Doesn't it Figure!

My allergy meds were running out and I needed to get them renewed. But my Dr. wanted to see me in his office since I hadn't been there in over a year. So I make my no rush appointment for 2 weeks. But low and behold, some sort of bump appears on my foot out of the middle of nowhere. I called back to see if we could up the appointment but no luck since they wanted to give me a certain amount of time with the doctor.

So this is what's I got me! An ganglion cyst! Sounds gruesome doesn't it?! Funny this picture is on the exact same foot as mine. But mine isn't nearly as big. Mine is just the size of a pea and a bit lower toward the side.
I hope mine never gets this big! I've always liked having pretty feet, except for my pinkie toe. Does it hurt? Not really, it just aches when I'm on my feet all day, after aerobics, or it gets pushed around like the doctor did to it today.

So what's the treatment you ask? Well, for me right now we will just be monitoring the growth. It's too small to be drained and surgery is the LAST option. The doctor told me what Grandma did in the "olden days". It was called "Bible Therapy". Grammy would take the heaviest book in the house, usually the family bible and whack it good, smashing the cyst. OUCH!!! No thank you! He wasn't recommending that I do that either. But for now, let's hope it will go away on it's own ~ which some do.

It's official!!!!

Woohoo!!! The kids and I FINALLY have our passports!! (Rob's had his for years because of business). Now the "finally" isn't because the government had problems with us or took forever to get them here. They were the quick ones. It only took them less than 2 weeks until we had these hot little things in our hands.
It was always me. I'd say "oh, I'll do it next week" or "when Rob gets his bonus". Believe it or not, that was 3 years ago. Talk about procrastination! Now we need to go to Canada to see how much easier it is to get across the border. Not that it was a problem before, but we had to always take our birth certificates with us. Now we're all squared away for the 2010 Olympics!

Be Our Guest...

... is something we'll be hearing a lot of around this house. Miss Amber has been cast for the part of Mrs. Potts in the High School musical this year of Beauty and the Beast.

Woohoo Amber!!! Busy times ahead. With a few meltdowns included, I'm sure. I ran across this picture of Amber from 2004 in her Halloween costume she bought with her own money. Who knows if they will want to use it.

A GREAT way to wake up!!!

I woke up to discover that I had two pix text messages! Take a look at this!!! (Yes, it made his Mom cry this morning). Graduation was this morning!Private 1st Class Robert AndersonWE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU ROBERT!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE YOU LOTS!!!!

I'm Happy and Spoiled

Who can't be spoiled by getting 2, yes 2 phone calls (and 2 text messages) in 2 days from my oldest boy?

I love this photo of Jessica & Robert. This was B.E. (before Elizabeth). And this one just made me laugh.

Yes, we are keeping him away from trees :D


We are SO, SO proud of him. He is graduating from Basic Training tomorrow. And it hasn't been a piece of cake for him either. Not too long into Basic he broke his finger. But then he couldn't do the push-up part of his PT, which is needed to pass to graduate. He's been working tremendously hard to pass and HE DID!!!! Woohoo!!! With lots of prayers, we KNEW he would. But then last week, coming back to base from a 7-day "campout" he was bit by a brown recklous spider. YIKES!!! Talk about freaking out a Mom! It was treated in a timely manner and he's on anti-biotics and healing really well. It was just nice to talk with him yesterday without much of a time restriction. I'm sure Jessica is getting in LOTS of talk time too. He heads out first thing Saturday morning to Georgia for further training.


Here are a few other things that just made me happy yesterday!


The clouds at sunset last night


Warm, fresh homemade biscuits


Halloween decorations on my fireplace mantle


Plus Rob is coming home this afternoon from his trip to Calgary. It's another happy day :D

Time to catch up!

So I'm feeling pretty organized this morning! Pot roast is cookin' away in the crock pot (note to self: go to the store to get potatoes and carrots), laundry goin' in the washer and dryer, kids off to school, hubby off to work, sat through an eScrip teleconference meeting, and the blinds in the house are pulled up to get every ounce of sunshine streaming inside.

