This made my day!!

It may be a cell phone picture and we have some red eye. But this Grandma (and Grandpa and Auntie Amber and Uncle David) thinks it's just adorable and it made me (US) smile.

We miss this little bunchkin and her Mom & Dad!!

It's Difficult for a Grandma to choose...

...which is her favorite picture of our Elizabeth. So many capture her little personality. Here's just a sampling of our little sweetheart.

You knew music had to be involved somehow, didn't you?!?!

Like we have nothing else to do

Back before Amber's play auditions, she signed up for a few honor bands. We had the San Juan Honor Band just last week. Done! Over! Cross off the list :D Back at the beginning of October she turned in an audition tape for All-Northwest Honor Band ~ a very, extremely difficult honor band to get acceptance. This is the one that Amber had to make the difficult decision ~ try out for the play or hope to get accepted (won't know until mid-December) in the honor band since the performance is on one of the same nights as the play. As you know, she picked the play.

Well, look what this girl has NOW been accepted to do.

Northwest High School Honor Band
January 9-10, 2009
The Northwest High School Honor Bands will feature music performed by approximately 200 of the finest high school musicians from Idaho, Oregon and Washington. These outstanding high school students are recommended for participation in the event by their high school band directors and the concert is a culmination of two days of intense rehearsals with guest clinicians.

This is Amber's first time going to this honor band. But both Robert & Tabitha have attended. And this was Robert's favorite (besides Music in May in Oregon) and he couldn't be MORE excited for her, as are we. Tab, which was your favorite?

It's a challenge to balance play practice, bassoon lessons, and voice lessons. Add homework, early morning Jazz Band and Spirit Band (where she plays the piano), and early morning seminary (Bible study), we have one B-U-S-Y girl.

More than just a day off!

Even though I will admit having a day off is nice. But I'm really missing this man today

That's my Dad :D He's a WWII Veteran and served in the Pacific Theater. And today is a day to honor him and many, many others that have served our country. These men and women fought for America (and many other Veteran's in foreign countries) to enjoy the freedom that so many seem to abuse and take for granted today. Let's not forget the strong women who did this during their leave.

Just to have your new husband leave for 2 years or more. But they did it!! My Mom always threatened me that if I ever did what she and my Dad did, she would hurt me terribly. What did they do? They met on Easter Sunday at church and were married the NEXT SUNDAY!!!!

We have many Veteran's in our family and are SO proud of them. Rob's brother Ken and Phil both served our country. My brother Seth served as well. Jessica's brother, Jacob is currently in Kuwait serving a tour. Her other brother, Eric is an Apache helicopter pilot. We have friends that have served in Iraq and have friends whose son's are currently serving there as well. THANK YOU!!! Your service is appreciated.

This morning I listened to a wonderful program, "One Moment in America" by Jerry Stewart. Today the program was entitled "Protecting America". Our friends, Scot & Terri Graham were interviewed for this moving show. Please take the time to listen. It is very inspiring and non-judgemental. No hidden political agenda's, so to speak. You will be touched forever.
http://www.visionradioproductions.com/

To all our Veteran's ~ again your service is appreciated!! THANK YOU!!

PS - I'm also wondering why President-Elect Obama is acting like and being treated like he IS the President by placing a wreath for a Veteran's Day celebration with news reporters and all. Not yet!! We can only have ONE President at a time! Wait your turn!

Funny, funny boy!!

Last week, on our shopping spree at Bass Clothing out at Birch Bay Square (formerly the Peace Arch Outlet Mall) where Tabitha works, I was really into finding some cute shoes. And I did!! But these were not on my list even if they look so cozy and warm.

While Tabitha & I were talking about these shoes, she said "I tried on a pair of these and it's just not me. I couldn't pull it off." Well, David overheard and replied "So did Joshua have to help you get them off?!?!?"

BAAAAHHHHAAAA!!!

Amber heard us laughing from the other side of store. And we explained to an 11 year old boy, what it meant to "pull it off" when it came to clothes or shoes.

It just made me laugh when I remembered that today.

Now we wait!

