Geocaching...

Last Saturday afternoon, we decided to go geocaching.  We hadn't gone in quite a while. We decided to head out past Callahan where we hadn't gone before. I hadn't been to that "edge" of the Valley in probably 20 years. Brian and the kids had never been there. We found 2 of the 3 we were looking for. We'll go back and look for the other one another day when it's warmer and lighter (it was 5 pm).  Besides the two geocaches, we also found the spine to some kind of large animal. (I'm hoping it was an animal...I've been watching too much CSI and reruns of Cold Case, I think).  I didn't take a picture of that - should've.
The kids thought the "dinosaur" rocks were pretty neat. One of the geocaches was hidden behind the larger of the two "dinos". Another day, in the summer, we'll go further up Scott Mountain.
We had Joshua take a picture of us too...I think the camera added back the 10 pounds I've lost in the past two months...darn it. We really enjoy geocaching...it's fun time together, plus it gets us out and exploring where we live.

PJs from Great Grandma Donna & Great Grandpa Ken

When we got back from our trip down to Sacramento/Woodland/Winters/Davis Sunday evening, there were Christmas presents waiting from my grandparents in Arizona. The kids were excited to see the holiday extended and loved the new cozy flannel pajamas that Grandma Donna had sent them. When they wore them the next night I tried to get a cute picture of them all together in them...all the pictures turned out cute, but some...we'll they just show our munchkin's personalities!

Brian's Graduation!!!!!!!!!!




Joshua took this picture of Grace and I while we waited for the ceremony to begin

Last Friday night was Brian's graduation from the LVN program.  After 3 long and arduous semesters (plus kidney stones, major bowel resection surgery, pnemonia, plueral effusion and what am I forgetting?) he has completed this first step in his journey to become an RN.  Even with all of his health problems, he maintained a 4.0 GPA and was one of the student speakers at the graduation.  We were all so happy to watch him walk across the stage. Hopefully next fall he'll begin the RN program.  This semester will be just a regular semester of classes (yeah, no biggie...microbiology and physiology, plus a sociology and a speech class...piece of cake, right?!).  Here are some pictures from that:

The End of an Era

Many many years ago...when I was around 3...my dad planted a maple tree in our backyard.  I remember him digging the hole and holding the tree while he refilled the hole.  That was over 35 years ago and that tree has grown and grown.  This past week it started to come down...not by itself, but with help :) The volume of leaves this tree dumps is daunting!  We raked twice while Mom and Dad were in Arizona last month and got at least a dozen bags each week. And I think they got a couple dozen more the times they raked.  I know Brian & I will miss its shade this summer as our bedroom is in the back where it was! I think we may get blinds for the windows since the curtains don't keep the heat out like the blinds do.  Here are some pictures of the progress of the tree coming down.  I'll have to go through some old boxes of pictures after the holidays and see if I can find any from 35 years ago when it was planted.

The BEST Granola Bars

The Best Granola Bars

2 ½ c. rice crispies (also have used other crushed dry cereal, Krispix, etc.)

2 c. oats

½ c. dried cranberries

½ c. raisins

¼- ½ c. mini chocolate chips

½ c. brown sugar

¼ tsp. salt

½ c. honey

1 c. peanut butter

1 tsp. vanilla

¼ tsp. cinnamon



Combine cereal, oats, craisins, raisins, chocolate chips in very large bowl.

Cook brown sugar, honey, and salt in pan until it boils. Add peanut butter, vanilla and cinnamon.

Pour over dry mixture and stir until combined.

Put into a 13” x 9” pan (or a cookie sheet for thinner granola bars) and press flat. Let cool and then cut into bars. Package individually and store in a large ziplock bag.

About Joshua...

Joshua's had a couple of busy days.  Yesterday was the Veteran's Day program at school.  He was chosen to sing a solo in one of the songs.  I videotaped it for Brian since he had rotation yesterday, but Grace was totally uncooperative so he may get seasick watching it, but you can hear the singing :)

Today was the school-wide spelling bee.  Joshua found out last week that he was going to get to be in it...there were 4 fourth graders and 4 fifth graders.  He came in third, 2 fifth grade girls got 1st & 2nd.  He got a trophy, but he doesn't have to study another big list of words (as he put it) for the county-wide competition in January. 

I'll do posts on Nathaniel and Grace later...

Veteran's Day Parade

This year we got pictures of Joshua and the Cub Scouts in the Veteran's Day parade...last year the battery in the camera died just as the parade began.  It was a cold morning...every once in awhile snowflakes would flutter down.  Later it rained with snow mixed in, but there was more rain than snow and it never stuck.  I stayed home from the parade with the younger two and Brian took Joshua.  He got to bring home the flag he carried, plus he got a double flag lapel pin that he was quite excited about.  This is the first of several exciting things for Joshua this week.  On Wednesday he is singing a solo during a song the 4th & 5th grade choir is singing in the Veteran's Day program at school (Nathaniel's class will be singing Yankee Doodle).  Then, Thursday afternoon he is one of the 4 spelling bee participants from the 4th grade and will be in the school Spelling Bee.  He's excited about that, too.