Before I update you with the goings on of our lives, I have to take some bragging time right now. Any of you who have a current 6th grader, had a 6th grader or remember waaaay back when you were in 6th grade, remember the transition was difficult at best. Here in Lynden our 6th graders are at the Middle School. They are in their own little section away from the 7th & 8th graders but moving over to a "new school" makes 6th grade even more stressful for an 11/12 year old. It's been a trying time around here with our Mr. 6th grader adjusting. And it was showing up in his grades (not the best he could do). But I have to say this little guy has been working SO hard and he is now finally seeing the improvement and benefits. His weekly test packet came home yesterday with the following:

Science - A
Reading - B
Grammar - A
DOL (where you correct sentence structure & punctuation) -A
Spelling - A
Woohoo!!!! We're SO proud of you buddy!! And I'm sure the incentive of getting a Wii at the end of the school year (based on your grades) doesn't hurt either :D

So in pictures, here's what we've been doing.

CINNAMON ROLLS!!!

This is only 13 dozen!! Amber sold a record breaking 24 dozen!! Thank you friends!!! She is half-way there.

I spent all of last Saturday here with my friends

Here's what we did!

Sunday night we gave ourselves a good old NW Washington treat ~ an Apple Blossom.

Of course, these are apples from Bellewood Acres! And their incredible caramel they get in from Minnesota.


Yumminess!


MAD DOG!!!!

It's been busy and fun around here!

Look who is turning 1 today!!!

WOW!! It's so hard to believe that Elizabeth is already be with us for 1 year. How the time has flown by. We can't imagine our lives without this little princess.

WE LOVE YOU!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZZIE!!!

It's been crazy busy around here!

I'll be back sometime tomorrow to fill you in on all the happenings around here. It's been nuts!! But I needed to take time to blog over here about a classmate (Nate Louws) of both Robert and Tabitha's. It goes to show you how quickly things can change in a second. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nate and his family. And that he will heal from his traumatic injuries.

While searching through band pictures on the band website (that Mr. Herrick keeps up so diligently) looking for pictures of Nate, I ran across this little beauty of my first born son. I've NEVER seen this photo. Pretty cute!

So hug your family! Treat everyone the BEST they should be treated. Because, you just never know.

Disneyland Trip 2003 - Grizzly River Run

Fall is here!!!

It's been a busy weekend/week around here. You know one of those weeks where we really can't tell you what has been accomplished?! We just know we've been doing TONS of studying for homework, trombone playing, etc. At least we had a wonderful family weekend! We even got out in between rain storms and took a walk on the trail. Yes! Of course I had my camera! Sheesh! What kind of question is that? :D

Not sure what this planter is all about but thought it was pretty and unique with that bird in it!

LOVE the many colors of fall together

Is this a perfect moment or what?

My favorite photo of the day!

So you're probably wondering "Where is Josh?" Well, he didn't go on the walk because he only was wearing these:

We lovingly call them his "grandpa slippers". Such the happy, old couple here :D

I'm SO random!

Rob has always said that my mind can just go from one subject to the next. It's a "beep, beep, zip bang" kind of thing. Here's a case in point. One minute smiling because of Charlie Brown movies and now touched and getting goose bumps and tears by watching these 3 videos. Take the time to watch them you won't be dissapointed.

The BEST Valjean EVER!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIwgD4I5UtQ

I LOVE this Eponine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuS1cCnG8xc

Sends shivers down my spine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odrZ6NtPR2M

Tradition!

So it's October ~ already. Can you believe it? I'm such a holiday movie person. Just ask my kids and how many movies we have. Halloween and Christmas movies are my favorite. But we just don't start the season with any old movie you know? Any one who is any one KNOWS you HAVE to start the Halloween season by watching the classic

Because you know "I wouldn't want to be accused of taking part in a rumble" ;D

Here's just a few of my favorite shots.

Love the placement of his tongue. You can't write a letter unless your tongue is in the right place.

"I gotta rock!"


LOVE Snoopy! Smile, smile, smile!


"Not a sign of hypocrisy as far as the eye can see."