Yep! It's coming to a city near us!!!! So today is the last day to get our order in for the "lottery" on event tickets. After the initial shock of the cost and dissappointment that we really couldn't afford to go to the Figure Skating Finals, we picked the Short Track Speed Skating. Woohoo!! Now we wait until December/January-ish to see if our name has been pulled out of the hat (so to speak). We also wanted to go to the Aerial Ski Jumping or that tricksy snowboarding but the thought of driving up the mountain, in February WITH snow and ice was not on our list of "Things to experience" in life. We'll be MUCH, MUCH warmer watching those events at home.

Online Shopping

How many of you do the majority of your gift shopping online? Raise you hands HIGH!! (Man, a Bon Jovi song just popped into my head! Yikes!)

Anyway, I just have to give a plug for the eScrip Online Mall program. Of course it has to do with the Lynden Music Boosters :D If you shop online, please consider shopping through the Online Mall. This is a way for our organization to earn money from your everyday or holiday purchases without costing you an extra cent. And no weight gain either from those tubs of cookie dough.These merchants donate a percentage on your purchases to our organization or any organization that you choose. Hopefully you will choose the Lynden Music Boosters. Just click on this icon below to view the MANY merchants available. And there are over 1,000!



I downloaded the "AutoEarn" link. This way if you forget to log on through this previous link you will still know when you are on a website that contributes to eScrip. It works! I tested it just today when I went to QVC for a planned purchase. Now 3% of my purchase will go to the Lynden Music Boosters.

FAQ
Q. Is this a special merchant website?
A. No! Shop from the same websites you know and trust

Q. Am I paying higher prices because this is a fundraiser?
A. No! Pay exactly the same price as you normally would

Q. So do you know what I'm buying?
A. Nope! All we know is where you shopped, the total amount and the eScrip donation

Q. Do I have to sign up for any other eScrip program?
A. Nope! Anyone can earn for our group – even if you are not enrolled with eScrip you can click on the link, shop or download AutoEARN, and earn anonymously!

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me in the comment section. I hope that if you plan to shop online this year, you will strongly consider going through the eScrip program.

Thanks my friends!!

Today's the day!!!

Have you cast your vote?

I was raised in a home where voting is a privledge and a right that has been fought for over the years so you best get off your hiney and vote. I always remember my mom working at the polls. She started early, early at 6:00 am and didn't come home until after 9:00 pm except for food and bathroom breaks. The polls were next door in Mrs. Fern's garage. Tradition!

So voting has been engrained in me since I was young. And I tried, by example to pass that along to my kids. Back in the day when the polls looked like this:

My kids were with me and I taught them (hopefully) to be respectful and quiet as I and others voted. Really, all they wanted was the "I Voted" sticker! :D See some things never change.

That's Tabitha's first time she got to vote in 2006.

Now living in Whatcom County, we are a mail-in ballot voting system. Here's what voting looks like now.

Kind of anti-clamatic isn't it? To me, growing up, these were the absentee ballots. I have a hard time putting these in the mail box or this:

I've seen in the news too many Post Offices placing these boxes on the outside, customer side of the lobby. Um, no thank you. I prefer to take my ballot and drop it off at the polling drop-off at the Lynden Library into one of these

and it is watched over by 2 retired ladies. Plus I get MY sticker!

Do you remember this guy?

A few of us gals were talking at Church yesterday with our song leader, Courtney and the "Mr. Yuk" picture (he was really cute!) she used to help the young kids remember the words to a song about when ugly words or thoughts come into your mind, how to get rid of them. Well, get this ~ there were a lot of the kids (ages 5 -11) that didn't know who Mr. Yuk even was!! So what happened to this sticker? I remember it was ALWAYS handed out at school for the parents to place on all your poison and household products.

It got me to thinking. I wonder if the kids even know what these two logo's represent?

Halloween

In addition to costumes, we LOVE to have fun foods for Halloween. Here's what we had:

Nothing like a good glass full of Worm Juice

Mummy Dogs

Bugs in a Blanket

And for dessert ~ Ghosts in the Graveyard

For a costume this year David was a Bottle of Ketchup. Now this is really funny for David because if you've ever been around him when he eats Dino Nuggets, french fries, or anything else that "requires" ketchup you KNOW why he picked this costume. He LOVES ketchup!

And I love Fall decorations that can stay up until Thanksgiving. More of my favorites: