories, but I am so glad that time in my life is over. Those were very difficult times for me and my family!
During my time with my dad, we were able to take a day trip to Sunnyside, where he used to live when we visited him, after my parent's divorce. I was surprised at all the things I remembered about that place. It has been 18 years since I was there last! We also visited his friends, Bruce and Jeanie Ricks for a minute. Dad and I had some really good chats on the way there and back. When we got home, Mack rode the horses with Grandpa's help. My favorite part about being at my dad's house was visiting with him and Mary. Step-moms get such a bad rap, but Mary is the greatest "step-mom" of all time. I love her so much and she is to good to my dad. She is one of the hardest workers I've ever met and she is SO smart. Dad told me that she catches on to things so quickly and once she learns it, she never makes a mistake.
After being apart for two weeks, I was able to see Chad. He flew to Washington the weekend before we headed home, so he could drive us. Mack and I were so excited to see him, we ended up in Spokane 1 hour and 45 minutes before his flight came in. So, we went to Riverfront Park and walked around, played on the playground, and rode the Gondola. Apparently it was "Pig Out Fest" in the park, so there was a lot going on.
This is above the falls on a bridge.
This is us on the gondola.
The falls from our gondola.
Mack was SOOOO excited to see Chad! It actually made me tear up when they were reunited.
Since the previous day was our 9th anniversary, Chad and I took Mack to the Olive Garden in Spokane. Part of our anniversary gift was that I took Chad to a condo that night in Moses Lake off the golf course (thanks, Mishelle!). While Chad left the table to use the restroom, I was trying to get Mack to settle down by telling him that I was going to put his jammies on him, take him for a long drive, and stay in a "hotel." Mack was SO excited and yelled as loud as he could, "We are staying in a hotel?!" Everyone in the restaurant turned to look at us. I tried to get him to quite down, so I told him it was a secret and we couldn't tell Chad. Well, that got him more excited and he began yelling more. The waitress came to check on us, and Mack proceeded to tell her our plan. I kept trying to get him to calm down, so he wouldn't spoil the surprise. But by the time Chad came back, Mack was still so wound up and told Chad, "Surprise Dad! I have a secret that I am not supposed to tell you." Then he whispered in Chad's ear, "We are staying in a hotel tonight." Chad didn't understand what he was saying and I was trying to change the subject, but Mack was being so persistent on telling Chad that he finally realized what Mack was saying. I ended up having to confirm Mack's excitement and told Chad what the plan was. I found the whole situation pretty humorous.
The next day, Chad and Kyle went golfing, while I cut hair and took my nephew, Weston, to the doctor. After the boys were done and Cody was home from school, Chad and I took the three boys swimming at the condo's pool.
Here is Cody doing a great dive.
Since I don't have a swimming suit that fits, this is how Mack swam by himself. He did a fantastic job!
We were also able to have dinner that night at the Golden Corral with Chad's parents, my parents, and Kyle and Mishelle's family. I didn't realize how much a buffet can be appreciated when your pregnant.
In Quincy, we were able to spend a lot of time with Chad's grandparents, too, and were able to have a BBQ with his family the Sunday before we left. Here are some pictures through out the week of Mack on the Weber Farm and at Grannie and Papa's.
At the farmhouse on the Weber Farm. In the background is the house that Grandpa Weber was born and raised in. Chad's dad was raised in that house, too.
The barn.
This one was taken at Grannie and Papa Gardner's on the old International.
Our trip to Washington was a memorable one. I thoroughly enjoyed all the visits, conversations, gifts, and lessons learned on this trip. I miss everyone already and can't wait for my next visit!
