Sisters also Hug REALLY Tight

These are pictures we took a few weeks ago, so Grace was about a month old. Now she's six weeks old! Joyce is ever attentive to Grace and likes to hold her. When Grace cries she either says to her in a soothing voice, "Be happy baby" (amazing how she picks up on adults tendency to use baby talk) or she tells me, "It will be okay in a minute" with a knowing nod.

Joyce seemed to be doing really well being a big sister until John went back to work. Then reality hit and we've had to resort to some drastic measures some days when Joyce is really sad and melting down. One of our drastic measures is riding the bus around town for an hour or two. Our city buses have a higher portion in the back where Joyce can sit and see the whole world below her as she looks out the window. That was our strategy last Monday when I knew something had to change or we would all be in trouble.

Grace is pretty tolerant of her sister's love although I feel like I have to wear her in a sling or wrap all the time to ensure that her toes aren't loved right off her body.

I'm pretty sure they are going to be good friends though.

Sisters are Angels Without Wings

A year ago we gathered to celebrate Brooke's wedding!
Rosie, Marsha, Mom Ruth, Jeanie and Sue March 2009

Jeanie holding Melanie. 1985


Celebrating Jeanie's big 5-0! Happy Birthday!

This is one young looking 50-year old! Brook and Meg surprised her when she found 20 extra people at the Olive Garden who wanted to sit at her table!
Susie, Marsha, Rosie and Mamma Ruth visit while we wait for the birthday girl to arrive.

Here Daddy is expressing his love and gratitude for Jeanette and her beautiful spirit in our family. I am so thankful for Jeanette in my life. She has a way of making me forget any problems and reminds me to laugh and find fun. I miss seeing her more often. She is truly one of my heroes. Love you Sis!

Brilliant Fields of Tulips

Yesterday Rosie and I loaded our mountain bikes on her Pilot and made our annual pilgrimage to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival -- about two hours north of Enumclaw. It was a beautiful spring day, perfect for a 21 mile bike ride around the fields outside of Mount Vernon, WA. While there were not as many fields in full bloom as we found on last year's trip (it was an early spring and we were out of town all last week), the fields that were in bloom were fabulous. The brilliant colors looked imaginary from a distance -- as if a mad painter had spilled his brightest reds, yellows and purples all over the ground.

To give you a feel for the experience, below are a number of our photos.
Rosie stops to view the scene as she coasts through the fields of red and gold.
I love the Logan High colors in this field.
This is the view as you approach the fields. The colors are spectacular.

Here is my favorite model with a backdrop of purple and pink and another in red.


What a place for a leisurely bike ride.

This almost looks like Rosie is floating on the tulips.
Below you can see all the colors of the fields in the far horizon. It looks like a bright rainbow came to life on the fields.
Years ago Rosie and I were in Holland in April when their tulip fields were in full bloom. It was beautiful -- indeed beyond description. But it was not as impressive as the Skagit Valley at peak. We hope you will join us next year for this unforgettable bike ride through one of the most beautiful sights we have ever seen.

Cross Country Skiing in April

Rosie, Andrew and I came to Utah on Friday for a week. Monday night northern Utah had a big storm that dropped as much as a foot of snow in places. We are staying in our cabin in Logan Canyon and it has been wonderful to have that snow this late in the year. The last two days we have enjoyed this gift of snow in April.This was the view out our back window this afternoon.

Rosie skiing in the woods.

After skiing for a few hours Andrew and his cousins decided to try tubing down one of the hills at Birch Glen. The snow was not very fast for tubing but they had a good time.

Rosie skiing down the Birch Lane road to our cabin.

Andrew with his cousins Scott, Kristin and Mary Kate in front of our cabin.

We wish you all could have joined us for a wonderful day in the snow in Logan Canyon.

Grace

I wanted to post a few more pictures of Grace. She is a sweet baby and very tolerant of all of her older sister's physical love. Joyce showers Grace with head caresses and ear pulls and in your face sweet talk. It's very loving in a physical way. Grace has been teaching classes with me this week and sleeps soundly and inconspicuously the whole time. We have also had a couple nights of a four or five hour stretches of sleep! Visitors welcome anytime.